Chemo Gone Horribly Wrong

sashes14
sashes14 Member Posts: 7
in Breast Cancer #1
My 68 yr old mother was an extremely healthy woman who was diagnosed with triple negative stage one breast cancer back in March. Her lumpectomy surgery in May was successful however given the rarity of her cancer, she elected for chemotherapy. Now, after one round of chemo treatment, she is fighting for her life. Seven days after receiving her first dose of chemo (a combo of cytoxan and taxotere), my mother was admitted to the ICU. She suffered from the standard side effects - tiredness, nausea, diarreha, etc. However, it turns out those signs were actually the result of a raging infection that was ravishing her body, leaving her white blood cell count at 0.4 and sending her into septic shock. For the past 5 days she has remained in extremely critical condition and the Dr.s cannot seem to determine where the infection is coming from. Therefore they are not able to treat it directly. They feel it may have started in her GI tract however noone knows for sure and she's far too unstable to perform any surgery. She is on dialysis for her kidneys, her heart is weak and now her white blood cell count is in the 40s. This is such a devastating blow to my family. Here we thought she was on the mend when in fact, her battle had not even begun. Every time we speak with one of the many speciality Dr.s who are tending to her, we never get any answers. The only thing they say is, this is SUCH a rare reaction but unfortunately, it can happen and this is one of those unfortunate situations. That is the most unsatisfactory response when your beloved mother's fate hangs in the balance. Am just not sure where to go from here...has anyone heard of this or dealt with this before???
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Comments

  • LoveBabyJesus
    LoveBabyJesus Member Posts: 1,679 Member
    #2
    So sorry...
    Hi--

    I want to say that I am very sorry your mom is going through this. I will pray for her tonight, to come out of this OK. I don't know of anyone who has gone through a similar situation, but I just want to say your mom will be in my prayers.

    I hope she will be OK. Please have faith she will be, and keep us posted.
  • rutzetta
    rutzetta Member Posts: 174
    #3
    Your Mom
    I'm so sorry to hear that the chemo went so wrong. I will keep her in my prayers and thoughts. The power of prayer is amazing! Keep the faith- God will take care of your mom, you and your family.- Constance
  • sea60
    sea60 Member Posts: 2,613
    #4
    rutzetta said:

    Your Mom
    I'm so sorry to hear that the chemo went so wrong. I will keep her in my prayers and thoughts. The power of prayer is amazing! Keep the faith- God will take care of your mom, you and your family.- Constance

    I don't know anyone who's
    had a reaction so severe. I'm sure it is rare. I'm very sorry she (and the family) is going through this. I will keep her in prayer. Please keep us posted.

    Hugs,

    Sylvia
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #5
    rutzetta said:

    Your Mom
    I'm so sorry to hear that the chemo went so wrong. I will keep her in my prayers and thoughts. The power of prayer is amazing! Keep the faith- God will take care of your mom, you and your family.- Constance

    I havent heard of this but
    I havent heard of this but want to send my prayers too. I am so sorry.
  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #6
    rutzetta said:

    Your Mom
    I'm so sorry to hear that the chemo went so wrong. I will keep her in my prayers and thoughts. The power of prayer is amazing! Keep the faith- God will take care of your mom, you and your family.- Constance

    I'm so sorry
    Unfortunately, I have heard of this, but am surprised this happened to an otherwise healthy woman and on her first cycle. I hope she will recover. When enough of us have read your post, I'm sure there will be many collective prayers, positive thoughts, and hopes for your mother. Please tell her and your family that we will be sending these for her. I'm sending mine now.
    Suzanne
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #7
    sea60 said:

    I don't know anyone who's
    had a reaction so severe. I'm sure it is rare. I'm very sorry she (and the family) is going through this. I will keep her in prayer. Please keep us posted.

    Hugs,

    Sylvia

    Sending prayers for your
    Sending prayers for your Mom!


    Hugs, Debby
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #8
    Double Whammy said:

    I'm so sorry
    Unfortunately, I have heard of this, but am surprised this happened to an otherwise healthy woman and on her first cycle. I hope she will recover. When enough of us have read your post, I'm sure there will be many collective prayers, positive thoughts, and hopes for your mother. Please tell her and your family that we will be sending these for her. I'm sending mine now.
    Suzanne

    I am very sorry to read this
    I am very sorry to read this about your Mother. Praying for her and sending you a big hug!


