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Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

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Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited July 2009

    I'm headed for Tampa today for bloodwork and TCH #5 tomorrow, Neulasta on Wednesday and then home to sink into the chemo hole of hell for a week. #4 was really rough on me so I hope this one goes better.

  • Lisa1964
    Lisa1964 Member Posts: 760
    edited July 2009

    Thanks Christy - that is actually an old pic that was taken just before the rug was ripped out from under my world.  I just spent 15 minutes taking pics so I could post a new one on the Hair Hair thread and I learned a lot:  I will not be posting ANY current pics.  The excessive weight gain is very evident in  my face and my skin looks like crap. Chemical peels, microdermabrasion here I come!!!! Oh yea, and the diet too.

  • cupcake7
    cupcake7 Member Posts: 321
    edited July 2009

    Congratulations Christy and Wendy!  You have earned your camp chemo badge of courage.  I had Herceptin all through my six months of chemo then progress on with the Herceptin every three weeks to finish up one year of the treatments.  I have some pain where the Mastectomy was by the rib cage. The surgeon says it's probably scar tissue and he can remove it.  The ONC is worried and has ordered a bone scan, and today I see the Radiologist ONC so lets see what he says.  When we talked about moving on with no scans etc after all this treatment here is a perfect example.  Normally I would not have check up scans, but because there is something suspicious they are going to go in for a deeper look.  Like was mentioned you know your body and if something seems a miss that is when you call the onc for a look.  I just pray it is nothing but the scar tissue.  With going through all we have it is normal to freak out when a pain comes up unexpectedly.  Your on pins and needles until you get the clear sign. I will keep you updated on what happens..Love to you all and the ones in the mist of chemo today a special hug and prayer for you.

  • EngTchr
    EngTchr Member Posts: 74
    edited July 2009

    Christy, congratulations!  I'm glad to hear you think it went by quickly!  I'm having tx 2 on Wed.  The end of Sept (my last one) seems like a long time to me!

    I'm having 6 TCH tx, too, then Herceptin until next June.  Also rads.

    Backagain, so sorry you have to deal with it again.  Did you have chemo and rads the first time or just rads?   

    Has anyone seen the movie, Living Proof, about the doctor who invented/developed Herceptin?  I've heard that it's supposed to be really good.  It aired on Lifetime last year.  It will probably be rerun sometime but I got impatient and just ordered it on Amazon.  I'm anxious to see it.

    Hope everyone has a great day.

    Becky 

  • EngTchr
    EngTchr Member Posts: 74
    edited July 2009

    Cupcake, I posted before I read to the end and had missed your post.  I'm sending good thoughts your way!

    Becky

  • cupcake7
    cupcake7 Member Posts: 321
    edited July 2009

    Thanks Becky:  I do that a lot too, but go in and edit and add something else. You will love the movie.  Set up some hankies cause it will cause you to cry I am sure....did me.  It made me appreciate all the more each of my treatments, cause my dx was 4 months to live because my cancer was very aggressive, and Herceptin changed that.  I also applaud Revlon and always buy their products because of it.  Thanks for who ever fixed the spell checker cause it doesn't bop me out when I use it now.  Saw the Radiologist onc today and he thinks it could be from the surgery too, but wants to see that bone scan.  Just have to wait now to get on the list.

  • backagain
    backagain Member Posts: 15
    edited July 2009
    Looks like a lot of us are on the 6x plan.Becky:  I had lumpectomy, rads and tamoxifen first time out.  No chemo.  They are not sure if this is a new cancer or recurrence.  I had a bilateral this time.  Had my teeth cleaned today, my port is scheduled for Thursday and first chemo is July 13th.  
  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 306
    edited July 2009

    Cupcake you are in my prayers. I 'm sure it will be fine. I do appreciate the diligents of your doctors though. I am meeting a new onc. Dr. tomorrow to discuss my hormone adjuvant care. I want to be as smart as I can but do not want to take anything that I do not need. With the ER being only 2% + it is a tough call. Does any graduates still have bone pain. I am about 11 weeks out. I think that it may be the Herceptin that is causing it. I don't know for sure but if I sit to long 20 mins it hurts to get up and move. I got a fever blister for the first time in years from the heat and sun. I guess I am still weak. I feel pretty good just exhausted from Rads. I think of you all so much and hold you close to my heart.

  • bluedasher
    bluedasher Member Posts: 350
    edited July 2009

    I went in for a trim on my new hair yesterday. I wasn't sure about doing anything since I hesitate to give up even a millimeter of my short hair but the side burns were looking too shaggy. She trimmed those how I like them and cleaned up a bit around the ears and at the back. Also one side was a bit longer than the other so she trimmed that a little to even it out. She was very nice and just charged $8 because it wasn't a full cut. I'm glad I got it cleaned up a bit.

