Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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Need - Whoo Hoo indeed! Congrats on making it all the way through!0
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NeedtobeSTRONG,
Congratulations, this will soon just be a memory! I am finishing rads, and looking forward to the home stretch with Herceptin only for a few more months. We get through it and time goes quickly!
A question about lymphedema. I noticed my arm was sore over the weekend and I thought it was from the way I slept. I woke up this morning with severe pain and very limited mobility. It is not swollen but it hurts. I looked at symptoms for LE and it sounds like it, but there is no swelling. I see the RO today anyway, but I had to call in sick because I can't drive. GRRRR.
I have sailed along radiation with little SE's . I have a burn on my clavicle, but it is my fault. I did not treat it the way I did the rest of the area of treatment and it is red, hot and raw. Oh well, I am done with whole breast treatment and have only 4 boosters left, so that area is not treated anymore. I am hoping it will be better soon.
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You made it Needstobestrong. Bravo!
anafoefana get that arm checked out. You might be a stage 0. The earlier you catch it the easier it is to treat. I think stage 0 might even be able to be reversed. I'm not saying you need to see someone tomorrow but call your RO and tell her/him. See if they can't get you in to see a PT sooner rather than later.
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ana - I had cording start during rads, my arm hurt from the armpit down to the wrist esp if I tried to extend it. I had a little LE at the same time. At first I couldn't see the cords but after a while I could then see them. I went to an LE specialist and she treated them.0
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ana - my cording started during chemo with all the swelling from Taxotere. See if you can get in to see an LE PT. There is also some possibility that it is rads related like what happened to dragonfly.
need - yay!
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Good luck Ana.
NTBStrong, yay for you. To everyone else, much love.0 -
Saw my RO. She says it is not lymphedema. She said the muscles are tightening from the rads, and told me to stretch and exercise my arm. She measured me for a sleeve just in case and we ordered it. She told me to take Advil for pain. I won't be seeing her again for another 3 months, but she told me if I notice any swelling to let her know right away. I don't have swelling now.
Hoping she is right. I will get on with the exercises and take advil. I will drive one handed to work tomorrow.
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Yay anafoefana. I don't wish LE on anyone. Mine isn't too bad but I wish I didn't have it.
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ana - Does it hurt down to your wrist?0
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Hey all,
Just had a women from my Church that was diagnosed and had a masectomy on the affected side only. I was surprised how differently she is being treated vs. my own experience. Different hospitals, docs, etc. They did her node biopsy on the same day but as two different procedures and they removed seven nodes. It took two weeks for her to get her pathology back. They told her stage 1 and that it was small. They told her it was an aggressive form but I'm not sure why, she just seems to go with whatever they are saying without questioning anything. The onc told her that chemo was her only tx choice, but that her odds were about the same whether she did chemo or not, so she said she's probably going to opt out. I've asked a few questions, but don't want to be too pushy. I just don't think she is getting the quality of care that I got and I am concerned for her. Also, she is having a lot of pain with her arm and didn't know about Lymphedema risks!! I emailed her a link to the BCO site.
Today, I am feeling so thankful for my team of doctors, for the internet, and for this site and all the women on it.
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Just wondering if anyone has experienced a much harder time with side effects as they get to the later treatments? I had my 5th (of 6) last Friday and I have to say that I could barely get out of bed until last night. I was very fatigued, dizzy, and it basically kicked my butt? Just wondering if that means that 6th will really throw me over the edge. If anyone can share their experiences, I would appreciate it. By the way my platelet count had been low and I had to delay for a couple of days for treatment, but then they more than doubled by the day of the infusion so don't know if that would have made a difference. Thanks for any input...and have a mild and peaceful day...Linda
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Yes they get a little worse each time. Sorry to tell you that.
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Linnyhop.... I just hung up the phone from talking to the nurse at my MO's office. She just said to me...each treatment does get worse. Treatment #4 is kicking my butt so I have no idea what #'s 5 and 6 are going to do to me. I can't even make it up the stairs today and I was just in for fludis yesterday so I think it is just a nature of the chemo. She said to listen to my body, push fluids, and get plenty of rest.
Since I know there are some younger gals on here, this is also what she said when I told her I felt like a whimp...she said...younger women always have a harder time with chemo than older women do. So, don't beat yourself up, be kind to your bodies, listen to them, and pull in the troops to help out!!!! Chemo is NO easy thing. Stay strong!!! We can do this!!!!
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Thanks for your replies...I will very quickly be ascending to my second floor throne room and make sure the servant takes care of me when he gets home...LOL! Seriously, I am just going to go with the flow and not feel guilty about resting. You guys are the best! Linda
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linny and dougieswife - for me 5 was worse than 4, but I kept waiting for trouble after 6 and it never came - I was tired but most other SE's I had experienced never showed up, including the GI ones! I was pleasantly shocked.
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Omaz,
The pain is mostly on my upper arm on the top and bottom. It feels kind of what it felt like right after my surgery, like the nerves are tight. Moving it up and down hurts and I don't have a lot of strength. But.. I moved it plenty today at work. My students were as active as ever, so lots of action.
Linda, 5 and 6 were worse than the first few. My blood counts were low and I ended up having a couple of transfusions. You are almost finished and you will feel better soon.
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Lago,
Thanks, I am hoping that it stays that way. The RO said a person can develop it anytime after treatment. I hope I don't!
