Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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To my American Sisters - Happy 4th of July!
And Happy Belated Canada Day to my Canadian Sisters!
Tomorrow will be my last round of TCH! Woot woot! Please send prayers for me. Well I saw the Rad Onc on Fri and my regular Onc.That was interesting.
I saw the Rad Onc first, and we had a long discussion. He managed to sway my mind concerning having a BLM, which I've been pushing for all along, simply because of the high risk category, cancers mutate, no vascular invasion, only 2+ nodes, and the fact this is still early stage and my goal is to be as agressive as possible so it doesn't recur. Not to mention my anxiety levels with the lumpectomy since this began. Anyway, he did recomend rads to the nodes and supraclavicular nodes regardless, and I agree whole heartedly with that. So, based on his info in which he stated the recurrence rate is the same for both, (I wasn't interested in the mortality rate-I can't control that), said I'd do rads. like a fool.
Saw my med. onc. right after. 1st thing she said was, 'what about the other breast'. I was dumbfounded as I totally forgot about it. Geez. Then she said Tamoxifen would reduce that risk by 50%. She really didn't give a recomendation one way or another with this decision, but only said it was the standard of care and it's not a bad choice. Why mutilate yourself if you don't have to right?
Well, on the way home I was ok with the decision. Felt ok with keeping the girls - who wouldn't? Then, the anxiety started again...ladies....I just cannot do rads to the breast. It doesn't feel right to me at all and I'm such a worry wart I'll drive myself wacko!
I had trouble sleeping Friday and Saturday night...then I decided today to go ahead with the BLM. Funny how the anxiety is decreasing. I'm doing up a letter for both onc's and plan on giving it to them tomorrow while I'm having chemo.
Please wish me luck ladies - and comments/suggestions are welcome! (I may not be back on until Tuesday though).
Thanks
Cheryl
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Sounds like your gut is telling you what you need to do, and it is your body and it's up to you, so you're doing the right thing. I've seen plenty of women having mx with less serious diagnoses as yours, even for straight-ahead DCIS. You've gotta do what's right for you.
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Hi ladies,
I don't post on here often but do try to read and keep up with the posts. I have a quick question...I am having a bi-lat mx with recon. next week and am considering having my port removed. I won't be done herceptin until Jan but am thinking that i am very sick of the port and kind of just want to get it out of me and get the rest of my Herceptin in my arm. Has anyone else doen this or did you all wait till you completed Herceptin?
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youngmomof3 - I personally am keeping my port until I am done with Herceptin but I may be one of the lucy ones that my port does not really bother me. The only time it is painful is if the baby really hits or kicks it. I have horrible veins and i have only one good arm since my mx and lymph node removal. I can never have blood pressure or needle sticks to that arm the rest of my life.
Are you have any lymph nodes removed?
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Hi Tammy,
My port doesn't bother me at all as far as pain or discomfort, but I certainly don't like the looks of it and I can't wait to get rid of it...having said that, I asked me oncologist if I needed to keep it until the end of my herceptin treatments and she said unequivocally "yes." What does your onc say? It would be great to get it out, but such a bummer if you blew your veins and had to have another surgery. I'm not sure if herceptin is tough on veins? Also just food for thought...I remember reading something at the beginning of treatment about our infusions being most effective when delivered to a major vein, rather than a smaller one such as in the hand or arm.
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Melanie, my onc said it was fine to have it removed and my onc nurses also thought not a big deal but now I am wondering. I forgot that initially i had also heard Herceptin was harder on the veins and went better through the port, maybe I should reconsider. Still have a few more days till surgery and surgeon said I could tell her that day if I wanted it removed. Thx
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Youngmomof3, I would ask the onc first. I still have my port and I am not sure why but my onc told me I would need to keep it for a while. I have had to use it since being finished for dehydration and since I am low on red blood it is so helpful for transfusions. I would like to have mine gone too but I do think they think I may have a need for it.
