Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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The edema was pitting for the last two days, but not today thank God. Legs are a bit better to move also. Seems I have lost some water weight!! Looks like about 4 lbs worth and still a ways to go. Can't wait till the water dissapears completely!
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Alaina,Congrats on your jet ski adventure!! I tried to view your pics, but the link wouldn't allow me, just FYI.
Carolyn, I wish you had the chance to travel and fulfill your dreams. You're an inspiration on these boards every day... thanks for that!
I just got back from a family vacation and it completely wiped me out- go figure. I'm going to bed! Tomorrow is herceptin only treatment #2 and my first radiation.
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Lady-Madonna, thanks for that. I am glad you got to go on the vacation before the radiation. seems like that made me more fatigued than anything. I got so burned though but most people said it was a walk in the park beside chemo but I did not feel that way. I hope yours is like a walk in the park! I had 37 treatments and I also worked during that time too. I also lost my brother then too so it might have been all of the above causing me to be so tired.
I went last Thursday for my blood test and my hemoglobin was up to 10.4 but that seems to be as high as it gets with the shot every 3 weeks. when they were giving it to me every 2 weeks it did get up to 11.4 but I can't afford to do that. I wonder if I didn't take it maybe it would stay in the 10s. I think I could make it at that number. I do feel tired but I can do what I need to do. As long as I don't have to take antibiotics I should be okay but the antibiotics took me down to 9.9 and my platelets got low too. My onc was mad at me for taking the antibiotics but the surgeon was the one who had me take them for the infection. does my onc want me to ask him before I do what another doc tells me? I am confused but I know the whole onc office was on edge about something. they were so busy but a few people were not there and I asked about them and it seems as though they went someplace else because of a disagreement with the boss. I did't ask anything else. Not my business! I am hoping not to be going there all the time much longer.
Alaina, I could not see your pics either . It took me to face book and I am not on that anymore. I had some things that happened on there that made me worry about privacy. Maybe you could post some on this site?
I wish everyone a good day.
Carolyn
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Hi Ladies,
I'm not sure why that happens from bco.org
It seems to force you to be a member of Facebook by signing in to see the pics, and the link is a public link for folks who are NOT on Facebook. Odd.
Anyway, if you'd like to see the pics, send me a Private Message here with your email, and I will email you the link from my gmail account. You will be able to click and see the pics from there.
Alaina
BTW ~ Today is my 500th day as a survivor! YAY!!!
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Thanks for the pis Alaina. I am glad you feel good and looking forward to things. I know you have a rough time ahead of you. With your good outlook I know you will do great.
I wish everyone else a good day. life will get better. You may not be the same as you were before cancer but you will be good. Your body is not the essence of you it is your spirit and soul so if you change on the outside you are still you inside. Unfortunately we can stay healthy and we still age so nothing will stay the same anyway.
Carolyn
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That is absolutely enouraging Gramma!!0
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IsThisForReal, I am glad it was encouraging. I was hoping it would be. sometimes once we finish the hard fight of chemo and radiation and we are survivors we get worried and wonder what if. I wonder why we did this or that. I have done this myself. Should have, could have, would have! As it turns out what happened is what happened and we will continue. I really hope the best for everyone.
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Gramma, I lost my beloved Grandma years ago but I know she would have told me the same thing...thank you for the wonderful, and oh-so-true words of encouragement!
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Hey all, I've been off the boards for a while.... good to catch up with you all, but I'm sorry to read about some of the serious challenges some of you are facing. You are a strong and brave bunch.
Regarding Taxotere and rashes, yes, my chest broke out in a rash, I think a week or more after #5, and my onc thought it was the Taxotere. It wasn't too bad and went away some time after #6. Now it's back and horribly itchy, thanks to radiation. Yesterday was my last day of "big blasts"-- now I have more local blasts until a week from tomorrow, so the rash should start to calm down, hopefully next week (my radiation onc said it might get worse over the next few days and then start to settle down).
I'm happy to be done with TC (5/25 was the final dose) and to be a week away from being done with radiation, and to have hair growing and pretty good energy. But man, the aches and pains! Does anyone else have them? My nurse practitioner said muscles can take 6 months to a year to truly recover from chemo. I wonder if Herceptin is part of it. (I'm also in the BETH trial and getting Avastin, but it doesn't seem implicated in joints/muscles.)
Basically I'm just hurting all the time. I'm being as active as I can without overdoing it. Walking or gym 4-5 days a week, pilates 1-2 days a week. The sciatica I'd beaten back with pilates and stretching a few years ago is back with a vengeance. My hips hurt, my neck is stiff, it hurts to pull something on over my head, the muscles at the top of the thigh hurt.... I feel ancient, but I'm a pretty energetic and athletic 52-year-old.
Is this something any of you have had? Do you think it's the Herceptin? Or just chemo residual? Or just being middle-aged? I've had these issues before, but they're much worse.
I'm not letting them stop me. Still exercising and working and having fun. Just going to the chiropractor more than I'd like, and taking Advil, and groaning a lot.
