Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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Donalee: Thanks for the positive words. I hope this feels better soon. The nurse from the hospital called to check on me this morning and I gave her my "I'm feeling sorry for myself" spiel. She was sooooo nice to me. My shoulder hurts terribly but I'm told that's normal because of where the port is placed. I'm sure I will appreciate having it once it's healed but I have to say that right now this sucks!!!
Shel: I'm shedding like that too. I told my hubby I'm shedding like a dog in summer. If I didn't have such thick hair, it'd have been all gone already I'm certain of it. As it stands, it'll probably be gone by the weekend. I probably will shave it off before then. I have to say that I think it's great that your hubby is being so supportive. I think that's sweet.
) Mine keeps saying "you know I won't stop loving you just because you lose your hair, right?" (he laughed out loud over your "It's just too bad they cut off my right titty" verse, by the way) It's very sweet that they are there for us. I hope everybody's hubby is as supportive - every single one of us deserves it!!Aly.
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First, I'd like to thank the gals that answered my question about "tatoos" I was dumb enough to think that a lot of woman got a pink ribbon BC tatoo when they were done!! Guess that's the used to be blonde in me.
I am relieved that I was able to have my 5th TCH yesterday. I hope I don't see the doc that gives me all the warnings about delays before the next tx. I think she feels like her warnings are to help, but all it does is freak me out. My liver enzymes, which were a problem before the 3rd tx have been fine. White count always good thanks to neulasta. Platelets back to normal and hemoglobin low, but not bad. My potassium is still a little low so I have to take 3 pills a day now and he put me on 800 mgs of magnesium, gee thanks chemo!! After the tx he told the nurse to do a port draw to test for vitamin D deficiency. Yes, another pain in the butt, but at least it didn't cause a delay. And the ingrown toenail I was worried about is okay. I got on line and found what to do and I did it myself!!! I relieved it about 50% so I didn't even discuss it with the doc even though the nurse told me I should. I'm going to repeat the process again today and I think it'll eliminate going to the doctor. I never had anything hurt as bad as it did the last time. I think the doctor didn't like me or something.
Shelb, downward shedding dog is a good yoga name and I certainly remember what your talking about. I have 2 shih tzu's but they don't shed either and I knew I couldn't blame it on my tiger cat. I still remember the hair in my mouth all night long. I have a wonder 1/4" of peach fuzz on the head and for some reason it makes me feel better. It is bare and smooth all around the hairline though. Probably from my wig rubbing. I do so love my wig. I wear a sleep cat to bed, put on a pre-tied scarf when I get up. After 2 cups of coffee I put my wig on and I take it off minutes before I go to bed. I get great compliments and I never even think about it. It doesn't itch anymore than when I had a full head of hair. It doesn't slip around like scarves and since I can style it, it doesn't always look the same. I actually love not having to dry and style it. I still can't wait for hair, but I have no problems dealing with it otherwise.
Sorry to be rambling on but the steriods are to blame. I got less than 4 hours sleep and I feel find. The new list of meds for this time is unbelievable, but I'm glad they're still working to find something for my severe nause I'll be getting by this weekend. One thing is to continue taking a decadron every single day, so who knows how much sleep I'll be getting.
I agree with donalee, ports are wonderful. I see people occassionally getting poked in the arm for their infusions and they have so many more problems. I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't want one. I sleep on my stomach too and never even think about it.
How much decadron, if any, do each of you get with your treatments? I'd really love to know. Mary
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Mary,
I take deca. 8mg twice a day the day before, day of, and day after chemo. I skip the night of chemo because they give it to me in the IV bag. They don't know that though! It makes me soo jumpy and I can't sleep at all!
Im going to a new Onc. for my 2nd chemo and for the rest because it is closer to home. They just gave me another med. it's Emend 80mg.for nausea. I have to take one pill the day after chemo, then the next day. (2 pills $175.00!! Thanx to my co-pay I only paid $20.00 for two pills!!!!!) I asked the nurse why I needed another med. because I have a prescription for compazine which I never took. She said "you don't want an allergic reaction to Taxotere." I had no nausea the first time just tons of indigestion and bloating! Maybe the 2nd chemo is going to be worse?
