Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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imatthew I had the dry hand issue. I had to stop using anti-bacterial soap. I found a great cuticle cream hoofers choice but there are many out there. I used Eucerin hand cream. I carried Gold Bond hand sanitizer moisterizer in my purse. Since I couldn't use hand sanitizers anymore it was an excellent alternative.
pejkug3 If you drink that much water a day I wouldn't worry about it unless you aren't eating. You want to be sure with all that water you aren't messing up your electrolytes. Remember it's fluids not just water. You can have juice, sports drinks, soups etc. to make sure your electrolytes don't get messed up.
I wouldn't stress about what "might" happen. 1st of all if you have nausea there are many drugs that will manage that. No one needs to suffer from nausea on chemo these days. 2nd you may not even get nausea. I never did and I had THC x 6.
Regarding food intake, you may not have an issue with eating. Most women actually gain weight on chemo. My once told me I would gain 8lbs. After I got rid of the fluid retention… my weight gain was 8lbs. Also if you are on steroids that could actually increase your appetite.
Ensure would be fine but you don't know how your taste buds will change.The taste change thing is different for everyone. I ate most things but spicy, pepper and nuts tasted very bitter to me at the times when my taste buds were off. That didn't happen till TX 3.
I tried to get ready for so many situations and ended up purchasing many things I never used. For example:
Imodium: never got diarrhea
plastic utensils: never got metallic taste in mouth
sanitary napkins: (should use tampons on chemo) my last period was 2 weeks before chemo
Thermometer: never had a temperature…granted I should have one of these in the house
Tylenol: never needed it0 -
pejkug3 - My onc nurse said up to a gallon a day is fine during TCH. She said over that and you can affect your electrolytes, but up to a gallon is good.0
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You are all such a great support...I can't thank you enough! These posts help me to make sense of it all. I woke up today on day 5 post TCH and the fatigue has lifted considerably! Many of you were right that day 4 was the worst. Yesterday I worked but felt like it took everything I had to get through the day-felt like an absolute slug. I'm afraid to look at the medical notes I wrote
Today I'm feeling the energy gradually returning. Not that I'm anywhere near my normal level but it's so much better. The headache has finally lifted for the first time in days and I just generally feel better overall. I do think all the fluids are helping significantly so I'm keeping it up-everyone is so right about that. Taste buds are a mess but it seems like the only thing I can't stand are acidic foods i.e. fruits, pizza sauce, etc. so far...Feels good to be past the worst of TCH #1 but definitely not looking forward to doing this 5 more times... 0 -
For those of you just starting the TCH journey - best of luck! That was me just over 1 year ago - wondering what to expect, etc.
Things I learned that may help others:
Ice fingernails and toenails during taxotere.
The neulasta shot was not as bad as I had been reading about. I gave it to myself with no problems.
If you are prone to heartburn, don't be surprised if chemo makes it worse. If you have never had it, be aware that chemo can cause it. Spicy, acidic, greasy foods can actually make it worse. Doctors can help with this, for me I was on prilosec till done with Chemo, I still got heartburn on the 3rd day after each cycle, but the rest of the time I was fine. I looked up GERD foods and stayed away from all of them, including my beloved soda pop.
Drink water or liquids all thru the Chemo cycle. I also had Gatorade which I diluted with water so it wasn't so strong tasting. Ensure is also good to keep on hand. I did a lot of low sodium broth soup also. For me, never gained weight during Chemo, it did seem like I was always eating, but it wasn't alot - just enough to keep something in the stomach.
I found that eating some form of protein every few hours actually helped during the lower energy periods. Piece of cheese, handful of nuts, yogurt, pudding, etc. So I made sure to always have that on hand. Taste buds were kinda funky after each cycle, but I still managed to eat.
As I progressed thru the cycles, I noticed the fatigue and SE's hit a little earlier (My doctor told me they are cumulative), but as long as I listened to my body and rested, they seemed to go away quicker too. I found that naps during days 4 to 7 really helped. I did work thru all of this, not always 8 hours per day, but I did make it to work.
I kept a daily journal of how I felt, foods I ate (to see if it triggered heartburn) and any extra pills I had to take. By the time of the 3rd cycle, I knew by day how I was going to feel. I also recorded my temperature (took it daily) so when Dr asked, I could just whip out the log and tell him how I was doing.
I found that very mild exercise - like walking - actually helped with the fatigue. My skin was more sensitive to the sun - so I always wore sunscreen.
