Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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Saniasa; Another thing that might help you later is the mouth can get sore sorry but mine did and I got to the point I wasnt able to swallow alot and the prcription they gave me to swish in my mouth didnt help but I had Cloraspectic spray for when you have a sore throat I sprayed it every where I could sleep and drink and eat more of course I mostly ate soup anykind of soup was good to me and ice cream didnt help no taste but pops worked pretty good. Watch the hair too I am one of them that has had the slow come back I am not telling you this to scare you but no one told me until I was out there and found the thread about not getting hair back and at least I dont feel like a outsider. Good luck with your chemo's and yes loosing the hair is worst than the boob they can rebuild the boob...
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Cakelady: I colored mine a couple weeks ago (around 8 weeks PFC). I've heard it's best to use some kind of natural product (I think I used Natural Instincts) instead of one with lots of chemicals. It did make a difference b/c I had some blond or white hair mixed in with the darker ones. The color brought out the lighter shades to make my hair seem fuller. Enjoy!
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Welcome, Sanaisa!
You might want to ask your onc and your dentist about teeth cleaning. I had some serious periodontal problems several years ago and now I get my teeth cleaned every three months. I had them done in May right before I started chemo and my dentist wanted to see me again in August (I've finished 4 out of 6 at this point.) This time the dentist had the hygenist give me an antibiotic rinse both before and after cleaning. Infection is the big concern. They both said my teeth and gums were looking good.
I've found the biggest side effect for me is fatigue. It's starting sooner and lasting longer now that in the beginning. Good luck to you!
Becky
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Dear EnjoyLife,
Buffs are cone-like, open-ended and seamless head/neck scarves sold at sports shops meant for hiking, cycling, etc. It's ideal for the current hots spells coz it's cooler and washable vs wigs. You could sew your own too if you could find the same kind of material(spandex-like). Unlike caps, they fit snugly but don't provide shade. I have survived the hot summer wearing five of them. Google buffs and I think you could get them on-line too.
This site's getting pretty queit these days..........................
Cheers!
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Hello ladies,
Just want to check in with you all, it's been 4 months since my last TCH (5/4), I'm back to work fulltime. I still go in every 3 weeks for my 30min Herceptin until January. I'm doing well! Herceptin doesn't give me any side effects, sometimes I forget that I just got the infusion. My hair is growing about 1" long. Nails are growing back. The only thing that hasn't come back yet is my period, not sure if I want it back
My hot flashes went away, thanks goodness, it's been around 107F around LA plus a few fires.I have some bad news to share, my younger sis (34y.o.) was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer in July, she had bloody stools for a few months thinking it was from the hemorrhoids since the birth of her baby. She had surgery (hemicolectomy) on 8/4, recovering from surgery then starts chemo in 3 weeks. I hope she'll cruise through chemo as I did. I've asked her to sign on with colon cancer support group, I told her how much you all had helped through my journey.
Cil.
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CIL,I am so sorry about your sis having colon cancer. My son in law had it when he was 27 and now he is 45 so he has had a long time and still doing good. He did have to have a bag at first but has learned to manage it and now he just irrigates his colon in the mornings and wears a patch over it. I think it is hard to deal with at first so she will really need a lot of support. I hope she gets it.
Sanaisa, I am sorry you have to go through all this but you have came to the right place. I am post chemo,rad and Herceptin but I still check in with everyone. I did have a lot of stomach problems and some here have it it easier than others. You do need to drink as much fluids as you can. It can damage the kidneys if you don't and even though that sounds scary I meant for it to so you know how important it is. Everyone is different and you can see by all the different posts. You will have to have help at times so be sure to ask for it from family members,friends who ever. Some do work while on this. My doc said no because I had a lot of blood count problems. It has been a challenge for me to get back to work but I am working. My hair is not growing as fast I would like but it is growing. Please just take care of yourself and I am sure you will do fine.
I hope everyone is doing okay and like Ipohgirl said not much going on with the site. I hope that is good news but everyone still needs support. Please keep posting since it does help others here get through the tough times. I wish good days for everyone. I have noticed when a new one comes in some more are soon to follow.
Carolyn
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Sanaisa, your onc probably won't want you to get a teeth cleaning until a couple of months after your last chemo. My rad onc also didn't want me to get cleanings during rads. I couldn't stand to wait that long so I cheated and had a cleaning about 4 weeks after chemo, 2 weeks before reads. My white cells were back up by then. I think the main concern is infection with your immunity lowered by chemo.
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Christy.. I did color my hair this morning, I used the Clairol root touch up kit , since I dont need much,, and I used half of it so I have enough for one more use in a few weeks. It is brown now instead of mostly grey. I do have a facebook acct... that would be good to keep in touch that way. I tried to PM you but it won't let me type your name in, what am I doing wrong...0
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Good Tuesday ladies! thanks for all of you who replied about your nails! I was starting to think i was the only one! nobody at my onc office has the same problem! So many turned white this weekend. my toes have been fine. It is so weird to have so much happen AFTER chemo. I am almost 4 weeks out now. My hair is taking its sweet time to grow back. i still have my peach fuzz, it seems to be getting coarser than it was, but not really growing yet. maybe week # 5 will be the majical week huh?
