Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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Cakelady....I got my wig today, it looks alright, not exactly like my old hair, but it will do the job.
The reason they suggested the Neulasta shot for me is only because my white blood cells got so low and they don't want that to happen again, because risk of infection is very high. Hopefully, you are and will be ok without having to get it.
Also, it sounds like you may have a decreased platelet count if you are seeing little pin dots on your legs..have you noticed any increased bruising? Use a lot of lotion to keep your legs from becoming too dry. I would call the doc and tell him just to be on the safe side and not wait until the 22nd. It may be nothing to be concerned about, but you can never be too careful.
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Cakelady, the rash sounds like petechiae - bleeding under the skin from capillaries causes little red dots under the skin. Low platelets can cause it. After one chemo, I had a lot on my shins plus sparser dots on one arm and on my chest. But mine didn't itch. If the platelets get too low, they can do a transfusion of them, but mine didn't get low enough to need that.
Some oncologists give Neupogen or Neulasta to everyone on TCH. Others (including mine) wait and only give it to patients who are having problems due to very low white cell count. Some on TCH don't have their white cells drop enough to need it. A week after my first chemo, I was feeling extremely tired and crummy (sitting in a chair felt like an incredible burden). A blood test showed that my white count had gotten really low. My onc started me on Neupogen, but the next evening I developed a fever over 100.5 and had to go to the ER. Fortunately, it was just a neutropenic fever (i.e. just due to low white cells) - there was no infection. Since the first cycle showed it was a problem for me, on the rest of the cycles my on prescribed Neupogen proactively, like ccbaby's onc did with Neulasta.
Both Neupogen and Neulasta stimulate the bone marrow to produce white blood cells. Neulasta is stronger and longer acting. My onc said that one Neulasta dose is about the same as 10 Neupogen and that that would be too strong for me. I took 3 Neupogen shots per chemo cycle. If you are doing fine with out it, that's great. Both can produce various side effects. A lot of people get bone aches though I didn't.
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My oncologist doesn't give any shots I just get decadron the day prior to chemo and then 2 days afterwards.
I am slowly climbing out of the chemo. hole. I am hoping the next 2 rounds are much kinder.
Anyone who has already had a mastectomy did you notice the shooting nerve pains during treatment ???
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Ok.....I made it through tx 4!!! YEAH! Munched on my cookies and drank lots of water. I was dehydrated a bit and they had to stick me twice....bummer!
Back for my Nuelstra Shot tomorrow...YUCK!
Wishing everyone a good night sleep tonight...I know how that can be
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Yes Bold You are on a high of pure relief and joy. Run with it!
Swampy - Wow, that is a long drive! Hang tough girl!
Smile - Just checkin in!
Gramma - Don't you go workin too much - again! You need to stay on the docs about your blood counts. My counts are still low, but you are way, way farther out from chemo. Take care of yourself. We need you here!
Traci - I hope all is well with your family.
Lisa
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I went for chemo #4 today and was told I'm anemic--Hemoglobin was 9.5. And I have 2 more TCH treatments to go.
About tranfusions--do they give them through the port?? Probably not, huh? So there's NOTHING we can do? Some folks mentioned eating protein and taking iron won't help. Shoot there has to be something we can do to push it up.
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Good evening ladies, just popped in with an updated photo. I had to include the flowers because I have the most wonderful cyber friend in the Philippines who sends me flowers on each of my chemo days. I cannot believe her thoughtfulness and generosity. I absolutely love returning home from chemo and having a huge packing box filled with flowers sitting on the kitchen table. Then I have the absolute pleasure of triming and arranging the flowers.
So far treatment number 3 is treating me well. However, I learned from treatment 2 that no matter how hungry I am, I must eat in small portions. Too bad. How I would love a platter of pasta, or a small trough of mashed potatoes swimming in butter. And don't even get me started on the white cake with butter cream frosting. . .
Okay, that's it for me. Back reality, I am off for more water and pills.
Here's to us all having a good whatever we are currently in need of.
Cheers!
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Has anyone heard from IPOHGIRL??? She has not posted in a while.
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Denali, the transfusion goes in through your port. If you are 9.5 on chemo #4, you are doing pretty good. Maybe you won't need a transfusion. They usually don't do a transfusion until you are down to around 8. If you do need one, don't worry. The transfusions made me feel a lot better.
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Dear ladies,
Day 2 of cycle number 3. Couldn't sleep all of last night. Must be the dexamethasone.....the nauseau is worse than the second cycle but no vomiting yet. Will pop a sleeping pill tonite.
Lisa 1964
Thanks so much for your offer. We do plan to take the children - may daughter is 11 and my son 8 - to visit some relatives and Disneyland in the next one or two years - was to be this summer but since my bc surfaced, have not been brave to book anything yet.
