Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
Comments
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Thanks so much for the kind words. This is a great, great bunch of people!!!!!
Chris14 So sorry you have had to join our group. Yes, a headache can be one of the SE's of TCH. It could also just be plain out stress related. Do not hesitiate to ask the doc for stronger pain meds if you need them. Newbies are usually timid about asking their docs for things, but not us oldtimers! We get to a point that ts is "our way or the highway" with our docs! Just listen to us and we will get you thru.
vango; Unfortunately, this pain is not from a previously broken site (tho Lord knows I have plenty of those!).
Since the PET Scan show no mets, but still was "inconclusive" they are sending me for a bone biopsy next week, This is getting rediculous. The pain in my back is still really bad and no one knows why. I have broken plenty of ribs in my time and they do not take this long to heal. I have even tried to behave and not ride my horse or lift heavy stuff. UGH!!!! I have a HUGE riding trip coming up at the end of April. I need to be healthy enough to pull my 34ft horse trailer for 14 hours straight to the mountains and then ride in those mountains for 8 hours a day. Not to mention, get my horse in shape in the meantime!
Thanks for letting me vent! Lisa
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I didn't lose my body hair, eyebrows and eye lashes until I was done with chemo. Then the amazon hair on my arms (can you tell how much I love them) all fell out. At that point I just laughed about it.
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Lisa I am so glad it was nothing to do with cancer we sure dont want to travel that road again. Sometimes I wonder if they just go over board with tests for a kickback money is paid for certain tests I guess I really dont want to know but you will have to take the test and I am sure it will show the same results
Maura
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Hi ladies, I just needed to see if any of you have been thru something similar to me. I had a severe sciatic nerve deal going on while I was pregnant. It started in July and I couldnt sit for an entire month. Was off work laying on my side then took me a month and 1/2 to get back to work fulltime. I couldnt drive or anything during that time. I had the baby in October and my leg/butt/back was better but have never been pain free. The last 2 weeks i have been having problems again but this time I couldnt stand for a long period of time, I was on the couch in pain. Then last week I slipped while walking with the baby and caught myself but totally messed myself up. I wasnt able to sit or stand all weekend. Cried in pain, went to the ER they did nothing. Finally my GP dr. sent me for an MRI. It showed my L4, L5 and S1 are herniated. Of course I cant do surgery since I am in chemo, then I have to do my dmx and then radiation. They are possibly going to do a spinal block or epidural to get me by. Has anyone else had something like this?
I am much better now. My right leg from about mid-calf down to my toes are numb. I can sit and stand and semi walk with a limp. Oh and then being bald I am just a piece of work right now...lol
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(((((((((((((Allison))))))))))) I feel for ya, gal! I have had a lot of back problems..pinced nerve several times, and then jan '01 I had tumor that was benign that was pressing on nerves in my back in two places. Never had pain like that before or after!! There is nothing as bad as back pain as far as I am concerned!! My thoughts and prayers are with you!
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Allison, I am sorry about your pain. I have been in pain since 1987 or so. I have fibromyalgia and arthritis but I take pain meds and get shots and I manage. I never minded the days I took steroids during chemo because I got some relief from a little pain until it would come back with a vengeance. I know several people that seem to have more pain after chemo and I wonder why. I would say just bug the doc about it and take pain meds. If you are in pain you will not get addicted.
Carolyn
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Gramma...No, my next visit with the onc is not until June. He didn't say anything about getting bloodwork from now until then. I had bloodwork every 3 weeks for the past year too. My WBC has been low ever since chemo started and I think it is even lower than it was before because I had surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago and I have not had any energy whatsoever and am dizzy. I went back to work this week and am extremely tired when I get home.0
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Hello Allison,
About two years before my cancer diagnosis I collapsed to the ground one day after having had weeks of back pain. I had an MRI and was shown to have herniated discs in several parts of the spine. I have had sciatica ever since. I ride horses and found that I had great difficulty getting on my horse because of lack of strength and numbness in my left leg. I limped for months. No treatment was successful (I had the spinal block and physical therapy), but it did improve slightly over time. Then came cancer and the Herceptin treatment and the numbness became terrible. I still have it really badly in my left foot. My heel, mid foot, and all the way through my upper thigh is numb. I also get really bad Charley horses in the night. However, I am not in pain. I was in much pain when I first collapsed, but none in recent times - just numbness. Everyone says that the numbness from the Herceptin will eventually pass.
