Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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I don't have as many sugar cravings as I did before. I used to get them right before my period. Now in chemopause I don't have to worry about that. I still have that unopened package of Kotex I bought before chemo because they said no tampons during chemo.
OK I'm off to tx 5 in about an hour. Getting closer to the end of this!
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Good luck today Lago...I'm already here!!
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Today about 1 minute after the taxorterrible started, heart burn began. I am currently on Nexium, once a day...so I asked the nurse if it could possibly be working if the heartburn started so fast...she said, I don't know and acted like there was nothing she could do.
So, I told her to ask my Doc for something else. He gave me Zantac 150 mg twice a day....I have to research it and see....Prilosec isn't even being mentioned, I'm not sure why.
I'm tired today. Didn't sleep well last night even with Ambien.
The plastic surgeon sewed my wound up part way today in the surgery room after chemo....hope it doesn't get infected...my white blood count was down to 2 today....
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#5 was yesterday. For the first time, I was totally exhausted through the whole treatment - slept through most of it. Got home and was STIILL totally exhausted. Started some laundry, but that was the extent of my ability for anything physical. Sat on the couch and read and dosed till bed-time. Had to take nausea meds before I went to bed. I was really afraid that today would be a repeat, but actually, I feel pretty good today. Went to work, went to Neulasta, went back to work, getting ready to go home shortly. All this to say, for you ladies having #5 today, if you feel abnormally like crap when it's done, don't despair, because tomorrow will likely be a better day. And only 1 more to go!!!
I really feel blessed - there's so many nasty bugs going around here - my onco nurses said that they had to admit 8 patients to the hospital end of last week, and have had LOTS of folks have to cancel due to illnesses. Thanks to God, Neulasta, and good hygene (and my Onc. that gave me an antibiotic to start on if necessary two weeks ago), I have been able to escape most of the bad germs and stay on track. It would be awful to be this close to the end of the worst stuff and get knocked off schedule! I'm looking forward to having hair again by summer!!!!
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bbryant - Glad to hear it is going alright. The neulasta saved me from getting ill as well. I didn't go out much but I also didn't catch anything from my daughter and she did have a cold. I am very thankful for that as well. I hope tomorrow is as good a day for you as today! Happy New Year.
TonLee - What did the surgeon sew up? Don't forget to take you claritin or other med for the neulasta shot.
Lago - How did it go today?
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TONLEE what med did you end up with for your acid problem?0
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Just got back from Chemo. Chemo was uneventful... and I need a new name for Nurse Ratched. She was extremely nice and spent a lot of time with me.
I also visited a women from the Illinois thread who was just diagnosed with brain mets. We have the same BS but different oncs. She a triple- I'm a triple+ so it makes sense we don't have the same onc. She had a seizure yesterday and was admitted to the hospital so I just walk over to her building to visit. For a joke I bought her a balloon that said "Congratulations it's a girl". ;-) I personally didn't like the "Get well soon" ones. I wish they had a "I ♥ NED" one. I know I got her to laugh several times.
TonLee nothing was mentioned about Prilosuc because, well you know my feelings. I was once on Nexium years ago and it worked well for me. I'm no Protonix and we just added Carofate (sp). I had the Carofate a couple of years ago when Prilosuc & Protonix didn't work.
bbryant04 I hope I'm not tired tomorrow. I need to make the chili before my peppers go bad and I lose my sense of taste. I have been walking though. About 5 miles a day. 10 minute mile is not too shabby considering I have lights to wait for and there were some unshoveled slushy side walks.
OK I'm going out to dinner with friends. Gotta get out and enjoy before the steroids wear off. I have tonight & tomorrow!
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Chemo gals rememer the SE only last for several days. We can do this. Yes I have my metamucil out and on the counter to take tonight. Might even eat all veggie for dinner.
