Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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Welcome Youngmomof3 - Tammy
My process started Dec 8th, with first biopsy on Dec 14th - found out the results from my Primary on Dec 16, who did not deliver it to me very well. She didn't tell me stage, characteristics, anything. But said it looks like the cyst from April 2008 was not a cyst after all. All of which I found out later was not true.
I went home in a state of shock, the next day hubby and I did a fact finding mission, and got an appt with another Dr - one who specialized in Breast Cancer, and after meeting with her, and getting all my test records back - My new Dr informed me that this cancer was more recent - like within the last 4 to 6 months. And I started to feel it because it was growing so fast. I am not big in that area to begin with - so it was very evident. Now that I have a course of treatment and all my tests back - feel like there is a plan in place to get this nasty Cancer!
When you get the Taxotere injected - have them give you ziploc baggies full of ice chips - one for each hand, and one or two for your toes. I had a thin towel over my feet - then the ice packs on top right by my toes - then another towel wrapped around to keep them on. For the hands - I was told to dig into the bag by my finger tips. Evidently this helps with the finger and toe pain. You are on ice for the entire time the Taxotere is being injected, for me about 1/2 hour. On another thread they talk about gel mitts and booties - but for me, 1 day out, it seems to have worked so far.
Make sure to use the EMLA cream over the Port 1 hour before they stick you - it does help. I didn't feel a thing.
Most important thing that I have read and am doing myself is keep yourself hydrated. Start 24 hours before and get the 8 glasses in before first round of Chemo, and continue to drink 8 a day. Also make sure you are getting the recommended amount of fiber as it seems most of the drugs we get to help with nausea, cause constipation!
And as a FYI - there is another Thread - for Jan 2010 Chemo starters. I am on that on as well. You might be able to get some good info from that one as well
Good luck and keep us posted!
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Stlcardsfan and youngmomof3- I just started TCHx6 every 3 weeks on 12/21. I was diagnosed on 12/8. I just did my 2nd treatment yesterday. The only thing I can recommend is taking Claritin..not Claritin-D for the bone pain you could experience from the neulesta shot. My first treatment I felt like I had a bad flu. I never got sick. My onc gives me emend in my IV prior to chemo then I take it with decadron for 2 days after as well.
If you get mouth sores, which I did last time. Get biotene toothpaste and mouth wash. It did help. I got a soft toothbrush also. The sores went away by week 2. I did brush my teeth 2-3x a day to help keep off any bacteria.
I have 2 lymph nodes involved. My auxiliary is larger than my breast tumor and then a lymph node by my collar bone. All my scans came back clean otherwise. After one treatment my onc said this week that the size has shrunk significantly which was the best news ever.
I found out on 12/8 my official diagnosis. My son turned 7 weeks the next day. Talk about a horrible maternity leave! I went back to work last monday 1/4 and I am able to take leave as I need during my treatments. I will do chemo, surgery, rads then reconstruction!
Good luck to you ladies. Keep in touch.
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allisontom911
Thanks for the tip about the Claritn. I had seen that mentioned on a few other threads as well. I am going to call my Dr's office and see if I can take it.
How soon after your first treatment did symptoms start? I had my first one on 1/13 and am taking the next two days off from work, waiting for something to happen. Figured it would be easier to handle at home than at work. I am also due to give myself the neulasta shot in about an hour. Something I am so looking forward too....not!
How soon after treatment do mouth sores start? I have the biotene mouthwash and toothpaste and will start using tonight.
thanks for the tips and keep us posted!!
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I never asked the doctor if I could use Clartin...opps. Oh well. I just felt really tired and wired if that makes sense the day after treatment then the bone pain from the neulasta shot started like day 3 so basically tomorrow. But not everyone has SE's or bone pain. I got my shot this morning at the cancer center.
I do the ice on my feet and hands as well. My taxotere is for an hour! I get so cold. I just remember not being able to drink pop for like 2 weeks. That sucks because i am a diet coke freak...caffeine free of course! The mouth sores were around days 4-6 and lasted about a week or more.
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Weety, I had a lumpectomy. I don't know why radiation was suggested--2 oncologists recommended. Maybe it was because I was grade 3 or HER2? My tumor was 2.6 cm.