Still, these are minor complaints. I have no evidence of disease and am not staring down more surgery or more chemo like some of you are, so my issues are nothing. Hang in there, all.
Colleen
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Hi writer, I'm 4 down and 32 to go on the rads front. My eyes finally stopped tearing about two weeks ago. And YES, I have the muscle aches! I'm sorry you have them, but glad to know someone else has them too...it was a little worrisome. My nurse didn't think it was from Herceptin and it is slowly getting better so maybe it's just chemo residual. I plan to ask my onc when I see her in two weeks.
I'm with you, all things considered my issues were relatively minor. I'm thankful to have my hair coming back in and have chemo behind me! The chemo-brain fog is lifting and I can taste again!! It's the small things...
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I remember many months ago, after I sat still for a while, i would be very stiff when I got up. One time my daughter was visiting and we were sitting and talking for a while. When I got up, I could barely walk and she was very shocked. That has completely disappeared. Not sure exactly when, but it must've just faded away over time. I finished Herceptin in April. I don't know if that is what it was from or something else. Sorry to not be more specific and helpful. I had sort of forgotten about it until you wrote with your question.
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Alaina ~ I Love your style!!! I've had a terribly sad week, lost a dear friend (unexpectedly) at age 46, amongst some other events that have brought on such sadness....I wondered if I could go on!!! Then I read your post, and realized how LUCKY I am to have caught this disease early enough to be able to hopefully be 'cured', and to have a 'bucket list'.
Okay, I took a BIG chance and joined match.com!!!! Don't laugh, I thought what the heck!!! I was honest about the fact that I have breast cancer, and that I'm halfway through my chemo, and that it was just a bump in the road but that I will hopefully will be back 'in the game' before ski season!!! Somehow "middle-aged bald woman with cancer" is not a big draw on the dating scene, but I am hopeful to find a companion to share some fun with. Okay, that's #1 on my Bucket List.
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Janny ~ That's awesome! It takes incredible courage to get back into the dating scene when dealing with this beast! There was no way I was trying to date during chemo! Good for YOU!
I have promised myself that after my reconstruction, I will move actively towards being more social with the opposite sex.
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Janny - GOOD FOR YOU! I'm so sorry to hear of your loss, but I think that is AMAZING that you are putting yourself out there. And now you will know that whomever responds is responding to the beautiful spirit in you, not your boobs or your hair.
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I don't know janny -- I kind of like the "middle-aged bald woman" approach
It would certainly be interesting to see who approaches you with that line! Best of luck to you -- I have a very good friend who met his now wife on match and they are celebrating their 10th anniversary tomorrow. There is hope! 0 -
Hi all,
As far as the muscle aches...
I finished chemo in March and I am still on Herceptin. The other day I bent down at the grocery store to look at some jars and I had to have my daughter pull me up as I could barely move. The same thing happened in church. I do not feel like I am 44. I am recovering from hernia surgery and I will be able to exercise in September. I am wondering how you know how much to do? Do you just start out slow and as long as you can keep up you continue?
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Muscle aches and joint pain - I am dealing with that as well. Sore Neck too. I feel it is the Herceptin and possibly the lack of estrogen for me - had ooph with bmx in June. Even my finger joints hurt in the morning, and also have the neck discomfort. Exercise seems to help somewhat. I do about 30 to 45 minutes on a treadmill 6 days a week. The info that I got on Herpectin side effects does list joint pain and muscle soreness, so I do believe Herceptin is the main factor. Only 8 more for me to go! Glad I am not the only one with these se's.
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Thanks for weighing in, everyone. I really think some of this is Herceptin. After the second infusion post-chemo I paid more attention, and I noticed the soreness/stiffness got worse about 4 days after the infusion, and it seemed to get better about 4 days after that. I'm going to pay even more attention next time.
Yes, Amy, I've had the exact same thing happen many times when standing up after sitting a long time!! It's embarrassing! I'm Miss Active Jock, and sometimes I stand up and can only get partway up, and I hobble like I'm 100. Pain/tightness in the muscle at the top of the leg, from the hip to the groin. It's better now, but it comes and goes. Never had that in my life until the last couple of months. So obviously there's a connection. I don't think it's radiation, because this was happening before I started getting zapped.
But I can walk and exercise and have fun, despite my horribly itchy chest, and it's fun to see a wee bit more hair every day!
Janny, way to go with Match.com! It's been successful for a few people I know, with two marriages and subsequent (late in life) babies resulting!
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OK, went off of Match.com...lol...decided I didn't have the energy to start any kind of new communication/relationship right now after all. Maybe I will try again after my chemo is over with. I had a few decent responses, but OMG did I get some really weird e-mails!!! Guess mentioning the "C" word was not such a great idea, at least not right now!
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Janny - That makes sense I guess. Now, I'm curious about the weird emails. :-)
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Janny, I imagine everyone gets weird replies but they are in a better shape to brush them off. You will meet someone nice I am sure. Who knows where or when but they will be attracted to the beautiful you inside. Just keep being you.
