Karen44 Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 Hello all It's been a long time since I have posted so much going on. My husband(Joe) just had another CT scan that revealed new mets to liver,kidneys,pancreas,spleen. Also a new tumor found in abdomen. They have started him on Topotecan,I was wondering if anyone else has had any experiences with this drug,if so would you be willing to share your experience with me? Also my Joe has not had anything to eat for the last two weeks other than Ensure plus,he take four to five cans of this a day,his onco has put him om Megace and Marinol,he still has no appetite??!! Does anyone know of any other drug they could prescribe for him to increase his appetite?? ----------------------------------------------------- May 05 dx with large mass right lung May 05 scope done results negative for cancer June 05 needle biopsy confirms SCLC June 05 hospitalized for superior vena cava syndrome,cisplatin/etoposide started.Hospitalized for 10 days. July 05 discharged from hospital continue with chemo and radiation August 05 radiation complete 39 cycles September 05 chemo complete 10 cycles Sept 05 new scan shows good response with chemo Oct 05 stable dx Nov 05 presented with facial "tics" MRI of head shows 14 plus mets to brain,plus activity once again in chest Nov 05 WBR 15 cycles complete,starting cisplatin 3 cycles,then cisplatin/etoposide Dec 05 continues cisplatin/etoposide Jan 06 continues cisplatin/etoposide Feb 06 CT scan reveals new mets kidney,liver,spleen and new tumor to abdomen pancreas.No appetite started on Marinol Feb 06 started on Topotecan no appetite continues started on Megace continue with Marinol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karen335 Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 Karen, You might want to ask the doctor about Decadron. It is a steroid and it does increase the appetite. Start on low dose if the doctor approves. Like maybe 1-2 mg a day. Take early in AM and it won't intefere with sleep.... Just a suggestion... God Bless and prayers, Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 So sorry to hear that things aren't going better for both of you right now. Dennis was given Topetecan when the Cisplatin stopped working. The Topetecan seemed to be more harsh on his system. It really did a number on his blood counts and it seemed he missed more treatments than he ever got while on Topetecan. I'm sure this isn't true for everyone and I hope things will go better for you. Dennis had no luck with either of the medications for appetite that you mentioned. I just tried to focus on lots of liquids while he was not interested in eating. This was three years ago, so I'm sure there is probably something now that will work better. I'm keeping you both in my prayers. Please keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen44 Posted February 13, 2006 Author Share Posted February 13, 2006 Thanks for the replies As for the Decadron,Joe was on heavy doses of this when he was undergoing WBR,as soon as they weaned him off all steroids is when his appetite went south! We called his onco today and he told us there's nothing else on the market to increase appetite except putting him back on steroids and he stated he doesn't want Joe back on steroids.Joe is to keep using the Marinol and Megace together,but my reasoning is why use them if they do not work?? Joe no longer gets out of bed during the day,only to use the restroom! He is so weak!!Even a trip to the restroom wears him out!!I feel so helpless to see him wasting away and I have no control over this!! I hate cancer God Bless Karen44 ----------------------------------------------------- May 05 dx with large mass right lung May 05 scope done results negative for cancer June 05 needle biopsy confirms SCLC June 05 hospitalized for superior vena cava syndrome,cisplatin/etoposide started.Hospitalized for 10 days. July 05 discharged from hospital continue with chemo and radiation August 05 radiation complete 39 cycles September 05 chemo complete 10 cycles Sept 05 new scan shows good response with chemo Oct 05 stable dx Nov 05 presented with facial "tics" MRI of head shows 14 plus mets to brain,plus activity once again in chest Nov 05 WBR 15 cycles complete,starting cisplatin 3 cycles,then cisplatin/etoposide Dec 05 continues cisplatin/etoposide Jan 06 continues cisplatin/etoposide Feb 06 CT scan reveals new mets kidney,liver,spleen and new tumor to abdomen pancreas.No appetite started on Marinol Feb 06 started on Topotecan no appetite continues started on Megace continue with Marinol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trish2418 Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 Karen, Sorry, no advice to offer. Just wanted to let you know that you and Joe are in my prayers. Trish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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