Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
Comments
-
Anji, why did your doc give you only 10 years. I think you have as long as the Lord wants you to have and the doc should not have said that. You need to think positive and you will out live whatever they tell you. We will survive!
Congrats to everyone that have finished TCH and going on to the next level. You can do this because I did it and my mental is back in good condition. I am 62 though and do things a little slower than I used to but I am not ready to be put down. It is not easy but there is always hope. I started feeling a little down after treatment and worrying but my son brought me a TShirt from relay for life that says survivor and I wear that and it helps me. I do still have some problems but some of it is a pre cancer problem.
Just wanted to pop in and say I still read this and think of all of you. I am always happy for your finishing stuff and cry when you are sad. I do know you can get through this. Maybe changed but still you. Laugh all you can it helps.
Carolyn
0 -
Yeah, AMY!! You did it gal!
ANJI, Thank you! :-) No typo, I am 67. My avatar photo was taken early on in TCH and there have been definite changes. I've developed dark brown patches under my eyes (on my cheek bones) that make me look like I did a bad job of applying blush, I've got white heads on my forehead and chin, skin is extremely dry, and since I've lost weight, I have a drawn tired look. Thank goodness I've never been vain about my looks. LOL
0 -
Amy: Congrats on finished up!! Oh, Amy, I can so relate to your meltdown in the dr's office. It's like we've found the strength to get through the treatments, but a bump in the road comes along and it puts us right over the edge into the abyss. And then in the middle of the meltdown you see how kind folks are as they comfort you. Been there, done that!
Bluedasher: You are really keeping it together mentally, aren't you? You should be so proud! I'm not. I'm forgetting things way worse than during chemo. Maybe I've always been this bad, it's just that I'm doing more now that I'm done. It's so embarrassing sometimes.
Anji: what dr would give you 10 yrs?? I can't believe he said that! Do we have expiration dates we don't know about??
0 -
Anji....I don't understand why the doc told you that you only have 10 years???0
-
Anji: That was a stupid thing for your doctor to say!0
-
Amy, the catheter for my port seemed to get more prominent as treatment went on and it did get uncomfortable at times. I think it was due to weight loss and dehydration during chemo rather than the catheter actually moving.
0 -
Anji... I read here recently on how a cancer patient was told he only had 2 years to live so he said to all that he was moving to the Rockies where he always loved to go and end. A friend of his was upset with the family because he never heard from them with regards to his passing and funeral... years later... the friend then heard from the cancer patient, 10 years later and told his friend, "I enjoyed every bit of life since that I forgot to die".
Live Anji... don't hold on to that number... we all don't know and no one else knows either.
0 -
I too have experienced joint pain... my fingers, my feet, my legs... You know I really don't know how many total Herceptin treatments one is given for the year... how many are we truly taking? I know I'm scheduled to take until end of year... but never really gave it thought to a total in number until now.
0 -
Congratulations Amy........it's nice to know youre done with the bad part.
Anji... I can't believer your doctor said that either... thats horrible, and what does that say for all of us who have such a similar diagnosis? thats depressing.
0 -
Lorena...I am scheduled to take a total of 17 Herceptin treatments. I have had 7 so far, so 10 more to go.0
-
Dear Ladies!
Hidee! Been some time since I wrote. Just completed three weeks of RT, three more to go. And, I have overcome my fear of the machines. But my WBC and nuetrophils are getting lower since TCH no. 5, doctor said just eat better. But I am eating well. On the plus side, hair is starting to grow back - almost 1cm now but half are white and very fine and curly! Could see plenty of black pores that are yet to grow........
Noticed there are plenty of new campers. You can all do it - TCH is doable, and we emerge stronger in spirit after this. I am slowly getting my physical strength back after TCH6 in mid June. And, Anji dearie, to h---l with that doc who gave you 10 years. Only the good Lord knows how long we will live.
My insurance company, the behemoth HSBC, is acting up again. They reimbursed us only partly for TCH6 giving some flimsy reason, and now have put my herceptin shots and RT under a new claiming category that has nothing to do with either. I thnk they are trying to wear me down........for those who are considering new policies, please avoid HSBC. Try Bupa or others which reimburse 100% of all cancer treatment. BTW, do your insurance let you claim the Herceptin (only) treatments under chemo or what? Please let me know.
Where have all the regulars gone? Momma Cupcake, Lisa, Bold, CCbaby, etc. I only see dear Bluedasher, Denali and Cakelady posting.
Hugs.
