Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
Comments
-
Thanks REKoz....my haid is buzzed right now...but what is left is causing the issue....just wondering what my consequences are if I shave it smooth. Have you heard of anybody doing this???
0 -
Dear Lisa,
Wish you a Happy Birthday and a healthy body!
(That is the traditional way of greeting someone's birthday in Chinese)
Hugs and kisses,
Ipohgirl
0 -
Shari don't shave it with a razor there is a risk of infection because of ingrown hairs. You can use an electric one but I have been told not to use a regular razor.
0 -
Jaimieh: Wow..really, I would have never thought of that...Thank You. I definately won't shave with a razor, we go through enough shit without adding more to our bodies!0
-
Shari: I used my husband's electric razor on my head, and it worked great--made my head feel so much better. My name came from the name of the street that our house is on at the beach.
0 -
duneoaks: I decided to do just that....I used my BH (better half) and used his electric razor...WOW my head feels soooo much better. We are getting ready to go see Jeff Dunham today and I wanted to wear my new wig...which is really long as you can in my profile.....Cant wait to get responses from my friends....I have never had long hair before..I love this wig!
Thank you for all of the comments in regards to the shaving question! Much Appreciated!!!!
Denali: Loved the Dane Cook video....He is definately a good comedian..I had to go on and watch his other videos...thanks for link!!! Well needed laugh!!
0 -
Hi everyone:
Wow, I have to say that I'm moved beyond words. I am alive!
I had treatment #7 about 10 days ago and I've been pretty much MIA ever since. At one point I remember sitting in a chair staring off into space and realizing that an hour had passed. There's a reason why most people stop at 4 or 6 treatments--after that, the body starts to rebel even harder. I think I'm going to do one more then take a forced break before starting up again. The abraxane and herceptin aren't too bad but the carbo is really kicking my butt hard. I even had a slight dose reduction in abraxane. Wow.
I've been hesitant to post because I've been so bummed with treatment. Today was the first real day I've left the house since March 12th. I've lost track of the days and can't believe March is almost over. At one point, I had little or no recollection of about 4 or 5 days except for what people tell me. I can handle the physical stuff for the most part but the drugs are really doing something to my brain.
On a positive note, the Emend has been a life-saver. You guys are the best. This is the first cycle of chemo where I actually ate normal food (although much smaller portions). My onc prescribed 5 days worth as my nausea seems at its worst at about day 5. I also stayed on dexa for 5 days (which I think may have been what ultimately fried my brain).
You're all such a caring and supportive group. I don't visit as often as I used to - it can be hard when everyone finishes their chemo and I know that I have to press onward with mine. I've been sharing my time over at the Stage IV boards.
I'm heading out tonight with my husband to a formal dinner at the invite of a friend. I'm also going to an overnight spa next weekend with some girlfriends.
Hang in there everyone. I'll try to post more often when I'm feeling better.
0 -
Mason: You are very loved in here and yes we just get so going about ourselves that we forget that some with this awful disease has to carry on through the fire with the treatments. You are so brave and makes me feel like a whimp complaining about the tiny little 6 I had to endure. I can understand hearing us yippee we are done how it must make you feel and your comradeship would be better understood in the IV boards. Just know that you touched us to the point that you became family and we were worried about you. I am glad that the suggestion of the Emend was a help to you, I know it was for me. And so very happy you are getting out and enjoying your husband at a formal dinner and going for that overnight spa with your girlfriends. Anytime you are welcome at our camp. We welcome you with open arms and would very much like to know how you are doing from time to time.0
-
Lisa,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Hope you had a great day in spite of the rain!
Nicole
0 -
Cheryl - Your post brought me to tears. We all care about you!!!
Cupcake - Your post brought me right back to tears....just when I had stopped too! You are amazing. God Bless you.
Anne
0 -
Smile! I am soooo jealous! I am a huge Jeff Dunham fan! "I kill you!" " Hello! I am Lindsey Lohan" "You drive a blue Puris - you are gay" "Jose Jalepeno - on a stiiick". I just love Jeffffa Dunhammmm! Have a wonderful time!!!! He was in my town not too long ago and I missed it! I spent many chemo hours in bed with Jeff Dunham CD's to keep me laughing!
0 -
Cheryl: God Bless you. You are one of the strongest people I know I hope you have a great time getting all done up for your formal tonight!
Lisa
0 -
Cheryl, we are all so glad to hear from you and know how you are doing. I am so glad to see that you are finally feeling better and able to go out for a fun evening! You are incredible and I admire your strength and your honesty.
Please check in with us whenever you feel the need! You can always come here for a good laugh!
