oral chemo

after going through taxotere and herceptin  double masectomy radiation i now am on oral chemo as the herceptin did not work for me  all this in the past year as i was diagnosed 12/31/08   i am now on xeloda and tykerb  i just finished the first two weeks on and am on my third week so i get a break (2 on 1 off  weekly schedule)   i asked for lamodium like right away and it sure helped  i must say that everything went so smoothly  my only problems have been the diarhea  i am real blessed for that i realize  so who out in that vast world of us is in my shoes i was diagnosed stage 4 w/ matastis to the liver  the taxotere got rid of 3 out of 4 tumors in my liver  the sugery took care of the rest  however  on only herceptin for 6 months i know have 5 tumors in my liver   so share w/ me anything you know about my new chemo status only the best of life to you all out there   chris

Hi Chris,

 I was reading your message and noticed that you're taking tykerb and xeloda. My mom is currently on both of those as well. She had a double mesectomy in 2000, and four years later, they found that it metastasized in her bones. In Aug of 2007, they found four tumors on her brain. They recently found that two of them were in really crucial areas, so she went through two different surgeries to get them removed. I'm surprised, although, that the herceptin didn't work well for you. It was working very well for her, but then her oncologist took her off it and placed her on the xeloda and tykerb regimen (2 weeks on, 1 off) and so far it's worked out pretty well. She's experienced severely dry skin, especially on her hands and feet. My advice to you is to buy Udderly Smooth lotion and apply it everyday to keep your skin in good condition. The diarrhea will most likely go away, because it did for my mom. Keep your head up Chris, you're going to get through this.

 

p.s. When the doctor asks you how you're feeling, say fine, but then agree to get scans done. My mom didn't want to get anything done because she said she was feeling fine, and before we knew it, she had gotten worse. Get tested, and don't just wait for the dr to give you the option, ask when you should.

-Gabriella

 

On 1/2/2009 missitaly589 wrote:

Hi Chris,

 I was reading your message and noticed that you're taking tykerb and xeloda. My mom is currently on both of those as well. She had a double mesectomy in 2000, and four years later, they found that it metastasized in her bones. In Aug of 2007, they found four tumors on her brain. They recently found that two of them were in really crucial areas, so she went through two different surgeries to get them removed. I'm surprised, although, that the herceptin didn't work well for you. It was working very well for her, but then her oncologist took her off it and placed her on the xeloda and tykerb regimen (2 weeks on, 1 off) and so far it's worked out pretty well. She's experienced severely dry skin, especially on her hands and feet. My advice to you is to buy Udderly Smooth lotion and apply it everyday to keep your skin in good condition. The diarrhea will most likely go away, because it did for my mom. Keep your head up Chris, you're going to get through this.

 

p.s. When the doctor asks you how you're feeling, say fine, but then agree to get scans done. My mom didn't want to get anything done because she said she was feeling fine, and before we knew it, she had gotten worse. Get tested, and don't just wait for the dr to give you the option, ask when you should.

-Gabriella

thank you so much  i will be sure to take special care w/ my skin.  my prayers go out to your mom and family. i too was suprized about the herceptin, i went 5 months on it then right after radiation i went 4 the pet scan where they found one tumor left out of the 4 that the original chemo taxotere took away plus 4 new ones  so now the only cancer showing up are the 5 tumors in liver from the breast cancer  i will scan again in 3 months from now when i get over this 3 month oral medication. i heard this was developed and ready for us one year ago, my dr said to do this and if she spots any trials out there that would be good 4 me she will give me the options. everything has gone rather smoothly so far so i feel blessed 4 that  have a great day today to you and all the people  lilchris

 

On 1/2/2009 missitaly589 wrote:

Hi Chris,

 I was reading your message and noticed that you're taking tykerb and xeloda. My mom is currently on both of those as well. She had a double mesectomy in 2000, and four years later, they found that it metastasized in her bones. In Aug of 2007, they found four tumors on her brain. They recently found that two of them were in really crucial areas, so she went through two different surgeries to get them removed. I'm surprised, although, that the herceptin didn't work well for you. It was working very well for her, but then her oncologist took her off it and placed her on the xeloda and tykerb regimen (2 weeks on, 1 off) and so far it's worked out pretty well. She's experienced severely dry skin, especially on her hands and feet. My advice to you is to buy Udderly Smooth lotion and apply it everyday to keep your skin in good condition. The diarrhea will most likely go away, because it did for my mom. Keep your head up Chris, you're going to get through this.

 

p.s. When the doctor asks you how you're feeling, say fine, but then agree to get scans done. My mom didn't want to get anything done because she said she was feeling fine, and before we knew it, she had gotten worse. Get tested, and don't just wait for the dr to give you the option, ask when you should.

-Gabriella

Chris and  Gabriella

I read both of you mentioning med tykerb, My mother just got started on 

xeolda, however she is not on tykerb as well , she was diag with st IV

estrogen receptor positive breast ca in 07, was started on antihormone medication,( she never had any surgery for the cancer), along with that I had her on alternative tx with supplements and IV vit C, under the direction of alternative physician. She did go in to remission, until 3months ago.    we had stopped the alternative medicine a while back and I fear that is why her cancer came back. The antihormone tx is no longer working and her oncologist just started her on xeolda, not sure what to expect. I have appt for her end of Jan to see another Alternative Dr. Her body needs to be built back up. Part of her bowel has been removed from a colon resection, is xeolda hard on your digestive tract? Dr. said that if we did nothing, he gives her 3 months to live, can't understand this concept, as she is still quite active.Not ever giving up.

                                                 sincerley, searching for answer/Caren

Caren,

 From what my mom has experienced, the only problem with her digestive tract is that she cant have anything spicy or anything with citrus-- especially grapefruit/grapefruit juice. She's on nexium for it, just in case her stomach started bothering her. I'm really surprised that she's not on tykerb, considering its the protein blocker that goes with xeloda. Honestly, if I were you, I'd go with her to all the dr's that you take her to and ASK A LOT of questions. Tell the dr that you've heard that xeloda is usually taken with tykerb, and see what he/she says. Your mom will be in my prayers, as well as you, Chris. Don't listen to negative prognosis because every person reacts differently, especially if they're a fighter. Stay positive, its really important for them and for your family as well. Best of luck with everything!

Gabriella

Gabriella,

Thank you for your encouraging words, and yes I will ask her ongologist re: tykerb. Your right, I don't pay to much attention to what physician says about prognosis, however, It did make me aware, that once you start alternative, compimentary tx you can't get laxed, you have to continue, even when your feeling better and your cancer is in remission.  Just like when you take antibiotics for an infection, you have to finish the whole course even if your feeling better before the course has ended. Otherwise the repercushions could be disasterous.

                                                           Thanks again,

                                                     My thoughts are with you

                                                                        Caren

Caren,

 

You and your mom were in my thoughts. How are the both of you?

Gabriella