Pain with Herceptin and Navelbine?

Rich66 · 07-15-2009, 12:24 AM

Mom is on 3 wk Herceptin and weekly Navelbine now. has been having a variety of pain sites but as of today, mostly in upper abdomen. She has mets in lung and liver. She can control the pain with Oxycodone but I wonder if this combo is giving her pain or if it is a cancer symptom.
To complicate things, she also has been dx with gallstones.
Any experiences with this combo?

Mary Anne in TX · 07-15-2009, 05:33 AM

Rich, I found this combo the easiest of all I did. But that's me. Perhaps, it is the combination of all that she is dealing with that causes the pain. Keep asking the doctor questions til you get some peace about it. Best wishes, ma

Sheila · 07-15-2009, 05:39 AM

Rich
I was told by the onc. and the chemo nurses that many people experience pain in the tumor sites while on navelbine...kind of a weird side effect.

Colleen007 · 07-15-2009, 09:12 AM

I've been on Herceptin and Navelbine for over 2 years now and have never experienced the pains you describe.

My husband had gallstones which were extremely painful in his abdomen and ended up having his gallbladder removed and the pain disappeared. If I had to guess, I'd say that the abdominal pains your mother is experiencing are related to the gallstones based on my husband's experience.

Kathy T · 07-15-2009, 06:19 PM

Rich,
I have had 2 doses of Navelbine with herceptin and had abdominal pain the second week--i have not spoken to my onc about the pain but the nurses were not familiar with this effect. I was not able to receive the 3rd dose due to low counts.
Kathy T

Rich66 · 07-18-2009, 11:32 AM

This searh seems tomirror what Sheila was told:
http://www.google.com/search?q=Vinor...ient=firefox-a
Seems like oral Navelbine could be helpful but doesn't seem to be on the market despite tests years ago.

Kathy,
Like you, Mom had to delay Navelbine due to low counts at same time abdominal pain(amongst other pain) kicked in. i'm wondering if low counts could also cause H pylori build up in stomach. See proton pump inhibitor thread.

07-18-2009, 01:07 PM

Hi Rich,

I was on this combo for a little over 2 years. I did have abdominal pain and also neck and jaw pains. My doctor told me that Navelbine can cause the G I tract to get raw. After I stopped Navelbine, all my symptoms went away. I wish your Mom well. alaina

Missyw · 07-20-2009, 07:17 AM

Hi Rich,

I had quite a bit of abdominal pain on Navelbine. My doctor recommended Nexium. It helped quite a bit. Previously I had tried Carafate, Pepcid and Prilosec but none of these relieved the symptoms. I will send a prayer along that Nexium gives her some relief. It is certainly well tolerated and perhaps worth a try.

Missy

Rich66 · 07-20-2009, 06:40 PM

Mom feels it more like a bloating in her lower abdomen now. "Like I'm pregnant" Seems to have moved from upper stomach area to lower. She also had some mucous in stool a few times. No need for Oxycodone but uncomfortable enough all around to have problems sleeping. No fever. Gets counts/Navelbine tomorrow..maybe.

Believe51 · 07-20-2009, 10:30 PM

Rich, just checking on my girl, how is she feeling?? Did you get anywhere??>>Believe51

Rich66 · 07-21-2009, 01:39 PM

Mom's feeling better but wbc too low (2400) today for the 'bine. Will get Neupogen for 3 days starting today...possible 'bine on the 28th.
Should start another thread on the err "dynamic" nature of treatment schedules.

DanaRT · 07-21-2009, 05:28 PM

I went through about 2-3 weeks of serious high abdomen pain during the Herceptin stage of treament. I had to eat very little fatty foods and drink plenty of water. I also added a papaya enzyme to help with digestion. It seemed to help.

Hope your mother feels better soon.
Dana

Rich66 · 07-30-2009, 07:28 AM

A little update. Mom's abdominal pain has for the most part subsided. But the pain in her hips and shoulders and various muscles is ongoing and is what gets her reaching reluctantly for the Oxycodone. She's also losing her hair..which is a bit of a downer after being told that was unlikely with H+N. I saw a little bit of yellow cast to her eyes which has me nervous. Going in for labs, Navelbine (if counts held) and NP consult.

Karen Wheel · 07-30-2009, 09:13 AM

In April - May - June 2009 -- I did 9 weeks of Navelbine and had no pains... (along with Herceptin every 21 days) however I was really, really tired the first 3 weeks, but my doc switched me to oral dose because a nurse made a mistake on the speed of my IV drip and burned up my veins on my only usable left arm for IV --- so they changed to pills. I was less tired and dealt with the chemo okay after that - I felt it was something to do with the delivery of the chemo to the system - somehow it seemed easier when taken by pill (for me at least). Maybe see if you could switch to pills????

Rich66 · 07-30-2009, 12:27 PM

Karen,
Kinda looks like Europe has oral Navelbine but not here in the good ole US of A. Mom's wbc counts were too low to get infusion today. Gets Neupogen today and tomorrow. Possible Navelbine next week.

ElaineM · 07-30-2009, 04:24 PM

Has anyone suggested getting an ultra sound of her abdomen?I had abdominal area pain and got an ultra sound. I found out I had gall stones.

ElaineM · 07-30-2009, 04:28 PM

Opps. I hope this is not a repeat. Interesting computer experience just now !!!!!! Anyway, has anyone suggested doing an ultra sound of her abdomen? I had abdominal pain and got an ultra sound of my abdomen. I found out I had gall stones.

Rich66 · 07-30-2009, 07:23 PM

Yep. Gallstones confirmed by CT and ultrasound. Pain these days seems to be muscles and joints.