Steroids

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musiclover
musiclover Member Posts: 242
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Is administration of steroids a given when on chemo? I'm trying hard to feed my friend a pristine diet and aside from the poisons of the chemo, Mark is given steroids as well. What is the general reason for the steriods (I know, I need to ask the doctor but he is pretty much absent since the clinical trial has begun). Has anyone ever stopped them while doing chemo? Your thoughts are appreciated.
Kathryn

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  • rthornton
    rthornton Member Posts: 346 Member
    #2
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    When I was receiving infusions of 5FU last summer, they always gave me a short infusion of Decadron before the 5FU. It was supposed to keep me from getting very sick from the chemotherapy, and I guess it worked because I never got sick (except for some pretty bad diarrhea, but I never threw up).

    Rodney
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #3
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    I had a similar experience as Rodney. As far as putting poisons in, sometimes you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet
  • lfondots63
    lfondots63 Member Posts: 818 Member
    #4
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    Hi Kathryn,

    I agree with the others. I get something for naucea before my folfox treatments. I have a rx for when at home but have not used it yet. I didn't want them either since they raise bloodsugar and I am diabetic. I would say you can ask a pharmasist also what the meds are for. They are usually helpful since the doc is not around. That might make you and Mark feel better about using them. Good Luck and HUGS!

    Lisa
  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #5
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    Kathryn - I know it is hard but try not to worry so much. Dexamethasone (Decadron) is a common part of the antinausea protocol - of course you don't want to be on steroids all the time - but having this as a chemo pre-med hardly qualifies as all the time. (Dexamethasone also helps to prevent allergic reactions.) If I were you I would not worry about the dex.

    Betsy
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #6
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    Kathryn,
    I think my onc snuck some into my pre-meds when I was on 5FU, cisplatin. I was nausea-free for 3 days post, but then got hit...wondered why she didn't write a script for steroids...hummm..

    Hugs,
    Kathi
  • JADot
    JADot Member Posts: 709 Member
    #7
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    I used to get a steroid based nausea drug but I asked for it to be stopped 2 weeks ago. Prior to that I was not sleep well, heart was pounding all the time and my blood pressure went up. I threw up twice with the last treatment, w/o the steroids, but slept well and free of other symptoms, so I consider it a reasonable tradeoff. My onc said that as long as I can handle it, she's OK w/ my going w/o.
  • CAMaura
    CAMaura Member Posts: 719 Member
    #8
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    The steroids do help with nausea (given with EMEND by Merck for me for three days) and as a pretreatment for nausea. I had to lower the amount of steroid; talked it over with my doc and I found my own level - trial and error - but I am a small person and couldn't handle the original amount prescribed. They are supposed to be good for boosting appetite but can add mood swings for both men and women. In the absence of Mark's own doc, maybe you can speak with the nurses and the clinical research coordinator. All the best - Maura
  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #9
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    JADot said:

    I used to get a steroid based nausea drug but I asked for it to be stopped 2 weeks ago. Prior to that I was not sleep well, heart was pounding all the time and my blood pressure went up. I threw up twice with the last treatment, w/o the steroids, but slept well and free of other symptoms, so I consider it a reasonable tradeoff. My onc said that as long as I can handle it, she's OK w/ my going w/o.

    Kathryn - I meant to add - if like JADot Mark has symptoms, then he should talk with oncologist. I am sorry that you seem to have little access to the doc - in which case, bug the nurse. I never had any side effects from the pre-med dexamethasone. My other anti-nausea pre-med was Kytril. Both of these were given IV on the day of chemo. Other than that I had a standard Compazine prescription to use as needed - also Ativan if the Compazine did not seem to work. But Compazine was normally all that I needed. And it did help - especially if I took it regularly for 2 - 3 days without waiting to really feel like I needed it. So, ask about that too, if you haven't already done so.

    Betsy

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