Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
Comments
-
Good morning everyone. Smile, nice to hear from you. Yes on the facial hair growth. Little black hairs, growing out of my chin and I did get one random black hair on my cheek bone. That little find did not amuse me in the least. Hair growth on the head is slow. Like Maja said, gotta blame that on the herceptin. But it is thick, so for that I am grateful. It is coming back with more grey than it left with, but I can fix that very easily - and I have. 16 weeks and just barely 1/4 inch long.
I need to vent. I can't sleep and I am just exhausted. Since I stopped taking the paxil for the hot flashes, they are back with a vengence. I wake up sweating all night. I am either burning up or freezing because I keep the AC so low. And now, added to the mix is horrible night-time leg cramping, so bad I almost scream and the muscles are so sore I can barely walk the next morning. This is just rediculous. I am having a hard time finding a qualified accupuncturist in my area and I really need to see an endrocrinologist and I can't get any good recommendations on one of those either. My onc nurse was supposed to set me up with a nutritionist, but she seems to have dropped that ball, so I suppose I will do that myself. Sorry, lack of sleep makes me witchy.
0 -
Shari~ How are you doing ??
Paula~ Congrats on being half way thru rads.
Swampy~ Drink a lot on the plane and make sure you get up and go to the bathroom. Gotta prevent leg thrombosis (sp).
Lisa~ Have you ever tried Melatonin ?? I heard good things about it for sleeping. I haven't tried it yet but I will be once I get my self to the store. I have been sending my DH to the store.
I passed my echo. whooo I got a 55 so I get to continue with herceptin. I have been doing a happy dance for the last half an hour. It's crazy that I am excited that I get to continue an infusion
0 -
Lisa, I had terrible leg cramps before I was dx'd. Feet and toes would curl, calf cramp and then my whole leg from hip down wanted to cramp and twist inwards. Night after night. Both legs. Now, this may really sound strange and you can google it, but I was told to put a bar of soap (I used Dial) under the top sheet at the foot of the bed. Wrapped or unwrapped doesn't seem to matter, but mine is unwrapped. It has completely eliminated all cramps for over 5 months! I don't know if your cramps are chemically enduced, mine obviously weren't, and that may make a difference, but you have nothing to lose by trying it. Old wives tale? Physicological? Who know, but it works for me.
Jaimieh, Thanks for reminding me to get up and walk on the plane. I had forgotten about the possibility of thrombosis!
0 -
Thanks Swampy, I have heard of the soap remedy. What have I got to lose.
I have an appointment for in the morning with a Acupuncture/Chinese Herb Dr. I like what he said over the phone. He knew what the side effects of herceptin and tamoxifen where and he knew without being told that I needed to avoid phyto-estrogens. I am going to give it a shot. I can't function like this much longer.
Lisa
0 -
Oh, Lisa you sound just miserable. I also had terrible leg cramps that would wake me up or keep me up all night. Night sweats too. The acupuncture will help the hot flashes as will meditation before bed. I downloaded a meditation app on my i-phone and listen to a meditation before I go to sleep. I am not taking any hormone blocker, thoough, so I can imagine how crappy you feel. Even though I went through meno a few years ago I still had hot flashes before dx. I was on and off estrogen patches to try and get some relief. During chemo it was hell and they have become fewer and fewer since. 1 or 2 a day now. Try anything including yoga and massage. when you feel one coming on, breathe deeply and calm yourself...sounds way new age, sorry, but it does seem to work.
Leg cramps are hell too. When mine got really bad at night I would put my legs up in the air and make the blood move. Probably ridiculous but I could go back to sleep afterwards. massage and stretching might help too. I hope that you find an acupuncturist soon so you can try that. Eat bananas and veggies containing potassium as that helps leg cramping.