I showed my daughter your website and she was so impressed. We only see people living like tht in movies!
About your sleeping problems, do try to find another TCM doctor to do the acupuncture. It worked very well for me on my first cycle except that I got fever and bruises after that so I will wait till the chemo sessions are over before I do them again.
Also, try to get some chinese red dates in the vietnamese shops and just boil for one hour, let it sit for another and then drink it at night for a couple of times before you go to sleep. It does work very well, but again I can't take it now becoz it's considered a "heaty drink" and it will worsen the SEs of chemo which is also heaty. But you could take it since your chemo is over. For your hair, it is Asian practice to rub some brandy with a piece of ginger on your scalp to stimulate it before going to bed. We do it for babies and adults too.
Mommy Cupcake
Where are you? Hope you are fine. I had a great Easter going with the family to the beach, a short hike, a nice lunch and dinner just before I did my third cycle yesterday. My darling classmate sent a hamper of cheese, ham and honey from Perth too. Felt very happy to be alive and doing things with my family and having great friends.like you gals. I think I will live one day at a time - today - and not worry too much about the million tommorows...........
To all the other ladies,
Have a great weekend and cheers!
Ipohgirl
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Dear Smile 2006,
I missed your post since i was skimming thru the newer posts. Thanks for your concern and love. I had been rather active with the family during the Easter break and just had time to pop into the thread occasionally. I hope your are doing fine too.
Hugs,
ipohgirl
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Low platelets will cause the red dots on your skin. I had them just on my arms from elbow down to my hand. I thought it was weird not to have them any place else if that was the cause. I guess our bodies will do what it wants to.
If anyone gets a transfusion more than likely you will get it in the port. Some places are different but I always got it through the port and after all the ones I have had I was so glad I had that port to use for that. You will get a low platelets count after the blood transfusion though. I always felt so much better after the blood and the time I had 3 units my platelets were really low. My husband and I had to figure out why the low platelets because the doc did not seem to understand that but the one nurse agreed with us that was the reason. When they give you whole blood it has the platelets and plasma taken out of it so they can use it for the ones that just need that part of the blood.That dilutes your own platelets so it causes it to go lower. I never had any side effects from low platelets but they really cautioned me to not get a cut or do anything that would start bleeding. I remember Thanksgiving I was scared to use the electric knife and I don't know why because I never have cut myself with it! It is amazing how ours minds work!
Cloud, the flowers are so nice! How wonderful to come home to fresh flowers after all that abuse to your body from chemo. What a nice friend!
Lisa1964, My guy that works with me and has been doing the commercial vault and handling the coin since my surgery, is leaving me this summer. He has a chance to make more money and he will be going to Nursing school this fall. I hope I can handle it by then. I get so dizzy with the low RBC but it is not so low they want to do a transfusion. I think the onc is being a little over concerned about my heart. I think my chest pain has been a cold because it is starting to break up a little. I kept telling him I felt like it was asthma not my heart. I know they are the docs with a degree but it is my body. I have antibiotics I should have just took them. I need to drink more water. I have not been drinking it like I should because I got so sick of drinking all that water.
Ipohgirl, Cupcake is doing okay. She and her hubby are painting and doing some spring fix up on their house. She has more energy than I do! Her surgery will be soon though so they wanted to get all that done before that. I know she reads this site so she will probably pop in.
Bold I am glad you are finished. It gets better just knowing you don't have to do another one. I am still doing the Herceptin and he told me we would overlap a little more than a year. What does that mean? I asked my husband what he heard. Did he mean just do July when I planned on finishing in June? the onc was concerned about the heart thing and where my blood is going. I dread going to another doc. I do know this one though, he is the one my hubby goes to. More bills though!
Denali, do you feel dizzy when your RBC get low? I always do and get out of breath easy so just be careful not to fall and rest when walking . I have to walk up hill to the hospital and boy that is hard. My husband was almost to the door and looked back and I was barely moving. He forgets I need to rest now that he is healing from his heart surgery. Well I guess we are all like that. I remember when I was out walking him after his surgery.
I hope all of you have a good day and few se. Everyday is one day closer to being finished.
gramma23 (Carolyn)
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hi lisa! I am doing better. I am still wanting to do the trip so we should chat. My bf's dad had a TIA this week so I need to make sure we are not heading to Phoenix at the same time. When it rains it pours! It seems to be one thing after another in this house lately. By the way have you talked to your onc abouth the Paxil?
I am glad everyone is doing okay with their txs. Congratulations to everyone that has finished.
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Yes, I get light headed every time I get up too quickly. The anemia has me scared--my blood was taken BEFORE treatment #4 and so I have yet to feel the effect of that on the blood. Then 2 treatments after that.
