HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Starting on Lapatinib Clinical Trial on Friday

StephN · 12-22-2005, 12:24 PM

Hi Nicola -
As you know the purpose of getting port is to save your veins as the chemo can wreck them in short order.
I have had my port for over 5 years now and it still works just fine. I never felt ANYTHING, even with the 27 (yes, twenty-seven) infusions of taxol and navelbine to get me to NED. Also, had Herceptin along with all that, of course, and still get Herceptin each 3 weeks.

The end of the port catheter is down into a main vein leading into your heart, so there is little vein area exposed for the drugs to affect. The drugs go straight into your bloodstream and are dispersed quickly. That is why in my case I would feel the effects first in my mouth. Tongue would get dry and bothered so I would eat ice or a popsicle to slow the bloodflow in my mouth. This way I did not have such bad mouth sores from taking such long treatment.

I have another question about the trial.
Is there a set time or are you just on the treatment either until you are showing disease progression (drugs not working) or have remission or complete response?
This is the way it was for me in my trial to "GET" my mets. I was the first one through with a complete response, so take it from me that you CAN do this and get there!
Onward to wellness!

12-22-2005, 12:24 PM	#13
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	No sweat! Hi Nicola - As you know the purpose of getting port is to save your veins as the chemo can wreck them in short order. I have had my port for over 5 years now and it still works just fine. I never felt ANYTHING, even with the 27 (yes, twenty-seven) infusions of taxol and navelbine to get me to NED. Also, had Herceptin along with all that, of course, and still get Herceptin each 3 weeks. The end of the port catheter is down into a main vein leading into your heart, so there is little vein area exposed for the drugs to affect. The drugs go straight into your bloodstream and are dispersed quickly. That is why in my case I would feel the effects first in my mouth. Tongue would get dry and bothered so I would eat ice or a popsicle to slow the bloodflow in my mouth. This way I did not have such bad mouth sores from taking such long treatment. I have another question about the trial. Is there a set time or are you just on the treatment either until you are showing disease progression (drugs not working) or have remission or complete response? This is the way it was for me in my trial to "GET" my mets. I was the first one through with a complete response, so take it from me that you CAN do this and get there! Onward to wellness!