Re: [Breast Cancer]Ren

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Here's some information I found on neuropathy after Taxol, some even years later - interesting reading...Feel good,

Taxol Support Forum

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marina 4/16/200511:09:23

Subject: taxol years laterMessage:Hi Marina.I had Taxol and Cisplatin in 1995. At the time of my treatments I suffered awful bone and joint pains. After treatment stopped, the bone pain did also. However, now, years later, I am experiencing a return of leg "tingling" and other neuropathy symptoms. Sometimes it feels like I have electric shocks going up and down inside my lower leg,and it is So uncomfortable. I understand that this a side effect of these chemo agents and may last a lifetime.

gdpawel6/07/200521:42:27

RE: taxol years laterThere are three major goups of nerves in the human body, the peripheral nerves that carry information to and from the limbs, the nerves that supply the bowels and other internal organs, and the nerves of the head which connect to the ears, eyes, taste buds, etc. Nerves in any or all of these major groups can be affected by certain chemotherapy drugs. Nerves are vulnerable to many kinds of damage. They can be damaged by certain cancers. This may be caused by the cancer cells producing a particular kind of biological agent that interferes with the function of the nerves. Sometimes, they can be damged by drugs used in chemotherapy treatment. The chemotherapy drugs that most likely cause nerve damage are the vinca alkaloids(vincristine, vindesine and vinblastine), platinum drugs(cisplatinum, carboplatinum) and the taxanes(taxol, taxotere). These drugs have the potential of interfering with nerve function. You may notice symptoms in different areas of your body depending on which groups of nerves are affected. Symptoms in the hands and feet happen when peripheral nerve damage happens and are not rare with vinca alkaloids. The first sign of nerve damage is usually a feeling of tingling and numbness like what you experience when your foot goes to sleep after you've been sitting for a long time in an uncomfortable position. If the problem progresses further, it often produces weakness of the muscles, resulting in loss of strength at the wrist or the ankle. You will notice difficulty in doing up buttons and picking up coins. You may notice that you will tend to trip while walking up stairs or dragging your feet and tend to have a wide-based gait. In severe cases, the weakness may be so severe that you will need a wheelchair. When the nerves in the bowel are affected, constipation is the earliest sign. In a few people, the abdomen becomes bloated with a distended bowel that is basically paralyzed. Some of the nerves in the head can also be affected. Platinum drugs can affect the auditory nerve and cause loss of hearing and tinnitus(ringing in the ears). Vision can very occasionally be affected. A lot depends on how quickly your cancer treatment can be stopped. Sometimes the need for treatment is more urgent then the residual nerve damage. Sometimes, the balance between benefit from the drug and the side effect of nerve damage is more finely balanced. Once treatment has been stopped, recovery is usually slow. It may take months to get even partial improvement and often there will be some residual impairment, either a motor weakness or a sensory numbness or both. Recovery is slower in the feet and legs than in the hands and arms. There is no specific treatment that enhances nerve recovery. There are no drugs that will directly stimulate nerve regeneration or recovery. If you have severe and prolonged pain, then the pain may require narcotics often combined with antidepressants. In some cases, certain types of anticonvulsants would be helpful. Treatment options are subjects that you should discuss with your doctor, so you have accurate expectations of potential benefits and side effects. Chemotherapy drugs that can cause neuropathy. NCI lists these as most likely to do so: Cisplatinum (Platinol) Carboplatin (Paraplatin) Vincristine (Oncovin) Vinblastine (Velban) Etoposide/VP-16 (VePesid) Cytarabine (Cytosar, Ara-C) Hexamethylmelamine (Hexalen) Suramin Paclitaxel (Taxol) and Docetaxel (Taxotere) Other medications reported to contribute to neuropathy include oxaliplatin (Eloxatin), gemcitibine (Gemzar) and thalidomide (Thalomid).