I just want to hole up in my house and not come out until the end of May when chemo is over. Do you ever feel like that?
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Traci, yes we need to chat. There is still plenty of room for you - we will make room. Pop over to the horse board when you get a chance. No, I have not talked to the doc about the Paxil, but I have not taken it either. I am just going to find an accupuncturist on my own. I will talk to the doc about the Paxil next time I see him.
Lisa
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Hi Campers-
Funny that when I clicked on this board, it began with the low platlet explanation by gramma. Today has been a bummer. What was supposed to be my second to last week of chemo did NOT happen. Reason: LOW platlets. Never had a platlet issue at all. Today, they were all the way down to 59 (thousands)!! You know how it is when you are trying to keep yourself from crying and all someone has to do is look at you?
I brought in a bunch of food since it was to be my last Friday and I have gotten close to the Friday nurses. This excited women who came in left dejected and depressed. My Onc. PROMISED that my counts will be good enough for that May 27th surgery. So now next chemo is Mon. the 27th and then one more the following Monday. Whaa whaa....
Well, I will surely be fine for my daughter's shower on the 26th now. No after chemo effects. Red counts down to 9.5, going to take a nap now. Just needed to come here to the place where I know everyone understands my disappointment. Thanks for being here....
xoEllen
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ccbaby and bluedasher.....thanks for the note. My redness seems to be mostly on the lower shins and it only itches sometimes... it is not getting any worse. I am keeping lotion on my legs. I am 4 days after 2nd treatment and have been okay, just a little tired and bored.
Thanks for the info on the Neupogen and Neulasta.
Cloud.... You look pretty with no hair... and how nice to get a surprise of flowers at every chemo. What a nice friend. I know its nice to be thought of.......I have about 30 cards on my hutch from friends and relatives, and sometimes I get a surprise of flowers. It makes me want to cry!!! to see that so many people care.
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Hi All:
I had the big CRASH yesterday. Still Feel like Poop today. My Dh went to work even though he had the day off and left his cell phone home too. I think I was a little grumpy this morning. I have to say I know that I am at the end of this but I have had it. I want to have a normal bowel movement. To be able to finish a project with out taking a break. To feel the wind in my hair. To feel that I am going to be an old lady. I know that this part of the journey is coming to the end but when you don't feel good it feels that it will never end. I can not wait till tomorrow, I know I will be better and better. Thanks for letting me vent. I will go back to bed till I am nice again.
Love ya all.
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Bold: It will be better real soon! I had my last treatment two weeks ago and am starting to feel so good. I think I lot of it is mental; it just feels great knowing that there will be no more horrible chemo "down days". I've also been working and getting out a lot more. I spent way too much time at home during chemo because I was so afraid of catching one of the "bugs" floating around. Take care of yourself. There are good days ahead!0
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Ellen, I am so sorry. What a huge dissapointment. I just can't imagine it. Low platlets are a big deal, not anything to mess with. My platlets did not tank until after the last tx, but when they did go, they went low. I was forbidden to go to the gym even. I was told I could tear something and bleed internally. I hope you feel better when you get up from your nap.
Bold, hang in there. The steroids will be out of your system in a few days. So you don't make yourself crazy (and your husband), focus on what you know is true, not what you want. Tx 6 is not a switch that makes the last 6 months dissappear. You already know this, which is why you are probably a bit grumpy
. It gets better.Cakelady - boredom was a huge thing for me. Don;t know what I would have done without this board. I am not used to sitting still. Buy or rent some cool DVD's to keep you occupied or take up reading if you don't already. I am an avid reader so that helped a lot - till I ran thru all the new releases from all of my favorite authors - it's gonna take those guys a year to catch up to me!
Lisa
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bumping up for faithmena4
Lisa
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Lisa... I's not really that I am bored .... I have lots of hobbies and things I could do, I make dolls, and I scrapbook and I watch movies, and still cook and clean, and hang on the computer. It's more that sometimes I don't feel like doing anything, but I am not one to sit around doing nothing, so it feels like boredom. I do work a few days each week on my 2 good weeks, I am a cake decorator, so its good to see my coworkers, but this week is chemo week so I am home. I also am so glad to have this board of super nice ladies to talk to.. i't s nice to know that we are not doing this alone.0
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Hello to everyone. I read all the posts several times a day, but I really have not had much to report--thank goodness. I am at the beach in SC, and I have been feeling really good. I am scheduled for my 5th TX on Wednesday, so I hope and pray that all of my counts are good. That has to be so disappointing when you can't get a TX. I hope everyone has a nice weekend.
