Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
Comments
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Anji - I am on the same tx regimen as you are and I just had my second tx on Thurs. My husband drops me off, and stays for the first 15 min or so until things are going smoothly, and then I call when I am almost done and he comes back to get me. I wouldn't want to drive myself to tx, although I do go to other appointments by myself.
My chemo is scheduled for 10am and I have been done by 2 both times. I brought books, a snack, IPOD, Blackberry (to keep up with work), blanket (it is cold in there) and I dozed on and off both times. The time actually seemed to go very fast to me.
I did not notice any side effects at all the first night or the next day. Well, some heartburn, but I am taking Zantac now and it has taken care of it. A few days later (days 3-4) some tiredness, but not too bad. I haven't had any nausea at all thus far. I don't have to get the Neulasta shot, which makes it easier, as from what I have read, it can be a challenge to deal with. My doctor said since I am on a three week schedule, I don't need to have it, as there is enough time for the blood count to rebuild itself. Maybe yours will say the same.
There is so much to absorb in the beginning. I am a very organized person and it totally overwhelmed me at first. But now that I am a little further into it, I feel more grounded, like I have the beginnings of a routine in place. And that makes me feel more secure and in control. I hope that will be true for you as well.
Amy
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Anji: I was scared too death before my first treatment. The fear of the unknown can be a scary. But the nurses will take care of you and provide you with all the answers. I am going for #5 next Tuesday and my husband goes with me every time. He says it's relaxing. Bring a computer, dvd player, ipod...the treatments usually take 4 to 5 hrs. I have been very lucky with the SE's. I've had little to none so far (knock on wood). I even have some hair. My biggest complaint is the nose bleeds! Good luck. You can do this. Be sure to take the meds as they prescribe, even if your not feeling sick. And know that you have this camp. There's not much we haven't seen or heard!
Maggie
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I think the length of your chemo depends on the nurses. I have had one treatment #3 that was from 8:30am- 2:30pm because I had a nurse that was SLOW and they kept skipping my chart (no joke). I finally found a nurse that will willing take me as her patient (she loves me
) and the last treatment was from 8:45- 12:30 pm. BTW, I am not a hard or demanding patient I just turn red frequently so I have to be watched sometimes. Where I go apparently also depends on what time your appt. is. for my last one I got one of the first appt.'s of the day because I want it DONE. I don't want to wait in the waiting room any longer than I need to. I have benedryl and there is no way that I could drive home. I am loopy all day long after chemo which means I am not responsible for anything that I say...loll....0 -
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I could cry right now. Not in a bad way. It's just so nice to be acknowledged! This helps so much. I can go to my appt. a little more prepared now. I did have the teaching class but they never went into how long anything would take. It was more just general info. I'm scared but if all of you can do it then so can I (at least that's what I'm telling myself!). I have a busy day ahead of me so it will help take my mind off things a little. I appreciate you all so much! Hoping that you're all having a really great 'day'. Anji
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I'm waiting to get on a flight to go to a meeting. It is the first time since rads that I'm wearing a bra because I didn't want to meet with colleagues without one. I finished rads a week and a half ago so I hope this works. I'm still a little swollen and have one small burned area that I hope doesn't get irritated.
I'm also going without a head covering for the first time since during chemo the weather and meeting rooms were too cold to do that. 2 and a half months since chemo I have a fairly complete but short covering of hair - about 1/4 inch.
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Anji: I have my blood drawn and see the oncologist before I go for infusion. That's when the order the dose for the day, so the pharmacy can get delayed providing it. The infusion itself runs about three to three and a half hours (although the first time was longer). Since I go on Decadron the day before, have Ativan the morning of chemo, take Emend just before I start, and have IV Aloxi just before my chemo, I feel a bit too out of it to be a reliable driver. Also, they have me drinking a lot of water so I could not make a two hour trip without stopping at least once. It is possible that the Ativan is the drug that makes me pretty loopy, so if you aren't taking it, you might do better than me. In any case, it is a very long day even without the drive--and a stressor for mind and body. I have been surprised at how good I feel, but I am pretty sure that I get confused and inattentive easily. You will be fine, but it would be best and safest to have a driver. I think my hospital tells people that they can't drive themselves.
