Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
Comments
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So...I had a follow-up appointment with my surgeon this morning, and it looks like I'm going to start on the "cocktail" June 5. The subject of ports came up. I'd like to hear some of the plusses and minuses. My surgeon doesn't seem to think I'll need one, because I have veins that a phlebotomist can hit blindfolded at 50 paces. But I've heard that some ladies really love having a port. So serve up the soup, girls. I want to hear all about it!
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So...I had a follow-up appointment with my surgeon this morning, and it looks like I'm going to start on the "cocktail" June 5. The subject of ports came up. I'd like to hear some of the plusses and minuses. My surgeon doesn't seem to think I'll need one, because I have veins that a phlebotomist can hit blindfolded at 50 paces. But I've heard that some ladies really love having a port. So serve up the soup, girls. I want to hear all about it!
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So...I had a follow-up appointment with my surgeon this morning, and it looks like I'm going to start on the "cocktail" June 5. The subject of ports came up. I'd like to hear some of the plusses and minuses. My surgeon doesn't seem to think I'll need one, because I have veins that a phlebotomist can hit blindfolded at 50 paces. But I've heard that some ladies really love having a port. So serve up the soup, girls. I want to hear all about it!
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So...I had a follow-up appointment with my surgeon this morning, and it looks like I'm going to start on the "cocktail" June 5. The subject of ports came up. I'd like to hear some of the plusses and minuses. My surgeon doesn't seem to think I'll need one, because I have veins that a phlebotomist can hit blindfolded at 50 paces. But I've heard that some ladies really love having a port. So serve up the soup, girls. I want to hear all about it!
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So...I had a follow-up appointment with my surgeon this morning, and it looks like I'm going to start on the "cocktail" June 5. The subject of ports came up. I'd like to hear some of the plusses and minuses. My surgeon doesn't seem to think I'll need one, because I have veins that a phlebotomist can hit blindfolded at 50 paces. But I've heard that some ladies really love having a port. So serve up the soup, girls. I want to hear all about it!
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Shelbaroni - I would definitely do the port - especially if you will have herceptin for one year. I think it's doable by veins, but not having to put chemo through those veins is a good thing. I appreciate having my port, even though the seemed to give me a supersize one (about the size of a quarter_.
For, the TC part of treatment was over yesterday! One more week to endure the fallout of the worst side effects and in a few weeks, I start radiation, which I'm not as stressed about for some reason. Of course, I'll also do an estrogen suppression regimen.
My best to all!
CindyB
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Hi to everyone, old-times and newcomers,
I haven't been here in a while and it sure was good to read all the posts and learn how well everyone is doing.
Shelbaroni...my port...it has been wonderful for me. My surgeon wants me to keep it in for 2 years because I had pos lymph nodes. I don't have a problem with that. My veins are hard to hit and I get freaked if I know I'm going to have an IV. The port takes away all the worry. It doesn't bother me and most of the time I forget I have it. It's hidden under my bra strap but it is very visible when I'm naked.
Hey, I had my first hair trim last Friday. It's still really short but it is thick. ( I finished chemo last Oct and Nan, I was diagnosed on April 30, 2007 too). When I stopped wearing my wig last Feb I think I might have scared some of my co-workers.....but I think they actually liked watching my hair return and seeing that life goes on in spite of all the stuff we've been through.
Cindy...I think my hair grows slower now and I am also curious to see if it speeds up after the Herceptin is done. Wow, only one definitely and maybe 2 more treatments to go. Yea!
Herceptin is the Wonder Drug and I feel very grateful that it is available but darn...I am so tired of Dr. appointments and crappy fingernails, and watery eyes.
Take care everyone and have a good Holiday weekend.
Leslie2
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shelbaroni: Port disadvantages: another surgery, two scars, a bump under your skin. Advantages: No vein digging, and like CindyB said, if you're going to be doing Herceptin for a year, I'd definitely advise getting one. After 3 chemo tx, it really seems worth it to me.
Are you doing TCH or ACT? Let us know if you have any more questions -
Sue
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CindyB -- congratulations on finishing your chemo! In another week to 10 days you'll be on the uphill side. I really hit the wall after my final treatment so don't be surprised if that happens to you. You will recover.
RE: a port. I wasn't given a choice but I would have wanted one anyway. I have very narrow veins and have never liked the hunt for a suitable vein. I think the chemo nurses prefer patients with ports as well. A lot of poking around in veins will ruin them and once they are gone, they are gone (so said a chemo nurse).