Donalee
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Donalee....It's funny, they prescribed Emend for me for the second one, too. But I had adverse reactions to the little gross white things that melt in your mouth. And compazine didn't help that much. Hmmm.
Mary...After awhile, I think we'll all be able to tell when one of us is on steroids by the length of our posts! Except me. But writing is breathing for me. I was tickled with your Freudian slip: "I wear a 'sleep cat' to bed". Maybe you just wish something that furry was on your head. A "sleep cat"...that's great. My hair is now coming out by the handfuls. It's actually comforting to pull it out, because my head still feels "crawly". I am not looking forward to having "Number 2" next week. I'm scared it will be as bad or worse than the first. I had a couple really gnarly days. So I'm continuing to run around, spending time with friends, before the kids get out of school and my quality of life asymtotically approaches zero again.0 -
Shel...I have treatment #2 tomorrow and I'm scared too so I know how you're feeling. You remember my first reaction because of the Neulasta I'm sure. I hope that both of us will get through this Ok. Maybe if treatment #2 isn't as bad (now that they've adjusted your meds, etc.) for us then we'll feel better about #3. Fingers crossed!!
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Hi. I know exactly how you are feeling!!
I had a double mastectomy with breast reconstruction (expanders, which will be replaced with breast implants in August) in early April. 3 weeks later, I began my chemo. Herceptin every week, every three weeks steroids, Herceptin, Taxotere, and Carboplatin, then next day a shot of Neulasta. My biggest fear of all of this, was losing my hair!! I admit it!!
I was advised to cut my hair short, then shave it when my hair begins ot fall out so it wouldn't be such a shock! I decided that is not what I wanted to do. I decided to wait until my hair began falling out, then I would shave my head. I bought a wig, some scarves, and some baseball hats. My hair began to fall out by "strands" (not clumps) on day 17 after my first "BIG" chemo (the every 3 week one). I decided to go ahead and shave my head. I cried, and cried!! It was very difficult for me!! Funny thing though..I have about a 1/2 inch growth of stubble..
I am 1/2 of the way through the BIG chemos. I have 3 more BIG treatments to go..I will be done in mid August with the BIG chemos, then I will have to have the Herceptin once every 3 weeks for one year.
I have adjusted to the fact that I have to wear a wig, scarves, and baseball hats, but I have to be honest..I still do not like it!! The hair loss was definitely the worst part of the chemo for me!!!
My worst days after the "BIG" chemos, are days 4-7..I feel extremely tired, on the verge of throwing up, heartburn, I feel as if I have a fever of 104 (without the fever..just wanting to sleep or sit), I have a taste of "salt" in my mouth, and everythng I eat or drink (even water) tastes like salt..weird!!.I just feel crummy!! Then I begin to slowly feel better, but it takes about a week after the BIG chemo to feel better.
Some other side effects: my bones ache, I feel VERY swollen and puffy. I have gained weight, without eating much at all!
I have discovered, though, that chemo effects everyone differently.
I wish you all the luck in the world, and know that you are not alone!!!
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kj1957...you and I are on the same treatment regimine except now they're switching me over to chemo every week instead of every 3 because I had such a bad reaction to the Neulasta last time and I guess with a weekly regimine I won't need it. My hair is just shedding in strands too, no big clumps lost but it's gotten very thin and I'm thinking it probably won't last until the weekend. I will shave it too when it gets bad and I know it will be hard. I did cut it super short hoping it would help and I'm starting to get used to the way my head/face looks without my hair. Get yourself some cute dangly earrings - you'll look adorable with your cap and earrings on, hair or no hair!
) That's what I'm going to do.I had some of the same side effects as you as well. The heartburn was BAD. Oh my GOD I thought I would burn up! I take Protonix now and it's completely gone. I bloated too for about a week. Boy was that an awful feeling. For me water tasted like tin. Crystal Light works though for getting fluds down. The bone pain from the Neulasta was the worst. By day 7 I was back in the hospital being treated for unbearable pain. I'm told my reaction was unusual and that most folks don't react like that to it. Thank God for that! I wouldn't want anybody else to have to go through that! After the day in the hospital I was pretty much back to normal. We'll see how treatment #2 goes!!
Aly.
