Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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I asked the same question a few pages back - or at least I thought I did.
I am 17 also. Only 4 more left!!!
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I asked my onc a few months ago and he said he doesnt count. He just said I go for 1 year. So I counted and that will be 18
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Funny, they told me a year as well, so I naturally assumed 18. I was all set to have to do another co-pay on insurance for the last one in Jan, and then the de-port surgery. So, on my last Dr's visit I asked, and was told by the nurse, and I quote "Dear, you are doing 17 so you are done in December" Why do they always call you Dear? I hate that!
Yea for that, exchange and de-port set for 12/20!
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I didn't know it was called 'de-port' surgery!
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Well, I don't know if that is the "official" name, but it is what I am calling it!
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I am happy for you whatever its called!
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V and everyone else, I just saw my onc today and she told me I will have a total of 17 H treatments- today was #11- Yay!!!
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Oh my gosh, YES- this means I will be deported before my 40th birthday!!! The best birthday present I could ask for!!!
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Yea Lady Madonna!
Yea stlcardsfan!
I will also have my last Herceptin and be "deported" right before my birthday in November.
It will be birthday number 45 - let's hope it's a good year.
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I had 19 H tx. I don't think my onc can count but he said it was a year. I guess I will not be deported for a very long time. I wish I could but I guess as long as I can't get my Hemoglobin up I need it for blood or whatever. I hate having to go every month for blood test and shot and every other month get my port flushed. I guess it is better than every week for tx though so I am happy for that. I would love to get back to normal, whatever that is.
Congrats to everyone getting close to last and also the deporting.
Carolyn
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I am scheduled for 17. I have #10 next week!!!
Jennifer
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Gramma Carolyn, I wish you could get that darn port out, but it's more important that they're keeping you healthy!!! Thanks for being so helpful and supportive to all of us ladies. ((((Hugs!!))))
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Hi All -
Had my 13th H today & 4 more to go. Was suppose to be 18 but the 18th takes me into a new year and that means starting the deductible all over again which I told my Onc some time ago I wanted to avoid. She said it shouldn't be a problem. She told me starting out that the number of H for various situations has yet to be decided so is just generally set for 1 year. She also explained the drip goes very slow the first time so they can watch your reactions closely.
Basia - All my H were 3 wks apart
I bought a 1 Litre cooler jug, did my own design which made it special. It was a good gauge to be sure you are getting steady fluid. I have a shop at Cafe PRess so can easily design any of the items they carry. If anyone wants a custone design, im me. - can have pics, text, whatever. Intend to do a Section in the shop that will be BC logos, statements, poems, etc. The price is set by Cafe PRess & I can add a mark up if I want. Believe I'll add 10% on each and donate this extra to for the cure fund. Cafe Press has the most variety of photo gifts I've found. I'll let everyone know when site is up.
The taste thing ....Yuk! Hd a couple things that worked or at least helped. Hot camille tea with honey and I found a sugarless green apple hard candy and for some reason that took that taste away. But my taste didn't come back to normal till at least 2 wks after the final tx.
Take care all & have sweet dreams.
Louise
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Lady_Madonna, Thank you for your interest and I also wish I could get it out. I know my onc knows what is best for me. I go to church with a woman who goes to the same clinic as I do but different onc. She had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and breast cancer. she has to keep her port also. It may be the clinic that wants some to keep it for a while but then I had several nodes that had cancer too. When they did my radiation they even radiated it up my neck to get any nodes that might be affected. Anyway I guess it would not bother me as much if the darn thing was not turned on it's side and sticks out more than most. I have seen others with just a little bulge under the skin that most would not noticed but mine looks almost like a small boob on my collar bone area. haha! I guess not that bad but it hurts when it is bumped by children or pets.
LilyLou,I am happy you will be finished at the end of the year and I am sure 1 tx will not make a difference in your health. At one point my onc said I may get another year of H but I guess the horror on my face made him reconsider. I think I am the only person that had side effects from it. The nurses told me another woman had some problems at the end of it too so I am not the only weird one I guess. I am glad it is over but I would take it again in a heart beat if I needed to. As for the tea I drank organic lemon tea with peppermint in it. I really like both flavors but the Camille tea nearly killed me. I drank it once when I had a cold ( so I thought) and it was in the "Sleepy Time tea" sold at grocery store. I used the whole box but my cold or allergy was getting worse all the time and the last time I drank it I had 2 cups and I stopped breathing. My husband was in bed and heard me gasping for air and he rushed me to the nearest hospital. Thank God it was close. this was before my cancer but I will never drink that stuff again. I had several problems that year with allergies or something so I guess this was the final blow. You idea about the water container is good. I got dehydrated a couple of times and when I did the trial drug I got that way again. I am one that does not want to eat or drink if I am sick to my stomach. Even a sip gets me throwing up. I am trying to do better and drink a lot. this may help some to drink enough. It is no fun being dehydrated.