Carolyn
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I didn't have a port--I had the PICC line, so it's a little different situation, but I had my PICC removed after the chemo and have been using the veins (on the one side only) with very few problems. The nurses told me herceptin is not hard on the veins, but that may just mean in comparison to the chemo. There have been a a few times that they have had to do the IV stick several times, though, because it is much harder to find a good vein to go through. That has not been fun, but heck, none of this journey has been much fun. I think if I had a port, I would have left it till done with herceptin. It was so much easier getting the chemo delivered without an IV. Plus, I hate how my forearm bruises up and looks really bad (it looks like spousal abuse!) for a good week after the chemo. It makes me want to wear long sleeves, which isn't really an option in southern CA. Not having one is a little bit of a inconvenience, but only once every 3 weeks. If the port seems to be a daily struggle, maybe it is better for you to get it out.
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I had my port until Herceptin was over. I didn't like it, but the convenience was worth it to me. I do have a local friend who did Herceptin at the same time as me, and she had her 4 chemos plus the year of herceptin without a port at all. She had 'good veins' and said they had 2 veins in the back of her hand to use and they would take turns between the two every other infusion. She said it was no problem. But I know that wouldn't have been the case for me. However, my port did act a little weird at one point toward the end, and I told them that if it had to come out, I would finish using my veins, rather than get another port put in, and they said ok.
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Hi Ladies, I get my port removed today! Yay, but scared at the same time! I can't believe that they remove it in the doctors office and yet to put it in was day surgery at the hospital. Sure hope it doesn't hurt!
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Blessedby4, Congratulations!! What a great milestone in this journey. Stop by the 'ole "TCH" board and let us know how you're doing once in a while!!
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Blessedby4, I am happy for you. Please do stop in let us know how you are doing and also encourage the newer ones. It was so important for me to have those that went through this, I know you can help others.
Carolyn
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IsThisForReal BMX is a hugh decision, for sure. This was my 2nd cancer (new primary, not reoccurance) in the same breast, so for me it was no brainer....wasn't gonna let 3rd time be the charm! Knowing what I know now, I would have gotten it the 1st time and not had rads. The rads damange I had to the skin has made the reconstruction I had much harder, but not everyone has the problem with rads that I had. That said, every decision that has to be made concerning dealing with this monster is a very individual thing and each of us has to weigh what is most important to us, based on so many personal issues. My prayers are there for you to make the decision that works best for "you"0
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Hey ladies, one of our TCH sisters, nine_rugrats, has posted a thread called "Bad News." Her chemo isn't working and she's scared. She's going into the hospital tomorrow and I just thought we could all try to send her as much love as possible.
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She lives in my area so maybe I will give her a call and if she would like I will go to see her. I have had a virus so I would not want to give that to her. I feel better today though. finally no fever!
Carolyn
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Has anyone had a period that would not stop and the Dr. prescribed Provera? What do you know about it?
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Carolyn,
Tonya posted an update on her "Bad News" thread...she's finally feeling better now that she's in the hospital and getting some treatments. That's nice of you to offer to visit. Maybe you can PM her to see if she's up for it.
I'm glad you're feeling better, too!!
Here's to good news for everybody!!
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Feel better soon Nine - we're thinking of you.
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I'm noticing spots on/under some of my fingernails. Does this mean I'm going to lose them? Did any of you get spots and not lose your nails?0
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Hello My sisters!!!
I have had my follow-up cat scan. I had finished tch radiation herceptin and hair extensions. in December. I am N.E.D. "Stable". Since my finding of THE LUMP in November 2008 I have lived breathed and feared cancer. I had a persistent lower back pain and a sore hip that I really worried about. Now i know that the pain is a by product of therapy.
My energy is coming back profoundly now. I think about it less and less. Im rocking my short hair and loving life to the max. Got a King Charles puppy named Harlow that my DH and I adore. She has just graduated from Hollywood Dog Obedience School. (puppy class)
I choose not to have a port and did not regret that. No problems to speak of related to that. I am still sore from the lumpectomy and radiation. My BS said it may always be tender.