I had mine put in under a local anesthesia so was able to drive myself to and from the appointment. It hurt afterward, for longer than I expected, but the pain eventually went away. I got the port in my arm. My onc said chest or arm but when I mentioned I was getting a port to my surgeon she said "ARM, ARM, ARM!" They insert it in the flabby part of your upper inside arm. When I asked my surgeon why the arm she said the port is smaller for one and that the chemo nurses prefer that location. She also pointed out that I didn't need yet another scar on my chest and that the scar on the chest would be bigger than on the arm since a chest port is bigger.
The port felt like it was flopping around at first so I used to wear a coban bandage around my arm, especially when swimming. After a couple of months, I was able to stop that. It doesn't get in the way, which was a concern for me since I swim laps for exercise.
Leslie2: I am glad to hear you were able to get a haircut and that your hair is thick. My hair is also growing much slower than normal. It's still fine, but I've always had fine hair so I wonder if it will be thick ever. I finished chemo at the beginning of January and started going topless last week -- six weeks later than I thought I would be going topless. I have boy hair with a funky Alfalfa cowlick on the back but at least it's hair. People who don't see it every day like I do say it's growing but I don't think it is.
Terri.
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CindyB -- congratulations on finishing your chemo! In another week to 10 days you'll be on the uphill side. I really hit the wall after my final treatment so don't be surprised if that happens to you. You will recover.
RE: a port. I wasn't given a choice but I would have wanted one anyway. I have very narrow veins and have never liked the hunt for a suitable vein. I think the chemo nurses prefer patients with ports as well. A lot of poking around in veins will ruin them and once they are gone, they are gone (so said a chemo nurse).
I had mine put in under a local anesthesia so was able to drive myself to and from the appointment. It hurt afterward, for longer than I expected, but the pain eventually went away. I got the port in my arm. My onc said chest or arm but when I mentioned I was getting a port to my surgeon she said "ARM, ARM, ARM!" They insert it in the flabby part of your upper inside arm. When I asked my surgeon why the arm she said the port is smaller for one and that the chemo nurses prefer that location. She also pointed out that I didn't need yet another scar on my chest and that the scar on the chest would be bigger than on the arm since a chest port is bigger.
The port felt like it was flopping around at first so I used to wear a coban bandage around my arm, especially when swimming. After a couple of months, I was able to stop that. It doesn't get in the way, which was a concern for me since I swim laps for exercise.
Leslie2: I am glad to hear you were able to get a haircut and that your hair is thick. My hair is also growing much slower than normal. It's still fine, but I've always had fine hair so I wonder if it will be thick ever. I finished chemo at the beginning of January and started going topless last week -- six weeks later than I thought I would be going topless. I have boy hair with a funky Alfalfa cowlick on the back but at least it's hair. People who don't see it every day like I do say it's growing but I don't think it is.
Terri.
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Hi,
I am new to this thread. I will probably be starting TCH in June.
Today I had my second re-excision and the port put in my chest. The surgeon (not my bs) who put in the port came to see me before the surgery and, seeing that I am fairly petite, said that he would "see if they had any of the smaller-sized ports." I don't know if he was successful in finding one (couldn't he have thought of this beforehand?). I did not see him or my bs after surgery. The port looks to be a fairly large lump. Is the skin over the port swollen at first? In which case, maybe he did put in the smaller one...
--- Jo
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Hi everybody. I'm also brand new to this thread. I will have my first TCH treatment next Friday, assuming a current sinus infection has cleared. If not, I will start with Herceptin only until the infection clears. I was supposed to have had MammoSite radiation already completed but this sinus thing put the kibosh on that delayed my port which I should have also had installed already. I'm curious, was anybody else abjectly terrified going into their first treatment? Things have been a whirlwind since I was diagnosed in March after my very first ever mammogram (had my lumpectomy with more than clear margins in April) and I'm so scared of the unknown. I feel like I will be going in for my chemo, then going home to sit and wait to see if I'm deathly ill 2 or 3 days later. I have an almost 3 year old to look after and am so scared about how this will affect me. How do you all get through it? Does it get easier once you know what to expect?
I'm actually stage Ic according to my Oncologist (up to 2cm is still stage I), but there's no stage Ic listing here, that's why it says Ib.
)Aly.
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Aly Marie...yeah, I'm terrified. My first treatment is June 5. Next weekend, though, I'm doing the Annie Lennox thing with my hair. I'm being as proactive as I can be. And thinking about next winter's ski trip. Two years from now, I want all of this to be, at most, the foul-smelling haze from a bad nightmare...when I'm running my first marathon. I've often heard true courage defined as doing what's necessary even when you're quaking in your boots. So be courageous.
