chemo behavior (warning, my post may be very boring)

[katarina777]

Hi, I thought I will as a question instead of answer one today. (I really feel like having a little back and forth talk like so many have had lately, and which did not used to be the case)

I have one other wish as well. Please do not tell me to ask my oncologist, or other doctor, since I already know this, and have asked. I also know that the answers I have received are guesses, and that is OK.  (but  there are more people than doctors who have valuable information to share, and they are more free to do so as well?)

Sometimes one can get information from other people's experience, or what they know from family and friends who had/have cancer, or even another patient who shared on a forum like this. I'll take everything of course also from people who have not themselves have had cancer, and who are often so 'on top of things'.

I am undergoing chemotherapy for the third time due to advancing bc and mets. (Ixempra) Prior to that I was on Abraxane which I loved, as it immediately, as well as continually brought down my   rapidly increasing tumor markers, (from about 500-200), I felt great, had no bad side effects, and the chemo was infused in 30 minutes vs. the usual 3 hours, like the one I am now getting.

But after a few months the Abraxane stopped working, and in a matter of weeks my tumor markers went up from about 250 to 1800. (I was not able to start immediately after quitting the Abraxane because my cancer had invaded my spine, and it was so brittle with some breaks that I needed Emergency radiation first) The day I finished radiation I started the other and have now finished three treatments.

My point and question relates to the fact that my tumor markers have not gone down but slightly up. (I am not concerned about the 'slightly up' but about the 'not coming down.)

I am pretty sure that the chemo must be working somewhat and that without it my markers would be a lot higher, but then I am also wondering if maybe the chemo is not working well enough, or at all.

I wanted to know if anyone has had this experience, and how it was managed. Did your onco  switch you, and at what point?

Thanks for listening; i realize this post is long and perhaps boring as well, to many.

Katrin

[SueYoung55]

I know you're having a rough time Kat and I wish there was something I could do to help.

I'm not an artist like you are but I'm going to put up a picture of my cancer experience painting that's still in progress. You'll notice the canvas is only partially done. I thought you could use a giggle.

[bluebutterfly2222]

Wow, I just noticed how long it's been since the last post (before your new one) on this thread.

Hoping you get good--or at least "okay"--news tomorrow..

♥♥,
bb

[katarina777]

Sorry I have not been around a lot. Just wanted you to know that I have not vanished, or forgotten about you, and your caring. I would never just 'take off' unless I absolutely had no choice about it?

I had a CT scan yesterday and am seeing my onco tomorrow. I hope he has the results by then. I will let you know one way or the other.

You all take care as well! Thanks SueYoung55 for your good wishes,

Katrin

[SueYoung55]

Please have your oncologist check into PARP Inhibitor Trials. Here are some things to read and perhaps pass on to him/her. Kat, it's doing good things for advanced cancer patients. Please check into it.... see if it's available for non BRCA patients.

http://www.facingourrisk.org/information_research/new_findings.php   reading material....

Best wishes

[zouzi]

Kat you are simply a real sweet "DARLING"

Your sense of humor is the best! You really made me chuckle!

Luv ya!
                                        
Sue♥
                                                  

[SueYoung55]

I was like you, no wigs and no bras.... but I admit I never considered going without panties. I wish I had thought of that because it seems so liberating! It's funny but no one ever noticed I was "one sided" when I had only one breast and I was like that for a year & a half.

I actually enjoyed being bald since it was cooler for me since I seem to be a walking hotflash. With my luck if I'd gone without panties it's a sure bet I'd have had a huge wedgie following me everywhere I went!

I hope you didn't mind the silliness... it was meant to make you smile when you really don't feel like it.

ps... now that I think about it, BB never did share that chocolate with us!
pssss.... you are royalty!