Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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I have been drinking Special K2 O Protein Water Mix. They are pretty good and give you an energy boost. They only have 5 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber, but it is just enough to boost you.
I have not seen these in stores, but you can buy them on Amazon.com. The best thing is that they do not taste terrible, especially when your stomach is twisting and turning.
Thanks for the bean soup recipe!
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Tiger blood - great recipe. I was weaned and raised on caraotas negras - black beans - and my own kids, too. One difference, if folks are veggy or vegan (my mama was a vegan) is to either switch out the meat broth for veggie broth, or better yet, add a small can of tomato paste. Venezuelan style is sweet: add brown sugar (or "piloncillo", a brown sugar block bought at Hispanic food stores).
Black beans are high in iron, as well as protein and fiber. Add corn, either on the side, or into the beans directly, and it's a complete protein. Eat as soup, with a bread of some sort for dipping, or Skip the puree part, and scoop as beans, to have with rice. Of course, can also be made with dry beans, just takes longer. I'd choose canned beans that are only beans and salt, without the preservatives some companies insist on using. Yumyum.0 -
went to the onc today (almost two weeks post first tx) for blood work and just for a check-in. i love my onc ... when he walked in the exam room, he gave me a big hug. (he's pretty cute, too!) my blood work was perfect! he said my white blood cells were better than his and i told him to eat more yogurt. ha!
they couldn't get blood out of my port again. first tx they couldn't get it at first, but the nurse kept trying and it finally worked. not today, though. now i'm terrified that i'll have to get a new port and ladies, if i do, i will NOT be happy. i didn't want them to draw blood today from my arm. how much do you think these ports cost us? i kept thinking, i went through A LOT to get this port and it probably cost $20,000 at least and YOU'RE GOING TO USE IT! anyone had problems like this with their ports?? i need reassurance please.
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yaya - Sorry you are having trouble with the port, that is a total drag! With mine I think the order is flush, draw, then heparin lock. The nurses always have a bunch of tubes of things to push through the port. I have a 'power port'.0
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omaz, that's exactly what happens with my port except for the draw part. there's something they can shoot into the port that breaks up any clots that are in the way, but you have to wait an hour, so i opted out. my onco said it they have trouble next time, i might have to go to radiology and get a dye that insures it's placed right??? if this is the worst thing that happens, i won't be complaining, but DAMN. ha!0
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yaya-I understand, I always kindof hold my breath and keep my eyes on the tube when they draw the blood. Always feel relieved when I see it! Which side is your port on? I think I read somewhere that if you change position or turn your head or raise your arm or something it may help but I can't remember the details.0
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omaz, the port is on my left side in the usual place. the nurse had me do everything you mentioned to get the blood to draw. lots and lots of deep breaths and even coughing. the first time, we finally got it to work. today, though, the infusion area was packed with people and honestly, i think they were too busy to keep working with me and it was really ok with me. i never have trouble with blood draws from my arm. i was just being bitchy in my head about using the damned port. i want it to work! i go back for tx #2 two weeks from today, so i'll be holding my breath!0
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YaYa I know several folks here have had trouble with their ports. Some had them removed. Some need them and are having them replaced. Problem is they can't put it in the same place. Can they do a blood draw on your foot?0
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lago, they did a regular blood draw from my arm this morning. i'm going to be really pissed if i can't keep this port. i think i'm borrowing trouble actually. i just need to keep good, positive thoughts. at least they can do chemo through the port. i think that's the most important thing, right?0
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Yes that is the most important. Don't the put an IV line in for chemo? That's what they used for blood draws for me the flushed it before I got chemo or Herceptin. It doesn't make sense that they can use it for chemo and not for blood draws. Maybe you need the chemo nurses to access your port for the blood draws.
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lago, i think my comments are very confusing! i'm sorry. the chemo nurses are the ones who try to draw blood from my port before i see the onco and then have chemo, except today was just a check-in to see how my white and red blood cells were. the same nurse accessed my port the day i had chemo and today, as well. on the day of tx, it took her forever, but she finally got the blood to draw out. then today, no blood would draw, no matter what we tried. next time i think she'll try a 'clot buster' again if they can't draw blood. i hope this makes sense! i didn't get chemo today. it was just a check-in.0
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I see. I got my blood tested the same day I got chemo. Granted it could take 30-60 minutes to get the results and then at least another hour to make the chemo. Chemo was a 4-6 hour ordeal because everything (including seeing the onc) was done the same day.
