chemotherapy

[jeannette2407]

I was diagnosed with stage I breast ca in september.. i have had two treatments thus far with adriamycin and cytoxan. After each treatment i remain nauseous for 10-11 days my reflux is so bad i have hoarse voice and fells like it is closing up diet very limited. My question is: if my tumor was margin negative .. triple negative .. but proliferatively grade 3... would it be advisable to stop treatment after two treatments due to my severe symtoms. Also my CEA has been normal..I am currently on a two week regime of A & C for a total of 4 treatments.
Also is there any proof that taxol given after A & C lowers reaccurence??

[njoylife]

I just finished my 3rd round of AC.  I was diagnosed in Aug with triple negative grade 3 bc, neg lymph nodes but intramammary node positive.  I too have been fortunate as far as the nausea. I take Emend and am given anti nausea steroids prior to chemo.  My Onc has told me that if I find this is not working, they have other drugs that will.  I agree with Irishgal2. Tell your Dr.  They expect to hear from you with any problems. Don't be shy.  I have had acid reflux as well and take Prilosec OTC.  It seems to help.  I also chew papaya tablets. It is a natural treatment for heartburn & stomach upset. Another suggestion...mint green tea.  Calms the stomach, flushes the bladder.
Good luck.

[Irishgal2]

I feel for you, chemo is horrible.  I had stage 1 BC, ER/PR+, Her2- and Grade 3.  I was given 4 cycles of AC regmine like you 21 days apart.  I was one of the lucky ones, my sympthoms were not too bad.  I think maybe alot of it was down to the good anti nausea meds I got.

There is a drug called Emend (manufactured by MSD) which is a relatively new and very good anti nausea drug.  You take one tablet 1 hour before chemo and then 1 tablet each morning for the next two days.  In Ireland I was given an injection into my line of Zofran and Dextamed (sorry cannot spelt it right, but it is an anti nausea steriod) by the Oncology nurse before my drugs were injected.  Then I took 4 tablets of the Dextamed steriods for the next 3 days at home in the morning.  All in all, my nausea was not too bad.  Unfortuantely I cannot tell you if it was my body or the drugs that kept my sympthoms to a minimum.  Maybe ask your Oncologist about these drugs that I have mentioned.  I hope you get some relief for your symptoms and can continue with your remaining two chemo session.

If you are node negative like I was then I was told that Taxol is not really of much benefit.  I was told 4 session of AC were sufficient.  I would have got 2 or 4 session of Taxol or Taxotere only if any of my lymph nodes turned out to be positive, which thankfully they did not.

Good luck with your treatment.

[DrBhumikaMD]

Hi,
It would not be advisable to stop treatment in between. There are side effects associated with chemotherapy but then you and your oncologist should discuss and prevent or treat them. Try to eat a healthy diet , OTC antacids and anti nausea medications are very helpful. Sleep with your head end elevated to prevent reflux. This should help you with the side effects you are having. Goodluck.

[darcytwin]

I am also on a/c and taxol...i am horribly nauseated for the first 10 days then the last 11 seem as if nothing has happened...i also have baaad diarreah...my oncologist has me on immodium ad and suppositorys for the nausea....it has seemed to help..to an extent..there are a plethera of anti nausea meds out there...keep asking for different ones...there has to be one that will work for you.

Keep up with the treatment.  You can do it.  Youre ''lucky'', you only have 4 treatments..i get 6...sigh

[lhughes]

Were you given Zofran for the nausea or pepcid for the heartburn...perhaps reglan or phenergan?  Try some of these suggestions to help and see if you can make it through the A/C.

Grade 3 means it was a fast growing tumor and (according to my docs) very affected by the chemo (fragile).

A/C followed by Taxol is a standard course of treatment.  I believe that each acts in its own way to stop cancer cell reproduction.  I would advise you to talk with your onc on what he can do to help make this easier on your system.  I hope you can find releaf.

Best of luck