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Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

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Comments

  • TonLee
    TonLee Member Posts: 1,589
    edited January 2011

    Sunflower,

    Herceptin is causing my blood pressure to soar, and my sometimes my heart just feels "not right"

    Keep us posted...I'm especially interested since my Onco poo poos my claims.

  • dragonfly1
    dragonfly1 Member Posts: 516
    edited January 2011

    In my ongoing effort to understand all the triple positive treatment parameters, I came across a really good article today. I found it easier to understand than most so I thought I'd share the info in case others were interested. I had not seen this particular one before. No surprises in the article but the info is organized and easy to understand.

    It's called "Thresholds for Therapies: Highlights of the St Gallen International Expert Consensus on the Primary Therapy of Early Breast Cancer 2009". The link is http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2720818

  • sunflower71
    sunflower71 Member Posts: 53
    edited January 2011

    What a day!  My onco called this morning to see how I was feeling (she was out yesterday, I saw her partner).  I was still the same: tired, short of breath, rapid heart rate, mild chest pain.  She told me to go to the ER, she was afraid that I might have a lung clot!  I have Factor IV Leiden which causes you to clot more easily.  After more blood work, a collapsed vein, CT scan, and an EKG they find nothing.  The ER doc thought it might be neulasta pain I was feeling in my chest.

     I am starting to think it is the Herceptin now.  I will have the echo tomorrow or Monday (my insurance was giving the center issues with approving the test).  It was comforting to come home and read others posts that have had similar rapid pulse problems.  For me, 120 is really high.  I run, so my resting heart rate is usually very low. 

    I am ready to be done with this, I broke down today while sitting in the hospital.  I am so tired of looking sick, feeling crappy, and seeing doctors!  

  • PGK
    PGK Member Posts: 38
    edited January 2011
    Hang in there Sunflower!  I know the feeling, but there is an end in sight.  Sending lots of good thoughts your way!
  • LuvMyLab
    LuvMyLab Member Posts: 34
    edited January 2011

    There's nothing worse than having to go through all you are going through Sunflower, hang in there and I'm sure you'll be fine.  It's good you are getting everything checked out but I know the anxiety and appointments and scans are just the pits.  It's not fair girl.

  • IowaSue45
    IowaSue45 Member Posts: 422
    edited January 2011
    Hang in there ladies, keep pushing towards the end of tx.Undecided
  • libraylil
    libraylil Member Posts: 325
    edited January 2011
    sunflower  we all seem to be having emotional issues this week.  I met the rad oncologist yesterday and the first thing he asked me was about a mastectomy.  I've had a lumpy and going for a re excision today.  That did it , I cried.  Haven't done that in a while.  Figure they have flagged my chart with a "high maintenance" sticker.  I just thought did I do this for nothing....libray lil
  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited January 2011

    sunflower You are not high maintenance! I think you are handling this rather well. Of course you cry… and do it as needed. Otherwise you will stress your heart.  They see women cry everyday. It's normal.

    I think if you didn't cry they might put a "NUMB" sticker on you.

  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited January 2011

    Sunflower - As I said I had the rapid pulse too and mine is usually in the low 70's and was staying up around 100 all the time.  Even at night.  One thing, be sure to eat a lot of protein.  I saw an onc nutritionist and she told me during chemo to eat 95 grams a day based on my size.  Most of mine was chicken.  I think the extra protein helps.  It could be the neulasta - I took claritin for about 10 days post treatment and tylenol regularly for about 4-5 days.  Some women do have the neulasta pain in the sternum area but it seems like it can be anywhere.  I had it in my lower back and left hip for some reason.  The echo is a breeze test so don't worry about going through that.  Hope you feel better soon! 

    lil-  I would have cried too.  Best wishes to you today.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited January 2011
    My nuelasta pain is in my jaw, back of neck, shoulders ribs, sternum and thighs. So glad I'm coming out of it today. Yesterday was really bad nuelasta suck for me. Not as bad today.
  • TonLee
    TonLee Member Posts: 1,589
    edited January 2011

    Neulasta pain for me is in the back of my neck, my lower skull, down through my ribs into my butt...lol...yesterday was stiff, but I was able to work out before it got too bad....Kids are off for a snow day...I HATE that...I specifically took chemo during the week so I could have down time while they were at school....that way they don't see me feeling too crappy...and this winter they've had a bazillion snow days!!

    Does Neulasta make anyone else cranky?  I've been snapping at everyone....it could be cabin fever...but dang...pretty bad.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited January 2011
    No TonLee you are just bitchy today Tongue out Seriously are you sure it isn't mood swings? Our  horomones have been abused on chemo
  • PGK
    PGK Member Posts: 38
    edited January 2011

    Be strong, sisters!! Just had #6 today! I think the birds are chirping a little louder :-)

  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited January 2011
    Yay GK - you are done, yes?!!!
  • sunflower71
    sunflower71 Member Posts: 53
    edited January 2011

    librarylil- That would have sent me right over the edge too, hang in there girl. 

