Hi,
My Mum has had 1 ‘lot’ of treatments [3 on, 1 off]. We’ve noticed a trend… whenever she has the treatment with the steroids she feels great, super duper and able to pretty much do most things - as she has lung mets this is simply… getting to the bathroom and back, silly things like that.
Towards the end of the steroids Friday, Saturday & Sunday the breathing gets really bad and generally, she starts to deteriorate and… to a point where she can’t get out of bed.
This weekend has been particularly bad with the heat, we’ve found out some progression at A&E and her breathing is slowly improving after 1 day with nebulizers and oxygen, it looks like it’s the steroids causing these crashes but is this progression causing this?
How long would Taxol be tested and what’s next?
Getting worried 
When you say progression do you mean the mets are increasing? If so this will undoubtedly cause some added discomfort. I think most if us feel better on the steroids but when they wear off it can have quite an effect and can be quite a shock xx she needs to spk to onc tho about her treatment and they will look at her difficulties and reassess the treatment plan xxx I was in tax but couldn’t take it so they changed me to a sister drug paclitaxel which is working well weekly. So altho there is progression if I understand right it could also be a mix if the chemo and steroids etc
my steroids are now given iv half hour before chemo and it’s far better for me and I haven’t had that crash effect like I was having taking them orally fir three days after.
When I was hospitalised after a tax treatment I was in agony and my liver mets were diagnosed and they said pain mix of everything and it just needed reassessing.
Good luck to your mum and please spk to onc as there is so much they can do
to make her more comfy xx
The steroids are knackering her out… every Weekend after is the same thing, did the swap help in terms of progression?
I’m getting worried because she is losing faith a bit and it’s no fun when this is every weekend, thankfully it’s cooled down a bit with the rain but even so, the steroids are great when they’re in her… not so great when they’re not.
I will talk to her later, I’m not sure what the oncologist will say, at the hospital they only see ward Doctors and from the X-Ray he could see progression in the one lung but, he could not see in the other - so that’s sort of some good news.
thanks for the reply.
Hi yesihave had very good results after the change and my mets are practically gone already but mineare liver based. I getsame dosage but as it’s splitinto weekluy chunks it’s easier to cope with and I justdont get that coming down effect likebefore xxx
tell her not to give up as the Meds will be makin her a lot worse and it’s scary cos ustart to panic etc …
But as I say spk up cos they want her to be as comfy as poss xxxxx
sometimes treatment is worse than thecancer itself XXXXXXXX
Very long day at the hospital, decided to get in as soon as I could and miss work.
It took around 4 hours to get Motilium, 5 hours to get Oramorph & an hour to get the other bits (with Oncologists help). AMU were less than helpful, slow to come over when the portable toilet was needed and totally rigid with everything.
Originally, the ward doctor/visiting doctor said this was down to the cancer after checking the x-ray - the oncologist came today and said at first, no real change in the x-ray at a glance and we know this is down to steroids - it’s the crash, she prescribed steroids, anti-anxiety and lots of other bits to make it a bit easier. I explained we were anxious because the doctor said this was down to progression the oncologist said yes you do have disease but that’s not what this is. She then went on to mention other treatment options and to say that alot of people have to have steroids for life and it’s not that uncommon and definitely an option. She then left to go see another Doctor.
Unprompted she came back around 15 minutes later and said ‘with all due respect to the other doctor…’ and went on to say the x-ray scan shows that it is less dense with cancer & if anything it was BETTER. About 20 minutes later we were moved to the cancer ward… after this news and the steroids my mum was able to sleep… anxiety, tension and too much thinking all playing a part in the lack of sleep.
Anyway, I guess the outcome was good, a good sleep and a bunch of steroids, anti-biotics and fluids - hopefully we’ll see improvement. Thanks for the positive response.
Aw really pleased you got a result. I know somepals on steroids full time too and if needs must then all good.
Glad your mum is getting some peace. Can I ask if she is getting out of hospital if things improve? I am mire than happy to chat to you or mum at any time if it might help. This forum has helped me but more so friends I have met thru the cancer cntre. So if you need a chat anytime feel free to pm and I would happily exchangenumbers.
I have a friend, in fact two with lung cancer so have fair clue how Terri le your mum must be feeling x
I did suspect it was more lkely the treatment than thecancer xx
your mum is lucky to have you fight her corner x it’s something that’s scared me seeing some older patients on wards not being heard and treated like children almost.
Best of luck and stay in touch x
Lynn
Now we’ve been told it’s the cancer pushing against her windpipe, causing the breathlessness. She definitely seems better but they’ve said if no improvement then no treatment.
very worried
this is what I think i’ve got too- a tumour pressing against my trachea, i’m having a bronchoscopy to check then radiotherapy if it is. why has your mum not been offered radiotherapy?
hannah
x
Hi Hannah
My mum has this too. She couldn’t have radiotherapy as there was an overlap to where she has had it before. They offered her chemo which she took last week, but is planing on telling her oncologist this afternoon that she doesn’t want anymore as its making her too ill. They have changed all her tablets to liquid medicines and patches as she has difficulty swallowing.
Felicia
My Mum was too ill, she passed on. She was in her 50s and had battled for 10+ years.
Taxol… is vicious, with her water retention and the same doseage we think that was the last straw. Mum was offered purely palliative care and a hospice, when she heard this she gave up.
oh gingerbear, i’m sorry to hear you’ve lost your mum, i just can’t imagine. i think she must be so proud of you. i hope you got some help from this forum, and will continue to do so - there is a friends and family thread
lol
hx