Forum Discussion
Changing chemo.
Well I received the dreaded news from my oncologist today after scans earlier this week. One good thing was there is no spread to the organs, but not so good for the bone scan. There is more spread in the pelvic bones and head of the femur. I'm having an xray to check there is no fracture from the cancer. On Tuesday I will be starting a different chemo as the Abraxane has stopped working. I will be starting on IV Eribulin, once a week for 2 weeks then 1 week off. Has anyone else been on this treatment and if so how did they cope. I have been told about the neuropathy in fingers and feet being a problem, which I already have to some degree. Also the white cell count can drop effecting the immune system. Just as well I got my Tassie holiday in beforehand. I was wondering if constipation or diarrhoea is a problem. Will probably be seeing an orthopaedic specialist depending on the xray I'm having on Monday. I guess I'm lucky there is still treatment available for me.
16 Replies
- Hello @wendy_h67
Sorry to hear that news, hoping your X-ray results are clear this week.
Thinking of you and best wishes with the new chemo - @wendy67, sorry to hear your results, as you said at least there are alternatives,and yes, so so glad you had your holiday, we just have to keep on keeping on dont we, I have my ct scan on Tuesday, results on Thursday to see whether the enlarged lymph nodes are any thing suspicious or were just an infection, scan anxiety just starting to creep in.
wendy55 - Ha ha yes I do and I am still debating whether its the kids or chemo that turned my hair white. Eribulin so far is doing its job. After cycle 3 my 4 liver tumours had decreased by 2 and my bone mets were stable. After cycle 6 all mets were unchanged and stable. I can live with that. Still have left breast tumours but Onc said mastectomy if needed. Right breast was removed 7 years ago.
- Hoping the epirubilin is affective for you.
@Tennille Do you really have 11 kids? Aaargh - I am about to start my 9th cycle of Eribulin. I lost about 3 quarters of my hair. I have my infusion(which is a 5min push) on Monday, I feel slightly bone achey that night but panadol osteo helps with that. Wednesday my mouth gets a bit yucky with blood blisters and ulcers but they resolve quickly. Thursday,Friday and Saturday feel a little more weary but its manageable. Second week is slightly worse than the first. I do have some minor neuropathy but Onc said unless my balance is affected no change tp treatment. I have been neutropenic lately but no infections. All in all its a fairly cruisy treatment. I am a single mum of 11 kids and still manage to deal easily with day to day living. There is a small Eribulin/Halaven group on breastcancer.org and we all keep rach other updated. Good luck
- Thank you everyone for your replies .
- Thinking of you Wendy. <3
XO - Sorry to hear this. I have some understanding of how you feel. My last scans showed my bone mets were stable( some even healed!), however a few tiny mets have shown up in my liver that weren't there before. My oncologist thinks it's the HER2 cells that are the culprit - they've become resistamt to Herceptin/Perjeta - so I've had a change in treatment. We just have to keep praying that new drugs become available all the time so that we can keep ahead of this bloody disease.
- Best wishes from jennyss in Western NSW
- This is a shit of a disease. Xxx