Since BC I have become a vegetarian. I still eat fish but no red meat, pork or chicken. Only eat whole foods with no preservatives.Drink organic milk and buy organic veggies.I have lost 20 pounds and continue to lose even after my taste buds came back. No soda diet or regular. Stuff is poison. Still drink wine and an occasional beer. It takes about a month to get used to the change in diet. I am seriously never hungry or deprived just try to make good choices every time i eat and go for quality. As I said above, ice cream is still on the list! Hope you don't think that I am trying to convert or lecture you but this is working for me and my family. Everyone has lost some and say that they feel better.
Swampy, have a great trip. Congrats on your son's achievement, you have every reason to be so proud of him.
Jamieh, congrats on the echo ...hoping my results are as good!
maja0 -
Lisa, just saw your post. so glad you found your man. You are on your way to feeling much better! Yeah!!!!!!!
maja0 -
Just wanted to let everyone know that I am still here reading everyone's posts everyday! I wonder if the soap remedy would help with feet and leg twitching? It doesn't happen all the time, but is annoying when it does. I will try it and see.
Maja...I am so glad that the radiation is going good for you.. Anything has got to be better than this chemo! It is encouraging to hear about your hair growth too! Gives us all hope there!
Lisa...I agree with Jamie. I have tried Melatonin (pre-chemo) and it helps a lot, and It is natural.
Take care everyone!
0 -
Hi all: I just read through the thread man this place is hopping.
Lisa good luck sounds like you have the right support now. I agree on the potassium also known as vitamin K. You could have your levels checked. But in the mean time bananas, oranges, tomatoes are good sources.
Just to let you know. I did some spying on Madison. I found a posting on another thread. She is still posting. She is such a wonderful woman and is handling life with grace.
Hey cupcake you are still in out hearts and thoughts.
Still nothing to speak of on the hair front just a bunch of wild sparse gray hairs going every which direction.
Icon looks just like me. I will be 8 weeks out on Monday. I heard thats when it really start to happen. I hope I hope I hope!!!!!!!Those of you still going through the valley of the shadow of chemo it does get better. Everyday I feel stronger and stronger. My old self is reappearing. My house is cleaner. The garden is dead headed. laundry mountain is climbed. I am in Radiation and still get a little tired about 9:00 every night, but hey thats cool.
Wishing you health and peace
0 -
I am one week behind you Bold...will have to see how your hair growth goes compared to mine
I am still tired by the evening time, but I have been extremely busy at work (which I am very thankful for), hoping to get my stamina back up soon!
Lisa....sorry to hear about your hot flashes...I sleep with a wet wash cloth next to my pillow so that when one wakes me up I can put it on my face, head and neck! I have been taking Clonapin to help me sleep through the night.....I dont take them every night, but after going a few nights sleepless, I am ready to take one! Last night was one of those nights and I did not wake up to a hot flash until 6 this morning....YEAH!
Hey Jaimieh..how are you???
0 -
HEY, GOOD LUCK TO ALL YOU LADIES, I'M KNOW ITS BEEN A LONG HARD ROAD, I HAVE 3 MORE HERCEPTINS TO GO. I'M A LITTLE AHEAD OF YOU GUYS, EVERYTHING IS GROWING BACK. I FINISHED MY CHEMO IN NOV. 08. MY HAIR IS VERY SHORT & THICK. MY EYELASHES ARE BACK. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT. WHEN YOU GET THIS CLOSE TO THE END OF TREATMENT YOU CAN EXHALE FINALLY. BUT THEN YOU REALIZE THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO BE BLOOD TESTED, AND MONITORED, AND MAMMO ED FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. I REMEMBER IN THE VERY BEGINNING MY MOTTO WAS "I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS" BUT NOW ITS MY REALIITY. I AM A MOM WITH A GREAT HUSBAND AND 3 BOYS. I AM 45 VERY BUSY, ACTIVE, EAT RIGHT, WORK OUT, DRINK SOCIALLY, DON'T SMOKEI SO WHAT'S UP WITH THE C WORD?????
