Abraxane for breast cancer
strength4thejourney posted:
I was diagnosed last June with IDC, with mets to lymphmodes and also insitu lobular. My oncologist told me he was approaching my treatment with "more treatments with less toxicity. I began with 12 weekly treatments of Abraxane and was very sick throughout treatment.
Following the Abraxane I received three each of adriamyacin and cytoxin. I then had both breasts removed with immediate reconstruction using latissimus muscles. That's a topic for another post.
The good new is the path report on both breasts and 12 removed lymphnodes showed no cancer. The bad news is my arms and hands go to sleep frequently I have lost fine motor skills, making it very difficult to pick up items, grasp items, etc. I stumble easily, drop things continuously and have great difficulty driving. I'm being told these are permanent effects of the Abraxane, as maximum recovery is at six months.
My first question - has anyone taken this much chemo? My second question - have you experienced similar neuropathy problems and do you have suggestion as to improve.
Following the Abraxane I received three each of adriamyacin and cytoxin. I then had both breasts removed with immediate reconstruction using latissimus muscles. That's a topic for another post.
The good new is the path report on both breasts and 12 removed lymphnodes showed no cancer. The bad news is my arms and hands go to sleep frequently I have lost fine motor skills, making it very difficult to pick up items, grasp items, etc. I stumble easily, drop things continuously and have great difficulty driving. I'm being told these are permanent effects of the Abraxane, as maximum recovery is at six months.
My first question - has anyone taken this much chemo? My second question - have you experienced similar neuropathy problems and do you have suggestion as to improve.
2 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Abraxane for breast cancerI was diagnosed last June with IDC, with mets to lymphmodes and also insitu lobular. My oncologist told me he was approaching my treatment with "more treatments with less toxicity. I began with 12 weekly treatments of Abraxane and was very sick throughout treatment. <br /> <br />Following the Abraxane I received three each of adriamyacin and cytoxin. I then had both breasts removed with immediate reconstruction using latissimus muscles. That's a topic for another post.<br /> <br />The good new is the path report on both breasts and 12 removed lymphnodes showed no cancer. The bad news is my arms and hands go to sleep frequently I have lost fine motor skills, making it very difficult to pick up items, grasp items, etc. I stumble easily, drop things continuously and have great difficulty driving. I'm being told these are permanent effects of the Abraxane, as maximum recovery is at six months.<br /> <br />My first question - has anyone taken this much chemo? My second question - have you experienced similar neuropathy problems and do you have suggestion as to improve.
brcansur responded:
strength4thejourney, hello and welcome, first off I have to say I did not take the same drug as you but did have a lot of the same side effects as you. I had a/c/t I would go all day once a week every 21 day. I got all 3 of them on the same day one right after the other it made for a very long day and boy did it make me tired for about a week afterwards. I had chemo on Wed went back on Fri for my shot and took it very easy for the weekends.
But now back to the side effects I too started dropping things walking like I was drunk and tripping over things that were not there. I can't open a jar of peanut butter most days or sew by hand for very long and I love to qiult by hand. I had all kinds of test done and MRI's and was told mine is due to a few parts of my brain being effected by chemo balance, speach and a few others. So I have to work very hard with therapy in the gym to w get the balance better try to trick a different part of the brain into thinking for the one that isn't working right to do the work. The speach I am working on just takes some time and thinking before I say something or write something down. The grip well that isn't going to come back no matter how hard I work on it I still try with a little rubber gripper and it helps a lot. I wouldn't drive for the longest time after chemo but got back into it a few years after and it seams ok when driving I only have trouble if standing and walking more so when I am tired or have done a lot in one day. Oh and stress makes it worse also. I am now 4 years from my dx a lot of work and staying active does help stay strong and postitive I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers angel hugs Roberta,
P.S. I use a warm pool at my clinics wellness program it seams to help me do my exercises without to much added stress to my joints or muscles. It feels good and losens things up for me plus so relaxing at the end of a long day.
But now back to the side effects I too started dropping things walking like I was drunk and tripping over things that were not there. I can't open a jar of peanut butter most days or sew by hand for very long and I love to qiult by hand. I had all kinds of test done and MRI's and was told mine is due to a few parts of my brain being effected by chemo balance, speach and a few others. So I have to work very hard with therapy in the gym to w get the balance better try to trick a different part of the brain into thinking for the one that isn't working right to do the work. The speach I am working on just takes some time and thinking before I say something or write something down. The grip well that isn't going to come back no matter how hard I work on it I still try with a little rubber gripper and it helps a lot. I wouldn't drive for the longest time after chemo but got back into it a few years after and it seams ok when driving I only have trouble if standing and walking more so when I am tired or have done a lot in one day. Oh and stress makes it worse also. I am now 4 years from my dx a lot of work and staying active does help stay strong and postitive I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers angel hugs Roberta,
P.S. I use a warm pool at my clinics wellness program it seams to help me do my exercises without to much added stress to my joints or muscles. It feels good and losens things up for me plus so relaxing at the end of a long day.
