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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
decadron or taxol reaction??
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
decadron or taxol reaction??
by roffie, Aug 11, 2004 12:00AM
I've been on a regimen of taxol, carboplatin, and herceptin for 1.5 years. I have had increasing difficulty tolerating the decadron prior to chemo treatment. Two weeks ago, I had a severe reaction to the decadron(no taxol or carbo administered), 70/40 bp, respiratory distress. Then last week, the doc skipped decadron and gave increased benadryl instead. When taxol was started(after about 10% of the treatment), I had a reaction-increased bp,etc.
Prior to these two episodes, I have had no difficulty with the taxol, carbo, and herceptin. In addition, the regimen is still working.
My doc has nixed any future use of decadron. He also thinks that I may be developing a resistance to taxol. I simply don't understand the taxol resistance since all signs point to decadron being the culprit.
Can you shed any light on this problem? Is there a substitute for decadron as a pre-med for tx/cbplt/her treatment? I don't want to give up the taxol this easily.
Prior to these two episodes, I have had no difficulty with the taxol, carbo, and herceptin. In addition, the regimen is still working.
My doc has nixed any future use of decadron. He also thinks that I may be developing a resistance to taxol. I simply don't understand the taxol resistance since all signs point to decadron being the culprit.
Can you shed any light on this problem? Is there a substitute for decadron as a pre-med for tx/cbplt/her treatment? I don't want to give up the taxol this easily.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-JS, Aug 11, 2004 12:00AM
Dear roffie, The pre-med for taxol infusion is usually a corticosteroid (i.e.decadron) and an anti-histimine (i.e.benadryl). There are several medications within the category of corticosteroids that could be used in place of decadron if continuing the Taxol was considered to be of benefit. When talking about drug resistance what is usually meant is that we think we've gotten the most mileage out of the medication in terms of its effect against the cancer. That the tumor may no longer be responding to the drug, and the side effects of the medication are outweighing the tumor fighting benefits of the drug. So, not only are the side effects that you have been experiencing with the regimen taken into account, but also the tumor response.