As far as receiving Herceptin while receiving radiation, I have still had my Herceptin. Don't know why you couldn't received the Herceptin at the same time
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Welcome Stlcardsfan and youngmomof3....You will find a lot of info on this thread and feel free to ask any questions. I took Claritin after my neulasta shot when I was doing chemo. I read about it on here and told my onc about it. Most onc do not know about it. I have even told other chemo patients about it during my Herceptin treatments.0
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stlcardsfan and youngmom, I'm right behind you, although I was originally diagnosed earlier, back in late October. Then we thought it was just DCIS, but after the lumpectomy it turned out to also include grade-3 IDC, Her2+. I'm jumping through all the hoops to get ready for chemo (5 appointments this week alone!) and have a port put in on the 25th. Expecting to start TCH on 2/8.... we're stalling so the cycles time properly so I can go on a planned trip in early April.
This forum and this particular thread has been massively helpful as I get ready to head down a new road on this journey. Thank you so much for all the counsel and good cheer.
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Allisontom911 - called my dr's nurse - she told me no to the Claritin. And to take the morphine that they had prescribed if needed for pain. I mentioned what I had been reading on this forum, and again was told no. I gave myself the shot around 4pm today. Wasn't too bad, they told me to inject it really slow - which I did. I also circled the spot with a pen to watch for changes. I know - call me paranoid - but I like to be prepared. I also got a sheet with info to help with mouth sores. In addition to the biotene stuff - it says to mix 1 cup warm water with 1/4 tsp baking soda, and 1/8 tsp salt. Take small sips and swish them around in mouth. Due every 3 hours during the day. I am starting that tonight!
Writer - welcome! I ended up having to cancel two of my trips that had been planned for about 6 months. Neither would work with the Chemo schedule I got. My Dr. only sees patients on Wednesday - hence Chemo only on Wednesday. But, I am not complaining as he is very, very thorough.
Anyone who just started TCH - one or two cycles in - when should I expect hair to start going?
I have read anywhere from 2 weeks in from first cycle to right after 2nd cycle. I got my wig, some skull caps so I am ready for it to go.
Thanks - and good luck to everyone on this journey!
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I lost hair just before the 2nd chemo (so about 18 days after the first one).
Re the mouth sores - I didn't think they were something everybody got - just some people. My dentist told me that the best way to prevent them was through IMMACULATE oral hygiene. So I dedicated myself to flossing EVERY DAY and using the Sonicare twice/daily. I only had one small mouth sore, I think it was after the 4th tx. I called and they wrote an Rx for 'magic mouthwash' - a mix of benadryl, maalox and lidocaine (I think). I made the mistake of swishing with it and my ENTIRE mouth went numb. Not good! After that, I just dabbed it on the exact spot with a q-tip which worked perfectly. It went away in about 3 days and I never had any after that. So don't worry too much about it. Wait and see what happens.
The way our bodies react is SO individualized. You really just don't know what your body will do. I had a horrific facial breakout after the first treatment. I looked like a teenaged boy with awful acne and it HURT. And when I posted about it, almost nobody had anything like that happen. It went away fairly quickly and never happened again.
So try to stay flexible and see what SEs come your way and deal with them as they come. The ones I was most scared of (nausea and chemobrain) never happened to me at all. And the ones that did happen were ones I never thought of.But WHATEVER comes your way, there is much support to help you here and you are not alone!
Amy
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Welcome stlcardsfan, writer, allisontom911, youngmomof3 and anyone else I have missed. This is an awesome thread. When I was first diagnosed and found out I'd be getting TCH I read through the entire thing. It's like a novel! I second what Amy said about everyone's SEs being different. I truly think one of the most difficult things about chemo is the anticipation before you ever start. I know I expected the worst and was terrified. My worst SE throughout was fatigue--extreme at times, but once I knew to expect it, I could deal with it. Thank goodness for the wonderful anti-nausea meds (Emend!) available to us.
My SEs were usually at their peak days 3-7. They got worse (more intense fatigue) with the last three TXs.
Hang in there. You'll get through it!
Becky
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I was told I did'nt need rads either because I had a bilateral mastectomy , and I had one positive node and a tumor size of 1.8cm.. Geez , I hope they know what they are doing at my onc's office!!! Well I am off to surgery tomorrow to get expanders!! wish me luck...
