Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
Comments
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Karen~ Congratulations on being finished...WHOOO!!!! Don't worry about #6 you did it and you finished what you body could handle.
Bold~ I had no idea that you would be put on an AI. I honestly by your past avatar's didn't think you where past menopause. I see why you are debating the AI for the 2%.
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Bold, I gotta tell ya - your avatar absolutely cracks me up every time I see it.
Shari, I'm sorry you're feeling sad. I think there's such a thing as a "post chemo depression" - do the antidepressants! I went on Zoloft after my dad's brain cancer, when I was so blue, and it worked wonders.
Lisa, don't strangle your husband. It'd be sad to have you posting from jail.
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Shari when I was in the Dr. office today the nurse talked to me about the emotional part of finishing chemo and starting rads. The nurse said most women have some emotional "let down." One of the reasons is we associate chemo with curing cancer and when we finish the chemo part we think we should be done and cured when we aren't really finished yet. She also said sometimes we also lose our support group or our families think we should be able to do more than we can because they also associate the finishing of the chemo with being done with cancer.
The nurse felt there should be more information given to the patient because this is a problem.
hope this helps and you are feeling better soon!
Karen
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HI sign me up for the Herceptin board, I just finished my last chemo today, now I am on to herceptin only til March 2010.
Sound like a lot of us are done with that phase all the best. Please share, my hot flashed are getting really bad at night. I son't sleep much, but an napping all day.
congrads to all and best of luck for those continuing witht rads.
Malleme
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Dear Bold,
Do let me know your decision about teh aromatase. Mommy Cupcake has the same markers as us and she's on arimidex. I wonder whether that is better than femara and the others. I would go check the levels again before starting.
Darling Cupcake - thanks for the tip about the aloe. We happen to have a huge supply of fresh aloe in our farm - but I will follow your advice and buy the ready ones to cut out the hassle and risk. About the aromatase, I can afford the chubbiness since I'm on the skinny side. Your sound, down to earth words of wisdom are eally precious to me. What's the difference between femara and arimidex? I am post menoapause at 47.
Lisa 1964 - I'm so sorry to hear about your hot flashes and how it interferes with your sleep. i went thru that two years ago when i was perimenopause (at 45). Again, I stress the benefits of extra exercise since exhaustion helps plenty. It was a horrid period for me and that's why I dread the prospect of going thru it again with an aromatase. presription for the next 5 years........
Hugs,
Ipohgirl
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Hey my post wiped out half my message..
I quess I am just to tired.
congrads to all.
Malle
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Christy and Amy..... yes it looks like a lot of us are going to be on Herceptin until March. It's nice to have buddies. I also had one positive lymph node, but they didn't say I would need radiation, unless the margins were close to my chest wall, which they weren't. I worry about the one node too, because you never know where those cells may have gone.....but I guess that's what the chemo is for. Oh and I am SO hoping I don't get too many bad side effects from the Tamoxifen,, I have a real problem in general with being too hot, I hate the summer heat, and to have hot flashes on top of that is not looking very fun. Five years is a long time to be on a drug like that.
Hey do we start the Tamoxifen after the TCH or do we start it after the year of Herceptin is over?
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jkcrml - I drink wine while getting herceptin - nobody told me not to
. I firmly beleive that it keeps me from strangling anyone who gets in my path.Kaidog - I won't kill the hubby, I need his health insurance.
ipoghirl - I know I should excercise for many reasons, my weight being a "big" one. But I stay so exhausted from lack of sleep, I just can't get motivated.
Bold - I had (before BC) started having some hot flashes (at least I thought that was hot - ha!) and pre-men symptoms (I am 45). That was nothing compared to tamox throwing me instantly into menapuase. Good luck on your research regarding A and being only 2%+. It really sucks that we have to rely on ourselves for this type of research and not our dearly paid docs.
Cakelady - My doc had me start the tamox 3 weeks after the last TCH. A bit of advice: when the doc hands you the script for tamox, ask for a script of effexor to go with it. If you are heat intolerant already, you are gonna need it.
I just had another sleepless night, so I guess my bitch factor is up. I need another cup o' joe before I sart the day. My students were in "high drama" mode yesterday, I don't suggest they try that again today......
Lisa
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Cakelady - my onc said i start tamox as soon as chemo is over - DURING rads and DURING Herceptin.
That's SOON! I want to read up on it more. Maybe if I know more about how helpful it is, it will help me endure any SEs that come with it.
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Karen, did you have a lumpectomy or a mastectomy? If it was the latter, has your onc said why you need rads? Normally with a mastectomy they only do rads if the tumor was close to the chest wall or the nodes were postive.
Why does he suggest a mastectomy on the right side?
Mapping took less than an hour. Along with the mapping, they did a little orientation to the rads center - you know: "here's the changing room, here's the gowns, etc". Don't be surprised if they take some pictures. Because you are going in every day for a very brief appointment, they want to make sure that they give the right rads to the right patient. They took a picture of my face that comes up on their computer screen when they get my data so they can make sure they've matched up the right treatment to me. They also usually take a couple of pictures of your chest in postion on the equipment to have a cross check that they have you set up right.