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Hey everybody...thanks for all the input about ports. One more thing for me and the doc to talk about. Apparently, he tries to avoid them whenever possible. I have another question: has anyone felt good enough to work out at all during treatments? Like actually run, practice yoga, cycle, anything like that? I know I tend to be overly optimistic about things, but I really want to be able to be as normal as possible while masquerading as Uncle Fester.
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Hi shelbaroni and others who are starting treatment soon:
I don't want to sugar coat things or sound like a Pollyana, but. . . after TCH, I honestly feel fine - more easily fatigued, not too hungry, but I'm able to do just about everything normally. My biggest side effects are the day after the Neulasta shot (24 hours after chemo - to up your white blood cells) - achy hips and legs. I had chemo Tuesday, went to the gym on Thursday - only worked out for 25 minutes because I started to feel queasy, but I made it! Today I'm house cleaning - taking more breaks than usual, but getting it done. The anti-nausea meds should work for you, and you have to stay on top of the GI side effects like constipation and diarrhea, but please don't think you're going to have days of deathly illness after chemo!
You'll have ups and downs, but you'll be fine!
Sue (gotta go to the grocery store now - having company for dinner)
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Thanks Suemed! That's really encouraging. I think my husband is expecting me to take to my bed like a Victorian maiden overcome with consumption. Whereas I want to do an 8.2 mile bike race 3 days after treatment. I'm sure reality is somewhere in the middle of those two extremes!
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Cindy: Great to hear from you.....I thought I'd be finished with the herceptin too since you, Leslie and I were on the same schedule, but he is keeping me on it for one more dose June 12.....oh well, soon enough I'll be done too. Are you on femara or anything? Couldn't remember if you were ER+.......I've adjusted for the most part to the femara. I get achy sometimes, but it subsides. I have had to be on blood pressure meds possibly a side effect of the Femara--anyone know anything about this? Anyway, glad you are well. My hair is doing about the same as you described....it seems slow to grow, but I don't mind since it's hovering around 90+ here in Houston!
My nails are still not good. They never fell out or anything like that, just got week and have lines....wondering if there is anything I can do for that! What did your onc say about working out with your affected side? Just trying to figure out how much to push.....mine says no lifting weights.....I still need 20 pounds to disappear and it is hard!
Take care.....keep posting!
Katymom
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Thanks everybody for the positive words. I think like shelbaroni (thanks for the encouragement!!!) my husband is wondering how much I'll be able to do. He's lining up backup help for babysitting and all of that. My Oncologist seems to think I'll do just fine but it is really frightening for me. The other thing that always frightens me is the way people look at me when I tell them I'm being treated for breast cancer. Like they're so sorry to hear that I'll be dead next week! I know cancer is a scary word but I'd like to hear more positive things instead of things like "oh yeah, my 43rd cousin had that and her head imploded". I'm glad to have found this forum, reading is helping me and it helps me realize I'm not the only one on the planet going through this.
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Good luck to those who will soon be starting your treatments. I continued to exercise as long as I could. I refused to gain weight during treatment. I did check with my onc about swimming and she said normally she wouldn't want someone with low white blood counts in a pool but since I went into chemo in good shape I could still swim laps. Since my port was still healing when I started chemo I did a lot of walking and then swam as soon as I was able. I had to stop about a week after my fourth treatment -- I got every known side effect to taxotere and the muscle aches made it very painful to swim, or walk on anything but flat ground. I took six weeks off then got back into my exercise routine.
Each person will react differently to treatment. I never called in sick to work, although I did work from home the whole time I was in treatment. I always took a nap after work and sometimes ended my day a bit early since I was tired (usually 4 - 5 days after treatment, which I had on a Monday). I never needed anyone to come in and clean my house. The first weekend after treatment I didn't clean but was usually able to clean the following week or weekend. My neighbor would pick up some groceries for me once in a while (milk, juice, bananas) and another friend offered to help so I asked them to haul cat food for me. Every treatment I had a different food craving so found it necessary to grocery shop for myself -- often finding that my cravings changed in the store.
Chemo isn't fun but TCH is doable. The first treatment is hard because you have to learn how to deal with side effects. By the second round you know what you are facing and as new side effects come on you feel more confident in dealing with them -- and aren't afraid to bug the triage nurses with questions on how to deal with something :-)
Terri.
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Just joined, and have been reading through different posts.
I began my chemo (TCH) on April 17, so we are very close with our starting dates.
How are you doing?0 -
Sherbaroni,
I got a port primarily because my veins are small and I was advised to.
The nurses have told me they would get a port regardless of their vein size!
It has been a wonderful thing for me, and has never caused any problems.
My surgeon put mine in my chest, but way over to the side not too far from my armpit.