0 -
Maja, thanks so much, I was a vegetarian back in the 90's and I am seriously thinking about going back that way, The only bovine I eat is what we raise, so I know the feed and the origine. I am really looking forward to seeing the "natural-acuu-chinese" guy in the am. This is really bad, I have a horrible persistant cough from the herceptin that gets gaggy during the night, the sweats are more like floods and I have to wake my husband and change the bedding and now the muscle cramps - all simultaneous. I am so sorry to be such a baby. This is not me.
0 -
Lisa man that sounds God awful! I hope that you are not having any caffeine, I know that that makes hot flashes worse. So does stress remember to meditate and breath deeply. I wish I had a magic wand I would hit you on your hairy head and make you all better.
Braveheart you are almost there congrats on a road well traveled.
Smile oh boy a buddy!!!!!! The other day I rocked the Bald. I felt like a proud woman that resights poetry. I put bronzer on my chrome dome. I would never do it were I would run into anyone I know but I just felt emboldened.
Hope everyone is doing OK. I am feeling RADiant. 6 of 33 rads done. woooohoooo.
0 -
Swampy - If you haven't already, ask your onc if he/she has vouchers for the Emend. Mine gave me a voucher to take with the rx to the pharmacy, and there was no charge!0
-
Swampy - If you haven't already, ask your onc if he/she has vouchers for the Emend. Mine gave me a voucher to take with the rx to the pharmacy, and there was no charge!0
-
Uh-oh! Our thread has disappeared from the chemo forum pages. I'm posting to it which I hope will make it reappear.
0 -
Thanks Bluedasher, you got us back up.
Bold, it is such a good feeling to be liberated from the head gear. It is tough at first, but after you get used to it, you just kinda dare anyone to say anything. I am slowly moving from GI Jane to Audrey Hepburn. Also, you will be amazed at how many people don't recognize you. Just goes to show that most people don't see detail, they only see the big picture.
0 -
OK, gotta vent - again. I spend a lot of time these days on the "Hair Hair Hair" thread. It is very obvious that the non-herceptin ladies are getting their hair back significantly faster than the herceptin group. A new pic has been posted of a non-herceptin gal at 12 weeks - SHE HAS HAIR OVER HER EARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My hair barely touches my ears at 16 1/2 weeks.
All together now - HERCEPTIN SUCKS.
Ok, I feel better now, maybe.
0 -
Lisa~ Hang in there. If it makes you feel any better she had a break in between her 2 chemo's and I don't think Susan lost all of her hair on Taxol (I believe she's in our Feb. chemo. group). Many people start regrowing on taxol only
I am still holding on hope that before the end of summer I can go without a hat.
0 -
Tennis Girl, thanks for the tip. I will ask my onco about a voucher for Emend.
Lisa, hang in there girl. Congrats on "going natural". It is a liberating feeling!
0 -
Swampy - When you get back California, we should hook up. You are only about 90 minutes from me.
0 -
Oh Lisa I should have also said vent away. I am sure I will not be far behind venting, I don't like being hair challenged
0 -
Ok ladies - I need some hair advice. I will finish TCH in August and then be on Herceptin only through April '10. My daughter just got engaged
and we are talking about a June '10 wedding date. The first thing she did was ask me if I would be all well by that point to fully participate and enjoy everything and I said yes. But now, reading some of your hair comments, I have to ask - will my hair be back by THEN? I assumed it would (it will be 11 mo post chemo) but if the Herceptin slows hair regrowth.....would it be safer to wait for a Sept wedding to be sure? I dont' need LONG hair, I've always worn it short anyway, but I don't want to be bald or just have some fuzz in the pictures or God forbid, the wig! Your thoughts? Thanks in advance.
Amy
0 -
Amy, IMHO you will for sure have hair slower growing is one thing but not stopped. If you go to the thread Hair Hair Hair there are women on the site that are only 5 weeks out and already about to color there hair. There is valuable info you should read. Congrats on the wedding!!!
0 -
Lisa, I'm waving at you over there in Ft. Pierce! LOL We'll have to scope out Okeechobee to see if there's a place to meet for lunch later this summer.
