Here we go again. After a week off when Pace come up to town and spent time together as a couple. It was a good time to reconnect and rediscover what we both love about each other. Then back to reality.
This treatment is going to be 4 cycles of injections. One cycle every 3 weeks, rather than the weekly cycles of Abraxane. So we should finish up in July.
The oncologist originaly said Pace was going to have 4 cycles of a chemotherapy cocktail called FEC, FLUOROURACIL-EPIRUBICIN-CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE IV, that's been changed to 5FU which is only the F of FEC. I still want to find out why, as FEC is 3 different families of drugs together, including 5FU.
It seems ironic. The drug is 5FU aka Fluorouracil (flore-our-a-cil) by Mayne Pharma is one of the oldest drugs commonly used for chemotherapy treatment of numerous cancers including breast. Abraxane is on a clinical trial and not available to the general public.
5FU is from the anti-metabolite family of drugs. Anti-metabolites are only slightly different in structure than normal body molecules. However, those differences stop cells from working properly at making and repairing DNA (this is a cool link). Cancer cells are like normal ones in the fact that they can't grow and multiply if the DNA is disabled.
Anti-metabolites masquerade as purine, a protien building block of the A and G components of DNA. As a result Fluorourine replaces purine and stops the normal development and division cells of DNA during the "S" phase of the cell cycle.
Problem is anti-metabolites also stop normal cells from working properly, this results in side effects. Here are the most common:
- Soreness of the mouth
- Difficulty swallowing
- Diarrhea
- Stomach pain
- Low white blood counts
- Low platelet counts
- Anemia
- Sensitive skin (to sun exposure)
- Excessive tear formation from the eyes
Add to that the main side effects for Pace:
- Vomiting
- Exhaustion
We're grateful there are only 4 treatments and that the Abraxane was so effective.
Good night all
No comments:
Post a Comment