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Don M

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    update

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    After I got out of the hospital last June, I tapered off the prednisone too fast and so I had to go back on oxygen. After a few dead ends with my PA at the oncology clinic, he referred me to a pulmonologist. I was put back on high dose prednisone and tapered down more slowly. I was able to recover most of my lung function.

    I bought an oximeter after my first hospital stay to monitor my saturation. I noticed after my 3rd infusion of taxotere, that my saturation dropped 5% or more, but came backup after a few days. My third infusion was not too bad in terms of side effects. My 2nd infusion was not to bad either. I had a chest ct scan 2 weeks ago. I went to see my oncologist about it on the day of my 4th infusion a week ago. All my tumors show no change, so it is stable. The radiologist talked about my upper right lobe as if it had been collapsed for some time. That is where my big tumor is located. No one else had mentioned a collapsed upper lobe in previous scans and I was able to walk my mile and did not need oxygen...so I wonder about that.

    On the day of and the day after my 4th infusion, my saturation was running 5% low again. This time a few days later, about 5 days after the infusion, it did not recover to its former rate. Instead it crashed and I had to go back to the hospital. I got out the next day, called my pulmonologist Tuesday, and he said to go back on high dose prednisone and quickly taper down. I took 60 mg of the stuff today and had a dramatic improvement.

    I am convinced the taxotere affects my breathing. The other side effects were more intense this time too. So maybe I will bail out of taxotere because I like to breathe...or maybe I will finish it and just jack up the prednisone each time the taxotere whacks me. I am going to talk to my oncologist about it this Tuesday.

    Don M

    Carboplatin & Gemzar Vs. Carbo, Taxol, & Avastin

    in CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER

    Posted

    I had carboplatin and gemzar for my first chemo. I had it in the adjuvant stetting following my second surgery. My oncologist offered it to me instead of carboplatin/taxol because he said there would be no chance of getting neuropathy with the gemzar. I tolerated it fairly well, but unfortunately my cancer came back a year later. Avastin was not available then.

    I have just completed my 4th round of taxotere as a single agent and have had no problems with neuropathy at the extremities so far.

    Don M

    Well, the Other Shoe Fell

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Hi Patti. I am sorry to see you have some progression and hope the tarceva does it for you. I used tarceva for about 3 months before we figured it was not working for me. But it works for a lot of people. One problem I had in terms of side effects was my hands getting all wrinkled up and sore. I tried some stuff that you can get over the counter called liquid gloves. I got mine at the Rite Aid pharmacy. It basically solved my hands problem.

    Don M

    Taxotere?

    in NSCLC GROUP

    Posted

    Linda:

    I just finished 4 rounds of taxotere as a single agent. I have lost some hair and my beard is about gone. I have had thrush but got that cleared up. I have had no neuropathy or nail changes. I had an infiltration into my arm muscle at the first infusion, but that is another story. I carry an oximeter with me now and I notice that my saturation drops 5 percent by day 2 after chemo. After that it comes back up. The side effects have been tolerable. I do get fatigue. My scan a week ago shows everything to be stable.

    I had my 4th infusion yesterday.

    Don M

    It's Coming Back!!

    in CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER

    Posted

    I hope Tom likes his new hair. It is interesting to read how one's hair can come back looking different. I am in the process of losing my hair now after 3 rounds of taxotere. I have had a beard since before my children were born. My beard is mostly gone now and my daughters know what I look like without a beard now. My son's have not yet seen me in my defolicated condition. My youngest daughter says I look like my sons.

    Don M

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