Francine Gagnon6/20/200508:26:09

RE: taxol years latertime, everywhere I look and research this thing to find out how I can help myself, I come up empty. No one talks about what to do once the problem has set in. Is it a good idea to exercise the feet even if it is demanding? What kind of exercise? Rotation, pointing, flexing, making the toes move as much as possible ? What about delicate massages? Or foot baths? Is it better not to walk, to give the feet a rest or to walk anyway? What helps me the most is the THC in my medical marijuana. It energizes me muscularly and allows me to walk "over" the pain if I may say. It makes a HUGE difference in the quality of my life. Is there anything else I can do ? Looking forward to meeting you. Francine In Montreal, Quebec, Canada

gdpawel6/21/200500:47:09

Taxol-Carboplatin ToxicitiesMessage:I am very interested in the questions that Francine Gagnon asked. They all apply to me too. I am suffering feet neuropathy after recently completing taxol treatments and am very freaked out. Everyone please share your experiences w/ Francine and me. Good luck, everyone. Much love.

Margaret7/19/200515:24:34

RE: taxol nowMessage:I too have to take Lortab `10 mg (same as Vicodin) every 4 hrs. and I really hate having to do this; as I don't want to become dependent on painkillers. The medical marijuana sounds like a good idea. F. is not the first I have heard that does this....I'll have to see if my state participates in this. Boy, my feet hurt.

Ahmed7/31/200504:23:28

RE: taxol alternativeMessage:Whats wrong with me? I have neuropathy on my hands and feet from my 2 treatments of Taxol when they discovered that it was causing some symptoms of neuropathy they changed it to taxotere and I think it got worse then for the last treatment it was the same Taxotere but dose reduced it. They are always hurting, tingling and burning. My finger tips are really wrinkled and dry. the tips of my fingers and toes always red and much the same is going on with my feet sometime if I have walk for more thatn 5 min my feet and hands my feet get a dark red and on the toes dark purple. The neuropathy has affected my rectum and has caused "erectoceal?" also my spine from my hair line down the center of my back feels really strange, I don't want anything to touch it and it gets freezing cold. My right eye will not stop twitching and quivering its like haveing a constant musle spasam in the corner of my eye and it is making it hard for me to drive. Does this get worse? where can i find out more about neuropathy? will I loose my hands and or feet? How lond does this last? Dawn

gdpawel8/20/200519:28:35

RE: taxol years laterBecause of an unrelated incident to her, I researched the advantages of utilizing Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for radiation-induced necrosis. HBOT is now a useful therapeutic option for patients with confirmed symptomatic radiation necrosis. Until the new millenium, the only treatment for patients was pentoxifyline or heparin therapy, and it was almost always unsuccessful. The most common condition treated at some HBOT centers is tissue injury caused by radiation therapy for cancer. Wound healing requires oxygen delivery to the injured tissues. Radiation damaged tissue has lost blood supply and is oxygen deprived. Chronic radiation complications result from scarring and narrowing of the blood vessels within the area which has received the treatment. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy provides a better healing environment and leads to the growth of new blood vessels in a process called re-vascularization. It also fights infection by direct bacteriocidal effects. Using hyperbaric treatment protocols, "most" patients with chronic radiation injuries can be cured. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is administered by delivering 100 percent oxygen at pressures greater than atmospheric (sea level) pressure to a patient in an enclosed chamber. Hyperbaric oxygen acts as a drug, eliciting varying levels of response at different treatment depths, durations and dosages, and has been proven effective as adjunctive therapy for specifically indicated conditions. One of the "miscellaneous" indications and rationale for HBO Therapy at National Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is "Peripheral Neuropathy," one of the main side effect problems with chemotherapy treatments like Cisplatinum, Carboplatin, Taxol, Taxotere, and a number of others. Perhaps you can contact this organization about the advantages of utilizing HBOT for your neuropathy problems? http://www.florida-oxygen.com/

ahmed lizzaik8/21/200501:27:40

RE: New TaxolMessage:Since I am on Taxol and Carboplatin for ovarian cancer, I consulted with my brother in law, who has been on over 20 different chemos during the last 4 years for liver/colon/lung cancer and I asked him about the side effects of the tingling. He has been through it all and is in complete agreement with doing whatever exercise, massage or whatever you can do. He began by just resting, but found out that the exercise, in the long run, has helped. My doctor says that massage is o.k., in fact I have a massage the day after my chemo and it works tremendously to reduce the aches and pains and tingling. My second chemo was better than my first and I fully expect the third will be better still (I can hope!) Does anyone know exactly how marijuana can help? My daughter gave me some and it makes me a little spacey. Does it take time to work proper? And what exactly does it relieve? Any answers would help. Thanks.