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Lago - 5 miles, 10 minute miles? You are amazing!0
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I walk very fast. I did the math. Googles said I did 5 miles. I walked straight for 50 minutes. If I was off it would be by no more than 10 minutes so that would still be a 12 minute mile (total 60 minutes). Still not too shabby for walking.
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lago - I use google to map routes too, great tool! Not too shabby at all! Were you able to ice your fingertips?0
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!
I haven't checked in here for a while, but see that there are many newbies taking their TCH journies. Hugs to all. I'm post Herceptin since last April and doing pretty well except for all the tissue and nerve damage from radiation (which was completed 4 January 2010).
I'm following in Lisa's footsteps. I've had so much pain in my entire left rib cage and axilla, but recently felt pain lower in my rib cage than normal. First thought...bone mets in my lower ribs. I walked around this way for three weeks because my beloved family physician of 30+ years died suddenly of a heart attack and I was without a doctor near by. (BS and Onco are both in Tampa-125 miles away). I called several doctors and had a hard time finding one that would take me on as a new patient, or accept Medicare (Thanks Mr. Obama), or were already on Holiday vacation. Finally found a GP who saw me within a hour of my call. He sent me for Xrays and discovered that I had two cracked ribs. Hello, Lisa!!
I found this Dr. very kind and compassionate. One of the first things he said to me was.."I know what is in the back of your mind...bone mets." What a comfort to know he knew what I was worried about. But he decided to eliminate other things first, ergo the xray. I was acctually GLAD it was cracked ribs! But to think I could walk around for 3 weeks with cracked ribs and chalk it up to scar tissue and nerve damage issues tells you how much pain I've been in. I had a double MX and my right side is fine.
Thanks for letting me vent. I'll be seeing my BS after the holidays and take him on when he suggested a nerve block procedure to reduce the pain from the scar tissue etc. I've already done 18 sessions of PT (message, stretching, TENS, exercise and Kenisio taping) to no avail and I don't want to be on Hydrocodone for the rest of my life. We might try accupuncture and as a last resort the nerve block.
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Omaz, I had a skin sparing mastectomy...it broke open back in October, and we've waited for it to heal on its own..it didn't, so today after chemo I went to the outpatient OR, he took out 50ccs of fluid from my expander, and he stitched it up, leaving two drain holes I have to pack and clean 3 times a day....Frankly I just can't wait for it to heal...3 months is a long time to have an open wound.
Lago, haha, yes I know how you feel about Prilosec...I actually don't mind that it isn't mentioned, just curious as to WHY.
Awesome walking....I'm tired today...hope to be up and feeling better tomorrow...only did 45 minutes on the cross trainer (no arms because of stitches)....blah.
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Starella
At first it was Nexium, but that didn't work...so now I am taking 150 mg twice a day of Zantac....we'll see how it goes this round....
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Swampy,
Wow. That's incredible. I can't even imagine the pain.
((Hugs))
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swampy - I have only had a first meet with my rad onc back in July and I get my real meeting and sim in January next week. Back in July she said there is a tiny chance of rib fracture - and that is what happened to you? So sorry to hear that! Sounds like the new GP is a keeper!0
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I started rad. yesterday. The driving back and forth 5 miles everyday 5 days a wk is going to be my biggest challenge this time of year, we get snow regularly in Iowa this time of year. Wish me luck on this latest venture. I have gotten spoiled working 5 blocks from home.
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Omaz, Yes I brought my frozen peas and iced my fingers. Actually fingers feel a little better already. Hope this keeps up.
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I am giving myself Neulasta today...the instructions say to leave it out of the fridge for 1/2 an hour before injecting...Glad to read that since it is freezing cold.
For the ladies who inject themselves...any hints? I've read (instructions) that I should draw back on the plunger to make sure no blood comes out...but if it does then the needle has to be thrown away...I only have one needle so I'm skipping that step...shooting in the stomach area anyway....
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TonLee - The nurses gave me the shots to the side of the belly button. They would pinch the fat/skin gently and inject into that.0
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On to number 4 chemo tx, i will also try the peas my fingertips hurt.
