Update
 

Just an update on where I am going with my treatment. I started on weekly Navelbine and Herceptin last Thursday. Today I have noticed that my shortness of breath is almost completely gone, so I hope things are already working (it may just be enough time has passed since my pleurodesis, but I think it is more). I am going to have a port put in Monday as it took them 5 tries to get the iv into me for a CT scan on Thursday. My veins haven't been real great in my right arm, and with weekly infusions I think its time to go the port route. I will be meeting back up with my onc in a month and we will review and see if the treatments are effective, and if they are I will continue on this for a few more months and then hopefully be able to graduate to herceptin alone. I was "out of gas" on Friday but today feel really good. I was wondering what kind of side effects those of you who have taken Navelbine or are currently are have had. I was told that the biggest problem could be keeping the blood counts up. I would be interested in any of your experiences with this drug.

PS - I have another reason to be happy to be feeling good again, my second granddaughter is due within the next few weeks and I want to be on top of my game for that!

Andi, you should find the navelbine-herceptin combo pretty easy; that's what I had for 6 months (plus femara) and then the herceptin and femara for 9 more months, stopping in November of 2005 when my ejection fraction got too low. (But I went into it all after a heart attack in June of 2004.) My only side effects were that my nails got very fragile and I lost my eyebrows! (No hair, though). Both nails and eyebrows are fine now. I had to have a triple bypass last May, but have been NED (cancer free) for well over a year now. I hope all goes as well with your port as with mine---I had it put in in July of 2004, and still have it. In fact it is such a godsend to me that I hope I never have to have it out! I have really impossible veins and now I can get blood tests with no pain or problem. They even used it for the heart surgery. Navelbine is hard on veins so getting a port is almost a requirement. I hope you do really well and successfully! Good luck! Tricia

navelbine
 

Hi Andi, I agree with Tricia, navlebine/herceptin has been easy breezy for me and so far it has been working. I so hope it still is as this has been the easiest chemo regimen I've had and by far. My nails are also brittle (thanks Tricia, I wasn't sure if it was the drugs or some new fun thing to worry about) and my eyebrows are hard to find-nothing a little pencil can't take care of.

I hope this combination proves easy AND successful for you!!!

Andi,
Regarding difficult veins for IV's I have seen experienced nurses recommending to drink fluids as much as possible & applying hot compresses on the arm before getting the needle . May be these two steps can help you avoid a port. An other factor is having a nurse with a fine touch for the job.

Well, my port is in, the procedure seemed to go well. Tricia and Joy - I have had the thin nails ever since my year on herceptin, originally some Sally Hansen helped, but doesn't seem to do much for me now. My thumb nails want to split vertically. What do you find helps for this? As far as the eyebrows, mine are so light I have to help them out anyway! Thanks in advance for any suggestions you may have.

Andi-

I am also on navelbine/hercpetin, along with avastin. On my prior chemo I could tell it was not working because I could hardly breathe. Since we have switched to this regime, things are improving somewhat but I still have a long way to go. I still have a non-productive cough which is a pain, as I suck on cough drops all day. But hopefully this combo is doing the trick.

And having a port is awesome!!

Regards,
Shell

That dry cough is so tiring, isn't it? I had the pleurodesis, which has taken care of most of the coughing and I am finally starting to not be as short of breath. I pray that your current cocktail works a long time for you.

Just wanted to say congrats on the upcoming birth of your second grandchild. I can't wait for the day when I have grandchildren...isn't that why we have children?!!!!!! Hope you do well on the Navelbine. Good luck.

Thanks, Rinaina, I have one Granddaughter that's 22 months, the new arrival will be her sister. My husband says that being Grandparents is the reward for raising teenagers. Thanks for your good thoughts.