Husband's diagnosis

HI Clara,
So sorry to hear about your husbands diagnoises.My husband  (age 46) is in the same boat. In Aug.2006 he was diagnoised with stage 4 bladder cancer.. it had spread into his bones(hip,pelvis,spine,ribs) from reading your report it sounds like your husbands has also. first of all I think your doctors may have ordered another scan to see if the tumors are  growing.  If there are more lesions chances are the chemo isn't working. (only my opinion)second. from what you said about the side effects (fast pulse, pain in shoulder etc.) My husband had those same exacts side effects although they were from taxotere and taxol, which started immediately after the  IV was started. Please let me know if I can be of any help to you,  A questions? Did your husband show any signs of  bladder cancer (blood in urine etc) before this diadnoises?

No, I am not sure that it was the nulasta instead of the taxotere but he did not get sick until after he would take the shot.
He does take a steriod the day before, day of and day after that treatment.

I too think that Forsyth is a good facility, many of my family members have been treated there....women with breast cancer and a niece with colon cancer.

Clara...i'm so sorry for such a progressed diagnosis. You seem to be in a good facility that is associated with Duke and also has many clinical trials going on...you might ask about them if this new drug shows no results. Are they sure the Neulasta caused the reaction and not the Taxotere? Thats a powerful drug..usually steroids are administered ahead of time to lessen affect.
Your doctor is board certified in internal medicine as well as hematology and oncology so i think you're in good hands.
I'm so sorry you both have to go thru this..if we can be of any help on this panel in any way just keep writing. We'll support you.......Pat

On January 16, 2007 we received that horrible news that was suspected...my husband was diagnosed with bladder cancer....here is the last report and I am just looking for other suggestions of anything that might be useful.
Stage IV
Hypermetabolic activity in the left transverse process at C7
Right posterior rib lesion at approximately T8.
Lesion in L1 vertebra.
Left anterolateral rib lesion (7th rib).
Hypermetabolic focus in the lateral aspect of the L5 vertebra.
Lesion in medial left ileum.
Small hypermetabolic left ileac lymph node has SUV of 3.99.
Lesion projecting off the left posterior aspect of the urinary bladder.
Left ischial lesion.
Lesion in the posterior left ischial.
Anterior left ischial lesion.
Upper thighs are normal.

I have counted 9 places that are affected.

Is on the 4th cycle of Gemzar and will have last treatment of Gemzar and Taxotere on May 4th. Started out also getting shot of Neulasta after treatment with taxotere but had reactions and had to quit. Fast pulse, pain in shoulder, raw feeling in chest.

PET scan scheduled on Monday, May 8th and report from the dr. on Friday, May 11th.

There was very little change with the last PET scan and had one new place on a rib.

We go to Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC. Dr. Hugh J. Wallace.

Any input will be greatly appreciated!