Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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Grimbol I totally agree-there are definitely problems when healthcare is provided for everyone because then the really tough decisions need to be made. My father-in-law needed a hip replacement (in England) a few years ago. Although, he eventually got it done it certainly was not considered a priority and he was on pain medication for several years (yes, years) before surgery which greatly affected his quality of life. Here, a hip replacement would be done in no time. I have such mixed feelings about both systems because they are full of gaps but I certainly wish we could incorporate a more holistic approach along with traditional medicine.0
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dragonfly - My onc office was nice about the peas but really didn't 'believe' that they did anything.0
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omaz - mine was the same, they were ambivalent. Since we were in a communal chemo room there were a few people who were curious about what I was doing with the peas. I would preach to anyone who asked - and now I have proof that it worked. I have only one nail with a problem, the one damaged before I started chemo when my acrylics were removed. The other 9 fingernails are beautiful - no lines, no ridges, no splitting. The bad one is so bad they are talking about removing it. I find out next week.
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I started doing the peas but my fingers already hurt. I think the problem with the peas is it might not be cold enough.
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specialk,
That is so sweet that your husband goes to every chemo with you. Mine gets queasy in medical places, and to see my port hooked up to a needle, he said would creep him out, so my best girl friend has come to all my treatments with me.
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zumbagirl - I told him he didn't have to but he was pretty insistent. His Dad and brother are doctors, Mom, sister and sister-in-law are nurses, so he is not squeamish. At first he came in to talk to the doc with me but then started sitting out in the waiting room - I guess he figured I would relay anything important. There were several other couples, and actually one getting chemo together! It was nice because we all sat toegther and chatted.
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Morning GFs
Got in to see my onc about this rash I got from the port adhesive tape and he told me it won't go away until after chemo is done...major bummer. Gut is much better today. I don't know if I will try salmon again until after chemo...bad memories.
Hope you all have some fun plans for the 3 day weekend. I am sure I will be doing laundry. In southern CA we are also experiencing epic 12-15 foot swells. The surfers are coming out in droves. I must take a walk by the beach today. Funny how you can live on top of the ocean and rarely visit due to the busyness of life.
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muscialmom--Is the rash from the adhesive patch they use to hold the gripper in place on the port? I came up with a rash when they used the clear tape. The nurse noticed it the next time and switched to a fabric tape which causes no problem at all. I have to ask them to use the fabric tape every time but it's never an issue.
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Pasmithx2--
Actually I was given large, clear, waterproof coverings if you will. Like the kind you may have had if you had lumpectomy and it keeps the area dry around the steri strips. Well my nurse had me taking this large adhesive patch off every day to change the dressing and then put a new one on. I am sensitive to adhesives and by the 4th day I had a rash and the removal of the patch took off some of my skin...TMI...sorry. So now I have a large 4" by 5" area that is bright red and like an open wound. Very, very painful and not improving...and like I said my body will struggle to make it better until after chemo according to my onc.
I have to be careful with tape too. Paper tape is good.
What is the gripper you0 -
I have had 3 treatments and my side effects are worsening. I don't get nausea...I get severe stomach pains. It feels like extreme irritation of the stomach and like I am being poisoned (which I am!). I was prescribed carafate and cytotec to help and it did nothing. My 4th treatment is on Tues. and my oncologist had changed up to decreasing taxotere by 10% and changing carboplatin to Cytoxin ( since Taxol was not available due to the shortage.) Has anybody had anything happen like this?
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musicalmom - I had the same adhesive patch for my port removal last week and it is VERY sticky, I cannot imagine having to take it off and PUT ON A NEW ONE each day!! When I removed mine I put some hydrocortisone cream on the red areas and that seemed to really help.0
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Loralie, so sorry about your worsening SE's. I feel the same way and I have only had two treatments. NOT looking forward to the third one coming up in aboug 10 days. I too had stomach cramps, lasting for an entire day each cycle. They are very painful. I wish they'd lower my taxotere dose but they haven't wanted to so far. I'll keep asking.
Musicalmom, enjoy your walk on the beach. I can't think of anything more relaxing (and healing). I have to drive 3 hours to get to the closest beach and it's a treat every time.
Omaz, what was it like to have your port removed? Was the area painful and tender just like when it was put in? However, that's one surgery I'll definitely look forward to.
Happy Labor Day weekend, everyone!
