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Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

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Comments

  • starella
    starella Member Posts: 101
    edited October 2010
    iowa sue, was this after every treatment?
  • IowaSue45
    IowaSue45 Member Posts: 422
    edited October 2010

    Star- gradually after each one it gets a little worse, kinda like having the flu for three days. After the 1 & 2 tx they barely slowed me down then 3 & 4 tx got a little worse, this time I missed 1 day of work.

  • gramma23
    gramma23 Member Posts: 482
    edited October 2010

    Seems like women just starting chemo lately are doing much better than when I was taking it. I was so sick. I took mine on Wed and by Sunday I was sicker than I ever had been. I am glad more onc are giving Emend. I wish I could have gotten that but I never even heard of it until I was finished with TC. the Herceptin did not make me sick like that. I just felt achy. Rad was hard on me too but I think because my red blood count was low. I was so tired and I am still like that but most do not have that problem after TC. it has something to do with my autoimmune problem I guess.

    I am wishing all of you the best!

    Carolyn

  • jag82569
    jag82569 Member Posts: 84
    edited October 2010

    I'm 17 days post 2nd tx.  My white blood count dropped to 231 this week.  Not sure if it will be up high enough to continue with 3rd tx next Tuesday.  I developed an infection that no one could figure out and no one wanted to listen to me.  I have been after the nurses, the PA and the Doc that something wasn't right with the incision on my neck for my port - done in late August.  Because my WBC was so low I developed a huge rash and infection that I couldn't fight.  It took all of this for them to realize that it stemmed from the incision.  A stitch was left in or didn't dissolve and that's all it took.  I went under the knife to have it removed.  On heavy antibiotics and hope this clears up fast! 

    I started to notice today that some of my finger nails have dark areas near the cuticles.  I know this is common.  Is there anyone else with this?  Is there anything that can be done?  I can't imagine losing my nails - sounds so painful.

  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited August 2013
    Jag - I hope you recover quickly!  So they removed your port?  That was bothering you the whole time!
  • taranebraska
    taranebraska Member Posts: 18
    edited October 2010

    jag - I have a little brown spot on my thumb and will ask about it next Friday, before tx4. 

    It so sucks when the docs & nurses won't listen to you!  I had vertigo issues after my port surgery and my ONC shrugs and says "I have it, too."  What?  Yet, the vertigo went away after tx2.  I've never been comfortable with my port,  It still hurts off and on and they just ignore me. 

    My WBC hit 150 on Day10, this past Monday, after tx3.  I apparently had a sinus infection and it really got to roaring and that's the only reason I called and went for a check up with ONC's nurse practitioner.  They wouldn't let me go to work, not that I felt like it.

    I'm worried if each round is progressively worse.  The low WBC counts are part of the process so now I fully understand the reasoning behind stay away from crowds/germs, wear gloves so you don't cut your fingers in the kitchen, etc. 

  • elaineg
    elaineg Member Posts: 85
    edited October 2010

    Lago thanks for the info.  I hope you are feeling well days out from second chemo.  I saw you posted you will be 50 next year, me too in April.  I think it will be almost exactly when my radiation is done if I'm calculating correctly.  What a great bd gift!

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited October 2010

    Elaine I should finish my last chemo tx if all goes well 3 weeks before my 50th birthday. Like you I am looking to the future… this will be over sooner than we think. Not doing too bad on chemo #2 so far. Took Aleve the day of & after Nuelasta so that helped with the back pain. Wearing scarves now since the hair looks pretty pitiful on top. Actually made a big batch of sweet & sour cabbage soup yesterday and I'm already back from PS (public transportation). Having some constipation issues but eating dried apricots as I type. My have to get out the heavy guns though.

    I did gain 5lbs in fluid once I stopped taking the steroids. I lost 2lbs last night so I'm finally passing some of this out.

    jag82569 the fingernail darkening from what I have read and the info printed in my chemo training binder is not unusual. Although some people lose finger or toe nails (not all) most people do not. I keep my nails short and covered with clear nail polish.

    So if your eyebrows are going to fall out when does that happen? So far mine are good. I'm hoping I'm one of those people who gets to keep them. Drawing on eyebrows is not one more thing I want to add to my list of maintenance. I was never this high maintenance before cancer. I swear it takes me 20 minutes to get ready for bed with all the creams etc I need to apply.

  • jag82569
    jag82569 Member Posts: 84
    edited October 2010

    I'm sorry I wasn't clear in my last post. I feel silly!  All they did was remove the bad stitch and left the port in.  The stupid little stitch was causing all the pain.

