Barbara

When I was on that combination, I found that I also had no patience. Maybe it was from all of the stress associated with the diagnosis/treatment. If possible, point it out to him and let him know that you are sympathetic to his situation and TRY and be as understanding as you can. Hang in there. Barbara

I also have gastric problems with Taxotere and have gone to a Holistic Dietician who has me order powder from a company called Metagenitics called "ultra-meal" and additives to make "shakes" and use them instead of a meal for the first few days after Chemo. I add Aloe Juice, Aceodolpholis (sp), Flax Oil and Glutimine to them plus a piece of fruit for flavor and it has helped greatly. I also drink water like crazy for the first few days after Chemo to wash it out of my system. Regarding the questionable findings in your back, is there any way you can get a PET Scan done. Bone scans have proven to be some what difficult to interpret and the PET right now is a much more thorough scan. It is very expensive (mine was $7,000) but luckily my carrier paid for almost all of it. Done much like a CAT scan and they even did both on me at the same time. Good luck with your questions and hopefully, feel better. Go online and see about the Metigenics site and if possibly you can get Ultra Meal. No endorsement meant here but it sure has helped me a lot. Peace and blessings, Barbara

Dear Ada, Hang in there. My prayers are with you along with everyone else's. I deeply admire your strengh and your attitude. I am right there with you as people also tell me that I look great and wonder at how can I be so "up". I honestly believe that attitude has everything to do with survival. If you are not up, and take each setback as just another challenge on the long road, the whole fight that we are all involved in is a lie. After all, what is the alternative. When the "bad times" come, and I get down I simple embrace it for while until it passes. Being a fighter has proven to me to be one of my hidden talents which has been brought out by this whole experience. It has has turned in to one of by most valuable strengths and at times, even a wonder for me. You WILL get through all of this and go on and find some combination that will work. There are lots of drugs out there and having a positive attidude is so important. I even got my Cancer Center here in NJ to start an "Ongoing Treatment Group" for those of us that have to treat Cancer as a Chronic Disease. While there are not many of us that go twice a month to meetings, it is inspirational to all of us and we compare notes and talk and laugh about our fears, common questions and even things like facing the possible rest of our lives living in our wigs with no hair. I am kind of a support group junky, but pick and chose each one very carefully so they are good for me and there is chemistry (no pun intended) between the people that attend. Hopefully you do this as well. All our prayers are with you and please let us know how you are doing. Peace and blessings. Barbara

Yes, I was treated with both every 3 weeks for 6 treatments and my markers and size of tumors did a nose dive. Unfortunately, I had bone mets which were quite advance and probably started around the time I stated Chemo. As you know, Chemo will do nothing to stop bone mets, only radiation. I improved enough to be off Chemo for about 6 months before they started me on Taxotere. Side effects started on day 2 after Chemo (and after my high from steriods went away) and I felt kind of yukky for about 4-5 days, drink tons of water to wash it through my system. No nausea, just "fluish" kind of feeling, plus G.I. upsets and a yen for carbohydrates. Hang in there. As we all know, everyone is different. Good luck and God Bless.

Carleen, keep looking. I go to a Cancer Center in NJ that has a whole support system for the patients. It has a mind, body center that give free weekly yoga, about 12 support groups and just about the best group of people. There are 7 Onc there and I am on my second one because I felt that #1 Onc was a little to conservative and treated me to "assembly line". Just as this disease is part of my life, so are all of the programs I attend. I even convinced them to start a new group meeting 2x/month starting May which is "Ongoing Treatment Support Group" to help those of us that are in it for the long haul. Good luck and keep at it. You have GOT to find the right doctor with the right attitude - it makes all of the difference to both you and your husband. Blessings, Barbara

Anyone have any input on just how beneficial this program is when dealing with periodic shortness of breath and a slight cough? I do use an inhaler which works like a charm - even Hall cough drops help. My O2 reading is 96 (very normal) and my lungs sound pretty good, and my Markers are normal, and the tumors in my lymphs seem to be improving with Taxotere. My Onc is open to my suggestion of giving it a try but I wanted to get some input from my buddies on this board. Perhaps it could help improve my quality of life???? Improve my stamina and help me get off of some of my "aides". Off the topic, I wanted to comment on some of the other postings on this board regarding Oncologists and how they view this dease with their patients. My Onc (bless him) has told me from the get-go that I have to look at this disease as a chronic condition - which may require treatment on and off for as long as it takes. It is certainly more comforting than some of the other Onc statements that I have read on this board. And, I believe it - right down to my toes. Nice way of putting it, don't you think. Peace and blessings to you all, Barbara