    Jan
  • butterflylvr
    butterflylvr Member Posts: 944
    #9
    survivorbc09 said:

    I am very sorry to read this
    I am very sorry to read this about your Mother. Praying for her and sending you a big hug!


    Jan

    A friend of mine had a
    A friend of mine had a severe reaction to her first chemo too. She too was hospitalized within a week due to an infection. They gave her a blood transfusion to help up her cell counts and she too was on antibiotics to fight the infection. She is a young gal in her mid thirties so her age helped her battle. She rebounded after a couple of weeks and ended up continuing her infusion treatments but had to have antibiotic for each infusion.

    I'm praying for similar results for your mother. How awful to have to deal with this on top of battling the beast.

    {{{Hugs}}}
    Lorrie
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #10
    butterflylvr said:

    A friend of mine had a
    A friend of mine had a severe reaction to her first chemo too. She too was hospitalized within a week due to an infection. They gave her a blood transfusion to help up her cell counts and she too was on antibiotics to fight the infection. She is a young gal in her mid thirties so her age helped her battle. She rebounded after a couple of weeks and ended up continuing her infusion treatments but had to have antibiotic for each infusion.

    I'm praying for similar results for your mother. How awful to have to deal with this on top of battling the beast.

    {{{Hugs}}}
    Lorrie

    my friend has severe infection after 3d Chemo
    she was admitted to the hospital have had blood transfusion plus was on antibiotics vis IV for 7 days and 7 days orally after she was discharged. It was combination of low blood counts due to the Chemo plus infection through the port. Port was removed too.
    She has recovered and doing well.
    Have your Mom got a Neulasta shot for boosting white cells? Please do not accept "just one of very rare cases" explanation. Infection should be treated and white counts can be boosted. Her doctor has a boss, please reach out.
    Praying for your Mother full recovery
  • jo jo
    jo jo Member Posts: 1,175
    #11
    Hi Sashes i had something
    Hi Sashes i had something similiar happen to me on my first round with chemo. I was on the same chemo cocktail as your mom. After 2 or 3 days I started getting a fever and was told to go to the emergency room. Which they admitted me in isolation and ran every test trying to figure out where my infection was coming from and couldnt find it...meantime all my counts were getting critical and still no answers. The only thing they did was isolate me in a ventalated room and pumped me full of antiboitics. They never did find the source of the infection but luckly after 3-4 days the antibiotics stopped the unknown infection and my fever finally broke and slowly my white count started going back up. They never did figure out what was going on and i had multiple doctors tryin to figure it out. It was very frustrating and scary. During this time i had a weak heart....and ive never had heart problems before. I know this isnt any help when your tryin to find answers to whats going on...i too felt that way and still didnt get answers but i thought maybe it would help to see someone that went thru something similiar and walked out of it. I will be prayin for your mom that she to will walk out of it too!
  • sashes14
    sashes14 Member Posts: 7
    #12
    jo jo said:

    Hi Sashes i had something
    Hi Sashes i had something similiar happen to me on my first round with chemo. I was on the same chemo cocktail as your mom. After 2 or 3 days I started getting a fever and was told to go to the emergency room. Which they admitted me in isolation and ran every test trying to figure out where my infection was coming from and couldnt find it...meantime all my counts were getting critical and still no answers. The only thing they did was isolate me in a ventalated room and pumped me full of antiboitics. They never did find the source of the infection but luckly after 3-4 days the antibiotics stopped the unknown infection and my fever finally broke and slowly my white count started going back up. They never did figure out what was going on and i had multiple doctors tryin to figure it out. It was very frustrating and scary. During this time i had a weak heart....and ive never had heart problems before. I know this isnt any help when your tryin to find answers to whats going on...i too felt that way and still didnt get answers but i thought maybe it would help to see someone that went thru something similiar and walked out of it. I will be prayin for your mom that she to will walk out of it too!