I wish everyone a good day. Hang in there, you can do it.
Carolyn
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I'm having 17 Herceptins... only 5 left. The time does fly. I've had minimal issues.
Somewhere on this forum I read about Breathsavers mints, the spearmint ones, which are very hard to find, but I became obsessed with them during chemo. They helped with the bad taste thing. Now I have an unpleasant association with them and don't ever want to see them again!
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Writer~
I drank "Apple Cider" Tea during chemo. Never want to see or smell that stuff again...
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That is why they tell you not to eat your favorite foods. I am that way with Boost or Ensure. Why is it more comes up than goes down? I tried lemon drops because I usually like lemon anything but just could not take it. I still love lemon now. I am not sure what can take that bad taste away but time.
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Someone told me to try Cool Whip. I took a spoonful and it took the tatse away long enought for me to enjoy eating a normal snack or meal. Not the healthiest solution, but tasty!
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Oh, mommichelle...I heard they have chocolate Cool-whip, too! On my way to the store now!0
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Wish I had know that when I was taking chemo! glad it works.
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Hi ladies,
I'm about to have my 3rd round of TCH out of 6 on wednesday and keep hearing the 3rd time is the worst for side effects. Did you all find this to be true? Anything I can do to prep for it?
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Michcon - is it the worst?? I just did number 3 last Tuesday. This time I started colace right away and claritin/tylenol the day of the neulasta shot and the anti-nausea right away too. New symptom is muscle twitching. Most concerning symptom for me is numbness and tingling. I am hoping there isn't another shoe that is going to drop!!! Good Luck!0
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Michon~ I found #4 to be the worst but that was before I had emmend. I refused to come back unless the oncologist gave me a RX for it. He did and it was like night and day with the SE's.
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I begged for Emend, but Medicare would not pay for it. They said there were too many anti nausea drugs available that were cheaper.
#4 was the worst for me. I had spent the last week of #3 in California and did #4 right after I got back. I was so exhausted that I slept for 2 days and didn't drink my water and got dehydrated plus all the other SEs. I spent the night in the hospital on an IV drip. At least #4 is the "hump" and you know you only have two more to go.
Omaz, I had terrible eye twitches. They went away a few weeks after I finished TCH. I'm still living with the tingling hands and feet. The onco gave me Neurotin and it has helped some, but it's still anoying even 7 months post Herceptin.
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My 5th treatment was the worst for me. Not sure why. But it was hard, and it made me really terrified that #6 would be even worse (figuring it was cumulative). So I had my mom come down for a week to take care of me for the 6th one, and then NOTHING HAPPENED. We spent the week hanging around, going shopping, and generally havign a nice visit. You really don't know what lies ahead on this crazy ride. Nothing is predictable or makes sense. You just have to try to take one day at a time and stay flexible. Easier said than done, I know!
Good luck!
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swampy - Yes! I have those eye twitches. Also twitching in my calves, which is so annoying. Did you try glutamine for the numbness and tingling during the TCH? I am wondering about the carboplatin - I read that the nerve issues for that can start after you finish the chemo - did you have that happen? Thanks.
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My worse one was #4 but the reason was because I let myself get constipated and didn't drink enough water after either. I guess the first one was really worse one but I tried to go to church and had to go home but I did not know I was going to have horrible diarrhea. I guess each tx had something about it I can look back and say it was worse when. the main thing is remember what you need to do and do it. My doc did not give me emend and I did not even know about it until I finished or I would have asked. I am still angry at my onc for not offering it to me. I think #6 was the best because I knew what to do and did it and also it was the last! Don't go in worrying about it just make sure you got your act together and I am sure you will be fine.
As for the tingling numbness, I had that before chemo. actually I think chemo has helped me with some of my Fibromyalia symptoms. I used to get terrible muscles spasms before cancer and still have some but not near as bad but I think I have learned to not get upset about things and that has helped me relax more. At this point I really don't care if I have a job but I do want to work I just don't worry about something someone is doing at work. this really irradiates the young woman that is in my position I used to have. I never want to be boss again! I did have some really bad neuopathy during chemo but after TC it started to disappear and now it is okay.
I wish every the best!
Carolyn
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My worst was #4, and after that I got Emend. If you can get it, it really was a miracle drug.
V
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Do most of you here have to do 6 cycles? Or is there anyone that is doing only 4?
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Emster - 6 is my prescription. Have you heard anything about 4?
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