Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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Oooh bad day for me today, day 7 after 2nd tx and I have thrown up all day!! I can't keep the Compazine of Zofran in me long enough to do any good. Weird today is. Really, really tired too, but nothing much else. I haven't eaten much at all as this started early with my first coffee, I tried popsicles, just fruit ones, but nothing is staying down. I may have to tall them in the morning.
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Grimbol - I think they can prescribe an anti-nausea suppository that you can use.0
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grimbol - definitely call. Dehydration is a problem, sometimes not enough fluids will cause nausea and if they can give you some IV it may help. They may be able to give you some anti-nausea IV as well.
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Oh- so sorry every one is having such a bad time with SE's. Grimbol- Do you have ativan? It is orally disentigrating and will dissolve in your mouth so you don't have to worry about throwing it up. Zofran tends to be more preventative for me. It doesn't help if your already throwing up. But, there is also a OD form of Zofran (It's expensive). Don't wait to call your MO if you've been sick all day. It will be worse if it gets out of contol. Also, I've found phenergan helps better than compazine for me. And phenergan can come in a suppository form (gross) so you don't have to worry about keeping it down.
YaYa- I had pretty bad anemia with my treatments in July and I am still low. My HGB got down to 8.4 and it was awful. I just could not bounce back. No energy at all and just felt like crap until it came back up a bit. Since then I have been on an Iron supplement, which I can hardly gag down but it has helped my RBC's and has made me feel better. Red meats & spinach have lots of iron. But, I will warn you- if you take Iron you will also need a stool softener. It will cause big time constipation for most people.
Musical Mom- A hospital stay is such a bummer. I have been so lucky that my WBC have done very well and I contribute it to Neulasta. I think with Neulasta you will do better with your next treatments. My hugs go out to you. Stay positive, rest up and feel better real soon.
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I can't believe everyone's medical bills. I haven't even seen a bill since I started chemo. I have met my medical maximum, I get a 25% discount because I am a hospital employee, and also I am on a clinical trial... so everything has been covered. Even though I am a nurse and in the medical field, I am SHOCKED at some of those amounts. Is Neulasta made of gold or diamonds? How could anyone pay these amounts without insurance. So scary. But, I am so glad for Neulasta and Herceptin. Where would we be without them?
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All - OK so, just back from the dermatologist, minus my entire wedding ring fingernail - yikes! They sent the nail to be cultured so see if it was bacterial, yeast or fungal, or some combination of those. I can now testify that there is a reason for fingernails because fingers without them look somewhat alien!
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Thanks for all the answers re: which #tx was the worst. You ladies all rock! I guess the worst tx varied for everyone. Dreading #3 coming up but I'll be half-way through. I still think once in a while about stopping at #4, but thanks to all of you on this board, to your advice and encouragement, I will do my best to see this through.
The funny thing I've found is that my outlook varies on how I am feeling. On the days when I am feeling well, like today, I start thinking: okay, I can do this. Just buckle down and think of beating this cancer. But during the first 10 days or so, when I am feeling sick, can't sleep, have to keep taking a million pills to combat a million side effects, I feel so down that I think it's just not worth it.... Must be a body-mind connection thing.
YaYa, it's interesting that we have the same diagnostic. Not very many ER+PR- out there. I wonder whether that's a good or bad thing... I too do not get my blood checked between treatments, only a couple of days before the next chemo to make sure that I am strong enough. I am worried about anemia as well because I am naturally anemic and Taxotere causes anemia. I have been eating a lot of red beans and some red meat and taking an iron pill every other day during my good week.
One question to all regarding the protein intake. Does all this protein contribute to weight gain? I think I am gaining weight and I am not sure what to attribute it to.
Special K, sorry about your nail. Hope it regrows very quickly. How come you are losing it now that you are done with chemo?
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amelie - You are most likely gaining weight from minor swelling as opposed to from too much protein. Steroids and Taxotere both will cause youto retain fluid.
The nail was the only one that lifted on chemo. I did ice but I had removed acrylics prior to starting chemo and this finger had a high tear on the side. That was enough for the Taxotere to make it lift. It was fine through chemo, just lifted, but by my last Herceptin only tx the end of the finger was red, nail lifted all the way back, and something yellowish-greenish under it. Not good. The nail itself was not the problem, it was what was underneath, and that the nail was not really attached to anything anymore.