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YaYa, I smiled when I read your reaction about wanting blood to be drawn only from your port. I can understand your frustration as it took surgery to have the port inserted so why not use it? However, if it makes you feel better, my center doesn't even offer that option. So for me, it is chemo and herceptin through the port and blood work through a vein in my good arm... I hope the issue gets resolved for you though, but if it doesn't, take comfort in knowing that you are not the only one in this predicament.
Tiger_Blood, thank you so much for the recipe. It sounds delicious. My tummy is too uncertain now to try it but I have printed it and plan to make it as soon as I feel better. I will let you know.
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I was never allowed to have blood taken (or the MUGA scan stuff done) through my port. ONLY chemo. I hated those sticks every 3 weeks and I REALLY hated them taking/reinserting the blood/dye for the MUGA scans. But they wouldn't deviate - that was the policy. Port only for chemo. Oh well.
I did have one time it got a little 'sticky' and wouldn't draw. They put something in that dissolved whatever was blocking it and it worked fine ever since. I hope that can happen for you too!
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It's interesting that so much has to do with "policy." Why is it ok to use the port for more than just chemo in one place but not another? It doesn't seem to have that much to do with the port itself.
I can have so much done through my port. I can have blood drawn but only at the chemo clinic. The regular labs don't have anyone trained to access the port. I've had my port used for the CT scan and will use it today for my SYMA (MUGA) scan. I just have to go to the chemo clinic to have it accessed and then the tech can use it for the SYMA. They heparin-ize the port before and after each access so there's never been a problem with it.0 -
jackifp - Thanks for the info.
I have another question for anyone to answer - when the port is placed, are you sedated? Does someone need to be with you to drive you home after this procedure?
Tx,
Donna
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They do all bood draws and chemo through my port also. I have th power port and you get a card to carry. I was told that if I ever have to go to the ER to take my card with the instructions.
Donna-I was put under a real light sedation when they placed mine.
Tomorrow is #2 hope to fly through it. I do everything in one day since I live about 30 min away from the hospital.
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Donna I was put under local anesthesia and yes I was required to have someone drive me home.
My port is not a power port to although I could get blood draws I could not get dye injected. For my liver scan I made them go through my foot… and they were not happy about it but they could tell I was about to walk out. When I had my colonoscopy the nurse wasn't allowed to draw from my foot but was allowed to draw from my port. (I had my card with me). The issue is there is a higher rise of infection from the foot so my medical center only allows the anesthesiologist to access the foot. Stupid IMO. Not sure what's going to happen when I do get my port removed in 2 years. I have no idea where they will draw blood but it isn't going to be from my arms.
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DonnaD001--I would not say I was sedated, as in out cold. I certainly felt nothing, but I watched the screen with the scan they were using to insert the port and I listened to the dr and nurses talk about his upcoming holiday. The time did fly by rather quickly. When they were done, I was unplugged and walked out under my own power. I had to go without breakfast so I was starving and beelined for a bagel and orange juice afterwards. I still needed a ride home.
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Thanks, lago and pasmithx2 for your responses.
I'm axnious to see my onc tomorrow morning! I want to get this "show on the road"!
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YaYa5 -- I too have a port that does not give blood willingly. We have to work a little harder and the nurses do spend a little bit more time coaxing it ... I do the raise arms, leaning forward, coughing, sitting up, etc, etc. and eventually the blood does come.
Tomorrow will be my 18th infusion and the last one in this first cycle, and the nurses have only had to draw blood from my arm twice. I think that is pretty good. I hope yours will be the same way. The outpatient infusion center I go to is also very busy but the nurses take time with each patient.
The standard procedure with each port is to flush it before and after use and then to shoot heparin into it to prevent clots.
Good luck with your infusions. Ports are like human beings ... each one is different!
EvelynMarie
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Good Morning -
I have much good news to share....
First of all, my original surgeon, Dr. Stewart telephoned me personally. She will see to it that I have early morning appointments! Yea! (She's a great surgeon.) I truly appreciate her understanding of my situation.
The recent pathology is negative within 2 cms. Incision has healed very nicely. I will see Dr. Stewart in three months for a follow-up.
One of the nurses will remove my drain tomorrow morning. Yea!
Saw Dr. Moore on Thursday while my husband was having surgery. I start chemo August 26th. She said she prefers not to put a port in, unless it is absolutely necessary to do so. (She said my veins look good.) If I need one later - it will be handled at that time.
Dr. Moore also advised chemo needs to be started within 12 weeks of surgery, which is well within my time frame.
One of her nurses chatted with me about the chemo treatments. She handed me a nice folder full of info. She asked me to read everything over, and to call her when I finish reading with any questions or concerns. She will also provide me with additional information regarding meds, etc.
My husband fared very well with his surgery. He will hopefully be home by Tuesday of this coming week.
