Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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Hi SpecialK - I am 6 weeks post final chemo on Monday. How time flies! My PS pushed my exchange out from June 7th to July 8th. Boohoo! Reason, of course, due to my low RBC, WBC, platelets, etc. I go in on Tuesday for herceptin and am expecting a big change in my numbers, since I feel so good, finally! It takes a while post TCH to feel good, but it happens. I hope you stay on course with your exchange. That will be a great day. Now, if only I could get this port taken out....
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anniemomofthree - are you going to keep your port for the duration of Herceptin, or try to take it out and do your H with a vein? My RBC and hemoglobin are low as well but my WBC have been stellar throughout and platelets were good on my last CBC. Not sure what my PS will make of the low RBC - I hope it won't stop him. I am always kind of low - half the time I tried to donate blood I was rejected due to low hemoglobin, but it has slipped all the way through chemo and my RBC are at their lowest point. I don't even know when my exchange would be - I am just trying to get my left TE back! So tired of the imbalanced right TE and prosthetic. I am supposed to go to my MIL 80th b-day party last weekend in June and I would like not to have to wear the wig and prosthetic with the whole family there - there are like 25 of them! I have not seen any of them since before my diagnosis, and I am going to feel weird as it is because I don't want to detract from my MIL big party because everybody is checking me out. They are all doctors and nurses so they have a curiosity about all of this. It is probably better that your surgery was pushed back - you need to be strong enough to heal and clot - low platelets mean bleeding and low WBC too much chance for infection and you don't want either of those! It is so hard to be patient, isn't it?
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I'm starting to wonder if the Rapture has come. Everyone has been cured of breast cancer except me. I know that a lot of us finished our chemo last week. I did too, but I'm still here. I don't show a new post since June 5. Is anybody out there?
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I finished TCH #6 on Thursday. I'm currently awake and battling the Big D and vowing to redecorate my bathroom when this is all over.
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I finished TCH #6 on Thursday. I'm currently awake and battling the Big D and vowing to redecorate my bathroom when this is all over.
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Pekjug3- Ha Ha Ha Ha! Congratulations on finishing! That is awesome! I went today for my first Herceptin sans Chemo and it was surreal! I am awake because the damn hot flashes!
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Pollygain--I'm still here. I have TCH#5 tomorrow.
Here's a question for the brain trust: I seem to be ready to attribute any new quirk to chemo. How about massive muscle cramps? I have been having calf cramps and last night was the worst. I had to leap out of bed and hop around before it released. And I've had cramps at the gym that run from my shoulder right down my chest to my waist. When it happened the first time, I had a split-second flash that I was having a heart attack. I've never felt anything like that before. I'm getting lots of water and bananas for potassium. Are there any other deficiencies I could be addressing?0 -
Many of us still lurk after years of finishing. I was dx 4 yrs ago and still take Femara to finish off my 5 yrs. All my heart functions that Herceptin lowered are back to normal. My port scar has healed to a thin line and my hair is back to normal, the only residual effects are chemo brain (sometimes i have to search for words) and joint pain. My onc says the joint pain is the Femara and should subside when I am finished with that.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel! Have faith and be warriors and you will survive this so it will be reduced to a speedbump on the road of life. God Bless you!
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Not cured yet but hoping...I go for #5 on Friday. Just came from a breast MRI at the request of the BS. I want the other "good" breast removed so she is seeing if she can make it for a medical reason. Surgery date is July 29-subject to change as the BS is having a hysterectomy July 19. She thinks she will be fine but says we might have to change it by a day or two.
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pasmith - salt? I also got cramps in my legs and feet. Are you having night sweats? I know you are working out but I am wondering if you are sodium deficient from the combo of flashes and exercise.
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my wife finished the "TC" portion of TCH in late March. She's had several bouts of night sweats since then, and has had some severe muscle/leg aches a few days after her Herceptin treatments, but they usually go away after a few days.
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Just a note - my office does the maintenence every three week herceptin treatments in a 30 minute infusion. I was having some trouble and my onc slowed it to 2 hours. That has really helped me a lot. If you are getting your infusions in 30 min and having SEs you could ask for the slower infusion time, it may help.
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Lily-good luck with #5! I have #6 in 2 weeks- am counting down the days!!!
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I am begginning my taxotere, carbo-platinum, herceptin treatments in one week. Thank you for sharing all of your experiences, it is very helpful, and I will be keeping up to date on this thread. My onc said that the steriods would make me want to eat a lot. I am suppose to take it for two days before, and one day after. They will also give it to me during chemo. She said it counteracts the water retention.
I was thankful to hear that this mix of drugs has less affect on the heart. Thank you.
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Mrs. 7148, Thank you for keeping in touch and inspiring me. I will have to take tamoxifin for five years....it sounds so long.
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Best wishes Nicolgirl! Drink lots of fluids, if you have neulasta take the claritin, take your anti-nausea meds, keep eating as best as you can (I was told to eat a lot of protein by the onc nutritionist! Call your onc if you have any concerns. They should be there for you to help you through things.0
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SpecialK--I don't have night sweats particularly. I've already done the perimeno nonsense and the GP told me I was post-meno last year before all this cr@p started. Maybe I'm low on sodium; I'm not a heavy user of salt or sodium-heavy foods in general. I'll ask when I go in tomorrow. Is there something less nasty than Gatorade to get more of the electrolytes?
Nicolgirl--definitely keep an eye on what the steroids do to your food intake. I don't find that I eat that much more, for some reason. I do find that I am a bundle of energy and the two days I take it outside of chemo day are great for getting things done.0 -
pasmith - I can't do Gatorade straight - I have to cut in half with water. I am not sure if there is anything but I think Pedialyte comes in popsicles for kids - that might work.