Hello Lisa,
Good luck with the biopsy. I hope you are able to make your horse trip to the mountains and that the pain passes. I get to plod around the local stables trail these days, but that is enough for me right now. It would be nice to ride out into some beautiful scenery though. Which mountains will you visit?
Linda
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This is NOT fair!!!! My eyelashes are falling out again! WTH! My last TCH was Feb 7 2009 and my last H only was Oct 17 2009. Uggggh!
Lisa
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Lisa - Interesting. I have noticed a few more eyelashes coming out - getting into my eyes and bothering my contacts,or coming off on my fingers when I remove my contacts. Just shrugged it off but maybe it really is something. Weird. My last chemo was in July 09 and my last Herceptin will be in two weeks!!!!
OK LADIES - weirdest SE ever - or maybe not even an SE at all..... So on Wed night,after my shower, I was standing in front of the mirror and noticed that the vein on the side of my neck was sticking out slightly. It was sort of swollen, kind of..., raised, you know like you might see on an old man with pronounced veins? (Sorry but that's the only way I know to describe it.) It didn't hurt or feel like anything at all so I went to bed - thought that maybe if I ignored it, it would just go away. (Wishful thinking.)
So Thurs it seemed less noticeable and I forgot about it during the day. But then at the gym, while doing curls in front of the mirror, I could really see it. Showed DH - he said 'Yeah, that is definitely something.' Then I felt like I couldn't ignore it anymore. So by Fri am. it was definitely bulging out there and I thought I'd better do something. Didn't know if it could be from a blood clot which can happen with Tamox. So I went to a few client appts and then stopped by the onc's office. (First things first, right?) I asked if I could see the head nurse for a minute. I asked her "Do I need to see a doctor about this or is it nothing?" She said she wanted someone else to take a look at it. (Uh oh) The nurse practitioner came to look at it and said it is PROBABLY nothing but they want to do an ultrasound of it - today! So I am all aggravated, wishing I didn't even go in, but also realizing that this is our lives now - when there is something weird, we can't just ignore it. Plus I knew that if it got worse over the weeeknd and I called, they would send me to the E/R which I always want to avoid at all costs. So I guess it's good that I went. (sigh)
So I got an appt at the ultrasound place for a few hours into the afternoon. Went and did errands and killed some time. Wasn't too nervous or worried about it at all, just felt inconvenienced. But when I got up onto the table for the u/s, THEN I got nervous. The tech was a really nice young Asian guy, really friendly - he let me look at the screen and showed me how the whole thing works, what he could see, etc. Said there were no blood clots and everything looked totally normal. He said it must just be a bulging vein. I asked if he'd ever seen one before - he said "Never like THAT." (Great, right?)
So it's nothing - I guess. Today it is less pronounced, but Kevin thinks when I exert myself (walk, run, workout), it extends more.
Has ANYONE ever heard of anything like this?
(Also, it is on the same side as the port, but far enough above that area that the nurse practitioner and the ultrasound guy said it was totally unrelated to the port.)It just brought me down to step back into the medical world again and be reminded of who I am now and how things have changed for me. I was sad yesterday but today am feeling better about it.
I wonder what it is though.
Amy
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Amy - I agree, that is something that you had to get checked out - but it is weird. Glad it was nothing.
Linda - We are going to the Smoky Mountains. We have a 3 br cabin w/pasture rented right on the edge of the Cherokee National Forest - we ride striaght out from the cabin, no need to trailer. We are going to trailer out one day and ride out of Cades Cove in the Smokies.5 days, 8 women, we will have FUN!
