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Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

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Comments

  • Anniemomofthree
    Anniemomofthree Member Posts: 370
    edited February 2011

    So nice to hear everyone finishing up on TCH (well, with a few H to go :) .  Gives the rest of us hope!!!

    Question for you all - how much water did you all drink post chemo?  Just finished #2 yesterday.  Last time I lost 7 lbs and had to get more anti-nausea and fluids on day #8.  I am trying to hydrate really well...but how much?  Also, I am on emend and decadron post chemo.  I am a bit queasy...do I take other meds too?

    THanks!

    Annie 

  • bpositive
    bpositive Member Posts: 10
    edited February 2011
    annie...Im certainly no expert on this YET  but I drink 10 cups of filtered water per day and everything else, like iced tea, juice etc is a bonus.  A chemo nurse friend of mine said the single most important thing is to stay super hydrated before during and after chemo.  Flush all the toxins out of your system. .. drink drink drink  pop doesnt count as anything, I usually have 1 coke a day just because I deserve it! LOL  water water water...Thats all I can say for now...My 2nd chemo is Tuesday and I pray I just continue with the minimal side effects...I think because Im so anxious, my body is constantly fighting...Im waiting to crash!  PS...Zofran is a wonderful anti nausea pill!!!!  They also sell anti nausea medicine over the counter at Walgreens..I keep it in my medicine cabinet "just in case"  Your onc could also give you Compazine or Reglan ...Keep me posted  ((annie)) hugs to you  :)
  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited February 2011

    I was told (and according to my chemo binder) that I should be drinking at least 64oz of fluid (4 large glasses) a day. Things like soup also count as fluid. For diarrhea it should be clear fluids (water, clear broth, apple juice or anything you can see through).

    Stay away from caffeine and salty stuff.  I was also told not to just drink water but juice, soup, etc. Something about electrolytes in your blood.

  • Basia
    Basia Member Posts: 345
    edited February 2011

    Annie, I didn't keep track of how much water I drank, I just know it was a lot! But I couldn't drink plain water, it tasted gross, so I drank lots of tea and added lemon to water.  Also, what I found helpful was sweating out the toxins in a hot bath or steam shower, this last round I didn't do it and I felt miserable.

  • libraylil
    libraylil Member Posts: 325
    edited February 2011
    bpositive  if you are 14 days post chemo, chances are you are not going to experience SE's this round.  You may just be one of the lucky ducks that has minimal side effects.  I agree on the water.  The one time I did not drink a lot before chemo it was not pretty.  libraylil
  • bpositive
    bpositive Member Posts: 10
    edited February 2011
    libraylil...I have a feeling I will not escape the SE's ...This is where my anxiety comes in....Im waiting and waiting and waiting for the SE...I dont know what the hell Im waiting for..but thats why Im so anxious...I see everyone is so tired...I cant sleep WITH Ativan! LOL  I think my body is just fighting all of this mentally and physically..Im sure it will catch up with me.   You ladies give me strength..I want you to know
  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited February 2011

    bpostive, I ended up with SE but I never got the extreme fatigue, just tired at the end of the day. No nausea, mouth sores were prevented with sucking on ice chips during infusion, no thrush. I never had to go through emergency, no anemia. I didn't even get a cold. The flu is much worse that my SE from chemo.

    Really the nail thing was the only huge issue for me. The other SE were annoying but really not so bad. I too thought I would get everything in the book. I thought for sure I would get the nausea but never did. Even the taste change wasn't as bad as everyone Else's. I ate everything it just didn't taste quite as good. Never needed the plastic utensils.

  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited February 2011
    bpositive - I kept a journal of how I felt each day during chemo.  I numbered them starting with the infusion day as day 1.  I jotted notes during the day.  For me after I write them down I don't have to remember them.  With subsequent treatments I would look back to see how I felt on that day last time or the time before.  I made some charts for my onc but got tired of doing that after #3, just made a list after that.  I still do it.  I don't like to sit there and go through all my problems, I just hand him the sheet and he can read it for himself.  Chemo is scary for sure because there are so many unknowns and each of us reacts slightly differently, hang in there.
  • Iamstronger
    Iamstronger Member Posts: 102
    edited February 2011

    bpositive-I never lost any nails.  My nails (which are normally super strong) did get weaker and they would peel easily, but none fell off.  Hope that is the case with you too!

