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Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

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Comments

  • bluedasher
    bluedasher Member Posts: 350
    edited June 2009

    Lisa, I go in for my Herceptin today too. We are more than 2/3 of the way through our Herceptin. Have they done a MUGA recently? I had one before the last chemo and it was still at 62% which is just a few percent below where it started and that could just be normal variation. 

    And I'm no longer anemic - my RBC and Hemoglobin was in the normal range on my test Friday - first time since chemo. 

    The one bad thing on my last blood test is that the creatinine is still elevated. A bit lower than 3 weeks ago but still above normal. It probably dropped a bit because I stopped taking the NSAID that I was taking for an issue unrelated to the BC. I think that means that I need to quit the bisphosponate trial - the benefit for me at stage I isn't worth the risk that it's damaging my kidneys.

  • Lisa1964
    Lisa1964 Member Posts: 760
    edited June 2009

    Bluedasher - I had a muga about 4 weeks ago and I was holding at 64.  I am sitting in the chemo room wathcing the drip drip drip.  I will be so glad when this is over.

  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 306
    edited June 2009

    Lisa: I know that it is depressing watching that drip drip. I have only had 2 herceprin only and tomorrow is #3. Its a long road but it is moving along. Slowly but surely. I think this Christmas and New Year will be a big one. Whatcha think?

    My last muga (actually echo )was 76 I started at 74. I attribute this to coQ10.

    CC: Today is 5!!!!!!! thats a big one. this is the last one til the last one. Its almost over. I will be thinking about you. I hope that it is smooth without SE.

    Thank you all for the wonderful complements on my avatar. Its my game face!!!!! We are beating this one treatment at time!!!!

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 925
    edited June 2009

    Well I got the go ahead after many calls from my PCP and to the plastic surgeon.  My numbers all increased but not to the "normal" range of my doctor's office but my doctor's think that I will be fine.  So as of now I am a go for Wednesday.  I'm still not convinced but I guess I will be in 2 days.  Now I need to get my behind in gear but 4 weeks out and I went to the zoo today.  WHOOOO!!!  It was tons of fun for all of us and I am now officially exhausted :)  It felt great to do a lot of walking. 

    Lisa~ How long does your herceptin take ??

  • Lisa1964
    Lisa1964 Member Posts: 760
    edited June 2009
    Jaimieh   You went to the zoo!!!!  That is septacular!!!  We can't let this disease control us any more than we have too!  On my herceptin only drip - it depends.  The actual drip is about 90 minutes, my doc likes to give it slow.  On the days that I get drip only, I am in and out in 2 hours, on the day I see the doc, add 20 minutes or more.  And it also depends on how busy the nurses are.  Today, they were slammed!  My appt. was 9:45, saw the doc, got the drip and walked out right at noon.  Not too bad really.

    Bold, Again, love the avatar!!  You have inspired me to go thru my old pics and find something that says "warrior"!!!!!

    Lisa

  • ccbaby
    ccbaby Member Posts: 503
    edited June 2009

    Thanks everyone! The treatment went really smooth today and I got out an hour earlier than usual. I will drink a lot of water with this per Lisa's advice and try to rest more than the past 4. Even though I will feel like crap this week, I am SO glad to only have 1 left!!!

  • Lisa1964
    Lisa1964 Member Posts: 760
    edited June 2009

    ccbaby - One more to go girl!!!!!  Yea!!!!!!!  My thougtts and prayers are with you!  Water, water, water!

  • gramma23
    gramma23 Member Posts: 482
    edited June 2009

    So many that are coming upon the last of the treatments. I am so happy for you! Tomorrow was supposed to be my last Herceptin but he told me last time I saw him I was going to have to go past a year and he would not tell me why but just wanted me to see a cardiologist and get a MUGA asp. I got one that day and saw the cardiologist and did all his tests and my numbers were good but I had 2 valves that were not as tight as they like to see but not bad. I am still having a hard time breathing and get dizzy some. I may be low in RBC again but I think it is more from not being able to breathe. My collar bone on the side where I had radiation is so sore to touch and of course if I drive the seat belt hurts it. My husband usually drives to most places but I do have to go places without him some. I guess I will know something tomorrow and I am hoping they can do something when I take the Herceptin to help my breathing because it really gets bad during that. They run it real fast so maybe if they ran it slower it would help. It is like someone has a pillow over my face the whole time. It is getting worse not better and I have told the nurses but they just say it is not your blood count this time. I thought they were going to ask the onc but I have heard nothing from them. I think it is time I get angry about this and either they do something or send me to someone who will. I can't work like this because it is heavy work as a commercial teller. Work is another stresser. But I won't go into all that now. Just keep me in your prayers about my health and also the work problem.

