HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - ~If First You Do Not Succeed, Try, Try Again Mighty Oak~Chemo Begins 5/14/09

Kavy · 05-16-2009, 02:34 AM

Marie,
I am so sorry to hear about your mother-in-law and your dad. You are going through too much. When enough is enough?
I am glad that Ed had his treatment, and I pray that the side effects will be mild for him.
I am on Ixempra/Herceptin since October 2008, and the 3 tumors in my lungs are shrinking. My doctor is very excited, he says that all his patients on this new drug have a good response, I hope this will also be true for Ed.
Ixempra is not an easy drug, as you already know, but it is doable and it works.
My side effects are hair loss, I lost my hair for the 3rd time, but it is coming back fast. No nausea or vomiting, sometimes change in the taste for the first few days, then it goes back to normal, but I do not lose my apetite. Sometimes I have mild constipation ( I use prune juice) or mild diahrrea in the first few days. I have neuropathy (numbness in hands and feet), and on the first night of treament I few a little tired, on the second day I few normal, on the 3rd day I feel very tired, and stays like that for a few days, then I go back to normal. Tell Ed to drink lots of water, and rest, rest, rest.
On this past treatment something interesting happened, I did not get very tired at all. The nurses and I are trying to figure out if the order of treatment has anything to do, I mean, for the past 6 months I have been taking Herceptin first, then Ixempra, but last time, I got Ixempra first, then Herceptin in 40 min drip. So today I had treatment, and we did exactly the same thing Ixempra then Herceptin, and so far so good, I hope it will stay like that. What drug did Ed get first?
If you have any questions, please PM me that I will be happy to help.
You and Ed hang in there. I will pray for all of you, and for this combo to be Ed's magic bullet.
Hugs,
KarlaV.

05-16-2009, 02:34 AM	#23
Kavy Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 157	Marie, I am so sorry to hear about your mother-in-law and your dad. You are going through too much. When enough is enough? I am glad that Ed had his treatment, and I pray that the side effects will be mild for him. I am on Ixempra/Herceptin since October 2008, and the 3 tumors in my lungs are shrinking. My doctor is very excited, he says that all his patients on this new drug have a good response, I hope this will also be true for Ed. Ixempra is not an easy drug, as you already know, but it is doable and it works. My side effects are hair loss, I lost my hair for the 3rd time, but it is coming back fast. No nausea or vomiting, sometimes change in the taste for the first few days, then it goes back to normal, but I do not lose my apetite. Sometimes I have mild constipation ( I use prune juice) or mild diahrrea in the first few days. I have neuropathy (numbness in hands and feet), and on the first night of treament I few a little tired, on the second day I few normal, on the 3rd day I feel very tired, and stays like that for a few days, then I go back to normal. Tell Ed to drink lots of water, and rest, rest, rest. On this past treatment something interesting happened, I did not get very tired at all. The nurses and I are trying to figure out if the order of treatment has anything to do, I mean, for the past 6 months I have been taking Herceptin first, then Ixempra, but last time, I got Ixempra first, then Herceptin in 40 min drip. So today I had treatment, and we did exactly the same thing Ixempra then Herceptin, and so far so good, I hope it will stay like that. What drug did Ed get first? If you have any questions, please PM me that I will be happy to help. You and Ed hang in there. I will pray for all of you, and for this combo to be Ed's magic bullet. Hugs, KarlaV.