Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
Comments
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So what was the verdict on the cool whip, did it work for anyone?
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#4 was my worst one also. I did not drink enough water and ended up paying for it.
I had to do 6 cycles...asked about 4 and my onc. said her standard is 6.
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flyonanglwngs...couldn't find the chocolate cool whip so didn't buy any.0
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Omaz: Just met another person who is stage 1, 2mm invasive an her2+ and her onc told her that she was just doing 4 cycles + herceptin pretty much cuz she was early stage. I am going for my 3rd tx and will discuss with my onc this Friday. Iam currently looking for trials that were done with only 4 TCH but will look into it more before Friday comes. I just feel like I don't want anymore 'poison' in my body especially if all I need is herceptin. What do you think?
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I know there were some on this site that just had 4 but have not heard from them since. I hope all is well for them. The only thing I wondered is if the 4 they got had the same amount of meds in them or if they were stronger. I got 6 and most I have heard of got 6. I know after #4 I wanted to quit but they would not let me and then before I started the rad I wanted to quit and tried several times but they just kept telling me what could happen if I didn't so I did and now I wish I had not and took my chances! If I had it to do again there are several things I would have done different but who knows I may have done what I wanted and wished I had done what the docs said. I guess it is best to do what the experts tell you. I certainly am not an expert and knew very little about it until I had it. Hang in there you can get through this and will do great.
Carolyn
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Thanks to all for your answers on chemo #3 & 4. Just got home from #3, expecting symptoms to hit by Friday, definitely Saturday so we'll see.
I'm with Emster on can we do 4 rounds rather than 6? My tumor was only 1.4 cm, clean margins and no travel to the lymph nodes. Due to the HER2 chemo is considered the right path for preventing anything that may be growing. Key word may be, he even agreed with me that there may be nothing, but we don't know so choosing safe route. When I asked about doing 4, he said he had to base it on all info he has about HER2 treatment and the 6 TCH + Herceptin is the norm.
I hate that answer. Especially since this is precautionary. I definitely don't want this to come back, but feel 4 rounds is pretty good to kill anything that may possibly be there.
I also wonder why do we do Radiation following Chemo if the reason for doing Chemo is to kill any cells that may be growing. So, why Radiation if Chemo killed them?
Seems like a lot to put your body through if it's not really necessary.
Thoughts?
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Hey michcon~
I agree. My onc. suggested Radiation after Chemo because I had 1 positive node. So when I went to speak with the Radiation doctor (we spent almost 2 hours going over everything) she said she did not think I needed the Radiation and she did not want to over treat. She did leave the decision up to me but I figured she knew what she was talking about and did not do Radiation. Hopefully I made the right choice...
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Emster - I was scheduled for 6 but only did 4 as I had so many problems with my colon (Hospital 2x because of it). After 4 I said no more and that may come back to haunt me but felt I had no choice. Will be interested to know what you learn about 4 vs 6.
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Michcon - I asked why we have to do radiation after chemo, why doesn't the chemo get any potential leftover cancer cells in the breast. She said they don't know. There are theories and the most popular is that 'scar tissue' interferes with the delivery of the chemo to areas of the breast where there was surgery and so those cancer cells don't get as much chemo.0
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Maybe that is the reason some have surgery after chemo and they don't have radiation. I know I certainly wish I had gone with my gut feeling not to have rad. I had a large tumor and also had lymph nodes involved but I still did not want to have it and I thought because of my brother having such a bad time with it after it was over. His was head and neck so that really had nothing to do with mine. I now have 2 holes in my breast that won't heal because they did a biopsy after radiation. I was told it would heal slow so since it didn't heal slow I thought everything was great and then 2 months after the biopsy it abscessed and now it will not heal. It is still oozing but onc does not worry about it but then he does not live with it. I know all of you have to make your own decisions but I want to warn you if you have had rad don't let anyone cut on it afterward. I am not sure about chemo. I did take 6 tx and am not sorry about that. I think they want to make sure they get it all and the rad is suppose to help get rid of it.
Carolyn
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Herceptin # 14 out of 17 now complete.
Continuing the countdown until done with Herceptin! 6 cycles of TCH for me.
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Herceptin #10 out of 17 is done! I also had the standard 6 cycles of TCH. #5 was the worst for me.
Jennifer
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Early on I asked my med onc why I was getting only 4 TCH while others were getting 6 or more. He explained then about dose density and the research available on the delivery of the various chemo drugs. He said I was getting the chemo at extra strength, hence the need for a longer recovery between tx and the schedule of every 3 weeks. When the 4 tx were over, even though I hated each of them, I asked him if I should or could have more of that or anything else to insure that the cancer cells were banished for good. And he told me, no, there was no need for it because I'd had the standard prescribed dose and should move forward. So on with only Herceptin and rads.