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Well girls, Number 5 is over for me. One more to go! Today is day 4 so I am on the couch writing this. Just had a little nap, kids are taking care of each other and the puppy.
I am pleasantly surprised that I have not needed to take a anti-nasuea pill yet today. Could my body becoming adapt to this poison? If it is, it better not get too comfortable! Feeling short of breath, probably low red counts, fatigue, headache, lack of taste etc. I cut down on the steroids again this time and my doc said it was okay to cut them in half. Yippee!!!
I am not looking forward to the last treatment. The smell in the hospital is just becoming unbearing. I smell it the weekend before I go now! The tape, the alcohol wipes, yuck! I don't know how I will feel just having to go in for Herceptin. I wish they had a pill form for that one.
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Hey Aly,
I love Issaquah! I used to take my 3 daughters to the U of W softball summer camp there every summer! That was years ago, though..they are in their 20's now!
Yes. I have met several women who are going through the same treatment, but our side effects are always bit different. It is so nice to talk to people to are going through the same experience, as at times it can be a very loney journey!!
I am SOO sorry to hear about the pain you experienced! That must have been horrible!!
How is your blood pressure and heart rate? I have been having problems with high blood pressure. Also, I am experiencing rapid heart beat problems. I have a drs. appointment with my primary physician later today to look into this, as I have never had high blood pressure and I have never experienced this weird rapid heart beat problem.
Thank you for your advice (crystal light, etc..)
I hope your #2 treatment goes smoothly for you!!! Take care!!
More later!!
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Hey, can someone tell me what neulasta is. i am on the same meds as the rest of you, Tax, Carb, and Herceptin. I am going for my 2nd chemo tomorrow, but i haven't heard a thing about this drug. It doesn't sound like it is very pleasent. Thanks for an answer.
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Neulasta is a shot that is given to boost bone marrow production -- increase your WBCs in particular to avoid infection. It's a very expensive shot ($3700 according to the nurse at the cancer center i go to). Not everyone gets the shot -- I think it just depends on your doctor and the place where you get your treatment.
I never got the shot and, based on the distaste in my fellow chemo patients who had to get one, I was glad not to get one. My counts were low mid-cycle but I never got sick or had treatment delayed because my counts were too low on treatment day.
Terri.
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Aly: I hope the weekly tx helps keep your counts up and you can avoid the Neulasta! I get the achy-breaky bones afterwards, but your reaction was awful! Good luck!
Shelbaroni: The song lyrics continue to crack me UP! We'll all be in the audiene cheering for you when you receive your Tony for Chemo, the Musical.
This weekend, my daughter found, of all things, a hairless cat in our yard. We brought it in since leaving it out in our desert-landscaped front yard in Phoenix in June would be the same as placing it in a roasting pan in the oven in a more temperate climate. Anway, every single family member came up with the amazingly clever name of Chemo for her even though I pointed out that she at least had peach fuzz on her freaky little body unlike their beloved wife/mother. She was a little sweety, but we found her listed as missing on craigstlist, so she went home, and we now just have fuzzy animals and I am, again, the only baldie in the house.
Sue
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Suemed; Sorry about little "Chemo". It sounds like she could have been a beloved family pet. Maybe you should buy one of those hairless kitties.
KJ: I had a lymphatic massage today, which is something I discovered while recovering from my mastectomy. The therapist was telling me today that she treats people all the time who get edema from chemo with MIRACULOUS RESULTS! You might want to see if there's a lymphatic massage therapist in your area. Maybe your onco office can recommend one.
Hey...you guys. I'm just 15 days out from my first treatment, and about 50% of my hair is gone. I'm I doing something wrong here? I seem to have an accellerated version of it, yeah? Anybody else start shedding big time as early as day 12-13?
Also, I've had some late stomach upset the last couple days...cramping and a bit of nausea. Anyone else have it this late in the cycle?
Aly...you're first on my prayer list tomorrow. I have a feeling this one's going to be much easier. I'm hoping mine will, too.
Gotta go make dinner. My midday nausea was "cured" by level 10 Thai food...go figure.0 -
kj1957 (what is your name, by the way?)....How cool that you know Issaquah! We love it here. It's so green and beautiful although it's losing it's "small town" charm. They've built up so much and the traffic is getting horrible! Still, I feel lucky to be close to Overlake Hospital, they are a top rated hospital nationwide so I know I'm getting good care.
