Hi everyone!

Hi Debrajo!

So good to hear from you...sorry the heart recovery is taking longer than expected...or wanted. I never realized until I got my heart issues how widely our hearts affect our bodies. My level of fatigue going thru different meds was overhwhelming. Plus, we are not getting any younger! I am sure that plays a factor, too!

I am also sorry to hear about your daughter-in-law's breast cancer. Geeez! I have no knowlege to offer you as requested, but as you know one of the other ladies will no doubt be on to help you.

My prayers for you, your daughter-in-law and family. You really do have your hands full!

Kathy

My UPSC had progressed through frontline so the second line was Doxil.  In order to get cleared for it I had a heart scan (which was in 3D, so cool).  The side effects were the blistering of the feet, pretty much where anything rubbed them.  I put moleskin on those spots and slathered my feet in udderly smooth creme at night.  I had cold sores in my mouth and got a prescriptive mouthwash for that which took care of things.  That was pretty much the worst of it.  I worked while undergoing those treatments.  We ended up stopping because I continued to progress and switched to Avastin which we just stopped due to more progression.  Both the Doxil and Avastin were much easier than frontline.  Now we are searching for clinical trials for me, the back up plan is Permatrexed if nothing pans out.  Hang tough.  Wishing her well!  Anne.  

debrajo said:

Thanks Ladies!

Thanks again AWK, Kathy G. and debi.  I checked out the web link you sent Debi znd it explained so much!  I will send her the information as soon as she's calmed down a bit from throughing a Texas size Hissy Fit!  She is some kind of mad...cancer shouldn't hapen to a person once much less twice.  I will keep you all informed and will have other questions.  The people on these board are more intellegent and imformative that a whole passel of doctors!  Thanks again for the link Debi!

 

Hi Debrajo-  I guess you got your answer about the Red Devil.  There are some excellent online brochures for breast cancer patients via the NCCN site.  http://www.nccn.org/patients/guidelines/stage_iv_breast/index.html is the one for Stage IV Breast cancer, which as you know, is now your DIL's stage.  You may be able to get some answers there.  Breast cancer is really sneaky.  Just when you think you're safe and have done everything right . . . . A very good friend of mine has developed mets to the bone and lung TEN years after her diagnosis!   I'm absolutely sick about it.  In addition to ER+, she's also HER-2 positive, but back in the day, Herceptin was not used as first line treatment.  And I really believed she showed them.  Not.  She was also early stage, and I think she might have even been Stage 1!  But HER-2+.  As you said, no one should have to go through this twice and all the pink ribbons don't prevent a doggone thing!  For many women, Stage IV breast cancer can be managed for many, many years.  I hope this is the case for your DIL. 

Good to hear from you again.  I hope you recover from that doggone surgery and find yourself in good health soon.

Suzanne

I believe that Adriamycin is a brand name for Doxorubicin(Doxil  It was called the red devil for its red color and problably rather terrible side effects.  There is a newer version being used now alaso called Doxil, but is doxorubicin(liposome)  It is encapsolated in a closed lipid sphere.  refered to as a stealth  it can travel to the cancer cells and not bother as much of our bodies.  It does not bother the heart as much as the old stuff and side effects are supposed to be less.

I have had 4 Doxil after i use up my time with Taxol/ Carbo.  1ast time side effects were very minimal. 2nd time I felt worse than I ever had.  3 and 4 have been minimal side effects but the hand and foot thing is starting to bother me.  I still have neurapathy from the Taxol so it is hard to tell.  Sone i will have another Ct-scan and will find out if it is working.

If they can encapsolate this why can't they do that with the other types of chemo.  Just thinking.  Hugs and prayers to all.  Lou Ann

So sorry to read about your DIL Debrajo.  But I think being mad is good at this stage - it will mean she is up for the fight and all guns blazing to knock this beast down again. In the meantime, a cruise sounds good!  It is possible they will give her the same chemo combo she had first time around, as there has been such a long break between original treatment and recurrence.  I seem to remember that my oncologist said that if there was at least 6 months between then they could start with the same combo.  There are various versions of the Red Devil.  The drug is called doxorubicin (it's an anthracycline).  It's original trade name was Adriamycin, I think, but there have since been two liposomal versions (drug encapsulated in a lipid) - Doxil and Myocet - both of which are easier on the heart.  I understand that Myocet may also be easier on the hand and foot syndrome, but don't quote me on that! It is red and I think it comes in a black bag (a lot of chemo drugs are light sensisitve), which makes it look even more sinister!  Always good to frighten us chemo patients as much as possible, don't ya think - not!  :-(

Thinking of you and your DIL - cancer is such a sneaky beast - just when we think we've beaten it, it raises it's head again.  No one should have to go through this twice.  It makes me so angry.

Helen xx

debrajo said:

Hi!

Hi Helen and thanks for the info...I am getting another education for sure.  Knew this was rough, but didn't know there were differen' "levels

' of intensity!  I believe you re so right...anger cn be  very good thing!  I remember, back in the day, ALWAYS being mad.  I don't know how my son is doing in all this.  If he is like the rest of the men in this family he is ready to run for the woods!  
They do not deal well with anything unpleasent!  He is scheduled to go back to  Saudia Arabia June 17 th.  Think he wants to escape her rath!LOL!  Thank you for chimming in and I wanted to say how fabulos you look!  Quite beautiful really!  Best, Debra

You may know, breast cancer comes in many forms and the type one has (ER+, PR+, ER/PR+. HER-2+, triple negative, triple positive,  inflammatory, IDC, ILC, DCIS and on and on and on), dictates the type of treatment - in most cases.  It is not a one size fits all disease, not unlike endometrial cancer, but I think breast cancer has more KNOWN variables.  You will find that your next door neighbor's breast cancer may have been treated differently than your DIL, cousin, friend, aunt,mother, etc. and might wonder why, but it's probably because they had different types.   It's really hard to guess what type of treatment lies ahead for your DIL, whether she will receive the same cocktail she had previously or not.  It is a pretty common cancer and still can be a deadly one.  New data is always coming out because in spite of all the noise about not enough money for research, breast cancer is one of the better funded programs.   It all too often is an awful disease and just because it was caught in an early stage, does not guarantee cure, although the cure rate for the early stages are really good. No one seems to know why it will lie dormant for years and years and years and then decide to bloom.  Tamoxifen is a really good drug for premenopausal ER+ breast cancer folks.  Patients who refuse to take it should really weigh the risks vs. benefits.  The new studies now show a greater survival rate with 10 years of Tamoxifen.  The same for postmenopausal women on aromotase inhibitors.   I'm coming up on 5 years and I'm not sure I'll take it for 10, but I will discuss it.  My oncologist seems to think it would be a good idea.   There is no guarantee either way.  It's a stupid, ugly, mean disease.

Hoping for the best for your family.  Sounds like some tough times ahead.  Do they have children?

Suzanne