I am able to wear v-neck and scoop tops without it being seen.
The nurses I have aren't crazy about the ones on the inside of the upper arm - and I don't think I would be, either. A little tougher to access, and more difficult if you want to move around a bit during the chemo.0 -
Catz et. al...I so appreciate all the input about ports. Here are my concerns: first, I don't have a lot of body fat and, therefore, things right under the skin bug me to no end. I already have my "port" to fill my tissue expander for my unfinished reconstruction. It sits right in my rib cage and irritates me continually. Secondly, I'm a bit antsy about events like the "port scene" in "The Bucket List", where Morgan Freeman starts exsanguinating in a restaurant through his port. Does that stuff actually happen? It's nice to hear that you can wear stuff other than grandma clothes (which is very important to me, since I'm the vainest person in the world), but does it hurt all the time? It must hurt less than an IV, or you all wouldn't advocate it so heartily. Please comment. You guys are Light and Wisdom to me right now. Please keep up the good work of telling it how it is! And to Aly Marie: I love your sense of humor! If you and I got together, I have a feeling we'd both have to wear Depends, we'd laugh so much. That's your strongest ally...don't lose it. I'll think of you next Sunday when I go to church with my Annie Lennox hair under a fedora and tell everyone what's going to be happening with me. I've composed a "three people walked into a bar" joke to use to tell my story. I'll let you know how it goes. Always remember the healing power of humor. And what better way to wipe the mask of tragedy off everyone else's faces but to be a fountain of joy and laughter yourself. THAT'S living!
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Welcome Joia and Alymarie, sorry you had to join, but this is definitely the place to come for support. I am halfway through TCH, yipee. My 4th of 6 tx's is next Wednesday. I seem to have a lot more nausea than most people but other than that I do quite well. I have never had any pain, aches or discomfort from the Neulasta shots, or anything else for that matter. The medal taste is the most annoying. I am completely fine days 1 through 4, then I get sick on the 5th day and I just plan on being nauseated and bitchy for the next 5 to 7 days. I have something new drugs to try for the next treatment so maybe I'll get lucky. By the 10th day I am 100% back to me (well except for this rug on my head) I have no accumulative tireness and I workout at the gym once the nausea is gone, babysit for 3 grandkids 2 full days a week. I feel completely like myself thankful that I have the tx's every 3 weeks so I do have more good days then bad.
For me the minor s/e are watery eyes and my heart tends to pound for the first week. When I get the nausea I swear to my family I'm done with treatments, but then I bounce back and go on. I was told that if you tend to get car sick (which I do) and if you had nausea problems with pregnancies (which I was sick almost the entire time) you will indeed have nausea, they told me I wouldn't have a chance to avoid it.
I also have absolutely no problems with wearing a wig. It's part of me and I put it on in the morning and take it off at night wearing a sleep cap to bed.
I wish the 2 of you the best of luck and God bless you both through your treatments and side effects. Mary
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I am a small person also and the port is no problem. It really does not hurt when getting the chemo - I put on a numbing cream before-hand. The nurses can also spray it with a numbing solution. My port has been about the only positive so far. However I don't have a port from a tissue expander - I had a diep flap. If something under the skin drives you crazy then I am not sure what to tell you. It felt funny at first but I rarely think about it now.
My 3rd treatment is Thursday and am not looking forward to it. I have only started feeling close to "normal" for 4 days in this cycle. Started back on the treadmill again - but so far only used for last week of each cycle. Have been having problems with major tingling and numbness from neck up - especially around mouth... also hands and feet. My onco says this usually happens this quickly about 5% of the time. Does anyone else have this problem? My taxotere dose may be reduced by 20% as result of this. Also had the no taste/bad taste for almost 2 weeks this time. Another issue is coming down off the steroids - lots of depression, even with med.0 -
Thanks Shelbaroni for the compliment! My sister always says the same thing. When the two of us get together she can be very depressed and we still usually end up rolling. It can be hard sometimes though with everything that is going on. I will try to keep my spirits up. Mary6204 what you wrote is good information for me. I hope very much that I will do as well as you. The unknown is the scariest for me and always has been. I was barely 4 weeks between initial tentative diagnosis and surgery and between times I had a host of biopsies, MRI's and other tests so I didn't have a huge amount of time to sit and think about it. The last 4 weeks or so have been slower and I've had a lot more time to get scared. The internet is half the problem - it seems like people only post their bad experiences and not so much the good. I will keep reading this thread whenever I start to fear or worry!! Thanks to and God Bless all of you!
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Katy, Leslie2 and Nan,,,,,,soooooooo good to hear things are going great for you all.