mojoworknn8/23/200512:30:09

RE: taxol years laterMessage:Hi folks, I had six cycles of carboplatin and taxol at MD for ovarian and peritoneal cancer in 1998. I noticed I had a definte change in my memory after the third of six treatments.Others noticed it from that time. After the first treatment, I had a terrible headache and an allergic almost rheumatoid arthritis reaction all over my body...everything hurt. They gave me a bag of benedryl before each subsequent treatment. Six years later my short term memory is shot. I also have recurrent numbness from my knees down. The bottoms of my feet always feel like they have sand on them. I stumble a lot more now and have difficulty with my balance. I no longer can grip properly with my feet. My hands go numb at night. The really bad news is this is brain damage and neuropathy. There I said it...most people are going to say it is temporary...it can be..but more and more people are finding it can get worse and affects their lives and work. Cancer doctors and their staffs are realizing that the treatment to save our lives can cause us to lose our intelligence, concentration, memory,and ability to learn new material. Others acknowledge it as chemobrain, a fog which will pass after six months. Research at MD is now showing it can be permanent and prevent learning new material. Others mds could care less. I believe my mind has gotten worse not better. In the course of speech, I now scramble words, choose the wrong word, terrible recall. I also fear that cognitive impairment sets you up for alzheimer's sooner than later... which has been noted in some studies. Get organized. Write everything down. Put things in the same place. Keep trying to learn new things every day...exercise that brain. Some mds note that this may be due to menopause brought on by chemo. Not true here, I went on hormone replacement the week after my treatment ended. It is brain damage and damage to nerves in legs, feet, and hands. Focalin or Ritalin taken twice a day can help to concentrate ask your doctor. They are doing clinical trials on this at MD . I was in one for Focalin. It does help. If I had to do it over again in my case, I would have had the surgery to remove tumors and not had chemotherapy of this type or combination. I had six cycles of carboplatin and taxol. Since it is getting worse, I am now wanting to find out the condition of my brain at this time. What tissue/connections have been damaged and is it going to be progressive until I am totally lost or will it just continue about like this. I read in one article that the area of one brain studied appeared to be 25 years older than the person due to the chemotherapy. Well isn't that just great. I have to tell you guys that I am scared to death but try to push those thoughts away. I want others to know they should avoid the combination of carboplatin and taxol if at all possible. If you have a cancer which is in the early stages or not fast moving avoid these drugs...You may survive afterwards but your real essence...your mind will be changed forever. Your brain is who you are. I believe that researchers know that this can and will likely cause very serious memory loss, brain damange, and future alzheimer's in some people. And by the way, if you change jobs you must keep your former cancer a secret or you will lose your job or not be hired.It may be discriminatory but that's life. SS

SS8/27/200523:40:08

RE: taxol years laterGet organized. Write everything down. Put things in the same place. Keep trying to learn new things every day...exercise that brain. Some mds note that this may be due to menopause brought on by chemo. Not true here, I went on hormone replacement the week after my treatment ended. It is brain damage and damage to nerves in legs, feet, and hands. Focalin or Ritalin taken twice a day can help to concentrate ask your doctor. They are doing clinical trials on this at MD . I was in one for Focalin. It does help. If I had to do it over again in my case, I would have had the surgery to remove tumors and not had chemotherapy of this type or combination. I had six cycles of carboplatin and taxol. Since it is getting worse, I am now wanting to find out the condition of my brain at this time. What tissue/connections have been damaged and is it going to be progressive until I am totally lost or will it just continue about like this. I read in one article that the area of one brain studied appeared to be 25 years older than the person due to the chemotherapy. Well isn't that just great. I have to tell you guys that I am scared to death but try to push those thoughts away. I want others to know they should avoid the combination of carboplatin and taxol if at all possible. If you have a cancer which is in the early stages or not fast moving avoid these drugs...You may survive afterwards but your real essence...your mind will be changed forever. Your brain is who you are. I believe that researchers know that this can and will likely cause very serious memory loss, brain damange, and future alzheimer's in some people. And by the way, if you change jobs you must keep your former cancer a secret or you will lose your job or not be hired.It may be discriminatory but that's life. SS

