Hello lovely ladies & update on Jenny!!

MagnoliaforJenny · 03-16-2008, 10:11 AM

Hello all of you wonderful ladies, I've thought about you often over the course of the last few months. There were the Holidays, I myself have been laid up (non cancer related but AWFUL circumstances nonetheless). Jenny brought me dinner the night after my first surgery, she was doing quite well!! Jenny was moving right along after going thru this last round of treatment....now after only 3 months, it's back again. Her 2nd recurrence in a year.

This time there are no less than 4 large tumors, most are in her spine and one on a rib.

Her oncologist, at much urging from Jenny, finally did a PET scan....I think it's fair to say everyone is a bit perplexed the PET scan was never done, only a CAT scan. Makes one wonder if they would have announced her "in remission" at Thanksgiving so soon, but hindsight is useless right?

The oncologist has agreed to put her on Tykerb/Xeloda (thanks to this site, she asked her ONC. about these drugs!!!!) combo with a new to her chemo treatment for bone cancer (starts with an "R") beginning tomorrow. Some of you may remember she was on herceptin. Obviously that wasn't working so well!!

So, that's where our lives are and thanks to you all hopefully Jenny is on a better treatment path (PET scan and drug info. from you all helped tremendously here)

I'll keep you updated as things progress. Any helpful info. regarding side effects I can help her with? I know she's concerned about the hand foot syndrome, I also see there are issues with diarrhea too.

XOXOXO
Magnolia

Becca · 03-16-2008, 03:30 PM

Magnolia, there are many helpful hints on dealing with Tykerb/Xeloda by Brenda (hutchibk) on the Herceptin/Tykerb forum. Browsing through that might help you. I was on that combo almost 11 months and did have many issues with diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, hand/foot, rash, etc. I learned to deal with most of it or to tolerate it. Some like Brenda have had almost no side effects, so Jenny may not either. Hope your friend does well on the combo.

Lolly · 03-16-2008, 04:43 PM

Thanks Magnolia, for the update on Jenny...I'm sorry to hear about her recurrence, but sounds like she is keeping her onc on track, lol! I didn't have too much trouble with Tykerb/Xeloda either, so hope she does well...

Bev · 03-16-2008, 07:15 PM

Thamks for the update, hope this tx takes. Bev

MagnoliaforJenny · 03-16-2008, 08:52 PM

I must say again, THANK YOU ALL for the great support and information. I'm not sure if Jen would have gotten the PET scan, the tykerb, the xeloda etc. if I had not relayed the information everyone here provided. She's a smart cookie as I am sure her care team are as well, but it never hurts to confirm they are doing all that they can do!!

I'll look the forum suggested about how to deal with effects.

Thanks again XOXOXO