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anji111~ My advise is to take them one at a time and realize that you will finish them. Chemo. class to me was kinda useless but once you are there you will feel much better. I still am anxious about going but it quickly goes away once I am in the chair (it could be the benedryl..lol...). BTW, you can do it and if you ever have a doubt come here and we will get you thru your next treatment. Our senior counselors are the best at making sure you get there and that you know you are never alone.
Bluedasher ~ Whooo for going without a head covering.
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Anji, make sure to drink plenty of fluids. That helps your body cope with chemo. I was told to get 8 glasses a day. It doesn't have to be plain water. Sometimes I used soup for some of the fluids.
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Hey ladies! I have not posted much...just reading and keeping up with everyone. I found out today that Aloe Vera can help with hair growth. I looked it up on the web and this is what I found....I am definately going to give it a try.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Natural-Hair-Loss-Remedies&id=7931
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera has been used by Native Americans, Indians and many in the Caribbean to promote healthy hair and prevent hair loss. Aloe's can help the scalp by healing it and balancing the pH level of the scalp while cleansing the pores. A common preparation of Aloe Vera gel with a small amount of wheat germ oil and coconut milk is used as a shampoo and has traditionally shown great benefit.
http://stylebell.wordpress.com/2008/04/18/another-reason-to-love-aloe-vera-hair-loss/
Before going to bed, dab a bit of Aloe Vera on your scalp with your fingers or cotton ball. Massage in the scalp and hair. Wash the next day. If you would rather not sleep with the gel, put Aloe Vera in your hair first thing in the morning and then wash after an hour. Remember longer is better! You can find either Aloe Vera stalks at your local grocery store or nursery. Not into the natural stalks, use an over the counter Aloe Vera Gel.
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Shari, do you feel absolutely wonderful now that you're DONE with chemo?? Hurrah for you!! I had to skip chemo last wk due to platelets, so this is the first 4th wk chemo free I've experienced. At first I felt great, but now I get kind of achey each day. I wonder if that's my blood counts (RBCs) tanking again and making me feel this way or if it's just the cumulative chemo.
For those who have had their last chemo: Do you still feel cruddy some days?
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Hey Linda,
Yes it does feel good for it to be DONE with....but I still dont feel like myself yet and now I have rads, Im ready to get back to my everyday normal life....whatever that maybe : )
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Anji111 Wow, I was very nervous before my first chemo also. I went to the class but it didn't really help. After the class I asked the monitor to take me up to the chemo room itself. She did and introduced me to some of the nurses. That really put my mind more at ease.
Do you have a port? If so ask the chemo nurses for some Lidocaine to put on your skin @ the port site about an an hour or more before you have chemo. It deadens the area so that it doesn't hurt when they access. I didn't have it the first time which wasn't so bad but it was better after I used the lidocaine from then on out.
Drink plenty of water before, during and after. It helps to move things along. Take a stool softener the day before, day of and a couple of days after and that really helps with constipation issues. The decadhron did not keep me awake as it has with some of the campers.
i slept thru most of my txs because of the bendryl and ativan they gave me prior to the chemo drugs. tx went fast for me because I was asleep but it usually took about 6 hours. They dripped slowly because I am very sensitive to drugs and we didn't want a reaction.
I would definitely have a driver even if they don't stay the whole time. Try and have someone with you for the first tx and then you can see how it goes. If you sleep, it probably doesn't make much difference!You can call them to pick you up when you are finished. My husband was there every time to keep his eye on things.
My chemo center offers lunches but I always brought food or my dh ran out to get something. You will get hungry since it takes all day.
Your chemo nurses will answer any questions that you have and mine were so kind because they realize how frightening the whole BC experience is. Once you get thru #1 you will see that you can do it! You are stronger than you ever imagined and this is just a small detour on your life's journey.That is how we all got or get through it. You have found an amazing group of women on this thread who will help you everyday if you need it. Just ask.
