Clinical Trial E5103

Ladies,

I was asked to do the breast ultra sound for tumor bed dimensions etc. not sure if just their part of their standard procedure or common practice. I also was told there would be a verification of their accuracy performed on a weekly basis, though not with an x-ray.

SAD TO SAY LADIES...another nail bit the dust! only another possible 5 to go....more bandaids...you think the maker of taxel is also the stock owner of "Band-aid?" they could be in cahoots

A little information on Reclast, keep in mind zoledronic acid (Zometa) is marketed as Reclast by Novartis. Can't find anything on Fomesta, is the spelling correct?

http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2007/Aug_PI/Reclast_PPI.pdf

http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/922847/onceayear_bone_drug_infusion_reduces_fractures/index.html?source

I will be randomized into the following trial on Friday resulting in one of three bisphosphonates:

http://theoncologist.alphamedpress.org/cgi/content/full/11/suppl_1/13

http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/ft-SWOG-S0307

Gotta go to rads,

Carol,

Sorry to hear your still not feeling well, did the cough turn into the respitory or did you catch something else? Your next shot is due this coming week, is there a chance they may postpone it ifyour not feeling better?

What other SE do you have going? Are you resting?

sending you some hot soup,

brena

Teresa,

Are you packed for that trip to vegas? who are you traveling with? I hav enever been to vegas and will some day make the trip. Have lots of fun and let loose.

Will tell us when you get back.

smiles,

Carol,

You are correct Reclast=Zomeda. I will see my Trial Nurse today and will ask her if there are any other Bisphosphonate trial being performed. I should be randomized into S0307 Bisphosphonate trial today, Nurse was not in on Friday.

My Onc and Clinical Nurse told me about trials with Avastin (we are on) and S0307 Bisphosphonate trial at consultation. I agreed to both trials; however, S0307 would not be starting until completiona of chemo. I will be doing radiation and S0307 simultaneously.

After my Dexa scan showed mild Osteopenia any of the drugs drawn will help. Each of these drugs do not go without SE's but will only be given for three years in the S0307 trial. The SE's appear to be less than chemo and I am willing to accept. I recall reading that Bisphosphonate drugs stay in your system forever, I will ask and do a little more homework. Regardless of what I find I will not change my decision.

I will let you know if there are other trials but if you are interested in this trial ask your Onc, the trial requirements are minimal.

Trial S0307 hopes to show that Bisphosphonates may also prevent the development of bone metastases in newly diagnosed patients with no evidence of metastasis.

take care,

Carolyn,

I appreciate your schedule on the refrigerator, I can hardly keep up with your weekly activities...Gosh. Don't forget to take some down-time for yourself.

The Strawberry festival sounds wonderful, eat a piece of cake for me. Good luck with the district games, tough but exciting to watch so do enjoy.

Glad to hear your handling the rads with no SE's and may it stay that way. Are you still feeling fatigued?

Desi, Henson & Carol,

Dido on the nose bleeds, regardless if you are receiving the Avastin or not you might experience the nosebleeds (highly likely.) I hate putting stuff up my nose but the saline solution helped a little but did not stop the bleeds. My chemo symptoms started between the 2-3 round and then went downhill.......but I survived contrary to my thoughts at the moment. I understand there is a maximum dosage of Adriamycin that you can have and I understand why who in the _ell would be willing to take it again.

I am feeling so fatigued its not funny and i even took a rest this afternoon, definitely not me. I have modified my bike ride to late afternoon to avoid the heat and getting more tan, getting to dark. I am hoping that keeping up with my exercise will decrease my fatigue, not sure its working.

Summer has officially started, last Wednesday I got bit by a tick which was carrying the bacteria for lyme disease, I developed the bullet-eye rash on my R. foot. Went to the docs today and now get to fast for 12hrs to take a blood test, then I get more antibiotics twice a day for three weeks. Remember I just got of off antibiotics which I had taken for 30 days. I swore no more antibiotics, damn I cannot seem to get away from them. I should be fine after taking the meds, just not a good time if there is such a thing.

