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IXEMPRA anyone

edaura
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Yet anohter chemo has stopped working on me. I've been on Navalbene, taxotere, gemzar, xeloda, abraxane and avastin ( I've probably forgotten a few over the years) The most current chemo has stopped working and my disease is progressing again. the doctors say that i cant do radiation again (already had it to the spine and pelvis)for fear of doing further damage to my spinal cord. the next drug to try is Ixempra. I'm wondering if anyone has had experience with this drug and what their experience has been (the good, the bad, and the ugly)
Thanks...Also has anyone ever heard of having too much radiation? I didn't kow that here was only a certain amount that they can give you.
thanks for the info
laura

Explore topics in this discussion:

Cancer Avastin Cyclophosphamide Morphine Anxiety Taxotere Chemotherapy Constipation Oxycodone Pain Carboplatin Lung cancer Percocet

12 replies

AnnaMT

My doctor had me getting IV Ixempra every three weeks, but added oral Xeloda after my markers kept going up. I had already taken Xeloda one year before. The side effects of Ixempra(ixabepilone) are the same as the other chemo drugs I've had (Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin,Paclataxel). It's been three months since my last Ixempra, and I still cannot taste or smell! In my opinion, it is my monthly Pamidronate infusions that are keeping my pain at manageable levels.

ihopeyousing

Dear Edaura,
I read your entry with mixed feelings, and with a lot of hope. I had to say good bye to Xeloda this week (I had stopped taking Avastin with it in May) and although I can't help you about Ixempra, I can say that my understanding of radiation is that it cannot be done in the same spot more than once.

So, here I go again with yet another chemo drug, Navelbine, and the
strange pair of anxiety and comfort in the forefront all over again. I will be seeing a radiologist next week, plus I'm getting a spine and a brain MRI. (PARTY !) I think the MRIs are a special "good patient, you've gotten through another round of chemo drug" bonus. Luckily, my left hip has had no radiation.

From what I've read on this site, the Navelbine seems fine: 10 minute infusions, no nausea, minimal side effets. I think I've had almost as many drugs as you have had. And what a miracle that we have choices to treat the cancer.

It's a releif to know that I will be feeling relieved from the pain. It's a drag to think about what may be found next.

We can support each other, and thanks for writing. Love from ,
Beth

Beachbabe

I feel so much for you and our fellow sisters who have run the gamut of the drugs out there. And I must say I appreciate all that you've been through...because it is because of people like YOU that the rest of us following behind have even more info for our docs to weigh and measure before prescribing something. YOU are the forerunners in the fight of our lives, and YOU deserve a big round of applause and support.

I pray you find comfort and peace in this new regime. I know it's been a long hard road and you must be close to the point of saying, "Uncle, I played the valid game, but I don't want another drug!" Lean on the others on this site who have been there, done that--for this cross is far too heavy for you (and your family dealing with your Dad's illness as well) to bear.

Peace and ((hugs))~

edaura

Thanks for the replies to my post. I start on the Ixempra on September 21st, so my focus right now is the one week that I have with no chemo and no radiation (only pain).
I'll keep you all posted on how things go with ixempra so others who have to face it might learn from my experience.
youre so right colleen, I'm getting close to crying "Uncle". If the ixempra doesn't work, I think I'm left with clinical trials. It's getting scary!
Thanks for being there for me.

StickiVicki

Laura I hope that this will work for you and be good to you in the process. So far I have been lucky that I have not really had any problems with the treatment I have had so far, and we all want that. The maximum effect with the minimum of problems. Consider yourself gently hugged and a cyber bouquet is on the way.

Vicki xx

hazelmarie

Hi Dear Laura,

I've had two does of IXempra, once every three weeks also and I must say that it takes a long time to be infused, they cannot push it and it wipes out the white counts. So 24 hours after the Ixempra I get a shot of Neulasta which does help. My hair fell out again, before the second treatment and the constipation is terrible so prepare with everything you can. I'm also on morphine now and oxycodone for break through pain and a nice pill called Lorazapam, which brings relaxation and sleep! I've also been on all of the treatments that you've had plus a few others, I still think the worse for me was doxirubcin or the red devil. Ixempra is not so bad if it's working and I will get a CT scan on September 21st and on the 22nd my onc. will either continue to give the Ixempra or try something different, depending on what the results show. I will be glad to let you know, seeing we are running parallel. Just do not give up, we need to hang tight for each other. There are times when I feel like I can't go on and then I pray and let the Lord lead the way, I also come here to this site and know that I have to keep on trying for all of those who aren't here anymore to try. My prayers are with you now and (((hugs))) to you my sister.

hazelmarie

cwoos4

Laura

Are you taking any pain killers? I have bone mets from T-2 to the tail bone, pelvic and down to my right knee. I take percocet when the pain is too much and im thankful for the relief. Most of the time the pain is more intense at night when im in bed. The doctor wanted me to have some radiation into the first layers of the bone but im on chemo until end of November. I want the chemo to do its job first. I didnt want to waste the radiation so soon pending bone pain increasing. I have two horses I ride and I hate to think my one pride and joy of the day might have to stop. the doctor is afraid i will break my right femoral neck bone or crack it. So i just do all their heavy training from the ground to wear them down and just go trail riding. No more jumping or loping.