Ipohgirl
0 -
I am here and post quite a bit. I posted before your last post, lol
0 -
Hey ipohgirl, I am on the page before this one. Doing well trying to get my mind of cancer as much as possible and celebrate life. I was healthy before this and I will be healthy again. I wish I still look like my avatar. That was me at 45 years old I am now 55 and feel like 65. Got to get my game back!!!!!! And my mojo!!!!!! And my weight down and hair!!!!! yada yada yada!!!! I sure get some kick but headaches from herceptin. And altered taste and feeling of being full. Anyone else??
0 -
Hi all:
I thought I'd take a peek at this thread since I think I've been away since about April. How time flies. I'm happy to see that just about everyone who started with me has finished their chemo.
As many remember, I was a metster who joined this group so TCH was my 5th chemo in about 5 1/2 years. While on TCH it did reduce some of the cancer load on my system and in other areas kept my cancer stable. I chose to take a chemo break over the summer and am happy to report that I'm out there "partying like a rock star". My neuropathy is gone, my taste buds are golden and I've got about 1/2" of hair on my head. As Bluedasher writes, it's great to have your mental faculties back and be "on the ball" once again. This too shall pass.
However, I'm now looking at starting my 6th chemo - Tykerb and Xeloda so the road continues on for me. I just wanted to check in and see how everyone is doing.
Cheryl.
0 -
Thanks everyone. You all make me feel so much better!
The Dr. actually told me if I did nothing 50% chance for 5 years, if I did chemo 75% for 10 years and add Herceptin 82% for 10 years. I'm like, what about the 18% ??!!!! Doing rads will give me a bit more I guess. The Drs. did the same thing with my sister - gave her 6mths and she lasted 10 mths (different kind of cancer).
Cakelady - it is kind of depressing. I try not to think about but it's always in the back of my head you know. And I don't mean for anyone else to feel bad (similar diagnosis).
I'm trying to be happy and I guess I'll just be here until I'm not
.Ipohgirl Hope your insurance gets worked out. I think I'm lucky I don't have to worry about things like that. The only thing was I think I had to wait a bit longer for treatment?
Mason204 Wow, 6th chemo, here's hoping it kicks butt and the SEs are few. All the best to you!
And to all - hope the rest of your weekend is awesome.
Love and prayers, Anji x
0 -
Anji...That is interesting. I have talked with my onc about the chance of recurrence, but never asked him about how many years...0
-
Anji... I know, its always in my mind too.. a lot.... I go back and forth with being positive and being negative.... it sucks. I am mostly in a good mood, but I have teary moments and negative thoughts too.0
-
Hi Cheryl,
I've been wondering about you! I'm so glad you posted. You don't know me at all, but when I was first diagnosed in April and found this thread, I spent a couple weeks reading the entire thing. I got really caught up in everyone's stories and have wondered ever since what people are doing. Hearing from someone now seems like hearing from an old friend! I'm keeping you in my prayers on your next chemo journey.
Becky
0 -
Hello to all,
I to have body aches on herceptin. I notice no one is mentioning Taxmofin. My Dr wants to start that now with the herceptin. anyone else ????
congrats to everyone being done with chemo Thank God that is behind us.
Swampy- Your Dr gving you 10 years I do remember mine saying for each treatment adds more with metastic cancer. But I am choosing to ignore that statement. God makes that decision.
I had my muga all is good there but when I went for my EKG for exchange surgery they did the test 3 times so I will find out if something is up with that.
Hair is growing back I am using Nioxin shampoo and scalp treatment. Eyelash not so good yet.
Any suggestions: My husband and younger son have the impression that I am all better, as if cancer was a cold and I should be fully recovered. Llike I was lazy during chemo and should be up washing the windows and doing everything. Funny though they will go grocery shopping and help me in the foood buying area. I have never felt like a maid before quite the opposite. I am just getting madder and madder. Is this how some men react? I never got the caring, loving attitude from my h, I generally get my positives from my 17yr old son and my sisters and of course the women on this site have been the real source of my being positive. Just wondering if anyone been thru this male reaction and can offer some advice. Thanks to all
0 -
Cheryl, How wonderful to hear from you. I think of you often and remember when you where in chemo and one of your children had the mumps. Oh boy!!!! You have always been strong!!!! This new chemo should not be as hard as tch. Just want you to know you are still in my thoughts and prayers.
anjji: Your onc. is not keeping up with data. He is still using a not so individualized model of adjuveant on line. If you look at the NEJM (New England Journal of medicine. you will see very different statistics. You better get use to the fact that you are going to live. You caught it early and are only a stage 2a. unless there is something I do not know your prognosis is very favorable
Just my two cents. I have a very similar dx as you and have not been told that I have an expiration date. Let grab on the things that we can control and make them work for our peace health and happiness.