  • Ang7
    Ang7 Member Posts: 568
    edited October 2010

    lago~

    I don't know if this is normal but my eyebrows did not start to fall out until the end of my chemo.  I lost some of my eyebrows and most of my eyelashes at that time...

    they did grow back rather quickly.

  • Alaina
    Alaina Member Posts: 153
    edited August 2013

    Well, after 19 months, my body decided it didn't like menopause...now I'm having hot flashes AND cramps! REALLY?!?!?! Not fair, just SO not fair! *pffft*

    In August, my gyn said that my ovaries were in premature ovarian failure and my blood counts indicated I was in menopause (FSH of 29.7). Apparently (according to my oncologist) I was "borderline"  (NOW they tell me!)

    Going to have a pelvic sonogram on the 11th to make sure my ovaries have actually awakened and its not the Tamoxifen jacking with me.

    This disease is the the gift that keeps on giving.

  • gramma23
    gramma23 Member Posts: 482
    edited October 2010

    Alaina, I am sorry you are having some pain and hot flashes. I am surprised they did not insisted on you getting the female parts removed. I know some did. I never understand why some surgeons take both breast and some just do a lumpectomy and then others want everything out they think can cause problems. It does not seem to matter if you are node positive or neg. Whether the lump is large or not. I had a very large lump and the sentinel node was the same size and 3 other nodes had cancer so they took 22 nodes out. I just had a lumpectomy and a lot of days I hurt so bad in this one breast I wish they had taken it or both. I no other organs left so they did not need to worry about that. Now my back and hips hurt so much when I sleep and I do not know what to blame that on. It may just be the mattress or arthritis. Gee I wish I had taken better care of myself when I was young. Keep your chin up Alaina you will feel better soon I hope. I don't think I have ever heard a negative post from you ( not that this is so negative) but you are always so gun ho. this must be really bothering you! I will be keeping you in my thoughts.

    Carolyn

  • CherylQ
    CherylQ Member Posts: 42
    edited October 2010

    Sounds like all of us have had similar SEs with TCH.  I just finished my 3rd chemo round and the nausea wasn't too bad thanks to Emend and Zofran, but the bone pain with the Neulasta was much worse this time around and has lasted longer.  I just spend the week sleeping and sipping fluids until the 5th day pasts.  I have the worse SEs on day 3 and 4.  However, I will get thru this.

    Maybe next year for Halloween I will go as a nerve ending with Neulastra sign.

    Happy Halloween,

    Cheryl

  • Iamstronger
    Iamstronger Member Posts: 102
    edited October 2010

    lego-i never lost my eyebrowns or my eyelashes.  they did thin, but I never lost them.  When I was about 2 mo post chemo, my onc said that if I had not lost them by now, odds are I wouldn't loose them.

    Alaina-sorry to hear you are getting the side effects.  You are so correct when you say "the gift that keeps on giving....."  Can I exchange this gift for something that is a better fit for me? :)

    V

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited October 2010

    Alaina that stinks. Hope they figure this all out soon.

    So am I the only one that gets constipated with this cocktail? I finally resolved it today but I had to throw everything at it short of an enema. Ate lots of veggies, drank lots of water, ate lots of soup, dried apricots, probiotic powder, Milk of Magnesia (2 times) and finally Metamucil. I was running out of ideas. Lets just hope I don't get  hemorrhoids.

    Back pain isn't bad at all today and I'm not on any drugs for it. Last time my worst back pain was Sunday/Monday so we'll see what happens. Numbness in left heel and arm gets better when I wake up. It's not to bad but this is not normal.

  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited October 2010
    Lago - I am constipated big time and I did all my stuff that I thought would help.  I have a big bloated belly.  I am hoping for a movement today!
  • IsThisForReal
    IsThisForReal Member Posts: 154
    edited October 2010
    Lago & Omaz - I used Senokot Stool Softener when I was on TCH - it worked wonders and had vey little problems with constipation as a result.  You can get it OTC.  Good luck and hope this helps you!
  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited October 2010

    Thanks. I do have a prescription for Colace that I haven't filled yet. That is a prescription stool softener. If it happens again I'm getting it filled. Typically between the probiotic and the dried apricots I get things soft. My problem is I have IBS too so I think what happened is I had some red meat… that can set things off for me. (Note to self: do not eat any red meat or high animal fat foods during the week after chem TX)

    Metamucil (or Citrucel or Miralax) is a laxative. It will make you go where a softener won't make you go.