I used Biotene mouthwash and toothpaste thru entire TCH cycle - no mouth sores at all. I also used a baking soda, salt and warm water gargle for the first 6 days after each cycle - did this about 4 to 5 times a day.
Hope this helps, and remember each time you complete a cycle you are that much closer to being done!!!
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Totally agree with stlcardsfan
And if you get mouth sores consider sucking on ice during infusion fo Taxotere. I did the Biotene mouthwash but still got the sore tongue. Onc had me suck on ice chips after that and never had the problem again.
If Prilosuc doesn't work there are several other drugs your onc can prescribe. Everyone is a bit different with heartburn. I had issues several years ago. Spicy wasn't my trigger although with most people it is. Fatty foods are especially red meat and high fat cheese like cheddar are.
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So tell me about icing your nails...how does that work? Do I just ask for ice packs? Just during the Taxotere infusion, correct?
My husband will be with me - should we expect static from the onc nurses about icing nails? We could bring ice packs from home. Taxotere takes about an hour to infuse, right?
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pegkug - I used frozen peas, insulated lunch sacks and drugstore cotton gloves. Cool down 15 min before tax, keep cool during tax, wait 15 min after. Also can check out elastogel mitts. Good luck!!0
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pegkug - I did my toes too!
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Omaz do you want to see a picture of my toes? You don't even want to know what the right big toe smells like. I'm getting my right toe nail removed tomorrow.
So if you can ice your toes too. This actually started in my toes before my fingernails. I have lost 1 toenail, had one cut down to almost nothing, and as I mentioned the right large one is almost off but it will be removed by the professional tomorrow.
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Lago - sure I can take it show me the toe! I am so sorry about your nails - what a pain! And I know how active you like to be, kindof hard with a big sore toe, yes?
pejkug - I just found bigger lunch sacks for my feet and used cotton socks. Fingers and toes don't have to be numb, just cold cold.
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Hi all and welcome to the newcomers. Have faith that you can get through this. I'm almost 10 weeks out of chemo and can't believe how time flies. Done with Radiation next week and now counting down to last Herceptin, hoping September gets here fast.
I finally gave myself permission to watch "In Living Proof", the movie about the doctor who created Herceptin. I didn't realize what a miracle drug it is until tonight. Doctors downplay being HER2+ or the movie hypes it up more than regular movie hype. Ha. I have a feeling the doctors downplay it. I'll stop my complaining about aches and pains due to it and the pain of every 3 weeks screwing up my job and travel now that I know how much worse off I could be without the drug.
Anyone know why it was yellow in the movie and what I get is clear?
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To add to the nail stuff. My onco told me that I should keep my nails short...he warned me not to put any pressure on my toe nails, like having the nails long and wearing high heels. Not sure if this is a legitimate concern, but thought I would pass it on!
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Congrats Michcon...almost done with radiation, that is great! I have not yet watched the movie, is it something that is uplifting or more scary about her2? Don't know why, but thinking I should watch this later....after chemo. Thoughts?
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Anniemomofthree the reason why you don't want pressure on them is because any stress on the nails will make the problem worse. My fingernails wouldn't be half as bad if I did nothing… like I'm going to sit and do nothing for months. But it is true. I have kept my nails short the entire time.
Michcon I'm sure it was yellow in the movie so you could actually see it. I haven't seen the movie… Yellow? Did it look like pee?
Omaz I'll try and take a picture tomorrow before the nail comes off. The real issue is not be able to wear my shoes/boots. Seriously I am down to the snow boots that look like work boots. Not fun to wear in almost 60 degree weather the other day.
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So do you wear gloves/socks and just stick hands/feet in the lunch sacks with the frozen peas in them?
Taxotere takes an hour to infuse? They stay frozen that long?
Newbie, I need details...even if the other (older) BC girls who all get their infusion on Thursday laugh at me.
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pejkug
I brought several zip sandwich bags with peas so I could rotate them in and out of the cooler. I cut the tips off of the socks and gloves so my daughter can have a HotHands (any sporting goods dept or Walmart) packet in the palms of her hands and the soles of her feet. Her biggest complaint with the Elastogel mitts was that the palms of her hands were so cold she couldn't stand it. The elasto mitts are designed for the whole had for arthritis or injuries, not for taxotere. I hope it will help her make through the hour plus before and after.
Glad you found this site. You will get tons of help and support; your caregiver should use it, too.
