Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
Comments
-
Wendy...I am glad that your port is healing nicely. I have a prescription for Emla, a numbing cream, but I never got it filled. It only hurts for a second when they stick the needle in, kind of like getting your ears pierced. The nurse will tell you to take a deep breath in and then she sticks you. It isn't too bad. She will then flush it to make sure it is working right. Let me warn you, after you are done with your herceptin treatment, and the nurse takes out the needle, you will have this weird smell/taste in your mouth that only you will taste because of the saline. It is nasty. No, they won't draw blood from my port, I don't know why.0
-
10 minutes with a ziploc full of ice over my port works to numb it perfectly. I've never used the EMLA cream (which can be messy and needs nearly an hour to work effectively).
I've had blood drawn from my port, one time, I didn't even use the ice for numbing. I barely felt the needle-stick.
0 -
Alaina, they should only be sticking you ONCE for the MUGA test. I was mistakenly sent to the hospital's nuclear testing to get my 2nd MUGA, was stuck by the radiology tech and IT HURT! And I got a really low score (57). When my dr caught the mistake and sent me to the cardiologist's office to retake the MUGA, where she said the technicians were better, the IV didn't hurt and my score was 75!!!! Big difference!
Before my oncology nurse accesses my port, she squirts it with lidicane (8 squirts--she has it down to a science) and it doesn't hurt at all. I probably spelled it all wrong, but ask for lidicane when you go in.
Mason, it's sooooo good to hear from you! Plz drop in more often if you can. I think about you lots. Hope you haven't had to smack any women lately trying to get your hubby!!
0 -
Hi all,
I've been using the lidocaine cream on my port. They told me to put a blob on about an hour before an appointment and cover it with saran wrap (tape it on) so it doesn't soak into my clothes. It's great. I never feel a thing.
I've only had one MUGA scan so far, but the tech put in an IV, drew blood, kept it in, sent me back to the waiting room for 30 minutes, then used it again to inject the blood mixed with radioactive stuff.
I asked one of the oncology nurses where I go about other people drawing blood from the port (I have little tiny, rolling veins, too) and she told me only onc nurses are qualified to access ports. Maybe they want to protect their territory!
Today is Tx 3, day 6. Extreme fatigue days 4 and 5--feeling human again today.
Hope everyone is doing well.
Becky
0 -
Christy... I did the herceptin today and it went fine. They had given me lidocaine cream to rub on it an hour before, and cover it with tagaderm. The needle stick didnt hurt at all, and I didnt get a bad taste like you did afterward. The infusion was for 30 minutes. They did draw blood from it, to give to the Coumadin lab because I am still on that (blood thinner). They have to test that about every 2 weeks. But I do have to get a MUGA scan on the 12th and they said they dont use the port for that.. When I had my first MUGA they put a line in to take the blood, then left in in and put the radioactive stuff in the blood, then put it back in to me, just like EngTchr. The doctor told me today that I will get blood tests a day or 2 before each Herceptin and that I do it at the infusion room, so they can use my port, and I dont have to go to the lab. I guess the lab cannot use the port.0
-
Wendy...I am glad your treatment went well. I am sure that the port was much easier for you than that picc line. I wonder why you get a 30 minute infusion and mine is 1 1/2 hours? Anyway, 7 down and 10 more to go for us! I figured it up and my last Herceptin treatment should be Feb 22, 2010. I have a consult with the rad onc on Friday and I get my Muga scan on the 13th.0
-
christy.. sounds like we're still together on this.....my doc did some fast figuring in his head and said 10 more Herceptins for me too., and Muga the day before yours... but he still says no radiation,, but I will start Tamoxifen after he sees the results of my next Muga and blood tests. You don't have to do the Tamox, so does that mean you will have periods again soon?0
-
No, I don't take Tamox since I am er- and pr-. I am not sure about when my period should start back. I have read past posts on this website about that, and I think it is different for everybody.
