Chemo

A friend of mine had to stop chemo because she kept reacting to it. She'd had 3. They said the most effect came from the first 3 doses.

Another friend had to have her drugs tweaked. The chemo she had was made up of 3 drugs. 1 drug caused the problem.

Thank you GagaJo so perhaps it's one of the two drugs that's causing the problem. If she has to stop chemo completely that'll be very worrying. Hope they can come up with a solution.

No experience myself, but a lot with members of the family.

Chemo is chemicals that are put into your body and individual bodies deal with that invasion differently.

When they say “this is the best” what they mean is “this combination of chemical has been shown to be the most effect in treating this particular cancer in this particular profile (age, sex etc.)

But if your body says no then they will try the next most effective. Often the difference in effectiveness is minimal. A slightly higher percentage of all clear or a even a slightly lower percentage of reaction, which your sister is unfortunately on the wrong side of.

It really doesn’t mean that there’s nothing else to be done which is perhaps what you fear.

It’s not a good comparison but I can’t have penicillin. Often it’s the most effective antibiotic but I have to have a different one and the infection takes a bit longer to clear up.

It may even be that they try the same drugs but individually as it might be just one or the fact that they are combined.

There are many, many different drugs used in putting together a chemo treatment and many alternatives which they can use.

I hope this reassures you.

I’ve no experience of this, but am wishing you well ?

rascal my husband only had chemo for pallative care when he became terminal. I never knew they where so many different types of chemo. The sort he had was light sensitive and had to be in a black bag to cut out the light but this was way back in October 2003 . He was ok with it didn't even get sick but lost his sense of taste and became impotent which upset he greatly. He said I am dieing and can't even make love to you. He died February 2004. He had the chemo but don't think it made anything better for him . Looking back I wish he hadn't had it as we knew he was dieing and nothing could save him. He was 47 when he died. He had a Grade 4 malignant melanoma with secondary tumour's 3 in his right lung , 1 in his chest and 2 in his brain by the optical nerve.

I hope with all my heart they can find a chemo that works for your sister. And hopefully helps her .?

Thank you Peasblossom for the explanation. Yes we fear nothing else could be done. Thank goodness you say they can try other combinations of the drugs. They have told her with her third try in two weeks she has to take an overnight bag and be admitted to the ward if she reacts badly again. She said the pain etc was so bad they had to administer morphine by mouth. She is certainly not looking forward to having to try it all over again.
Your reassurance means a lot. Thank you.

Thank you JeanneLeFol for your kind wishes. They are very much appreciated.

[Wiff] I am sorry to hear about your dear husband. That was terrible. Yes we do hope they can find a suitable chemo for her. Sending my best wishes to you.

I am not sure what your DS is being treated for but I had chemo 18months ago.
I had the mixture of two for the first four sessions and fortunately tolerated them. The next drug I had completely floored me. I had the third session reduced by 20% and they cancelled the fourth. They did not seem too worried by this.

I am a member of a couple of private groups on Facebook where I have had invaluable advice. There are many different types of chemo - some are easier to cope with than others.
Another source of good advice is MacMillan. You can ring them at any time and they will give you knowledgeable advice.

I wish your sister well.

Oh they’ll probably dose her up with the morphine (or similar) first, now they know. Everyone is different so it’s always about learning what’s best for the individual.

Chemo used to be a blunt tool but now it’s a a really fine tuned treatment with lots of different pathways.
Best wishes to you both?

Peasblossom said it best with this comment.

When they say “this is the best” what they mean is “this combination of chemical has been shown to be the most effect in treating this particular cancer in this particular profile (age, sex etc.)

But if your body says no then they will try the next most effective. Often the difference in effectiveness is minimal. A slightly higher percentage of all clear or a even a slightly lower percentage of reaction, which your sister is unfortunately on the wrong side of.

That is a bit sweeping Peasblossom I have never heard of anyone being dosed up with morphine before chemo. Reactions to chemo can be life threatening, not painful!

My late sister in law reacted very badly to chemo. She didn’t complete the first lot and when offered a second series turned it down. She knew she only had months left so wanted to at least feel reasonably well. I think she lived three more months before dying in a hospice.

dragonfly46 Thank you . My sister seems to have the cancer in her abdomen. They say it started in her ovary. She has it in a lung now. They had to take a lot of fluid from it. She has never smoked. They said after all the chemo they want to do a hysterectomy. Unfortunately she has no appetite and not able to eat much so is loosing weight.

Good you tolerated the first four sessions. Sorry that the next was cancelled. With my sister they have tried to give her reduced dose but she just has a horrendous reaction to it.

Unfortunately my sister is far too ill to want to bother with the Internet/Facebook. I am trying to reassure her. So any information I can find out will be helpful. I don't know about any groups on Facebook that would be a help. I did mention McMillan to her but I don't think she has been in touch with them yet.

The shock is she was perfectly well no sign of anything wrong until near the end of September then this diagnosis. They are doing their best at the Beatson for her but the problem is trying to find a way that she can tolerate the chemo.

I am sending my best wishes to you and hope you continue to keep well.

Peasblossom Thank you. Yes they injected her with morphine but it didn't seem to work so they gave her it by mouth. The pain she got from the chemo was horrendous . Hopefully they will know the next time. Although she is not keen to repeat the process. They have taken her genetic profile so I think they are trying to tailor the chemo to her. But she's not able to tolerate it.

My best wishes to you.

dragonfly46 With the two chemo treatments my sister has had she had a horrendous reaction to both. She said it was not even ten minutes into the chemo when she got sudden breathlessness and her temperature went up. She had a terrible awful feeling in her entire chest then unbearable pain in lower back . She said it was beyond belief pain. Nurse pressed the emergency button. Doctor and Consultant with nurse arrived. Antidote was already going in but it didn't work quickly like the last time. They gave her liquid morphine to swallow. Unfortunately my sisters reaction to chemo is unbearably painful and feeling the end is immanent.

rascal what a terrible thing for your sister and you to go through. Have you looked at the Cancer Research UK website? There is information ther about types of cancer, drugs and research. There's also a Cancer Chat line where you can ask questions or look at what others have said www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-chat
I hope this helps.
All he best to you and your sister.

trisher Thank you for the info. Have not looked at the Cancer Research UK website. Will click on the link you kindly sent. The shock of the diagnosis has put us in a spin that's why I contacted you all here to see what help if any was available. Thank you everyone. Very much appreciated.
Best wishes