new treatment

nancy591

The team of doctors decided I should change treatment. I will be starting Topo on Monday. 3 days in a row every 3 weeks. I also have significant ascites. I will talk to my doc about having it tapped out. Even though it doesn't look like alot I know there is a lot there. I am tall with a long torso...I'm sure I can carry alot without it really showing.

Because of the ascites (I'm guessing) I can't eat much at all. I am either uncomfortable or I am in pain. GasX helps. I will be starting mostly liquids today. I am hoping the paracentesis will help with these symptoms.

mopar

HUGS TO YOU, NANCY
Sorry to hear you have to start another plan. But I'm glad that the options continue to be available. And I sure hope the ascites settle so that you'll be more comfortable.

May you have a Blessed Easter, even in the midst of all you are going through. May you find renewed strength, hope and joy.

(((HUGS)))
Monika

Cafewoman53

Good Luck !
Good luck on your new treatment ,will it help with the ascities ? Have a great Easter !
Colleen

antcat

Good Luck Nancy
Hi Nancy, good luck with your new treatment. I am also on Topotecan 1 day 2 weeks in a row and the 1st week I'm on Avastin & Topotecan. The only problem with Topo is it does make you feel a little queasy and it's doing a job on my blood counts, although the docs still say my platelets are within the norm. I went from 236 on week 1 down to 89 on week 3. Next week I have a week off, so hopefully they'll go up.

I wish you and your family a very blessed Easter and as always you are in my prayers and I wish you nothing but the best. I know it's hard but you seem like such a real fighter and sometimes I feel like I'm losing the fight in me. I know I shouldn't but I also understand how it can be very disappointing that the right combination of drugs can't be found.

Again, I wish you lots of good luck with this new treatment.

clamryn

Praying
Nancy I have been praying for you. Praying that this treatment will work for you and you will be able to tolerate it with no problems. I am praying that all of your pain goes away.

I hope to see a post from you with good news.

(((A great big hug to you on this Easter.)))

Linda

LaundryQueen

clamryn said:

Praying
Nancy I have been praying for you. Praying that this treatment will work for you and you will be able to tolerate it with no problems. I am praying that all of your pain goes away.

I hope to see a post from you with good news.

(((A great big hug to you on this Easter.)))

Linda

Yay! Relief is on the way
Nancy: I am so happy to hear that you will soon be feeling better.

I think someone else on this discussion board made a comment about being given TPN to keep her protein level up and ascites down. I had amino acids & lipid infusion every other day (insurance agreed to pay for that) for about 4 months and I think it made a huge difference on how I felt. On chemo days and the following week after chemo (when I couldn't eat or drink much at all). I knew that I was getting at least 1000ml of fluid with some nutrition infusing into me. Sure, it was a nuisance to deal with the IV pump/backpack for 8 hrs but I think it was one of the reasons I felt as well as I did despite chemotherapy.

I think oncologists underestimate the importance of nutrition (and nutritional assimilation) in the battle to win against cancer.

Have a Happy Easter with those darling children!

srwruns

thinking of you as you start
thinking of you as you start your new treatment.

kellyh33

Prayers
Hi Nancy,
I am saying extra prayers for you tonight. All of you ladies deserve some good news and I hope you start feeling better soon.
Kelly

anicca

Nancy, I hope the new
Nancy, I hope the new treatment gives you a good remission, and that they drain the ascites so you are more comfortable and pain free.

DB

poopergirl14052

I am sure you will get well
The new tx will get you better. Probaly a paracentis would make you more comfortable. Are you short of breath too? Have a good Easter with your family and know we are hear for you..val

Hissy_Fitz

I'm glad they switched you.
I'm glad they switched you. The last treatment wasn't doing the job, so it's probably best to just move on to something else. I have heard good things about Topo. I hope it works for you, too.

The Topo may get rid of the ascites, but that could take a couple of weeks. I think it's a good idea to get it drained. I had 3 liters drained off before surgery. Imagine one and a half big Coke bottles full of liquid, as short as I am. I was a LOT. And I felt so much better, once it was over. The procedure doesn't hurt and it was the ascites crowding everything that was causing my abdominal pain.

What's your schedule, and where will you be getting the Topo? I will be back in NYC in about 3 weeks. I think my appointment is May 11th.