I have an acquaintance who only did part of her chemo regimen due to debilitating and dangerous SEs Her oncologist told her that some was better than none and not to fret about it, that the goal was to cure you with chemo, not kill you. And the risks certainly outweighed the benefit in her case.
Something the docs I worked with used to say...medicine isn't an exact science. It's not like math and chemistry where two plus two is four, and H2O is water. In medicine there is always at least one uncontrolled variable...the patient!
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Bon, thank you for your input. I think those docs are right,why try to kill the patient just because it is standard. Each of us are different as I found out with how everyone I knew reacted to chemo or rad. I do try to do what my onc says but I am a person that needs to know all the info and my onc does not want to share it with me. I suspect he has a time issue but do not ignore me when I have a question. I get frustrated at him every time I go. He has people that probably need him more because they are actively fighting for their life but I want to know why I have to keep my port. Is it something he just does or is there a reason. I don't see him again until Nov so I have a bunch of questions. I think I have more now than I did when I was taking chemo.
Yeah! for those close to finishing your Herceptin. I remember when I did not have to be given anything and I just went back for blood tests. It felt weird and it was like how could I be finished fighting? I have heard others say the same but it is easy to get used to, not going every week for some kind of poison and not looking at being sick. I know when you tell people this they look at you like you have 3 eyes but you just get so used to being the patient and now you don't need to do this anymore.
Carolyn
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I was surprised to find that finishing treatment was a little scary. I had no idea that I would feel that way - ihad a big countdown calendar and was checking off each herceptin, ready to be finished. But...it was hard to trust that the meds were done their job and that I was finished the active fighting phase. I think we get so used to being in that active patient phase, it takes a little time to adjust to the new reality.
So for those of you finishing up, do not be surprised if you feel a little lost and vulnerable. It didn't take me long to adjust - I've been finshed H since May and am totally used to it now (and LOVE being done). But it did take the first month or two to get used to.
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Thanks AmyIsStrong~
My last Herceptin will be in November and I am feeling anxious about when it ends. I hope I will be able to focus on my family, friends etc. and continue with my life...
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I had the same thing Amy
. I was so used to driving to the center with the longest break inbetween visits being 3 weeks that it was odd when I didn't have to come back for 2 months. I was scared out of my mind and then my appt. got closer and I had every ache and pain known to man kind. Now I am at 4 mths inbetween and I am feeling pretty good. I have been doing a lot of work at my cancer center (photographing events) so I am hoping that my Nov. 10 appt. goes pretty well. The treatment that we have is so intense and then they send us on our way and we feel lost. So continue to count down but know that once it is over you are not alone if you feel a little lost for a bit. I often call that my "lost" year because I felt like all I did was go to Dr.'s appt.
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I had my first TCH treatment last week. I've been pretty controlled until now, but for some reason ... this week, I can't seem to keep my emotions in check. I'll cry about little things and I have a UTI that has been with me for a week despite my being on Cipro since last Saturday. I'm starting to get myself overwhelmed worrying about things like lymphedema, whether or not I should have been more insistent and asked for a port (I have 17 treatments left -- 5 more TCH and 12 Herceptin only), or is it fair to ask my boyfriend to endure this with me. The year ahead seems so very long and daunting and, for the first time in my life, I feel scared that I may not be strong enough for this.
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Grammarkitty - I am so sorry you have had to join us here. The good things are: your surgery is behind you, your first tx is behind you, and you are able to get Herceptin, which is a miracle drug that dramatically increases the success of treatment. That being said, it is a long year to be sure. I found that the first 6 tx (the chemos) were the hardest by far. After that, the Herceptin-only is pretty much routine. I drove myself there, sat for 90 min, and drove back to work and went about my life. No side effects to speak of. So don't think the whole year will be like this. Right there, that should help you feel more able to cope - I just cut down the difficult period by 2/3!!
I was terrified of having a port - probably more than anything else about this whole experience. But my docs didn't give me a choice at all. It turned out to be a huge blessing and, while I didn't like having it, it came in really handy on treatment days - no poking for a vein, just stick and done. (And with the numbing cream, you can't even feel the stick!) So you still CAN get a port if you think you need it - discuss with your doctor. A friend who went through this with me (same tx) had two good veins in one hand and they just switched between them every three weeks and she never needed a port. But I know that with my tiny veins, that never would have worked.
