Life changed November 09

Westcoastgirl · 02-13-2010, 12:01 PM

Skip, I think that taxotere and taxol are similar. I got what I called spaghetti legs with it and lots of pain but with each infusion the pain and the spaghetti legs were less. I knew that the symptoms would leave eventually so was patient during the time but it was very hard on my husband. I also did not like my onc but what I did to feel more in control was sign a consent to release info to myself and have kept a binder of all results. I read and ask questions. It helped me to feel like I had some say in all of it.

Skip · 02-14-2010, 12:34 PM

After our last visit with her onc shes more at ease with him, he talked to her like it came from his hart not a script. So she's not going to replace him.

I hope her side effects subside some it will bring her some peace.

Thanks.

StephN · 02-15-2010, 12:37 PM

Hi Skip -
Getting comfortable with the onc is also akin to getting used to the fact that she has a disease and must fight it. Sometimes we have to learn not to "shoot the messenger." This may not be the case, and maybe he was really having a better day and seemed more humane.

The main thing is that you know that you have Loma Linda and other places for second opinions not too far away.

I have now been living 10 years with cancer. I had a major and fast invasion of my liver only 3 months after taking my initial treatments. My liver did not just have a couple of tumors; it was shot through with small as well as quite large tumors - covering about 60% of my liver in total. I was able to get some good drugs which stopped and quickly reversed the cancer. I have never had another tumor show up from my neck down since 2002.

Had 2 brain mets that showed up a couple years later, but I was being screened just in case and the tumors were successfully treated. That was 5 years ago.

You will see by my signature the rest of the details. When I had my breakout of liver mets, I was pretty scared as the stats in 2002 were way against me. But, I am here to encourage you and your wife to just accept the treatments as "life saving" drugs and not merely something that makes her feel even worse. I held that "life saving" carrot in front of me and asked the good Lord for a successful Search and Destroy Mission while on my way to each treatment and every night.

Your wife has a very high probability of chasing off her liver tumors and living a normal life span.