They did three little tattoos to use to line me up on the table each time. One in the center of my chest and one on each side. They are about the size of a poppy seed. Two didn't hurt at all and one hurt a tiny bit but less than an injection (like a flu shot).
You usually won't feel anything is happening with rads for the first week or so. After that my breast got pink and there was some swelling and tenderness. I lucked out and didn't burn except a little area near my SNB scar. I didn't realize the radiation was hitting there until it started to redden so I wasn't putting the moisturizer and aloe vera on there at first which may have contributed to the burn. Even that was just 1st degree but it still hurt and I was glad when it healed. I also had a small spot where I got a bit of a rash - little red itchy bumps and the nurse told me to use hydrocortisone cream which fixed it right up.
No one said anything about not drinking during rads or Herceptin and I haven't read anything saying it's a no no. You will probably have a different rads onc so you could double check with the rads onc or you could ask the nurses who often know about the do's and don'ts. There wasn't any mention of it in the info packet they gave me. Of course keep it in moderation. I may have a glass or two of wine a couple of times a week - it is nice that wine tastes good again now that chemo taste issues are gone.
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Smile, did you get a lumpectomy? Then they normally would have you do radiation even with clear margins and no nodes. That brings your recurrence and survival to the same as someone with a mastectomy.
I hope you feel better soon and get your smile back.
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Calling all breast cancer sisters... can you do me a favor? I know this is off the topic and I hope it's okay to post this but...I am trying to win a contest for my son (to meet his idol - Joe Perry, Aerosmith)... all you have to do is click on this link and click on the thumbs up icon to vote for our entry (legit site, legit contest, MOST deserving young man!)... can you please help me? Just trying to bring a little joy into my son's life after all this depressing /chemo stuff... voting is only June 23-26... please vote? It'll only take a second... help me bring joy to this boy!
Thank you so much! P.S. It says you can only vote once, but if you have more than one computer I think you can vote twice.. lol We are only in second place by about 30 votes and voting ends Friday!!!http://www.aeroforceone.com/index.cfm/pk/view/cd/NAA/cdid/1177058/pid/1175576
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Lisa1964 I absolutely love your posts You always Brighten my day!! Lucky Hubby to have the health insurance LOL !! Celebrate Drink the Wine , Gain The weight ! Bitch As Much as we feel like it!! We have earned the rights to whatever happiness we can found however we feel like obtaining said happiness!! So sorry for all your problems with the Tamoxafin, (((((((((((( REALLY BIG HUG FOR YOU )))))))))))) Smile I had clear margins and no nodes did rads, My onc said with lumpectomy rads are now part of the treatment no choice to do it or not. Its another adjuvant therapy like HRT for estrogen and progesterone positive BC and Herceptin for ER + BC 0 -
Holtbolt I just voted I am at work so tonight I will vote at home as well!! Ladies you know if we all vote we can help Max win !! Click on Help a sista and her son out!!!!! Tell a friend to vote as well
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HoltBolt...I just voted for your son and I hope he wins!!
Bluedasher..Thanks so much for your description with rads. That will help a lot.
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Whew...you all had me sweating bullets when the question came up about wine and herceptin. My taste buds are back and the wine finally tastes good again. Good to hear it's ok.
So LIsa, I go in next Friday for my first Herceptin only. Will he give me my prescription for the Tamox. then. I am really not looking forward to the hot flashes, but my onco did say they wear off after a while. How's the hair?? Any real progress?
I had my first Ecco yesterday. That was not pleasant! She really shifted the tissue expanders all over the place to get a reading. Thankfully, my exchange surgery takes place before my next one! July 21st!! Can't wait!!
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Holtbolt..I voted, good luck to Max. Let us know Friday if he wins!
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Denali: I had a mastectomy too, but elected for the radiation. Reason is the cancer had spread to my Axillary nodes. The Supraclavicular nodes are the next stop after the Axillary nodes, and treating them should catch any maligant cells that had excaped the Axillary nodes and were making their way to my neck or Thoratic Duct. Beings you can get 10,000 cancer cells on the head of a pin and they are very sticky I didn't want to take any chances. I left one of the sisters on too. She should be ok, but will keep a close watch on her. When I have the reconstruct they will bring her up to match the other one. At least through all this I get a boob job out of the deal..lol0
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I have a question for all who had nodes taken. I had 20 taken on my left side. The back of my left arm at the top gets a burning, stinging sensation when touched, but only when touched and sometimes in the morning part of my forearm and hand (on the top in between the thumb and forefinger) hurt to touch but the pain goes away after a few hours. I asked the surgeon about this and he said the hand and forearm may hurt because I lay on the radial nerve at night and don't realize it. But does anyone else have the pain in the top of the arm? I doesn't swell up so its not lymphodema is it? I go for my second TCH tomorrow and can ask the Dr, but I figure some of y'all may have had this problem.
