Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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What does the Prilosec help with? I don't have heartburn, but sure do have a yucky stomach almost everyday.
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ugh I am having such a hard time with stomach cramps and D, I am 7 days out from my last tx but still feel really terrible. I will call the onc in the morning, I'm sure I am dehydrated by now I've hardly been able to sip at water this weekend. Not a happy camper!! Much harder to get over than the other 5, I guess it's the cummulative effect.
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Grimbol I'm so sorry you are having the D/cramping. If I remember correctly, you've suffered with it during every cycle-I did too and it was miserable. It's very difficult to stay hydrated during that time but do your best. During days 6-10 I had to drink Ensure and eat things like cream of wheat, broth, etc. because they didn't provoke the cramping. Hope you feel better soon!0
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Hi everyone! New here. Went to my gyn in September due to needing a mammo, plus I had a weird flaky spot of skin on my left nipple. Gyn told me I needed a mammo, obviously, and to see a breast surgeon. Say what??? I hadn't even had the mammo yet. Hubby said gyn just CHA (covering you know what). Had mammo following week, tech said wait, came back in room, need to repeat with smaller paddles on more localized area. Uh oh. Next, wait. Now need ultra sound right now. Double uh oh. Tech going over and over same spot. I'm laying on table praying. Tech leaves room. I'm trying to decipher image on screen. Tech comes back, says get dressed, radiologist needs to talk to you. Yikes!
Radiologist very nice. Points to area of films that looks like large constellation of stars. Lots of little white dots. He says prob will need lumpectomy, plus go see breast surgeon. I'm like "who"? He doesn't want to say. Says go ask gyn. I say I barely know her, first time to her office, had total hyster eleven years ago, haven't been to gyn in almost that long. I press him. Ask him who he would send his mother/sister/wife/daughter to. He gives me a name. I go out to parking lot, and call. Miraculously, they had a cancellation next day. I take it. Go with films in hand.
Breast surgeon very, very sweet. Looks at films. Says most likely DCIS. Does biopsy then and there in procedure room. Tells me very large area, will need mastectomy, nipple involved, Paget's disease, but 99% sure no further treatment, if sentinal node biopsy negative.
Breast surgeon calls me following week. Yes, biopsy shows DCIS. She's 99% sure no further treatment. Yippee!!! Everyone thinks I'm handling it amazingly well, having to have mastectomy. I'm thrilled no further treatment. Left mastectomy with immediate reconstruction done on October 11th. Sentinal node biopsy negative. Hurrah!!! Breast surgeon tells hubby she's 99% sure no further treatment, but of course, we need to wait for pathology.
Almost four weeks go by, finally go for post-op visit. Bomb drops. Breast surgeon says so sorry, area of invasive cancer found, a little over a centimeter, poorly defined borders, ER neg, Her2 pos, you need chemo. Say what??? Hubby & I think we are in a dream. We leave, in a daze, sitting in his truck, looking at each other like what the hell just happened?
Meet oncologist following week. Need six rounds of TCH (taxotere/Carboplatin/Herceptin), one every three weeks, with Herceptin for a year. Port placed on Nov 21st, first chemo Nov 22nd, Neulasta injection Nov 23rd, Happy Thanksgiving to me.
Six days post 1st chemo, and I'm soooo tired. Feel like truck hit me. Actually felt pretty good first three days, just very tired, in bed by 7:30, which is NOT normal for me. Fourth night up till 8:30, woo hoo!!! Had to use ativan the second, third and fourth nights, as felt very agitated and anxious. Saturday was a good day. Sunday I don't know what hit me, became anxious in afternoon, heart beating fast, lightheaded. Maybe dehydrated a little? Eating a lot of salty things, as everything tastes like crap. Also took Miralax Friday & Saturday night for constipation. Colace, fruit, & green vegs doing squat. Made sure to drink extra water all afternoon and evening. This morning don't feel too bad, but still very, very tired. This freaks me out. I'm use to going, going, going. What makes me more nervous is that I felt better days three and four post chemo,why do I feel worse days five and six?
Changed centers I'm having chemo at, same group, but one that is closer, so couldn't get appt until Wednesday, which is one week and one day post chemo, for herceptin treatment. Anxious for labs to be done to see if my counts are okay.0 -
Hi teresanmj - welcome to the club nobody wants to join.... So sorry about your dx, but it's good that you got right on it when something was amiss.
