Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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sorry - still felling queasy and my spelling is lacking!
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Anniemomofthree there is a spell check. That little check mark symbol: ✓ in blue on the navigation bar above the area you type your message is the spell check.0
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got it...thanks. i think I should not type when not feeling good.
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No that's when you need to come here. The spelling police don't hang out on this thread.
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Hi All, my wife has TCH #3 tomorrow. So far SEs have been minimal, she's lost most of her hair, but aside from some fatigure/soreness a few days after each treatment, she hasn't really had any other problems. Nausea has been very mild. Her ONC did put her on iron and Vitamin E supplements to get those counts up, but WBC is holding fine (she gets a Neulasta the day after each infusion).
64 days until the "TC" part of TCH is done.
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I feel like I'm the only one who doesn't have a port and is not getting neulasta. Is that true? I asked my onc about both and she didn't recommend them for me. I have #6 on Friday. I guess it's too late now ...Just wondering if there others are having the same experience.
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gk1 My oncologist did not recommend a port and did not routinely order neulasta. I had a neupogen shot twice when my WBC was really low. It rebounded and I was ready for my next chemo.libray lil0
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GK - Mine recommended a port because of the herceptin infusions over that whole year. At my office, the neulasta is routine. I don't know why some do it one way and others do it another. It is a bit of a mystery!0
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I got a port mainly because my veins are tiny and tend to blow even with IV's and routine blood tests. My port has been my best friend through this!!! I may keep it forever! And I have gotten neulasta - yesterday was the last one, YAY!!! I have been soooo grateful for that, too, because even though it makes me feel crappy, I think it has kept me basically well. I have 3 kids at home, one of which seems to stay sick, so if the Nuelasta is what has kept me on schedule with TCH, then the SE's have been worth it. I figure that in about 2 weeks, I will start feeling great again, and will continue to feel even better. YAY, again!!!!
I've entered the land of "sit-and-stare" from this last tx ... doesn't matter... it's the last time... Soon I get hair again... Speaking of hair, didn't I see where some of you got something from a beauty supply store that helps with regrowth?
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Nuelasta is routine at my chemo center. I am on herceptin but I also had node removed from both sides. I have never seen anyone get chemo through their foot but that's what they would have had to do if I didn't get a port. When I had the port surgery the IV was in my foot.
It's too bad because I have great veins, even in my feet.
I wouldn't worry about the Nuelasta. If you needed it they would have put you on it. In some ways the SE from Nuelasta is worse then chemo…the SE just doesn't last as long.
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Our ONC didn't give my wife a choice with the port given she was going for a year of treatment, and he said neulasta was mandatory as well given the impact TC has on white blood cell production.
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My onc gives Neulasta as needed, and I never needed it. I think it is the individual preference of the doctor. After my third tx, I saw the nurse practitioner and she saw my counts and said to schedule for the shot after the next one. I asked if we could wait and see, and she said i was taking a risk in that if my counts were too low, the chemo would have to be postponed. I said i would risk it. I took whey protein daily which my naturopath said would help stimulate WBC production. Who knows if it helped, but I never did end up needing the shot. My counts always were ok (they took them the day before chemo was scheduled).
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GK-sure was nice to get one less drug...lol
Libra- I'm dreading #4 because I heard it is the worst for side effects. I've noticed on the day after treatment, even with steroids, I'm tired. Every time it's a little more....I'm gonna have to force myself up on the Cross trainer tonight...lol.
I can't wait to be done. Chemo sucks. I hate the way it takes over my life...I want it back...on my terms!
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I think #4 was the worst for me because my nail beds really started to hurt badly as well as the tips became swollen and I got some mild LE in my left arm. Psycologically the LE diagnosis got to me as well as the nail bed pain. The next 2 treaments I iced my fingers and the pain isn't as bad. I was also more tired and my muslces ached for a longer period of time. That was a bit annoying too.
BTW the nail bed issue is a rare SE. Most people don't get that.
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Lago-
I take frozen peas for my fingers...by the time the taxoterrible is done my hands are bright red...but if it helps then totally worth it.
My WBC was 5.1 since I did the Neulasta last time...just gave it to myself today...but my RBC is down....I'm going to see if there is anything I can do to help boost it...I don't think so...but it makes me feel weak....
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Also I read somewhere in the last few days that Aleve causes swelling in the lower extremities....I can't find it now, but I'm going to switch to Tylenol for the Neulasta bone pain...
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writer~
Great Article. Sounds like a neat book...
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ToniLee I read that too about aleve. I did try tylenol first but it didn't work for me… not that tylenol ever helped me. I just did a google search and did read that fluid retention, bloating, swelling or rapid weight gain can be one of the more common SE. To be honest I get that anyway so I'm not so sure it's the Aleve that's causing it. I'm only on it for a few days anyway. I find the pain from Nuelasta is much worse than the bloating and I don't want to take any narcotics.
Sources:
http://www.medicinenet.com/naproxen/article.htm
http://www.drugwatch.com/aleve/
http://www.drugs.com/aleve.html0 -
I haven't been able to post for 5 days because my internet has been down, which has been really frustrating. Its so hard to remember what life was like before the internet. Imagine having bc and not having access to all the information and support we now have.