SS8/27/200523:42:38

RE: taxol years laterGet organized. Write everything down. Put things in the same place. Keep trying to learn new things every day...exercise that brain. Some mds note that this may be due to menopause brought on by chemo. Not true here, I went on hormone replacement the week after my treatment ended. It is brain damage and damage to nerves in legs, feet, and hands. Focalin or Ritalin taken twice a day can help to concentrate ask your doctor. They are doing clinical trials on this at MD . I was in one for Focalin. It does help. If I had to do it over again in my case, I would have had the surgery to remove tumors and not had chemotherapy of this type or combination. I had six cycles of carboplatin and taxol. Since it is getting worse, I am now wanting to find out the condition of my brain at this time. What tissue/connections have been damaged and is it going to be progressive until I am totally lost or will it just continue about like this. I read in one article that the area of one brain studied appeared to be 25 years older than the person due to the chemotherapy. Well isn't that just great. I have to tell you guys that I am scared to death but try to push those thoughts away. I want others to know they should avoid the combination of carboplatin and taxol if at all possible. If you have a cancer which is in the early stages or not fast moving avoid these drugs...You may survive afterwards but your real essence...your mind will be changed forever. Your brain is who you are. I believe that researchers know that this can and will likely cause very serious memory loss, brain damange, and future alzheimer's in some people. And by the way, if you change jobs you must keep your former cancer a secret or you will lose your job or not be hired.It may be discriminatory but that's life. SS

SS8/27/200523:43:24

RE: taxol years laterGet organized. Write everything down. Put things in the same place. Keep trying to learn new things every day...exercise that brain. Some mds note that this may be due to menopause brought on by chemo. Not true here, I went on hormone replacement the week after my treatment ended. It is brain damage and damage to nerves in legs, feet, and hands. Focalin or Ritalin taken twice a day can help to concentrate ask your doctor. They are doing clinical trials on this at MD . I was in one for Focalin. It does help. If I had to do it over again in my case, I would have had the surgery to remove tumors and not had chemotherapy of this type or combination. I had six cycles of carboplatin and taxol. Since it is getting worse, I am now wanting to find out the condition of my brain at this time. What tissue/connections have been damaged and is it going to be progressive until I am totally lost or will it just continue about like this. I read in one article that the area of one brain studied appeared to be 25 years older than the person due to the chemotherapy. Well isn't that just great. I have to tell you guys that I am scared to death but try to push those thoughts away. I want others to know they should avoid the combination of carboplatin and taxol if at all possible. If you have a cancer which is in the early stages or not fast moving avoid these drugs...You may survive afterwards but your real essence...your mind will be changed forever. Your brain is who you are. I believe that researchers know that this can and will likely cause very serious memory loss, brain damange, and future alzheimer's in some people. And by the way, if you change jobs you must keep your former cancer a secret or you will lose your job or not be hired.It may be discriminatory but that's life. SS

Tia9/16/200510:56:38

RE: tingling hands and taxolMessage:I just finished found 4 of Taxol and Carboplatin and I have had tingling in my left hand going back to round 2. Other than vicoden, I find that applying heat is the best thing. I also get a massage weekly and she takes extra time on my left hand. I also noticed last week that the left half of my whole body went numb for a few minutes - head to toe. Ever heard of that?