    Backagain, most here do 6 rounds of TCH. That's what was done in the study. Some oncs do 4 rounds for women who are Stage I with the idea that any chemo is very aggressive for stage I. My onc did 6 - when I heard that some with similar diagnosis to me were doing 4, I asked her and she said she practices evidence-based medicine so since there have been no studies on 4 cycles of TCH, she does 6 cycles even when the IDC was small. 

  • bluedasher
    bluedasher Member Posts: 350
    edited July 2009

    Lisa1964, sorry to hear about your nasal problem - that sounds really uncomfortable. I hope they get it cleared up. I'm not having any nasal issues on Herceptin only though it was drippy all through chemo. It's our 7th Herceptin only today - only 4 (or 5 if I can't talk my onc out of doing 18) more left.

  • backagain
    backagain Member Posts: 15
    edited July 2009
    bluedasher - Thanks - that makes sense!  
  • geemomma
    geemomma Member Posts: 2
    edited July 2009

    LISA 1964 I, too, have the nasal junk.  It hasn't progressed to an infection, but the inner surfaces of my nose are raw, and frequently "weep" blood.  I'm on Taxotere, carboplatin and the Herceptin, so I didn't know which was causing it.  And yes, there is the yellow gunk.  Don't ya just love the side effects of Chemo! 

  • cakelady
    cakelady Member Posts: 176
    edited July 2009

    Christy,  Thanks for the nice comment about my picture... no I didnt shave my head, but I don't have enough hair to go without a scarf or hat, I wear scarves that my mom made for me out of pretty fabrics.  I am looking forward to getting # 6 DONE on Monday,  but then I have to still get a port put in for the Herceptin thru March, so I am not looking forward to that.

    EngTchr   Yes the movie Living Proof is good  It makes us proud of that man for finding this drug Herceptin for all of us, doesnt it?  He really fought for it.

  • kauaicharm
    kauaicharm Member Posts: 21
    edited July 2009

    I'm starting to feel as if I don't know crap about all the drugs.  Good God, everything has side effects so besides pushing me into menopause I'm going to have chemo fade also???  And herceptin will harm my heart??? I thought I chose the least harmful treatment and now I'm not at all sure what I'm doing..so since I won't know until July 10th I'm going to fly from my little island of Kauai over to Oahu and have some fun with my fabulous daughter.  She will be leaving in August to go to Chapman in Orange and I won't see her during most of my chemo.  Guess she's getting outta dodge at the right time with chemo and menopause coming on me.  It's been the 2 of us since her dad died in 1998, ya think we're kinda close???  This may change all things for me.  I'm scared. About chemo and side effects and missing my girl and trying to work while doing chemo and though I'm tough as nails on the outside this is the scariest thing ever for a single mom.  

  • ipohgirl
    ipohgirl Member Posts: 56
    edited July 2009

    Dear Cupcake,

    Sorry to hear about the pain in your ribs. It could be due to muscle fatigue or even bone loss. Whatever, please don't worry about it till you get it checked out. You will be in my thoughts.

    I saw my surgeon yesterday and she did an ultrasound. I told her there are some lumps just next to my axilla scars and they were sore at times. She said they were just fat deposits or something to do with the scar...............

    Dear Bold,

    I am in the same quandry as you. I went to see my surgeon yesterday, the first visit since the chemo, and she opined that I should only do the RT and complete my Herceptin shots for the year. Being on the Allred score of 3 for estrogen, she thinks I would not derive any benefit from taking the hormone inhibitors. BTW, is your score based on a different score (percentage?) I wonder how that would transfer into the Allred. 3 to 8 is positive.

    My oncologist thinks otherwise and wants me to take tamoxifen (I thought letrozle (Femara) would be most suitable coz of my post menopause status).

    This morning, I called up the pathologist (who happened to be a fellow Malaysian, thus very helpful) to explain the markers to me. He said being on a 3 was borderline and there was only a 20 to 30 percent chance that I might benefit from the hormonal treatments. But hey, what if I did? Then it would be weighing the side effects vs the benefits, in this case the benefit being prolonging my life!. Since the chances of recurrence is quite high based on my markers, he said he would do it if he was me.

    I will see my oncologist tommorow and I have decided to agree with her assesment.

    About the stupid tattoo, I don't feel so bad now but I will follow up tommorow and file a formal complaint agaisnt the tech. He definitely crossed the line with what he did. Aslo, a friend said the hospital might try to make amends by offering to do the laser treatments or refer me to another hospital to do it. I checked with the private dermatologist for laser treatments and it would cost around US$1,000 ! I will pursue it...................

