Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
Comments
-
Kristine the first time I had H only I was nauseous all day. The next day I was ache but I just kept going. BTW, great hearing from you again
Thanks Laura
I had my exchange and I am lucky not having any drains and it has made it soo much better. I have only needed 2 pain pills so this surgery has been much kinder to me. How are you doing ??0 -
Hello My Fair Ladies Congrats to all that are finished Doesn't it feel so good!!!! I have been trying to catch up lots to read I haven't been on computer in forever,I'm back to work Feeling Great
Im done with Rads 16 is all no issues really a little peeling in small spot under boob, but with the short term higher dose it could have been lots worse.Herceptin only is going real well no Se's I am getting only 30 minute infusion.8 weeks out post chemo not much hair to speak still look like a brand new babys head fine and soft but unlike baby very gray Boo hoo hoo
not enough to bother coloring still sporting my bandanas. So now my Oncs Nurse Practioner I saw while I was doing rads, thinks I should be tested to see if I am carrying the BC gene since I was so young( I could have kissed her for saying that)Should I do it?? 0 -
Hey Rocky for sure if your ins. pays for it. My sister and niece deserved to know too so I was prepared to make it happen even if the ins co. was not. I am the same with hair and Rads 16 down 1/2 thru. No problems with herceptin, just real achy. Could be still from chemo or lack of estrogen to cushion my joints. Nails are still held on with crazy glue. Taste is not 100% but does not stop me from eating to much. 20 pounds of chemo chubs. Breathless and fatigued some from rads some from deconditioning. Neropathy in hands and feet. Not painful just weird. A little spacey at times. Most of the time grateful and happy sometimes scared sad and impatient to be myself again with hair and a spring in my step.. Not happy about taking hormone therapy for 5 years for 2%+ ER. I have three weeks to make my mind up on that one. Real hard decision. I want to do all that I can to insure a curable prognosis. (no guarantees) What would you do? Or anyones input would be wonderful. I have ask many times many people but who knows?
Welcome to camp chemo Becky! You will find the support encouragement and humor that it takes to get through this challenge in our wonderful lives.
0 -
I had my blood drawn for the BC test only to find out my Ins. does not pay for it. when I asked how much I just about fell out of my chair....$3000.00....I passed...I do not have that kind of money!
0 -
Kristine: I had my regular every 3 week dose of Herceptin yesterday and today I am draggin. It affects the heart so that is the slow down I think. Outside of a headache sometimes and the tiredness is all it does. Nothing like Chemo but you can feel the hit. I just have to not be so hoppy the first couple of days.
Becky: Welcome to Camp Chemo. Looks like you will be bunking with ShellyD. Tired in the evenings could be just the stress of beginning. Not many S.E.'s until you get another TCH then you will feel more.
Ipohgirl: What's RT? Your young so you probably wouldn't have as bad a time as me cause the older you get some vagina athrophy sets in and it doesn't stretch as much so a little pain. That is why Astroglide so good. Some tearing though even with that, so the codom keeps the salty stuff off the tear part that stings more. Beng intimate is ok any time you feel well enough. No one wants the other partner with the head in the bucket...well let me back up my hubby did get pretty desperate during chemo days...lol just kidding, but he did want it more than me.
0 -
Amy, chemo can be hard on the mucous membrane tissues which I think includes our bottoms. I used Balmex but I've heard that Bag Balm is good too. If that clears it up, it probably isn't a yeast infection. You can get a yeast infection on the external skin so if it persists, you might ask your doctor if it might be a yeast infection.
Congratulations to Cloud on finishing and to anyone else that I've missed.
Ipogirl, I didn't know what a nephrologist was until I started researching about my high creatinine levels and about what "mild thinning of the cortex" might mean. I didn't even know that a kidney had a cortex - I knew that part of the brain was called a cortex so it was kind of surprising to hear that on the kidney ultrasound report. I don't think it is ignorant to not know these things - it is pretty specialized knowledge.
To add a signature to your posts, click "My Home" on the top of these pages. If you want to type in something that appears as part of your signature like mine has the narrow bridge saying, click on "edit my profile" and type it into the signature box just above the Save button. If you want to show your diagnosis in your signature, click "edit my diagnosis", enter your diagnosis and click the check box to show your diagnosis in your profile and signature.