    I guess we all stress the water but it is so important. I know I have not drank as much water as I should lately because I got so tired of drinking it when I was on TC but I am forcing myself more. It helps that it is hot weather too. You can drink juices too or koolaide whatever as long as it is decaffeinated.

    Bold I like your warrior too! I don't feel much like a warrior myself. I feel more like a wimp.I am not sure what symbol would show that Undecided

    I hope everyone else is doing okay.  Carolyn

  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 306
    edited June 2009

    Oh gramma I wish things would get easier for you. You are not a wimp believe me. You have already proved your medal. Now just finish up and put this behind you. I know what you mean about the breathing. I too am short of breath, but it is not all the time and not during infusions. I just know it makes working out a bit of a challenge. I am hoping that it resolves. I have Rads and Herceptin today so I best get going. They are on the other side of the planet and I will spend the day in the car and treatment centers, OH BOY! You will continue to be in my prayers.

    Its cool how water really helps SE go quickly. GLUG GLUG everyone.

  • Lisa1970
    Lisa1970 Member Posts: 11
    edited June 2009

    Hello to all,

     Had my 2nd tx on 06/11 and still feel like crap/Drained, tired and now both sides of my neck (glands) are swollen.  I took my temp. last night, and it was @ 99.2, haven,t been able to really sleep and/or eat. After my 1st tx, everything ws ok. After my 2nd tx, I am still feeling like crap and next week I have tx #3. Half way there, but uggh.....only tx #3!!! 

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 925
    edited June 2009

    Hang in there Lisa ((bighugs))  I hope you get some good days before your next treatment. 

  • Lisa1970
    Lisa1970 Member Posts: 11
    edited June 2009

    Jaimieh ~ It's just soooo hard right now to think positive! And to top it all off, I was sooo excited about getting my wig and all and I am already ready to throw it out the window! It's weird, I still have some hair sparaticley on my head, and where the "soft spot" is ontop of my head, there is still hair thee, but it actually hurts. Like it's really sensitive to the touch! HAHAHAA!!!! WTF!!!!!

  • Lisa1964
    Lisa1964 Member Posts: 760
    edited June 2009

    Hey guys.  Our thread got lost again.  I hope this brings it back up.

  • Alaina
    Alaina Member Posts: 153
    edited June 2009

    Floating to the Top! ~ Post Chemo #4


    Well, the fatigue hole gets a little deeper after each chemo. It takes a little longer to crawl my way out.

    But I realize if I keep my water intake high (at least 2 liters per day) I CAN "float" to the top! LOL!!!

    I've had some hand and foot swelling with this round of chemo, and even before they started the drip on Friday. My poor toes looked like Vienna Sausages stuffed into my Mary Janes!

    And my feet and ankles got REALLY swollen after brunch on Sunday. I tried sleeping with my feet elevated above my heart that night, but every time I woke up (about every hour or so) I was on my stomach. *sigh* It's been said that sleeping on your stomach is a sign of aggression.

    The swelling has gone down, and I was supposed to stay home today and get work done around the apartment. I stayed home, but I basically did nothing, but the night is not completely lost. I may still get something productive done. Or not.

    I have to go into work tomorrow, and since I've eliminated one of my anti-nausea drugs from my routine (the Compazine which was making me unpredictably sleepy), I feel confident enough to drive myself to the train station. The Zofran and the Emend have been doing the anti-nausea trick without making me overly sleepy, so...YAY! I successfully took the car in for service yesterday morning and made it to the hospital for my Neulasta shot yesterday afternoon. Had dinner with Dad (and stayed awake the whole time!)

    Today, I was just fatigued. Typical 1st day post steroids. Coming down off that "fake high."

    I'm on Bottle #3 of my required 4 of water. Did I mention how much of a challenge that is for me? But I know I must assist the scrubbing bubbles and flush this cancer OUT of me!


    Forever Grateful for Your Love & Support!