    Lisa 1964,

    Sorry to hear about your nasal problems. Try fresh ginger tea  or if you have fresh mint, crush the leaves and put it into your tea. Ditto for the ginger (grated). The Indians drink fresh ginger tea all the time (besides the curcurmin in the curry) and manage to stay healthy all year..........

    Hugs,

    Ipohgirl 

  • Lisa1964
    Lisa1964 Member Posts: 760
    edited July 2009

    Cupcake, so sorry to hear about your bone pain.  Please keep us posted.  We need our Camp Chemo Mom.

    Ipoghrl - thanks for the tea tip

    Backagain - Sorry you are going thru this again. Merritt Island is not very far from me.

    geemomma - your nasal symptoms sound exactly like mine.  Must be the herceptin.  I had my last TCH on Feb 9th.

    Blue - my herceptin got moved to Wed. this week because of the holiday.  I will ask if I have 4 to go or 5.

    Bold - my bone pain is fading.  The nueropathy in the feet is just about gone, thank goodness.  I am left with a constant pain in my hip that I will need to ask the doc about.  Hang in there.  I think we really do get back to normal eventually.  Good luck with you decision on hormone therapy.

    Have a great day ladies.

    Lisa

  • AmyIsStrong
    AmyIsStrong Member Posts: 426
    edited July 2009

    Kaui - I am so sorry you are so upset and frightened. I had many of the same fears. I will PM you later - have a whole day of medical appointments and have to go out now.

    Hoping my WBC is good this morning so I can get #5 on Thurs. I will let you know!

  • cupcake7
    cupcake7 Member Posts: 321
    edited July 2009

    Thanks campers.  Your support and prayers are so helpful. 

    Kauaicharm:  I know all this is so scary in the beginning and it is so much to digest at the start.  The flip side of all the S.E's of the cancer treatments is the cancer itself that will for sure take your life without them.  As bad as the S.E.'s are and going through all the treatments is to keep you here for your daughter.  I thank God we live in today with the discovery just a few 8 years ago that gives us a chance where even 20 years ago cancer was a death sentence.  So much has been done in discoveries to kill the cancer in our bodies.  They will watch your heart closely on the Herceptin. Mine only dropped 1% so I did well.  You will have a MUGA test to chart where your heart is today and every three months take another test to see how it is doing while on Herceptin.   Visualize the cancer cell in your body as a round object with little antenna receptors sticking out all over it.  These acts as little mouths gobbling up the Estrogen from your body to feed itself.  By this the cancer cells grow rapidly.  Now here comes the Herceptin and coats those receptors where it can't get to the Estrogen to grow.  As it starves the white cells come along and see's the cells all covered over and thinks, "hey this doesn't belong here", and ZAP kills it.  When they did my surgery all they found was a whole bunch of dead cells and the little garbage collectors in the body cleaning up the mess.  Cancer gone!  I was a stage III.  The chemo fade?  Ah shucks as we get older we seem to forget things a little so chalk it up to that.  No biggie.  I'd just as soon forget the treatments and what I went through...lol  You just focus on that beautiful daughter of yours and you will do all this so she doesn't have to loose you too.  For today enjoy that Island to hold those memories over the next few months.  Many in here worked all thorough there treatments so just take a day at a time.  Ask any question cause knowledge is power in all this.  These are a great bunch of women in here that has or in the process of going through their treatments and have learned a lot along to the way that will help you as you begin.

  • ccbaby
    ccbaby Member Posts: 503
    edited July 2009

    Ok girls, I made it through my last chemo yesterday!!! I can now say the phrase 'PFC' ! hee hee

    I was so out of it yesterday because the night before I only slept one hour!! They always give double the benadryl too because I am allergic to the Tax. When I got home at 5, I went straight to bed! I got up at midnight and ate something and then went back to bed. Another lady on the boards here recognized me because of my avatar pic at chemo yesterday and PM'd me to ask if was me. 

    cakelady...I don't think getting the port will be a big deal at all. I got mine put in during my mastectomy, but I still think you will do ok and you will be glad you have it. Although, I still hate mine because it sticks out so much, I will continue to keep it thru Herceptin.

  • AmyIsStrong
    AmyIsStrong Member Posts: 426
    edited July 2009

    CHRISTY - Congratulations!!!!!

    I had my blood test for chemo #5 today and passed with solid numbers. I am so glad. AND - when I left, I made the appt for my 6th and final chemo (7/30). I am so thrilled to have this in sight. I never would have believed I could do it  - but I am!