) Are you from Washington State as well? If so, where are you being treated?Terri....I can certainly verify the cost of the Neulasta, we just got our statement yesterday. $3,900!! OUCH!! That makes the total chemo treatment more than $16,000. Jeez, my insurance paid $4k for something that nearly took me out entirely? I must be nuts. Oh no, please! Give me more poison, I love it!!
)Debets...Don't judge Neulasta by my reaction if they do suggest it for you. I had a very unusual one, so I'm told by my Oncologist. Most folks just get a bit achy and can control it with Tylenol, etc.
Sue...you are too funny! I'm glad kitty found her way back home. Didn't you just love the way she felt? Those Egyptian Hairless cats have the softest feel to them. I'm a kitty freak. I could easily become a crazy cat lady, no problem at all (we have 5 currently). I'll let you know how my treatment goes this time. I hope the weekly thing will work out for me as well.
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Shel...our posts just crossed again.
) Thanks for the prayers, I appreciate it!! I hope this one will be easier too.I started noticing hair loss on day 13 as well. And, I had the same stomach cramps for more than the first week after treatment. My hair is falling out like gangbusters now though (this is day 20). I'm sure I've lost 2/3 of it by now.
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Aly...thank you. I was wondering if I needed to go have an upper GI series or something. Sheesh....all I need are more medical tests. Too bad I don't have any more Thai food...but I did make curried chicken!
My husband came home, took one look at my hair and got the clippers. I am now the hairless cat of Mary's dreams. I have a pretty cute head, but somehow I got a heinous scar on the back of my head...don't know how it got there. Must have happened in college (early '70's). I don't know how people can keep their long hair. I would just be sitting there pulling it out all day, like Job sitting on his ash heap scraping his boils. (I know the visuals on that one are a bit strong.) Anyway--here's to a great tomorrow! Just think, you have your port now, so it'll be easier.0 -
Shel,
I wasn't feeling well this time the day after my herceptin.(That's funny I think it was day 15!) It's the week before my next chemo and I was feeling great bfore that. I thought I was over the worst. I'm just soo tired and these nagging headaches are really pissing me off! Oh and to top it off, I had to have my tooth drilled and stuffed with temporary @##@t until chemo is over so that I can get another @#^$&in crown! God I hate dental work!
Sorry! Probably getting antsy for round 2 and a little sick of everyone asking how I am!!!
Aly, let us know how it goes tomorrow. I'll be thinking happy thoughts for you, REALLY!! I'm gonna try!!!
Donalee(How about all these exclamation marks!?)
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Shel,
You look great! I'll send you mine, did it two days ago!
We're such Star Trek Babes!!!
Donalee
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Donalee...so you had the tummy thing too? Yeah, and I feel just a little not myself...like the eyes want to go a little half-mast like when yr fighting a virus or something. Is that the herceptin that does that? I'm so glad I don't have any dental work in progress. I'm supposed to go for a cleaning next month (I'm on a 3 month rotation), and the nurse said I could do it; but after the mouth hassles I've had this cycle, I think I'm going to punt until I'm all done, cuz I'm only having four. YOU LOOK SO CUTE BALD. OH MY GOD! I actually have one pointed ear, so my husband was calling me Spock. So I've gone from "Red" to "Pee Wee" to "Spock" all in the space of three weeks. It's enough to give a girl an identity crisis! Tomorrow I'm going to work on my painting of "my eye view" of the infusion pump. I'm going to attempt to superimpose my onco doc's face on the IV bag and put the crossbones under it. I don't know if I'm technically good enough to paint this thing, but I'm sure going to try. I'll probably do some more photogs of his face next Thursday, since I don't really like the ones I took the first time.
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Wed. June 25 will be my 4th chemo TCH. For the past two days my arm hurts alot. I think its cording that runs down the inside upper arm through my elbow towards the outer arm down to the wrist. It has me totally freaked out . I have an appointment with LE therapist on July 9. Why all of a sudden my arm feels like it did 1 week out of surgery. Was wondering if maybe it is a bit swollen from the taxotere. Maybe thats why it feels the way it does. Does anyone else notice any swelling from the chemo? Its so hard to figure out what to do for it. There is so little info about what happens after axillary disection.Its making me depressed-I have been crying alot. I am such a wimp sometimes. When I was diagnosed-the thing I dreaded the most was that I may have to have a axillary disection.