Tia9/16/200513:09:06

RE: taxol and itching

Elle9/27/200515:18:37

RE: taxol years later

gdpawel9/27/200516:09:58

RE: taxol years laterThis means that "informed consent" is the only thing close to "labeling" of these chemo agents. Numerous oncologists have been playing fast and loose with "informed consent," many times ignoring it in spite of the fact that doing so is against the law. Without the proper administration of "informed consent" or consultation, the patient receiving receiving chemotherapy is less informed than a person purchasing and using a package of Tylenol or Benadryl. Another way of looking at it is that not only does the oncologist have complete logistical, administrative, marketing and financial control of the process, he/she also controls the "knowledge" of the process. This amounts to total control. In economic terms, it would be in violation of the antitrust laws. The result is that the oncologist selects the product, selects the vendor, decides the markup, conceals details of the transaction to the degree he/she wishes, and delivers the product on his own terms including time, place and modality.

linda11/07/200504:33:21

1998 cisplat and adriamycinPart of the problem, is the difficulty in describing the symptomology, and its erraticness.There have been a few people I met who had seizures during chemo (including me), with supposedly no brain involvement...I wonder if anyone else has experienced this.

janet11/09/200510:51:12

taxol treatmentMessage:Janet Yes! Check out this article "Nail and Skin Damage From Taxane Drugs so-called Reduced By Experimental 'Frozen Glove'" http://www.cancer-news-watch.com/2005/08/30/nail-skin-damage-from-taxotere-reduced-by-experimental-frozen-glove/

gdpawel11/09/200511:47:48

RE: taxol years laterMessage:thanks..I hadn't heard of that!...I had a 3 month course of adriamycin and cisplatin...haven't found neurologists who could help me yet. What treatment did your wife use to get rid of the toxin?

gdpawel11/11/200510:34:01

RE: taxol years laterMessage:...I am currently taking 400 mg of provigil daily,which helps with the fatigue, and a little with my focus.Have you heard of d-MPH? first used for ADD, its a derivitive of ritalin, but only half the dosage is necessary for the same effect...I asked my MD for focalin, early research results look promising, but he declined at this time, I will work on him. About the genetic predisposition to chemo that you mentioned--are there tests for that? Also, what tests confirm leucoencephalopathy? Thank you so much for all your feedback, this has been SO helpful!

gdpawel11/13/200514:30:39

RE: taxol years laterAssay-directed chemotherapy is an individualized approach to killing cancer. It is a method used to determine what precise medications would kill the particular cancer. Doctors have assumed that stopping cell division would stop cancer, because most cancer cells divide and grow rapidly. But the approach didn't always kill the malignant cells. Cancer isn't a case of cells growing out of control, but of cells refusing to die on schedule. Under this approach, scientists study how an individual's cancerous cells respond to several drugs. Doctors have learned that even when the disease is the same type, different patients' tumors respond differently to chemotherapeutic drugs. More and more physicians and patients are turning to individualized therapies to treat cancers. Without individualized testing, it's difficult to determine which drugs are best for patients who don't respond to standard therapies. The number of available chemotherapeutic agents has increased enormously over the past few years, the emphasis on the rationale for these assays has never been stronger. As the number of possible treatment options supported by completed randomized trials increases, the scientific literature becomes increasingly vague for guiding physicians. Almost any combination therapy is acceptable in the treatment of cancer these days. Spending six to eight weeks to diagnose treatment failure often consumes a substantial portion of a patient's remaining survival, not to mention toxicities. Finally, because there has been a veritable deluge of new approvals of cytotoxic drugs in recent years as the tortuous FDA process has been speeded and liberalized. In many cases a new drug has been approved on the basis of a single very very narrow indication. But these drugs may have many useful applications - and it's going to take years to find out. Assay-directed therapy offers a way of seeing if any of these new drugs might apply to your specific cancer.

linda11/17/200521:25:10

RE: taxol years laterMessage:, I agree with you. Honest feedback, unlike going to the doctor's office!

