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Posted by Deanna on 5/18/2008, 5:40 pm
99.249.196.218
I am feeling a bit confused and my mom is feeling like she is not being given a chance to fight this cancer.
My mom's cancer returned in both her lungs Nov 16 and she was started on chemo, she had a left pleural effusion but they didn't want to drain it until they could see if the chemo would work. She started on Taxotere & Xeloda but after 2 rounds she got fever neutrapenia so they stopped the Xeloda, started her on Gemzar with the Taxotere and she was able to get the Neupegon(GCSF) for 10 days after the chemo's to keep her counts up. The first CT scan (after the first 3 rounds; 2 with the Xeloda and 1 with the Gemzar) revealed that the chemo was working and the pleural effusion was drying up, and the tumors were shrinking. The second CT after 3 more rounds of Taxotere/Gemzar revealed the chemo was not working any more and there were 2 new tumors in the right lung, but they said the left pleural effusion which was about 1/3 of the lung cavity was stable and not worsening. The CT of liver, brain and pelvis indicated no mets in those areas. The Dr told us 4 weeks ago that they were going to have to change the chemo regime for mom when we returned from a trip we took together for 3 weeks. We saw the Dr two days ago and expected to start on new chemo, I suggested that perhaps the Xeloda was the drug that worked but we were told that mom should take a chemo break for now. Mom has been feeling very good for the past 3 weeks, not having the regular side effects of chemo, but we both expected that once we returned that chemo would start again. The dr said that even though we know the cancer is there and growing, that there is no benefit to treating the cancer if mom has no symptoms. He said the we should wait until she develops symptoms from the lung mets or symptoms from other areas if it spreads before treating it with chemo again. They have not suggested any other treatments either such as hormone or anything else. He does want to see us again is 3 weeks to see how she is still feeling, but said if she continues to be asymptomatic then we should stay away from chemo. Does this make sense? I too would love nothing more then mom to feel well, but she and I are both wondering if she isn't in a better fit state to fight this when she does feel strong and well. The Dr said that he wants to reserve Xeloda "until we really need it", he mentioned that that wouldn't be until "the end".
I am confused and I am hoping for some advice on how to approach this. You guys have been such a great support to me and my mom since last November, I'm sorry I've been out of touch awhile. I too pray for all of you and especially Matti, I've not seen her posts for awhile and I pray that she is okay.
I was wondering about any alternative therapies that mom may consider now that she doesnt' feel like she is doing anything "to fight" this cancer. I've been doing some research and found the website on Envita Medical Centre. We live in Canada so I'm not sure going to Arizona is an option or one mom would consider but if there are any places closer to home or treatments that are possible, I would be interested in hearing about them. We live in London ON, about 2 hours from Niagara Falls and 2 hours from Port Huron and Detroit.
Any advice on what to do if anything, or is the dr right in suggesting that we just wait. The waiting is hard, I know there is a balance between quality and quantity but as the daughter I do struggle with that and I take my cues from my mom. She is still striving for quantity right now. She says she can tolerate and live with the side effects as long as she knows they are working.
Deanna
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