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Amelie - The port removal has been a MUCH easier recovery than getting the port put in.0
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Loralie I had the same issue through all 6 infusions and I'm so sorry it's happening to you and Amelie_Rose. It happened from day 6-10 for me and amounted to really painful cramping-I was in tears trying to cope with it the first 2 cycles. It was my worst SE and the one I won't forget:( I eventually figured out that the only thing that helped was to stop eating solids on those days and convert to a liquid/soft diet (smoothies, cream of wheat, Ensure, etc) and then it was at least tolerable. It seems like Tax is very hard on the GI tract. The Tax always worked it's way through my system by day 11 and the cramping/pain stopped. They never considered decreasing my dose but maybe that will help...0
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Musicalmom and Pasmithx2 - I agree that chemo makes your skin very vulnerable to adhesives of any kind. I get herceptin weekly, which means that sticky plastic port dressing gets ripped off every Thursday. My skin over the port site has been red and almost raw for the last 3 weeks. I keep thinking it is going to heal, but just when it starts to look better it is time for another treatment. And, yesterday I had a MUGA. When the EKG electrodes came off, it left 3 square, iritated and red, patches. I guess it makes sense that chemo skin would be more sensitive...knowing what it does to hair and nails.
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I am doing taxotere/carboplatin just not a herceptin girl. I am starting to expereincing neuropathy in my hands/feet. When I went through this in 2008 I had used L-glutamine and alpha-lipoic acid and my Dr. prescribed Lyrica. These have worked well. I did experience my nail beds spliting in the middle. I use to superglue them and paint them with polish and it did well. The nail bed just grew under it. I am starting to experience pain in my nails as well. I will start usind the frozen bag of peas to see if that helps. I hope they do not split. Has anyone experienced your hair growing back while on this chemo? Mine is starting to grow back. It scares me cause I do not want it to be an indication that the chemo is not working. I have had 5 treatments already. Could not get the 6th one done cause my wbc was .9 my rbc continue to decrease. Went to get them checked again and the wbc are up 3.13 and rbc is still decreasing but not down enough to do a blood transfusion. When I did this in 2008 I had to have 2 of them. Boy it is amazing how you feel when you have one. You are like a new woman. Your skin is sensitive. I use a good soap with tea tree oil and exfoliate the area with a loofah. That seems to help my skin heal. I also noticed the skin gets dry too. So I have taking the loofah and use it all over my body so that the dead skin is off my body. Makes your skin smooth instead of wrinkly and dry. Mine got that way the first time around. Also you can take a unscented lotion and add tea tree oil to it. Has anyone experienced a runny nose when you eat? Strange side effect. My eyes are constantly watery. I have tried benadryl and other allergy meds. Any suggestions would be helpful. I hope that I can join even if I am not a herceptin girl. Thanks for taking the time to read my post. Have a awesome day, make the best of each day. The greatest joy of mine is seeing my granddaughter Little Miss Aubrey.
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Ebann - I just read your biography. Bless your heart. You have really been through alot. I can't imagine!! I will have TCH #5 next thursday. I have not have any nail problems, but there are lots of gals here who have used the frozen peas and I have heard this has helped them. My hair is starting to grow back a little as well. I have about 1/2" of sparse/thin fuzz that covers my entire head. I have worried abit about my hair growth as well (Does this mean the chemo isn't working??). But, last tx I asked MO about my hair growth, and she said "don't get too attached to your new fuzz- you will probably lose it again". I also have a drippy nose. It's gross, but I know most people have this SE. I've tried benadryl- but I don't think it helps. I'm just learning to deal with a drippy nose So far, no runny eyes. I've had a low HGB since the beginning. My lowest HGB was 8.4 - but still didn't have a transfusion. Sure felt lousy when it was that low. It has slowly come up. Last labs it was 9.7. I hope your labs bounce back so you can get your #6. Thanks so much for the suggestion of tea tree oil. I might see if I can find some. Stay strong.
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Christean - do they keep your port covered all the time? I didn't have any covering over my port, had a power port left chest.
Ebann - My onc called them taxotears and said that they were due to dry eyes. They suggested I use natural tears. They went away pretty quick after the last treatment. Do you have the eye twiches? I had those too.
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Ebann having SE or no SE is no indication of how the chemo is working. I know a gal who just had chemo with no SE except hair loss followed by surgery. She had a 95% responce rate. Given the size of her tumor (6.5cm) that's pretty darn good. Also remember that chemo works pretty darn good on those fast growing triple negative cancer cells of yours. BTW I took Acetyl-L-Carnitine for neuropathy. I only got it in my left foot. I think it's finally starting to get a bit better 7+ PFC0
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christean - tea tree oil is not recommended for ER+
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Thanks everyone for your wonderful responses.