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pejkug - Yes, stick the hands and feet in there. BUT take them out occasionally and don't let them get numb. I focused on my fingers and toes not so much the whole hand/foot. If you start to shiver, which I did because I also used elastogel cap and sucked ice, get some coffee/tea when you are done and you will stop shivering. Let us know how it goes!!0
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Question about the Neulasta shot...I got the first Neulasta shot on Thurs and I started developing mild back pain by Saturday. Last night the back pain was so bad that I was awake all night and it's still hurting really badly today. Are other people having this sort of pain from Neulasta and how long will it last?
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Hypothermia mitts & gloves: Not sure if this site sells them but they might be able to tell you where to get them (phone number listed under distributors). Could be costly though: http://www.elastogel.com/product-catalog/cancer-care0
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Dragonfly, bone pain is "normal" for the neulasta shot. Take aleve and claritan it should clear up. My PA told me to start taking claritan a few days before the shot. When I Described my pain to my oncologist he died to give neuprogen shots instead, the problem with that is multiple shots but there was very little pain associated with them, I still took claritan.
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Basia Thanks, I've been taking the Claritin but haven't tried the Aleve yet. This really hurts and I need to get some sleep!0
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I lived on Aleve when I had nuelasta. I took it the night before day and the day & night of. Didn't get rid of the the pain completely but was very tolerable.
Omaz you ask for it. I got some nice gross close-ups of my toes & fingers. I used to have really nice fingernails. Toes nails (except 2) wheren't too bad either. Now they're all gross.
*WARNING: Do not view before or during a meals unless you need an appetite suppressant.
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Re: mitts and socks - yes, elasto gel sells them but they are for the enitre hand and entire foot. My daughter found it too much to take along with the caps on her head so I came up with cutting the ends off the gloves and socks and putting Hot Hands in the palms and soles.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
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Tomorrow I'll be two weeks out of my final combined TCH. I thought this last one would be easy, knowing it was the last and all, but not as everything seemed to linger longer...like the last hurrahh! My taste started coming back somewhat yesterday so that's a good sign, now if I can just get rid of these cold symptoms that kicked in this weekend then I'll be on the road up. Another H treatment tomorrow, then go to every 3 weeks, yeah.
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Congrats to spitsnpunk on being done with the TC of TCH! Wahoo!
Icing questions - the place I got treatment actually put ice chips into ziploc baggies for me.
I put a thin towel that I brough from home over my toes, then put the large bag on top of that making sure the toes were all covered. Then, my DH wrapped a towel around that. My place had towels as well.
For my hands - I had one bag per hand and just dug my fingers in to the bag. They were never in direct contact with the ice. I did pull them out every so often if it got too cold. But the majority of the time, they were dug in.
Did this for each taxotere - my infusion for this one was 1 hour. So six hours total of icing my nails over 18 weeks. For me, this icing worked.
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For the peas, I just use them on finger tips. I put a paper towel around the bag, then squeeze it with my finger tips until my fingernails are covered. Seems to work fine.
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lago - thanks for sharing your pics! Sheesh, I am glad that they will only be getting better now!!0
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I hear you. I am craving sleep and to be without some pain (headache that's flulike- back pain- chest pain- neulasta stuff).
And no appetite is just weird. I did make a drink that was good today- one sliced banana, milk, one vanilla yogurt and a small amount vanilla flavoring in the blender. It was good. Made myself eat that too.
I am getting mouth sores using biotene. The pain is tough and lack of sleep without waking every few hours.
Don't even mention that I did take something for pain (one fourth- yes one fourth) of a pain pill. Get so constipated. So, took mild laxative, and then cramped all night. Then hours later got diarrhea.
Funny how all this makes the recovery from the surgery seem so easy. Bilateral Mx post op was a breeze for me compared to this. Not sure what else I can do. I did call Onc office- she said I should be on the way up from the cycle. Sure hope so.
Worn out.
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lisaGH. Start sucking on ice during your next infusion of taxotere. It worked for me as far as the mouth sores. It doesn't always work but worth a try. Also for constipation you should try a stool softener like Colace. When I really got blocked up I used Metamucil but prior to that you might want to try Milk of Magnesia. I won't use any of that stuff that makes you cramp up. I would start the Metamucil the day before I knew I would get constipated and stopped once things moved at a normal pace and movements weren't dry.
My toenail is now off but toe is still numb from lydercane. I was walking doing errands for the last 2.5 hours. Hope it doesn't hurt too much later on.
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lago poor toes, did they remove the entire nail? Toes only my middle nail is black. Fingernails gross like slammed in a car door, but nothing on the scale of yours.
ALL I did not watch the HER2 movie but ordered the book used online and read it. Interesting how hard it was to "get" Herceptin for some of the patients. A used copy was pretty inexpensive.
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