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Special K - I am going to hope I follow your path, but asAnafoefana mentioned, I won't be shocked if things get crazier. I am working on not feeling guilty about whatever I feel. It's just our body's reaction to the chemicals. However, I am noticing the dust on the TV screen and just may have to swipe it off so I can watch the inane programs I sometimes resort to during the day. I guess I am just happy that there is only one chemo session left. I am hoping the rads and Herceptin (and whatever follows) are milder than what I have experienced. To feel "semi-normal" would be such a blessing at this point. Thanks once again for boosting me when I need itl,
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linny - it hasn't been so long that I have forgotten exactly what you are feeling. It seemed to be mostly relief that the last one was finally here - I didn't really care how bad I felt, I was just happy it was the last one!. I hope rads goes smoothly for you, I was fortunate not to have to do rads (I think - who knows?) and after chemo, Herceptin was no biggie, at least for me. Take care of yourself and soon this will be behind you!
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Hi ladies
Well I finished rads on Monday and will be starting my TCH infusions on March 6th. Had a chat with the chemo nurses yesterday and they said I won't be needing Emend as its usually only used for A/C infusions. What anti-nausea meds were you all given for TCH? I'm a little nervous about no Emend as it worked great for me last time when I did A/C and Taxol. They mentioned Zofran and nothing else. I'm a little freaked. Zofran just doesn't sound like it will be enough.
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Relda I was given prescriptions for compazine and zofran (and filled both) but never used anything but the compazine. I was also told that if things got really bad they would give me Emend so I knew the option was there if all else failed.
Edited to add: I was also given something called Aloxi with each infusion. The compazine was the oral medication I took following infusions...
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Relda...ummm....I ALWAYS get Emmend with TCH. In fact, I have the new Sancuso patch which is Emmend in a patch because my nausea is so bad. My Dr's threw the book at me for nausea...Here is EVERYTHING that I have (but you can't mix)
Sancuso patch for 7 days, Compazine for break through nausea, Ativan, Kytil (can't take with Emmend), Phenegren suppositories, and then there is Skelaxin.
I would ask for something...you don't want to be sick and then have to wait or get dehydrated and feel even worse. My dr is very proactive in preventing the nausea. It just seems that is the one thing that can take you down (physically and emotionally) quickly.
Hopefully you won't need anything more than Zofran!!!
Now I have my own Neuropathy question....I had been having HORRIBLE foot pain with this last treatment and then BAM, I put my shoes on this morning and my feet went numb, just like that...it feels like they are trying to warm up after being cold. Is that neuropathy?? Does it happen just like that??? I thought it was a progression of sorts...it's very irritating!!!
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I was given Aloxi in the pre-meds drip right before infusion. I had three at home meds for anti-nausea. I was to take them in order, moving on to the next if the first didn't work. The order was Zofran, Compazine, Ativan. Zofran gave me a wicked headache and had no discernable effect. Compazine and Ativan both worked - the instructions were to start at 9:00 p.m. on the day of infusion and continue at 12 hour intervals, even if no nausea happened, for an 48 additional hours. With this plan I had breakthrough nausea while taking the Zofran, so I switched to Compazine and was OK. The steroids also combat nausea to a limited extent.
Relda - they always have the option of prescribing you additional meds but if you are nervous and know that you have something that works just ask them for it. It is better to have it available.
dougieswife - sounds like it could be neuropathy, but might just be a weird SE. Someone on my chemo group thread last year had a similar event but it went away and was only the one time, but she said it was fairly intense - pain and numbness of both whole feet.
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linnyhop, I felt worse with each treatment and was also worried about #6, but I barely had any side effects after it. So, you never know, hopefully you will do the same. As far as rads and Herceptin, I will have my 34th (of 35) radiation treatments tomorrow, and aside from my skin turning pink, it has been a breeze. I used Emu oil rather than the Aquaphor they gave me. I really have no SE from Herceptin.
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Laura ~ Thanks to you (and everyone else) for the encouragement that #6 could actually have less side effects. I am hoping so. I told my DH tonight that I feel like a big bald lump and he told me to remember that I have done well until now and will get through it. I know he is right, but some days I just want to have a pity party! OK...I am officially over it with the encouragement I have received today. If I start to go down that path again, I will make sure I "talk" to all of you. There is something about having people who have gone through or are going through the same thing on your side. Guess I will take myself upstairs in a bit and watch American Idol. I am quite sure my DH won't be joining me...ha! ha!
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NeedtobeSTRONG - congrats on getting through that last TC!
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Linny,
Tx #6 was hardest for me hands down. SE are cumulative, but also after the 6th I felt "done" and resented the SE more. So maybe I paid more attention to them....I dunno, but I can tell you I didn't have any real pain until 4 weeks PFC...my thighs hurt so bad I had to elevate the legs every night just to sleep!
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That's rather discouraging to hear TonLee.....I am having #5 next Thursday and I know each one has gotten a little harder. I already have the pain in my thighs...UGH! Cancer sucks!
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Relda I had Emmend (day of, night of and day after). I was also prescribed Compazine & Zofran but never needed it. Some of us don't get nausea.
Relda that sounds like neuropathy to me. My left heel is still a bit numb and I'm 1 year & 1 month PFC. Tell your onc. They might reduce your dose. My onc did not. My nueropathy became really noticeable in my foot/feet (had burning in both feet for a while too) after tx1. My onc didn't reduce my dose but would have if it got worse. I also started taking Acetyl-L-Carnitine after that. I swear that's why in ever got much worse.
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@Relda: I had my first TCH yesterday. Infusion of Aloxi for nausea, followed by Herceptin, Carboplatin, and Taxotere. I also have Zofran, Phenergan, and Ativan at home....to be taken in that order for nausea. Except last night I took Phenergan before bed as a precaution (not feeling any nausea yet).
I was under the impression some sort of anti-nausea med is standard protocol during chemo infusions. I would definitely ask.
Best wishes to all.
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