My customers are always concerned if I am doing well and for the most part it is the men that ask how I am doing more than women. they knew me before so they know I am the same person. You would be surprised at the people you know that have had a problem with cancer but they have never said anything to me until I had cancer. Now they want to tell me how they did which is okay. They feel like they a friends with the people that work there.
hang in there everyone. You will do a lot better in time. I took 3 children to the zoo yesterday but thankfully my daughter went with me. we had a 2 yr old. she did most of the lifting of him thankfully. I feel better but I still get tired easy with my low blood count but I am thinking I need some exercise to get the bones going. do what you can but do not overdo.
Carolyn
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Is anyone else on TCH cold all the time? A few days after my first tx, I was really flush in my face, so I checked my temperature. The thermometer said 97.9. I thought it was a fluke, but I checked it again a couple days later and it was 98.3. Then at the onc, it was also 98.3 - not completely normal, but close enough I guess. And I feel cold ALL THE TIME. (Now, granted summer in San Francisco is always cold, with the fog, and this is a particularly cold summer.)
I haven't brought it up to the onc, but I was wondering if I'm alone in this. When I go to bed, I have extra blankets on me and I still shiver and have to huddle into a ball in order to get warm before I can sleep.
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lisasinglem - I am hot all the time. Was on chemo and it was during a freezing cold winter in Nebraska! I wish I was cold. I cant wait to see what others have to say! I am still hot all the time, I just think it is chemopause
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I was cold the majority of the time - except when I was having chemo hot flashes. I took my temp a lot during the first 10 days after each chemo cycle, very rarely was I 98.6. I was always below, like 97's. It has been unbearable hot in St. Louis this summer, I go to bed with sheet and blanket as I get chilled at night.
Hi Allison - good to see you post. Hope all is going well. Still on Herceptin right? Had # 11 today for me. only 7 more to go!
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Lisa -- I would be very cold during the Herceptin drip and then slowly warm up. But I had some infusions where a couple of days later I would just have the chills non-stop, like a flu symptom. Then I'd be fine. It wasn't all the time. I have heard that Herceptin does have the tendency to make you feel cold.
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Yes, I was cold a lot. Didn't mind it much, because I just bundled up more. That's better than the hot flashes, which chemo kept in check. Now that chemo's done I've having more hot flashes, although they're not too bad.
I'm more convinced than ever that Herceptin is causing some muscle/joint issues. Some is age, some is probably residual neuropathy from chemo (ended 5/25), but this permanently stiff neck (I can't turn around well driving, for instance) must be from Herceptin.
But only one more day of radiation! Bit by bit, moving through this sh**.
Colleen
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For those who are cold, it may be you are low on red blood cells. I am still cold a lot especially at night. My body hurts a lot but I had that before cancer. I do get hot easy though but it is hot here in Oklahoma. My normal temp is 97.2 and has been for a long time. I know when I am @ 98.6 I have a slight infection or inflammation. I feel for those that are having hot flashes. I never got hot flashes when I stopped my periods but I was 29. I am ER/PR neg. I would like to blame all my problems on chemo or Herceptin but maybe other problems like not being as active. I know I am having a problem getting my muscles stronger. I had a lumpectomy and 22 nodes removed 4 of them were cancer. Now my underarm is getting the feeling back and I never even thought that would happen. They told me it would probably stay numb. I am happy about that because I could have pain or an itch but could not feel it when rubbed but then I had that abscess and all of a sudden I realized I was feeling again. It has been 2 months and I am still have drainage from that spot but not a lot. The onc said it would heal eventually so I guess it will. I have a fat necrosis and it seems to be getting smaller and so I am wondering if the fat necrosis is falling apart and draining out. My onc was mad at me for taking antibiotics because it made my red blood count drop again. I am thinking the reason my blood count so low is partly because of my arthritis & fibromyalgia.
hang in there, things will get better. Maybe not back to what you were but hopefully you will be. It takes a while so don't give up. Roll with the flow!
Carolyn
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Ladies:
Had surgery 3 weeks ago to remove a 1.5 cm cancerous mass and 3 lymph nodes from left breast, on of which was positive; a benign lump from the right breast. I had ductal carcinoma in situ in 2007, Stage 0. This one is Stage 2.
I start TCH on Tuesday. I know that everyone is different, but what can I expect? My onc says there might not necessary be nausea, but what DOES make me nauseous is listening to him describe side effects! Thx
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Amywolfie - You might want to join us in the August 2010 chemo group. We are a very welcoming and friendly and supportive group who are all starting chemo at the same time (look in the Chemotherapy section).
I had my first TCH on August 2. I will say that the infusion itself was uneventful. I mostly felt really hung over for about a week. I had some nausea, but took meds for it. A lot of exhaustion and just generally feeling crappy. There are taste changes (everything tastes "off") and I have not had any mouth sores, but I do feel like I burned my mouth on something hot - does that make sense?
Now, in the middle of week 2, I feel pretty close to normal. Although I am trying to take a nap everyday to stave off exhaustion. I haven't lost any hair yet, but I'm still on day 11, and most say they start to lose it on day 14.
Good luck to you!
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