Kevin - Taxotere - Zometa
Sue Mullen
Kevin has had 4 Taxoter infusions so far, the 5th on will be this coming
Thursday. He is still getting his Lupron shots every 3 months and now
takes Prednisone 5 mg twice a day. In addition he takes 8mg Decadron the
night before chemo, 8 mg one hour before and 8 mg 6 hours after the
chemo infusion is done.
Kevin has been getting his blood work done locally, two days before
Chemo which is every 3 weeks and chemo is always a Thursday. When he
gets to Fox Chase he first sees him medical oncologist, goes over the
blood work etc, gets the ok to do chemo that day and then he checks in
at the infusion room waiting room. Since it takes an hour for them to
get the drugs and there is always a longer wait then that, they give him
a beeper so we don't have to stay in the infusion room waiting room. We
normally have some lunch and then find a place to wait and wait some more.
At each session Kevin first gets Aloxi, an anti-nausea drug IV and then
the Taxotere infusion. After the first chemo Kevin had a lot of itching,
some under the skin and some on the surface. So starting with the 2nd
chemo session he gets a Benadryl infusion before the Taxotere. He also
started using Alpha Keri bath oil and Keri lotion to deal with the
itching. Other then the itching he has a little more fatigue, but is
still able to work full time and doesn't think the SEs are a big deal.
The other SE is that his hair is thinning and he is losing more hair,
but that is not a big deal either.
At the 3rd chemo session Kevin got the usual, Alozi, Benadryl, Taxotere
infusions, plus his Lupron shot and finally got his first Zometa
infusion. The Zometa knocked him on his ass and he spent several days in
bed with flu like symptoms. The interesting thing is that when you have
the flu and start feeling better it takes time to get your energy back,
with the Zometa he got his energy back right away. We have been told
that with such a reaction to the first Zometa infusion, it is likely not
to be all that bad the next time(this coming Thursday). Of course having
read some old posts here, we are not getting our hopes up too high, but
whatever it is, it is something he needs.
At the beginning of the chemo journey Kevin had some mild pain in his
lower back, maybe a "2" on the scale. By the time of his 3rd Taxotere
infusion the pain was completely gone.
Up until a couple of weeks ago, soon after the 4th Taxotere infusion, we
both thought things were going well and that the SEs of Taxotere weren't
all that horrible. Around a week after the 4th chemo, Kevin started to
run a temperature and slept around the clock. He did wake up to eat,
only because he knows with diabetes he must eat, also he needs to eat
before taking some of his meds. This lasted for a few days, but now he
seems to be feeling fine again. This all happened around the time his
while blood count would be down and he started feeling better around the
time the count would be going up again. We will be discussing this with
the doctor on Thursday, but we both are thinking this happened because
he couldn't take the time he needed to rest durning that first week
after chemo.
Kevin's PSA did not start going down until after his 3rd chemo infusion.
The med. onc. said he wasn't worried "yet", but fortunetly on the 12/1
blood draw it did come down. 41.2 is still high, but it is a beginning
and we hope it continues to go down.
According to the blood work Kevin's "Alkaline Phosphatase" was very
high, but as of the last blood test is now in the normal range. We had
never heard of Alkaline Phosphatase before so looked it up and saw that
"when prostate cancer moves to the bones it releases increased levels of
this enzyme". The medical oncologist was very pleased that this # was
coming down, now lets hope it stays down.
Tomorrow Kevin goes for more blood work and Thursday we see the med.
onc. to get the results and to have the 5th Taxotere infusion. This time
Kevin will also get Zometa and we hope the SEs aren't as bad as last
time. If all of this will get Kevin's cancer under control, we are more
then willing to live with the SEs.
sue
10/05 � 2.2
8/07 � 4.1
12/07 � 7.9
8/08 � 0.1
2/2/09 � 4.1
5/5/09 � 14.5
5/11/09 � 19.0
6/15/09 � 10.3 � T 20
8/12/09 � 15.5
8/17/09 � 20.8
9/21/09 � 37.6
10/21/09 � 55
11/11/09 � 55.8
12/1/09 � 41.2
Alan Meyer
We're all thinking of you and Kevin.
Best of luck to both of you.