I to had Taxol/Carbo which put me in remission for 6 months until we found out that I had bone mets to my arm - a signal that while one thing was fixed there was most definately activity. I was lucky and only felt gross for about 3 days out of each 3 week cycle. Regarding your questions about navelbine/gemzar, I just asked my Onc about that just last week (just in case) and he said that his opinion was that both together was a toxic combination to the body and he would not want to use them together on me. He felt that the reduction in the quality of life from the side effects was just not worth the treatment. Like I said, his opinion only. Maybe you should research this, should he be right. Peace and blessings, Barbara

You all have given me so much support and I thank you for your input. It is so wonderful to know that this board is here and that all of you have taken the time and care to respond to me. Has really given me "food for thought". Should you want to email me directly, please feel free to do so. Email is "insurem@yahoo.com" (can you guess I run an insurance agency out of my home) and I would love to correspond with you. We have lots in common. Bless you all, Barbara

My Onc made a comment to me and the Onc Nurses kind of reinforced it by saying that they prefer to look at and treat late stage Cancers as chronic diseases. Right now there really is no "cure" - no magic bullet that will get rid of it completely. The use Chemo, Radiation, Surgery procedures to see what will stop or slow down any progression of the disease and lots and lots of drugs that can make the side effects more tolerable. For some dumb reason I found that this view was very comforting since I have an adult son who has dealt with Asthma since he was 5 years old so we do know all about chronic diseases. It is so very important (my opinion) to read about all kinds of helpful therapies that can be used like meditation, guided imagery and some of the books that Dr. Bernie Siegel has written to help get you head in the right place. Learning to live in the present and made the very most of every minute of each day became a whole new way of thinking for me and really made a difference. It is a long journey for some but well worth it. It make you feel that you have some control and can really change you life. It did mine! Peace and blessings, Barbara

While I have rarely posted, I have used this board to get info, inspiration and questions to ask my Onc. To review, was Dx with Breast CA Stage IV and after doing CT found I had two primaries, with the second being in one of the airways of the right lung - surgery not recommended as it also involved the lymphs in the chest. Treated with Taxol/Carbo for 6 cycles and then off everything for 6 months but I kept complaining about pain in my left arm. Onc kept telling me that it was from Taxol. Finally insisted on getting a PET/CT scan and sure enough, I had mets to the ulna which required stablization before 10 radiation treatments could be given. I was so pissed off at the Onc that I changed doctors. Recently I had a lumpectomy done which thankfully had clean margins. Right now I will be getting my second treatment of Taxotere, which is giving me more aches and pains than I though possible. Since my two surgerys, I developed a dry cough and periodically enough shortness of breath that I use an Albuterol, which does help a bit. I am feeling very low due to the recent breathing problems I am encountering. I can handle the Chemo as I know it helps but am having problems believing that the breathing problems are not a signal that things are getting worse and not better. My Onc feels that all of the symptoms are due to two surgerys and Radiation within the past 10 weeks and my body just trying to get back to where it was before. I don't know if I buy that. I need to know from you, my dear friends, if I should push to see a Pulmonary Cancer Specialist - or - what I can do to help myself. I have always been a very positive pro-active person but I am not sure what is the best route to go. My new Onc is wonderful, very supportive but also very busy. I have to be involved and ask the right questions and insist on the right tests getting done. Anything you could suggest, recommend or identify with would really help me out. Sorry for the "doom and gloom" but I really need some support. Hubby commutes to the big apple from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day and basically, I am here alone trying to cope, and keep a stiff upper lip. AND, it is very very difficult. I need your help. Peace and prayers for you all, Barbara

About to start another round of Chemo (Taxotere) but have a persistent cough and periodic shortness of breath. Anyone have some ideas of how to treat and/or deal with both? Would exersize (starting slowly) help strengthen and improve lung capacity? Please let me know your thoughts and experiences. Many thanks to all.

Yes, I mean it. Bless us. All of us that are caregivers, patients, and survivors. For those undergoing current treatment (like me) here is to a posititive attitude and a really GOOD sense of humor - you need it all of the time. Are any of you on complimentary treatment - holistic, mind/body, etc? I have found that it has helped a great deal but I am just loaded with vitamins, herbs and protien drinks. All have made me not only feel better but in a bit more in control - which is a really great feeling. Let me hear from you as I am Stage IV, going soon for my second round of Chemo and some Rad to my arm. Love to hear good stories - but I have just as much trouble staying positive as you all do. What an elevator ride this disease puts you though. And let's not forget the stress factor. At least we have each other. Barb

Unfortunatly, I just found out from a Bone Scan that I have a hot spot on my left forearm and they are going to radiate the area - they say it will get rid of the problem as well as the pain. Anyone have any experience with this? After 6 rounds of Taxol and Carbo, it was disheartening to get this news but I kind of knew that something was not right with my arm - like, I could not use it I really need some positive vibs and would welcome some input. After Chemo, this could be a "walk in the park" but I wanted to ask to see what you all had to say. Thanks and bless you all! Barbara