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Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

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Comments

  • elaineg
    elaineg Member Posts: 85
    edited December 2010

    AmyIsStrong thank you so much that is a great encouraging post.  I am going to stop reading now that I heard that and just wait until my time for rads, hopeful I will have a similar post when I am done!

  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited December 2010
    Yes, thanks AmylsStrong - Good to hear that about the port removal - I am looking forward to that next Aug-Sept.  I wrote down your suggestion about whey and calendula.  Rads for me will start in Jan.
  • allisontom911
    allisontom911 Member Posts: 99
    edited December 2010

    Hi gals, the subject of rads came up. I hate radiation. I had it from mid-june until the first week of august and maybe it was because it was so hot and humid but I was miserable. I burned really bad and oozed and so on. At least chemo I only felt bad a couple of days every 3 weeks.

    Rads didn't really make me feel bad until about 3 weeks in. It probably didn't help I had a mastectomy in May, then 2 back surgeries then rads...lol

    Juts my .02 but I thought chemo was much more doable!

  • IowaSue45
    IowaSue45 Member Posts: 422
    edited December 2010

    iI think I said before I have been getting herceptin weekly, thought I'd be every three weeks now that I am done with TC but found out today I will still be getting herceptin weekly til radiation is over 1st week in Feb. Really? I'm thinking this is because I was a very strong her2neu.

    On constipation, I have tried naturally but for a stool softer starting the night before chemo has a lot.

  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited August 2013
    Sue - I think the original protocol was herceptin weekly.  They compared the every 3 week with weekly and they had the same effect. Both schedules are equally effective, at least that is what my onc said.
  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited December 2010

    Sue I am highly (like 15) HER2+ and I only get Herceptin every 3 weeks for a year including the every 3 week chemo. I think if you get it weekly you don't get as high a dose.

  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited December 2010
    Lago - I agree, if it is weekly it is a smaller dose.
  • IowaSue45
    IowaSue45 Member Posts: 422
    edited August 2013

    idk how the doeses go but I heard them say my herceptin 140 was the amount.I thought they told me once it is all based on you weight. But i can see why the would give lower amount with it being weekly but its kind of a pain have to drive the 35 miles weekly if I could go every 3.

  • TonLee
    TonLee Member Posts: 1,589
    edited December 2010

    I start TCH tomorrow.  The Nuelasta is optional.  Onc really doesn't recommend it unless my counts drop.

    Last week they were low because I was on antibiotics.  Today I did more blood work, if they are still 3 then I will have to get Neulasta...

  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited December 2010
    Sue - My herceptin looks like it is 457 mg every 3 weeks which is very close to 140x3=420.
  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited December 2010
    TonLee - I had neulasta.  I took claritin starting the day of the shot and continuing for about 8-9 days.  The neulasta is time-release nupogen I think and it releases for about 10 days (someone please correct me if I don't have that right).  I started taking tylenol the day after the shot and took it regularly for about 3-4 days then I would taper off.  If something was still hurting, ususally for me it was my back and hip, I would keep taking it.  I did pretty good with the claritin and tylenol, some achyness.  But as with all these things each person is different!!!
  • TonLee
    TonLee Member Posts: 1,589
    edited December 2010

    @ Lago, I will get Herceptin every week for the first 18 weeks, then every 3 after that.  I will check the doseage....

  • TonLee
    TonLee Member Posts: 1,589
    edited December 2010

    Omaz, that is what the ONC nurse said today...the generic form of Claritin!! lol....I already take it every day of my life for allergies...and can easily add another dose of it (Dr orders this when allergies are really bad...which I never had unless I live in Ohio...)...Is Ibuprofen ok?  I prefer it...Tylenol never really works for me.

  • michcon
    michcon Member Posts: 121
    edited December 2010

    TonLee

    My onc nurses told me I could only take Tylenol, which made my first round of chemo and the nuelasta shot so awful, I didn't know how I could continue. Well... talked to the doctor and he told me it wasn't a problem to take something like Aleve. Aleve is my friend now along with Zyrtec. I take Zyrtec the day before chemo and then for the next week or so to help with the reaction to that darn nuelasta shot. Also, Aleve starting the day after chemo. My onc said it wasn't an option, had to have the shot. I blame most of my aches on it. Tylenol does nothing for me when it comes to aches or really anything. 

    My reactions since the first chemo have been much less. #4 was a bit hard to recover from, but #5 wasn't as bad. We'll see how the final #6 is next week!

    Also, to those talking about Rads. I'll be starting in January and after reading up on it, I'm a bit scared. Chemo is awful, but like someone said, at least the side effects were over after a few days. Rads sound awful. Burning your skin!

  • TonLee
    TonLee Member Posts: 1,589
    edited December 2010

    Mich-THANKS...I am the same way with Tylenol.

    Congrats on almost being done.....

