Topic: TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

Jun 13, 2012 11:06 AM TonLee wrote:

There are a few studies on the advent of allergic reactions with menopause...I saw them waaaay back in 2010 when I started researching.  The study I read suggested that a significant percentage of women have adverse reactions/allergic reactions while peri and postmenopausal they never had before in their lives...like nuts, ibuprofen, etc.

Perhaps for a few of you this might be the case...chemopause may be bringing this on?

My Onc told me the reason for the Benadryl wasn't the Herceptin, but Taxoterrible.  Taxol/taxene is taken from some sort of tree (again I knew it then, now I don't need it!) and they based our Benadryl on the old Taxol txs.....because some women were allergic to Taxol (tree)..but taxoterrible is actually a WHOLE DIFFERENT PART, but there isn't an any current research YET on taking it without Bendadryl.... when they started substituting it in place of traditional taxol, they just transferred the pre-meds too...because studies showed they worked with Taxol.

He asked me to take it because if I was somehow allergic to the taxene I would still have symptoms, they wouldn't be severe but they'd still exist is a more moderate form. 

The next tx I asked to skip it.  The nurses were very uncomfortable with that, but I made that choice because not only did I not have a reaction after the first TCH, I didn't even really feel bad at any time in the days to follow, except for being tired from the Benadryl. (Which for some strange reason takes me about 24 hours to shake off.)

So I declined it at the 2nd tx, Onc okayed it, said to just watch me. 

I was fine. Never had a problem. And best of all was able to spend the rest of my day productively at the gym, or going to the grocery store, whatever. And no one had to "come with me" to chemo like I was disabled or something....not that there is anything wrong with it but I didn't want to be there...so I didn't want anyone else to have to sit there either...

Jun 13, 2012 11:56 AM Kitchenella wrote:

Ton...interesting about menopause and allergies.  I have upper respiratory seasonal allergies that only showed up after menopause.  Never thought that had anything to do with them.

Peggy 

Jun 13, 2012 12:54 PM Kelloggs wrote:

kltb04 - I had Taxotere with Carboplatin and Herceptin.  I had infusions on Thursday and usually my bad days were Sunday into Monday.  It wasn't bad, felt like the flu with aches.

Jun 13, 2012 02:25 PM moni731 wrote:

kitb04- my first reaction with Taxotere was with the beginning of the infusion. Chest area got red/splotchy, hives, swelling of my throat, etc. even with Benadryl 75mg beforehand! Needless to say, never got it again.

Jun 13, 2012 03:58 PM SpecialK wrote:

klt - infusions were on Thurs, bad days Sun-Tue., with some random issues continuing for a week or so - but nothing that kept me from functioning.  I think Taxotere is a little more intense than Taxol, as some who have issues with Taxotere are switched to Taxol, but everyone reacts differently - you may do very well and your shoe may not drop!  Hoping for that!

Jun 13, 2012 04:43 PM SpecialK wrote:

kltb - I got Nuelasta for all 6 TCH, but my MO prescribes it from the get-go.  If you experience a drop on Taxotere they can always add Neulasta back in.

Jun 13, 2012 05:40 PM, edited Jun 13, 2012 10:45 PM by TonLee

I didn't get Neulasta the first tx, ended up in the hospital for FIVE DAYS osteopenic...lol, neutropenic whatever it was called!  The longest 5 days of my life.  SO BORING.

After that I just took the shot home with me and gave it to myself in the stomach the day after chemo. 

Jun 13, 2012 06:05 PM moni731 wrote:

I was also given Neulasta automatically, but ended up with grade 4 neutropenia every time (WBC counts of 0) and in the hospital. Chemo also caused anemia that has lasted to this day, but is now improving. Glad to hear that I am an anomaly and not the norm. Wouldn't wish my experience on anyone!

Jun 13, 2012 06:47 PM lago wrote:

kltb04 I did not get labs on my first TX but got them before the other 5. No labs for only herceptin.

I had chemo on Tuesday. I never had "bad" days but usually Wednesday I was fine. Things started to kick in on Wednesday a little. By Saturday the Big C (constipation) was gone. Heartburn would have been consistent if not for the meds. Once off steroids I had fluid retention till I took them again for the next infusion. I could go on but really the first 3 TX weren't too bad once the we figure out the proper treatment for the Big C and heartburn.After that the SE I did have were a bit more intense, lasted longer or a few new ones (taxoteres, eye twitching. My nail issues didn't start till tx 3

Jun 13, 2012 11:59 PM Kitchenella wrote:

I"ve been told I will start Tamo 4 weeks after my last TX next week.

Jun 14, 2012 08:14 AM lago wrote:

I started my ESD 1 month after chemo but I didn't do rads. My onc has her patients on rads start after rads ends. I get the feeling she doesn't like her patients to experience too many SE at once and wants to be sure what the SE is from.

Jun 14, 2012 01:55 PM Fitz33 wrote:

kitb04:  I got labs before every chemo and before every 3 wks of Herceptin.

I didn't do well on chemo at all even with a 2-month break between treatments 4 and 6.  I live in fear of a reocurrence because I don't know what they could treat me with ... I've had Tykerb, Herceptin, Taxotere and Carboplatin. 

Jun 14, 2012 05:49 PM ArleneA wrote:

I didn't start my Arimidex until I was finished with RADS.

I get blood work and thorough breast/node exam every 3 months.  SpecialK, I need to check because I don't remember the CEA and CMP on my labs.  Need to ask when I go again in July.  I am getting another Dexa before 2 years and insurance has approved it too.  My onco does the CTC blood test but some here don't believe it is accurate but I'm guessing that since I have a baseline, it is a good indicator but I really have no idea.

Jun 14, 2012 06:45 PM Moonflwr912 wrote:

My onc said to wait till after I switch to triweekly herceptin before he will prescribe my estrogen sucker. Also, I get labs weekly with each infusion, including the wekly herceptin. I have one more weekly, then go to the triweekly after that. I get a CBC, CMP, each time. If anything is off, he orders things like an iron panel or whatever. I am usually low on magnesium and have to have a bag Hung every week, even though I take six of those pills a day! Tell me ladies, ARE WE HAVING FUN YET!!!! LOL MUCH LOVE.

Jun 14, 2012 10:48 PM moni731 wrote:

SpecialK- when did you start the ca27.29 levels? How have the readings  gone? I will start this in Aug. I have read up on the results being false positive, I guess that is why so many onc's don't do them. Do you find at least some comfort in the readings or does it worry you? Thanks in advance.