Hope Spring comes to Canada soon
maja0 -
I have been reading this thread for about three weeks now; I am certainly not a newbie, this is the second time around for me. I am on Taxotere, carboplatin and Herceptin, have a very rare invasive cancer. Just finished the first almost three weeks ago and am now losing most of my hair. Not too many side effects, but it sucks just the same.
0 -
Mason: ) Glad to know you are feeling well enough to enjoy a nice dinner with your husband and friends. Enjoy your night at the spa. May it all be uphill from here. Bless you!
0 -
Welcome Sheila- yeah sucks is a pretty good term for this process. I've found it more difficult to keep my head up (literally!) and the gratitude in the fore front. It's there, I promise but everything is difficult when you feel so lousy. I'd even venture to say early pregnancy AND childbirth were easier. Well, maybe not the birth itself but at least it went fast~ This is just becoming so difficult to take every flippin week! If this weekly gig is supposed to be easier, I can only imagine I would be suicidal with the larger dose every 3! I keep thinking about how many times I've read it's "doable" which of course it is considering the alternative. But this nausea is over the top and never ending. Combined with the fatique...OMG, it's not easy to think I will be volunteering myself there again this Friday.. Just have to remember that's the last of cycle 3, one more to go. I am soooo tempted to ask my Onc. if there's ANY way I can stop now!
Mason- my heart goes out to you! No, revise that, it bleeds for you! Even though I am an early stager, I am on the same regiman as you- Abraxane rather than taxotere. I have been able to avoid the decatron but the Onc. said that would be the next step if this nausea doesn't get under control. I have so wanted to avoid the steroids as they seem to produce se's all their own. One of the reasons he was able to get me the Abraxane was due to my bi-lateral carpal which would be further aggravated by the decatron. I did get Emend but I screwed up taking it. I did not realize that there was a protocol on when to take it so when I got it last week, I just popped the first one immediately. THEN I read the directions! So, I only had two of the lower doses this cycle which obviously didn't help. On Friday, I will take it the correct way and PRAY it helps. I'm not actually getting sick (there's not too much to get rid of, it's so hard to eat) but I was down and out all weekend. Keeping my fingers crossed as I feel a tad more human today.
Smile- I am so happy your head feels better! I remember it feeling like night and day once I shaved to the scalp. You look gorgeous in your wig.But from your picture, I think you'd be gorgeous bald to! Such a pretty, YOUNG face. It's awful you have to deal with this so young.
Well ladies, I apologize for my bitch session but if not here, then this all sits and stews within. I know I am among sisters who understand that! Holding such negativity in is NOT a good thing and no one else knows how I truly feel but my friends here. Thank you all!!
xoEllen
0 -
Happy Birthday Lisa! "I kill you" I am jealous too of the Jeff Dunham show. I hope you had a fabulous birthday! I thought of you this week end. I went to St Augustine!! It was about 6 pm on Friday night and I wanted to get out of the house. At first I was going to go see my daughter in Winter Park but she was being mean. Actually she was beyond mean. I wont say what she was being but her attitude really hurt me. She has no idea what the last 7 months of my life have been like. But anyway, I went to St Aug at the last minute with my two youngest daughters and my mom. I had so much fun. I may be seeing you in May!
)Cheryl, I am so happy you are okay. I know you are not feeling so great and I am sorry. I will be praying for you this week. I mean that. I really will be praying for you and your family this week. I remember after my sixth treatment I told my nurses that if I had to take a 7th treatment I would have not been able to. You are right. There IS a reason we do only six. I hope you had a great time out with hubby and friends. I hope you feel better every day! Hugs...Traci
0 -
Cheryl: I'm so glad to see your posts while you share your journey with you. I think we all look up to you for courage. You're not only a warrior, you're a CHIEFESS!!! Thank you for sharing with us. Sounds like you have an exciting few days coming up. Tell us about it!
Smile: I'm so glad you like the video of Dane Cook. His Weepathon is hilarious and so right on. I'll have to go back and watch his other videos.
I've decided to get a pondless waterfall for my backyard with my tax return. If I'm going to spend the spring in chemo and at home, I'm going to have something pretty to look at! It's been in the 80s for the last 2 days in Colorado so I'm ready! I have a pond out there now but had to drain it for the winter as my Lexi tended to take a dip before she'd come into the house. sigh. Not good in the winter. Hopefully, with a pondless waterfall (water just falls on rocks so there's no standing water), I won't have to deal with algae and buying a gazillion pond plants every year. I'm having 2 landscapers coming out today for bids.
I think that's what each of us needs--an attractive, private, quiet space for us where we can sit and experience our chemo fog.
0 -
Morning all - I type this from the chemo room. Today is herceptin only #2.