0 -
Is anybody getting muscle cramps? Every once in a while, usually while I'm asleep, I'm getting a really bad muscle cramp. Most of the time it has been the muscle in front of my ankle so that it is trying to pull my foot up. Last night it woke me and it was super painful. The muscle was really streached taut and it took more than 20 minutes to get the cramp to relax. I don't know if it is chemo related or not, but it wasn't happening before chemo. Maybe it is related to the Clodronate I'm taking on the bisphosphonate trial.
The only other time of my life that I've had trouble with muscle cramps was during pregnancy. That as always the muscle in the arch of my foot - I would wake up and stretch without thinking and then the cramp would come - I had to learn to not stretch my toes down but this cramp is on the opposite side and happens before I wake up.
I thought that sometimes being low on sodium or potassium makes one prone to cramps, but my blood tests have had the levels of those in the normal range. Fortunately it doesn't happen too often - it isn't every night but it is getting old.
0 -
Anjj, you are only stage II. If you have an 85% chance of making it to 10 years, then you have a good chance of going beyond that. Because HER2+ is aggressive, it is more likely to recur sooner and the longer you go, the less likely it is to recur. I think they give 10 year numbers because most studies only track that long - it gets hard to keep track of people the longer out you go. If 85% make it 10 years, they don't all keel over that year. And Bold is right to that the numbers keep getting better and your doctor may not have been using the latest numbers (but adjuvant on line doesn't yet factor in HER2+ status or Herceptin so it isn't very useful for us). Actually there haven't been any 10 year figures released for TCH or even chemo with Herceptin that I've found. They only started testing it in adjuvant a little less that 10 years ago.
Mason, It's good to hear from you and I'm glad you are enjoying your break. I hope that the next chemo round has good results.
0 -
Bluedasher~ I have muscle cramps like I have the flu and they come and go. I am going to ask the infusion nurses to slow the herceptin down on my next appt. and I am hoping that is the cause.
Anji~ My doctor said that a lot of the studies are also having problems with the women following up to the studies because they are out living their life
. 0 -
Bluedasher~ I have muscle cramps like I have the flu and they come and go. I am going to ask the infusion nurses to slow the herceptin down on my next appt. and I am hoping that is the cause.
Anji~ My doctor said that a lot of the studies are also having problems with the women following up to the studies because they are out living their life
. 0 -
*UGH-A* MUGA!!!
Ok, so after (reasonably) questioning my oncologist several times as to why I had not gotten a MUGA scan of my heart function BEFORE I started chemo with Herceptin, he finally ordered the test. The test was scheduled for Tuesday morning.I arrived to the hospital running a little late, only to be confronted by a line of people in the Admissions areas (you have to admit yourself for any test in Nuclear Medicine). Got up to the NukeMed area and waited some more. They were crowded also.
I finally got around to seeing the tech, and she explained that she would be sticking me with a rather large needle to withdraw a little bit of my blood to mix in with the radioactive isotope that would then need to sit in a special "area" for 30 minutes, only to be RE-injected into me later for the scans. Ok.
I asked if she could use my PowerPort, and she said no, she would have to find a vein in arms or hands. I wished her luck and started praying. She was not successful, and the supervisor came over and after about 30 minutes of conversation and me trying to ignore her rather precise and determined efforts to get one of my veins to cough up some blood, she struck red gold! She taught me a nursery rhyme that we sang together "Little Jesus Lost & Found, please help bring this vein around!" LOL!!! She was truly compassionate in making a not-so-great procedure tolerable.
I waited while my blood danced with the isotopes and finally got called back for the scans. They were to take 3 pics of my heart and each pic would take 15 minutes. Ok.
But of course, my glowing blood had to be injected BACK into me before any scan could commence. The selected vein was right next to the one that was blown out 4 months ago on the top of my right hand. To say it hurt can't even begin to describe it. For 20 minutes, I lay on top of a narrow bed, arm out, one tech holding my arm still, while the other nurse very PAINstakingly and slowly pushed my thickened blood back into my hand. All I could do was cry while she hummed and we both prayed the vein would hold out, because if it didn't, the whole process would have had to start over.
The isotopes got in and the scans could begin. *whew* I tried to lay as still as possible, even though the side effects of the chemo were causing me to have random tremors in my hands, arms, and legs. And the longer I lay on that narrow bed, the more my lower back started to hurt. The first scan had errors, so she had to start that one again...another 15 minutes.