    V

  • Anniemomofthree
    Anniemomofthree Member Posts: 370
    edited February 2011

    Hi All - day 2 after TCH with EMEND and decadron.  Got some fluids today at the onco clinic.  Did the ice in mouth and peas on hands during taxotere.  Feeling soooooo good!  Ate a wonderfully normal meal.  Is this how you all feel on Emend?  I feel so normal.  

    have to put the kids to bed, then off to bed for me.  I am wondering if I hit the decadron tonight (like I am supposed to).  I don't really want to get wired, but I am wondering if the nausea will come back without it.  Any opinions on this?

    PS - my nails are fine so far! 

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

    Nails falling off is not a typical SE. It happens but not typical. I have only lost 2 toenails (and praying for the 3rd to fall off. Real PITA to walk with it on). I'm still shocked that I haven't lost any of my fingernails yet. Granted I could end up losing them if a new one grows underneath. I don't know if my nails ever peeled because I kept clear nail polish on them till after tx6. Then I put on black to cover the ugliness.

    I was very spacey on the Emend but I typically get spacey/sleepy anytime a drug SE includes "may cause drowsiness." I never had any nausea so I can't comment on that but that's what the Emend is for.

    Never got the high from decadron. I would take it 2 hours before I went to bed and still slept fine. I believe the decadron is to reduce fluid. I know it did for me… and as soon as I stopped taking the next day I put on 5 lbs, legs looked like stumps and I appeared to be about 3 months pregnant. My onc  had me stop decadron the day after chemo.

    Taste bud changes didn't happen for 6 days after infusion.

  • spitnspunk
    spitnspunk Member Posts: 31
    edited February 2011

    I took EMEND on one cycle and it was awful for me and I never will take it again; it caused worse side effects then the chemo gave me and it really didn't help the nausau, it just delayed it by days which was even worse then getting it early on.

  • elaineg
    elaineg Member Posts: 85
    edited February 2011

    I never got emend but got Compazine. I also had benadryl in the premeds. Something made me very tired and odd feeling the whole fist day but I never felt sick. I did take some nausea meds the first chemo thinking I wanted to make sure I didn't get I'll but totally forgot about them second time and had no issues. So sorry you are feeling bad maybe aak about the compozine?

  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited February 2011
    Annie - I agree with Lago the decadron is to help with fluid retention.  I wouldn't skip a dose unless you clear it with your onc.  Glad this round is going better!  My number two went pretty well. 
  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited February 2011
    Yes Benadryl can also make you pretty drowsy/spacey too. For me though I thought it was the Emend since I took that for 3 days and didn't start to come out of it the later in the day after I took the last Emend.
  • Anniemomofthree
    Anniemomofthree Member Posts: 370
    edited February 2011

    Thanks so much for the advice.  I was originally (on round#1) nothing pre-chemo.  Aloxi, benedryl, zofran and ativan during chemo.  Then simply ativan at night with zofran and compazine.  I was very nausea on this for 12 days, lost 7 pounds, and was completely laid out iwth the three kids.  i was a mess.  I got a more IV fluids with Ativan on day #8.   

    Seems to me the new pre-meds and post-meds of Emend and decadron are such an improvement, so far.  I am a bit worried that I will crash when I am off of them (today is last emend day and decadron ends on day #5).  I have  had a bit of sleep problems, but this is fantastic not to have the nausea.   

    Just looking for the magical bullets....if there are any!!!

    Thanks to all you lovely ladies!!!

    Annie 

  • imatthew
    imatthew Member Posts: 69
    edited February 2011
    Bpositive, libraylil - my wife has her fourth TCH next week (she gets neulasta the day after each infusion), so far the worst SE for her has been the loss of her hair.  She usually has some aches, fatigue and mild nauseau around 3-7 days after each infusion, but she hasn't had any nail issues or anything that has kept her off her feet.  She had some mouth sores after the first treatment but now uses biotene rinse and toothpaste for several days after each treatment and hasn't had any further issues.  She has said the worst thing so far is that the first 2 neulasta shots were painful though the third was fine.
  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited February 2011
    Anniemomofthree if the nausea drugs aren't working then ask for a different drug. My DSL told me there are many drugs for nausea and some just don't work well for some people. She is a physician that works for one of the major drug companies.
  • Anniemomofthree
    Anniemomofthree Member Posts: 370
    edited February 2011

    Agreed!   I am thinking that emend and decadron ARE doing it for me...just hoping there is no crash when i am off them in a day or two!!!