Denali, 4th week was stilll a bit rough but everyday was better. Hope your blood counts are good and every thing is a go.
maja0 -
Anji - Yes chemo is scary, but you will be fine. Because you have such a long drive, yes. have someone with you the first time. Just take alll the great advice from this sight. Water, stool softeners and protein! Take food and water with you for the treatment. I always took my laptop to keep me busy - I don't sit still well. You can do it, you will be fine!
To All that are finishing! Yea and Yes!!!!! You survived! Just be patient, the end of chemo is not an "off switch". But God Bless you for seeing the end of the tunnel!
Hair Growth: I am so done, tired, and over the baseball cap. My hair is about 1/4 inch and my scalp still shows thru due to the shortness, but my bald spots are few and small. It is getting to the point that when I wear my ball cap, it is not quite obvious that I have hair loss, but if I take the ball cap off, it is. I am in the middle. I am ready to just ditch the ball cap and say "to heck with it". If someone sees "bald" they know I had chemo and cancer. So what does it matter if they see bald thru a ball cap, or just plain super short hair? I am in a transition and I think I am ready to just be done with it.
Lisa
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This is an update for the First Annual TCH Campers Reunion!!
We have a simple website set up that all can view at http://sites.google.com/site/tchcampersreunion/
If you want to participate in the website, you need to e-mail to me your e-mail address so I can sign you in to the website. Send your info to: YourHorse@bellsouth.net
The location is historical St. Augustine, Fla, on the beach!!!!!!
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Thanks everyone for all of the good advice for my low potassium. I ate a lot of bananas, potatoes, apricots and cantaloupe the last 3 days and I think it helped me a lot. I had bloodwork today and my level was back up to normal. I will just continue to eat high potassium foods to keep that level.
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CCBaby, I just about lived off canteloupe and watermelon during my tx's. It tasted good, it has lots of water and vitamins! Be careful with the bananas, they can be constipating. Glad you are doing well!
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CCBaby, Lisa is right about the bananas. In fact the diet we give small children for diarrhea is bananas, rice,applesauce and toast. It is called the BRAT diet. I don't like bananas but I ate my share of toast and applesauce since diarrhea was my big problem. The apricots act as a laxative though so it may be okay with the combo. I would love to have some good watermelon and cantaloupe right now but we don't get that good home grown stuff until around the end of June or July. I will just have to wait.
Lisa I was so afraid to go with out a scarf or hat at first but everyone was so happy to see me without because to them that meant I was cancer free. Of course we know that is not really true but I hope so. The only time I wear a hat now is when it is raining and it keeps my head dry. Not that it is going to mess up my hair but it is still too short and I don't want to get sick from getting wet. I know a lot of men and boys go with short hair but my head is not used to it. I too was sick of hats and scarfs so they came off once it started getting warmer. It will grow and in fact I think mine has grown more with out something on it. Probably my imagination. I am sending a few scarfs and a couple of hats to my friend in Australia that is battling cancer of the throat and lung. I feel so bad that I can't be there for her since she does not feel up to writing much. I received a little heart shaped not card yesterday with nothing written in it. I guess she forgot to write in it but I know she is trying. She may have the one at her house she wrote on
I remember how bad my brain got! When I went back to work it was like being new at the job that I had done for a long time. the young ones that didn't know me before acted like I just came from a Nursing Home. I am happy to report that most of the time I am doing fine. I can actually make a complete sentence now without thinking about what it was I wanted to say. I must have been a mess and my family was too nice to tell me but those kids at work were really honest. The old lady is just too dumb to work here much less be our boss! Oh well that may happened to them some day although I would not wish it on them at all. I would love to come to the vacation but just can't because I did not build up enough vacation from being off work with tx. I hope everyone has a wonderful time.Smile, I am happy you are done with chemo but the rads seem long because you go everyday. Thank goodness it is not as long as the chemo! It will be over with before you know it.