The radiation sessions didn't hurt. I joined the thread for those starting radiaiton therapy in March. I was among those with the least side effect from radiation. I got instructions to use a moisturizer 2 to 3 times a day and to also apply aloe vera gel or calendula gel/ointment/cream 2 to 3 times a day. I started doing that a couple of days before radiation treatments started. I was told to not put anything on closer than 2 hours before treatment. Some rad oncs say 4 hours. I put stuff on after my morning shower, after treatment and at bed time. During the radiation treatment, it felt like nothing was happening. After a few treatmments, my skin started to get pink and later parts got a bit red. Toward the end I got a mild (1st degree) burn on the area of my side near my SNB scar. That may be because at first I didn't realize the radiation was hitting that area and didn't put lotions on it. The burn hurt but not too badly. After a few weeks, my breast was swollen and tender (meaning that it would hurt if pressure was applied like if I rolled onto my stomach in my sleep but it didn't hurt otherwise).
Rads was a walk in the park compared to chemo. I maintained a very normal activity level except for perhaps needing an extra hour of sleep. Some people get more tired from it or get worse burns like some blistering and raw skin.
0 -
Jaimieh, yes, that's the BCIRG 006 clinical trial result for TCH - Disease Free Surival (DFS) 2 years after randomization is 97% for node negative. After 3 years it was 94% and after 4 years it was 93% and the graph is getting pretty level at that point. Actually, for all node negative it is probably even a bit better because you had to be high risk node negative to be in the study (high risk included hormone negative or larger tumors or some other things).
Ipogirl, the BCIRG 006 interim results are at: http://www.bcirg.org/Internet/Studies/BCIRG+006.htm
Scroll down to where it says 2nd analysis presented at SABCS 2006. Click on that for a 42 page pdf. The chart on DFS for node negative is on page 16. I wish they would publish more results, but perhaps they won't do that until they get 10 years of results.
0 -
Thank you bluedasher for explaining that.
0 -
Kristin - Herceptin only makes me feel tired and achy for 2 or 3 days.
Bold - Hormone therapy for only 2% positive is a tough call. I can't stand the se's of tamoxifen, but I was 98% er+, so I don't have a choice.
Rock and Smile - I had the genetic testing done. I was told at the cancer center that the testing company would call me before they ran the test if my insurance was not going to pay. They never called and my insurance co. denied the payment, so I am now arguing with the testing center. BTW, I was negative.
Becky - Welcome to camp chemo. Sorry you had to join, but you have come to the righ place.
A big congrats to all that are finishing!! It is a great feeling.
Lisa
0 -
Kristen, I don't notice any side effects from getting Herceptin alone. Perhaps a bit of a tendency toward diarrhea for a few days after - not terrible but just movements that are on the loose side.
I get the infusion over 90 minutes. My oncologist said they do that rather than 30 minutes because the longer infusion time usually produces less side effects.
0 -
Lisa: I'm getting ready to start Tamoxifen. I know you have complained about the SE's. What side effects have you experienced? What can I "look forward" to???
Maggie
0 -
Maggie tamoxifen sucks! Hot flashes that are like a blowtorch and weight gain. Now that I am on Effexor (had to demand it) the night sweats have eased off considerably.
Have fun!
Lisa
0 -
HI! I'm a newbie to this site. I have my second of six sessions of TCH this Wednesday. The first wasn't sooo bad. Just mainly nauseous and the wonderful diarrhea. I'm taking Herceptin weekly in between. I found this board when I was trying to figure out how soon before my hair will fall out. I has already started! I started on day 13 when I was blow drying my hair and now I can pull out light handfuls. My family has a history of breast cancer - two maternal great-aunts, mother and her sister. All have had the cancer twice, so when I was diagnosed, I opted for a double mastectomy. Good thing, my other breast had atypical hyperplasia! My family treats the cancer with humor (we'd rather laugh than cry)! So now for the shock factor, I'll pull out a handful of hair to show family and friends the baldness is beginning and laugh at the look on their faces. It may seem mean, but to all who know me, this is just part of my personality. My co-workers say I must be doing fine, I still have my smile. If only they knew the SEs and the running down to the bathroom. I know that as I get more of the TCH treatments under my belt, I'll progressively feel worse, but one of my questions is, from all of your experiences, what are the odds I will be able to work normally? Also, I have migraines, do any of you notice increased headaches with this treatment? Looking forward to hearing from y'all!
0 -
Jeffrine... I have not gotten progressively worse with each treatment , except for # 3. I did get really sick that night, throwing up every hour. but my #1 #2 and #4 have been about the same, not too bad.........however I do have #5 tomorrow(Monday). and I hope I am not speaking too soon. I hope it goes well and not too many side effects. I am a person that gets lots of headaches too, some migraines. I have to say I have not noticed an increase due to the chemo, I still get about the same as I did before. I go through phases where sometimes I'll have 2 or 3 in a week, and then go for a month without one. Sometimes I get one if I eat too much sugar during the day , or ice cream!.... I think you may be able to work on your 2nd or 3rd week, but not the week of the treatment. My hair started coming out about 2 weeks after my 1st treatment too, coming out by the big handfulls,, but I do still have a tiny bit of hair, it looks like a bald man with a bad comb over, but I never shaved my head. I had a double mastectomy too, and have one aunt that had about the same diagnosis as me.
