please help me urgently- don\'t want to lose hair etc.

[beatrice]

Hi,
after 4 months of treatment herceptin+cisplatin,(I have breast cancer which caused liver mets) I did a CAT scan and they found it hasn't worked at all. Now they want to substitute cisplatin with taxol, or taxotere... but I know their side effects, I have already experienced them. Do you know anything about CAELYX? It should be lighter to bear... I am so scared. Let me know.

[Christine]

Beatrice
Have you tried Navelbine yet? It seems to work well w/herceptin. Esther has been on it and she has done well. I met with her and her hubby recently, and she looked terrific!
Being female, our one vice is vanity. I can't say that I miss having hair after my bout w/brain mets. My hair was never the issue, BUT my brain tumors were. I really enjoy being cancer free/NED. Warm hugs and well wiahes, Christine

[lu ann]

I am in my 5th month of weekly treatments, 3 on and 1 off of taxol, carboplatin, and herceptin, and monthly tx. of zometa. My hair thinned about 80% and started growing back after the third month. I don't have neouropathy and have very minimal other side effects, mostly fatigue. Taxol or taxotare along with cisplatin or carboplatin work well in combination. I had wide spread bone mets prior to radiation tx. along with a large tumor on my mediastynim. After rad. tx. and 2 months of chemo, the tumor in my chest shrunk 75% and my tumor markers were almost normal. I also have a friend who prays with me prior to my treatment that no harmful side effects would effect me. So far I am living life pretty normal. I just had tumor markers done and will be having a CT scan of my chest and abdomin next week. I will let you know how things go. Blessings, Lu ann.

[beatrice]

I know Christine, you are right. Hair, after all, is not the main issue. It's just that is so hard at times to go on. I am 34, I am on therapy since when I was 32, and all my plans (having a baby, going on with my job, etc. have been put to a stop). At times I am desperate. But then I think, life is still worth living, even without hair.
By the way, I have been put on Hercep. + Xeloda, but doctors do ne seem to know much about this combination, especially dosage - do you something? Or where can I find this info? I have submitted a message on this issue anyway.
Thank you. Beatrice