Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
Comments
-
sewingnut and Dragonfly,
Thank you for all this wonderful information. I'm going to look at the Buffs on line. I haven't really found any head gear I like on me. I got one free wig from a place called Victory in the Valley. They have a lot of information and stuff for cancer patients. They also gave me a bag of goodies with lotions, a neck pillow, etc. I've also ordered a wig off of e-bay, it hasn't arrived yet. I have made 2 turbans out of T shirts. I just don't like the way scarves look on me. So I hope the buffs look better.
I also did buy L-Glutamine and L-Carnitine. Is L-Carnitine the same thing as Acetyl L-Carnitine? They are both 500 mg. I learned about these from you all here on this thread. I asked my Onc about neulasta and he said he doesn't usually give that unless, or untill there is a need. So I'm a little concerned about that. I've read on these boards that it has to be given 24 hours after chemo. So what can they give you if you need it and it's a week later?
Some of the other things I bought yesterday is biotin, iron, B6, biotene, Aquaphor, and hard as nails.
You guys have really prepared me well. Also I already take claritin for allergies so, if I do get a neulasta shot that's covered.
0 -
For those starting out please consider icing your fingers and toes to prevent problems from the taxotere. Here is a LINK to an article about it. Docetaxel is taxotere and onycholysis is separation of the nail from the nail bed. I used insulated lunch sacks from Target and frozen peas. Here is another LINK
I missed that you guys were talking about it earlier ! I think Dragonfly described it well. I bought two standup lunch sacks for my hands and longer ones for my feet. Remember to wear light cotton socks and don't let them get too cold.
If you get neulasta shot - In the tummy works well and I was advised to take claritin for several days to help with any pain.
0 -
I'm not certain of the difference between L-Carnitine and Acetyl L Carnitine but I took Acetyl L Carnitine. I think I read somewhere that L Carnitine is converted into Acetyl L Carnitine. Acetyl L Carnitine also crosses the blood-brain barrier and improves memory so it seemed to me that it could only help during chemo with the risk of chemo-brain...
"Acetyl L Carnitine Prevents and Reduces Paclitaxel-Induced Painful Peripheral Neuropathy" Article link listed below:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1805703/pdf/nihms-17123.pdf
0 -
Acetyl is good for exactly what dragonfly describes. Regular L-Carnitine helps preserve your muscle mass which includes the heart.....one for brain/neuropathy...L-Carn (liquid is best) for muscles and heart.
I used Acetyl during chemo...didn't know there was a difference....once the Herceptin damaged my heart though I discovered L-Carnitine liquid helps with toxicity issues in some cases.....If I had it to do over, I'd take both during hard chemo.
0 -
Thank you ladies,
You are all so knowledgeable, I know I am in the right place. I'm going to make a trip to Target and the health food store tomorrow for lunch sacks and Acetyl L Carnitine. Thank you so much
0 -
((((Hugs GrandmaV)))) We are here for you through thick and thin!0
-
you're gonna do great, grandmaV!! i think it's easier on us grandma's! just keep us posted on how you're doing.0
-
Hey YaYa,
How are you? I hope you're energy is picking up. I hope I do as good as you have. I'm already tired from all this house cleaning I've been doing. I think I'm going to take it easy tomorrow, even though I still have more I'd like to get done. My husband took tomorrow and Friday off work and he's been real sweet since I got my diagnosis. I feel like my wish is his command. I hope it lasts.
0 -
Hi all. Just dropping in to say hi. I don't check in as regularly as I used to on this site. The last month has been depressing, and just when I need most to reach out and comiserate is when I also want to hide in my cave.
I'm now half-way through the four Taxotere + Herceptin combo. Most of the time I seem to be handling it better than the A/C, until days like today when my mouth is going crazy (horrid taste, sensitive tongue, blah blah).
Just keep swimming...
0 -
dianamaps - Sorry about the difficult time. Sometimes it does really suck. Some of my worst moments were when I would wake up at night and feel so sick. Have you tried the biotene spray? I used that a lot for my throat and mouth it made it feel better for a while. Take care, you'll get through.0
-
grandmaV, i hope the support from your husband lasts, too! it probably will. i've learned that my family (especially my daughter and my sister) were sooooo supportive at first, but i've spent some time making sure that they don't get their feelings hurt, etc. once i got through the first two tx's, it just didn't seem like a big deal and they've basically faded away. i think it's that common idea that breast cancer isn't such a big deal ... "you'll be fine." even if i'm tired or feeling down, they have it worse. i've certainly changed my expectations through all this and have a greater understanding of myself within my family. it's caused some tears for me, but at least i'm learning.
dianamaps, i'm so sorry you've gone through so much. i'm sending you gentle hugs and lots of positive thoughts to get you over this hump.
