Looking For Chemo Answers

Hi,

I just posted a message regarding my husband and his new stomach diagnosis. I am looking for anyone who has taken the chemo drugs taxotere and oxlyplatin.I was wondering if anyone out there has had any promising effects from these two drugs? Also what have been your side effects? Were you able to continue working and doing some normal activities? My husband has had his good days and his bad days. He gets very sad sometimes and does not want to do anything. I keep telling him or try to convince him that this is not the end and he needs to stay has optimist as possible. But sometimes I can't get through to him. Is this normal? Does anyone have any advise on how I can help him? I am desperate and I don't want him too be depressed all the time.

Sincerely Concerned,

Samantha

 

On 3/18/2008 staceyvansc wrote:

Hi,

I just posted a message regarding my husband and his new stomach diagnosis. I am looking for anyone who has taken the chemo drugs taxotere and oxlyplatin.I was wondering if anyone out there has had any promising effects from these two drugs? Also what have been your side effects? Were you able to continue working and doing some normal activities? My husband has had his good days and his bad days. He gets very sad sometimes and does not want to do anything. I keep telling him or try to convince him that this is not the end and he needs to stay has optimist as possible. But sometimes I can't get through to him. Is this normal? Does anyone have any advise on how I can help him? I am desperate and I don't want him too be depressed all the time.

Sincerely Concerned,

Samantha

 

my father is 74 and was on oxaliplatin and xeloda. so i am not sure about the other one you mentioned. you can go to chemocare.com and it will tell you about specific side effects for a chemo drug. not all side effects will happen to every person. and the dr's can adjust the chemo to help the patient function. but sometimes it can be tough before the right dose is found.

my dad has had good results. he took a bit of a beating. but the results are there. the shrinkage has happened.

i think that many cancer patients have depression. it's hard to take in all that is happening. try to keep him active but not worn down. keep him involved. have family and friends visit. this all helps so much! go to carepages.com and read up on the many stories. there is a young family man who has had stomach cancer for 1yr and is now in remission! my dads page is on there too. i will have to go and find what i put for his carepage name and will respond again.

i wish you and your hubby strenght and healing. i will keep you both in my thoughts! stay strong......i know it can be tough. take care, kris

Hi Samantha,  I am sorry for your husband's diagnosis.  I just lost my husband to stage IV stomach cancer February 22, 2008.  Don't let that scare you - every patient is different and responds differently.  My husband lived for three years with stage IV so he did well.  His regimen was surgery followed by chemotherapy with the drugs fluorouracil and leucovorin plus five weeks of radiation treatment during which he had adjuvant chemo.  He did pretty during this time but was very fatigued.  His cancer returned after two years in remission and then he was given Taxol (this is from a yew tree in California) and did very well.  He did suffer from depression almost constantly but did not want to take drugs for it.  I too did not know how to cheer him up but I remained optimistic and gave him alot of love and understanding.  He slept alot especially on the Taxol, but still kept up his regimen of chemo.  He fought like a warrior.  As I said, every patient is different.  Your husband has every right to be depressed - his life is going to be different, but be supportive of him. Keep up your own strength and health - you are his caregiver.  I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. 

Diane

 

On 3/18/2008 staceyvansc wrote:

Hi,

I just posted a message regarding my husband and his new stomach diagnosis. I am looking for anyone who has taken the chemo drugs taxotere and oxlyplatin.I was wondering if anyone out there has had any promising effects from these two drugs? Also what have been your side effects? Were you able to continue working and doing some normal activities? My husband has had his good days and his bad days. He gets very sad sometimes and does not want to do anything. I keep telling him or try to convince him that this is not the end and he needs to stay has optimist as possible. But sometimes I can't get through to him. Is this normal? Does anyone have any advise on how I can help him? I am desperate and I don't want him too be depressed all the time.

Sincerely Concerned,

Samantha

Samantha:

My wife was diagnosed with Stage IV in March of 07 her original chemo treatment was ECF (Epirubicin, Cisplatin, and 5FU).  This treatment placed her in remission by eliminating both her 2cm stomach tumor and 2-3 cm liver tumor in June of 07.  She has been in remission since. 

In October of 07 we changed from ECF to Oxaliplatin and Xeloda (pill form of 5FU) and she has been on that regimen for the past 6 months. 

Her experience with Oxaliplatin has been fine although she is often very tired, especially about 3-4 days post the treatment.  Her experience with Xeloda has been mixed.  We started with 5000mg per day and that was quickly knocked down to 3000mg and later to just 2000mg per day.  All and all she has done well on both the treatments used.

Now we look foward to yet another 6 months of chemo but eliminating the Oxaliplatin and using just the 5FU.  It appears the goal is to keep her on treatments as long as her body can stand it.  Overall, the most significant side effects are tiredness, loss of feeling in her fingers, nasua (at times) and the loss of her hair early on (about 3 months after she started the ECF); it has since grown back in since the Oxaliplatin and Xeloda do not cause hair loss.

Let us know what specific side effects he is having and we may be able to suggest something. 

Keep the Faith

Steve

Hartford, CT

 

Hi Samantha,

My husband is newly diagnosed too. He has been taking taxotere for 3 mo along with cisplatin & irinotecan. His first scan after 8 weeks of treatment showed the cancer had shrank and there was no new spreading. So we are pleased with the results so far. The first bad week he had was last week and that was 11 weeks into it. But the regimen is not the same as your hubby's and everyone responds differently so theres no way to compare.

Like your hubby, mine has good days and bad. In the last 2 mo he has made sure everything is in order. He made a will, made sure his life insurance was secure and bought both my older boys safer cars to drive. He is depressed some days too and not much I say or do changes that. I have tried. He is stubborn and set in his ways and nothing will change his mood except him - most of the time. You should talk to his onco about someone he can talk to - or even just a phone number incase he chooses to call when you arent around. I met a woman at the hospital one day who said her hubby would never consider therapy so she found a support group that helped her cope with him and all his emotions. It helps her tremendously and she offers info to him when she knows its something he would consider hearing.

I have only been around this board for a few days and already I feel better! So, keep asking questions and anytime you want to chat privately, let me know.  Hang in there.......

~Christine 

I took oxalyplatin and xeloda which made me sicker as I received each treatment. I stuck with it except for the last treatment and had good results. The stomach cancer is back now, but I'm not giving up. I also have bouts of depression. I recommend dancing, short walks, movies, jokes, anything that makes your husband laugh. B-complex vitamins helps me along with other vitamins and supplements. If you aren't opposed, a little pot helps with nausea and pain and lifts moods. I've seen people not have hope from the beginning of a bad prognosis and just gave up to die. I've refused (most of the time) to think like that. This is the fight of my life and I'm stubborn as hell and refuse to give in to this disease. In the same battle, Becky333