0 -
Hey Ladies It has been awhile since I have posted I read all the time keep up with everyone Welcome newbies and Hello old friends. I am 14 weeks post chemo 7 weeks since rads 10 Herceptin down 7 more to go I am growing some hair I finally got sick of the gray and put some color on it doesnt seem to grow as fast in the front hope to soon have some bangs I have a not so pretty forehead that needs covered. Everyday I feel more and more like me again it is a blessed feeling. I did blood work last week for the BRCA 1 & 2 test , first my insurance wouldn cover it cuz I didnt meet the criteria Thank the Good Lord I got a call yesterday and the criteria had changed so thay will pay 100 % . I have been so stressed about it cuz I dont have $3120 to cover it. So 7-10 days I will have results Please Pray for me to get a Negative I would appreciate it. 0 -
It is interesting reading different things, I have had all my blood drawn from my port for all my bloodwork that was a factor it my decision I also have it done by the nurses at our hospital some are certified to do chemo infusions but most are just RNs none of them are Onc nurses,I have to wait for a nurse because the lab techs can't draw from a port. I am also glad I get Echos and not MUGAs they are so much easier sounds like it.So has anyone seen the staggering percentages if you carry the cancer gene a 53-86 percent risk of a 2nd breast cancer 28-44 percent chance of ovarian cancer which is not curable Those numbers are very scary, so I will be so glad to get a Negative result . 0
-
You have my prayers and friendship!!! You are a rockstar!
0 -
Thanks Bold you are the best dear sweet girl! How did you do with rads you are done correct? You had the 32 txs right ? Did you burn bad afterwards? 0
-
Hi Paula! Glad to hear you're feeling so well. It seems so strange to feel good all the time--I'm 9 wks PFC and loving it.
Wishing you a negative outcome on the BRCA!
0 -
Rocky, I did 33 (my lucky number (really)). I cruised though it no problem. I feel like the energizer bunny now. 3 weeks post rads.
I look like a Buddhist monk. I diggin it a little. I would be so much cuter (20 years younger) with eyebrows. I do apply them, but geeze.
My DH and I are going to start yo look for a new house. That is sooo exciting. But the garage needs to be cleaned out. There is 14 years worth of STUFF. UGGGGGG!! Well I am glad to have my energy back to get it done.
Still in my prayers. I have to tell you that I have a overwhelming feeling that you are going to be NEGATIVE!!!! I am darn sure.
Nite all
0 -
Paula - for me, waiting for the BRCA results was the most difficult part of the entire bc journey (so far). It took a month for my results, which is a long time to wait. Mine was negative and I almost collapsed when the counselor told me. I think I cried more than if it had been positive! I had been so worried about the consequences on my daughters. I hope yours is negative too! Please let us know. The waiting really is hard.
Everyone - Well I am one week PFC and the SE's from the final tx have been MUCH easier than the previous one. I wonder why! My mom even came down for a few days to take care of me, and instead, we had a nice visit together, as I didn't need taking care of. Very strange, but I'm not complaining.
My consult with the radiologist is next Friday and then rads will start shortly thereafter. My oncodoc said I don't need to start tamox until after rads are done. I am pretty nervous about the SE's from tamox - the mood swings and irritability especially. Those terrify me, as I am (usually) very emotionally stable. I read some of the Tamox threads on here and they are horrifying. Are any of you on it? How it is going (in regard to emotional issues)? I can handle some aches/pains as SEs but the thought of personality changes is very frightening to me. Am i worrying unnecesssarily?
Thanks and a good weekend to all my sisters!
Amy
0 -
Checking in after a month of being AWOL! I am glad to see that everyone is doing well. I finished rads June 21 and it has been wonderful to feel good....finally! i hope that this gives all of you who are in the midst of FC to hang in there and know that you WILL feel good again. Sometimes it may seem hard to believe but it is TRUE.
I have been going to yoga and spinning class a few times a week and really enjoying the workout. My hair is coming in very thick, salt and pepper and about an inch long! I actually like it short and get lots of compliments. It is very tempting to keep it very short as it is so easy to take care of. looks great with earrings and eye makeup and is generally pretty cool.