Ellen: Bitch all you want! That is what we are here for. And if we didn't occasionally let out some of the frustration , we would explode. We don't have to perky all the time, we are only human.
Sheila: Sorry you are going thru this again - yes that sucks major league.
Denali: I love water gardening - but it is a PIA! My pond is currently drained. The great blue herons kept flyhing off with my koi and the plants become breeding areas for water moccasins! I have a contractor that is going to re-configure my filtration box so I can clean the filters without getting in the water. Then I am only going to use plants that won't make nice houses for snakes. Have not yet figured out how to keep the birds from dining. I will only buy cheap fish - no more expensive koi.
Traci: While your daughter was being a pain in Winter Park, my SIL the pain from Winter Park was down here torturing me. We did not allow her to visit during my treatments because she is so blasted selfish and inconsiderate. On her first trip down here since my tx's were over, she pulls one of her "stunts" . She invited 2 people I do not know back to my house for hors d'voures and cocktails - this was AFTER I spent the day on my feet at the bbq. Like I had the energy left to play hostess? And then, these people did not leave until midnight! Oh well, she is clueless. Glad you liked St. Augustine, I really hope you can join us in May.
Lisa
0 -
Cheryl Glad to hear from you!! We all feel better now Believe me!! Hope your date with Hubby was Amazing! Enjoy your spa weekend when you go!! You so deserve it Girl !!! Keep in Touch !! Smile You look beautiful in that wig I know you got lots of compliments! How was the show?? He is so funny I just watched him Saturday night on TV, Peanut is my favorite. Laughter Is The Best Medicine. Sheila Welcome to you Lisa & Traci Isnt so unfair we don't get to pick our family.LOL Thank God we pick our own friends, Sorry you both have to deal with that you are going through enough Sorry [[[ BIG HUG ]]] 0 -
Lisa: Koi are sooooo expensive! I used to just go to Petsmart/Petco and buy feeder fish for 28 cents each. So I felt that I was SAVING them. I'd usually get a dozen and they'd live quite awhile, until the heron would have them for lunch. But at least I wasn't serving an expensive, gourmet meal of Koi.
0 -
Sheila - Welcome to camp chemo. I am sorry that you are on your second round of chemo. I hope that the cancer gets it's behind kicked from the TCH. If you need any help, we are here.
ReKoz - Don't give in to the rotten feeling, dear. Keep up the good fight and hopefully the Emend will do it's job. I hope that Friday finds you feeling better.
My arm is slightly swollen and the lymphedema specialist said she is not worried that it is lymphedema, but it is a slight possibility. I am wearing a sleeve for a few hours each day and hopefully the swelling will come down a bit. The physical therapy seems to be helping with the cording in my arm. I am hoping that once my plastic surgeon does the implant surgery that I will be feeling much better. These expanders are pretty big and VERY uncomfortable.
Stay strong ladies.
Anne
0 -
Tx 6...what a day/ They couldn't draw blood from my port so I had to go to x-ray to be sure that it wasn't turned. After all that it turned out it was fine. I could taste the vials of saline that they were injecting into it at 8 am to try and draw blood. They finally used my arm to get the blood. Anyway finally started chemo at 11 am with the port that turned out to be fine. They have had trouble getting blood from day one so glad nothing was wrong. I had already decided that if I had to have chemo wiyh an IV i was having it!
My dh went with me and the man was driving me crazy. The economy is having its effect on his businesss (like everybody else) and he is a bear. I kept telling him to go to work but he insisted on staying.
, sweet, but all he did was bitch about work. I fell asleep. It has been tough for him these past few months with my BC and his company trying to ride out these hard times but it is stress I can't deal with very well now. He has always been the one to unload me ... then he feels much better but I am a wreak.Major type A.When our son called to see how I was doing the dh interrupted and started asking about some work related issue. I can't take it!!!!!I don't want to deal with him tonight so I am going to bed.
Wow, that was a world class whine. Sorry ladies but today has been stressful. Chemo over, rads in 4 weeks.I am worried about my expandr and recon as it doesn't sound like the PS and radman are on the same page. i haven't met with radman yet so I am sure we will get it worked out. This sounds more like a rant than a whine. Dinner, bath, bed.
Just occured to me that the decdron is probably making me a superhuman bitch.
maja0 -
maja, I am sorry you are feeling so much stress. But hey, you finished with tx 6! Block everything else out and try to relax. Take an ativan, that may help!
Cheryl, still praying for you
0 -
Rockstar - Thank the good Lord that we CAN pick our friends!
Denali - Yes. Those things are expensive! I started buying common carp, which look the same but are much cheaper. I tried the feeder fish, but they never lasted more than a few days. I am going to try this ONE MORE TIME. Only because we have so much invested in the rock and the waterfall and it would cost a fortune to have it all carted off. I also did not mention what the twin 2004 hurricanes did to the pond. The downed tree limbs punctured the liner in several places. I have patched and re-patched. The new contractor wants to put down a whole new liner - ouch. We will see.