    Alaina

  • cakelady
    cakelady Member Posts: 176
    edited June 2009

    Gramma.... I hope things get better soon,  not being able to breathe is horrible and makes nothing else matter in your life.  I think you are anything but wimpy....everything you have to deal with is hard, and would be for anyone.  Get mad at those nurses and doctors, and get fixed up so you can get better.  And thats bad about you work and those coworkers of yours....I am so lucky in that regard because my coworkers and boss are so great and supportive and help me a lot.   I don't have too much energy these days.  I was walking my dog almost every night since the first of the year but now I have done it less and less in the past 2 months.  I have tx # 5 on Monday....

  • jkcrml
    jkcrml Member Posts: 53
    edited June 2009

    Bold and Gramma- I have had trouble breathing after TX4 and 5. Mine comes 2 days after the TX and stays for about 6 days. I went in for a herceptin today but  would not give me the treatment because of the breathing problems. The nurse thinks it is from the herceptin and I should quit taking it. I hate to do that because of the HER2 gene. Are you on meds for this problem or does yours only come during the treatments? I sure could use some help on this, not sure where to get answers. The week has been full of surprises- I had a pet scan for the breathing and the report came back with a tumor on the right breast that was "overlooked" the 1st time so have to have a biopsy on Thursday. I am sure there is a light at the end of the tunnel just not seeing it right now.

    Thanks

    Karen

  • ipohgirl
    ipohgirl Member Posts: 56
    edited June 2009

    Dear Ladies,

    Bad, bad news today with my blood test for the last TCH tommorow.

    My ALT shot up to 76 from 38 for the fifth session. Started off in the low twenties and maintained that till the fifth. So, onco will decrease the dosage for taxotere by 50 percent. At first, she said we'd do 75 percent but then she changed her mind to 50 as the consultation ended. Also ordered an ultrasound on the whole tummy. I read up on ALT levels and found to my relief that the 76 is only 1.5 times the normal and really serious cases are in the hundreds and thousands. Anyone out there with the same problem? Onco said the readings should go back to normal once we stop the taxo.

    My edema has got worse, and the wbc and rbc and neutrophils are also down, but still within the range. She also ordered an ECG next month and prescribed me Emend for the first time, Already gained three kgs since I started - will strive to work it off.

    I feel ok about the half dosage - in fact, i asked her whether we could just do the herceptin and carboplatin and skip the taxo completely thsi time.............I am just really really sick of thcrappy taxo SEs.

    She also said I should  be on tamoxifen or an aromatase since I'm 20 percent estrogren positive. However, her boss said I could skip it if I want since the SEs does not justify the nitty gritty few percent difference in the prognosis. What do you all think? Could I do a blood test or something to test my present estrogen levels?

    Anyway, I can't wait  for tommorow. Yippee, I am so proud of myself and very grateful for all the comrades in this board who have helped walked me thru this dreadful, dreadful journey.

    We can do anything if we can do this crap!

    Hugs,

    Ipohgirl

    P/S About my stage 4 uterine c friend, I have given up on her since she had decided to pursue alternative meds(Chinese meds) only. I will contact her again when i recover from my last TCH.

  • gramma23
    gramma23 Member Posts: 482
    edited June 2009

    Karen, I have heard that Herceptin can cause breathing problems but mine is all the time but worse during the treatment. My husband thinks the treatment is putting cool stuff in the veins and that is why it is shutting down the breathing even more but I am not sure about anything. I do feel better at work because it is so dry in there and cold but I freeze too. We are kinda of humid here in Oklahoma and my house is not dry like the bank since we are going in and out all the time. We have central air but it probably does not take the humidity out like the commercial air can. I would like for the onc to get a PET scan done since I have problems swallowing some things.Also the lump that has been on the lumpectomy breast is really red now that the darkness from the radiation is going away. I wish they had just did a biopsy of it a long time ago but it still probably nothing. I had a mammogram and I have not heard anything about that so today I am full of question for the onc.I am still losing weight but then I eat smarter since my hubby has to be on low fat diet. I could still lose another 10 pounds and not be too skinny but I am more wrinkled. I always said I stayed chubby to keep the wrinkles out of my face. :) Oh well I don't care so much about that I just want to breathe again. I guess it is not as bad as some that come into to the bank huffing and puffing but I am not that over weight, and I don't smoke. I just don't know why I am doing this. I feel more for my grandson with asthma now than ever. This is what this feels like to me but the cardio said it was not. How does a cardiologist know?

