Dexamethasone And Treatment

My dads girlfriend was recently diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. She had a lumpectomy and no lymphnodes are involved. She is due to start treatment next week.

There is one thing I am confused about and was looking for a little insight on it. They have her taking 16mg/day for 2 days of dexamethasone to help with nausea?!?!?! Combined with some other things. They have written her a script for kytril (sp?) to be used as necessary if experiencing nausea as well. I don't understand why dexamethasone is being used for nausea. My dad is fighting brain cancer right now as well and he uses dexamethasone but to reduce brain swelling and with a stage 4 GBM has never been on 16 mg per day. I know how ugly this drug can be and I don't understand why they are using it in treatment of breast cancer. I also don't understand how they can flood her body with such a high dose and then just stop it after 2 days. I thought it needed to be tapered down (I guess she isn't on it long enough for tapering?!?!?)

Any information on this would be greatly appreciated from anyone who has experience with decadron (dexamethasone) 

Struggling

hi

just to let you know, i was on dexamethasone, its a steroid table, they gave it to me along with my chemo and then i had to take 2 tablets for 2 days after.. i also had anti sickness drugs too.

it does help to make you feel better! but makes you want to eat, not sleep and you will no doubt get bloated..

Dexamethasone is in a class of drugs called steroids. Dexamethasone reduces swelling and decreases the body's immune response.

hope this helps

lindsay (scotland)

Hi,

I was diagnosed with Amyloidosis 12-07, and started treatment in Jan. 08. I've been taking Dex. 4mg, 10 tabs four days on every four weeks with chemo Melphan. Hopefully June will be my last round for a while. It does cause high anxiety, and increases appetite. I take anti-anxiety pill as needed mostly to sleep. I've already been taking something for nausea as needed. I also have Amy in my soft tissue causing rapid reduction in the cartilage, and developing severe Arthritis in most of my joints. I already had to have my right hip replaced. The Dex. definitely helps with the pain and inflammation.

Hope this information helps,

Take Care,

Liz Reddy aka:Lizard

Hi,

 I can understand your confusion about the use of Dexamethasone in combination with chemotherapy.  Dexamethasone is the generic name for the steroid, Decadron.  Research has found that cancer cells exposed to Dexamethasone are more susceptible to the effects of the chemotherapy drugs.  So the Dexamethasone is given to enhanse the effects of the chemotherapy.  Since the dose is relatively small and given for such a short term it is not necessary to taper off the drug, it can be safely stopped.   And usually any side effects from the Dexamethasone are mild because of the short term use of the drug.  The Dexamethasone may temporarily increase heart rate and blood pressure and possibly lead to the patient experiencing some agitation.  If these symptoms occur,  be sure to tell the doctor and appropriate medications to control these symptoms can be prescribed for the time the Dexamethasone is needed.

 I am a retired registered nurse and also fighting recurrent uterine cancer.  I do take the Dexamethasone in combination with my chemotherapy.  And I do experience spikes in blood pressure, so my b/p medication is increased during the time I'm taking the Dexamethasone.  I hope this helps relieve your apprehension.  Good Luck to you and your Dad.  Please keep us up to date on how he is doing.    Love,  Eileen     

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 - had surgery and then started chemo in Sept. of that year, finishing in Feb. 2005.  When I was on chemo I was sicker than I could ever imagine!  The ONLY thing that could pull me out of severe nausea was dexamethazone (spelling??).  I was given several different kinds of nausea medications to take along with my chemo (one administered right along with the chemo - and pills and/or desolving anti-nausea meds. to take for 2 days after chemo.  NOTHING worked like dexa.  Almost every time I had a chemo treatment, within 48 hours I was in the emergency room of MD Anderson Cancer Research Hospital in Houston (where I was being treated) and I was given dexa. right into the veins.  I was a life saver! 

I'm sure many meds. are used for several different reasons but I will forever sing the praises of dexa.  It saved my quality of life during chemo like no other drug.  I hope this helps you understand the many different benefits of one medication. 

Carolyn

I understand what decadron is it's effects excetera because my dad is on it. My question I guess was more why is the dose so high for breast cancer treatment? Was just saying that with the worst for of brain cancer there is my dad has never been on 16mg/day. The highest was 8 mg and that didn't last long. But I guess since it is used for such a short period of time the effects of decadron are not as damaging thankfully!! :)

I just happened to still have a bottle left from my chemo 2 years ago - I was taking 4 mg Dexamethazone the day of chemo and for 2 days after.  So yeah, 16 mg is 4 times that amount.  It may have to do with what chemo drugs they are giving her, and in what dosage.  But in any case, don't ever hesitate to ask the doctors, nurses or even the pharmacist.  They will tell you why the dosage is what it is.  I did have trouble sleeping, even with only 4 mg, so I would imagine that may be a side effect she will experience.  Benadryl helps some (it's the same sleep aid that's in Unisom), but at one point I asked for something stronger and was given Lorazepam (sp?) - which is also a mild anti-nausea med.  Best to you and your family.

Ruth

On 6/13/2008 struggling wrote:

I understand what decadron is it's effects excetera because my dad is on it. My question I guess was more why is the dose so high for breast cancer treatment? Was just saying that with the worst for of brain cancer there is my dad has never been on 16mg/day. The highest was 8 mg and that didn't last long. But I guess since it is used for such a short period of time the effects of decadron are not as damaging thankfully!! :)

I took this with my second round of chemo and it helped.  I was sooo nauseous with the first round I was apprehensive and was given decadron...2 pills the night before chemo, 2 pills the morning of chemo and 2 pills that same day....good lookin out for your peeps!