Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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SunDiego... If your wife is doing the TCH protocol it means she is doing Herceptin. A little research on Herceptin will show you that it is a miracle drug. Only women with certain markers benefit from it and the outcome is generally excellent. If you note shrinkage of the tumor by tx #2 you know that the TCH protocal is working. My tumor went from 5.5 to 3.7cm after two treatments.
On another note. I wouldn't shield your wife from this forum. There is a lot of comfort for her in being able to talk to others that are going through the same thing. Here, we can rant and rave, get really pissed or VERY personal (as in discussing sex lives during and after treatment). I'm not looking for you to step out, but for her to join in. And it's always good to hear from the masculine side. I'm sure many women here would like to know what their hubbies or gentlemen friends are feeling.
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Sorry, didn't mean to imply I don't let her on here. She frequents it and monitors the replies to my posts. She just has a tendency to look at the statistics too much, and also lately there has been lots of "anyone heard from XXX" posts and the like, so it is easy to get overwhelmed on the site. I just try to be a filter from lots of noise (if that makes sense).
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Anyone heard anything about Herceptin and Gi issues? I am suffering from debilitating GERD and taking a whole mish-mosh of drugs to keep it under a semblance of control. Tomorrow is supposed to be my last Taxotere/Cytoxan tx and I am planning to go for a GI consult soon after the SEs wear off. I've been blaming the chemo but seems that I read or heard something about Herceptin causing a good bit of GI trouble, too. Anyone got any advice or thoughts on this? Thanks. Bon
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Bon - i would wait and see what happens after chemo. i had horrible GERD while doing chemo....very painful and now I just get it every now and again when i eat foods that would flare it up. i have been done with chemo since 4/7/2010.
Hope you get to feeling better soon
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SunDiego...Glad your wife is looking in. As far as the "have you heard from XXX" questions, many times it's because an "old timer" has kind of dropped out. The Herceptin ladies are here for the better part of a year, they get an NED diagnosis and they don't post any more because they are out enjoying life. Sometimes they pop back in to say hi and encourage the newbies.
Bon... I had terrible GI problems, but I started taking a good probiotic and that really helped a lot. After a couple of H only treatments things got back to normal.
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Bon and SunDiego,
I'm happy to say that after finishing TC about two months ago I'm feeling great and now doing the Herceptin only part, every three weeks. I haven't had any more GI problems (and notice I did say "any more" because I did have issues during chemo.) My troubles weren't too serious and something as simple as eating yogurt each morning seemed to help (guess that's the same thing as Swampy's probiotic!)
You can do this!!!
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Bon - I have a history of GERD and was so bad 3 yrs ago that I had to have a surgery to help close off the valve going from esophagus to stomach so had no problems with GERD until chemo. Believe Taxotere was the culprit for me. Have been on just Herceptin since April and have had no problems with GERD. If you are scheduled for a scope where they go down (Not at all bad - you are out with a mild tranquilizer & don't remember anything) & look into the stomach through this valve, they can tell if the valve has been damaged & can even repair it to some extent during this procedure according to my Dr. If you are having bad GERD, believe me, it is worth it. Prilosec (OTC is now the same strength as when it was RX only) should be taken before eating & best if 30 minutes before. When I was doing chemo, I took it every 12 hours which was suggested by my Dr. I also took Zantac as that is a different PPO and was told it was ok to take both at same time. Hope this helps - At the time I was going through this GERD problem, I thought it was the worst thing that could happen to me ...little did I know! Took me forever and much $ before I found a GI Dr that would help and knew just what to do. My valve was damaged due to forceful vomiting caused by a bad gall bladder which was later discovered. One specialist told me I should just 'live with it' - would like to see him live with the valve going to his stomach open all the time. Some Drs are not to be believed!0
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OK, Ladies, Thanks for the info. I thought it was the Taxotere and hope it doesn't get worse with this round tomorrow but imagine I won't be that lucky.
I do take a probiotic and acidophilus, plus the Prilosec every 12 hrs and Pepcid AC at dinner time. I also found that 4 of those Gas-RX strips at one time do help to stop some of the symptoms that crop up during the day, as do Tums. I carry a little bag with my GERD meds and I use them whenever necessary. I'm hoping that 'accessory' will be unnecessary in a few weeks. But will still get the GI consult since I even got PM's from people telling me they never had GERD before but it has held on even two years after chemo.
These SEs are just such a pain...this one's a pain in the gut! Oh, Lilylou, my gallbladder was removed in 1980 due to one stone that was the size of the entire organ and continually blocked the duct so I had secondary pancreatitis by the time they operated. And at times, this pain is as bad as that was. That's why I can't' accept any doc telling me to 'live with it'. That guy could say that because HE wasn't feeling your pain. But let him get a hangnail and I bet he's a wimp!