12/11/200509:28:40

RE: taxol years laterMessage:, Here's what I had written previously somewhere. Not sure where it went but I don't see it here. I, female, 39 years old, started out on mycin and Cytoxin (A/C was my "term"). I was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer (right breast lump) which had spread to my bones, mainly neck, spine, shoulders, ribs, pelvis. Diagnosed in September 2004, started aggressive treatment immediately with A/C. Was tested in January. Not much change. Switched to Carbo/Taxol in January 2005, aggressively. In May 2005, I started feeling numbness/tingling in my face, hands and toes, just slightly. I told the nurse. That was my last treatment of Carbo/Taxol. So I was then tested and wha-la, "cancer free." I still had incredible bone pain, fatigue like you all know, and the memory of a gnat, but desire to be well. Months have passed. Bone pain continues. Dr. says I'm addicted to pain pills (the reason for my bone pain). Maybe so. So I took his advice to cut down. I'm way down from what I had been taking, and really everything feels about the same. Not much more pain; no less pain. My treatment since May after the "remission" status has been to remain on Herceptin and Aredia for one year, one combined treatment once every three weeks. My last treatment was two weeks ago - Nov. 28. That day I was nauseous and just YUK. The next day I started feeling tingly, numb, in my face and hands. It's mostly my face. I feel disoriented, nauseous and fatigued, and usually accompanied by a headache and backache. I kept thinking it would get better, as it would back when I was getting treatments (you know, feel bad about the second, third, fourth day, then things get better and better until the next treatment - mine were weekly) and all over again. Well, so far, it only seems to be getting worse by the day. Now I'm getting worried. Are these DELAYED side effects from the Carbo/Taxol? It's been six months since my last Carbo/Taxol treatment. Any thoughts? I would sure value anyone's thoughts, experiences, suggestions ...? THANK you all, God Bless. Here's a few recent facts I forgot that may or may not be important: 1. I was taking about 80 mg of oxycodone per day, before the last Aredia/Herceptin treatment - Nov. 28. I am now down to about 30 mg a day, and I really only take that because of the headache and backache. 2. My last Carbo/Taxol treatment was in May 2005. 3. I am on Herceptin and Aredia (supposedly for a year from May 2005 to May 2006 - for "maintenance.") , do you think Herceptin and/or Aredia could be causing this tingling in my face, disoriented, nauseous feeling? At first I thought it was the Herceptin and Aredia, then I started feeling like I did with the Carbo/Taxol, with the numbness, disoriented, nauseous -- I'm even sneezing! I would sneeze more than normal when I got that stuff. Actually, I rarely rarely sneeze. They always gave Benadryl with it, to everyone I think. The sneezing could be something in the air these days, but call me crazy, I think it's the Carbo/Taxol creeping back up. What do you think? (not only that, today, Sunday, I developed a rash on both arms ...?) (who knows?) 4. Today, being Sunday (I wrote the rest of this yesterday early), I've taken an oxy (only 10 mg) and that seems to help the tingling. Is that because it's numbing my nerve endings? And since I was on so much oxy, maybe that is what kept the tingling away for as long as it was? I don't know, I'm just guessing ...? Ya know, I never considered myself stupid. However, I can't even write in complete sentences, or ask a decent intelligent question. Sorry for the mess. ANYONE'S OPINIONS WOULD BE VALUED AND VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. PLEASE. AND THANK YOU ALL, MY FELLOW BEINGS. MAY GOD BLESS US ALL!

linda12/12/200512:36:52

RE: taxol years laterI had cisplat and adria also, 4 rounds, in '97-'98. While having chemo, I doubt any meds taken would have helped me with my memory loss, since I had so many toxins in my bloodstream. Re; some of your other voiced concerns, I will speak with a friend who is active in oncology nursing, and get back to you. Perhaps it will help to prioritize your concerns, and make a list.Then, when each is resolved, you will feel like u r making progress. I can tell u r a smart gal--- hang in there, kiddo!

laurie12/12/200521:25:28

RE: taxol years laterMessage:Hi Im having all those symptoms. Everyone thinks Im nuts. My family thinks now that chemo is over and radiation that everything is fine. I have night sweats, hot flashes, headaches, dizziness, pain in my ovaries. I have alittle memory too. I feel dumb now at times. Does anyone feel that way? Im also taking tamoxafin, and I test shot to suppress my ovaries.