    I am SO ready for chemo this Thurs. Then I'll be counting down to my last one.  YAY!
    Hope everyone is doing well.

  • sopris
    sopris Member Posts: 7
    edited July 2009

    Has anyone had problems with seroma?  I had to have a re excision and they drained a lot of fluid.  Then I ended up in the ER on Sunday night with a temp and swollen and red breast.  They put me on antiobiotics.  Today my surgeon drained more fluid.  Is this normal?  

    Cakelady, I got a port last week.  They put it in my upper inner arm.  It is out of sight and the scar won't be visible unless I raise my arm!  The procedure was done while I was in lala land, so it wasn't bad.  A couple of days of annoyance and I feel fine. 

  • Lisa1964
    Lisa1964 Member Posts: 760
    edited July 2009

    CCbaby - One week from today and you are officiakky 1 week PFC!!!!

    Amy - You are on the count down!!!!!  Go Girl!

  • Smile2006
    Smile2006 Member Posts: 132
    edited July 2009

    I am finally coming out of my funk!  My trip to St. Martin consisted of me sleeping most of the time.  My chest is bright red and blistery from the radiation...and I was never in the sun!  After two weeks on anti-depressents my hot flashes have decreased and I havent cried.  I am not sure about continuing on the medicine, but I do like the hot flashes not being so bad!

    Lisa:  I have not had any issues with being on Herceptin only, but I have had only a few of them....will let you know if anythinig changes.  As for my hair....or lack of...I am growing very impatient waiting on it to grow!  I lost my eye lashes and eyebrows, but they are coming back now! 

    Congradulations to all who are on their last TCH or getting close....YOU CAN DO IT!! 

    shari

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 925
    edited July 2009

    Shari~ Great to hear from you :) 

    Christy~ wwwhooooo for finishing your last treatment. 

    Amy~ Not much longer you are doing great!!

    I am still in the sunshine state but moaning about going home soon already.  I start with the doctor's appt Tuesday after we return and I will be adding more after the beginning of next month.  I found out the Friday before I left that I will be having surgery on Aug. 5 for my kidney to reroute my ureter and I get to spend 2 days in the hospital.  I am not looking forward to this but I want to get it done so I can continue healing. 

    I have also started to get a 5 o'clock shadow on my head which I am thrilled to see.  My eyebrows have started coming back in and the rate they are growing I will be getting them waxed next week...lol...  Never thought I would be so thrilled about getting them waxed. 

  • backagain
    backagain Member Posts: 15
    edited July 2009

    Christy and Amy - You are an inspiration to those of us just getting started!  Love the name ideas!  How about Jugless July Jedi's?? (JJJ's)

  • backagain
    backagain Member Posts: 15
    edited July 2009

    whoops posted on wrong topic!

  • Smile2006
    Smile2006 Member Posts: 132
    edited July 2009

    Jaimeih....I have been reading, but not posting.....My eyebrows came back crazy......tweezing everyday..and I am not complaining : )

  • cakelady
    cakelady Member Posts: 176
    edited July 2009

    Sopris..  Yes I also already had the port in my upper inner arm for 2 months and then I got a blood clot and they had to remove it, so for my last 3 treatments I had to get an IV. Because I am on coumadin(blood thinner), they have to give me more time for it to help the blood clot before they put a new port in, this time in the chest.

    Christy.  Congratulations on finishing..........here I come,,,, blood test this weekend and # 6 on Monday...... I didn't feel too bad after # 5 so I hope # 6 is just as good.  How are you so far?

  • Lisa1964
    Lisa1964 Member Posts: 760
    edited July 2009

    Jaimieh - Good luck with your kidney surgery, you know we will be thinking about you.  I am sorry your trip to the sunshine state coincided with our record breaking heat wave!

    Smile - It is good to hear from you.  Stay on the meds.  The hot flashes will go on for years.

    Busy day for me:  Herceptin in the AM, then off to work, then this evening I leave for the University of Florida in Gainesville - about a 4 hour drive pulling a horse trailer.  My best girlfreinds horse is very sick and we are taking him to the university vetenairy teaching hospital for evaluation and possible surgery.  The local vets think he has a tumor behind his eye.  This is not good; the tumor may be inoperable if it is pushing too close to the brain.  We have been told we will be in Gainesville for several days - if we are lucky. If the tumor is in-operable, we will be back home tomorrow.  Please pray for Miracle.  His name is Miracle because he was born so pre-mature, no one thought he would live and his is now 15 years young.

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 925
    edited July 2009

    Lisa~ I don't mind the heat one bit :)  I hope Miracle's tumor is operable and I hope it doesn't cost her a limb. 

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