What you are describing sounds a lot like anemia - I have struggled with it from day one, and it really pulls you down when you might otherwise feel OK. In fact, I've felt pretty good since my last treatment. Until today, 11 days later. I am planning to make a call this morning; I've learned to NOT wait until I completely crash. It might be worthwhile to go ahead and call and ask to have labs done to see where you are. Good luck!
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Teresamnj,
You are probably coming down from the steroid high. I took xanax those days to take the edge off so I could sleep. I didnt feel anxious, just shaky. Good news is, you have one under your belt and only 5 more to go.
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Hope everyone had a nice thanksgiving!
Question...
Is anyone here having treatment at Cancer Treatment Centers of America?
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teresamnj, the fifth day was always the worst day for me. I could always count on not feeling well that day. #2 was the worst, but they were pretty consistent. I was able to work through most of it, I always took off day 4, 5 and 6. It worked out well for me.
I am sorry you are here. This forum is a great source of information and you will find a lot of support.
Hang in there, it will be over before you know it!
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Hi ladies,
My blood platelets have returned to normal range (barely). So I will have my 2nd tx of TCH tomorrow. I'll be glad to get another tx behind me. I've been getting all my supplies together that I learned from you for the SE's that will follow. Got my frozen peas ready for tomorrow.
Thanks again for all the good information
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GrandmaV~ Glad you are well enough to have your 2nd treatment tomorrow. I am being treated for an abcess on my leg and on antibiotics. I sure as heck hope this doesn't delay my treatment that's scheduled for a week from tomorrow. I hate doing it, but want to get them all over with as scheduled. By the way, my hair is starting to fall out...it's day 14 so I guess I am right on target for baldness. Have to decide when to shave it cuz I don't think I can bear to have the straggly hangers on for too long. I guess I have a day or two to get it over with if that's what I decide?
Good luck tomorrow. I will be thinking of you and hoping all goes well and you feel better this time...at least we are a bit more of aware of what might happen this time. Take good care. Linda
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hi all,
on 11/17 my wife completed her last herceptin treatment, the port comes out a few days before Christmas, then she has nipple reconstruction a few days after. Hopefully after that it's just a tatoo and we're done. Oddly her last treatment gave her the worst body aches. Thankfully there is Aleve. She had her last Muga today as well.
Thank you to everyone who answered our questions, provided our support, and gave us insight into the process. Hopefully this is all behind us. I wish all of you the best of luck going forward. To those of you starting or in the middle of the process, you will get through it!
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grandmaV, i'm so happy that you'll be able to get another treatment behind you. maybe your onco will order a neulasta shot for you this time. don't forget to chew on ice, too, while you're getting taxotere. i never got any mouth sores and i chewed ice. maybe the ice helped! good luck tomorrow. let us know how it went.
imatthew, congratulations to you and your wife! it must feel wonderful having it all behind both of you. she's very blessed to have a husband who has been so informed and helpful.
help! i know i should go over to the radiation thread, but before i do, i wanted to ask my friends here about their radiation. i saw the RO today and found out that i have to have full-breast radiation, not partial-breast, which is what i was hoping for. i think i'm more terrified of radiation than i was of chemo. the RO told me that my DCIS was high grade, 2 cm, and with the IDC at 1cm, i had 3cm to radiate and so it had to be full-breast. i didn't know the DCIS and IDC went together in the treatment plan. i'm scared. does anyone have any encouragement?
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Dragonfly - thanks, Ensure, that is a good idea, I have certainly lost several pounds over the last 2 tx's, the last being the worse one by far. However, it is also the LAST one, so I can cope! Today, being day 8 I am beginning to pick up, managed to get in for hydration today too whcih always helps.
teresamnj, so sorry you have to be here, but it is a great group of ladies with lots of wonderful advice.
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Teresamnj Welcome! You've really had some curve balls thrown at you in the past several months! I'm glad you found this thread-lots of support and help here:)
Yaya Everyone responds to Rads differently but I have to say it was the easiest thing I've done so far. I became somewhat more fatigued (but who wouldn't when you have daily appts x 6 1/2 weeks?) but my skin didn't react at all until the last week during the boosts and even then the peeling was minimal. The key is to follow the skincare recommendations i.e. moisturizing multiple times every day...
