Starting new treatment

[lu ann]

I will be starting gemsar tomorrow after a 5 week break from chemo. I have been treated with zometa for the last year, herceptin since last May, taxol and carbo last May till Nov., navelbine from Nov. till Feb, and I will start gemsar tomorrow along with herceptin and monthly zometa. My last bone scan was stable, along with my CT. scan of chest, abdomen, and pelvis. There is more pleural effusion in the left lung. I was experiencing some stabbling pain on the left side of my chest, but it has subsided considerably. MY CA15-3 was 345 last March, 54 after rad. tx, 19 after carbo/taxol combination, 29 with the navelbine, and is now 38. I'd like some feedback about stabbing pain with the pleural effusion, and the gemsar treatment. The plan is to have 2 weekly treatments with a week off and new scans after the 3rd round. Any advice would be geatly appreciated. Blessings, Lu Ann.

[Lolly]

Lu Ann, a friend of mine has been on Herceptin/Gemsar for the last 6(?) months, for Inflammatory BC, and has had a great response...BUT, her red blood counts became very low so she has been having Procrit injections for the last several months which has made a big difference for her energy levels. If you haven't had to have supportive therapy for your blood counts yet, you may need to with Gemsar. I don't know about the stabbing pain, what does your doctor say? Have your nurses had any patients complain of that? Sometimes my oncology nurses have lots of good information, being on the "front line" so to speak.

<3,
Lolly

[lu ann]

Hi Lolly, I'm aware that gemsar is going to mess with my counts, as it did with the navelbine. I had my treatment 2 days ago and I feel fine. It seems that I feel worse when I have the herceptin alone without chemo. I don't think they are giving me a higher dose of herceptin when I don't get chemo. The stabbing pain went away about 48 hours after it started. My doc says it could be from the pleural effusion. I was in the emergency room about a month ago with the same type of pain in my back by my kidney. It wasn't the same kind of pain as kidney stones. I had a bladder infection which they treated with IV antibiotics and along with a strong antibiotic taken daily for one week. Thanks for your reply and God Bless You. Lu Ann.