View Single Post
Old 11-24-2015, 06:13 PM   #37
CoolBreeze
Senior Member
 
CoolBreeze's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 562
Re: Kadcyla Side Effects

After two years of remission with only perjeta/herceptin, cancer exploded all through my abdomen and lungs. Pain was intense and I was getting pretty sick. Nov 8 I did my first Kadcyla. I had a rough ten days (nausea, pain, fatigue, constipation, heartburn, headaches, not able to walk) but am feeling better. Abdominal pain is much better and I've been on heavy duty pain killers and I am backing off. I'm not sure if it's because they changed my meds or if TDM-1 is working.

I get my 2nd tx December 2, so I'll see what it does to blood and liver then. Am going to need some better anti-nausea with this and a heartburn med. I'm at the point where I have anorexia-cachexia and I can't eat and am down in the 80s which is a bad sign. I'm hoping I get miracle #2 with Kadcyla as my son is getting married in May.

This is my 8th chemo and I've been in continuous treatment for six years, so I don't think anything would be easy at this point. But I'll take it for now.

Thanks for sharing your experiences.
__________________
http://butdoctorihatepink.com

08/17/09 Dx'd.
Multifocal/multicentric IDC, largest 3.4 cm, associated ADH, LCIS, DCIS
HER2+ ER+/PR- Grade 3, Node Negative

10/20/2009: Right mastectomy, reconstruction with TE
12/02/2009: Six rounds TCH, switched to Taxol halfway through due to neuropathy
03/31/2010: Finished chemo
05/01/2010: Began tamoxifen, the worst drug ever
11/18/2010: Reconstruction completed
12/02/2010: Finished herceptin
05/21/2011: Liver Mets. Quit Tamoxifen
06/22/2011: Navelbine/Zometa/Herceptin
10/03/2011: Liver Resection, left lobe. Microwave ablation, right lobe - going for cure!
11/26/2011: C-Diff Superbug Infection, "worst case doctor had seen in 20 years"
03/28/2012: Progression in ablated section of the liver - no more cure. Started Abraxane, continue herceptin/zometa
10/10/2012: Progression continues, started Halaven, along with herceptin and zometa.
01/15/2013: Progression continues, started Gemzar and Perjeta, an unusual combo, continuing with herceptin and zometa
03/13/2013: Quit Gemzar, body just won't handle it. Staying on herceptin, zometa and perjeta.
04/03/2013: CT shows 50% regression in tumor, so am starting back on Gemzar with dose reduction, staying with perjeta/herceptin/zometa. Can't argue with success!
05/09/2013: Discussing SBRT with Radiology due to inability of bone marrow to recover from chemo.
06/07/2013: Fiducial placement for SBRT
07/03/2013: Chemo discontinued, on Perjeta, Herceptin and Zometa alone
07/25/2013: SBRT (gamma knife) begins
08/01/2013: SBRT completed
08/15/2013: STABLE! continuing with Perjeta, Herceptin, Zometa
06/18/2014: ***** NED!!!!***** continuing with Perjeta, Herceptin, Zometa
01/29/2014: Still NED. continuing with Perjeta, Herceptin. Zometa lowered to every 3 months instead of monthly.
11/08/2015: Progression throughout abdomen and lungs. Started TDM-1, aka Kadcyla. Other meds discontinued. Remission was nice while it lasted.

5/27/18: Stable. Kadcyla put me right back in the barn. I have two teeny spots on my lungs that are metabolically inactive, and liver is clean.

I’m beating this MFer. I was 51 when this started and had two kids, 22 and 12. Now I’m 60. My oldest got married and trying to start s family. My youngesg graduates from Caltech this June. My stepdaughter gave me grandkids. Life is fantastic.
CoolBreeze is offline   Reply With Quote