  • bpositive
    bpositive Member Posts: 10
    edited February 2011

    imatthew...sounds like your wife is doing wonderfully...I have had no experience as of yet (hopefully I wont) with Neulasta injections...Im sure the lovely ladies who have had them in this forum will share their experiences with you. However I did hear lots of women say pain comes with it..  Just wanna give a big high 5 for your wife..sounds like shes doing well and doing the right things...prayers to you both! Keep us posted..

    vmarie...glad you didnt loose your nails! Im hoping I dont either...will be bringing the frozen peas next week! LOL

  • libraylil
    libraylil Member Posts: 325
    edited February 2011

    Annie,  I had emend for 3 days and Aloxi in the IV.  The first tx I waited until I was nauseous to take meds.  The oncology nurse told me to get up in the morning, something on my stomach and take something for nausea.  I would take a zofran every morning for about 4-5 days.  That kept the nausea at bay. 

    The decadron made my face look red and round.  I had hot flashes and talked a mile a minute.  Nothing I couldn't work around though.

    lago  seems like your advice with the icing is working.  When I had my wire localization done the radiology nurse asked about my nails.  She said she wished the oncology nurses would tell us about the nails and the icing.  She thought mine didn't look too bad.  They just look brown like they've been closed in a door, but have halfway grown out.  I have two little teeny black toenails but nothing like yours.   Watching your weather report...it looks nasty in Chicago.  Stay inside and stay warm.  libraylil

  • starella
    starella Member Posts: 101
    edited February 2011

    Hi, how much time between chemo and radiation? anyone know?

  • who_knew
    who_knew Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2011

    I waited three weeks from the last chemo treatment and started radiation the same day that I had my first herceptin only infusion (which was on 1/24). 9 days into radiation and only slightly pink. Only 21 more to go!  My radiation oncologist said that taxotere doesn't mix well with radiation so he recommended the three week delay from last chemo.

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

    starella - Because of scheduling and some questions that needed to be answered it was almost 6 weeks for me between chemo and rads.

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

    Who_Knew said: "My radiation oncologist said that taxotere doesn't mix well with radiation"

    I don't think taxotere mixes well with anything!

  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited February 2011
    lago - that was EXACTLY my thought!
  • webu
    webu Member Posts: 44
    edited February 2011

    I am at the infusion center getting my second chemo right now. So far no problems. Its going a lot faster than the first treatment. I'm not even feeling drowsy. I think from now on I'll just drive myself

  • AmyIsStrong
    AmyIsStrong Member Posts: 426
    edited February 2011

    I think that if you are getting Benadryl in the drip, they don't want you to drive yourself so you might want to check about that.

    Once I was done with TCH and down to H-only, I declined the benadryl and drove myself to/from. I LOVED being able to drive myself.

    Glad it is going well for you today, Webu. Hope you have an easy time the next few days.  Two down, 4 to go! Check it off your list!

    Amy

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

    They give benadryl with Herceptin! I was planning on driving myself on Tuesday I need to be there at 7am for a CT scan, then herceptin followed by refitting of my LE sleeves. I wonder if I'll be OK since I won't be leaving right away.

    Webu glad everything is going smoothly.

    BTW I have turned into a chia pet... little white hairs are sprouting on my head and face. You can hardly see them though. I noticed them when I put my glasses under the bright light in the bathroom.

    Gee I this is a bit early. I'm only 2.5 weeks out from last chemo. I know this usually falls out but I think it's a sign that my hair will come back, right.

  • AmyIsStrong
    AmyIsStrong Member Posts: 426
    edited February 2011

    They do give benadryl with Herceptin as a rule. But you can decline it if you want. The nurses tipped me off to that, said it is a precaution but unnecessary and it is up to the patient to say if they don't want it. I just said 'decline' and they didn't give it to me. Worked great!

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