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REKoz, I am so sorry you could not do your tx. I know how you were ready to get it over. I had to miss 2 of mine and I never cried but I just felt like saying I quit but of course you can't. I have told my husband I am quitting chemo and also rads but of course no one would let me. It will be finished soon and I am glad you will feel okay for the fun.
Duneoaks, If you are feeling good at the beach surely all your counts will be good. I could always tell when mine was down because I just didn't feel good. Keeping fingers crossed for you.
Bold, I am sorry you are having a grumpy day. I still get those! I know you want to bounce back right away and you might but it took me a while to get back in the swing of things. Even though I did my house stuff when I went back to work it was hard to remember how to do a few things and I was slow. I guess everyone thought I could come in and just get back to myself again and they also forgot that a little changed during the time I was gone. I had to change all my passwords and I was bumped out of my window at the bank. What did help was all the people that were customers that were so happy to have me back. I am still trying to get some strength but it is getting there slowly. Family & friends think okay you are finished with tx so you should be able to do this or that now. they don't realize it takes time to get back into your old life when for 6 mo you were thinking chemo and being sick etc. It just is not that easy! they don't understand unless they have gone through it and even if some have they may have had a different experience. We are all different. You will feel better soon I know but maybe not the same as before. Just give yourself time. How is your cough?
Cakelady, I used to decorate cakes but just for family and friends. I did weddings and other things but my arthritis made me give that up. I loved being creative and making people so happy. You will be finished soon. I never got bored because I was too busy being sick but I did have the normal house work stuff and grandsons. I tried for their sakes to act normal whatever that is. It is good you can get back to work some. I wish I could have at least went up and ran work but the doc said NO!
Denali, I do feel like that even now and my husband pushes me to do stuff. A lot of my problems now is not the chemo but the arthritis but I do feel better if I do something even if it was not my idea. Just take a walk outside but not too far from the house if your counts are low and carry a cell phone. Just never know. Even sitting outside in pretty weather is a boost to my spirit. it will get better!
I wish everyone good days! Got to get busy this morning. It looks like rain.
gramma23 ( Carolyn)
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Thanks all for the encouragement. I just get so impatient. I was up all night with digestive issues. And you know how old it gets after awhile. But soon it will be just a memory. After this is over they are scheduling me for a colonoscopy (will the indignity ever stop). Better safe than sorry. Then I have to have some viscosities taken care of on my legs as they caused major swelling of my legs during chemo. Them off to the dermatologist to have a full body check for skin cancer. Jumpen Jehovafats. And this is suppose to make you sleep better at night? Well the good news is that I have reached my out of pocket expense for the year so I might as well get it all done without any cost. I am lucky in that respect.
It will be in the 90s here tomorrow I want to hop in the convertible go down to the beach and look at houses that we might move to. I sure hope I feel up to it. It would be nice to look into the future and see wonderful things. It keeps fear at bay.
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Ok....I dont want to play anymore.....this is the worst tx yet!! Usually hits me on Sunday, but it took a hold of me yesterday afternoon. Feeling just awful!!! Does this mean the SE will go away faster??
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Gosh,
I am sorry to hear that so many of us are having a rough time. I was feeling sorry for myself after having TCH#2 on Wednesday. This one is definitely worse than the first one. I have not been able to eat real food for several days as i am afraid of heartburn and all the other possibilities. It seems I am not alone which is the point of these boards after all - to realize we are all in the same boat and to try to support each other. I have been too ill to visit my horses for three days - thank goodness my husband is also a caregiver for them. I also haven't been able to go to work and probably will have to miss Monday too - I just can't focus on anything for more than a few minutes. I think we all have to remember that there will be some better days just around the corner. I am trying hard to think of those days ahead.
Bold,
It is simply raging hot temperature-wise today. I think, if possible, that the heat makes the SEs even worse.
Hope everyone can have a relatively SE free evening.
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Shari~ I am ready to get off this boat also
BUT I keep telling myself that I can do anything for 30 days. So I keep going.30 days until my last infusion hopefully FOREVER. I started again with mouthsores today
Thank you low grade fever..0 -
I can help with the mouth sores.....benadryl and maylox.....equal parts...it really works! I have until May 28th. Hope I can make it....because I am ready to go back into my onc office on Thursday and tell them IM DONE! No more chemo!
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Shari and Jaimie!!!! - The boat is NOT stopping!!! You two have come too far to bail now. Momma Lisa is the ship captain and she takes no prisoners (which means she needs a crew). Ladies, each tx get a little worse and a little better. The better part is you know your body now better than you ever have before. The worse part is, your body is being pumped full of toxic chemicals and those chemicals begin to have a cummulative effect - your body reaches a point where it just can't take anymore. This is where your strong mind and spirit kicks in and gives it one more big push. You can do it. The alternative is not acceptable.
With much love. Lisa
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