Today i am thankful for the following improvements: Taste buds are totally back to normal, fatigue is better than a week ago, i can walk to and from the restroom at work without my heart jumping to 130 bpm! lost 5 of the 10 lbs of water weight i put on 2 weeks ago.
Christy- Glad to hear that your hair is long enough to color! you are a month ahead of me so it gives me hope!
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My daughter came to visit yesterday. I made her look at my head under a bright light with a magnifying glass to see if there were any new tiny hairs coming in. AND THERE WERE! I have the hair that never fell out originally, and it is growing back but is very sparse. I need the REST of the hairs to come out of hibernation and start growing. So she saw some tiny black dots of new hairs starting to break through. I am 5 weeks PFC. I am encouraged! I was in the craziest position trying to get my head under the lamp and her leaning over me with the magnifier. It was like a scene from a movie - and we couldn't stop laughing.
Plus - it was COLD last night here. And my head was cold. I hope my hair grows fast enough for me not to have to wear those knit hats I slept in back in April. Being bald in the summer was much better than I imagine it would be to be bald in the winter. If I were starting now, I would get some soft beanies for sure!
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Love your picture, AmylsStrong--you look strong, happy, and positive!
Becky
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Hi all,
Did anyone use probiotic supplements (such as Align) during their chemo? Does the chemo mess with the intestinal bacteria in your gut? Would the yogurts work?
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Hi Weety...In a word, yes. Chemo really screwed up my digestive system. Four weeks PFC and I still have some minor problems with loose stools if I don't take my probiotic.
Yogurt might work, but most take 2 weeks. Much too slow for chemo needs. I used Kyo-Dopholis which can be purchased at a good health food store. I chose this over the refridgerated products because it has a shelf life of 3 months. I started taking it the morning of chemo. I also took it along with Imodium if I got diarrhea.
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Does anyone here have a problem with constipation I have been off chemo a year but I eat fruit and probably about 4 8oz glasses of water maybe I should drink 8 but its hard to drink so much water I don't hardly have soda but I do eat salads etc. I would love to take a vitiam but I am afraid it will constipate me more any suggestions I do have to take calcium I am pre-osteoporosis so I also take my pill for it once a month oh chemo does a job on us ladies we will never be the same some ways better though we appreciate every day we feel good. Oh yes on Taxotere I a year later I still have to wear a hat no hair so remember this we have a special thread that ladies are contacting the drug company...If this was a mans problem it would be solved they have it all Viagra anything they need...
Maura
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Maura - I had a problem with sluggish digestion/elimination BEFORE dx. I learned that if I take 2 heaping tablespoons of ground flaxseed meal mixed with water in the morning with breakfast, I have NO problems any more. Totally natural, cheap, easy. I stopped during chemo because my whole digestive system was 'off' and I didn't want to complicate it. But I am using it again and it works great. I would much rather use something natural like this than start adding even more drugs to my body. (As an aside, I did try those psyllium powders like Metamucil and they never helped much.) Try the flaxseed - you can get it at a health food store or farmer's market type place. I swear by it.
Good luck.Amy
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Maura, the calcium is very constipating. I agree with Amy, take the flax!
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I had diarrhea all through chemo but now I am constipated all the time. My crazy body! I do eat fiber and it does nothing but if I eat a greasy meal it helps but of course I can't keep eating that. I do believe calcium is most of your problem and mine is meds for arthritis. I would try the flax. It can't hurt.Probiotics does help if you get a good quality one. Yogurt is slow but it has calcium in it too so you might do both.
I hope things go well with everyone.
Carolyn
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Question for those who have finished TCH and moved on to radiation-- How much time between your last THC and beginning of rads?
Thanks, Becky
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Mine was 3-4 weeks. I had the meeting with the radiation oncologist ath the begining of the 3rd week, and then the next week had the marking and simulation. The actual radiation started at the 4th week. I was very strong coming out of my last TCH. I got the feeling that if I was weaker or had been sicker, they would have given me more time before starting.
Had my 9th rad today. So far it is NOTHING. Hope it stays that way.
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About three weeks for me Becky. It is not hard either. I had no problems with fatigue or burning. I do not have skin that touches skin. That seems to be a problem for some women. I used aquafor and pure aloe gel. I exercised and was sooo happy to be done with chemo that I was giddy. I wish you all the luck. I am sure that there will be a thread for radiation that will be of great help to you.
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I am back! You may remember me - I am a 5 year survivor now, and my mom was diagnosed in May. She has had 3 TCH treatments and is struggling (she is 77). Today they told her that her red and white blood cell counts were low, despite getting the Neulasta and Procrit shots.
Any experiences with these blood count issues? Any advice?
She has struggled to eat, and I am sure that is not helping.
I would appreciate any advice you might have!