Anji, I remember how scared I was the first tx but the nurses were so kind and my husband was with me every time which helped me a lot. You get in a routine after a while but with me every tx was different side effects. One of my nurses said I was a trouble maker but she was just teasing. I am still having Herceptin and I am hoping it will be finished in the next couple of months but the chemo doc said we had to over lap it so I am not sure how long he is talking about. I am almost back to normal except for tests they keep coming up with for me to go through. I guess they want to get them all done while my insurance is paying it all.
I had my first mammogram yesterday and I went to the hospital where I have my other docs instead of where I usually go. they were very nice and very easy with me. I am sure it is all good because I had a breast MRI not that long ago. They said they would send a letter as to the results. People keep asking me am I cured and I don't really know what to say. I usually just tell them if it doesn't come back I am. or I hope so. What would ya'll them them?
I am happy for all that have finished chemo and I want to encourage those just starting. There are some rough times but you will make it though. Just keep coming here for encouragement.
gramma
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Thanks for the words of encouragement, Gramma. You are so right about each treatment presenting a different set of side effects. Last week was chemo #4 for me. Everything seemed to be going okay until I woke up on Saturday and looked into the mirror. I have turned in to a human TICK! I have gained 5 pounds (in addition to the five I've playing with since treatments 2 & 3). My face is bloated, my stomach, butt, cankles, fingers, wrists, even the top of my skull looks like it has edema. What the heck is going on?
Yes, I drink lots of water. Only difference I can tell is I started taking Miralax before this chemo round and drank ginger ale for the nausea. My face looks steroid round.
My activity level has nearly come to a halt with chemo 3 & 4 due to the nausea--I take Ativan and sleep my life away, but really, a five pound gain in two days?
Thankfully, deep in my closet were two pairs of slacks that were two sizes too big for me. At least I have something to wear to work!
Help!
Cheers from Cloud, the human tick!
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California Cloud: You probably should check with your doc about the edema. I know that mine seems to be pretty concerned about edema at the level you are describing. They will be concerned about your blood pressure, kidneys, etc. It is probably fine and might resolve itself or they might just give you some kind of diuretic. Good luck.
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Cloud: I have pretty bad edema still and I am 5 weeks post. I was told that it is the residual steroids that cause. it. The reason it is of concern is that it can indicate heart failure. (gulp) It is also can be a indication of liver failure. But they are monitoring your functions every three weeks and you had your heart tested because of the herceptin and will continue to have it checked every three months. Are you short of breath too? This is not very much fun. I know what you mean about the tick. I feel more like a slug. But whatever. It sucks. I have still not got my taste buds back!!!! One more thing I am going to get compression stocking to wear during this swelling part so I can still take my walks and be on my feet for work. I have to go to a vascular DR. for prescription. OH BOY ONE MORE APPOINTMENT!!!
My DH and I are going to Pismo Beach this weekend to celebrate his Birthday and our Anniversary. I have so much to celebrate. Even if I complain about all the discomforts. I am grateful to be alive.
Cupcake: saying a prayer for you! Let the healing Begin.
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Bold, Pismo Beach what a great place! I was raised in Santa Maria and had great times in Pismo- Brad's is a great place to eat but if you go up past Avila and go up to the harbor there is a restaurant at the end of the pier that has great wine and clam chowder. If you eat in the bar the tables are glass so you look right into the ocean. If you are there on Thursday SLO has a great framers market. Also fun to rent the hot spring hot tubs right outside of Avila.Just thinking about Pismo brings back wonderful memories. Have a wonderful time- you deserve the celebration!
Karen
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Bold and jkcrml, I, too, have lots of wonderful memories of Pismo/Avila. Lots of anniversaries, Mother's days and romantic weekends spent there.I haven't thought about it in a while so thanks for the warm memories. Bold, I hope you have a great weekend!
Cloud, sorry for your problems with edema. It sounds miserable.
maja0 -
Thanks Sailor and Bold for the input. No shortness of breath and blood pressure is fine. My liver, well, that's always a bit of a wild card. . .I'll just keep pushing the fluids. I have my weekly appointment with the oncologist on Wednesday. Maja, thanks for the kind words.
Bold - Here's wishing you a fantastic weekend at Pismo, complete with side stitching laughter.