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Cakelady, Good Luck! I hope all goes very smooth. Let us know.
all the Newbies,As Amy said we all so different and so are our oncologists. They all seem to have a different approach. anyway you do it and how you feel you will make it through this. One day at a time and you will be finished before you know it. It was a very long year for me because I had other problems but don't try to look too far down the road. As for the claritin I would go with what the doc says but then I would rather take the Claritin than Morphine. Morphine will constipate you so bad. I know I have been there. Just take meds to keep the bowels loose. You do not want to be constipated and nauseated at the same time. #4 was where I got in trouble that way and I thought I would die. Miralax is great for most. Water,Water,Water for everyone. We are all here for you and will be glad to help as much as we can. Besides the mouth sores I got bottom sores and they would bleed and oh my gosh they hurt. I got anti fungal and anti viral meds and a mouthwash for chemo patients which helped so after a week or so I was getting better. My brother got mouth sores too but he had rad in the mouth so he had a bad time of it.
Carolyn
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Thanks everyone for the input. I agree that the anticipation as to what SE's chemo will bring is just awful. I have a hard time thinking about all of the things that may happen so sometimes I think I should stop reading and then another oart of me feels that if I have more info then I will be better prepared. Is anyone really prepared for chemo and the SE's? I had mentioned the Clariton to my onc yesterday and he didn't seem to have an opinion about if I should take it but said I could take Motrin or Tylenol for the pains from Neulasta. I will get the biotene though b/c mouth sores make me extra cranky and who needs that, certainly not my poor husband who has been dealing with my mood swings already these past few days and that is just because I am still in bed from the port and sentinal node biopsy.
I think this is a great thread and it is very helpful finding people who are going through or who have gone through treatment with TCH. Thx for the support and info ladies and hope you all have a good week.
Tammy
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For what it's worth---I finished the Taxotere and Carboplatin about 9 weeks ago, and I am now about one half finished with the 52 Herceptin infusions. What I didn't expect when starting the TCH regimen was the problem with edema in my legs and feet. My onc said it was due to the Taxotere. The edema coupled with some numbness in my toes made walking very difficult by the end of the day until I started 20 mg of Lasix, low salt diet and daily walks (up to about 3 miles now.) The walks seem to have helped the most for me and were highly recommended by my radiation oncologist. The swelling has lessened for me, and when my fatigue lessened enough (very low red blood cell counts caused by the TC), I believe it has done me the most good of anything I've tried.
bird
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OMG I got my first haircut yesterday!!! It is so freakin SWEET !! Since thinking Hmm Will I ever have hair again!! I love it It is Sexy !!!!!! My son who bty just got picked as a Winterfest King candidate !!! He is my baby he is a SR !!Proud Mom Yes I am!!! promised to help me post a pic for you all to see. I will get that done! Have a Great Weekend Beautiful Friends!!! 0 -
Mouth sores I got them and had some in my throat it got raw so I used the miracle wash which made me feel like I had a permanent nova cane excuse my spelling... but what helped me is the spray you buy when you have a sore throat Cloraspeten it helped allot especially when I sprayed it and before bed I remember sleeping so great that night I sprayed my throat.
Maura
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Oh gee, Maura, I remember using that Chloraseptin (sp?) spray when I was little!!! I hated that numb feeling, but I can see why it would really help with the chemo sores. Glad I didn't have to deal with them. I had 2 small ones after about treatment 4, but they went away fairly quickly and easily. I did use the biotene mouthwash. Maybe that helped.
Cakelady, I hope I didn't start scaring everyone with my radiation surprise! I think I was already in the gray zone because of my clear, but small margins (Only 1mm and 3mm) and that coupled with the fact that my DCIS did not clear the margins, pushed me over the top. I don't know much about DCIS because I've been just worrying about my invasive tumor, but I guess there are some cases in which DCIS can be treated almost as aggressively as a small tumor. I've started doing a little bit of reading on the DCIS threads, and there is quite a range of treatments. I should be happy I'm getting the radiation--one more weapon in this fight--but gee, I was ready to be done. . .