0 -
YaYa,
I've been married to the man for 37 years and, except for when we were first married, he has never been this attentive. So far my kids are being supportive, but I've already had one close friend who is fading away. She feels she knows a lot about breast cancer, and like you said doesn't think it's a big deal. Last time I talked to her on the phone, she was telling me that she heard the first two days of chemo tx is kind of bad, but after that I should be just fine. I tried to tell her what I've learned and she suddenly had to get off the phone. I think they get tired of thinking about it, and just want to be done with it. But that's OK, look at all the new friends I've found here. By the way are you a Lee Dorsey fan? Just curious because of his hit from 1961 "Ya Ya". He's one of my husband's favorites. He loves the film "American Graffiti"
0 -
Hi GrandmaV, welcome. You can ask ANY question and someone will have an answer. Just one comment, I discovered finally after 4 txs that I cannot take Compazine, I have an allergy to it, so I am back on Zolfran and Ativan. I also discovered today at tx 5 that the reason for the rash all around my port, in my arm, is that I am allergic to the chloroprep they use to clean it each time they use it!! I knew this from my surgery but never occurred to me it was the same stuff. Today they were looking at the rash trying to decide what it is, maybe the tape, couldnt be the chloroprep could it?? So, that is sorted, so no more compazine and no more chloroprep either. I am VERY tired tonight and hope to sleep well. I only get steroids during the infusion so they dont usually bother me.0
-
grandmaV, 'yaya' is what my grandchildren call me. i love the name because it's so easy for them to say when they're little.0
-
I just remembered I had a question, sorry got side tracked reading to catch up. Any ideas for if you get a cold, I think I may be catching my DH's cold - ugh. I had chemo today becausewas fine, but I think I'm feeling it tonight. Any ideas or should I call the onco tomorrow? Thanks.
0 -
Grimbol, I felt as though I was catching a cold last week so I took Zicam for a couple of days until symptoms went away.
0 -
Thank you Grimbol, I'll be careful to watch for allergic reactions. I've been wondering what to do too, if you get a cold during chemo. Can you take regular cold medicines? I've never used zicam, as Laura suggested. What about taking vitamin C or echinacea. That's what I usually do.
YaYa, I thought that it was what your grandchildren called you, but when I told my husband about the encouragement I'd received from the ladies on this thread and mentioned "YaYa", he started singing that song. So I thought I'd ask.
0 -
thanks, I was taking Airborne to try to avoid it, and I still dont know if it s a cold or just runny nose from chemo/herceptin, but tonight it feels more stuffy. My BFF from Maine arrives again tomorrow, she's also an RN so she'll advise me too I hope.
0 -
Here is a link to a research study on Taxotere + Cytoxan + Herceptin.
0 -
Grimbol - Sorry to hear about the cold symptoms. Have you tried saline nose spray or a neti-pot? The cold germs don't tend to like the salty enviroment. It works for me. I was told by my Onc. to not take anything to boost my Vit.C or Zinc so Airborne and Zycam are out for me =(. I hope you're feeling better soon.0
-
Good morning all,
I just wanted to say how much I appreciated everything. The Helpful tips, the encouragement, and giving me strength. I slept surprisingly good last night and woke up with a more positive attitude and feeling more relaxed. I think that is mostly due to you ladies here on this thread. I've got my supplies ready, had about 50 ounces of water already, working on another 20 ounces. I have a slight headache, but other than that feeling good about it. I leave in about an hour. So will update later if I can.
0 -
grandmav - good luck, you will be fine! The anticipation is always worse with the first one!
0 -
Thanks Kelli, I was using the nasal spray since my nose tends to be dry at the moment and so far so good. I did wonder about the Airborne and what they would say but since I never asked I wont know!!
Hope today goes well for you grandmav.
0 -
Go get 'em, Grandmav.
Let us know how you are doing. Wishing you the best.
Amy
0 -
Good luck Grandmav!!!0
-
Grandmav Wishing you the best as you begin TCH...hoping for minimal SEs:)0
-
Hi Ladies,
You guys are so sweet. I feel like a have my own personal cheering section. It went really well today. The Benadryl knocked me out and I slept on and off through the herceptin. The taxotere went in smoothly. They started me slow. I iced my fingers and toes. The frozen peas worked great. I had asked the nurse prior to the herceptin if she had ever heard of icing your toes and fingers before taxotere to prevent problems from taxotere and she had never heard of it. She kind of had a smile on her face and and started telling me to be careful what I have a manicurist do while doing chemo. I was puzzled by that until my husband said she might have thought I met icing like on a cake. We had a laugh out of that. She and the other nurses were in and out and never said a thing about what I was doing, although some of the other people there were giving me puzzled looks. I also sucked on ice. I didn't need to remove my dentures and that made me happy. Once the carbo got started the time passed quickly. We didn't get started until about noon and finished up just after 5:30. I was the last one there. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for all your support, tips and encouragement. It was invaluable.
Omaz, thanks for the link. I'm going to print that out and take it with me next time.
0 -
GrandmaV - One down!!!0
-
grandmav - your nurse may have been warning you about manicurists during chemo because of your potentially lowered white count. Many nail salons share tools used for manicures, or can nip your cuticles causing an infection. They generally don't advise manicures or pedicures during chemo for this reason. So glad things went well today - now you know what it is all about!
0
I'm not certain of the difference between L-Carnitine and Acetyl L Carnitine but I took Acetyl L Carnitine. I think I read somewhere that L Carnitine is converted into Acetyl L Carnitine. Acetyl L Carnitine also crosses the blood-brain barrier and improves memory so it seemed to me that it could only help during chemo with the risk of chemo-brain...