chemo for the rest of life

24

Comments

  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member

    Chemo for Life
    Dear JackieA, I talked to my oncoligist today about your husband's chemo treatments and she confermed that he will be on some kind of chemo the rest of his life. She wanted to know if they had given your husband Tamoxefin or Aromatase Inhibitors? My onc said that the Xgeva that your husband is taking is for people that don't respond to harmone treatments. Is his cancer Harmone Negitive Reseptive?

    I hope & pray that you and your husband get through this tough time with as few problems as you both can manage. If he feels like talking to someone that is going through the same thing as him, just have him(or you) private message me here.

    When I was diagnoised Stage-3 back in 2007, I thought that I would stay that way forever. Today I found out that I am also Stage-4 because of the bone mets. Who knew that you could graduate to new levels. My onc has me on a Aromatase inhibitor(Famera) right now, plus the Zometa infusions once a month for bone strength. I did not ask her if I would be on these for the rest of my life? Although,I intend to do whatever it takes to keep LIVING! "The Rest Of My Life" could be a few weeks, a few months or whatever. The optimal word here is "LIFE"! I keep telling my wife that we all have to go sometime. When it's my turn,just have me Mummified & stand me in the corner. HA! I don't think she will do it,though. She said that she's not going to want to dust something else. HA! Ha! Ha!

    (((Hugs))) Robert

    I am sorry Robert to read of
    I am sorry Robert to read of your news. I am sending prayers and lots of support to you!


    Hugs, Kylez
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    JackieA said:

    Chemo for life
    Thank you so much for your concern and input. I am thankful that my disease has slowed tremendously. HOwever he has lost over a hundred pounds and is on a walker. He can not walk up stairs and without his walker. Currently he is taking Xgeva for bones, Halaven, Avastin, and neulasta and neupogen. All of these are powerful drugs. I wonder if these drugs are making him look like this old person(excuse me for elderly). He is hoarse all the time. At one time he was having so much trouble breathing. He is on dilaudid and the fentyl patch 75 mg. Does anyone know about that? His neurothapy is so severe. He also takes gaberpentin. He had mets at the bottom of his skull pressing on a trigeminal nerve. He has had radiation in both hips, on his skull- and his entire spine was engulfed with mets. He had it in his sternum and his ribs---Has had a masectomy...

    When I read over all of this, I am still grateful, because at one time he could not get out of pain. He went to the hospital in May to bring his pain under control, and when they did, he is much tolerable. We went through bouts of him falling in the middle of anyplace. He finally surrendered and took the walker. He does not drive but he wants to so bad.

    THANK YOU FOR your encouraging words!

    The least we can do Jackie
    The least we can do Jackie is to send encouraging words to you and your husband. My heart just breaks at reading what you've both gone thru.


    Please keep coming back and posting.


    Sue :(
  • ManWithaMission
    ManWithaMission Member Posts: 497
    Kylez said:

    I am sorry Robert to read of
    I am sorry Robert to read of your news. I am sending prayers and lots of support to you!


    Hugs, Kylez

    Appreciate the Prayers & Support
    Dear Kylez, I sincerely appreciate your prayers & support for me and others on this board. I just never realized before that your degree status would increase along with your decreasing condition! Who'da thought.(Slapping my forehead.) I guess that my Chemo brain and old age have finally set in,huh. LOL!!

    Hugs back at ya, Robert
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member

    Appreciate the Prayers & Support
    Dear Kylez, I sincerely appreciate your prayers & support for me and others on this board. I just never realized before that your degree status would increase along with your decreasing condition! Who'da thought.(Slapping my forehead.) I guess that my Chemo brain and old age have finally set in,huh. LOL!!

    Hugs back at ya, Robert

    You will always have the
    You will always have the prayers and support of all of us Robert! You can count on that!


    Hugs, Kylez
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    I don't have any
    I don't have any advice..just sending warm thoughts to both of you..

    Denise
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member

    Chemo for Life
    Dear JackieA, I talked to my oncoligist today about your husband's chemo treatments and she confermed that he will be on some kind of chemo the rest of his life. She wanted to know if they had given your husband Tamoxefin or Aromatase Inhibitors? My onc said that the Xgeva that your husband is taking is for people that don't respond to harmone treatments. Is his cancer Harmone Negitive Reseptive?