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Ellen, sorry to hear about your mom. At 77 TCH can't be easy on her system.
I'm sorry I can't help with the blood count issues. :-(
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Elleen I had to have the shot once and I was so glad only once it was hard on me and I was a young 56 year old at the time last year but your mom is 77 it may be hard on her so be there all the way for her ask the doctors what to look out for also. Bless her heart she lived all these years without it and now for this to happen at this age we should all be able to just live the rest of our lives without this hassle...I am thinking of you and your mother.
Maura
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Good afternoon everyone! It is almost the holiday weekend.. Anyone doing anything fun? I get to enjoy my first glass of wine in 4 months this weekend. JUST ONE but still looking forward to it! My ONc told me it was okay now that i am 4 weeks post tx. WOOO HOOO! something other than a glass of water for a change! Like a real grown up!
I wondered if I am crazy or does Herceptin leave a yukky taste for about 24 hours afterwards? I keep noticing it but wasnt sure if it was psycological after all the chemo taste issues.
Would love to hear how people are going to spend the weekend!
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EngTchr....Mine was 7 weeks in between only because I had to get a second opinion about whether to even get rads. They didn't seem to think that long was a problem.
Ellen...My WBC are still low 8 weeks after my last chemo and I got the Nuelasta shot. My RBC was always up because I ate a lot of protein and iron rich foods like Malt-o-Meal. Can she drink Ensure or Boost? That might help.
Amy...They told me no anti-oxidants while doing rads. Isn't Flax a high anti-oxidant?
Maura...All of my life I have had problems with constipation. During chemo, I got a colonic the next day, and that helped A LOT.
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Well I don't have any specific plans for the weekend, because I have to work, but tomorrow is my birthday, I will be 46. My hubby is coming home after 2 weeks of working out of state. I guess we will just try to survive in the heat wave..... yuk... maybe go out to dinner. The kids are already looking forward to a long weekend even though they just started school on Monday!!
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Happy birthday, Wendy! Hope you have a great day.
Becky
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Happy Birthday Wendy!! 0
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Hi Lisa,
I am so sad to see that my response to you from days ago never posted? I responded within two hours...I am obviously technologically challenged!
I want to thank you for your advice...after I saw your note I have done nothing but drink only water (and lots of it). It really seems to be helping! My tummy has that sort of gassy/hungry/naseaused feeling for what seems to be 24/7...but I am getting by. My mouth seems to be especially tender inside today, as does my tongue and lips. I read in a "chemo care kit list" to get Sensodyne toothpaste and Biotene mouth wash...hopefully that will help. Do you tend to get headaches often? While they are not horrible, the ones I get are a sort of dull constant nagging pressure... and I thought I was imagning things when my potty (#1) almost feels as if it burns sometimes ~ but I saw that this is also to be expected. It's reassuring I am not going crazy or imagining these things.
I do have one question...is it okay to eat popsicles? I have heard this, and it sounds good, but isn't sugar not good to consume right now? What do you nibble on when your mouth is sore?
Thank you and I hope you are doing well...I used to have horses until 2 year ago. I miss my best equine friends...love your profile photo. It really makes me smile. Hope you are getting lots of horsey hugs!
Shawna
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Shawna,Eat anything you can even if it has sugar. I am not saying go crazy but that is a liquid and I lived on them for a while because I had horrible mouth sores for a month. they gave me anti fugal and anti viral meds and a special mouthwash. My brother used Biotene but they said it interfered with his PET scan so they had to wait to get that out of his system. I know several that have used that so ask the onc or nurses. they can help you and do call them when you need them That is what you/insurance are paying for. They know most of the tricks to help you and what they don't know ask here because I know someone will have had that problem.
trishK, Herceptin always made me have a yucky taste and the longer I was on it the worse the taste but not as bad as TCH so I decided I could do it. I sucked on peppermints a lot.
Ellen,I am not as old as your mother but I have some autoimmune problems and they said that is why I had such a bad time with my blood counts. I finished TC in Nov 2008 and I still have problems with my red blood count. hang in there, I think they will keep a close eye on her and may have to skip a tx here and there but she will get through it. As for eating things it did not matter what I ate it didn't help my counts and the doc said it was because your bone marrow has to build the blood. As we get older it is harder for our bones to do the job. If you have a health problem anyway I am sure that is not good either. I could not eat for 2 weeks after my TCH tx and I did drink Boost and Ensure but it mostly came back up. She must drink water though to keep her kidneys going. Any kind of non caffeine liquid will do even Jello if she can. I could not stand that after throwing it up a couple of times. Make sure she is on a good nausea med and make sure she takes it. I had a hard time remembering to take it when I was so sick. finally my husband recognized I could not remember it.
Oh yes about the time for radiation. I do not remember exactly how long but longer than I thought it would be but I had to have blood and then they were busy too so at least a month and a half before we got started. I was burned, fatigued,blood counts down and of course I was the exception. What else would I expect? I know lots of women who breezed through it.
Have a good day everyone.
Carolyn
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