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Strcardsfan: I must say in reading your post that your nurse is a trip!!! Why in the world would she recommend MORPHINE!!!! over claritin. One is an opiate for jimmy sake. I have my degree in medicin. I'm a PA. I do not practice anymore but it is a higher degree than a nurse. There is noooooo reason that you could not take claritin unless you have high blood pressure or a heart condition that antihistamines would be bad. Or an allergy. I would be most curious why she would say that. If you had allergies would she tell you not to take it. Ask her why just for kicks and giggles. Sorry its was just such a strange response. I hope you have nooooo bone pain and you do just great.
Congrats Paula!!!!!!!!! You should be proud.
I am sorry there are so many newbies. It breaks my heart. I hope that you all kick some cancer a*#. Just a quick reminder that you will not get all the side effects. I never got mouth sores. I did get the perscription just in case but never used it. I just made sure I sucked on ice during treatment. I took glucosimine for neurological support. I ate live flax seed in my oatmeal in the morning. I took stool softer prior to chemo and immodium when things got to loose. I also did fish oil. CO Q 10. This really helped support my heart. I went to a internist that works with onc to help keep the body in balance as much as possible. What is weird to think of is that the amount of cells you are loosing in any given day is huge. That is why you have to flush flush flush. That and the basic toxins. Herceptin is a globulin. It surrounds the cells with a like fuzzy coating. The white blood cells react as though it is dead or foreign and eliminate them. It is similar to Gamma Globulin which is given to prevent Hepatitis. Cool Huh?
One other cool thing is that all the new girls are early stage. That good!! We can do this right? Fight on!!! (I went to USC can you tell?)
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Cakelady...I hope everything went great with your surgery today!! Keep us posted!0
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Bold, I am with you about morphine over Claritin.After all most get benadryl with treatments anyway and I took it every night because of allergies so why not Claritin. I also don't understand why the Claritin would help and the Benadryl does not. I wonder sometimes if the nurses know enough to be giving instructions. I know whenever I ask a question or make a statement my nurses will say did you ask your doc or the PA about that? Or they will say why don't you remember to ask about that on your next appointment. Now I know they can help with a lot of things and have. what would I have ever done with out them. They always try to have a happy face and a loving spirit. I like when they talk about normal things in their lives and that takes the mind off chemo. It breaks my heart to hear so many new ones but I do hear of other kinds of cancers when I am out in public or work and I dread it all for them but I did make it and there were times I wondered. Just a little pause in the normal life and then everyone will get through and be survivors. I am also glad most have caught it early and we have to keep telling people to keep an eye out for cancer symptoms. We must be the ones who shout out the warnings having been through this. mammograms and self breast exam and anything else that raises a red flag in your life. My friend had been working to get in shape and he started losing weight but really fast. he started getting sick after food and then he got a boil on his arm. I sent him to the doc and he had leukemia. these are things I mean about watching for each other's health. It may not be anything but check it out when something is not right. I get on my soap box about this because I have had this touch my life too many times now. We want survivors!
Carolyn
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Thanks Christy and Gramma. My surgery went well. I was at an ambulatory surgery center, not my regular hospital. I checked in at 11 am and got home about 6 pm. I have always had such an easy time going under anesthesia, so quick and easy., but this time it was scary for me. I don't know if they used something different or didnt do it fast enough or what. But I felt really wierd and panicky and short of breath and kept telling them something was wrong, but they said you're fine,just relax. but I thought I was dying. Anyway I guess I was okay., but none of my other surgeries went like that.... I was in a lot of pain afterward, and I didn't sleep a wink last night at all, but not from the pain, I just couldn't go to sleep. I hope I can sleep tonight. I have 2 drains and a ball of numbing medication that pumps in automatically, its in a little fanny pack. Woo hoo. My next Herceptin treatment has been put off until my drains come out, so that puts me ending in April.
Weety, no you didnt scare me. but I had DCIS too .. but I always wonder why some ladies get radiation even with no positive nodes.