linda1/04/200607:43:02

RE: taxol years laterMessage:Janet, I SO feel for you. I've got the same problem. My ENTIRE family is in denial. They think everything is fine, when in actuality things (I) are/am worse than I was during chemo! I have each and every one of the problems you described, and about half of all the other problems people have described in this forum! (I'm not trying to "out-do" you, it's just a fact! I'm SURE you have many other problems as well. If you're like me, what's the point of typing so darn much, it doesn't do any good!) They think that just becuase I don't sit and whine all day, and that I "look" good, I AM good. Sometimes, no, most of the time, I just want to scream!!! (Lately I have.) I, too, have (actually HAD) an oncologist who would not listen or acknowledge any of my pain problems. He went so far as to accuse me of possibly SELLING my pain pills, because he just "couldn't understand" that I actually had as much pain as I told him about. Well, with lots of effort and time and thought, I have now changed oncologists! I'm so tired of people not understanding, not acknowledging what we are all going through. Thanks to one of the people on this forum, I have also seen a Pain Specialist, and I am so happy that I did. She is totally listening to my problems, and working with me to find the cause and hopefully make things better. After all, isn't that all any of us want? My God, what do these people (doctors) think? That we just sit around and dream up "gee, what could I lie about what hurts today?" Hello? We'd all love to be "normal" again. Jerry, yes, we'd all love to be "normal" and do the things we used to do and feel the way we used to feel pre-cancer and pre-chemo. But we're not. We don't. YOU are the one who needs to realize that. As for your idea about "taking her in and detoxing her and starting over." That's a VERY VERY strong suggestion. If you love her as I am sure you do, I'd strongly advise against doing anything against her wishes. She is a PERSON, in lots of pain, physical and emotional I'm sure. Consider the extra pain you're considering making her endure. Sounds like she's been through enough already. She doesn't need pain inflicted by her family too. I'm sorry if I sound harsh. But your message rubbed me wrong, and sometimes (most of the time) women in your mother's situation may not speak up. She doesn't want to hurt you, and my guess is she is sugar-coating most of her problems to you. That's what we do, sugar-coat the real problems so that YOU don't feel bad or worry as much (as she does). To mom5, if you are in pain as I know you are, if a certain pain medicine takes away or at least helps your pain, and if you WANT to take the pain medicine, TAKE IT. I don't know about you, but I'm tired of pain. I personally feel there are so many problems and pains and fears we can't do anything about. If I find something that works, and nothing else does, I want to take it. I don't really care at this point if I am "addicted" or not. What difference does it make, really? I don't mean to be flippant, or sound dumb. I know it's not a "good" thing, but NOTHING about what we deal with every minute of the day is good. That's my two cents. Boy, I'm really rambling tonight. Guess I'm tired of sitting by with my mouth shut.

Jerry 2/12/200609:23:10

RE: taxol years later update!!

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[Guest guest]

Why did you change your mind on the surgery? I'm just curious...

Best,

[Guest guest]

I am again missing posts. What surgery, Ren ? are you OK ? Lussist@... wrote: Why did you change your mind on the surgery? I'm just curious... Best,

Relax. Yahoo! Mail virus scanning helps detect nasty viruses!

[Guest guest]

I guess I really chickened out. All I could think of was one bad cell in my body that they could not detect and BOOM they open me up and it starts growing and there I go again. Then the thoughts of being in the hospital again. I was thinking Wow, it would be great to have a year of not being sick or poked or stuck or cut, so why put myself through it. It was elective surgery. My daughter is having a hysterectomy as we speak and I am flying out tomorrow to CA to be with her. She needs me now. There will be time for me later.

Ren

[Guest guest]

I hope all goes well with your daughter.

Have a safe trip - I'm sure you can't wait to see her!

Best,

[Guest guest]

Thanks Ren ~

How is your daughter recovering from her surgery? Hope you had a good visit, even though I'm sure difficult to see her like that.

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[Guest guest]

Happy Birthday!

May God bless you with many, many more healthy and happy ones.

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[Guest guest]

Ren I filled out a thing on your site to buy your book from you and haven't heard from you. Should I ask you directly? I want a "signed" copy of your book and need to know the price and how to send the $$

Trisha

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Thank you soooooo much. ren

[Guest guest]

I'm so glad you made a decision you're comfortable with...May you arrive at your destination safely and know we are all there with you to keep you strong.