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tomatojuice: I have had problems with cording also, and I only had 3 lymph nodes removed. Sometimes I could see the stupid cord, and the pain went from my pit down to my thumb. My onc just kept saying, "It'll go away." He said it would be a good idea to see a physical therapist, but he wasn't too concerned. Anyway - I had the SNB in February, and the cording HAS just gone away in the last few weeks. I hope it doesn't come back. Hopefully yours will go away on its own, but if not, I'm sure the LE therapist can help you. This really is a painful condition, and I wish the very best to you.
Sue
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HEY GIRLS!
I know I fell off the planet - it has been a crazy week and there are soooo many messages that I missed! I feel like I have been gone forever!
As some of you know, I split my time between my family in Maine and my FIANCEE (did I tell everyone that I got engaged back in March? Can I blame this on Chemo Brain even though I finished TC back in October?) in Nebraska. Usually, I fly, but this last trip my mom and I drove out with her pampered puppy - and we were due to drive back east last Thursday. But...it appeared that the state of Iowa had turned into a lake - and I-80 was closed until Tuesday. They had a detour in effect, but it was 130 miles EXTRA and largely state highways that were now taking on ALL I-80 traffic!
So we were "stranded" - although I have to say that I was happy right where I was - and we kinda lived day-to-day waiting to see if we would start our journey east. We left Tuesday and have made it as far as Boston, where we have some family and should be back in Maine in a few days.
Glad to see that some new faces have found us - and that Empress Butthead (I couldn't help that one!) is still singing!
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Shel and Donalee I just had to say that you both look adorable! I'll post my new photo too when I finally get the buzz. I'm just holding out until tomorrow so I can give my onc and my chemo nurse the "nah nah-nah nah nah, I still have haaaaiiiirrr" razzberry because they both told me it'd all be gone by now.
)Cheers everybody!
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Nan...Good to see you're back. I'm glad you didn't drown in Iowa. My 16 year old son is there now, at church camp. Speaking of camp, did you see our Camp Chemo song? I know the bridge will come to me when I go back on decadon next Wednesday. Empress Butthead...hmmm. I think it fits the new hair(less)do.
Donalee...ComicCon is coming to San Diego. I'm tempted to go as an alien. Do they teach Romulen or Klingon at Berlitz?0 -
alymarie, thanks for getting back to me about the neulasta, now i know why i see the nurses teaching some people how to give themselves shots. Where i get my chemo (My husband calls me chemosobby) there are six people all sitting together, At first i thought (OH NO) this is such a private thing, but soon realized , it was the greatest to talk to all the people who are going through this together.
TF80209 I also thank you for getting back to me about the neulasta, I am sorry you had such a reaction. I had a bad time with my port, but didn't want to mentions it, because i did read where one of the ladies was getting one and didn't want to scare her. It was just that I had alot of pain after words, and when i went to get the first chemo, the nurses could not find it, (It was my fault, I was raising my arm to much and it swelled the port area) which is in my chest. They had to dig and dig, but I also want to say , this was unusual, so anyone reading this, pleast don't get worried. I still believe it is a great thing, because i have viens that are really hard to get.
Anyway thanks for listening, I want to get back to all again, so until that time have the greatest of days, and remember, this is only a bump in the road of life.
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Debets,
I love the "chemosobby" title! That's perfect I think for everyone.hahaha.
I just moved my chemo from a place with two to a room to a huge room with everyone sitting in a half circle. I go Monday and will let you know how it goes. It looks strange!
Donalee
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I guess I'm lucky. There are only 2 chairs in my infusion room, and I didn't even have to share the first time so my husband and daughter could be there with me. Yeah, this is a "bump in the road" where there used to be a "lump in my breast"....oh no, there might be another song coming on. My bald head is starting to glow...