Amy, congrats on the wedding! Regardless of the status of your hair, you will undoubtably be a radient mother of the bride.
0 -
Lainey - thanks for pointing out that Susan was on a different drug, that makes me feel better.
Amy - I am sorry, but don;t count on enough hair to go topless for the wedding, but you will have PLENTY of energy for the preparations and festivities and you will be a great mother of the bride. Congrats to your daugther and her intended!
Swampy - Okee would be a great place to meet! I have a lot of freinds that live over that way. Finding a local place to meet and eat will not be a problem! I can't wait!
Lisa
0 -
Lisa, I used to sell over in Okeechobee 1 day a week and knew all the good restaurants, but that was 10-15 years ago. I'll PM you after my trip to CA and tx #4.The last week of June will be my "up week" when I can trust myself to drive. (otherwise I'm usually too loopy to be out on HWY 70).
0 -
Hello Ladies - i think I may be joining this group in July. Having bilat mx on June 23rd with TE. My ONC is currently suggesting TCHx4 + Herceptin 1yr and Tamoxifen 5 yrs (ugh!!). Of course everything is subject to change if we find lymph node involvement or more extensive IDC at surgery. I do have a few questions though...Can I have a port put in for my infusions if I have immediate recon? If yes, can it be put in at the same time as the mx? What's the difference between a port and pick line? I left messages with my doc's and hate that I have to wait until Monday for answers...
Thank you in advance for your help...
0 -
Michelle - I have a port and I can tell you about that and I am pretty sure I know what a PICC line is but please confirm details with someone more medical. The port is in your chest, completely under the skin. It is a little round thing that sits midway between your breast and collarbone. At least that is where mine is. There is a tube that goes from the port up and around and dumps out into a major vein near the heart. At least that is my understanding. When they access it, they push a little push-pin thing straight through your skin into it and tape it down and attach the IV to it. I use numbing cream an hour before so there is no sensation at all when they do it. The rest of the time it is a bump that protrudes from your chest, about the size of a quarter. To give you an idea, it probably would show in the blouse you have on in your picture.
From what I know, a PICC line is like a permanent IV and it actually sticks out from your arm. They keep it there taped down or under a bandage or something and then they hook the IV to it as needed. I don't think you can keep a PICC line in as long as a port - the port can stay for years - I met a woman who had hers for 3 years due to ongoing treatment. I thought the PICC line had a limit of six weeks or something, but I'm not sure if that's true.
This isn't complete info, but I thought it would help you on the near side. The waiting is the hardest part of all this, I have found.
Here is the web link to the port that I have:
http://www.crbard.com/news/innovations/PowerPortImplantedPort.cfm
I had a lumpectomy and then the port was put in about 5 days later in a separate (minor) surgery. I don't know why they didn't do them at the same time - I was way too stunned to even think of anything like that at the time. But it is a good idea to ask. One less surgery is always good, no matter how minor. Then you can recover all at once and be done and ready to go.
I know how hard this all is. I wish you the best during this difficult time. Come here with all your questions - the ladies here have been so wonderful.
0 -
Michelle - So Sorry that you have to join us. But if you already know you are headed for chemo land - GET A PORT! You will need it. It makes life so much easier. A picc line is a "high tech" Iv line and it requires constant monitoring and worry about infection because it is outside of the skin. Our ports are below the skin and we don't have to worry about nothin'! I did not get my port with my mastec. but it could have been done easily. At that time no one knew I was headed for chemo.
You will be fine. Stay in touch with this thread and we will guide you thru!
Lisa
0 -
Michelle....Yes, you can get your port in the same day as mastectomy and immediate recon. That is what I did. It makes it easier that way because you only have surgery for it all. I have the 'power port' It is on the opposite side of my mastectomy in my upper chest. It is very easy for the nurses to access for the infusions. The only bad thing about mine is that it sticks out under the skin because I am very thin there. I always make sure it is covered with a shirt cause it would be very noticeable. Good luck!0