    Ipohgirl, what is ALT? I probably should know but I don't. I know the TCH is rough but you may need some Taxol. What gave me more problems was the Carboplatin. they reduced it 2 times and still have very bad stomach problems. I am not sure about the Tamoxifen and you being ER+ even just a little. I was neg on ER and PR but I am sure there are some here that give you some info on that. So sorry about your friend. We all just try to do what we think is best. You do not need the worry though and it is good you are concentrating on yourself. I know with a family you have your share of the problems.I think women try to take on more than we should.

    Lisa1970, you will see the last of tx soon. I know it seems like it will never end but you just hang in there and rest all you need to. I had to stay off work doc orders and I know I could not have made it. I did drive during the good week to get groceries but I did not have to go farand not much traffic since I live in a small town. We are here for you if you need to vent or ask questions.

    Thanks everyone for your support and prayers. I am just feeling overwhelmed right now I guess and I hope to have some answers today. I hope my blood counts are still up!

    Have a good day everyone, I will let you know what I find out.

    gramma

  • Magnola
    Magnola Member Posts: 75
    edited June 2009

    Jaimieh-surgery today, right??  I want to hear all about it.  Mines is July 21st and I can't wait!  Hope everything goes well and recovery is quick! 

    I am on my way back from  #6-a little winded and still no appetite, but getting there.  Now, if I can just keep the 15lbs off I lost in the last week, I will be golden.  But, we all know that's coming back on.  I am going to head back to Weight Watchers in the next few weeks to get a belly to match my soon-to-be new chest! 

    The fact that this is the last of the side effects is the most wonderful, liberating feeling I've had in 6 months.  I may go take a nap right now just because soon I will no longer have an excuse to nap at 10:30AM!!!!

    Have a great day!

    Maggie

  • ChellyD
    ChellyD Member Posts: 2
    edited June 2009

    Hello girls, just joined and have, what I'm sure are common questions.  I start chemo TCH on Friday and there are two side effects I'm worried about: 1. does everyone loose hair and 2. does everyone gain weight? 

  • AmyIsStrong
    AmyIsStrong Member Posts: 426
    edited June 2009

    I lost my hair between the first and second treatment. Buzzed it down to almost nothing but the hair that did not fall out is now growing back. So I am fuzzy headed and patchy but not totally bald. Am having my fourth treatment tomorrow and have not gained weight. I stay very active and eat carefully.  I think I lose about 5lbs the week after chemo by not wanting to eat much and then gain it back the other 2 weeks by eating more normally. So far so good.

  • ChellyD
    ChellyD Member Posts: 2
    edited June 2009

    Thank you for responding so quickly, one more question, I have 2 young children, 4 and 18months, should I hire a nanny or should I have enough energy to take care of them? My husband works long hours and my family lives pretty far away so help is limited!

  • Lisa1970
    Lisa1970 Member Posts: 11
    edited June 2009

    Hello to All,

    Thank you for listing to my rants earlier in the week :)  Today I feel great! My glands are still swollen, and I think I am fighting off a cold (doing alot of sneezing, which I don't do alot of unless I am sick). I am going in today for my weekly blood draw andI will ask my angel in scrubs, Nurse Nancy, what she thinks about the swollen glands...

    I just received some alarming news, my DH's brother-in-law's niece has the H1N1 virus (Swine flu).  She is on life support and is getting some tests done today to see if she has any brain function, if not or if very limited, they will be pulling the plug.  Emily is only 12 yrs. old, can I ask for all of you to please pray for her....

    If there is a funeral this weekend, I know I won't go, only because of my scenario (as all of our's going thu chemo) but I am wondering if my DH should go? I would hate for him to bring back even a twinge of anything back when I am so vulnerable at this time...

    Chelly: I had to chave my head exactly 14 day's after my 1st treatment (05/28, my b-day).  I do not haveany kids, so I can't answer that question, I have not gained weight, I have maintained.  I eat when I can (when everything dosen't taste so bad). 

    Wishing all of you little to no s/e's!!!

  • bluedasher
    bluedasher Member Posts: 350
    edited June 2009

    Ipogirl, my ALT was 107 right before my second chemo cycle. It didn't appear to worry my onc much and I guess she was right. It came down to 13 before the start of the next cycle and stayed in the normal range except about 3 months after my last chemo it was a bit above normal at 45 but it came down by the next blood test. I think she may have done a slight dose reduction for the second and later chemo cycles, not because of the ALT but because my counts were being hit so hard.

    Gramma, ALT is ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE. They measure how much is in your blood to check how your liver function is.