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I had bad GERD when I was taking TCH and I do still have it some depending what I ate. I take Protonix and sometimes Tums but most of the time I just watch what I eat or if I plan on eating something I know will up set my stomach I take med before I eat. I had this for years before cancer and had gallbladder surgery which helped some but I just have a sensitive stomach. Some of my stomach problems are connected to my mind because I can just think of something that made me sick during TC and I feel like throwing up. I guess that will go away someday. GERD though can cause cancer so definitely do have it checked into after you finish the TC. If you ask your onc they sometimes know someone they would go to themselves. Good Luck Bon on getting it under control. My onc also had me take Pepcid and Protonix during chemo. Herceptin did not bother my stomach as much as the TC but I still had it some but it may have just been getting healed after TC.
Swampy, You are right to advise SunDiego. I do think a woman needs to be here and see for herself what other women are going though but then some women can not handle things and let their minds go crazy. I know some women local that said they did not want to know anything other than what the onc told them and they prefer to be shielded. I do not understand that myself but to each their own I guess. I am just normally curious about everything. I feel better knowing the best and the worse. My onc tries to keep the bad news from me and he can not understand that I need to know what if. We get into it on some visits and tells me to quit asking so many questions. My PC told me to tell him tough it is my body and I want to know. I love that doc. but I have been going to him a long time so he knows me and my mine I guess.
have a good day everyone. I am thinking about all of you. Thursday I go for my blood test again. Keep me in your prayers too. I want to get this red blood count up. I can't keep paying out for this shot to bring it up.
Carolyn
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I had my first herceptin only tx Monday, and today I took my kids to the park. Yesterday, I baked banana muffins and sandwich rolls. These are things I had no desire or energy to do over the earlier part of the summer. I was beginning to think I was just lazy, but the last couple of days show me it was just fatigue. It looks like things do get better when you switch to just herceptin!
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mtndawn, Yes you feel better when you are just on Herceptin, I felt bad for a couple of days with Herceptin but onc told me I was unusual ( He probably meant weird)
I am so glad you feel well. You may still have some tired days but you are on your way to good times.Carolyn
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Isn't it nice to begin to feel good again, Dawn?
For everyone still stuggling through TCH, you will feel better once you're finished!
Becky
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Thank you for the encouragement. I just did the first round of TCH, today is day 4. The nausea was tough, even though I had aloxi with the infusion and phenergan at home I still felt yucky. The steroids have also been a bugger - painful bloating and red/hot face/chest. Had neulasta shot too, taking the meds they told me to take for that as well. I keep eating, keep drinking and drinking like everyone says. I just have this fear that some new insurmountable symptoms will come and I will just not be able to manage it. Thanks for listening.
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Ladies, I would like to ask you to pray for my Mom who was hospitalized in the wee hours of Thursday morning. she has Salmonella that they couldn't seem to get under control, plus a mild lymphoma and she isn't doing well at all.
Today they are preparing to give her a long overdue transfusion and still fighting the Salmonella and subsequent diarrhea, plus high potassium levels which could be from the low blood count or all the antibiotics they tried before discovering the Salmonella bacteria. Antibiotics are tough on your kidneys and getting her re-hydrated is essential.
At least I am consoled that she is not still suffering at home. Her nurses have been wonderful so far and are keeping close tabs on her. That's a big relief. And now Mom has the solid attention of the same 3 docs who dragged their feet about admitting her and wasted precious time passing the buck.
She is so weak that she has started to verbalize doubts that she will pull through this. And this is my 2nd day after chemo and 1 day post Neulasta so I am not in any shape to help myself much right now, much less her. My step-Dad and a friend will be with her today but it isn't the same as being there myself. My chemo SE are secondary now to my stomach flips over Mom's condition.
I take away from this an even greater hatred of cancer since it is keeping me from being with my Mom when I need to be there. And have demoted it in status from a capital "c". Chemo is now my capital "C" since it is working to eradicate this dreadful disease. I see cancer as sneaky, nasty and lowly...so low as to deserve only the smallest of small 'sub-cases'...so small as to become invisible. I want to stomp it into the ground like the snake it is.
My prayers are with her and with all of you, too. I pray we all survive this disease physically and spiritually. I can't let it beat me. We can't let it beat us. Thank you for indulging me here. Bon
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Bon - sending you hugs, and prayers for your mom. I hope she can pull through this, and that you can be by her side when she comes home healthy from the hospital. I'm sorry you have to be going through this all at the same time.
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Bon - You and your Mom on in my thoughts and am sending you both good wishes.
