stage III breast cancer

I am 29 yrs old and have stage III breast cancer.  I had a left modified radical mastectomy.  The lump in my breast was 3.5cm and I had 6 out of 15 lymph nodes affected by cancer.  My mother also had inflammatory breast cancer when she was 32 but we both tested negative for the BRCA1 and BRCA2.  I am currently on chemotherapy with Adriomycin and Cytoxin, then I will be on Herceptin and Taxol, and will also have 6 wks of radiation worked in there.  After the first dose of Adriomycin and Cytoxin my wbc drop to 200 and I had a nutropenic fever of 105.6 and pnuemonia (pneumonia) and spent 2 wks in the hospital. After the second dose my wbc  droped to 800 but I did not get nearly as sick and did not spend time in the hospital.  On Friday I will be getting my third dose.  Will I continue to not get quit as sick or should I pack some bags for the hospital stay.  I am very nervous to get these treatments.  I am a single mother of a 7 yr old and can not afford to be in the hospital all the time.  I have asked if their is anything I can do to prevent getting sick and all they will say is the usuall wash your hands and avoid people who are sick.  I work in a Dr.s office.  I currently am only doing phones and desk work and am not allowed direct patient contact but I know that is not always enough.  Does anyone have any advice? I was also wandering if I had a daughter what would her chances of getting breast cancer and if it is high does that mean I am better off not haveing any more children?


This discussion is related to Lobular carcinoma in situ.

[bluebutterfly2222]

Hi and welcome to the BC community!

There is a drug called Neulasta that many oncologists give routinely with each chemo tx, to prevent neutropenia.  Are you receiving this chemo pre-medication? If not, you might want to ask your onco about it.

Here is a link to a previous thread that tells about it:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Breast-Cancer/taking-neulasta/show/518404

Best wishes...

[bluebutterfly2222]

Hi and welcome to the BC community!

There is a drug called Neulasta that many oncologists give routinely with each chemo tx, to prevent neutropenia.  Are you receiving this chemo pre-medication? If not, you might want to ask your onco about it.

Here is a link to a previous thread that tells about it:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Breast-Cancer/taking-neulasta/show/518404

Best wishes...

[bluebutterfly2222]

p.s. Here is an even more detailed discsussion regarding Neulasta which appeared in the Chemotherapy Expert Forum:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Chemotherapy/Use-of-Neulasta-with-Chemotherapy/show/1026950

[nanlee98]

My heart goes out to you . Bluebutterfly has good advice, I've checked out other websites she recommended.  Is it possible to change doctor if your current one doesn't take your issues seriously enough?  I'm a big believer in Lysol spray & rubbing alcohol. A big bottle of alcohol is cheap and goes a long way. Wipe  down things that you & others touch frequently...doorknobs, keyboard, mouse, phones,handles etc. Wishing you the best, nanlee

[SunnyR]

Thank you for the advice.  My doc does give me a shot of some growth hormone that is supposed to help keep my cell count up but I cant think of the name of it.  I will keep the Nuelasta in mind and ask her about it the next time I see her.  I am comfortable with my doc and do trust her.  She is a specialist and only works with breast cancer.  She will also tell me the strait truth.  She does not sugar coat things or hold things back.  I like that.  Thank you again for the advice and the nice welcome.
Sunny

[katarina777]

The Neulasta works great, and you get a shot of it 24 hours after your chemo session. I got it  after every treatment.

They now have a newer drug which has a different name.

The main problem is that this little shot costs a fortune, like $6000 every time. Of course if you have good insurance and your oncologist is a preferred provider, the cancer center agrees to be paid a couple thousand less but even then it's a fortune.

But so is being in the hospital. The situation may get better though.

I am currently  on a different chemo and no longer get those shots. When I did I was on Adriamycin, Cytocin and Taxotere.

Katrin

[katarina777]

Yes, bb, and   SunnyR,    

   That's the name: Filgrastin, that is more often used than Neulasta and I don't kniow if the price has anything to do with it.

(This was mentioned in the first post)

[katarina777]

After reading the second post, I must agree with Dr.Kamal S Saini. The only side effect I had was some bone pain but not horrible. My chemo  was TAC. I received the Neulasta  ever time I had chemo, 24 hours later. Except, I had the chemo only every three weeks and it's hard to imagine someone getting it every week. KAT

[bluebutterfly2222]

Thanks, Kat, for sharing your first-hand experience with this kind of drug, and for correcting my error by clarifying that it is given AFTER chemo txs. (I misspoke and called it a chemo pre-medication.)

Some addional info: Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) and Neupogen (filgrastim) are both products of the Amgen pharmaceutical company. One recent cost estimate for  Neupogen is $1500-2400 per injection, depending on the dose strength, and it is often covered to some extent tby insurances, including Medicare.  The company also encouages those in need to contact its patient assistance program.

bluebutterfly

[katarina777]

Thanks, bb, for clarifying that part about the cost. My insurance of course paid for it, but they usually only pay about half of what the cancer center and Oncologist charges. Still, I pay nothing as the oncolgist must take the price of the insuarance, even if much less. as he is a preferred provider.

I am glad to know that Medicare, and perhaps even medicaid, alos pay.  KAT

[bluebutterfly2222]

Apparently the costs varies widely; that figure was just given as an answer on another Web site.

Mostly, I wanted to make sure everyone knows that the pharmaceutical companies have "patient asistance programs" which allow qualifying consumers to get their drugs free or at a low cost.

Also, Cheerpul  previously  shared a Web site that  helps needy pts get meds:

http://www.needymeds.org

bluebutterfly

[SunnyR]

I believe that the nuelasta is the shot that I get only I get it the same day as treatment.  I do know that at my hospital the social worker signed me up for a grant that not only cover the meds that I get for treatment and that shot, but it also covers the copays on all my regualar maintance medications. If you need help making payments talk to the social workers at the hospital that your doctor is affiliated with and Im sure they can find something to help you out.
Sunny

[bluebutterfly2222]

That's great that you've been able to get help with your medications, and a good reminder to others that such help is oftn available for those in need.

Please let us know how your last chemo tx went. I hope you did not get very sick or have to be hospitalized again!

Warm regards,
bb

[jujubee64]

Hi, I am just now joining in on this thread. I hope you are doing well. Sending lots of positive thoughts your way!

Best Regards,

Jujubee