    Maybe you need to see an allergy pulmonary doc. I had a period of my life with asthma-like symptoms and he really helped. Has anyone done the test where you blow into a tube and they check how much air you are putting out?

    Meanwhile, my primary care doc hasn't gotten back to me about what my kidney ultra-sound results mean. I'm starting to be pretty cross about that. It has been a week since he had the results - plenty of time for him to have consulted the radiologist about it which is what the only message I've had from him said he was going to do. If this is too specialized for him, why doesn't he just refer me to a nephrologist (kidney specialist) so I can get advice from him? I suggested that in an email on Friday sent another yesterday making it a stronger request.

    On the one hand, I assume this means it isn't a drastic situation but I want to know what to do about the Clodronate that I'm taking on the SWOG trial. The clinical trial nurse said the study allows me to take a break of up to 4 weeks from the Clodronate so I've stopped taking it while I wait to here if it might be causing the high creatinine and might be bad to stay on. I just didn't feel that I could keep swallowing those pills without some medical advice.

  • Magnola
    Magnola Member Posts: 75
    edited June 2009

    Lisa-that is the saddest story about that poor little girl!  My prayers are with her and her family.  How horrible!  I'm going to give my 16 year-old and 10 year-old a huge hug!!!

  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 306
    edited June 2009

    Jkcrml: WTF!!!!! They missed a tumor? Geez. Can you catch a break. Please keep us posted on that situation.

    I met with med onc yesterday. I am 91/2 week post chemo. I told her about the breathlessness and she told me tht it is from deconditioning. REALLY! I am still very active but have not been as active as I was pre chemo so she could be right. Better get my fat ass moving and get conditioned. Its hard during Radiation. You get tired like you spent the day at the beach and the travel time is hard on time scheduling. I have heard that the best time to work out is first ting in the morning as it is then over for the day and you have no excuses not to. I just have one real big one. I'm pooped.

    I hope that everyone hangs in there through another cycle of treatment and gets closer to reclaiming there lives and HAIR!

  • dbOak
    dbOak Member Posts: 6
    edited June 2009

    Hi ChellyD,

     Unless you have exceptionally few effects, you'll need someone to take care of the kids. Hire a nanny, you'll be glad you did. Especially if your husband can't take much time off from work. I have a 4-year-old and my husband has been taking care of her most of the time since chemo (she's at preschool in the daytime though). Some side effects come and go with the cycles, others like overall fatigue may keep increasing as you go. I'm anemic and that has dropped my energy overall, and I find I'm a little irritable all the time. There's no way I could take care of a baby.

    There likely will be times when you just can't even stay awake, much less take care of two kids. Having another person around will be helpful for you too, she can check on you, bring you something to drink, etc. And there may be times that your counts are low and you need to try and avoid too much close contact (kids can be such germ carriers).

    I'm on TCH and have lost almost all my hair, just a few hanging on to peek out under the scarf. It started falling out two weeks after the first treatment and shed for a month. Weight gain is not an issue for me. I'm 106 lbs and the concern is that I not lose any weight. So far it's been up and down a couple of pounds but no change overall. 

    Best of luck! 

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 925
    edited June 2009

    Karen~ that stinks about the biopsy.  I am thinking B-9 thought to you.

    dbOAK~ Sorry you had to join us :( BUT welcome to the best support you could ever have.  I started losing my hair at day 14 and I lost 27 lbs during treatment.  I had maybe 10 to lose but not the rest since my treatment ended 30 days ago I have put back 10lbs and I look much less like a cancer patient (except for the lack of hair).

    I am back :).  I got to the hospital this morning and my surgeon was waiting for me to get ready.  I am in some pain but I just took a pain pill and I will hopefully feel bettter soon.  I can tell already that I am going to love breathing without the TE pressure anymore :)  I was not put in a surgical bra and I get to take my bandage off tomorrow and shower....whoooo.  The new implants seem much lower than my TE and my PS said I had a ton of scar tissue that she cleaned out.  I need to call tomorrow to see about whether I am supposed to be wearing a sports bra and schedule my F\up appt. 

    Duneoak~ I hope you did well today :) 

  • Magnola
    Magnola Member Posts: 75
    edited June 2009

    Jaimieh: congrats on the success of your surgery!  Did you have drains put in??

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 925
    edited June 2009

    Maggie I am thrilled to say no drains where needed :) 

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