0 -
Paula - I was very happy to be able to tell my sister and three nieces that my BC was not genetic; however, I was taken back by the oncologists presentation of having the test done. First, the blood was drawn, then just in case the insurance company didn't pay, I was asked to choose between the options of paying $3000 for the test, or having the sample discarded and only be charged $300. I found the whole exchange rather off-putting. Frankly, I didn't see the need to rush into the test and would have preferred to get a solid yes or no from the insurance company. Thankfully, my insurance company paid for the test, but I did leave the office wondering about the potential $300 throw away charge.
Question about white blood count (wbc) during herceptin only treatments - I had 5 days of external radiation before starting TCH. Two treatments a day for five days was pretty intense and it lowered my wbc. I started chemo with a low wbc and the issue persisted throughout my 6 chemo treatments. I understand that a side effect of Herceptin is reduced wbc. Has any else experienced continued low wbc with Herceptin only? If yes, did it include taking Neupogen? If this is the case, should I consider taking a break between chemo and Herceptin to give my body a chance to rebuild my wbc? Would it be easier to on my wbc if I took Herceptin once a week instead of every three weeks, as planned? I'll ask my onc about all this on the 24th, but I would like some input from you ladies first.
Question about getting rid of water weight gain - I took my last post-chemo doses of decadron and zofran this evening. Now that I will no longer be taking steroids and I will not be taking any hormones, can I, hopefully, anticipate having my water weight gain diminish soon? Any dos or don'ts for getting rid of the water weight? I'd really like to see the water go first so I know just how much of my weight gain is FAT. I really hate the "human tick" look, but my crow's feet have plumped up nicely.
Question about liver health - If anybody knows anything about best way to get a TCH pounded liver back in shape, please share your facts, links, or encouragement!
Here's to another week of sharing and healing with each other as we continue our journey.
Cheers!
Cloud
0 -
Dear Bluedasher,
Thanks for teaching me how to put the signature on. Trying it now.......
Cupcake,
RT is for radiotherapy. Lazy me writes in short form all the time.
It's day 5 today. I just found out it was the coconut water I took after TCH 4 and 5 that caused the high ALT levels. So, I missed my half dose of taxotere for nothing. But I'm not too worried as I thnk it's the herceptin and letrozle(femara) which would keep the beast at bay...........
Cheers, everyone, and chin up for all our new and old campers!
0 -
Dear Bluedasher,
Thanks for teaching me how to put the signature on. Trying it now.......
Cupcake,
RT is for radiotherapy. Lazy me writes in short form all the time.
It's day 5 today. I just found out it was the coconut water I took after TCH 4 and 5 that caused the high ALT levels. So, I missed my half dose of taxotere for nothing. But I'm not too worried as I thnk it's the herceptin and letrozle(femara) which would keep the beast at bay...........
Cheers, everyone, and chin up for all our new and old campers!
0 -
Ladies,
Sorry about the double post.
I would like to ask questions about femara since my onco is quite adamant about putting me on it even though I am only 20percent postive. I understand now that I could measure the levels again thru my blood.
I don't mind taking femara for five years, but the SEs of thin hair and thin bones is not that appealing. Since the chances of mets is highest at 2 and 3 years, have anyone out there taken femara for that time or longer?
Anyone with stories to share on how femara have affected their treatments/prognosis?
Thanks again.
0 -
Jeffrine Welcome, sorry you have a need to join us. I too opted for the bi-lat mast. I lost my mom to this crap and didnt want to mess around. You will be able to work thru the tx. I had my last TCH on Feb 9. I would lay low the week of, but life was close to normal the other two weeks. The drugs do have a cumulative effect, so by the end you will stay somewhat fatigued. But you can do it. Good Luck! Lisa
0 -
Jeffrine, I too have had terrible diarrhea with TCH, but have found that Imodium suplemented with acadopholis has been a big help. The TCH is so strong it tended to kill off all the good bacteria in my digestive system so I started taking an acadopholis the morning of tx and one that night. After that I would take a capsule along with Imodium as needed. I'm taking Kyo-Dophilus (brand name) 1.5 billion live cells per capsule, available at most health food stores.
0 -
Cloud, My white cells were low during chemo, but they are fine on Herceptin only. I don't see low blood counts on the list of symptoms for Herceptin on Chemocare.com. That probably means that it is at least a rare side effect.