Anne: Do everything the lymphdema specailist tells you to do! You do not want that!
Maja: What an ordeal! Your last tx is supposed to be a good day!. Bless your hubby. I understand why you are ready to strangle him, but he is just hanging on for you. I hope tomorrow goes better.
Lisa
0 -
Ready for this... Chemo #2 postponed again due to infection. My first treatment was on Feb. 20! I finished the meds on Sat. and they wanted to see how I would do sans the antibotic. Obviously, not too good. Woke up this morning to two red and hot breasts (and not in the good way). My onco is confused. Thinks it may just be a reaction not an infection. I will be seeing my PS on Wed. and my breast surgeon on Friday. Soo disappointing and frustrating! I am very concerned that they will want to take the tissue expanders out. That would be such a setback! Has anyone had any situation like this? Tell me I'm not "the rare exception". On a bright note though, they did do Herceptin only today. That was a mental shot in the arm (or the port...). I was happy to at least have it. 2 down, 15 to go.
Maja: congratulations! Wished #6 had been more of a happy occassion for you. May your se be few!
Lisa, I didn't get a chance to say Happy Birthday this weekend, so Happy Belated Birthday!
-Maggie
0 -
I made it through! i didn't know you could be so tried! The SE are finally ending it took over a week for that to happen. Next step the hair is going! I teach 2nd grade, one of my students wanted to know when it grows back will it be old hair (that is what he calls grey hair) I was hoping for red and curly
We just put our fish back in our pond, our Idaho winter is finally ending (I hope) Our problem is the water snakes they like to eat the little fish!
When I went for the herceptin shot- the nurse asked if I wanted it in the stomach- she said with older women it is easier because you no longer have the stomach muscles to tighten up like you do in the arm.... and here I thought I had 6 pack abs!!! Cancer and a flabby stomach- life doesn't get any better!
Karen
0 -
Oh my gosh...Jeff Dunham was great!! His opening act was guitar man....too funny! Have to say I enjoyed Walter the most. Peanut was a close second! We were suppose to be in a suite..but the one we had was over crowded so the suite owner was able to arrange front row stage right....great seats!!! All in all it was an AWESOME night!!
Thanks for the compliments of the wig....my BH loves the long hair!
We booked our vacation tonight...so now I have something to look forward to after tx6! We are going to St. Marteen right before I am scheduled to start radiation. So a full week of leisure...cant wait!
0 -
Huh? Karen Did you smack the nurse? Just what you needed - to be called old and flabby - jeesh! What brand of water snakes to you get in Idaho? Just curoius, I did a lot of studying after my pond got invaded. On your shot. Did you mean Nuelasta? Herceptin is an infusion.
Maggie - That just stinks!!!! I hope they find out what is causing the redness and swelling. That puts you 5 weeks out from you treatment plan. Please keep us posted and hang in there.
0 -
Maja: you should be celebrating your last chemo!! But what an AWFUL day you've had!! Physically AND mentally! Your DH interupting your son, asking how you were, would have caused a major meltdown with me. So you did good by not hauling off and slugging dear hubby!
I say we make a toast to Maja (holding up my humongous salt-rimmed Margarita) for finishing her couregeous journey in chemo land!! Hear, Hear!! (Or is it here, here???) Anyway, congrats!
Oh, Lisa, can we see a photo of your pond?? I'd love to see it. Ya know, it could've been snakes that ate my fish! I've noticed them around the pond a couple times, conspicuously when the fish began disappearing! hmmmm.....I just assumed it was Heron.
Magnolia: so sorry they had to postpone your chemo. I just want mine to be done with, so I can imagine how frustrating it must be to get extended. My chemo is supposed to end by the beginning of June so I want to make plans for the summer. I'll be really annoyed if my end date is held up!
Karen: back when I had fish that lasted all summer, I just left them in the pond all winter. They go to the bottom and sort of hibernate. They made it through the Colorado winter.
I found that the Neulasta shot hardly hurts in the stomach as opposed to getting it in the arm where it really burned. So getting shots in the tummy is a good thing, as Martha would say.
In my area they have an exercise program for cancer pts that's at the rec center and is 4x per wk and lasts 6 mos. It costs $150 and I called for an appt to start next wk. But I'm afraid I just won't have the energy. I'm such a wimp. I'm not an energetic person normally and I've only had 2 chemos so far, but this is supposed to be my 'good' week, and I'm just not that energetic. Maybe I should cancel. I feel like such a slug.
0
