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Gemzar causing leg heaviness?

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Topic: Gemzar causing leg heaviness?

Posted By: zenrookie
Subject: Gemzar causing leg heaviness?
Date Posted: May 16 2008 at 7:53pm

Hello, I am Paul and I am here for my wife, Susan, who has metastatic triple negative breast cancer.

After a week and a half after second dosing of Gemzar, Carboplatin and Avastin...my wife describes this heaviness in the legs. Really is bothering her. The doctor nodded last visit and said it was the Gemzar. Then suggested a over the counter Midol which has a mild diuretic feature. I wondered at the time if this wasn't some placebo thing too. But she is worrying every day about this. And I am worried. Does anyone know what this is and what is doing it??? I would love a reply.. Is it water? Or could it be neuropathy or just what? Any replies would be so gratefully received.

Sincererly,

Paul & Susie M

Replies:

Posted By: cg---
Date Posted: May 16 2008 at 8:14pm

Dear Paul,

Gemzar can cause swelling in arms and legs. Some patients describe it as a heaviness. This will go away when the Gemzar treatments are finished.

Diuretics upset the electrolyte balance in our bodies so the oncologist was being cautious in recommending the minimum. Sometimes by making a side effect just a little less annoying allows us to carry on with the chemo.

Your kindness and willingness to find answers for your wife is commendable and goes a long to ease the burden of the treatments.

I hope she is feeling more comfortable.

Connie

Posted By: zenrookie
Date Posted: May 17 2008 at 10:53pm

Connie,

Thank you very much for describing what is happening to my wife. She describes it as "heaviness" and often I scan the medical literature and even university trained to read medical literature.... I can't hit the spot. I suspected peripheral edema. But also neuralgias come on that way. Your comment has been of great help to me.

Is there anything that will help alleviate it? She can't really do a lot of walking around which sometimes can move the peripheral water more into the circulation and then excreted. I've even thought about elevating her legs, and thought of those compression stockings that maybe at night she could wear that might help re-direct the fluid.

Many thanks,
Paul (for Susie)

Posted By: CalGal
Date Posted: May 18 2008 at 7:29pm

Hi Paul -

When I did Taxotere & Carboplatin, after I flew cross-country (to the Metastic Breast Cancer Network conference at MSK in 11/06), I got horrible swelling/fluid retention in my legs. They were so heavy and tired ... I'd never felt like that - before or since! Keeping my legs elevated when seated also felt better ... and I'd also try to keep a pillow under my legs when I slept.

My onc prescibed lasix (aka as furosemide), a diuretic. That helped a lot, but when I needed to pee, I really needed to go! However, it took about a month for my legs to go back to normal. Ever since then, to be safe when I fly, I wear those ugly, orthopedic stockings ... and keep lasix with me (but fortunately, have not needed it).

Best to you,

CalGal

-------------
BRCA1
9/04 Bi-lat lump, clear SNB
38x Rad'tn
12/05 Recurr bc & mets to liver
06 the year of chemo
NED for 13 mos until 7/07
Lung met. PARP trial until ...
2/08 Liver mets again