No SE's from the rads, better stay that way......yeah right! Anyway the reason for the breast ultrasound is to determine the dimensions of the tumor bed, when a boost is received the dimension of the bed are critical the tumor bed is shot with a photon beam instead of electron beam. Carolyn you may be asked to have the same once you get closer to the boost.

take care,

Carolyn,

You are having the breast ultra sound in preparation for the boost, correct? Mine is scheduled for tomorrow just before rads.

Have you got back on that bike again....please tell me yes.

What color did you decide on the nails?

How is your skin, any peeling or redness?

So far my skin is fine. My new anti-tick meds made me nausea the first day, lots of do-nots with the meds.Hope you can have wine with it because that is what I am drinking along with cheese and crackers!

 I was randomized into S0307 and will be receiving a daily horse pill of Clodronate. Visit the Onc next Thursday for my supply of pills, bloodwork and normal checkup. I was considering getting my port removed; however, if I need bloodwork every month for 6 consecutive months for the new trial I may not have the port removed. I would like to minimize the qty of stick to the one good arm.

Have any of you ladies considered allowing blood drawn from the arm nodes were removed?

I am finely feeling closer to the "new normal" than have in the past several weeks/months. I now realize that I will never return to the "old normal" and trying to find it will only set me up for disappointment.

I am off work until Sept. 2nd, plan on getting things done around the house with hope to sell next year. Am finding that I am tired by mid afternoon and need to rest for 30-60 minutes even if don't sleep. Am still taking sleeping aid some nights, might skip them tonight and rely on the wine.

Nurse took photo of my fingernails, they are such a mess and falling off. She said this is a little more than normal reaction to Taxel. Hey, eyebrows are coming in dark not ready for the plucking but almost.

Desi, Henson, and Carol,

Please don't jump to conclusion on weather you are getting Avastin, the symptoms of A/C and Avastin can be similar so may mask each other and when you throw Taxel into the mix it can get more misleading. Carolyn, Teresa and I had similar symptoms and some different. Carolyn and Teresa received the Avastin and I the placebo, so don't make assumptions because there is no dead give-away. Think of it as a surprise.

Let us know how your sessions are coming along.

cheers

Henson,

U should not have blood drawn from the arm that nodes removed according to most of the documentation that I could find. Without having a port I am thinking the good arm may get stuck so frequently that eventually might have difficulty in drawing blood.

Would like to know what are the risks? I understand that Doctors have different points of view on the Lymphedema, some agree and some do not.

Did you have nodes removed?

Are you nervous about your 1st round of A/C? Is someone going with you or are you going solo?

take care,

Henson,

Carol is correct do not have blood drawn on side where nodes removed unless approved by surgeon. My question, has anyone been told that it is ok to have blood drawn and BP taken on the side with nodes removed?

Not sure about having drugs put through the vein, did they say why? I am also confused or to much wine (na) do you have a port installed? if so, why are they not using it?

Celebrate the completion of each chemo round even if celebrated in a small indulging fashion.

done writing for tonight (tomorrow will review what I wrote),

cheers 

Ladies,

A lesson learned by me and sharing with you so you can avoid.

I had my breast ultrasound today and they could not determine the size of the tumor bed, it had filled in with scar tissue except the very top of the tumor was filled with fluid. Will talk with Rad/Onc on Monday about the speculated dimension they might use, there is another test that can be performed in addition to the ultrasound if the Ultrasound dimension is not reliable. Current depth dimension given by Ultrasound is overstated because its exactness could not be determined.

My lumpectomy was in Oct. 07 and I did not have an ultrasound to determine the bed size and I was not aware one would be needed. Also did not know to take most recent mammo so it could be compared to current if they could get the dimension.

Note:If you had a lumpectomy ask about getting your ultrasound ASAP after the surgery not waiting like I have done. The lumpectomy scar is healing (since off chemo) so nice I would like to think in another 8 months you would not know I had surgery.

The fun has begun: my left breast has swollen so the angles to shoot the beams were off, so again verifications which takes twice as long the hard table. I offered to skip todays treatment and try again on Monday as the swelling may go down, yeah right. Glad its Friday cause the boob is sure ache, I wonder if I look lopsided?

time to get some tasks done,