    I hope & pray that you and your husband get through this tough time with as few problems as you both can manage. If he feels like talking to someone that is going through the same thing as him, just have him(or you) private message me here.

    When I was diagnoised Stage-3 back in 2007, I thought that I would stay that way forever. Today I found out that I am also Stage-4 because of the bone mets. Who knew that you could graduate to new levels. My onc has me on a Aromatase inhibitor(Famera) right now, plus the Zometa infusions once a month for bone strength. I did not ask her if I would be on these for the rest of my life? Although,I intend to do whatever it takes to keep LIVING! "The Rest Of My Life" could be a few weeks, a few months or whatever. The optimal word here is "LIFE"! I keep telling my wife that we all have to go sometime. When it's my turn,just have me Mummified & stand me in the corner. HA! I don't think she will do it,though. She said that she's not going to want to dust something else. HA! Ha! Ha!

    (((Hugs))) Robert

    You are one of us Robert,
    You are one of us Robert, so, don't forget that! We support and encourage you also every step of the way!


    Sue :)
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member

    Warriors of all kinds
    There are warriors of all kinds here. I guess the best thing to do is to listen to your husband on his level of tolerance for this extended length of chemo treatment regimen. The doctor may eventually suggest a break at some point in time. as you heard another here speak of. The most important questions you and your husband should ask are these; How well is this treatment regimen tolerated? Is there a point where we can give more time between treatments? Is there a chance for a chemo treatment holiday? At present I can't think of any other questions but if I have overlooked an important one I am sure another will chime in. Just decide these matters carefully, taking your husbands thoughts and feelings as the top matter for consideration.

    You and hubby will definately be on my prayer list.

    Sending my best wishes and
    Sending my best wishes and prayers for you Jackie and your husband.


    Hugs, Jan
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    camul said:

    Chemo for life our until your body says no....
    I thought I was on chemo for life, but after 9 months of chemo 3x a month, my onco decided it was time to take a break. I was very hesitant and questioned this as I figured it was the only thing keeping me here. But now I have been off for 6 weeks and I am liking the break. On my last appointment, chemo wasn't mentioned which makes me wonder... I will have scans in December and will make a determination at that time.

    Honestly, now that I am not on chemo I am realizing how much of that 9 months were lost. I am thinking quality over quantity. If I just didn't get so dang sick and worn down from the chemo. I just wish there was not so much bone pain. It is now keeping me up at night! It is in almost every bone, but the spine, tailbone and ribs are the most painful.

    I am still getting Xgeva shot once a month for the bones and I am on Evista to block the Estrogen. I take Tylenol 3 for pain (sometimes I will take an oxy when it gets unbearable), and can't sleep without Atavan. So life is still not perfect. I am not in a walker, but use my electric chair when I have to walk any distance, and if I do go down I cant get back up as the cancer has wiped out any strength in my legs and back.

    So, chemo for life is to keep the cancer stable! Yes the chemo ages our bodies, but I will keep up the hope that the chemo will keep me stable enough to be here when they do find something that will make it chronic rather than terminal.

    I will keep you both in my prayers.

    Jackie, just to let you know
    Jackie, just to let you know that you and your husband are in my prayers. Please keep posting to update us as to how you both are doing.


    Hugs,


    Jan
  • ginnyl
    ginnyl Member Posts: 38
    chemo for life
    i have IBC cancer with mets to the bobes. I have been stage four since the begining.
    . I have had mutiple chemes .radiation.amd surgery and even a recurrunce in the mist of that/ The road been hard ans long but due to faith and support i made it. I am going on over 11 years and been on chemo alll that time .What i take now is herceptin and its not that bad at all. If i do have a problem its he day i take it and its like getting over a horrible drunkso i wont ever be an alchoholic. i go every three weeks for herceptin and twice a year for zometa and the zzomta causes bone pain for a day or two. i am 63 years old and i shake quiet a bit and i have a problem with the falling and they dx. that chemotoxcity to that inner ear. was told to take it easy getting up. and to use a canr at night but so for i havent. im sending prayers and hugs and hopr it goes for u as well as it does me.your friemd ginnyl
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    ginnyl said:

    chemo for life
    i have IBC cancer with mets to the bobes. I have been stage four since the begining.
    . I have had mutiple chemes .radiation.amd surgery and even a recurrunce in the mist of that/ The road been hard ans long but due to faith and support i made it. I am going on over 11 years and been on chemo alll that time .What i take now is herceptin and its not that bad at all. If i do have a problem its he day i take it and its like getting over a horrible drunkso i wont ever be an alchoholic. i go every three weeks for herceptin and twice a year for zometa and the zzomta causes bone pain for a day or two. i am 63 years old and i shake quiet a bit and i have a problem with the falling and they dx. that chemotoxcity to that inner ear. was told to take it easy getting up. and to use a canr at night but so for i havent. im sending prayers and hugs and hopr it goes for u as well as it does me.your friemd ginnyl

    Ginnyl, I am sending hugs,
    Ginnyl, I am sending hugs, hope, support and prayers to you too!

    Sue :)
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member

    Chemo for Life
    Dear JackieA, I talked to my oncoligist today about your husband's chemo treatments and she confermed that he will be on some kind of chemo the rest of his life. She wanted to know if they had given your husband Tamoxefin or Aromatase Inhibitors? My onc said that the Xgeva that your husband is taking is for people that don't respond to harmone treatments. Is his cancer Harmone Negitive Reseptive?

    I hope & pray that you and your husband get through this tough time with as few problems as you both can manage. If he feels like talking to someone that is going through the same thing as him, just have him(or you) private message me here.

    When I was diagnoised Stage-3 back in 2007, I thought that I would stay that way forever. Today I found out that I am also Stage-4 because of the bone mets. Who knew that you could graduate to new levels. My onc has me on a Aromatase inhibitor(Famera) right now, plus the Zometa infusions once a month for bone strength. I did not ask her if I would be on these for the rest of my life? Although,I intend to do whatever it takes to keep LIVING! "The Rest Of My Life" could be a few weeks, a few months or whatever. The optimal word here is "LIFE"! I keep telling my wife that we all have to go sometime. When it's my turn,just have me Mummified & stand me in the corner. HA! I don't think she will do it,though. She said that she's not going to want to dust something else. HA! Ha! Ha!

    (((Hugs))) Robert

    Praying for you Robert!

    Praying for you Robert!
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    debi.18 said:

    No stories
    Jackie, but just wanted to let you know you and your husband are in my thoughts and prayers.

    I so hope and pray for a cure soon so no one has to endure this!

    Hugs,
    Debi

    How are you and your husband
    How are you and your husband doing Jackie? I hope that you see all of the support and prayers that we are sending to the both of you!
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000

    Jackie
    Sorry to hear about your husband being on chemo for the rest of his life. Maybe eventually he will be in remission and they can stop but now they must see no future unless things get better.If they were to stop and it came back soon after they made a mistake. They don't want to take chances.

    I read of a situation not far from me.A lady was dx with breast cancer and then 5 months later her husband was dx with bc.She is still living and he passed away in July after 1 1/2 years. Cancer in men is harder to detect. Usually when a man is dx it is in the late stages.The warning for this man was his steering wheel hurt to put on.Then he went to the doctor.

    I didn't need chemo.Non invasive localized bc but those who get it are living longer.My friend is a 16 year survivor and doing great.She had chemo for over a year. She was Stage 3. Had a lumpectomy which concerned me but she is fine.

    People are living longer. Wishing the best for you and your husband.

    Lynn Smith

    Just to let you Jackie know
    Just to let you Jackie know that I am thinking and praying for you and your husband and for you also Robert.


    There is always strength in prayers!


    Hugs,

    Megan
  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    Ritzy said:

    Ginnyl, I am sending hugs,
    Ginnyl, I am sending hugs, hope, support and prayers to you too!

    Sue :)

    Sending prayers for all!
    And will keep you in prayers. Peace
  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member

    Chemo for Life
    Dear JackieA, I talked to my oncoligist today about your husband's chemo treatments and she confermed that he will be on some kind of chemo the rest of his life. She wanted to know if they had given your husband Tamoxefin or Aromatase Inhibitors? My onc said that the Xgeva that your husband is taking is for people that don't respond to harmone treatments. Is his cancer Harmone Negitive Reseptive?