Cheers!
Cloud
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Cloud, the steroids could make you swell but since it is over night I wonder if you had something with too much salt. I know I really have to watch the salt or my legs will swell and they have been doing that since 1985. I had too much salty foods Mothers Day and I was swollen and gained 5 lbs but it came off thankfully. I know lemon is a natural diuretic as are some other things but don't buy anything OTC without the doc okay because I have ended up with more edema because I was allergic to it. I wear stockings to keep the swelling down but I don't have to have a script for them. I just buy them at a medical supply store, they measure you for them but this is Oklahoma so it may be different other places.I love my stockings because my legs feel so much better when I am on my feet. Lasix is my friend when I am really swollen. Ask for it if you can't get the swelling down.
Cupcake, I hope you are okay. I have not heard from you! I am thinking about you and praying you are okay.
gramma
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I started losing my hair in clumps after #2 of TCH and then I buzzed it really short. I never fully lost all of my hair but its growing back slowly. I just finished 6 cycles of TCH on April 29th and am hoping my hair will grow back enough by July so I don't have to wear a wig or bandana. My scalp still hurt with the hair loss. Tylenol helped a little bit.
Katymom- you can try aleve or claritan for the discomfort from the neulasta. I never tried the claritan but some of the ladies on here swear by it. I took OTC Prilosec for the indigestion on days 2 and 3, it seemed to help. Good luck, stay positve. Thinking of you.
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Just got back from the genetic counselor. My BRCA results were negative. I am still in shock (I thought they would be positive for sure) and am very relieved. Am feeling much better post TX#2 than the first one. I really think the probiotics and aloe juice I am taking helped with the stomach cramps and general GI SE's I had the first time.
HOWEVER - my scalp is down to stubble but is ITCHING like crazy! There are a lot of red bumps and my husband is afraid to shave it with a razor because he said it will nick the bumps. But I have also read that shaving it makes it feel better. It almost seems like the stubble is GROWING since we buzzed it on Saturday. Is this possible? Help anyone???
THANKS!
Amy0 -
Amy I wouldn't shave it unless you use an electric razor that cuts close. I have kept some hair even after I shaved it but it's white and you can barely see it (I had blonde hair). I tried to take a picture of it but I looked like the nutty professor. I am going to get it all trimmed up by my hairdresser after my last one because I have more in the back and occasionally a crazy piece that has grown the entire time. I think by tx#3 I had lost all the hair that I was going to and inbetween #5/6 I have filled in some of the spaces. The only problem is you can't see it until you are up close because of the color so I maybe in for some hair die once this is all done.
Glad to hear tx#2 was kinder to you. Congrats on being BRCA - that's a really good thing.
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Amy, I had folliculites on my scalp, and that sounds like what you have. I used Tea Tree oil on it at night--put on with a cotton ball, and it really helped. I may have put it on once during the day also. The only problem is that it smell awful--like turpentine. I'm getting ready to put that on my fingernails and toenail--Onc recommended that for my brown/black nails. Shaving your head will definitely make it feel better, but I would try to get the bumps calmed down first.
I just finished my last Chemo--YEA!! It feels so good to have it behind me and start my life again. Still have about 11 Herceptin only treatments, but hopefully that will be a breeze. Will have a MUGA scan before my next treatment, but so far all of my levels are good. If I can just stay away from the yeast infection this time, I will be happy. Thanks to all of you for such incredible support over these last 5 months.
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Whooo Helen glad to hear you finished your last Chemo. I love to see you finish treatments because I am right behind you. I hope the YI stays away. Tea Tree oil really stinks I was told to use it for acne but DH didn't want me in bed after I used it.
I called my oncologist office and the PA told me that the mouth sores and the low grade fever I am experiencing shouldn't delay #6 for me. When I get my fever down I am feeling pretty good besides not wanting to do anything. I have so much I want to do but can't find the energy to do squat.
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Congrats Helen!!!!You are finished! You made it!!!!!!!!! Great news, Amy. It must be a huge relief!
Jamieh you are next. Yeah!
Maja0