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I've had "taxotears" since my 5th TCH but they have been constant since TCH #6. For those who finished TCH a while ago, how long before this ends? It's REALLY annoying. Never mind that I look like I'm crying all the time when I'm at work (luckily I can blame it on allergies at the moment) but it's also hard to see when I'm using the computer, watching tv because my eyes are full of tears all the time...
Nicolgirl Welcome and best wishes as you begin TCH. You'll do fine and there are so many here to help you when you have questions along the way...
Hang in there everyone who is still in the middle of TCH!
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dragonfly - hey girl! Sorry you are all teary-eyed. Mine comes and goes. I had some trouble with it after #3, then it went away but now seems to be back intermittently. I am having trouble reading for any length of time. I am working on a family cookbook for my MIL's 80th b-day in a week or so and am having to read all these recipes - eyes are killing me. People have said, if I rememeber correctly, that it suddenly resolves maybe at 6 weeks? We have a ways to go... How are you doing otherwise?
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still crying here at 7 weeks...now back at work and I really feel like crying REAL tears...
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anniemomofthree - oh man! See, this is why I don't want to go back...
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I have the super annoying eye twitch and a perpetual runny nose but no tears...yet. When I get hot-like when cutting the grass- the nose thing drives me crazy. Stupid thing runs like a faucet. I too detest the Gatorade. I had some dizzy spells recently and they told me I was dehydrated and electrolyes were messed up. I had been drinking tons-but just water. I found I can tolerate the Powerade better-especially the orange flavor. They want me to drink at least 32oz of one of the sport drinks a day if I am outside working. I use a big straw and choke it down. I will have to check out the Pedialyte popsicles.
Nicholgirl-welcome. Hope you sail thru with few SEs. I have been one of the lucky ones. it really hasn't stopped me from doing what I normally do-with more rest breaks. The fatigue is my biggest complaint..
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SpecialK--I asked the onc about the muscle spasms today. He said that it was not likely a chemo reaction, but related to the electrolytes going out of wack. An indirect reaction, IOW. He suggested drinking small doses of tonic water because it has quinine in it. That's easy and not likely to interfere with anything given the small quinine content of most tonic water on the market. Also, my DH also uses eLoad for running. It does the same thing as Gatorade but without the sugar. It comes in a caplet as well as stuff to add to water. If he can find it for me I'll give a try.
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Anniemomofthree 7 weeks and still crying!!! Yikes! I'm only at 2 weeks and it's already driving me crazy...I had the eye twitch before as well but that finally settled down (thank goodness-that would be a really bad combo with the tears)
SpecialK I'm doing ok overall but I'm definitely a little down because the taxotears are so bad that my eyes are constantly running and red and the swelling is still a problem. I spend every day frustrated about what I'm going to wear to work because clothes fit in the morning but are too tight by the end of the day with the fluid build-up. My overall weight is +10 lbs. I'm still hoping that everyone is right and it drops off in another 4 weeks or so...I'll get over it but the bald, swollen abdomen, red-eyed look is not so hot right now:( Ah well, I have my rads simulation appt tomorrow morning and will likely start rads next Monday so that will keep me busy. I also have a Gyn appt on Monday and am curious to see where she weighs in on my treatment plan i.e. my age, menopause, my ovaries, Tamoxifen, etc. There is no end to doctors involved in our lives, is there?
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Hello, all you mighty women. Sure is good to read your posts, ups and downs, and just getting through it all. So encouraging - tears, cramps, and all - to hear y'all talk about being done with then TCH part. I go in for #4 on Friday, and with school ending tomorrow, I'm free to not worry about lesson plans and substitutes and squirrelly teenagers when the se's of fatigue and nausea and heartburn and foot cramps hit midweek.
Someone mentioned hearing loss, and I'm just now realizing that it might not be allergies and a plugged ear, but rather the Carboplatin that's got my ear hearing as if it's underwater. Some research says it's permanent? And someone was switched to cytoxan? More info, please?
Best to all of us in the chair these next few days.0 -
Hi all, so good to find this thread and real about all of you, and your experiences! I start my chemo on Monday, June 20, and am really scared. Getting an idea of what to expect helps, thank you!
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Lili2 Welcome! We were all scared at the beginning of chemo but you'll do fine. If you've been following our thread you know that everyone has their own unique SEs but you will learn in the first cycle what to prepare for in the following cycles. Drink A LOT of fluids from the start. Otherwise, you have to address your SEs as they occur and we will all help you through it. It's a lot less scary once you actually start. I had a rough time with SEs, particularly the effects on my GI tract, but I still worked full-time througout so hopefully that's encouraging. One of my biggest fears was developing neuropathy. Another member suggested taking Acetyl-L-Carnitine 500 mg daily and it seems to have worked for me because I've had no neuropathy (of course, check everything with your MO before taking it). You'll do great...start counting down those cycles and before you know it you will be done:)0
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Welcome Lilii2-it's not that bad at all. I am still surprised at how quickly it has gone. I go for #5 tomorrow. Can't wait to get it over with and count down the 3 weeks to #6. It is really an individual thing as far as the SEs. I hope some other new TCH people come by to keep you company. it's nice when you find someone on the same schedule as you so you can compare notes.
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Lili2- I am nearing the end-#6 on June 28. It is very doable, as others have said. My se's have been minimal and other than day of infusion, I have worked full time throughout!! If I could give you one recommendation, it's drink lots of water and fluids! I start the day before and I think It really helped me!!
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