Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
Comments
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Lago - LOL - Won't do that while driving......0
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Betty - I notice that things slip out of my 'to do' short term memory more often than they normally do. For example, I'll walk in the house and think that I need to call so and so and by the time I have my shoes off it has completely slipped my mind. I don't even have the feeling that I forgot something. That's unusual for me, it doesn't happen a lot, just from time to time. I also find myself making more typing errors that I don't catch, even when I have proofread something. I just feel like I need to be so careful with my work and double/triple check everything.0
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Lago, I had to laugh about putting your finger on your eyelid...
About hair regrowth, mine is growing back already. Actually, after the initial "it's gone", it started growing back. I don't have to shave my armpits, but my legs are back to about every other day, at least every 3rd day. Prior to chemo, I had to shave every day, so I was looking forward to not shaving. Hair on my head - I buzz cut it about week 3 or so to about 1/8 inch (as short as I could buzz it with clippers and not be afraid of cutting myself). I now have probably 1/2 inch or so hair. I wonder if the onc. had started me at the lower dose (after 1st tx, my dosage was reduced by 30% due to SE's), if I might not have even lost my hair??? Weird...
Monday's TCH is posponed to Wed. next week due to my forgetting to make my appointment...Thursday I have an echocardiogram at 2pm. The good thing about the chemo being postponed is that I should feel decent the weekend, and December weekends are pretty important to me. Bad thing is that we've been closing our business on Mondays, but next week it will be Wednesday and half of Thursday. And the following week, my feel horrible days will be Monday (which I'll be off), and Tuesday, which I am scheduled to work. Maybe by some miracle I won't feel as awful at the end of the cycle this time?!?!? Sometimes owning your own business sucks!
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Omaz - I told my husband that on chemo weeks I don't need to make ANY important decisions! LOL! He laughs about it most of the time, but when I do really stupid stuff - like totally forgetting to place an order for materials we need for work... It's SOOOO frustrating to me - for me it's probably the worst side effect (except the butt-kicking exhaustion on days 6 & 7).
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For twitching I've heard bananas idk.
I'm still pouting, yesterday was supose to be my last TCH,but it got changed to Mon. because the cancer clinic was closed Fri. after Thanksgiving which made my herceptin on Mon. so I couldn't have TCH four days later. Throws off everything because now I will be dealing with the se all week and trying to work when normally I spend most of the weekend after TCH resting and in bed. I know stop whining its the last one. Do most of you have herceptin on the weeks between chemo? I will be glad it will be herceptin every three weeks after Mon.The appointments never seam to end.
I am also wondering for those that had mastectomies, what did or are you going to have reconstruction? Today I got my appointment for reconstruction set up for Feb. 16th.
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IowaSue - My TCH was every three weeks all at once, didn't have the weekly herceptin. I think weekly herceptin was the original protocol.0
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Sorry to be such a whiner today - but I want to blame my symptoms on the correct 'part' of the TCH - so, which one is responsible for the bloody nose thing? I can't remember!0
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I picked up some nasal saline gel for at wal mart, it helps my nose a lot.
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IowaSue - Ok, I'll try that! Sorry your chemo was delayed, that's a bummer with work and all!!0
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I just ordered 2 tankini from lands'end, they have some really good prices. You have to look under their overstocked. We do a pool party with our big bunch of 8 kids + 6 spouses + 14 grandkids. Yes party room and pool makes for great x-mas. I didn't have a mastectomy suit yet because when I was looking before I only saw spendy ones. Today I hit the swimsuit jockpot.
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Sue - Pool party for Christmas! Skiing for 4th of July?0
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Omaz the bloody nose is Herceptin. I get it on day 8 and it stops about a week later. I use a little Vaseline up the nose and it helps.
bbryant04 You may laugh about the finger on lid to stop the twitch but I've been dealing with this for at least a month. Sometimes you just need the break.
So does anyone have nail issues? I have two toe nails that have turned black underneath. No big deal but lets just hope it stays on the toes. My real issue is my under my thumb nails, index finger nails and left middle finger nail hurt when I press them. Granted it may not sound like an issue but it hurts to turn on my electric toothbrush, press closed or even open a zip lock bag.
BTW my lashes are starting to go. My lower ones especially. Good thing I have big eyes and I know how to put on eyeliner.
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Lago - I don't know if it will help now, but for your last 2 taxotere infusions maybe think about keeping your hand and foot nails cold. I bought insulated lunch sacks at Target and filled them with frozen peas then put on lightweight socks and gloves and kept my fingers and toes cold during the taxotere infusions. Here is the reference:
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Thanks. It might be worth a try. BTW Tuesday is #3 of 6. I have 3 more including this Tuesday.
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lago ... I had problems with my nails on this chemo treatment. The first sign was just pain, as you described. It effected my ring fingers and pinkys on both hands. They started to turn dark at the nail bed and then, after a week or so, the nail started to lift from the tip of my nail towards the nail bed. I filled small zip lock backs with ice and would soak my fingers in the ice for as long as I could stand. Then I'd take them out of the ice for a bit and then repeat the process 3 or 4 times. Probably did that 4 or 5 times a day for a few weeks. Eventually, sorry I can't remember how long it took, the nail grew out and I never lost one completely.
Hope this helps!
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Lago, hopefully I didn't offend you with my comment about laughing...I know the twitching is aggravating. I have it too, in fact, I wear my glasses more than contact lenses now because my eyes bother me. Eye lashes and eyebrows are thinner, but still hanging on... Nails seem to be okay. I have some white spots, and the "half-moons" seem to be larger, but no biggie. Mid-January will be here soon...