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Thanks for warm welcome! Yes, this isn't a club I wanted to join, but so very grateful for all the good advice here. When I'm freaking out, I come here and read, and find out why I'm feeling like I am. Can't believe the amount of women with breast cancer. Well, I was severely constipated for five days, taking colace every day, miralax twice, and a senekot last night, Went normally this morning, then this afternoon, stomach cramps and diarrhea. Such craziness!!!
My mouth is burning terribly today, and my lips feel chapped and sore. Burping burny stuff. Yuck. I've been taking Prevacid for reflux, but that doesn't seem to do much for this. Chewing tums helps a little. Any other solutions out there?
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What does the Prilosec help with? I don't have heartburn, but sure do have a yucky stomach almost everyday.
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Laura5 - Prilosec is a proton pump inhibitor - it limits acid production in the stomach in an attempt to control heartburn and indigestion. Because chemo aggravates soft tissue all over the body some people experience new, or worsened, heartburn when receiving it.
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yaya - With rads you want to do many of the things you already know to do during chemo - drink lots of fluids, eat well, rest. The additional thing is to lube up your skin really well with miaderm, aloe vera gel, emu oil and other things. It is also important to prevent skin on skin contact. Be sure to lube under the arm too. I had my appt first thing in the morning and then went to work. I wore a very soft cotton undershirt to absorb the lotions and oils and then my bra over that. I also got a slightly bigger bra.0
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teresamnj someone here recommended Chewable super Papaya Enzyme Plus for acid reflux, it worked great for me. You can get them at Whole Foods and probably other places too. I did only get the really nasty heart burn/relux one time though, the next tx's I was on top of it as soon as I felt anything.0
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teresamnj - My onc PA told me that some people have trouble telling the difference between heartburn and nausea and she thought my heartburn was really nausea and told me to take my anti-nausea meds more regularly (promethazine). I also got acupuncture for the heartburn and between the two of them it went away.0
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dragonfly, thank you!
omaz, my ro's nurse told me not to use ANYTHING other than aquaphor, lubriderm, etc. she said if i wanted to use anything else, i needed to bring it to them to see the ingredients, and that most of the other creams, etc. can cause really bad reactions. she scared the heck out of me! i've read about the other things that you used and was going to order them, but i haven't yet. i'm confused!
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Yaya My RO told me to use only Aloe (as pure as possible with no alcohol) and aquaphor to moisturize and Dove Sensitive Skin (the liquid kind) for bathing/showering. I used LOTS of aloe during the day and the aquaphor at night (it's a bit messy) and nothing else and I was fine...0
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SpecialK, Have you heard of it working for nausea? I take Compazine and Zofran for about 2 weeks after treatment, but still don't feel the greatest.0
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yaya - they told me to only use miaderm but I used the other things based on recommendations here. I think it's important to go into the treatment with 'clean' skin, i.e. nothing on it. I would usually shower before the treatment and gently dry. I would then put on the aloe vera in the changing room after the treatment. I also used aquaphor before bed. I thought the emu oil was terrific and very soothing. Like everything there are lots of differing opinions !
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Yaya - The thing that I wasn't expecting from rads was LE and cording which started at about week 4. It got better with therapy but the cording hurt!0
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GrandmaV,
Good luck with your 2nd treatment tomorrow. Mine will be next Tuesday.
Welcome! You'll find so much help on this message board. It helped me survive my first TCH treatment, and I feel I'll be so much better prepared for my second treatment. I too thought I wouldn't have to deal with the chemo bomb, but the HER2 positive made it necessary. It's a tough road, but I'm so thankful that a targeted treatment plan for the HER2 condition is available.
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Hi ladies a year ago today I got my biopsy that started this roller coaster of a year, anyone get anxiety as you approach that time? Dec 3 I was diagnosed and Jan 26 was BMX. I am super anxious..
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my wife did have heartburn after her first few TCH treatments, but was able to control it with antacids.
PPIs can cause a rebound-effect, with worse heartburn after you get off of them, and I believe they inhibit calcium absorption.
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Ok, I need a bit more info on the BART diet pls, getting desperate here. Bananas are pretty simple, apple, skinned or whole or applesauce? Rice, creamed rice, rice pudding, or plain boiled rice, can you put butter on the toast? My toast has to be gluten free too. anything I really shouldn't be eating? Thanks guys.
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oops I meant BRAT diet sorry
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