Omaz: My eyes do sometimes twitch. I will get some natural tears. Thanks for the advice
Lago: Thanks for the encouraging words. How long have you been taking Acetyl-L-Carnitine? How long has the neuropathy been going on?
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Ebann Welcome! I have been taking Acetyl-L-Carnitine as well since the beginning of chemo in Feb (after hearing about it from Lago-Thanks Lago!) and I have not developed neuropathy. I do have numbness in my hands when I sleep which has started in the past month and the doctor thinks its mild nerve sensitivity from chemo but I don't have any issues the rest of the time so it seems that it may have worked in preventing full-blown neuropathy:) As I recall, it also helps with brain function so I have continued taking it. Although I don't have memory issues, I do think that I'm having trouble with concentration and focus since chemo-hoping it will improve with time. As Omaz mentioned, the tears are "taxotears" from extremely dry eyes and will gradually improve. I had them 24/7 for a few weeks after chemo. The eye doctor told me that warm compresses a few times a day would also provide relief. Best wishes to you!0
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ebann I definitely felt the left heel numbness/nueropathy after tx 2 but I think it started after tx1. I had some tingling/pins & needles in my left hand too after tx 1 but since I started the Acetyl-L-Carnitine soon after I didn't seem to have the issue there again. Check out the last section of this link "Clinical Research Ahead": linky you might find this interesting too: linky
BTW Acetyl-L-Carnitine does help with memory. I know I've recommended it to others and they have come back and said they feel their memory got better. I know I feel the same way not that mine was bad. Granted I still can't remember names and phone numbers very well.
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musicalmom,
I am so sorry you are reacting to that tape. I am sensitve to tape as well. When I get my labs every Tues the tape causes me to bruise, when it is pulled off an hour later.
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I have eye twitches almost every day, and my hair tries to grow back in between treatments.
I had chemo number 5 Wed. and I have the light fuzz hair, just like your talking about, and I have a daily drippy nose. It is annoying, but I am getting use to it. Seems like we are all in the same side effect boat.
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My right eye is still twitching 12 weeks PFC - daily, but fewer times per day, left has stopped. My hair never completely fell out and the parts that didn't continued to grow through the tx. Still have a drippy/stuffy nose with the H only infusions, also have a resurgence of bloody noses and mouth sores lately.
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I had the eye twitching, eye watering, bloody noses etc. I don't remember when these SE stopped but they did stop. I never really paid attention to my hair once most of it fell out. I think it was a good 5-6 weeks PFC till I checked out my hair growth. I just assumed 3 weeks PFC nothing would show. I didn't get the stuffy/drippy nose that a lot of folks get on Herceptin but did get the nose bleeds. The nose bleeds stopped several months after chemo but it was also spring so it wasn't as dry out. I think that made a difference.
Water retention & nueropathy took a long time. I still think I retain about 2lbs in water but I'm quitting the fluid pill now. I was down to 1/2 a pill on day on 2 days off. Took my last 1/2 on Friday. As mentioned earlier I'm now finding the nueropathy in my left heel is getting a little better this week.
I had tape issues when on chemo. I still have marks from my port placement Oct 4th. I had chemo the next day and all the tape marks showed up. Odd because all of the tape marks from my exchange surgery on June 24th are gone.
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i think i just developed a new se and it's two weeks out from my 2nd tx. my thumb nail is throbbing on one side of the nail and so is the cuticle around it. it's like i slammed it in a car door, but i didn't! is this the taxotere se? i iced finger/toe nails last tx. actually, this is pretty danged painful. anyone had this type of pain?
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YaYa I did. I hate to say it but it's an indication that your nail will lift. Lifting is one of the more rare SE on taxotere. Every single finger and toe nail lifted on me. I got it real bad. The only advice I have for you it to limit stress to the fingers/thumbs and toes. Don't wear tight shoes. Try to avoid pressing down on your fingers or nail (yeah I know, impossible). I didn't loose any of my finger nails but I did loose a couple of toenails and one had to be removed. 6 of my 10 fingernails are still lifted and tender 7+ months PFC… but like I said this is not only rare it's even rare to get it as bad as I did. You may not get it in all your finger and/or toe nails. I hope you don't. It's not fun. The throbing does go away.
And please report this SE to your onc.
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thank you, lago. i'm glad you mentioned that i should report it to my onc. i'll do that. it's very tender and it's amazing how much i use my thumb, but man ... i hope it doesn't happen to all my nails. bless your heart. did you ice, too? glad to hear the throbbing goes away. advil is helping some and i feel silly complaining about a nail, but you know how it hurts.
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