Yes,,,,,,,,I have been very busy with my grandson. He is the most adorable lil guy. Its amazing how much we forget when we havent had lil ones around,,,,,how active they are. lol My daughter is a teacher so she has summers off,,,,,which is good. So almost break time for me. But we still are planning on seeing each other probably every day,,,,,,her and her hubby and son live right behind us. We will go to the beach and the parks a lot.
To those of you just starting, or about to start or in the middle of treatment,,,,,,,you hang in there girls. You know,,,,,,,,,now that I can look back on this experience, dayummmmm, I am actually proud of myself that I made it. And you all will too. Just keep remembering that light at the end of the tunnel.
As far as ports go,,,,,,I had a port in,,,,,and loved it. So much easier than the nurses trying to find a vein everytime. I had it taken out a couple of weeks ago and all went fine. A little scar but I think that will go away as time goes on. Its the least of my worries. lol
Lucky for those of you who have actually gotten a haircut,,,,,,,man, mine just isnt long enough I dont think to even get it cut, Plus its longer in the back than on the top,,,,,,looks stupid. lol I am hoping in the next few months, now that I am done with herceptin,,,,,,it will start growing like a weed. lol
Just wanted to pop in and say Hi.
My words of encouragement for the new ladies,,,,,,,,,is,,,,,,,,,,this was the best place for me to share. Having others going thru the same thing as you,,,,,,,helps a great deal. I have appreciated everyones input here while I was going thru treatment. And its a nice place to vent too. lol
Have a great holiday weekend,,,,,,,,take care of yourselves ladies.
Cindy
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Welcome, Joia, Ctz and Aly: So sorry that you had to find us, but I hope you check in often. I was a big time "lurker" before I was ready to start posting. I would read these messages and be amazed at how strong these women were....and at the same time, stuck in total disbelief that I was one of them. I hated thinking that I was a cancer patient - I hated feeling like a cancer patient. I decided that I was a much better survivor than patient!
Ugh! That metallic taste is just awful - no amount of water could flush it out. Sometimes, baking soda gargles helped, and every now and then, hard candy worked, too. But for the most part, it just hangs around. Thankfully, it left after my last chemo cycle.
I have the same "hairstyle" as Cinrae! I call it a Chemo Mullet! It is longer in the back than the top - and I think part of that is because I never shaved it. I cut it to my shoulders between my first and second treatment and by the third to fourth, I needed a wig. I don't remember when it got real short and patchy.
In a way, I wish I had documented my hair from day one, just so I could share it with other women feeling the "hair dispair" and also, I think that it would help me feel better about how far I have come. Everyone thinks it is growing so quickly - but for me...I just don't see it. I want to wake up and look like my avatar. That was taken this weekend - it is a human hair wig that the Image Recovery Center trimmed for me so I looked more like my old self and less like Howard Stern!
Enjoy the weekend, Girls!
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Thanks, Mary and Nan, for the welcome. I don't know exactly when I will be starting TCH. I just had a second re-excision a few days ago and am waiting for the path report to know if I am to have a mastectomy before chemo.
It is heartening to read how so many of the women having TCH are not debiliated by it. I live alone and am worried about how much I will be able to do for myself. Because of this, I am moving from DC back to Boston (where I just moved from several months ago) for chemo so that I have a support system for that time period.
Shelbaroni, as I mentioned in an earlier post, the surgeon who put in my port (who isn't my bs, and who I met for the first time just prior to surgery) told me that that he would "go look for a smaller port" since, like you, I don't have a lot of body fat. I did not see him after the surgery, but in the papers I took home I see that he included the manual on the port that was inserted. So I got the product number and did some research. Turns out, it is not the "low-profile" version, which I am not pleased about. I sure hope it is swelling that is making it look as though a walnut was inserted under my skin.
So, if you do have a port inserted, ask about getting the "low-profile" one.
--- Jo
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Hey, Jo: Where are you having your treatment in Boston? I had my surgery at the Faulkner Breast Center with Dr. Nahkalis (she was amazing!) and then my original oncologist was Dr. Morganstern from Dana Farber. I did not end up having treatment in Boston because I live in Maine and I wanted to be home in my own bed throughout chemo. Anyway - I was just curious where you are going to be treated.
Will keep our fingers crossed for clear margins on your resection! Keep us posted!
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I have finished 2 of 6 TCH treatments with weekly Herceptin- I have a PICC Line and really am glad for it. I didnt have one at first - but when I ended up in the hospital after TCH #1 (low ANC), they went ahead and put in the line. My onc prefers the PICC lines to the ports so thats what I ended up getting.
Kristy
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