Hey you guys, remember "Pee Wee's Playhouse"? Remember Jambi, that creepy fortune-teller guy? I have a green turban. If I painted my face blue (?) I could be Jambi. Mekkalekkahi mekkahineho. Mekkalekkahi mekachoniho.
Aly, I'll keep you in my heart today. No surprises, no reactions to anything. Smooth sailing!0 -
Wow, so many posts since my long winded one. Thanks to only 3-1/2 sleeps the night of my tx (steriods of course) I was too tired to do much yesterday. I'm still on a good size dose, but thanks to one ativan last night I slept over 8 hours, so I feel much better.
donalee, I asked once if I get sick because of a possible allergic reaction to taxotere and the onc said no, it's just I get more nausea than most, lucky me.
The sleep cat story was cute, I felt like mine was a "sleep cat cap" before I shaved my head thanks to all the hairs in it each morning.
KJ, my bad days are day 4 thru 10. Day 4 is tomorrow. Each tx the nausea starts sooner and last a little longer. I look at my schedule as only one more treatment, but 2 more times of being sick ugh.
Suemed, that chemo cat storing is freaky, must be a sign. Glad the owners found him/her though.
Sounds like a lot of you are just starting to loose your hair. It was pretty draumatic for me in the beginning, but I have no problems now. I love and feel totally comfortable in my wig and wear it all day. I hate scarves!!!!
Tomatojuice, hope you get the answers to your arm problems. Hope it gets better soon.
Nan, don't think I've ever talked to you before, but congratulations on your engagment, that's very exciting!!!!
Debets, I have never had any kind of reaction whatsoever to the neulasta shot and my white count has always been fine. I really still have almost as much energy as I did before all this crap started. I guess I make up for that good fortune with the prolonged nausea I get. Hopefully the new stuff I'll start tomorrow will help.
If I'm not around, hope everybody has a good weekend and God Bless, Mary
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Shelbaroni: Thank you for the information re lympatic massage. I'll look into that, as I love ANY massge!! I love your entries!! You mae me laugh, and laughter is wonderful medicine!!
Aly: My name is Kris. I lived in Oregon (Milwaukie/Clackamas/Gresham areas) most of my life, so I know the Northwest like the back of my hand!! I love the Northwest!! I moved to the Bay area (just a temp 4 year move until retiring to Oro Valley, Arizona...suburb of Tucson) a couple of years ago. I live in the Redwood City/San Carlos area. TOO different than what I am used to, so I am counting down the days until my final move to Arizona!! I am used to owning land, horses next door, etc.. Weather is nice here..that is about it, though!! Just too different than what I am used to and what I like!! I miss my 1 acre of land, Christmas Tree Farms up the street, strawberry fields down the road, landscaping farms nearby, etc.. and the QUIET!! I miss Oregon very much, with the exception of the rain!! My entire famiy lives in either Washington or Oregon, with the exception of my brother who is a Professor at Cal State Northridge, and my mother who is a retired teacher from Oregon who relocated to Tucson. But for now, I am here and "it is what it is" for a while!
I have received EXCELLENT care down here, though! I go to the Palo Alto Medical Clinic right across the street from Stanford University. EXCELLENT doctors!!! If one is sick, this is the place to be!!
I hope your chemo wasn't too unpleasant today!!
Oh..almost forgot to mention..last Thursday (one day after my BIG chemo #3) I was eating salad, and my crown just fell off of one of my front teeth!! I had to go to an emergency dental appointment early in the AM the next day and have a temp. crown constructed. I also had to make an appointment with a periodontist. I contacted my oncologist, and was given the "ok" and a perscription of heavy duty antibiotics to take. I went to the periodontist this last Wednesday to have my gums prepared for a new crown. 3 stitches in the gum. It wasn't bad, though. That same afternoon, I had the little chemo (the weekely Herceptin) treatment. Needless to say, I was in tears that night, because at times, I feel like a pin cushion!! And I really did not need a "dental emergency" at this point in time!! I am half way thinking the chemo is doing something to my gums..why would my crown just fall off?? Very strange..could be just coincidence...
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Mary: Sounds like our bad days are very similar! I have never had a bad reaction to the Neulasta, either..The bones in my legs and my feet ache..like an arthritic type of ache, but nothing really bad! I feel so sorry for those who have had bad reactions!!
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