  • IsThisForReal
    IsThisForReal Member Posts: 154
    edited October 2010

    Sorry to hear you have IBS, no doubt that complicates the problem.  I believe psyllium husks are the main ingredient in metamucil.  I buy the husks as our local health food store because it acts as a bulker and softener, doesn't have 'extra' ingredients, and has an effect on cholesterol etc.  Here's an excerpt:

    There are many reasons why Psyllium husks are a part of daily health maintenance for millions of people. Extensive research has shown that Psyllium husks help maintain healthy cholesterol levels, including a proper balance of HDL and LDL cholesterol. In addition, Psyllium husks help promote normal regularity. Unlike stimulant laxatives, Psyllium husks are gentle and are not habit forming. Psyllium husks' bulking action makes elimination easier and more comfortable. At the same time, Psyllium sweeps waste and toxins more quickly out of the body, so toxins are not reabsorbed from the colon back into the bloodstream. 

    Mind you, I am no longer taking TCH, and have traded the senokot for the husks.   Anyway, I'm off topic here - I found that taking the Senokot not only got things going, but kept them going.  It was much easier to manage that aspect of s/e.  Good for you Lago on being able to mostly manage with natural foods and probiotics!  I remember that s/e as being most uncomfortable during chemo, so hoping you are able to manage things comfortablly.  :-)

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited October 2010

    Anytime I can avoid taking a drug, over the counter or otherwise for the natural route I will. Just some times it doesn't work and have to go for the bigger guns.

    Never heard of psyllium husks. Something else to add to my list at the Vitamin Shoppe.Thanks

  • spitnspunk
    spitnspunk Member Posts: 31
    edited August 2013

    FWIW, Senecort is a laxative that was recommended by my cancer team, it is NOT just a stool softner;  I had some probems and thought I needed a laxative and so I took it a few days after my first TX two weeks back and it caused me more problems. In further discussion with my onc, he then recommended that if I thought I needed help to use just PLAIN COLACE , as it is "just' a stool softener/ not a laxative. It can be bought OTC, the name brand "Colace" is rather expensive, it ran around $17USD, but the generic OTC store brand Colace is about $3.00 - yep - big difference in price but according to the pharmasits and the bottle, same stuff! I bought the cheap stuff, used it once, got me back on track...I'll use it again this next TX next week if I need to. So, anyone want to buy a used bottle of Senecort? JK on that last part, of course!

  • starella
    starella Member Posts: 101
    edited October 2010

    hi, had my first chemo wed, when do i feel better?

  • IsThisForReal
    IsThisForReal Member Posts: 154
    edited August 2013

    My mistake - senokot IS a laxative AND a stool softener.  FWIW, for short term use it worked wonders for me when nothing else did. :-)

  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited October 2010
    starella - It seems like everyone is different!  I think on the first round of chemo I felt better about day 10, but that was me.  Hope you aren't in too much distress!
  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited October 2010

    starella day 8 I felt better with day 6 & 7 being the worst due to back pain and very tired. Right now I'm day 5. I don't seem to feel as bad or tired as last time since I don't have the zyrtec spacy feeling this time but this time I did get bad constipation, more numbness and now a little heartburn. I also took some Aleve to reduce some of the back pain on day 2 &3 and now today on day 5 so that has helped to.

    First round you find out how you feel so next round you know what to do to reduce the SE.

  • starella
    starella Member Posts: 101
    edited October 2010

    thanks lago, as soon as the steroids were gone i felt like i was hit by a truck, but at least i only have five more to go ... yuck

  • meglove
    meglove Member Posts: 105
    edited October 2010

    Hello ladies, just wondering if any of you managed to go to work for some days during chemo. If so usually at what days? I am trying to figure out what days my brain would be clear enough so my assistant at work can expect to hear from or even see me.

    Good Luck to all chemo ladies. Meg

  • jag82569
    jag82569 Member Posts: 84
    edited October 2010

    Hello Meg-  I take the day off for treatment and I usually take the Friday (3rd day after treatment) off.  By Monday I'm back to work.  I stopped working 50 hr weeks.  Back, feet and hands hurt too much.  I now go in from 9:30 to 3:00 sometimes a little earlier and sometimes I stay a little later.  I also set up my laptop to do everything my work pc does remotely so I can work from home on the days I don't feel like going in. 

  • meglove
    meglove Member Posts: 105
    edited August 2013
    Hi Jag,  thanks very much for the great tips on remote access and time frame. It is very helpful. 
  • JoyKK
    JoyKK Member Posts: 31
    edited November 2010

    Hi All,

    I will have my last chemo just before Thanksgiving and am now starting to think a bit about the next phases in my treatment.  My oncologist tells me I will go on Tamoxifen when I am done with chemo.  I've read in a few places that there's some evidence that Tamoxifen is not appropriate for patients who are HER2-positive.  What do you all know about this?  What have your oncologists told you?

     Thanks in advance for any information you can provide.

     Katherine

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