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vangoghpro...Sorry to hear about your numbness. I have had neuropothy in both fingers and feet ever since starting TCH a year ago. I just had my last Herceptin so I hope it will go away.
Charley Horses and leg cramps at night.... I used to have excruciating leg cramps at night even well before chemo. It would wake me up and be so bad that I could hardly get my feet on the floor to 'walk it off'. Then an old country doctor suggested I put a bar of soap between the sheets. Any soap (I use Dial). I know it sounds crazy, but amazingly it worked for me. I have no idea what the magic is in a simple bar of soap, but I have been cramp free for over three years. This is apparently an old remedy and you can google it and you'll find others that swear by it.
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Amy-I read your post and I can totally see how bummed you must have been. Feeling like you are "out of the medical woods" and then having to be back into it. Life is going to be different for us. Yet another "new normal". Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I sent an extra prayer out there for you to be feeling emotionally better. So glad to hear that it was nothing!!
Lisa-so sorry to hear about the eyelashes. Hope they grow back in for you soon. I am sure it must be incredibly frustrating.
Allison-hope your sciatica pain is better. I too was plagued with that during my pgs. It is horrible. Hope you are getting some relief.
As for me, I have been pretty fortunate in the hair department. I am due for my 3rd round tomorrow and I still have it. But, it is thinning tons. I am thinking of shaving it. Can't decide if I want to shave it today or wait. Boy, the temporary loss of my hair has been more of an issue for me than the permanent loss of my breasts. That is messed up type of thinking!!
Wishing everyone a great day and that they are feeling well.
Verene
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Wow Amy,.. that is wierd. I would for sure think blood clot. When I got a small blood clot when I had a PICC line, that was one of the symptoms, that I could see my veins more pronounced and a little soreness on my arm. They threw me right into the hospital! That was almost a year ago and I have had a port since then, but now that I am on Tamoxifen I am worried about blood clots too, especially since I am prone to them. I'm glad yours was not, but its good that you pay attention to those things.
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Amy - You are so right about accepting that this is now a part of our lives. I have been to the ER twice in the last month because of my blood pressure spiking over 200.
The first time it happened I had to have a stress test and see a cardiologist. Turns out I have a very healthy heart.
Last Sunday my blood pressure was once again over 200, but this time I also had an ear infection and an unsteady gait. The ER doc saw something she didn't like with my neurological examine. She called my new oncologist and they both agreed that I need an MRI of the brain ASAP. The ER doc said things like: "Due to your history, you need an MRI of the brain as soon as possible. . .I hope it's nothing, but if it is, we'll be catching it early. . ."
In the meantime, my blood pressure has returned to normal, my ear infection is cleared up, my balance is back to normal, I feel wonderful, and I am waiting for the results of Thursday's MRI.
Thankfully, my biopsy scare taught me not to worry ahead of time.
Cheers!
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Cloud, Praying for benign results. Glad to hear the weirdness passed, though, so probably nothing neurological.
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((((((((Cloud))))))))) Plenty of prayers here for benign results! Glad you are feeling better. Let us know when you get the results.....
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Cloud, hoping for good news and sending good thoughts your way!
Becky
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Thank you Ladies for your well wishes. I am happy to report, as I felt certain it would be, my test results are all within normal limits.
Honestly Ladies, I have now accepted the fact that my "history" will probably result in my taking many precautionary tests that would have otherwise been a wait and see situation. I remain vigilant with monitoring my health, but I have vowed to live everyday with joy in my heart and I will not entertain thoughts of ill health until I have proof.
Allison, Lisa, and Christy - I am sending you thoughts of healing and comfort.
Swampy - I wonder if a bar of soap will help my 96 year old grandmother. Her cramps are so bad that she cries from both pain and fear. Maybe she will remember this as an old remedy!
Prayers all around for health, love, joy, and laughter to the most wonderful group of ladies of I have ever had the pleasure knowing.
Cheers!