Alan
Stephen Jordan
> At the 3rd chemo session Kevin got the usual, Alozi, Benadryl, Taxotere
> infusions, plus his Lupron shot and finally got his first Zometa
> infusion. The Zometa knocked him on his ass and he spent several days in
> bed with flu like symptoms.
That's called APR (Acute Phase Response) and is -- or should be
-- well-known to medics who pay attention to side effects.
It sometimes occurs within 24-36 hours of the first Zometa 4 mg
infusion.
It is easily avoided by giving a smaller initial dosage. In the
case of Zometa, one mg is recommended.
See, Strum & Pogliano, _A Primer on Prostate Cancer, 2nd
edition_, page 143.
Sorry that Keith had to suffer the APR.
Regards,
Steve J
Steve Kramer
news:7pa5s4...@mid.individual.net...
:
:
: Kevin has had 4 Taxoter infusions so far, the 5th on will be this coming
: 8/07 � 4.1
: 12/07 � 7.9
: 8/08 � 0.1
: 2/2/09 � 4.1
: 5/5/09 � 14.5
: 5/11/09 � 19.0
: 6/15/09 � 10.3 � T 20
: 8/12/09 � 15.5
: 8/17/09 � 20.8
: 9/21/09 � 37.6
: 10/21/09 � 55
: 11/11/09 � 55.8
: 12/1/09 � 41.2
Steve Kramer
doesn't ruin his and your Christmas.
--
PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46
Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c
RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins
PSA <.1 <.1 <.1 .27 .37 .75 PSAD 0.19 years
EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47
PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 PSAD .056 years
Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 and every 4 months there after
PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 PSAD 1.4 years
Casodex added daily 07/06
PSA undetectable since. Next Assay 02/02/10
Illegitimati non carborundum
"Sue Mullen" <kjmu...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:7pa5s4...@mid.individual.net...
:
:
: Kevin has had 4 Taxoter infusions so far, the 5th on will be this coming
jloomis
treatments..you and Kevin.
john
Sue Mullen
Thanks Alan. Happy Holidays to you and your family!!
sue
Sue Mullen
I knew of the Acute Phase Response from reading here, but 6 weeks later
I don't recall exactly what the conversation was with the med. onc. The
only part of the conversation I do remember is the warning about the
possible side effects, which did happen. We will see what happens after
his 2nd Zometa infusion this coming thursday.
thanks,
sue
Sue Mullen
Steve Kramer wrote:
> Thanks for the detailed accounting, Sue. I hope the infusion on the 24th
> doesn't ruin his and your Christmas.
>
Thanks Steve. We have gotten so much good information from KHs posts and
others, I just hope we can give back a little and help someone else.
We are Jewish, so Christmas is just the beginning of a long, quiet
weekend for us, but thanks for the thought. Even if Christmas was our
holiday, Kevin would put his cancer treatments first.
Merry Christmas to you and everyone else here who celebrates it!!
sue
Sue Mullen
jloomis wrote:
> I can only wish you all the best, and for being so brave to go through the
> treatments..you and Kevin.
> john
Thanks so much John!!
I don't know about being brave, we are just doing what has to be done to
deal with Kevin's cancer.
Happy Holidays to you and your family and to everyone else here!!
sue
Steve Kramer
: We are Jewish, so Christmas is just the beginning of a long, quiet
: weekend for us, but thanks for the thought.
Sorry, Sue. Not trying to convert you. :-)
I'd wish you a Happy Hanukkah, but I believe that passed a few days ago.
Sue Mullen
Steve Kramer wrote:
> "Sue Mullen" <kjmu...@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:7pdbsv...@mid.individual.net...
>
> : We are Jewish, so Christmas is just the beginning of a long, quiet
> : weekend for us, but thanks for the thought.
>
> Sorry, Sue. Not trying to convert you. :-)
LOL...I have lots of stories I could tell about us confusing people, but
what do you expect with our last name.LOL
> I'd wish you a Happy Hanukkah, but I believe that passed a few days ago.
Yes, it ended a few days ago.
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!!
sue
Heather
>
>
> Steve Kramer wrote:
>> "Sue Mullen" <kjmu...@comcast.net> wrote in message
>> news:7pdbsv...@mid.individual.net...
>>
>> : We are Jewish, so Christmas is just the beginning of a long, quiet
>> : weekend for us, but thanks for the thought.