Paula, I'm praying for you and know that your test results will come out negative.
Bold, it is so great to hear that you are doing well and breezed through rads. Awesome.
Denali, great to hear that you are doing well!
Amy, hooray for you, Sister.
I am inspired to go back a few pages and catch up on all my girls...
For those of you just starting treatment, I am proof that you can do it!
Maja0 -
RockStar: I have heard those stats, too. Very scary. I had a bilateral b/c I knew a return was very possible. My onco and I have been having a lot of discussions regarding my ovaries and the end result is: hysterectomy. I am 42, with no breast or ovarian cancer in the fam. My breast cancer is/was estrogen based. He believes ovarian cancer is a strong probabilty for me. Met with my obgyn today and she agrees. We're going to schedule it for some time next month. It will be a year in Oct. since my dx. By then I will have lost two breasts, gained and lost two rocks, gained my new silicone sister, lost ovaries, a utterus and a cervix....jeez! I'm ready for 2009 to be over, then the rest of my life cancer free!
Does anyone know if this surgery will delay my Herceptin only treatments? I have 9 more to go.
Denali: I am 9 weeks PFC today-how's your hair?? Mine's looking GI Jane'ish, but, like Paula, I really need some bangs!
-Maggie
0 -
10 days PFC and starting to climb out of the chemo hole again (hopefully for the last time). My gag reflex is so sensitive that even when I cough or sneeze my stomach starts churning and I have to fight back nausea. Blurry weepy eyes and I find the screen difficult to read.
For those on Herceptin only, have you had SEs? Just wondering which se meds to keep in my bag of tricks.
0 -
I've had 2 Herceptin only treatments and I have no SEs whatsoever. I just started Arimidex though and I'm sure that will be a different story.
Yesterday I packed up all my chemo meds and put them away. Hopefully, won't be needing them anymore. Kind of felt good to clean off my bathroom counter.
Magnolia: my hair is seems to be coming in thick, but still very short. I'm just looking forward to the day that i have enough side hair to go out with just a baseball cap. Not there yet. Also, I notice it's coming back in salt and pepper, which is what it was pre-chemo. I was kind of hoping for a brand new color--red or blond. Ah well.
0 -
I am starting TCH on 8/18 for 6 txs every 3 wks. Can anyone share how they handled work? I am wondering if I will have enough good days to keep working throughout txs and keep up with my stressful job.
0 -
Luddy....Welcome and I am sorry we had to meet you this way. Everyone has different side effects with TCH, just remember that. But, for me, I am a hairstylist and I would take off work the first week after chemo, and then work half days the following 2 weeks until next treatment. It may affect you differently. Good luck!0
-
Luddy..I did the same thing as ccbaby, took chemo week off and worked 3 or 4 days each of the following 2 weeks. We both have jobs where we are on our feet alot. We were on the same schedule as you are, we both just finished TCH and have had our first Herceptin only treatment. I think we were pretty lucky in the side effect department, we never seemed to have it too bad. The only time I was really sick was # 3, but before and after that it was okay, just minor things. You just get so tired .0
-
ccbaby & cakelady.. thanks for your tips on working. I am getting my chemo on Tuesdays followed by Neulasta on Wednesdays. My nurse told me that I probably would need to take off Tuesday-Friday of every trx week and could work the other 2 weeks when I had good days. I have a hour drive to and from work and I was concerned that I may get too tired or ill to drive home once I got to work. I am also worried about being around people when my immune system is low. My other choice is to take leave for my entire txs.0
-
Luddy...If I would have had a choice to take a leave with my job, I would have done that in a heartbeat. An hour drive to and from work would seems very tiring. You may want to try it the first couple of treatments to see how it goes. You need to do what is best for you and take cre of you.0
-
DISCOVERY!!! 12 Days TCH PFC and I finally found something to eat that tasted like it was supposed to taste and it was SO GOOD! Vlassic Kosher Dill Pickels! I ate a whole jar in one sitting! ROTF!