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I've been off the boards for a few days and have missed a lot! Good news, Cloudy! Amy, that sounds scary, but I'm glad it's all right. My port tube sticks out of my neck somewhat and sometimes alarms me when I forget about it, so I can empathize a bit.
I just wanted to pipe in on the soap in the sheets thing-- my mother was having awful leg cramps, and she tried it a few months ago and said it's amazing-- totally works.
And what's up with TCH and hair?! I'm on day 8 after tx #3, and my hair is growing back. And yet falling out in bits, too. But there's noticeable growth, and I'm darn tired of everyone commenting on it, as if I was insane to buzz my head. I guess the hair comes and goes, huh? Still have body hair and brows and peach fuzz and everything.
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Congratulations Cloud on good test results.... you have a good attitude about it.
I went to my regular doctor for a PAP today. What fun that is! My left expander seems to have shifted a bit and is causing soreness. While the right one remains flat, awaiting replacement surgery on April 26. Boy do I look funny, semi flat chested.
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Congratulations Cloud on the good report. We all need to remember your attitude, because sadly with our "history" no stone shall be left unturned. I guess that is a good thing.
I have an appointment with my onc this afternoon. I was not comfortable with him not being involved in all these test that the GP and Surgeon have been putting me thru. So I will get his opinion of the up coming bone boipsy.
Have a great day everyone!
Lisa
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Cloud-so happy to hear about your great news.
I was supposed to have my 3rd treatment yesterday and they ran out of Avastin-the drug that i am taking for the study. It is one thing to not be able to have a treatment due to my blood count and another thing someone screwed up and didn't send it. ARRG. I guess I just want this chemo over and done with. Anyway, i get my treatment tomorrow-as long as the drug arrives today!
Hope everyone is doing well and having a great day!
Verene
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Well, the onc said to go ahead with the bone biposy (surprise there); He said what the scans are picking up could be any number things.. So I will be a good firl and get the bone biopsy
Lisa
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writer, I am experiencingt he same thing with the hair. seems like the sides are still thinning and the top is still growing. so strange and i almost am annoyed witht he hair growth on the top of my head b/c i feel it through my scarves but don't want to shave it any shorter. still have brows and lashes and praying to keep them. body hair growth is very, very slow and sporadic but still coming in a little.
Cloud, congrats on your wonderful news!
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youngmomof3:
I think we are both thru 4 of TCH, I didn't notice eyebrows start to thin until just last week. My wig covers them for the most part, made sure to get one with long bangs. Outside of work, I just wear a cap and could care less what people think. I have gotten a few double takes, and I just stare right back at them, and that usually does the trick!
Eyelashes still normal at this point. Since I were contacts, gas permable at that, when eyelashes go, I will know for sure as anytime I get something in my eye it hurts like crazy.
I also have the foof up top, more so on the crown, not so much by the forehead - hairline. I got my ruler out yesterday, and it is about 1 inch now. I yanked on it, so signs of movement. Will see what happens after # 5 next week. 28 days and I am done with Chemo!
Saw on another thread about taking biotin when done with Chemo for hair re-growth. I plan on doing that too. I was told 6 weeks recovery before I go in for surgery, and Heceptin will stick with the every 3 wk schedule.
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I just wanted to say about taking biotin or anything that is not a normal vit. you need to ask your onc. Mine has not wanted me to take anything not even a one a day vit. It can give you a false reading. biotin is in regular vit. but I am not sure what happens if you get too much. Like Vit A you can be poisoned by too much. Some vit are fat soluble and others are water soluble like vit. C. Some docs say you need to take vit others say no so just get the go ahead if you do.
Carolyn
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I was not permitted to take anything supplemental or "vitaminy" while on chemo.
But once I was done with chemo, I was permitted to take a regular multi-vitamin, required to take Calcium/Vitamin D (because of the Zometa), and told I could take Biotin to encourage my hair and nail re-growth.
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I have my last Herceptin treatment tomorrow!
What a year!
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Alaina~ WHOOOOO!!!! I hope everything is getting better and settling down.
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