Hope everyone is doing well. I will catch up on everyone's entries within the next few days.
Thanks, again, for being here.
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YaYa5.......
I had what was called "Power Port" which is suppose to be "new & improved". The cost billed to my ins. was $1500. Mine stopped working just prior to my last Herceptin....so it didn't last even a full year but caused me a major problem.
Accessing your port for a blood draw should not be a problem. Are the onco nurses accessing your port? Personnel must have specialized training to work with a port.
Suggestion.............start asking questions.
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Donna - glad for all your good news. If you like, you can ask for a 'tour' of the chemo room prior to going for your first treatment. My onc's office does it routinely, but I'm sure your would if you asked. It was very helpful for me to walk through, sit in the actual chair, see what goes on, take away some of the scary 'unknowns' prior to actually going in for treatment.
Also so glad your husband is doing well. I hope he comes home tomorrow!
Amy
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Donna, very happy to hear things are looking up and working out better now. And certainly hope your husband is on the mend. Tough time with both of you to have medical issues!
Did anyone have trouble with bleeding in their urine a couple days after TC treatments? I noticed it with tx #1 a little but it wasn't overtly red. Just tea colored. But it passed and didn't think too much more about it and wasn't convinced it was blood anyway. Then after #2 tx I saw the same thing that progressed to red. I called the doctor and ultimately wound up in the ER with flank pain. I was treated for a UTI but there were not very many WBC in my urine to justify the amount of blood. Starting to suspect taxotere but I don't see that written as a side affect. Just curious if others have had that issue.
I would like to ask a dumb question too... Well maybe not dumb, just more vain. I have searched the forum but can't find a timeline for losing eyebrows and lashes on TCH. I see the AC +T folks say it happened after they were done with T and when their hair started growing back. I saw a few that said they never totally lost them. I think my hair has been hanging on longer than the average person (been thinning since day 18 or19 but just now getting to a point of needing to shave it this week. Day 34 today post first tx) so I guess I am holding out hope that I will be a bit lucky to keep the eyelash/brows.
Thanks for your help.0 -
It took a few tx for my eyebrows to go - maybe the 4th one or so. Never really lost all my eyelashes. But some of the women in my group (April 2009 chemo) lost them several time over. So it is just so different with everyone. One of my friends online was horrified about losing her brows, it upset her more than anything. And then she never did lose them. So you just never know.
Hang in there.
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Izzy325--I'm now 6wks PFC and still have most of my eyebrows and lashes. They thinned a bit and my brows have a thin patch each that I hit with a brow pencil. My lashes are there but seem to be really light. I've heard people say their brows went at 6wks PFC and then grew back in quickly. I'm holding my breath that I can past this week.
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izzy - I am 10 weeks PFC and never lost my brows, they thinned but did not have any bald spots. Lashes thinned but if you just met me you would never know. I did not buzz my hair off until after tx#2, it held on longer than most people's hair did, I did have to shave my legs through chemo, just not as often. And, drum roll please, today I noticed NOSE HAIR! Never thought I would be excited about that! My brows are growing new little hair, new lashes are appearing in the thinned spots and hair on my head is finally coming in evenly.
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Izzy I did have bloody urine once but it did go away. I thought it might be a urinary infection but it went away and I didn't have burning. I did mention it to my onc though.
My lashes and brows thinned on chemo after the 4th tx especially lashes. Then the all fell out after chemo when things started to grow back. Eyebrows thinned again after they grew back but of course are growing again.
Eyelashes were never a huge deal for me because I do wear liner and have big eyes… granted it's nice to have them back.
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Donna-here is some advice on picking a "good" chair in the chemo room. First onc I had every room was private. Second onc just 1 big room with 35 chairs. Avoid the one near the refrigerator and free snacks!! High traffic and you have the snack theifs stuffing their purse with tiny sodas and Teddy Grahams. I always tried to get 1 near a window or wall where I only had to deal with 1 person next to me. I am not anti-social but somehow I always got wackos sitting next to me. A hat you can pull down over your eyes helps also. Glad you are both doing well.
Izzy-I am 5 weeks PFC. Lost about half my eyebrows and eyelashes-so thin but still there. Myside hair is coming in thick and very slow. My top hair is an inch long and extremely sparse. I think I am going to cut it down tonight. Almost all of it is gray. Ihave been 90% gray for a good 15 years. had high hopes for some color but not to be I guess. I lost my hair intially at Day 17. A breezy spring day in the garden and it was blowing by me in huge clumps. I hope to have enough before cold weather gets here to keep from freezing. Also, I never had a UTI in my life and had 3 during chemo. Cleared right up with antibiotics-once I knew the warning signs and got on it quick.
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