How is your dad doing? I will be praying that the Ixempra will be the right one for you till a new ones come out again.

Take Care
Cindy

bailey2805

Laura,
My Mother is going to start this drug as well. She also has been on so any of the drugs. We have been told the next step is a cancer center. I will be praying for you (actually all of you are in my daily prayers!!) and anxious to hear how you are doing.

Pam

mlm

Laura,
I hope the ixempra treatment goes well for you. My Onc has told me that will be my next step when carboplatin and gemzar stop working. Please keep me posted. prayers and best wishes.
mlm

dontaskdonttell

excuse me for not knowing precise names of a lot of the medications that have been mentioned, but i have experience with NAVALBINE and XELODA.

in the hospital setting where i am, in france, there is not exactly a hierarchy of care, but a delegation of care, that is, there is a managing senior oncologist who makes the treatment planning and decisions and hospitalists who may rotate through the department and manage the cases on an ongoing basis. if there are problems, they consult with the managing oncologist. in case of really big trouble the managing oncologist will take the case to a cancer board of doctors including the professor who is head of the oncology department. if everything is going along fine, scanners are done every 6 months and you consult with the senior managing oncologist. after a year of doing fine on NAVALBINE I was taken off the drug. why? evidently there can be nerve damage to the extremities, toes, feet and tingling fingers, i had noticed mild side effects of that kind, not very severe, but nonetheless i was switched to a pill form of chemotherapy, : XELODA. i thought, wow, that's great, i'm no longer tied to the hospital anymore for IV treatment with NAVABINE. i can be more free to travel. well, I've been on XELODA for approx 6 months and the freedom from going so often to the hospital is great, but there are indeed side effects. there are good days and bad days and the pharmaceutical company that makes XELODA on the website for xeloda.com i think, provides a template for charting your symptoms. as its taken in cycles, it's good to be forewarned that for example, day 3 to 10 are good days when you have energy, and day 11 to 14 is rough. it's hard to describe rough, but i suspect you know what i mean. it's a day when you want to stay at home, not push yourself too much, it's important to eat before taking XELODA. why? because the side effects are fewer , less malaise, shall i say. or in english, just feeling bad. because it moderates the speed of absorption. that's what the manufacturer had in mind, and the info is on their website. you will feel miserable if you don't eat something before taking XELODA. for some reason
you're supposed to take it with water, evidently not any other type of beverage. i asked all my doctors why water? they don't know. one said main thing is to get it into your body.

well, good luck on xeloda. hope this helps.

beebie

Hi There Anna: I do know that you cannot radiate the same place more than once. So, if you have had radiation to portions of the spine or a hip or part of the pelvis you cannot repeat it.

I would love to know how long you have been on your sequential chemo ride. You listed quite a few and I was wondering how long it has been altogher? If you added up the time when you began your first chemo until now how long have you been doing this?

I am really curious about how long you can actually keep plugging away on the series of chemos. Each individual drug has an average time until it stops working, can we hope to get the average from each one. Which collectively may prolong my life several years. I am praying for 3 years so I can watch my twin girls graduate from HIghschool. I dont want to run out of options before then. Thanks and good luck my friend.

edaura

I had my first IXEMPRA with NEULASTA 24 hours later. this chemo caused me more nauseau and tiredness than the others did. I also had lots of bone pain but I'm sure that's from the NEULASTA. As I've only had 1 teatment so far I can't say if it's working or not, i'm playing the waiting game right now. I'll get it every 3 weeks, so in theory I should get two good weeks....we'll see.
I do take percocet for pain but I try to keep it to a minimum so I don't have the horrible constipation that can accompany it. that's just another side effect I dont need. I'm losing my hair for the third time, which has me bummed out but at this point Its just become another part of my morning ritual to get wahed up, put on make-up and stick the wig on my head.
Dad is not doing great and I appreciate you asking about him. My mother gives him an infuaion every day for the staph infection and the lung cancer is still up in the air on whether he will do the chemo or not.
we're all exhausted and fed up, but at the same time, we're hanging in there and working on supporting each other.
Thanks for your concern and prayers.
love to you all
laura

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