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Betty I was joking in the first place about finger on lid but I do do it. I mean it is a pretty funny image.
Seriously I'm the one who says I look like a balding transvestite after I apply makeup (before I put my scarf on). Without makeup- Gollum. Yeah I'm all about the laughs, smiles and jokes. It's the only way to get through this.
Thanks Bec
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I'm about the jokes, too... It's either laugh or cry, and I prefer to laugh... (Although I cry sometimes, too)...
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I stopped crying once I had my BMX. Guess I feel that the cancer had been removed. The crap I'm doing now is just insurance.
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Omaz I will be skiing 4th of July ....water skiing, I am a fish out of water. LOL I love water.
I'm getting ready to do the happy dance, last TC of TCH tomorrow Yippee!!! Super glad to be done with the rest of you !!! I'm still wondering how radiation is going for those having rad. I'm sure is must be a piece of cake compared to the poison.
Hope all you ladies have a good week!! Hugs and prayers
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Congratulations Sue on your LAST TC!!0
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Hello Ladies,
I started TCH last Thursday. I am having 6 rounds, then 1 year of Herceptin. My worst day was Saturday, I am blaming neulasta on that one. So far, not so bad, any tips on the constipation issue? I broke down last night and drank magnesium citrate, let's just say I do not want to repeat that evening! I have been dilligent with senekot, eating oatmeal, activia yogurt, and drinking fluids. I wound up with severe stomach cramps. I have never paid this much attention to my bathroom habits!!!!!
Glad to find all of you, it seems this is the place to come when I want someone to understand what it is like!
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Sunflower. I too ate lots of veggies, eat dried apricots everyday. probiotic in my yogurt, drank lots of water and even took Milk of Magnesia but I still had the worst constipation round 2. I finally took Metamucli to get things moving. Round 3 I took the Metamucil the night before since now I know when the constipation will start. Worked like a charm. (Also note that I do have IBS so constipation can be an issue if I don't eat right anyway.)0
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Sunflower - for me, even without constipation I still had what I called 'belly bloat' that was uncomfortable. I don't know which part of the TCH or steroids or anti-emetics were responsible for this but I got it everytime. For me it lasted a few days and with the last chemo was the worst. Just my 2 cents!
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Yes I too get belly bloat but it was much worst with constipation. I actually put on 4-5lbs in bloat in 2 days. This happens after I stop taking the steriods. Go figure.
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Sunflower71, for me the use of colace starting morning of chemo and then also at night helped. I had no luck even with prune overload etc.
Lago, I have not had the nail issue, but am about a week or so behind you so it may be on the way. The eye twitch has started to get really bad, just the left one so far but yes it is hard to apply makeup while twitching and tearing and I can't see anyway. I keep having thoughts of being so glad I'm halfway through, and then panic that I'm only halfway through. I am starting to dread the thought of rads next, somehow need to get myself back to one day at a time...
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elaine I'm not doing rads but I get to do 6 tx of chemo. Not sure what's worse. Seems every tx I get something new. I expect my lashes will be gone by the time I'm done. Just started to lose some on the bottom and already lost a few on top.
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Lago, I hope chemo is worse and rads will be a breeze. So far no eyelash or brow loss for me, i hope it stays that way but if not whatever... Can you re-share your potion for the bodywash and conditioner combo? I am too lazy to find that post. Thanks, dry skin is really itchy!!
On the positive side I will be done with any surgeries. Except port removal next year post herceptin...
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I still have reconstruction surgery after this but the BMX is done.
Dry skin "potion"
2/3 Dove body wash with 1/3 Sauve *hair conditioner.
*you can use any hair conditioner but this is what I use and it's really inexpensive
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Ladies - just a quick bit of encouragement re rads. After chemo it was NOTHING. Just a quick in-and-out visit to the center, lay under the machine for about 60 seconds, put your clothes back on and go about your day. I used calendula gel on my skin (but not very regularly, more sporadically) and didn't have any problems at all. Got a little red/tan at the end when the did the boosts, but no problem. And it faded completely over time.
I didn't notice ANY fatigue at all. It was really no big deal. I did eat some whey protein daily on the advice of my naturopathic doctor, which he said would help stimulate bone marrow growth (or something like that, cant' remember exactly) which could possibly be compromised by rads. Not a very articulate description - sorry! I mixed 1/4 cup with some applesauce and ate in every morning. Don't know if it helped or if I was just lucky re the fatigue. Or if, after chemo, it just isn't noticeable!
Also, re the port-removal surgery - it is a SUPER MINOR procedure. I wasn't even asleep. They just turned my head away, draped the area, put in some novocaine (or something like that) and make a small cut, pulled it out, sewed me up and stuck some of that clear tape over it to keep the incision closed. She took extra time with the stitching b/c I told her my daughter was getting married the next month and I was wearing a strapless dress - so she wanted me to have a nice scar. I brought her a photo of me in the dress to show how nice it looked and thank her. Actually I used some 'dermablend' cream which make the scar disappear completely on that day. But even now, the scar is very minimal and not something I mind at all. Port removal day is AWESOME. WHile I appreciated the port during treatment, it felt so good to have it gone! Definitely something to look forward to, not fear.
Hang in there ladies. I finished Herceptin in April of this year and already it feels like the whole thing happened ages ago. Day by day, you WILL get there!
Amy
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