Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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I've been feeling a bit OCD about getting copies of all labs, so I am glad to hear I'm not alone.
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jackifp - you want to see OCD you should see my binder! It is tabbed, and I have tabs within the tabs. Every piece of paperwork from my insurance referrals to lab results to path reports and check stubs from disab insurance payments is in there. I have a running narrative at the front with dates, names and phone convos, details...I even have every receipt from onc co-pays and that is at least one a week. Call me crazy but I love a paper trail!
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SpecialK - That's amazing!0
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I should probably start a BC binder business and make some cash off my anal retentiveness!
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Special K,
Thought I was the only one that was OCD with paperwork. I always get the reference number for the phone call to the insurance co. That sets them crazy!! I have my EOB's and bills from the provider stapled together so there is no confusion or double billing going on. It happens more than you think....
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What is the reference number? I haven't heard of getting that.
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When you call your insurance co. for anything they reference the call with a number. Always ask for the number. They can go back to the number and tell you what you talked about. Usually everything is recorded as well. I also get the name or badge number of who I talk to. They are a little more careful when you ID them. You also have the right to speak with a supervisor. My motto is never take No from someone who can't tell you Yes.
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Thanks!
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Hi - I was on TCH x6, finishing TC a year ago in Apr 2010 and finishing H in Dec 2010. My nails are still kind of a wreck, discolored, brittle, splitting, and lifting. I've not actually lost any nails, but I'm surprised they still have issues this far out. Anyone else like this? I've been taking biotin, any other suggestions?
Thanks!
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Love to sail. I finished TCH in November 2010. My nails have almost grown out all of the thick, ridged material. My toenails not so much. They still look very "gravel gertie". Thick, ridged, and ugly. The one that fell off is a teeny one and has almost grown enough to polish. The big toenail looks like I have used it for a shovel.libraylil
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Hi Ladies thanks for all the encouragement and advice. I am back from my onc office armed with Emmend and a lower dosage of steroids! I am finally able to eat and drink again and feel ok today. This was the longest stretch of yucks thus far. I can only imagine what # 4 has in store.
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Glad you are back and have Emend. You should not have been allowed to get that sick! Next tx you will have a new plan and things will fo fine. The nurse always told me to get up, get something on my stomach and take meds. Not to wait until I was sick. Stay ahead of the queasies. Libraylil
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I get emend and aloxi both IV and steroids starting day before chemo- twice a day- then day of and day after- then i taper off w/ one dose a day the next 2 days. I don't like it but i haven't had much nausea to speak of throughout. I have had to take phenergan or ativan right after a chemo rarely a few days out- but not much. I do think the antinausea meds make the big C bad for me- but I have learned to deal w/ that...uggh. Sorry TMI.
So far- TCH #3 was my worst. 4 wasn't as bad- though side effects are getting a bit longer each treatment.
Here's for a good week to you all.
Lisa
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Good deal nmoss! Stay ahead of the nausea. I hope it goes better this time.0
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**TMI ALERT** Maybe it speaks to the fact that I seem to be getting off easy this round (knock wood!!) but I'm obsessing about possibly small things--like frothy urine. It always looks like the toilet had soap in it before I got there. I know that it can indicate protein in the urine and that can be a sign of something going on in the kidneys. I never experienced this before chemo and it didn't start until partway through round 2. It's even more obvious as I get into round 3. Coincidence?! I will mention it to the onc when I see him before round 4, but I wondered if anyone else has noticed this? None of the drug info I have says much about side effects related to the kidneys.
I feel like such a hypochondriac when I talk to the onc about side effects. The oncs and the nurse are not in the least dismissive of my concerns, but they poo-poo some of them (in an effort to calm my fears?) That makes me question myself when I want to bring something up. I don't want to waste time on the small stuff. But I don't want to ignore something that could become something serious over time.0 -
I have had the foamy urine and really strong smell from TX 1. Have not mentioned it to Onc or NP. I am drinking tons of fluids and haven't had any burning or itching so just figured it was the drugs coming out. Let us know if they find anything out. I am a little surprised they don't do a urine dipstick when they do bloodwork-I guess if you had something wrong it would show in the bloodwork.