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Bon, I hope and pray your Mom will get better fast. I am so sorry you can't go be with her but the hospital is probably the last place you need to be right now. They say in my onc office not to go to the emergency room until I called them first since they had 24 hour call in and there was someone around the clock at the chemo lab. While my husband was in the hospital and I had just finished TC they told me to come stay the night with them since I was so low on blood. I slept in my husbands room the first night but was not a good rest which I really needed. As long as your Mom has someone to be with her you take care of yourself. I am sure she would say the same. You come here and let us know what is going on with you and your family. We will be waiting to see how she is doing.
I hope everyone will have a good weekend.
Carolyn
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I started my TCH on June 11, 2010 and my hair started falling out before my 2nd treatment. I cut it real short and started wearing a wig by my third treatment. I still have a little on my head and my eyebrows n lashes are still there. Two more treatments and then I start the herceptin for 9 months. Personally I have a hard time with the Taxotere, gastro-wise, I basically lose about 8-9 lbs the week to 10 days after my treatment. Everyone is different though I guess, know people who have no stomach issues with it
good luck
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ishobie, I lost weight too and my onc told me to keep it off. It is hard to do after you get to where you can eat again. Seems like the women who are ER+/PR+ take a med that makes them gain weight. I was neg on those two things.I have gained about 7 lbs but my husband thinks I should eat better but just can't eat much now. As for the eyebrows and eyelashes I did not lose them until I had just about finished Herceptin. they are coming back but my eyebrows are thin and not much color to them and my eyelashes are very short. I think the carboplatin was harder on me but since I took it all together I guess it is hard to tell but my onc said he thought it was hard on me. I am not sure how he knew. My brother had a rough time with Carboplatin too and he took it by it's self and then he took another kind after that by pump but he had head and neck cancer.
I hope you have it easier the rest of the treatments but at least you will be finished with the bad stuff soon and the Herceptin should be easier for you.
Carolyn
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I'm just popping in to say hi.
Welcome to those on the thread going through chemo now. I'm sorry you have to go through this, but based on the research, you are getting a highly effective chemo and relatively safe chemo even though some days while you are on it get pretty difficult or uncomfortable.
I finished chemo about 18 months ago. At first I was pretty weak because chemo had made me deficient in magnesium (I had a weird thing going on toward the end where I would suddenly vomit without a warning of getting nauseous for a while first to let me know that I should take the medications) and because my RBC was low. By 6 weeks after the last one, I was feeling pretty normal. Herceptin had no side effects for me except my redcell count stayed slightly below normal until after I finished it - but it wasn't low enough to make me feel different.
The mastitis I got some weeks ago cleared up after two rounds of antibiotic and an antibiotic shot. Oddly, there were two others on these boards who were 1 to 2 years after surgery and had a breast infection at the same time as me. My surgeon remains surprised that I got an infection so long after surgery, but some say it can happen because surgery disrupts the lymph system.
Anyway, it is over now and no harm done. It was time for my mammogram. The report from that came back fine - the films match what they got a year ago.
So, I'm 2 years out from the fateful mammogram that started this. Working, having fun with my grand children and pretty much back to normal.
Of course, I wish I hadn't gotten cancer, but I feel fortunate that the cancer was caught early thanks to yearly mammograms at a time when they had testing for HER2, had Herceptin and understood that HER2+ women should be offered chemo even if Stage I and also at a time when they had found that TCH was as effective as AC-TH and less dangerous. And also fortunate to have this website and the women on this thread to provide information and support while going through this.
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Thanks for the check-in Bluedasher. It gives us something to look forward to 2 years down the line.
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Good to hear from you BlueDasher.I am glad you are doing well. I too am gratefully for all the advances in med we have. I had a friend who had breast cancer about 12 years ago and she was 30. she did have cancer in her family. I believe if she had the Herceptin she would still be here. I am also thankful for the friends here. I do not know what I would have done without the ones before me that helped me understand what to expect. Even when I was trying to take the trial drug those before me helped. I tell everyone about this site that has breast cancer. Although I am still fighting the low blood count I think a lot of that is because of my auto immune problem and chemo just made it worse. Hopefully it will get better soon.
I hope everyone has a good day or at least a day they can deal with.
Carolyn
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Hi All,
It's been great to read everyone's posts. I will have my second chemo treatment tomorrow (taxotere, carboplatin, and herceptin), three weeks after my first chemo. I used the Penguin Cold Caps during my first treatment and have experienced no noticeable hair loss so far. I'm wondering when (and if) others who are also getting the same chemo every three weeks experienced significant hair loss. I've seen some variability in folks' comments above and would love to know what's typical (in the absence of cold caps). Thanks in advance and best wishes to all,
Katherine
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Hi all. Bluedasher, good to hear your positive report.