Small price huh?So I just dropped by to let you know that you can do this. I mean the stats are now 1 in 8. Geeze huh? Take care of yourself. Ask for help when you need it. Forget your diet eat hardy when you can. Be kind to your liver and kidneys as they have a huge burden with the toxic treatments. Water is crucial to word off side effects and expedite healing. Double flush for the first couple days as the toxin linger in the bowl. (for the family members) Stay away from sick people. And finaly remember that you are a healthy vibrant woman who happens to be fighting and winning the battle of breast cancer.
I am on face book if anyone wants to be friends.
My prayers are with you.
In peace and beauty
Rita Bold
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Thanks, Rita! That's very encouraging and helpful. And hey, we're neighbors-- I'm in Pasadena. Was your care at Huntington/UCLA? I've had such great people.
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Carolsue -- you might lose your nails. Although I had spots and my nails THROBBED for several days and I still have them. That was 2 treatments ago. And now I'm done. But I've noticed a couple of my nails have 'lifted' and are very loose, so I'm treating them very carefully. Hopefully you will also be lucky!
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Bold, it is good to hear from you! I am glad things are getting better in your life. Puppy sounds fun! I am still having a few problems but no cancer just low blood count still. I was on facebook but I had some weird stuff happening on it so I got out. Not sure what was going on though.
My fingernails never had a problem other than the neuropthy in fingers and feet and for the most part that has gone. If you use the nail polish remover it is harder on your nails. I never get my nails done and they actually grew during chemo. They are really growing fast now and my hair is getting longer but not thicker. I guess I can live with that. I can't live with cancer so it is a small price to pay to be rid of it.
Have a good day everyone.
Carolyn
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Just a quick thing about nails. I used permabond under my nail bed to keep them on till they grew out. Ha!!!! It worked. My cousin is a hand surgeon and he told me to do it. My toenails where affected as well but stay on without glue. Just recently seem to be getting normal. My nails are still thin and I keep them short. Good for guitar playing and keyboards. But bad for removing labels. he he.
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Thanks for the permabond tip! I may have to try that on my few 'lifted' nails. I have had one Herceptin only treatment and no side effects. I feel almost normal. As normal as you can feel with only one boob and no hair!
I have my next Herceptin only drip next week. No radiation, thank goodness, as I had clear margins and no lymph nodes.
Marching on!
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Congrats Frosty on no rads! that is great!
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HELLO LADIES
I don't post as much but read everyday. My question is did anyone do the neratinib trial. I started Tuesday and have no real issues. I am hopeful i am not on the placebo since I drive 3 hours and am required to stay the night each month. i also am tired of giving blood so I hate to do it for the pill with no juice LOl. If you did take it when di the action start. Blessings to you all
Kara
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Kara - there is a thread specifically for women on the neratinib trial. You should be able to get lots of good information there and support from other women on that trial. The link is here:
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/80/topic/740167?page=1
I was considering the trial and spent a lot of time reading through the thread but ultimately decided not to participate in it. I hope this is helpful. Good luck!
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Kara,I did do the trial but just could not do it. I took pills for 4 days and it hit me immediately. I was sick to my stomach and had some diarrhea but not as much as I did on TC. they took me off of it for a week because I was dehydrated from not eating or drinking and after a week off we did only 5 pills and the minute it hit my stomach I got so sick but I tried to drink a little water and eat some crackers. I took it with my lunch this time thinking it would help if I had more in my stomach but I don't eat much anyway so with in 3 hours everything in me was coming up. I was so sick and I am at work so thankfully there was enough people to work while I was throwing up. I called them the next day and told them I could not do this. Apparently I was the only one on the boards that had this bad reaction. My onc told me I had got the real stuff for sure and would not recommend for me to keep trying. KristyAnn has almost completed a year but is anxious to finish because she has not felt great and has to watch her diet. I applaud anyone who tries this even if you get the placebo. It might help someone else one day.
Carolyn
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Bold, great to hear from you! So glad you're NED!
Becky
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