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Tonlee, I did not have Neulasta but Neupogen 3 times. The nurse definitely told me that warming it up is the key. The first one was in the arm....won't do that again. Last two in the stomach fat and could not even feel them. You all amaze me with open wounds, packing, etc. OMG you are like it is just such a nonevent. You are all tough as nails. I'm already mentally whining about the drains post lumpectomy. However, I'm thinking that by this time next week the surgery will be over.
lago: I am amazed that you are excercising so much. A ten minute mile is great. (Does it count that I took the Wii fit out of the box and actually looked at it?, Glad the icing helped. Typically, I felt pretty good until day 4 after TCH. This was your 5th tx right?
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librarylil - LOL, I think you have to hook up the WII then you get full credit!!0
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libraylil Yes this was TX 5.
Nuelasta. I have my DH give it to me in my stomach on either side of my belly button. We usually alternate but the side from TX3 was still a little bruised but not TX4 side. I think the DH squeezed a bit to hard on nuelasta 3. ;-) We leave the nuelasta out for 1 hour not just 1/2. Also make sure the alcohol is dry before you inject or that can sting too.
My nuelasta comes as a once shot deal. Each month they send me a new one with needle. I don't think they expect you to reuse the needle. That would be unsantiary… you are not a heroine addict.
BTW I take the needle back to the chemo room and they dispose of them for me.
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Iowa, keep us posted on your rads...I am curious about it, and really haven't done tons of research yet.
Libra I'm not sure how tough I am..lol, it's not like any of us have choice..except doing nothing, and that's not really an option imo. You'll be an old hand by this time next year;)
Lago just did the shot in the tummy, no big deal..except there was some air bubbling in at the end....not much but def heard it...I thought I tapped it all to the top...but guess not...next time....GREAT idea about taking the needle to the chemo room. I am going to do that instead of putting it in a hard plastic container and throwing it away like I was originally instructed.
Thanks.
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Hi All,
I finished chemo (six rounds of taxotere, carboplatin, and herceptin) five weeks ago and I'm feeling slowly but surely stronger and stronger. My tastebuds are back and my energy is up. But, the side effect I'm struggling with is water retention. I continue to have significant swelling in my feet, legs, arms, and hands (less in my torso and face, I think). Diuretics have done little good. Acupuncture has done little good. I'm told this is a reaction to the taxotere. I think I had a little water retention during chemo (it's hard to distinguish weight gain from fat vs. water, at least at first), but I've had a lot since the end of chemo.
Do any of you have experience with this? Is there anything I can do to reduce the water retention / edema? I'm exercising quite a lot, drinking plenty of fluids, and not eating a lot of salt.
Thanks very much!
Katherine
PS. I'm also curious when you (re-)started hair growth anywhere on your body. Thanks again.
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Yes I have the fluid retention and I'm not sure how much is fluid and how much is weight gain. This is when my nurse told me it could be 1-2 months to get that out of my system. Be patient it will happen.
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Oops my last message was suppose to be 35 miles back and forth for rads. not 5 lol, you ladies probably thought i was crazy complaining about 5 miles lol.
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Iowa Sue I sure did, but I figured 5 miles vs 5 blocks could have put you over the edge. Glad to hear you are not just a giant whiner, that many miles a day with the possible weather issues is not good.
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JoyKK, I think i have fluid retention based on the fact that I have gained about 15 - 20 lbs and my legs feel like they are heavier. But if I push on my skin it doesn't seem to hold the dent like I have had it do in the past and i don't really look swollen, the weight seems to be everywhere. But if it isn't fluid I will have some major work to do, so I am saying that is it and it will soon be gone
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elaineg I couldn't even zip up my snow boots last weekend. Barely got them on the other day. Since the steriods I've lost 4.5 lbs in 2 days! To bad I won't be taking anymore till next tx. I'll start to retain again tomorrow.0