    I hope & pray that you and your husband get through this tough time with as few problems as you both can manage. If he feels like talking to someone that is going through the same thing as him, just have him(or you) private message me here.

    When I was diagnoised Stage-3 back in 2007, I thought that I would stay that way forever. Today I found out that I am also Stage-4 because of the bone mets. Who knew that you could graduate to new levels. My onc has me on a Aromatase inhibitor(Famera) right now, plus the Zometa infusions once a month for bone strength. I did not ask her if I would be on these for the rest of my life? Although,I intend to do whatever it takes to keep LIVING! "The Rest Of My Life" could be a few weeks, a few months or whatever. The optimal word here is "LIFE"! I keep telling my wife that we all have to go sometime. When it's my turn,just have me Mummified & stand me in the corner. HA! I don't think she will do it,though. She said that she's not going to want to dust something else. HA! Ha! Ha!

    (((Hugs))) Robert

    I cannot imagine having
    I cannot imagine having chemo for the rest of my life. I am so very sorry Jackie to read this about your husband. My thoughts and prayers to you two.

    ♥ Kristin ♥
  • JackieA
    JackieA Member Posts: 150

    Chemo for Life
    Dear Jackie, I was diagnoised with Stage 3 breast cancer in Seotember 2007.I had a left breast mascetomy,radiation for 2 months and chemo of Taxotier & Cytoxin for 6 months. Then I was put on Tamoxifen for the next 5 years. In January 2011, I was diagnoised with bone metastisis. I had 3 weeks of radiation & my oncoligest changed my harmone treatment to Famera. I have also had a monthly infusion of Zomteta since January. Because of the bone mets, I was forced to retire from work and I also use a walker to get around with,too.

    I am not on chemo right now,but my oncoligest says that that is still an option. I'm not sure why your husband is on chemo for life, but I'll ask my oncoligest on Nov. 3rd when I see her.I'm very sorry that your husband is going through this because it is not fun for any of us, especilly for the caregivers. I know it is not easy for you to watch him go through this because you care for him so much, it hurts you also because you fell so helpless to do anything to ease his pain. Just being there IS enough! I hope this helps and if he needs to talk,I'll be here.

    Sincerely,Robert

    chemo
    I don't know where I read this, but I know it was here. You asked me something about hormone. No he is not able to do the hormonal drugs such as tamoxiphen...or chemo pill. He has been told that he doesn't respond. I don't know how much longer he will be able to do halaven. For a while, almost six months, he was doing great. Suddenly he is losing the usage of his hands, and he is becoming weaker in his legs- already on the walker. Needs it to keep from falling. This week is the roughest one in a while.. We asked for a break, and the dr said no, its keeping him alive. I guess I am so concerned about how long will his body be able to take it, when it is already fragile. Very. He gets neupogen and neulasta with every treatment. He is an anemic. Like I said...he gets xgeva for bone, used to get zometa. Also gets Avastin. Can't think of what else.

    Thank you so kindly for your encouragement and allowing us to share. The good thing about this is that I don't feel alone when there are people we can talk to. Thank you.
  • JackieA
    JackieA Member Posts: 150
    skipper54 said:

    Sending prayers for all!
    And will keep you in prayers. Peace

    thank you
    Thank you for your responses...Everyone. I am humbled and grateful.
  • JackieA
    JackieA Member Posts: 150
    skipper54 said:

    Sending prayers for all!
    And will keep you in prayers. Peace

    thank you
    Thank you for your responses...Everyone. I am humbled and grateful.
  • JackieA
    JackieA Member Posts: 150
    skipper54 said:

    Sending prayers for all!
    And will keep you in prayers. Peace

    thank you
    Thank you for your responses...Everyone. I am humbled and grateful.
  • JackieA
    JackieA Member Posts: 150
    skipper54 said:

    Sending prayers for all!
    And will keep you in prayers. Peace

    thank you
    Thank you for your responses...Everyone. I am humbled and grateful.