Hello, all. Got the news this week (that I already intuitively knew) that my taxotere treatment is not working. The doc took one look at my blue/black fingernails, felt the increase in the size of the tumor on my neck and immediately nixed this brand of chemo. He's trying to get me on a clinical trial that includes alimta sp? (not sure-got it written down somewhere) The thing is, though, this drug only helps a small percentage of the patients that take it, and the other drugs still available help even smaller percentages.
Thought I'd come to grips with the reality of this disease-that someday it's most likely going to kill me, but I have to admit, when it finally sunk in, that I'm not ready to go quite yet and NOT like this. (It's become a bit painful and seems to change DAILY) My neck feels like it has a constant charley-horse in it, and the side of my head feels like it had a run-in with a baseball bat.
Anybody had similar and managed to get through it? I've been pretty lucky so far, just hoping it holds out...thanks in advance!

Gordon, Im very sorry to read this post! I had been hoping you were doing ok with everything.

I have not heard of the taxotere chemo you have been on, there could be others who have used this or have knowledge of it. Maybe you will feel a little better now that you are off that type of chemo. Best wishes for another drug which will be successful. Please keep posting updates and questions.

Im in your corner rooting for you. Good luck my friend!!!

Stay strong. Hopefully the next drug will do the trick your footer doesn't d
Say anything about rads! Have you had it?

Hi Gordon
I am sorry to hear things are not going as expected. I'm presuming there is a reason you have not had the tried and true oral cancer SCC chemo of Cisplatin or its sister Carboplatin.
Is the plan to shrink this tumour before they surgically remove it ? Then treat you with radiation?
Have you had a second or even third opinion from a CCC?
I don't have any suggestions for you I'm sorry, but hope others on the board who have been through a similar scenario will jump in with suggestions .
I agree with you that the time is not now to give up.
Good luck and thinking of you,
Tammy

I am really sorry to hear the news about the taxotere failing. God bless there is another treatment to pick up the slack. Take care. don

Thanks, all for the encouragement. I'm going to re-post, though, and see if I can get anyone who's had similar happen to speak up. SURELY there's more drugs out there than just these pitiful few! I really appreciate you guys' responses!

Gordon, my dad also had a recurrent/persistent tumor on his right neck and underwent TPF (Taxotere + Cisplatin + 5 FU) for 3 cycles but it did not shrink his tumor. He underwent surgery followed by re-radiation (he had 60gy, the first time). With another recurrence, he was on gefitinib and that did keep him kicking for another 6 months before cardiac arrest took him away due to multiple health issues.

If Caco is around, she can suggest her dad's treatment - clinical trial. Last that we heard was this: http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01458392

Thread: http://oralcancersupport.org/forums...mp;Words=caco&Search=true#Post158838

Gordon here is the thread Eshwar is talking about.

Clinical Trial Thread

I bought some quality time with Alimta for over a year. Side effects for me were minimal. Alimta was a Phase 1 study at the time. I called that time "my lemonade year," as the drug was taken orally with a small amount of lemonade-flavored drink.

Gordon, I'm sorry to hear the tumor is not respnding. I had Taxotere, twice, and it can cause "hand and foot syndrome" you describe. To help reduce the toxicities, cryotherapy, like putting cold mitts on hands, feet, and for mucositus, chewing ice or drinking something cold may help ruin infusions. For nail changes, use several drops tree tee oil in a small amount of nail polish, apply to nails, cuticles on hands and feet daily, Sally absence hard as nails. For small cut put crazy glue

I heard of TPF bring usdd to reduce tumor size during treatment if growth is rapid. but that has Taxotere too, in addition to cisplatin and 5-FU. There are different combinations too with similar varients. I also heard of Erbitux being used for maintenance.

I don't recall where your recurrence is, but you mention the left neck. My doctor does intraopertive operative radiation treatment for head and neck cancer, which I did in August.

I hope this helps.