I'm on my way to get some more! Burp.
hugs, gals...
0 -
Luddy, I have a desk job (electrical engineer) and work from an office in my home when not on a business trip. I generally could count on feeling good and working a pretty normal schedule all the third week of the cycle through the 2 days after chemo. I took my laptop to chemo and worked during the infusions.
I would start feeling the effects of chemo on the 3rd or 4th day after. How long I felt slowed down afterwards varied - a few days (the second and third) to a week and a half (the last two). The first one was worse because we tried it without Neulasta or Neupogen and it turns out I'm one of the people who really needs something with this chemo to bring my white cells up. The 5th and 6th were harder partly because I got a cold at the start of number 5 and the cumulative effect (low magnesium which wasn't tested for untl my post chemo test 3 weeks after the last chemo and anemia).
On the bad days, I would work as much as I could to at least get the essential tasks done and take naps as needed.
I went on some business trips during the third week after chemo. That was fine except I found I couldn't do evening meetings and often had dinner in my room. I'm also lucky that none of the business trips was at higher altitude. Changing planes in Denver during those trips, I noticed the altitude affected me very much and I wouldn't have liked to spend days there.
I'm 6 months post chemo and last week I had a meeting in one of the moderately high altitude cities. I'm very pleased that the altitude didn't bother me at all - I didn't even realize it until someone else mentioned the altitude.
0 -
Luddy, as far as working and low immunity, I was very careful to wash my hands a lot while on the business trips. I did have Neupogen so my white cell count wasn't terribly low.
The one cold I got during chemo, my husband and DIL also got at about the same time so I can't blame it on chemo causing low immunity. Our granddaughter who was living with us along with her parents had had a bit of a cold about a week before so I guess we all got it from her.
0 -
Let me say right off, I have read the posts but always get mixed up with the replies so please forgive me.
I finished the TCH june 23rd, I have had 2 herceptin only treatments so far and an echogram NOT a muga- Does anyone know the difference- only one other person mentioned not getting the MUGa ??
I also have had NO pet scans, bone scans, no test checking hormone levels thru this entire process of Bilat Mast/recon, chemo,
I an ER+PR+ and Her+ age 46 now menopausal due to chemo. My onoco wanted me to start TAmox right after chemo but I am concerned of SE's. Herceptin only- I get extreme hot flashes with pounding headaches 3 days after getting it. and am down for the count for at least 36 hrs- anyone else getting that? orginally I thought it was the chemo and neulasta now it has to be the herceptin cause that's all I am getting.
hair- salt and pepper 1/4 long and I keep using the Nioxin scalp treatment and shampoo coming in thick,
Brac testing- I am praying yours comes back negative like mine.
Working and chemo- I am amazed at the woman who manage to work God Bless them, I do not work outside my home but I wish you all the best in this area.
0 -
Malleme... I have not gotten any scans either, except for MUGA. I had one right before I started chemo, and will have another this week before my 2nd Herceptin only treatment. I often wonder about the PET scan and why they dont give me that. My doc said no when I asked if I was to get one. As far as the Muga and the echo.... I assume you mean echocardiogram? It is just an ultrasound of the heart, showing size, shape, movement and blood flow of the heart. The MUGA is where they take some blood out of your arm, mix it with radioactive isotopes and inject it back in. The isotopes attach to the red blood cells. A camera placed over your chest takes pictures of the heart and they count the "tagged" blood cells as they flow through the heart. It measures the blood volume that goes through the heart. Normal is between 55 to 75% .
0 -
Echocardiagram tests about the same thing as MUGA - I don't know why some oncs do one and some the other. For MUGA, they can mix the chemical that prepares your blood and the radioactive isotopes without drawing blood out. All mine have used the in vivo method. They inject one chemical, wait about 15 minutes and then inject the isotopes. The injections are done through an IV that stays in until the test is done so I only get poked once.
0
