Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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serentiywisdom I didn't get out of breath but I did feel I was walking a little slower after each treatment. I found that about week 5 PFC I started to feel more like myself and less stiff. The taxotere take a while to go away. Don't remember how long it took. They were constant too. I wouldn't recommend Vaseline. If that's get into your eyes it can irritate it more. I had that happen to me years ago. My eye got all puffy.
I'm going for my 15th tx of herceptin on Tuesday. Only 2 more left after that. To be honest I don't think I'm gettting any SE from it.
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Thanks to all of you for the words of encouragement about what to expect post chemo. I am going to try and go to the YMCA tomorow and just do what I can. My eye lashes keep getting stuck together from all the tearing. and skin is getting more irritiated but good to hear that it will eventually go away. I put hot compresses on my eyes when I first get up and before going to sleep. I will try and find the Josie Maran Argan Oil. Would be nice to look younger, definitely feel like chemo has aged me. This discussion group is terrific-Thanks for all the support!.
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Aghh....I just noticed that some of my nails are lifting....Are you kidding me???? Does this really mean they they will for sure fall off? The lifting is minimal right now....Any thoughts?
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{{{{{Tiger Blood}}}}} I'm keeping nail hardner and polish on mine. Hoping for no problems except ihave noticed on my toes they are getting dark.
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TigerBlood,
My nails also are lifting a little from the top. Kind of looks like a french manicure. My Onc said they would grow out. I can also see a red ring on my nails from each treatment. Mine started lifting after TCH #5. Lago posted pics of her nails, maybe you can contact her.
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Hi, Gals! It's been some time since I've checked in here. I see lots of new faces and many of the same questions.
I've been fighting some issue or other since being diagnosed 3/09. I completed TC in July '09, Herceptin in April '10. Bilateral Mastectomy 9/09 and Radiation 12/09. I had a lot of scar tissue (left axilla and rib cage) resulting from the radiatioin and did some physical therapy to try to stretch it out through Jan-Feb'10
Things were going well until Christmas 2010 when I started breaking ribs for no known reason. Found out I have ostioprosis and the radiation just turned my bones to chalk. My PT did some heat TENS and also Kinesio taping. I got addicted to the Kinesio tape!! All this during Jan-Feb 2011.
Things were looking real good when the ribs got feeling better, but that only lasted a couple weeks then I fell and broke my shoulder, elbow, jaw and cheekbone. Had to have two surgeries on the elbow and that meant two and a half months in a cast. I fell in March and have been doing extensive PT since. The Doc first tried to pin my elbow back together, but that didn't work and he ended up doing the second surgery to insert screws. I also developed "tramaticalIy induced lymphedema so my breast surgeon put me in a sleeve until I finish PT. I went about a month and couldn't drive. Just couldn't turn corners so my next door neighbor bought me a "redneck suicide knob" and put it on the steering wheel and I was up and running. Range of motion is getting better, but drive through windows are still a no go and the neuropathy is ten times worse than it was after chemo.
Met with my oncologist last week for a 6 month check up and blood tests were good! I highly recommend Lymphedivas.com for some really pretty and fun sleeves. Lightweight and cool too.
I'm helping with a start up breast cancer survivors group locally. It's a nice group of ladies who like to laugh.
Hugs...gals..
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Ladies - I just got back from vacation (which was wonderful) and I have to tell you what happened. My husband and I were taking a hike at high altitude. It was across a snowfield, as the trail was completely covered in deep snow (in JULY!) and they had poles inserted to show where the trail was. So we were slogging along and it was all uphill and hard going. It was slippery and unpredictable walking on the snow and we were struggling. All of a sudden my husband said "Step in the footprints that are in front of you and it will make it easier." And so I did - and it did. Even though my boot didn't fit the footprint in the snow exactly, it made it a little easier to know what to expect, have some direction, and have a trail to follow.
And all of a sudden I realized, "This is exactly like my TCH thread on BCO." (This is what you think about when it is sleeting and hailing on you as you hike up the side of a mountain in July!) Even though our experiences don't exactly fit the person who went before us, it makes it just a bit easier to have their footprints to walk in. And when we are done, we can provide footprints to serve as a guide for those who come behind.
It might not sound that profound, but being out there and doing it, well...it really clicked to me. It was such a powerful example of how we are part of this chain of women on this rough journey. But having others to lead the way and show us where to step can make the journey just a bit easier. And when we are done, we can provide footprints to others.
I'm so thankful for this thread. More than any other one on BCO, it helped me so much when I was doing TCH back in 09. Now it is two years out and I am here to help encourage others. And I am hiking through snow covered mountains in the summer - I hope that gives encouragement to some of you going through this right now, that it DOES NOT last forever, and there is a GOOD and HEALTHY life on the other side.
Love to all my TCH sisters -
Amy
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So sorry to hear of your issues Swampy. I'm surprised they didn't have a bone density test done on you prior (I had my first with my ill-fated mammo).
Loved the redneck steering wheel. You've got a great attitude!
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Beautiful Amy, thank you. I just finished treatment #3 of 6 and can't even imagine being on the other side of this yet.
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Wendyspet,
Congratulations you're halfway thru!!! Believe it or not it does come to an end and you start to heal. I am 8 wks PFC and looking at sprouting hair. =;0)
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swampy and Amy~
You were there when I first began treatment.
