Problems with nosia/Vomiting

Hi

My name is Per and I live in Norway. My wife at age 32, were originally diagnosed with breast cancer February 2000. She then had chemo, mastectomy and five weeks of radiation. She completed treatment in Sept. 2000. In April this year the the cancer came back - this time uncurable according to the doctors, and they found it in both lungs, the liver and in her bones. She then immediately started on Taxotere, but the cancer progressed. They then tried with the first dose of CMF about 4 1/2 weeks ago. She had very hard reactions on that chemo, with lots of vomiting and nosia, and in addition she got an infection ( probably in her lungs ) and were hospitalized for 11 days and given antibiotics IV.

When she got back for her second chemo of CMT this week the blood samples revealed that she still had an infection in her body ( CRP of 220 ), and she got back on antibiotics ( this time in pills (Ciproxin)).

One of the main problems for her now getting some sort of quality life, is that she gets nosia / Vomits very easily. She is therefore very scared of going out, something that again makes her very depressed. In addition it very often is so bad that she has trouble meeting the kids ( age 4 and 6 ). Has anyone any advice ? She is using Afipran for her nosia ( Zofran right after the cures ) but it hasn't helped much lately.

Any advice will be appreaciated.

Best Regards

Pester your oncologist for better anti-nausea medication. It -can- be pretty much controlled. More Zofran might work, but it is expensive and they may be trying to keeping the dose down to keep the cost down. There are other medications they could try too, I seem to recall that mixing steroids with regular anti-nausea meds gives an enhanced effect. I daresay one of our pharmacy experts will fill in the details.

Tim Jackson

I was given about 3 different drugs but can't remember the names. I take a med now that is kind of a nerve pill or something. It helps me sleep, but the doc also gave it to me for nausa. The name is Lorazapam. Karen

My cancer center explained to me that I get Decadron with the Zofran to boost the anti-nausea effects of the Zofran. Might be worth a try.

Chris

Same here...and it did help with the nausea but has it's own side effects. I didn't sleep much for the 72 hours I was taking it and had lots of aches and pains in the 48 hours after. On balance it was worth taking for me. Rachel

Hi - This must be very difficult for both you and your wife. I received both IV Kytril and decadron immediately prior to treatments. Also given oral kytril for after. As noted - sleeplessness, etc. were the side-effects, but worth it to me. Was given sleeping medication which I ended up having to go off cold-turkey, but that's another whole post... Nausea and vomiting usually hit me 12 hours after the second treatment (treated for two days every 3 weeks x 6). I found that if I ate and drank whatever sounded good - no matter how bizarre or improbable, it generally stayed down. The recommendations of the chemo folks went by the wayside - I did what my body asked for. I found that juices didn't work - too acidic. Plain fizzy water with just a little flavoring (club soda) with no ice worked the best. I chewed crystallized ginger, which tasted and felt good to me and also helps control nausea/vomiting. I know of people who were dealing with such a strong psychological response to treatment that they received a mild IV sedative before treatment and that helped because they slept through chemo. Seeing the kids may help - she can see that they are okay. I know there are a lot of folks with good ideas - so keep asking what worked for people. Bug your Dr. too - There are other drugs besides Zofran - Good luck and God Bless - JannahLee