taxotere - dr says he is running out of treatment options...

Dawn50
Dawn50 Member Posts: 122
in Lung Cancer #1
Hi All,

Interested in hearing about your experiences with Taxotere.

Husband was unable to tolerate Navelbine after one treatment now on Taxotere. Doctor was actually pretty honest during this past visit - The cancer has grown quite a bit from just last month hence, the pain and illness he's had recently and the reaction to Navelbine on top of it... told him he is running out of treatment option (maybe one or two more viable options remain) and once those are exhausted he'll have to look at hospice/pain management. Had he not had a resident following him around that day I doubt that he would have been so forthcoming since he hasn't been all along.

Had his first Taxotere on Wednesday. Tonight (Saturday) having horrible muscle, stomache cramps,and massive diarhea minutes after any food hits his stomache. But first chemo that has not given him high fevers and chills.The cancer is causing some pretty intense pain for him.

He is getting a port in a few weeks and is now saying he will stop working at the end of November.

Comments

  • dennycee
    dennycee Member Posts: 857 Member
    #2
    Hi Dawn,
    I am in awe of
    Hi Dawn,
    I am in awe of those who are able to work with this diagnosis and down right envious of those who can pick a retirement date. These are characteristics of someone with a lot of fight in them. Have you looked into seeing a palliative care physician? With the kind of fight he has in him he could do well. I have no experience with taxotere but if no one checks in soon that does you may want to go thru the archives at cancergrace.org or inspire.com.

    What about requesting Lucanix for compassionate use?, or participating in a clinical trial?
  • Dawn50
    Dawn50 Member Posts: 122
    #3
    dennycee said:

    Hi Dawn,
    I am in awe of
    Hi Dawn,
    I am in awe of those who are able to work with this diagnosis and down right envious of those who can pick a retirement date. These are characteristics of someone with a lot of fight in them. Have you looked into seeing a palliative care physician? With the kind of fight he has in him he could do well. I have no experience with taxotere but if no one checks in soon that does you may want to go thru the archives at cancergrace.org or inspire.com.

    What about requesting Lucanix for compassionate use?, or participating in a clinical trial?

    decided long ago
    He decided long ago that he did not want to do a clinical trial. He's showing signs of a negative reaction to the Taxotere today... rash, tongue feeling "weird", severe joint and muscle pains.

    My heart is breaking for him as I watch him go through hell.
  • searching for options
    searching for options Member Posts: 2
    #4
    taxotere
    Hi Dawn50. My mother had her first treament of taxotere on 10/4/12 and has been experiencing the same side affects. Aches & pains, stomach cramps that were described by mom as ninja turtles wrestling in her stomach. Diarreah constantly. Had to go several times to the center for IV Fluids, she was so dehydrated. Also, breathing became very hard and painful, found out that fluid was building in the pleural sac and had to be drained. 1 liter was drained on 10/11 and 2 liters was drained on 10/18. Dr says that reactions to taxotere were too severe, wants to try taxol and carboplatin on next chemo date of 10/25. Prior to the taxotere, she was getting alimpta and carboplatin for 6 months then just alimpta for 3 months, then when the cancer started to grow went to taxotere.
  • Dawn50
    Dawn50 Member Posts: 122
    #5
    searching for options said:

    taxotere
    Hi Dawn50. My mother had her first treament of taxotere on 10/4/12 and has been experiencing the same side affects. Aches & pains, stomach cramps that were described by mom as ninja turtles wrestling in her stomach. Diarreah constantly. Had to go several times to the center for IV Fluids, she was so dehydrated. Also, breathing became very hard and painful, found out that fluid was building in the pleural sac and had to be drained. 1 liter was drained on 10/11 and 2 liters was drained on 10/18. Dr says that reactions to taxotere were too severe, wants to try taxol and carboplatin on next chemo date of 10/25. Prior to the taxotere, she was getting alimpta and carboplatin for 6 months then just alimpta for 3 months, then when the cancer started to grow went to taxotere.

    Taxotere
    Searching, I am so sorry your Mom is going through this as well. This is my husband's fifth chemotherapy drug, each time seems to get harder for him.

    I hold you and your family in my prayers.
  • Dawn50
    Dawn50 Member Posts: 122
    #6
    searching for options said:

    taxotere
    Hi Dawn50. My mother had her first treament of taxotere on 10/4/12 and has been experiencing the same side affects. Aches & pains, stomach cramps that were described by mom as ninja turtles wrestling in her stomach. Diarreah constantly. Had to go several times to the center for IV Fluids, she was so dehydrated. Also, breathing became very hard and painful, found out that fluid was building in the pleural sac and had to be drained. 1 liter was drained on 10/11 and 2 liters was drained on 10/18. Dr says that reactions to taxotere were too severe, wants to try taxol and carboplatin on next chemo date of 10/25. Prior to the taxotere, she was getting alimpta and carboplatin for 6 months then just alimpta for 3 months, then when the cancer started to grow went to taxotere.