Please do not borrow trouble re the lymphedema. It is good to be smart and take good precautions about it, but if you have no problems so far, don't spend energy worrying about it. Also re the boyfriend - I have found that most women are nurturers/caretakers by nature and are used to having that role, or at least NOT being in the opposite role of being taken care of. It feels very unnatural and can be very difficult to accept. I know it was for me. My husband and I had only been married 2 years when I got diagnosed. (We dated for 10 years prior to marriage though.) It was very hard for me to accept help and have needs, but ultimately it was good for me to learn that I am worth loving and taking care of, not just because of all the things I do for others! If this guy really loves you, let him be there for you and take care of you as you need it, just like you would do if it was him. What is 'fair' has nothing to do with it.
Please stick around here for help & support as you go thruogh tx. I NEVER would have made it through without the incredible ladies on this site and more specifically on this thread. I finished herceptin in May of this year and am back to 'normal' life (more or less) and feeling fantastic. But it definitely is a challenging year. Once it is over, you will not believe how fast it flew by - but it doesn't seem that way when you're in the midst of it.
Feel free to PM me if you want to talk more, have any questions, or need support.
You are not alone in this. TOGETHER, we all get one another through!
In sisterhood & support -
Amy
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Amy,
Thank you for responding so kindly to my post! I am not good at asking for help or expressing fear so this whole process is very difficult for me (as it is for all of us, sadly). I am, however, so very happy and inspired to hear that your treatments are over and that you feel fantastic. I can't wait to feel fantastic. I want to be strong for my family and coworkers but it takes a lot of energy to do that. I burst into tears after reading your post. I needed to hear exactly what you said, exactly how you said it.
Lisa
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6 treatments for me then radiation. And I LOVE EMEND, take it the 2nd and 3rd day after chemo. My onc dr has been very supportive.
Peace and Laughter,
Cheryl
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grammerkitty - I had the fear, sudden tears, & worry set in but what was weird is that it didn't overwhelm me until after I had finished the chemo, TCH x4. I think the chemo must contribute to that as that is not my norm at all. Don't hesitate to ask your Dr for meds to counter - definitely helped me. And Amy is right, the Herceptin is just a breeze - really no SE for me.
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I had 6 tx of TCH as well. Rad Onc insisted on rads and did the supraclavicular nodes as well. Even though I am planning on blm, he strongly insisted so I did it, after all, they're the experts right? 1st chemo was the absolute worst with reactions several days later. Dont want to scare anyone but I didn't even feel human - I don't know how else to explain it. When I called Onc. she got me on track ASAP, and almost overnight I was much better. The 3rd and 5th tx's were particularily hard as well. Having some s/e on herceptin now, so she's going to infuse benydryll again. I'm sure it'll help but not looking forward to being knocked out again. But ladies, you can do it! If I can then you most certainly can!
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In Nov, I will be post TC 2 yrs. that does not seem possible. July this year I was post H a year. I know it is hard to go through but it is needed. I got through it with the help of my sweet husband and I would not have been able to do it without him. I know some do. You can do what you have to I suppose. It is scary at first. I never cried but I was going through some things at work and I guess I was more concerned about that than myself. a friend ( I thought) took a bunch of money and tried to implicate me. I had been the one reporting it and finally woke someone up I guess, but that was harder to do than the cancer problem I guess. I did cry for her.
Grammarkitty, if your boyfriend truly loves you he will be glad he has the chance to care for you. I am not saying it is easy for them. If he sticks around Great, if not, he was not worth your trouble. Let him decide and don't push him away.I wish you the best!
Carolyn
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Did anyone else take this "miracle mouthwash" stufff? Please tell me it works???
p.s. Thanks, everyone, for the positive thoughts and kind words. I am trying to let my boyfriend help me and, as AmyIsStrong so eloquently phrased it, not borrow trouble about him or my obsessive fear of lymphedema or hair loss anxiety or UTI or ... Breathe in .. breathe out
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Just had my first out of 6 sessions, so far no major SE. Today is day 6 (counting TX day as day 1), should I be expecting the shoe to fall any minute now?
Thanks!
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grammarkitty... Yep, the Miralce Mouthwash worked great for me.
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swampy,
Ooh, that's so good to know! I'm off to expend a days worth of energy to get ready, leave the house, pick up my prescription and return home. Glad it will be worth it!
Thank you!
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Grammarkitty - I used the mouthwash. BUT here's what happened. The first time, I swished it through my whole mouth and then my ENTIRE mouth went numb. I didnt' like that at all. I only had one small mouth sore, so from that point on, I dabbed the stuff on a Q-tip and applied it directly to the one spot, not the entire mouth. Worked much better.
I don't know how many sores you have, but it's good to be prepared. I had no idea my whole mouth would do that - it was a very strange surprise!
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Basia - Glad you doing so well!0