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Magnola - Tamox sucks. Not sure how old you are, ( am 45) but being thrust into menapause via a drug is not good. You will experience hot flashes, night sweats and mood issues. As for your onco that said "they wear off" must be a man! Demand a script for Effexor!!!! If he tells you to "deal with it" kick him in the nuts - hard. My onc had me start tamox 3 weeks after TCH - Tamox and TCH do not mix. As for my hair: it is very thick, but very short. I will stay on herceptin until early October and that slows hair growth. I am not happy with "short", but I am thrilled with "thick".
Drink the wine and enjoy it! Cheers!
Jeffrine - I had 17 nodes removed (Sept 28thish, 2008) My arm is still numb and sometimes tingles as the nerves regenerate. I expect to get "some" feeling back, but not all. And as that feeling returns, the arm will tingle, itch and be uncomfortable. Get a referral to a Lymphadema Therapist, that person will be a Godsend - Very important!!!
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Bluedasher thanks for the information! I had lumpectomy on the left side, the Dr. never saw the original mammogram that show a mass on the right side too.It was misplaced or lost when I had the pet scan two weeks ago I saw the mass on the x-ray and asked about it, that's when he said in the future I should consider having a double mastectomy and probably should have done that instead of the lumpectomy. At that point I could have choked him and not felt bad!! I did have a biopsy done and it is not cancerous, so before I do anything I am going to go to Salt Lake City's Huntsman Cancer Center and get a second opinion.
I did go out and buy a bottle of wine, it sure tasted good!! Cheers!
Karen
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Dang. I accidentily deleted a postl Gonna have to go back and see what I wanted to say.....
Chemo Brain Air Head!!!!!!! AKA Lisa1964
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jeffrine I had 12 nodes removed I had no swelling either but the wierd sensations you feel are normal There are nerves everywhere where they take the nodes they get damaged thats just part of what happens. My surgeon told me I would probably get some of the feeling back and I have the bottom part of my arm now gets shooting pain so the feeling is coming back , the top part is still numb and tingly.For the most part my arm almost feels like it did before. I had my surgery Dec 9, 2008 so it takes awhile. It really very annoying most of the time just another thing to deal with to know you are going to live a long time. I was told it could take up to a year for the nerves to regenerate, if they are going to. 0
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Holtbolt How is the voting going????? 0
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Holtbolt Holy Cow I just checked 775 when I voted yesterday it was like 367 I think. FYI It let me vote again today at work, so you must be able to vote once a day, So is he winning ????? 0
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Hair progress - today, ~ 4.5 months post-chemo, I got out of the shower, looked in the mirror and realized it looked mussed. I needed to brush my hair! Up until now, my hair has been so short that it was wash and wear. I might wake up with some sticking out, but the humidity of the shower put everything back in place. This morning it took a few swipes of the brush.
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Hey I just voted for Max too.
I read up on Tamoxifen and it says not to take it while on blood thinners(coumadin) which I will be on possibly thru March with the Herceptin, to keep me from getting new clots when I get the port , so my 5 years of Tamox might be starting later than I expected. Will have to ask the doc next time. Always something isn't it.
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I'm brand new to this post, just chose my chemo and turns out TCH is pretty popular, glad to hear it. When given options my eyes got glassy and I chose one that wouldn't result in heart damage. I can live without my breasts but my heart not so much...
Hey is anyone from Hawaii on this forum? Would love to hear from you? I'm on Kauai, treated by Dr. Denny and this has been a fast and furious process from a lump in May to a double mastectomy in June, rt breast, one node involved.
My biggest worry at this time is the genetic testing since I was denied payment from my insurance once. I've asked my surgeon to help with this. I have a daughter, 18 that I am very concerned about and if she has an 80% chance of getting cancer I damn sure want to know. I'd also like to know if I need to have my ovaries out. Surely they don't wait for the cancer to appear before they take them. My sister, who is 57, has a need to know also since we share parents. She's already had 2 biopsies that were both negative but WE WANT THE TEST!! If anyone has won that battle with insurance please let me know.
I start my chemo next month, will also need to be shot into menopause with Tamoxifen. I am so glad my daughter will be starting college on the mainland, she has really dodged the bullet this year! I will be thrilled to keep posting and letting you know of my successes and failures. Please respond to me, I need all the encouragement I can get.
I
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Aloha Kauaicharm:
My parents live in Kona on the big island. I am there very often. I love you island also. They have lived there for 30 years. I am so sorry that you have to go through this. I was able to get my BRACC test done by my insurance. I just said I did not know the cause of my grandmothers death of either side of family. (Although they both died in there 80's) I Hope that you get approval.
There are some great advice links as well as insight on this site. I hope that your road ends being Disease free!!!!!
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Just got the news about the passing of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett.
These two were icons in my time. I remember watching Farrah on Charlie's Angels when I was 15, and just got hooked on the series. I grew up with Farrah and Michael as pop idols.
I pay tribute to her brave battle with cancer, and take her as an inspiration to our condition.
She said she felt successful when she "tried her best" at coping with her illness one day at a time and never gave up at the treatments.
Goodbye Farrah and Michael, two icons of our lives and times...................... May you rest in peace.
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