>>
>> Sorry, Sue. Not trying to convert you. :-)
>
> LOL...I have lots of stories I could tell about us confusing people, but
> what do you expect with our last name.LOL
>
Irish catholic ancestry, as Steve must have as well. Mind you, you still
could be.
You should see the mystified look on people's faces with my red hair,
freckles and Hispanic surname.....which is pronounced in an Italian manner.
(Figaro) Don't judge a book by its name, I guess. (G)
Have a good holiday, you two..........we are now honorary
parents/grandparents to the family next door and have Xmas dinner there. It
is a bit of a madhouse with kids, cats and dogs, but fun nevertheless.
All the best to everyone on here, regardless of religious persuasion, and
have a super 2010.
Ron & Heather
Sue Mullen
Heather wrote:
> "Sue Mullen" <kjmu...@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:7pf5rr...@mid.individual.net...
>>
>> Steve Kramer wrote:
>>> "Sue Mullen" <kjmu...@comcast.net> wrote in message
>>> news:7pdbsv...@mid.individual.net...
>>>
>>> : We are Jewish, so Christmas is just the beginning of a long, quiet
>>> : weekend for us, but thanks for the thought.
>>>
>>> Sorry, Sue. Not trying to convert you. :-)
>> LOL...I have lots of stories I could tell about us confusing people, but
>> what do you expect with our last name.LOL
>>
> I got a giggle out of that as well..........and here I thought you were of
> Irish catholic ancestry, as Steve must have as well. Mind you, you still
> could be.
>
> You should see the mystified look on people's faces with my red hair,
> freckles and Hispanic surname.....which is pronounced in an Italian manner.
> (Figaro) Don't judge a book by its name, I guess. (G)
You should of heard the discussion with the rabbi when we meet him and
asked him to marry us.lol My maiden name is Goodman, but my mother had
remarried and her last name was Boyle, then of course Kevin's last name
you know. The Rabbi asked if we were sure we were in the right place.
> Have a good holiday, you two..........we are now honorary
> parents/grandparents to the family next door and have Xmas dinner there. It
> is a bit of a madhouse with kids, cats and dogs, but fun nevertheless.
The same to you and Ron and enjoy the family next door. We just hope to
have a quiet, long weekend and are keeping our fingers crossed that
Kevin is ok to enjoy relaxing.
> All the best to everyone on here, regardless of religious persuasion, and
> have a super 2010.
The same from me and Kevin!!
Let 2010 be a year of many new treatments for PCa and let Abireterone be
appoved!!!!!!!
sue
ChuckP
>
>
Good luck tomorrow to you and Kevin. I'll be thinking about you and hope
the side effects are minimal.
Have a good weekend.
Chuck
Sue Mullen
Thanks Chuck!!
Just let the blood tests keep improving and we can both put up with any
of the SEs.
Happy Holidays to you!!
sue
Andre
following ones had no side effects at all. Maybe your body gets used to it.
I always ask for a slow infusion (over 30 minutes) as this seems to help.
Sue Mullen
This past week the infusion was slowed down to a half hour. Kevin was ok
on Friday, slept most of Saturday and on Sunday was a lot better other
then some diarrheas. Today he is back at work feeling fine again. We
will be talking to the med. onc. next time and seeing if slowing the
infusion more will make the SEs easier. Still this 2nd Zometa infusion
was much easier then the 1st one.
sue
Lud
I will be getting my 7th Zometa next week and I have requested that
all my infusions be done over 60 min. Years earlier I had 3 Zometa
infusions over 20 to 30 min period and I had stiff achy joints for a
week, that is the reason for my current request. It is know that first
infusions do produce side effects - varies with individuals - reduced
dosage and/or longer infusion time helps. Also requires a higher
intake of calcium supplements especially the first 2 weeks after
infusion.
Lud
Sue Mullen
Thanks Lud! Before starting Zometa Kevin was told to double his calcium,
he is now taking 12mg/day every.
Kevin is having Taxotere every 3 weeks and Zometa every six weeks. We
intend to ask that the infusion be slowed down more, maybe to 60
minutes. I also wonder if doing 1/2 dose of Zometa every 3 weeks would
make sense or would that just be asking to have SEs more often? Guess we
will see what the med. onc. thinks.
sue