Anyway, it is now day 5 post my first tx. The nausea didn't get too bad. I just felt queasy for the first three days. The constipation and diarrhea have been unpleasant, but I've had irritable bowel syndrome for years so I expected that. I'm really bloated, and none of my pants are comfortable. I didn't think that would happen so fast. I hate the thought of buying a whole new wardrobe but at the moment I'm living in sweatpants.
I'm also gettting mouth sores. I'm rinsing with biotene every time I eat, but that isn't helping. I read about the liquid maalox/liquid benadryl rinse, but when I tried to buy liquid benadryl today, the pharmacist told me it has been recalled (I do remember reading about how a bunch of Johnson and Johnson products have been recalled) There were no generic alternatives on the shelf. Does anyone know of another good rinse for mouth sores?
lago - Congrats on finishing! How are you feeling?
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webu - The doctor can order miracle mouthwash, I think that is what it is called. The pharmacist makes it up special for you. I also had the mouth sores the first round. I didn't get them after that. It may only happen to you this one time.0
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Taxotere and nails - If you are interested here is a good article about the frozen glove and trying to prevent nail problem from taxotere.
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webu I too have IBS. The constipation the first time was awful. I had hemorrhoids as well it was so bad. I always eat dried apricots, probiotic in my yogurt and if things get really bad I bring out the Phillips Milk of Magnesia. None of that worked. I finally took Metamucksil (Metamucil) and got things moving. A lot of that bloat is from the constipation although you are probably retaining water too. When I'm at home I wear yoga pants. I now start the Metamucil the evening of the day I get chemo. You might also want to try Colace as a stool softener. I'm not sure if you need a prescription for that. I do have one but never filled it since the Metamucksil worked.
Also drink tons and tons of fluids. Eat soup to get more fluid and of course fiber.
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Omaz - thanks, I'll call my doctor first thing in the morning, since the mouth sores are getting painful.
lago - I'm using Miralax, which usually does the trick for me. Unfortunately it seems like I only have two choices: constipation or diarrhea (I know, TMI) I'm trying to keep a water bottle with me at all times because I notice I feel better if I'm well hydrated.
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Hang in there ladies, Mattew and wife you inching closer everyday.
I have a port and for me also was god send, they can't seam to hit my veins and sometimes it would take 3 xs. I just wish they had their sh** together and put it in when I had my mx but no I had to go back in 5 wks later. That was really my only complaint. The neulasta I had every time, I tried really hard to skip the last one but no such luck. BTW my skin is a little crispy especially my arm pit from rad. but I'd take this any day over chemo even thou my se were minimal. Hugs and prayers to each of you and I hope you feel a lot better real soon !
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Webu we are all very graphic here. Check out the mojo thread! Lots of dried up vagina talk over there.
IowaSue I asked them to place my port at my BMX but they said I had too much going on. I'm glad I waited. The doctor that places the ports is so nice… and that's all he does. He's 64 and almost all of his surgery involves placing and removing ports. If Miralax works great but be careful not to overdue it. You may be causing the diarrhea by not stopping the Miralax soon enough.
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webu - there is also a warm water, salt and baking soda combination that I used during TCH to help prevent mouth sores. 6oz warm (not hot) water, 1/4 tsp baking soda and 1/8 tsp salt. Mix together and swish a little bit at a time in your mouth then spit out. I did this combo along with the Biotene mouthwash and toothpaste the first 10 days after each cycle. I also found that certain drinks and food would "burn" my mouth or feel really weird. So, I stopping eating or drinking them. For me, soda pop was a no no all thru TCH. It really hurt my mouth. And as lago mentioned - the wonderful magic mouthwash also is a good one. The only thing I remember about this one is it makes your whole mouth numb!
Congrats to those who have completed the TCH portion! Way to go!
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I spent the day getting IV fluids and antibiotics today! I had round 3 last Thursday and have not been able to shake the fatigue this time. It was so bad that I stayed home from work all week (not like me). I am out of breath walking across the room. I called the onco office this morning and they ran labs after seeing me. My pulse was 125! The onco thought I might be anemic. Nope. They treated me for dehydration and infection even though I had no big signs of either. I have to go for an echo tomorrow. I am a little nervous that it is the herceptin, can it happen this soon?
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Sunflower, wishing you the best. Yes it can happen from herceptin this soon but it might not be that. Also they might just give you a break from herceptin not take you off completely. Usally if it's from herceptin the damage isn't permanent if they give you breaks. Don't panic.0
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Sunflower, I had (and still have) that fatigue and rapid pulse, I needed a blood transfusion due to low red cells (or platelets). I finished TCH on 29th December and am still massively fatigued, this TCH sure does a number on us. I travelled well (in hindsight) the first 4 treatments and #5 and #6 just took me out (think rugby tackle or as us Aussies say 'BALL') Hang in there!
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sunflower - I had the rapid pulse after 3 too. The onc nurse said it was possibly from decreased red blood cells. Hang in there!0