Jeffrine, I also had some diarrhia during TCH. I tried eating yougurt with live cultures but that didn't seem to help much. When it was bad, I would use Immodium. I worked during most of chemo but I did take some days off here and there, mostly during the last two cycles. I had a cold during cycle 5 which may have made my last two worse as I had a hard time staying hydrated. I work from a home office so I was able to lie down to take a nap on days when I needed it.
0 -
Ipohgirl: Dah on me RT= Radiation Therapy. To answer your question then...that is a breeze. It takes longer to get set up when you go in then zap zap your done and go home. You get a little red, but no biggie. Hey you finished the most grueling ordeal ever with Chemo and nothing you can go through now will be close to that hades trip. You will have your first appointment where they will put these tiny itty bitty tatoo dots on you. I had 3 so when you come in each time they line the lassers up by those dots so they know just where to radiate. Then day of you go in and put on a hospital gown go into room and climb up on the table, they positon you and then go out and the machine moves around you for each of the treatments. You get up get dressed and go home. NO S.E's girl. Maybe a little tired, but you can monitor that as you go along to give yourself a nap here and there. You will not be able to wear deodorants or cremes the day of tx cause the deo has aluminum in it and have you ever put metal in a micro wave and turn it on... point made. Same with deo soaps...use dove. They will give you samples of some cremes to use. I really didn't use to much...didn't need to. I will change my picture to show you the machine and me taking my treatments. I don't know how to post photos on here so that is the only way I know...hope it helps
0 -
Welcome, jeffrine, I'm new, too. Also ChellyD. We can all celebrate around the same time when we finish!
Thanks, everyone for the warm welcome. It means alot.
Becky
0 -
Jeffrine: I've had 2 treatments also, #3 is tomorrow and hopefully then I will have reached the halfway mark. I had diarrhea and cramps for 7 to 10 days after. I've been working so far so we'll see how it goes with the other treatments. I had a bad headache after my first treatment, but I think it might have been due to the extra steroids I received for a reaction to the taxotere. Good luck with your treatments.
Cloud: Congrats on completing chemo!
0 -
Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and tips on the diarrhea (I also have the cramps). It's great to know you're "normal" when you're going through this process. Still having fun with the co-workers and my hair, but now its getting irritating. I read in one of the earlier chats one woman finally cut her hair when it got in her food. I think I'll be there tomorrow! Oh yeah, has anyone else blown up a blow-dryer when your falling out hair went through the back? That was how my day started! Everyone got a good laugh over it, watcha going to do? I refuse to buy a new one until chemo is over, what's the use? Taking my son to Boy Scouts now, will check back in later tonight.
0 -
Hey Amy - Aquaphor works wonders for rashes in tender places, too. I think your mucous membranes are easily irritated because of the chemo... But you should definitely make sure you don't have a yeast infection. That can REALLY irritate your vaginal tissues.
Kristine, what you've described is on the official SE list for Herceptin...I just checked because the onc nurse looked at me like I was nuts when I told her today that Herceptin had made my nose very tender and it'd given me a rash. She said, "Herceptin doesn't give rashes or make your nose run." WRONG!
Anyway, the fatigue and flu-like symtoms you describe (in addition to a rash) are on the list of common minor side effects. I know because I just checked about 15 minutes ago.
What's killing me today is the injection of Benadryl. Holy cow, that stuff knocks me on my a** and it takes hours to recover. I never knew Benadry could do this... think I'm gonna go to bed.
Laura
0 -
kaidog - That nurse is sooo wrong! Herceptin couases constant cold/flu like symptoms: A constant hacking cough and runny nose, nose bleeds too. I have been on Herceptin since Oct 27, 2008 and I now have horrible sores in my nose - that hurts. I guess it is from my nose running for so many months.
Lisa
0 -
Hi everyone, just got home from TX # 5, went well , they only had to stick me one time to get a vein. I asked for the nurse, a guy, who all the ladies say is the best at problem veins. He wraps my arm up in a hot blanket first . He did my IV last time after another nurse had already stuck me 3 times and couldnt get it, so now this week I should only have one bruise. Well I took my Zofran and will be taking it easy this week. Hope everyone is doing well.
CCBaby.... are you still doing okay?
0 -
Lisa - Yeah, I think she was in a bad mood. Very contrarian.
Try Ocean nasal spray, Ocean moisturizing gel and Aquaphor, in that order. That seems to be the holy trinity of nose care... It really helped me last week; I had a couple of nasty nosebleeds and I was really uncomfortable until I started moisturizing the living heck out of my nose.
I am going to sleep off my benadryl!
0 -
Thanks kaidog. I have been using the Ocean spray, but not the Aquaphor. I will get some in the AM.
Lisa
0