    Jojo - I cannot imagine what
    Jojo - I cannot imagine what you had to endure. You are a true inspirational survivor. This is going on day 7 of my mother's 'stability' treatment and I hope to no end, that the general antibiotics will eventually break this horrific cycle. She never had ANY health probelms at all before this. I cannot thank you enought for your post. It continues to give us hope in this dire situation.
  • sashes14
    sashes14 Member Posts: 7
    #13
    jo jo said:

    Hi Sashes i had something
    Hi Sashes i had something similiar happen to me on my first round with chemo. I was on the same chemo cocktail as your mom. After 2 or 3 days I started getting a fever and was told to go to the emergency room. Which they admitted me in isolation and ran every test trying to figure out where my infection was coming from and couldnt find it...meantime all my counts were getting critical and still no answers. The only thing they did was isolate me in a ventalated room and pumped me full of antiboitics. They never did find the source of the infection but luckly after 3-4 days the antibiotics stopped the unknown infection and my fever finally broke and slowly my white count started going back up. They never did figure out what was going on and i had multiple doctors tryin to figure it out. It was very frustrating and scary. During this time i had a weak heart....and ive never had heart problems before. I know this isnt any help when your tryin to find answers to whats going on...i too felt that way and still didnt get answers but i thought maybe it would help to see someone that went thru something similiar and walked out of it. I will be prayin for your mom that she to will walk out of it too!

    Jojo - I cannot imagine what
    Jojo - I cannot imagine what you had to endure. You are a true inspirational survivor. This is going on day 7 of my mother's 'stability' treatment and I hope to no end, that the general antibiotics will eventually break this horrific cycle. She never had ANY health probelms at all before this. I cannot thank you enought for your post. It continues to give us hope in this dire situation.
  • sashes14
    sashes14 Member Posts: 7
    #14
    New Flower said:

    my friend has severe infection after 3d Chemo
    she was admitted to the hospital have had blood transfusion plus was on antibiotics vis IV for 7 days and 7 days orally after she was discharged. It was combination of low blood counts due to the Chemo plus infection through the port. Port was removed too.
    She has recovered and doing well.
    Have your Mom got a Neulasta shot for boosting white cells? Please do not accept "just one of very rare cases" explanation. Infection should be treated and white counts can be boosted. Her doctor has a boss, please reach out.
    Praying for your Mother full recovery

    Thank you all for your
    Thank you all for your replies. I cannot express the gratitude I feel for your help and support with this.
  • cavediver
    cavediver Member Posts: 607
    #15
    Prayers your way
    so sorry to hear what your Mom is going through.... she and your family are in my prayers
  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    #16
    cavediver said:

    Prayers your way
    so sorry to hear what your Mom is going through.... she and your family are in my prayers

    So sorry to hear what your mom, and your family, is going throug
    I know of at least one other case of a woman about your mom's age, maybe a little older. She too was in isolation, pumped full of antibiotics, got transfusions, etc.

    I'll be praying for you, your mom, and your family that all turns out well.
  • TKMomma
    TKMomma Member Posts: 54
    #17
    Three years my brother had
    Three years my brother had ibfection and eent into septic shock. We were told 20% chance to live. Scarry to see all those machines hooked to hin. He pulled thru and is alive and well. Keep the faith. Medicine can b amazing.
  • TKMomma
    TKMomma Member Posts: 54
    #18
    Three years my brother had
    Three years my brother had ibfection and eent into septic shock. We were told 20% chance to live. Scarry to see all those machines hooked to hin. He pulled thru and is alive and well. Keep the faith. Medicine can b amazing.
  • TKMomma
    TKMomma Member Posts: 54
    #19
    Three years my brother had
    Three years my brother had ibfection and eent into septic shock. We were told 20% chance to live. Scarry to see all those machines hooked to hin. He pulled thru and is alive and well. Keep the faith. Medicine can b amazing.
  • TKMomma
    TKMomma Member Posts: 54
    #20
    Three years my brother had
    Three years my brother had ibfection and eent into septic shock. We were told 20% chance to live. Scarry to see all those machines hooked to hin. He pulled thru and is alive and well. Keep the faith. Medicine can b amazing.
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #21
    skipper54 said:

    So sorry to hear what your mom, and your family, is going throug
    I know of at least one other case of a woman about your mom's age, maybe a little older. She too was in isolation, pumped full of antibiotics, got transfusions, etc.

    I'll be praying for you, your mom, and your family that all turns out well.

    Gentle hugs and prayers coming your way!
    A rare case .. truly, awful. Please continue to press the doctors about locating .. the source of infection.

    Myself, I ended up in ER/Hospital for a 5 day stay -- with STAPH, which I contacted while on vacation at the Grand Canyon -- so I know the frustration of 'the sit, and wait' game -- . Emergency surgery plus a few extra days of another hospital stay -- any many months of staying home, and watching my WBC counts fluctuate ..

    Strength, Courage and Hope.

    Vicki Sam

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