I'm 3 months post-chemo, 2 1/2 weeks post-radiation, Herceptin/Avastin to continue until February, Tamoxifen starting in a few weeks. I'm feeling good, hair coming in (still like a baby, but a cuter baby), definitely stronger, and I have my old energy back. Some muscle/joint issues, but it's hard to tell what's neuropathy from chemo and/or Herceptin and what's being 52. I'm exercising every day, and feeling it!
Two weeks ago I spent a week at my parents' house on the beach to recover from radiation and have a little time on the beach, in the water, and with my sibs/parents. I went to get a pedicure, and the woman next to me asked if I was just out of treatment-- it's easy to tell because of my hair, or lack thereof. She asked because she's been through it. I love hearing from all of you, but it was great to have a real live woman talk about her issues. She was one of the early women to get Herceptin, about 7 or 8 years ago. She looked great and has had no issues at all for years. Just wanted to pass along another Happy Herceptin Story! It really seems to work minor miracles!
Hang in there, all you newbies. It's hell for a few months, but before you know it, it will be a fading memory....
Colleen
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Katherine - I started losing my hair in clumps around day 17 after my first TCH treatment. Pubic hair came out around day 15, and by day 19 I looked like a mangey dog, so I finally shaved it all.
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JoyKK, I could not remember when I lost my hair so I looked back on my posts and found it was in Sept and I started tx in July so that means I had 3 TCs before I lost my hair. I do remember it started falling out some but usually when I would shower and wash my hair. I had really thick hair then and so it did not look too bad just thinner. My grandson's girlfriend was going to school to be a hair stylist and I had asked her to give me a very short hair cut. She was at my house when I finally started losing a lot and she said she would do it. I told her it was too late and I remember I had put a scarf over my head then. the next day I went to a barber where my husband goes and asked her to give me a very short burr because my head was so sore. she got very emotional, more so that I was. I was happy to get rid of my shaggy hair and sore head. My hair now is doing good but still not thick like it used to be. It has taken a while to come back to not looking like I had lost it but I am there now. It just looks like I have short hair cut if you did not know me before. I know it is hard to lose your hair because that is something you can see on the outside that you have cancer. it will come back, it may not look like you had but if you do not have cancer anymore then it will be worth it. My husband takes a blood pressure med that has made his hair come in thicker and I would like to take it but I doubt they would give it to me because I do not have that bad of blood pressure problems. I take a mild one but it can be low with that some times. But if anyone has high blood pressure problems I would be glad to look for the name of it. I think the hair on my legs came back first. I had very long hair before I found out I had cancer and so I donated it to " Locks of Love". I am so happy I got to do that but my hair was growing really fast and was shoulder length again after a very short cut to donate my hair.
I wish all of you taking treatments now a easy time of it and it does not take forever even though it seems like all you do is go to the doctor. You will get through this and like me have to look back on your old posts to remember something. I work at a bank so I talked to a lot of people who have had cancer of some sort. My men customers seem to be the ones that will ask how I am doing the most and are really concerned but a lot of women ask too. My co-workers get tired of people asking me how I am doing but I hope they never have to go through this. Trouble is they just might since they have it in their family.
Carolyn
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JoyKK-i didn't have to wear anything on my hair until after the 4th treatment. I was able to wear a baseball cap until 7 weeks post final chemo. With a baseball cap, you couldn't tell I was losing my hair. But, if my hat accidentally came off, it was UGLY-super thin on top!! I finally shaved my head at 9 weeks post chemo. I don't think that I was the norm here.
Colleen-great to hear from you. I'll bet that was nice to meet someone so far out, especially who was Her2.
V
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I start TCH in 3 days, on Friday. I've read too much. I know I will do the following:
1. Drink lots of water
2. I'm amped up on supplements even though that makes lots of ONCs uncomfortable
3. I have a port
4. I've got 2 naseu meds and the steroids ready to go, as well as Biotene. One of them is generic Zofram. Should I demand the real stuff?
I can't bring myself to do cold caps/mitts. I've already got a cheap wig that won't look too bad.
I'm getting a little panicked, particularly about heart problems even though my echo was perfect.
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Hi taranebraska, I did my first TCH a week ago. All my meds have been generic. Are you getting the neulasta shot on the next day?0
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Tara, heart problems are much less common for this chemo than for AC-TH. It is the combination of taking Adriamycin followed by Herceptin that seems to be really hard on the heart with over 2% getting CHF. Herceptin without Adriamycin sometimes causes a drop in LVEF, but not nearly as often and the heart recovers when Herceptin is stopped. I can't remember anyone on this thread who had to stop Herceptin because of it though there are some on the HER2+ part of the forum (don't remember if they were on TCH or AC-TH).
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