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help! is the pus coming out around the cuticle of a thumbnail the beginning of a taxotere s/e? or did i maybe just hit it or something? is there anything i can do about it? i'm worried about another infection in my body. thoughts?
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yaya - hard to say - hopefully lago will chime in - she is the nail expert! Remember that your immune system is low so it might not be lifting, but you bumped it and under normal circumstances this would not have happened. Hard to say - soft tissue is vulnerable because it is damaged by the Taxotere. When do you see your onc again?
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I have gained about 12# since the start of my treatments. It is really depressing since I lost so much weight before my dx. I will get it back off I am sure. Sorry about your nail SpecialK. I smashed my nail in the car door when I was real young...a nailbed without the nail is disgusting.
Did anyone crave certain foods while on chemo?? The only reason I ask is that I tend to crave (and maybe because it is all I can taste) peanut butter and cottage cheese. Give me those items for the first week and a half after tx and I am a happy camper.
Tina
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Thanks for the comments and advice laides. So much appreciated. I finally rent in for some Demerol last night, but even that didn't help too much. I went back today for hydration and extra meds, steroids, antinausea, Ativan etc etc. I am glad to say I am finally able to keep water own if I drink slowly. Must have really needed it as I havent peed it out yet!! I had forgotten about nausea suppositories, I've used those before. They are now going to schedule an MRI of my brain too, so those of you who pray pls pray for good results from that, thanks. It will probably be next week.
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luebbsgirl - the good news on fingernails - they will grow back, probably faster than my ridiculous hair! Great that the things you crave have protein!
grimbol - glad you got some fluids - dehydration can cause nausea for sure. Sending you good thoughts on the MRI.
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Grimbol my onc said no suppositories because there is risk of infection. I don't know if she is just being overly cautious.
Amelie, I am going for number 4 tomorrow. So far for me, 2 was the worst, 3 was the best. I hardly had any SEs. I do not normally have nausea, but I think that medicating in anticipation helps. I did not do that with #2 and it was really bad.
My blood counts are low, but I have been given the go ahead for #4. My platelets were extremely low and I had to wait until today to find out if I could go tomorrow. They are good now, wbc and rbc cells are low, but I guess not bad enough for a transfusion. For me, trying to increase protein has not helped the counts.
Yaya, I hope you are able to get your finger nails checked out. I think that pus is a bad sign. I remember my mother had an issue with a finger nail and the infection got really bad and she had to go to the hospital daily to have antibiotics. Her whole hand was swollen and red.
I have been using peas during tax and so far my nails are doing really well. I have no discoloration or ridges. They do not grow, but they are doing okay and I am grateful. I am one of those who had acrylics for years and had them removed a couple of weeks before I started treatment.
Luesbbsgurl, I have gained a couple of pounds and I lose a couple of pounds after each round, so I stay the same. I was told to expect a 5 to 10 lbs gain.
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thank you, specialK. i've actually had this happen before, but, of course, i'm super worried about everything now. i'm getting ready to soak it in warm salt water and i'll call the onc's office in the morning. i don't see him until monday when i go for tx #3.
lago??? help!
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yaya - maybe some antiobiotic ointment too?
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specialK, i've been using that,too. i just need to do what i can and call the onc's office tomorrow thank you so much for your help. you're very kind..0
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yaya - just want everything to be good for you, chemo is tough! Keep us posted.
anafoefana - your platelets will bounce all around during chemo, completely normal. They will not give you chemo if they go low and stay low because you would be at risk for bleeding. Platelets help you clot. They can also give you a platelet transfusion if they go too low. As far as transfusion of blood - they are watching your hemoglobin number. I am glad you are icing and glad it is working for you. My nine other nails are beautiful, no lines or ridges or discoloration. I just have one troublemaker!
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Luebbsgurl, Anafoefana and others... It's possible that your weight gain is nothing more than fluid from the Taxotere and steroids. I ended up with 12 pounds of extra weight by the end of chemo in spite of not even eating as much as normal due to the GI problems. It wasn't obvious that it was swelling until the last few cycles when my ankles would swell in the evening and I noticed that my abdomen seemed bloated/swollen. The good news is that it goes away-it took me almost 8 weeks to lose the fluid after chemo but it gradually dropped off and I went back to my pre-chemo weight.
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dragonfly - hi my triplet!
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YaYa that oozing happened to me too. It smells bad as well. I did see a dermatologist for my fingers and a podiatrist for my toes. You might just go to the dermatologist (should be able to take care of both) if you are concerned about infection. That's why my onc sent me.