Roberta
Report This| Share this:Abraxane for breast cancerstrength4thejourney, hello and welcome, first off I have to say I did not take the same drug as you but did have a lot of the same side effects as you. I had a/c/t I would go all day once a week every 21 day. I got all 3 of them on the same day one right after the other it made for a very long day and boy did it make me tired for about a week afterwards. I had chemo on Wed went back on Fri for my shot and took it very easy for the weekends. <br />But now back to the side effects I too started dropping things walking like I was drunk and tripping over things that were not there. I can't open a jar of peanut butter most days or sew by hand for very long and I love to qiult by hand. I had all kinds of test done and MRI's and was told mine is due to a few parts of my brain being effected by chemo balance, speach and a few others. So I have to work very hard with therapy in the gym to w get the balance better try to trick a different part of the brain into thinking for the one that isn't working right to do the work. The speach I am working on just takes some time and thinking before I say something or write something down. The grip well that isn't going to come back no matter how hard I work on it I still try with a little rubber gripper and it helps a lot. I wouldn't drive for the longest time after chemo but got back into it a few years after and it seams ok when driving I only have trouble if standing and walking more so when I am tired or have done a lot in one day. Oh and stress makes it worse also. I am now 4 years from my dx a lot of work and staying active does help stay strong and postitive I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers angel hugs Roberta, <br />P.S. I use a warm pool at my clinics wellness program it seams to help me do my exercises without to much added stress to my joints or muscles. It feels good and losens things up for me plus so relaxing at the end of a long day.
Hello strngth4thejourney,
I did not take abraxane, and I am sorry to hear you have had so much trouble. I did take the a/c/t for 2 months, every other week, then 2 months every other week of taxol. I did experience a lot of neuropathy. The first year just going outside and sitting in the sun for a few minutes caused great pain in my legs. Neuropathy lasted on and off for a few years. I am almost 5 years out, it is further between now, but I take arimidex with its own difficult side effects.
I will say that I do have a more difficult time concentrating at times than I did before chemo. Sometimes when someone is speaking to me I really don't hear what they are saying - it just doesn't process. Fortunately that is not too often, but its a problem at work. I write everything down!!! Some blame that on menopause, but the symptoms of forgetfulness are much worse since chemo. I try and read to keep my mind active. Everything is a constant battle, but thankfully we have others to share with so we know we are not alone. I am in a support group and many of us have the same aches and issues. This forum is great for comparing notes too!
I hope things improve for you. It takes time and some things will get better, other things we learn to improvise.
Relaxing and exercise help a lot.
best to you~
Jenna
I did not take abraxane, and I am sorry to hear you have had so much trouble. I did take the a/c/t for 2 months, every other week, then 2 months every other week of taxol. I did experience a lot of neuropathy. The first year just going outside and sitting in the sun for a few minutes caused great pain in my legs. Neuropathy lasted on and off for a few years. I am almost 5 years out, it is further between now, but I take arimidex with its own difficult side effects.
I will say that I do have a more difficult time concentrating at times than I did before chemo. Sometimes when someone is speaking to me I really don't hear what they are saying - it just doesn't process. Fortunately that is not too often, but its a problem at work. I write everything down!!! Some blame that on menopause, but the symptoms of forgetfulness are much worse since chemo. I try and read to keep my mind active. Everything is a constant battle, but thankfully we have others to share with so we know we are not alone. I am in a support group and many of us have the same aches and issues. This forum is great for comparing notes too!
I hope things improve for you. It takes time and some things will get better, other things we learn to improvise.
Relaxing and exercise help a lot.
best to you~
Jenna
Report This| Share this:Abraxane for breast cancerHello strngth4thejourney,<br />I did not take abraxane, and I am sorry to hear you have had so much trouble. I did take the a/c/t for 2 months, every other week, then 2 months every other week of taxol. I did experience a lot of neuropathy. The first year just going outside and sitting in the sun for a few minutes caused great pain in my legs. Neuropathy lasted on and off for a few years. I am almost 5 years out, it is further between now, but I take arimidex with its own difficult side effects.<br />I will say that I do have a more difficult time concentrating at times than I did before chemo. Sometimes when someone is speaking to me I really don't hear what they are saying - it just doesn't process. Fortunately that is not too often, but its a problem at work. I write everything down!!! Some blame that on menopause, but the symptoms of forgetfulness are much worse since chemo. I try and read to keep my mind active. Everything is a constant battle, but thankfully we have others to share with so we know we are not alone. I am in a support group and many of us have the same aches and issues. This forum is great for comparing notes too!<br />I hope things improve for you. It takes time and some things will get better, other things we learn to improvise.<br />Relaxing and exercise help a lot.<br /> <br />best to you~<br />Jenna
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