It was a very long morning. Hopefully I'll hear the results of the scan sometime this week.
I enjoyed my mini-vacation in White Stone, VA! It was nice to get away and do literally nothing for 3 days. Ok, I did shop. They have wonderful little clothing, jewelry, and shoe boutiques down there and I had fun finding unique items for myself and friends. And I needed some more comfortable shoes seeing as even though my swelling has gone down, my feet apparently have grown at least a half a size! Color me NOT HAPPY!
But there's no place like home and I'm excited to be back!
As we embark on this next phase of treatment, I humbly ask each of you to not only pray for me, but to also pray for my parents. They each have their challenges coming up, and this is the time I'm supposed to be able to take care of THEM. But I can only do so much at this juncture, and it's going to be a challenge to balance their individual needs and mine and the thought of it alone just stresses me out. I have a great support system for which I'm truly grateful, but all the same, I ask for your prayers.
Between work, doctors appointments for my Mom, scheduling pre-op appointments for myself, and travel, I have busy week ahead. I'm looking forward to it! My biggest annoyance at the moment is a nose that will NOT stop running! I know I have no nose hairs left, but really, REALLY?!?!?! *sigh*
I'm hopeful that the worst of my chemo side-effects are over at this point and I can start striving towards my "new normal."
Will let you know when I get there! *sniff*
Alaina
0 -
Malleme.........I will be starting Tamoxifen soon also. My first Herceptin only is tomorrow, so he may give me the prescription then for the Tamoxifen.
Christy... My power port is healing nicely and doesnt stick out at all. maybe cause I have a lot of meat on my body, ha ha. They gave me the cream to rub on it an hour before they poke it, do you use that? Do you get blood drawn from it too ?
Those of you on Herceptin only.......are you getting new side effects? if so, I wonder why , if we had Herceptin in the TCH, we would be used to getting it, its not a new drug.
0 -
Alaina - my first MUGA experience was SO similar to yours. I had a baseline one before I started chemo. It was awful and left me shaken and now it is time for the 2nd one and I have been stressing about it. I called the place to schedule and had a long talk with them about it. They refused to use the port as well (and gave me a good explanation of why). But they DID say that rather than sticking me twice (which is where the problem started, when they tried to put the blood back IN, same as in your case), they can start an IV in my hand, take the blood out, then LEAVE the IV in while the blood tags with the nuclear stuff, and then it is easy to put the blood back in b/c the IV is still in the same vein they took the blood out of. Make sense? I am scheduled to do it in 2 weeks - I will let you know how it goes.
I am glad you got through it. IF this new way of doing it works for me, maybe you can ask for it the next time.
I am 4 days PFC and still feeling crappy. But I am DONE and that is a huge relief.
Amy
0 -
Hey Amy! I asked about an IV and they said no. Will ask again.
I'm 9 days PFC and am crawling out of the hole! I'm starting to enjoy my food again, slowly. I'm scareed to believe I might have more energy creeping back, but I'll take every short burst I can muster!
I now have to embrace 2 liters of water daily as a lifestyle change and not just "something I did for chemo."
Now to wrap my brain around surgery...
0 -
On MUGAs, there are two ways they can prepare your blood
- in vitro which means in glass where they draw blood, mix it with the first chemical, let it sit, mix it with the radioactive stuff and then inject it or
- in vivo which means in life where they put in the IV, inject the first chemical, send you out to the waiting room andthen inject the radioactive stuff.
0 -
Swampy and Denali, you really should see your onc a few weeks after treatment. I suffered with the shittiest (no pun intended) diahrea for 10 days, all I could drink was ensure. FELT AWFUL, plus you are housebound when you go every hour. Imodium finally started working but had to take if 4 times/day. Dr said that shouldn't happen, that the Taxotere most likely would be adusted down on my next one. Also told her about claritin after neulasta, was literally curled in a fetal position for 2 days and I'm not a baby, she looked at me blankly about the claritin. So I decided I take a little info from here and a little info from fr. She is so overworked she's a little nuts!!
Hey, noboldy told me when my hair fell out my scalp would feel like I was hit by a line drive, God that's sore. I'm trying to wear a cap but I tend to toss and turn so it ends up on my chihauaha!!
Crap, there's hair all over this keyboard, how gross.....
Got my claritin, imodium, magnesium/D3/calcium pills ready plus the atavan, compazine, valium...I'll need a damn intervention when this is over!!
Love you guys, later
charm
0