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Don't assume that any kidney/bladder issues would show in your blood work. I had a UTI after tx#2 and my blood work was fine. I had symptoms though so they did a urinalysis and culture and put me on antibiotics (which I was allergic to!)
I would ask the question though, but I think it is an alteration from the drugs leaving the body. I sometimes get that dismissive thing too when I ask questions - I think they know the common and/or harmless SE and they want to put you at ease. I believe that Taxotere is filtered by the liver which is probably why not muich is said about kidney issues, but all mucosal linings in the body would be affected.
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I think the kidneys are affected by TCH because on my second round the onc mentioned that he was pleased to see that my creatinine levels were good and that is related to kidney function. I did not ask any questions, though.
I am heading to treatment #4 tomorrow and that is supposed to be my last one. Still have not heard from anyone who only had 4. Will have MRI and mammo next week to see how everything looks and since I and neoadjuvant we will be able to see how the TCH worked. Fingers crossed that it knocked the BC out and then I will be on to surgery.
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pasmith - I would call and leave a message. My onc PA would decide how urge the return call was based on my message. Don't worry about complaining, you can just report it and they will know if it is something to follow up.
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Chrissyw - your kidneys clear the Carboplatin and your liver clears the Taxotere
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Chrissy...I had a friend that I went through Herceptin with. She only had 4TCH. Her onc said that was all she needed. It's been two years and she is doing great!
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I have a constant eye twitch now that is so annoying-it's only in one eye. Are other people dealing with this too? Mine started in the middle of TCH#4 and is all the time now. Just when you think you've got a grip on all the SEs, some new annoying one crops up...For those who have gone before, when can I expect this lovely SE to go away?
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dragonfly - I was the darn eye twitch too! I have had it for weeks and it's quite annoying, I asked my onc about it and he said it is a reported symptom but didn't give me any reason for it, Some people told me being tired aggrevates it. There are days it goes on all day and some where it is infrequent, It's mainly been my right eye but I think I am starting to feel it in the other as well.
Just another one of those annoying things I guess!
Alison
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dragonfly - I was the darn eye twitch too! I have had it for weeks and it's quite annoying, I asked my onc about it and he said it is a reported symptom but didn't give me any reason for it, Some people told me being tired aggrevates it. There are days it goes on all day and some where it is infrequent, It's mainly been my right eye but I think I am starting to feel it in the other as well.
Just another one of those annoying things I guess!
Alison
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I have the freakin' eye twitch too! It started with chemo #2 and is worse with #3. I usually associate it with fatigue and it's mild and short term, but this is violent and it's incessant. I feel like everyone can see my eye flipping but it's only me who notices it. I have other twitches as well--in my leg, my abs. It's a distinct muscle that twitches and I notice it because it feels it's not part of me; I'm not controlling it. I suppose it doesn't mean anything but it's enough to drive one to drink.
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Eye twitch will go away gradually and you won t even miss it. !! Another freaky chemo thing. Libraylil
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Eye twitch is annoying I agree, I had it too, also the tearing. I tried a cool washcloth over the eyes and deep breathing for a few minutes and that helped for a while. Once you are done with chemo it fades away as lil said.0
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Why all the water? What does it do to help with SE?
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BTW the eye twitch is annoying as hell but it will eventually go away after chemo. As far as the frothy urine I would contact your onc and let him/her know. You must tell your oncs everything that isn't normal even if it seems like it's nothing. I dismissed my toenails initially but I did mention it… next thing I know I'm being sent to a podiatrist and eventually that toenail had to go!
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I can stand the eye twitch when it is just the 1 eye but when they both start and it isn't in sync...makes me nuts. I have stood and looked in the mirror and I cannot visibly see it move. It feels like it should look like winking!!!
HAS ANYONE HAD THEIR HAIR GROW BACK WHILE IN TX? I just finished my 3rd and I have had to start shaving my legs and pits both. Also the top of my head which was shiny bald is pretty well covered with a 1/4 long wiry gray hair. I'm not saying it's a rug but I'm going to let it go to see what happens.The sides never did fall out that much. It would have been thin if I hadn't shaved it down I would have had enough to not be noticeable-but what was the point? I would have had to do a Donald Trump comb-over. I had a huge head of hair before-enough for 2 people.
I haven't seen anybody else say this? I wonder if it is the sunshine?
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