    Taxotere
    Searching, I am so sorry your Mom is going through this as well. This is my husband's fifth chemotherapy drug, each time seems to get harder for him.

    I hold you and your family in my prayers.
  • Karenhopeful
    Karenhopeful Member Posts: 38
    #7
    Dawn50 said:

    Taxotere
    Searching, I am so sorry your Mom is going through this as well. This is my husband's fifth chemotherapy drug, each time seems to get harder for him.

    I hold you and your family in my prayers.

    taxotere coughing blood???
    I have uterine cancer that went to my lungs. I received carboplatin and taxol for 8 months till tumors started to grow. I have now had one cycle of Gemzar and taxotere. I too get diarrhea on about the 4th day after. This week has been my worst since being diagnosed back in February. (I get it once a week for two weeks then two weeks off.) I am now coughing a lot of blood which I didn't do before. That is what brought me here tonight. I'm completely weak, can hardly walk without needing to sit down. I'm on day two of neupogen to build white blood cells. Had big cramps in hips and leg last night. What does this mean for me. I'm currently in Florida for a two week vacation and I live in Michigan. So not easy to do anything about it till I get home. My insurance is basically only good in Michigan. Does anyone have experience with coughing up bloody phlegm?
  • djs123
    djs123 Member Posts: 102
    #8
    Karenhopeful said:

    taxotere coughing blood???
    I have uterine cancer that went to my lungs. I received carboplatin and taxol for 8 months till tumors started to grow. I have now had one cycle of Gemzar and taxotere. I too get diarrhea on about the 4th day after. This week has been my worst since being diagnosed back in February. (I get it once a week for two weeks then two weeks off.) I am now coughing a lot of blood which I didn't do before. That is what brought me here tonight. I'm completely weak, can hardly walk without needing to sit down. I'm on day two of neupogen to build white blood cells. Had big cramps in hips and leg last night. What does this mean for me. I'm currently in Florida for a two week vacation and I live in Michigan. So not easy to do anything about it till I get home. My insurance is basically only good in Michigan. Does anyone have experience with coughing up bloody phlegm?

    coughing blood??
    Karen

    I'm sorry you're going through this especially since you're on vacation. I hope you are feeling a bit better by now.

    I don't know how far into your vacation you are, but I would certainly go into an urgent care center and get checked out. There are tons of them in Florida and I believe they are open on the weekends as well.

    I don't think you should food around with this.

    Good luck and God bless
  • dennycee
    dennycee Member Posts: 857 Member
    #9
    Karenhopeful said:

    taxotere coughing blood???
    I have uterine cancer that went to my lungs. I received carboplatin and taxol for 8 months till tumors started to grow. I have now had one cycle of Gemzar and taxotere. I too get diarrhea on about the 4th day after. This week has been my worst since being diagnosed back in February. (I get it once a week for two weeks then two weeks off.) I am now coughing a lot of blood which I didn't do before. That is what brought me here tonight. I'm completely weak, can hardly walk without needing to sit down. I'm on day two of neupogen to build white blood cells. Had big cramps in hips and leg last night. What does this mean for me. I'm currently in Florida for a two week vacation and I live in Michigan. So not easy to do anything about it till I get home. My insurance is basically only good in Michigan. Does anyone have experience with coughing up bloody phlegm?

    Karen
    If you haven't already gone to urgent care call your provider and ask where you can go.
  • ToBeGolden
    ToBeGolden Member Posts: 695
    #10
    Karenhopeful said:

    taxotere coughing blood???
    I have uterine cancer that went to my lungs. I received carboplatin and taxol for 8 months till tumors started to grow. I have now had one cycle of Gemzar and taxotere. I too get diarrhea on about the 4th day after. This week has been my worst since being diagnosed back in February. (I get it once a week for two weeks then two weeks off.) I am now coughing a lot of blood which I didn't do before. That is what brought me here tonight. I'm completely weak, can hardly walk without needing to sit down. I'm on day two of neupogen to build white blood cells. Had big cramps in hips and leg last night. What does this mean for me. I'm currently in Florida for a two week vacation and I live in Michigan. So not easy to do anything about it till I get home. My insurance is basically only good in Michigan. Does anyone have experience with coughing up bloody phlegm?

    call provider?
    If your insurance provider has an advice nurse available by phone, I would call. Say you have started coughing up blood and do not minimize the problem. An advice nurse will have to tell you to go to urgent care or an ER. If your insurance provider does not have an advice nurse, there are often advice nurses affiliated with medical centers. Getting advice to go to urgent care /ER might cover as an excuse for the insurance provider. Just a suggestion. Rick.

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