    Once, during one of my not so better moments of chemo-induced crankiness I yelled at my Mom, after she told me to"stay positive":  "You know what mom, I don't f-ing feel like being the Pollyanna of Cancer Town today, this sucks."

    She said after we hung up she started to laugh so hard she almost peed her pants.

  • TonLee
    TonLee Member Posts: 1,589
    edited January 2011

    Ha Lago, that's what my husband says...

    Sunflower, that is kinda funny...lol...

    Maybe it's hormones, but whoa, my temper is flaring up, getting me into all sorts of problems.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited January 2011

    GK1 Happy dance for you today. wow many of us done this week! Awesome!  Time for flowers:

    ❀ ✿ ❁ ✾ ✽ ❃ ❋ ❀ ✿ ❁ ✾ ✽ ❃ ❋
    ✿ ❁ ✾ ✽ ❃ ❋ ❀ ✿ ❁ ✾ ✽ ❃ ❋ ❀
    ❀ ✿ ❁ ✾ ✽ ❃ ❋ ❀ ✿ ❁ ✾ ✽ ❃ ❋
    ✿ ❁ ✾ ✽ ❃ ❋ ❀ ✿ ❁ ✾ ✽ ❃ ❋ ❀
     

  • webu
    webu Member Posts: 44
    edited January 2011

    How soon after the neulasta shot does the pain start? I didn't get one last week after my first treatment, but today I went just for the herceptin and my WBC was only 1.1 so they gave me the shot. That was about 10 hours ago and so far no pain, or does it hit later?  I didn't know I was going to get the shot so I didn't take any claritan, but I do take zyrtec. I'm hoping that works the same way.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited January 2011

    Webu its 24 hours. I take zyrtec so I never took claritan. I did have to take aleve to get rid of some of the pain. Didn't get rid of all of it but it was tolerable for a day. Some people don't get that much pain and some do. Yesterday was my bad nuelasta day, right now most of the bone pain from it is gone.

    I would get my shot the morning after and take some Aleve a few hours before I went to sleep that night. I would take another Aleve in the morning.

  • webu
    webu Member Posts: 44
    edited January 2011
    lago - I'm following you all over the boards today! I will follow your suggestion and take an Aleve tonight. I'm glad to hear zyrtec works too.
  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited January 2011

    Just be careful with Aleve. Take it with food. Also remember that if you are having issues with your blood not clotting you might not want to take the Aleve. My onc knows I'm taking it. Always check with your doctor. You might not be on all the same meds as me. You also might have other medical conditions I don't have.

  • PGK
    PGK Member Posts: 38
    edited January 2011

    Lago and Omaz -

    Yes!!! Today was my last TCH!  Thanks for the well wishes!  I'm definitely getting my happy dance on!  Congrats to everyone who finished this week!  I have 12 more herceptin only treatments, a couple of MUGAs, an exchange surgery and possibly a new Tamox prescription in my future.  But I'm ridiculously happy to be dropping the T&C from the TCH today!  No more steroids and pre-chemo blood draws either!  Hooray!!!

     I  know that hair grows back slowly .. but I can't wait to start looking for it in about a month.  It's time to start an exercise regimen.  Wish I had someone nearby to walk the hills with me :)

     Have a great weekend, everyone!

  • PGK
    PGK Member Posts: 38
    edited January 2011

    How did people celebrate their final chemo?

  • sunflower71
    sunflower71 Member Posts: 53
    edited January 2011

    Hooray for everyone celebrating their last chemo!  Let's pop open some champagne!

  • PGK
    PGK Member Posts: 38
    edited January 2011

    After the last chemo, is it okay to get a mani/pedi again? I have been dying to add a little color pop!

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited January 2011

    I'm just waiting for the SE to be finished before I celebrate. I turn 50 in a little over 2 weeks anyway. I will be excited to celebrate with all my taste buds in tact!

    BTW I just painted my fingernails black last night. No more gross looking black, yellow and blue nails.

  • allisontom911
    allisontom911 Member Posts: 99
    edited January 2011

    GK1 - I was told by my onc I could do pedi/mani once my white cells and platelets were ok.

    I did get mani/pedi during chemo but didnt have them do any cuticle trimming or anything that would cut into my skin. I had them do the pumice on the bottom and paint....that was ok by my onc

  • PGK
    PGK Member Posts: 38
    edited January 2011

    Yay Lago! So much to celebrate!! Happy early birthday! I am going to paint my nails this week, too!!

  • IowaSue45
    IowaSue45 Member Posts: 422
    edited January 2011

    I am celebrating the end of chemo and rads. last week by taking a mini vacation leaving for Fl. tomorrow!! so excited happy dancing on the beach.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited January 2011
    Sue take me with you. Too cold in Chicago! Seriously have a great time.

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