  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited December 2010
    Michcon - I'll be starting rads with you in Jan.
  • IowaSue45
    IowaSue45 Member Posts: 422
    edited December 2010

    I start rad jan. 3, I ask today what the se would be like and she told me like a sunburn and i told her I tan lol and she said some do get a tan from it so I suppose depends on what your skin does in the sun. I'm still doing the happy dance after having my last TC today. What a wonderful feeling.

  • michcon
    michcon Member Posts: 121
    edited December 2010

    Yay Omaz! Someone I know to keep on the journey! At least I feel like I know you...

    Have you joined any Rads sites yet? I've been reading the Nov and Dec Rads. I get so annoyed with the health system. I called a few weeks back to get going with the Radiologist and they actually said, well, just come in when chemo is done or whenever you like. I'm like what? I need you to tell me when I should come in. Arghhhhh.... anyway, I made an appt for next week, day after chemo to discuss what my treatment will be and how to get going. When I met with him way back in July he said 6 - 7 weeks, didn't give any specifics.  My onc told me to start 3 - 4 weeks after chemo.  Getting through chemo has been hard and now something else to go through... Thank god for these message boards!

  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited December 2010
    Michcon - Looks like you and me and Sue too!  No I haven't even looked at the rads groups at this point.  I hoping for a tan as well!
  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited December 2010

    TonLee Don't take Aleve or Ibuprofen unless you check with your onc. It thins your blood…

    That said I take Zyrtec everyday and the night before, day of and day after nuelasta I take Aleve. It makes a huge difference. I could take narcotics but those will give you constipation and as you knkow many of us have that issue right around the same time.

    You onc might want you to wait on Nuelasta because some do get SE but also it's very expensive ant therefore some insurance companies don't cover it or initally refuse to cover it. Mine covered it.

    OK off to chemo #4 (of 6). Chat latter. Good luck to everyone else going in today.

  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited December 2010
    Best wishes for an event-free infusion Lago!
  • taranebraska
    taranebraska Member Posts: 18
    edited December 2010

    I finished #5 last Friday.  I have yet to have a neulasta shot, although they cut my carboplatin back to 80% dose on #4 because it dropped my platelets way too low, but I guess they bounced back for #4, then just upped 2% for #5.  I'm surprised some ONCs are saying you have no choice but to take it, but perhaps there's something in a person's bloodwork that tips the ONCs off to needing it.

    During Day 3-6, I feel like crap.  I've finally started taking off work to baby myself.  I've got the eye twitch, and holding my finger on the eyelid does it for me!  I've got jiggles.  It feel like my kidneys or liver are shuddering, and it only does it on my hardest days, then tapers off retty well if I stay away from caffeine.  Anyone else have jiggles?

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited August 2013

    Just got back from chemo. As usual no events. My once had me suck on ice for Taxotere because my tongue was very sore last time. She said it may help. She also said my nails that hurt might fall off. Another present from Taxotere. :(

    People laugh at me about the holding down eyelids but it really does stop th twitch. Not to bad today. Eyeliner looks good.

    BTW my Herceptin is just under 360gm every three weeks.

  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited December 2010
    Lago - Glad it went well.  My herceptin is more I think because I weigh probably quite a bit more, around 165 but they are in the same ballpark.
  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited December 2010

    I was 130 but this visit 133. You must also be taller. At least I know that chemo is based on weight and height. Something about surface area of you body.

    I actually lost 4 lbs overnight! Yes the steroids actually keep me from bloating. Once I'm off I'll balloon 5 lbs in 2 days.

  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited December 2010
    Lago - I'm 5'9"
  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited December 2010

    See I knew you were taller. Also I have a small frame.

  • lexyloohoo
    lexyloohoo Member Posts: 8
    edited December 2010

    So glad I jumped on the Neulasta is kicking my butt.  Told a friend that the chemo was nothing compared to the shot.  Will have to try the claritin the next time.  Can deal with the achyness but the chills stink.  on day 5 after the shot so hopefully things will turn around soon.  Tylnelol takes the edge off but not much more.  Oh well live and learn and hopefully next cycle will be better.  Have a great night ladies.  :)

  • lexyloohoo
    lexyloohoo Member Posts: 8
    edited December 2010

    My rad onco was the same way basically until chemo is done they just consult with you and have me coming back 2 weeks after last chemo.  Like my rad onco so will go back in March and start with 5 days 5 weeks.  So funny though they will have to deflate my right TE to get the right angle on the left side.

  • lexyloohoo
    lexyloohoo Member Posts: 8
    edited December 2010

    Hey ladies have a few questions for anyone that has insight or suggestions.  had my first cycle last week.

    So what are you guys doing to prevent getting colds and that?  Really feel I am over paranoid.

    When did your hair start falling out?

    Did anyone else have a really bad reaction to the tape uses on thier port?

    Thanks for any infor.

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