Mine never got infected. They hurt like hell though too. Still tender.
Here is the thread where I posted lots of info and pictures on the nail issue. It's only 2 pages so you can easily read the info: Nail Issues Due to Chemo
Sorry I was out today with a friend then to see the PS. Didn't get home till 7:30 then made dinner and hung with Mr. Lago for a bit. Sorry I didn't respond sooner.
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Anafoefana- Tomorrow is a chemo day for me too. Good luck...I will be thinking about ya!
YaYa5- Watch that nail close. Finger/Hand infections can happen quickly. Watch for redness, drainage, swelling, increased pain/tenderness, and fever. You want to catch it early....even for those people not on chemo. If you catch it early enough oral antibiotics will kick it...if you don't catch it early you will end up with a hospital stay on IV antibiotics. It is even common for a hand infection to need a trip to the OR for an incision and drainage. I am an RN for a hand specialist/PS and my doc will usually prescribe oral augmentin or cipro for hand infections. Good luck- and let me know if I can help you in any way.
Grimbol- So glad you finally have your nausea under control. Take care of yourself.
Dragonfly- I am so glad for the reassurance that the extra #'s are swelling and fluids. I feel exactly like you describe with the swollen feet and bloated belly. I've gained about 5 pounds or so, and I'm ready for it to go away!
Happy thoughts to all!
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thank you, lago. i'm going over to your thread right now.
christean, i appreciate your input as well. i'll definitely call my onc tomorrow and see what they say there. i just had a huge dose of amoxicillin that just about killed me. the big D lasted for almost two weeks. gross. i'm just getting back to normal so the thought of another antibiotic makes my skin crawl. ugh.
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lago, OMG! you really had some problems with your nails. i'm so sorry you went through that. my nail doesn't look near as bad as any of yours, but who knows? it could just be the beginning. i appreciate all your help and your taking time to post pics. i must say that i LOVE your ring, though! it makes the nails much less noticeable.
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Has anyone heard of anastrozole, the alternative drug to tamoxafin? A lady talked to my today, and was first very negative on the nuelasta shot, and said it is full of plastics, and can increase your chances of bone cancer my 38%, I said, it keeps me out of the hospital, and I have it the day after each chemo, then she said (she is a breast cancer survivour one year out) the doctor was going to put her on tamoxafin for 5 years ( which is what I was told was part of my plan) and she did some research, and found it caused too many side effects, and told the doctor she would not take it and had found anastrozole during her research to be side effect free, and she is taking that for 5 years instead. Any thoughts on this. I am so confused. I never thought to question the tamoxafin plan the oncologist laid out.
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zumbagirl Anastrozole is generic Arimidex. It's one of the aromatase inhibitors. Aromatase inhibitors (AI) is only for women who are post menopausal. Tamoxifen can be taken by both pre and post menopausal. If you haven't gone through menopause yet and want to take an AI t hen you will have to take another drug (injection) to stop your ovaries from producing hormones.
I'm currently taking Anastrozole.
All drugs have some side effects (SE). Some women have no SE with Tamoxifen. Some women have no SE with the AIs. I have some stiffness with Anastrozole but not too bad. One thing I have to worry about with any of the AIs is bone loss. You can experience that from Tamoxifen but not as bad. There are some more serious SE with Tamoxifen but not very common.
Here are the links to those drugs on BC.org. Be sure to click on the link at the bottom of both pages to see even more SE (but not as common).
http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/druglist/arimidex.jsp
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http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/druglist/tamoxifen.jsp0 -
zumbagirl - I have never seen that information about neulasta - the plastics and increased risk of cancer. I think my onc would have told me if that was the case. He is very conscientious.0
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I haven't heard that about Neulasta either, but then I didn't have to have it so....
Ditto everything that Lago said about the aromatase inhibitors. I have some pain issues no matter which AI I take, right now I'm taking exemestane (Aromasin). But my cancer was very ER/PR +++, and my stage was IIIa, so I'm working out a way to stay on them with the pain. I have a couple of friends who take the AI, one had no SE's and the other quit taking it because of pain, and the fact that with her stage (0-1) the Onc didn't feel it was as important for her to continue.
Hope to talk to you soon zumbagirl!
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LindaKR - My acupuncture therapist that I saw during treatment said that she has good success in treating AI arthritis type pain with acupuncture. Just a thought.0