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Cakelady, what did your onc say about postponing the herceptin treatments? Did he/she seem to think it was no big deal? I ask because a page or two back I was asking if herceptin is usually postponed during rads like my onc recommended. The consensus among bc.org gals is NO. So I asked her about it again and she said that postponing herceptin is really nothing that unsual and usually it is postponed during reconstruction as well. So now that I see your post I'm thinking that maybe I'm okay postponing (she agreed to let me have the one I'm scheduled for the week before rads, but then postpone the one I should be getting the 4th week of rads, so I guess I will actually miss one treatment) I'm just curious what another onc said about it.
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Hello ladies:
I just want to touch on radiation therapy again, I know it was discussed earlier and thats what got me thinking. I am on tch and going into my 4th tx. Rads wasnt part of my original course of tx so i didnt think too musch about it. I read and ws told by my surgeon that doing BM and having clear margins, among other factors, rads woulnt be considered. My tumor was 1.8mm and the r/breast was covered with DCIS which was noted after path was done. I opted for BM. Anyway, my surgeon was surprised that I had 2 pos nodes and so I was told chemo was a must but rads no.
I started reading alot of women here are getting rads with no nodes and so it got me thinking and I asked my Onc about it, here is what he said:
The rule of thumb was, lumpectomy and 4 or more nodes required rads...He did tell me however that there has been studies showing that women with 1 or more pos nodes may benefit with some sort of rad therapy especially in younger women, I am 37. He told me that I should go and speak to a radiation onc and outweight the benefits. he did tell me its nothing urgent but it doesnt hurt to get all the info...and I should schedule an appt.
So here i am, I guess I probably will schedule the appt, in the future , its not something I want to concern myself with right now, I need to get through the chemo first.
Its something else for us to think about, GREAT!!!
Take care ladies
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Hi all,
Two days after my neulasta shot - and no bone pain? So far, didn't take the morphine, and really don't plan on it. Fatigue hit today out of no where, 3 days after first treatment. Seems early based on what others new to this journey have posted - but, as I keep reading - everyone's body reacts differently. After about 1 hours rest, felt somewhat better. Have also been doing some very short walks - as heard that helps too. My scalp is also starting to feel kind of sore, but not noticing anymore falling out then what normally does.
Found on this past Thursday that the two sentinel lymph nodes that they pulled out and the same time my port was installed came back negative. Yea!
Thanks everyone for all the informative feedback!
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Bold- I actually do have a heart condition - bicuspid aortic value - so in addition to all the Cancer Doctors - also have to see a Cardiologist every 3 months while on Herceptin so that my heart can be closely monitored. They have already done EKG, echocardiogram and MUGA scan to get the baseline ejection fraction. Fun, fun.
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Weety- my onc said it was okay to postpone Herceptin for a week or so, the main reason is because he wants the drains from my surgery to come out before I get the Herceptin. I will be cutting it close, but I don't want to stall the Herceptin too long. I will also be starting Tamoxifen at my next appt. I am late getting started on that too. I hope its okay.
Nanadada- I was told no rads too, I had bilateral mast with one positive node.. I had IDC and DCIS in the right side and the left was clear, at least in the samples they tested.
My plastic surgeon said he wouldn't do implants on radiated tissue, so it was good that I didn't have rads. It has been 11 months since my mastectomy and I got my expanders yesterday. Am so tired as I have not slept in 2 days.
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Wendy....I am sorry that this experience was scary for you. Will you get your first fill next week? I am surprised that your onc doesn't want you to do Herceptin with the drain. Did he give yo a reason why? I still had my drain during my last treatment and the doc and nurses didn't seem to think it mattered.0
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My 1 year anniversary of finding my lump is tomorrow. It is hard to believe it has been a year. I go in tomorrow for my 15th Herceptin treatment. Only 2 left after this one. I never liked the month of March before, but I am looking forward to it this because I will be done with Herceptin and have my second stage of breast reconstruction surgery. Then I will hopefully be done with everything!
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Wow, I don't know why the font is so big on that last post...sorry!! I guess I got my point across!lol
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ccbaby, No yelling please! I am just kidding! It seems this site will do some strange things at times. I have typed a lot of stuff to only loose it. Oh well it probably wasn't worth reading anyway.
I had Herceptin while doing rads. I had 3 nodes positive and a lumpectomy. this is the reason they said I should had rads. I almost wished I had double mast. because I am so sore in my surgery breast and armpit. I may feel different later, I hope.
Carolyn
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