Hang in there swampy and thanks to both of you for your support.
Anafoefana~
I am in your "neck of the woods." I am about a year and a half out from treatment.
Good thoughts coming your way...
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Tiger every single finger and toe nail lifted with me. I did loose a few toe nails (one large one had to be removed too). I never lost any finger nails though. I had the nail lifting thing really bad. They hurt and oozed too. This is not typical but can happen… bit more rare.
Most importantly is try avoid trauma to them. This means putting presure on them. I know you have to use your hands but try as best as possible to minimize it. It's summer so you dont' have to wear closed shoes. That will help minimize trauma.
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Amy - that was beautiful!0
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Amy Love that-what a wonderful analogy. I'm a hiker and can't wait to reach the point again where I'm strong enough to get out there:) Nature really has a way of clearing your head and putting things in perspective. This thread has indeed been so incredibly helpful as we all help each other through this journey.
Tigerblood All of my fingernails lifted at the end but have gradually improved. I had to keep cutting them really short because it was hard to prevent catching them on things and breaking the lifted part of the nail-I have the red lines under all of my fingernails as well. I'm 8 weeks PFC and it seems that my fingernails are trying to grow past the lifted area now. They don't look very nice but I'm certainly not going to lose any of them.
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Anyone currently doing Taxotere please consider icing your fingers and toes.
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Hi ladies, its been awhile since I've written anything,but I read alot. I have been going through thread about the teary-eye thing. Has anyone had a twitch? My right eye twitches alot. Wondering if its normal? I'm a week out of my 3rd round and have had this twitch every so often since a couple weeks out of my 1st round.
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cotrinh76--I started having twitchy eyes with TX2. I started off with only one eye twitching and it settled down before TX3. It got progressively worse and now that I'm 3 weeks past TX6, both eyes are still twitching periodically. It is improving so I'm sure it will go away eventually. I'm just glad that it's not something anyone else can see. I'd look like a lunatic with both eyes twitching away.
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Amy-that was such a beautiful post. What a great way to start the day reading it.
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cotrinh I had the twitchy eye throughout TCH. It wasn't constant but happened a lot. A few weeks after the last treatment I suddenly realized that it was not happening anymore-it will gradually go away when you finish treatment.0
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cotrinh - I had twitching in both eyes, then only the right. I am at the same PFC as dragonfly and now it twitches only occasionally, maybe once a day.
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cotrinh I had the twitching. The worst was when both eyes twitched and they were out of sequence!
I don't remember when it stopped but it does go away.
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Thanks ladies! I was getting worried! It twitches kinda hard so you can totally see it when its twitching. As treatments go, I'm starting to get some SE.
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I have also noticed my left eye twitching all the time. It can really be annoying and drive you crazy. I am glad to hear that the twitching goes away after treatment is over. So far it is only in my left eye. Hope my right eye doesn't start...I think two twitching eyes would be much worse that just one!
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Ditto for me on the twitching eyes. usually 1 more than the other. I have stood in front of the mirror and could not believe that you really couldn;t see it move.
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The eye twtiches will finally go away. They are VERY annoying though!! I think even now I sometimes get 'flashback' twitches in my right eye. Just for a day or so. It's weird.
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Been lurking for a few months. Started treatment May 24, my last one for Carboplatin and Taxotere will be August 16. Today I am on day 3 of round 5. Trying not to be worried about these last two rounds. I guess just take it as it comes.No lifting of the nails. Everything tastes horrible until day 7/8. Water is intolerable. A little darkening of the finger nails, alot of the toe nails. I won't allow myself to throw up. Lots of constipation then diarrhea. On the good side I'm thankful for no mouth sores or metallic tastes. No port issues and I am learning to tolerate the aches. Mentally this is a huge challenge for me. Thanks for letting me post.
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Congratulations Warrier Princess, you are halfway done with the hard part of this journey. Herceptin will be alot easier....
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I've completed 3 of 6 TCH. Halfway home, yea!!!!!!
I have the twitchy eyes but no tears. I haven't had nail problems (I wear the cold packs during the taxotere) but I keep them short and polished. My taste buds are always a new adventure. I'm eating alot less but not really losing weight. My most troublesome SE's are belly bloat and acne. I underwent a BMX in Feb and had the immediate DIEP flap reconstruction. My belly still felt a little swollen when I started TCH in June but now it feels bloated especially as the day goes on. Any input would be greatly appreciated. With regards to the acne type whiteheads, someone said that washing your face with Head & Shoulders would clear it up. Does anyone know if that's true? Sounds weird. Thanks for your help.0 -
Hi Warrior Princess you are not alone. Mentally was the hardest part for me. I must have had 20 nervous breakdowns at minimum and I became a totally different person. I am in therapy now 8 weeks PFC learning how to live outside of survival mode. Best of luck and these wonderful women on these boards are full of care, advice and love for each other. We are always here.
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Hello Ladies, I would like to join this thread if I can. I've really learned a lot from reading all your posts. I am new to this site (just posted on the August chemo thread for the first time). I am scheduled to start TCH on Monday and am pretty terrified. I figured this would be a great place to get some support. I had my port put in today; it hurts quite a bit and is very uncomfortable. Have you all adjusted to having the port to the point that you don't notice it any more?
Amy, Thank you for your post. It was beautiful and so very encouraging.
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