Carlene

Rookerbird

Nancy, I'm so sorry
Nancy, I'm so sorry to hear about the pain and discomfort you're enduring. Hope you have relief very soon, and that the three Topotecan treatments this week go smoothly. And, I'm hoping and praying that each day has at least one bright and happy moment in the midst of the trials.

carolenk

Rookerbird said:

Nancy, I'm so sorry
Nancy, I'm so sorry to hear about the pain and discomfort you're enduring. Hope you have relief very soon, and that the three Topotecan treatments this week go smoothly. And, I'm hoping and praying that each day has at least one bright and happy moment in the midst of the trials.

Switching treatment
Dear Nancy

Thanks for keeping us all posted on your latest news. If love could cure cancer, you would be cured because I can see that you are truly loved.

Carolen

Christine B.

carolenk said:

Switching treatment
Dear Nancy

Thanks for keeping us all posted on your latest news. If love could cure cancer, you would be cured because I can see that you are truly loved.

Carolen

Dear Nancy,
You are often in my thoughts and prayers, and will continue to be as you begin this new treatment.
Chris

Tina Brown

Hi Nancy
I am so sorry to hear of your ascites I just know how uncomfortable it can be. I have heard good things about topotecan so it may just be the wonder chemo for you. Take care I will be thinking about you. Love Tina xx

kikz

I had five liters removed a few days after my diagnosis
and another three a couple of weeks after that. It made such a big difference in how I felt. I was pretty much bed ridden one day and walking around feeling good after the fluid was removed. Once I had chemo it did not come back. Good luck to you Nancy and I hope the new drug works.

Karen

eward

change
My mom has had a worsening of her ascites and a change in treatment, as you have. Her new medicine is a form of Taxol...Abraxane. Her fluid reached her lungs at the time of her diagnosis, 2 years ago, and she now has a drain in her right lung, since last summer. The drain has increased her comfort level and she and my dad are able to drain her lung once per week themselves. We are hopeful the new chemo will slow the ascites. I hope your new chemo will do the same. You deserve to be comfortable........push for a tap/drain if you think it will help you feel better. You are one of the most amazingly strong women I have come across through this site. I think of you often and wish you continued strength and hope and happiness with your family.

lindaprocopio

eward said:

change
My mom has had a worsening of her ascites and a change in treatment, as you have. Her new medicine is a form of Taxol...Abraxane. Her fluid reached her lungs at the time of her diagnosis, 2 years ago, and she now has a drain in her right lung, since last summer. The drain has increased her comfort level and she and my dad are able to drain her lung once per week themselves. We are hopeful the new chemo will slow the ascites. I hope your new chemo will do the same. You deserve to be comfortable........push for a tap/drain if you think it will help you feel better. You are one of the most amazingly strong women I have come across through this site. I think of you often and wish you continued strength and hope and happiness with your family.

(((Nancy))). I had such high hopes for the taxol/avastin for you
I am so sorry about the pain and the ascites. I hope they get it drained off and that the topotekan keeps it away. You are such a special wonderful woman and you need to catch a break!! (((Nancy))). THIS will be the thing that works. SURELY!!!

You and I started this journey about the same time, and yet our mets are so different, but treatments so often variations of each others treatments. You must be as frustrated as I am to keep trying one chemo after the next, the constant warrior, and being let down. But you have to keep on, have to remain hopeful that the next thing you try will be the thing that turns it all around.

If I can't get the radioembolism, topotekan is high on my list for something else to try, although my oncologist doesn't think my bone marrow is good enough to keep my platelets sufficient on topo or gymzar. But we may have to give them each a try anyway. I see the interventional radiologist this afternoon for my initial consultation. It is scary to be off chemo while we explore this idea, but I have to have no chemo in me to do this. Maybe there is a 'big move' out there unrelated to chemo for you to explore?? Where is the bulk of your cancer now?

I'm rooting for you, Nancy, to be the 'Miracle Girl' here. In my prayers, dear girl..

Cindy Bear

Good luck
Nancy, Glad you have a new treatment plan in place. I've heard some very good things about Topetecan..
Keep us posted and hang in there.
Hugs,
Cindy

kayandok

Dear Nancy,
I'm glad your doc team is on top of your game, and I hope you can feel better soon. Keep us posted.
Love you,
kathleen

Mwee

Dear Nancy
I'm coming into this post fairly late, but wishing you best of luck with your new treatment! I hope your feeling more comfortable.
(((HUGS))) Maria