Bad Pet Results - Questions!

Stephanie B. · 02-14-2007, 12:57 PM

I just got results from my Pet Scan and things don't look good. I had a scan in October and it shows Liver Mets and my tumor markers were a little elevated so my Onc started me back on weekly Herceptin. My markers came down, but the scan I just had on Monday show that the Liver is worse and they also saw something on the neck, and sacrum that represent some lymph node involvement. I haven't talked to the doctor yet, just the nurse while getting Herceptin, but she seems to think I will have to start chemo again. My Onc mentioned the possibility of Taxotere in the Herceptin alone didn't work. I guess my question is has anyone else had any experiences like this and what do I expect with Taxotere (nausea, pain, etc.)

Thanks for any input.

Stephanie

janet/FL · 02-14-2007, 04:10 PM

Hi Stephanie
So sorry that you may need more treatment, but I had Taxotere and Herceptin and can tell you that I experinced no nausea--had Zofran as a pre med and a steroid--pain was minor. My fingers sometimes felt like they were marshmellows when I typed, but I was able to type. No real pain. The steroids are probably the worst of the treatment. I needed some blood building shots--and I have noticed that the reaction to those--nuelasta, etc, are varied. I had few problems.
I would say my worst reaction was to the steriods. But it did have it's postives. I ate lots and didn't gain weight because I was so active, a skin problem that I thought would never go away--did go away and hasn't returned in one year post steroids.
I want to add that I had no other chemo before this, and that I had the Taxotere on a weekly schedule.
I think I am more scatter brained than I was, but the cause of that is debateable I am sure.

StephN · 02-14-2007, 05:11 PM

Sorry you have to move to more chemo. I had Taxotere as part of adjuvent treatment after I had Adriamycin. I had a one month break between the two drugs for my blood counts to come back up.

Taxotere was a hard drug for me and I had terrific pain and flu-like symptoms on the third day after treatment. This was almost disabling in my case for a few days. There have been many women who have posted on their experience with this drug, so you may want to do a search and see what they all had to say. Not everyone had as hard a time as I did.

I was taking both Neupogin and Epo during that time and would not have made it through the 4 treatments (the dose was lowered anyway for me) without those blood builders.

I had no nausea and also had to take the steroid on the day before, the day of and the day after getting the Taxotere.

Hope this one will have the good effect for you that we know it can!

doh2pa · 02-15-2007, 08:08 AM

Hi Stephanie,

I just finished up seven rounds of tri weekly taxotere for 2 liver mets. I took it along with herceptin. My side effects were hair loss, some neuropathy (tingling in feet mostly), and back and rib pain on the 4th or 5th day after treatment. This was manageable with Tylenol. I also began to get some nail issues after treatment #4. They started to hurt and began to turn white and greyish from the top down. This seems to be getting better now and I did not loose any nails. Also after treatment 4 I started to get excessive tearing in both eyes. This was so annoying, I could not wear my contacts and tears would just stream down my face all day long. This is just beginning to get better and I'm one month out. I took B6 and glutamine and it seemed to keep the neuropathy from getting too bad. I also took steriods the day before and morning of (hate them). No nausea, which was great.

My latest PET was good - no activity and my CAT showed the two spots were much smaller so my Onc is calling this stable and giving me 3 months off - yipppeeee!! So hopefully it will work for you. This was my 3rd round of chemo in as many years and I found this much more tolerable than the other two. So I think it's a good combo to try.

Hang tough - you'll get through this.

Donna

janet/FL · 02-15-2007, 08:26 AM

I fogot to add anything about my finger nails. Don't know if this helped, but I used a bag of frozen peas on each hand to protect my finger nails from the Taxotere. I did not use it when I was just on Herceptin. My nails became soft, while on Herceptin, but I did not lose any nor did they become discolored. I never had good nails to begin with!
I did have male pattern baldness--and eventually as it was growing in after Taxotere, I think I probably lost all my hair, but it is doing very well right now. Thick and curly. Boy I had my fingers crossed on that one!
Janet/FL

Jean · 02-15-2007, 10:46 AM

Stephanie,

I had Taxotere and herceptin. The steroids were difficult as I retained water
and gained weight. Drink water to flush your system. Also the taxotere
can cause neuropathy, which I did get in my toes and balls of my feet.
I just read recently of a new drug that can be taken to avoid this.
Will have to check to find the site. I am now taking Cymbalta for the neuropathy which has helped greatly and I have been told it is not permanent. I have had impovement so am hopefully that in time it will be completley gone. I took meds for the slight nausea. I did feel more tired than usual but it was doable.

Wishing you all the best.....good luck with your treatments.

Regards,
Jean

BethSh · 02-17-2007, 09:38 AM

I just finished 12 Taxol and Herceptin and tolerated both very well. Some leg aches, tingling and near the end some numbness in my hands. I didn't like the steroids because it messed up sleep for the first 2 days.

The weird part is that since finishing the Taxol my legs aches have gotten much worse. It's been 3 weeks and I moan and groan every time I get up. Luckily after moving abit the aches go away.

Take care,
Beth

Stephanie B. · 02-19-2007, 02:50 PM

Thanks for all of the feedback. I saw my onc today and he was pretty optimistic. I will start weekly Taxol along with Herceptin on Wednesday. He seems to think this will get the mets. He will have me do this for two months and do another scan to see how I am doing. He says since I did well on Taxol before he thinks I should do ok again. If this doesn't work he will see what else I can take but he made me feel much better about the outcome.

Thanks again

Stephanie