Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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Omaz & SpecialK...Thanks for sharing your experience. I did ice (bags of frozen peas) most of the time because I had read somewhere that it will not only preserve your nails but could help prevent neuropathy. My herceptin was given first I did not ice during this time. The nurse wanted to take my temperature every half hour or so and got annoyed about the ice chewing. I have read about lots of people icing (even some centers providing mits or popsicles) so I just don't understand why the cancer center I go to has an issue.0
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brax, the nurses at my center also had not heard about it and laughed about it. Your nurse doesn't have to live with the consequences of not icing, you do. If she's annoyed by it, she's just rude. She probably doesn't like anything to disrupt her routine. Somebody on this thread, I think it was lago or omaz, provided links to the research about this and I printed it out and took copies to the nurses and for my onc. They changed their tune after that. I'm not sure if I still have those links, but I'll look for it. But maybe the one who provided it for me will still have that info.
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brax - I am not sure about the icing preventing neuropathy, but it is the same agent (Taxotere) that would be causing neuropathy, I don't think Carboplatin or Herceptin are specifically linked to neuropathy. I iced both fingers and toes but still had mild neuropathy. I did take L-Glutamine, B-6 and Acetyl L-Carnitine to help prevent neuropathy, with the permission of my MO. I did have mild finger tingling that resolved after each tx, and also after tx#5 I had numbness on the bottoms of both feet. That has completely resolved and I am 8 months PFC. Your nurse may have taken your temperature frequently because it was your first tx. At all of my tx I only had my temp/BP taken prior to starting, never during.
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brax - I chew on ice during my Taxotere but have no iced fingers or toes. I did mention it to my MO at the beginning and she had not heard of it either. The nurses still look at my funny when I ask for the ice to chew. I have not had any nail issues or mouth sores. I have mild neuropathy in my toes only that started after treatment #4 and was for the most part resolved by treatment #5. I go in for my final TCH on Thursday...YAY!
I agree with SpecilaK that they probably took your temperature frequently because it was your first tx. I have my blood pressure checked twice during tx but the temp is only done before hand when I see my MO. Good luck to you and I hope you have minimal SE's!
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Hi there. My doc said I could go forward with my TCH tomorrow! Yippee! That means tomorrow is my last one. I cannot believe it! I am so ready to be done. I know I will have herceptin until November, but that is okay....the hard stuff will be behind me soon. Thanks for listening!
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Whoo Hooo slgarcia - that's great!!0
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YAY slgarcia! Congrats on your last chemo tomorrow! I'm getting mine Thursday. I hope you have very minimal SE's...sounds like you've been through enough!
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Yayyy Kelloggs too!! I am happy for you guys!0
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Congratulations to Kelloggs and slgarcia! slgarcia, I'm glad your arm is getting better.
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brax my onc was the one who told me to suck on ice chips during taxotere when I mentioned I had a few mouth sores. My onc nurse says it doesn't always work but it did for me. Never had another mouth sore. I did try to ice the fingers but it was too late for me. Not only did I get the "rare" nail lifting in every finger/toenail but I got it pretty badly according to my dermatologist.0
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Kelloggs and slgarcia - SO happy for both of you. When you begin, it feels like it will take forever, but then...it's done. As you look back, do you think it went quickly or slowly?
I tell people who are just starting that to me, the days dragged on but the months flew by. Curious to hear if you feel that way.Now onto H-only, which is A BREEZE compared to what you've been through.
Smiling here in Maryland for you both this week!
Amy
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congratulations, kelloggs and slgarcia! it's so much easier from here on out.
brax, my onc poo-pooed the ice thing, but i did it during taxotere and never had a mouth sore or a nail problem. he thinks i was just lucky to have such an easy time. i don't agree, but i DO agree with what grandmaV said ... YOU are the one getting chemo, not the damned nurse. do exactly what you want if you think it will help.
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Mimi8, I used cold caps (Penguin) and kept all of my hair. I can't begin to tell you how keeping my hair helped me throughout treatment. Aside from the days I didn't feel well, I had no constant reminder of cancer, not to mention the freedom of keeping my health a private matter. There is a thread on this website for cold cap users with a ton of information.0
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Thank you everybody! I am really excited for tomorrow. I never thought I would say I am happy to have chemo, but boy am I ever! Kellogs~~good luck to you on Thursday! I am really happy for you too. Amy~~to answer your question....for me the time has flown by. Of course there were days that I lived minute to minute, but those were just the bad days. I have a hard time believing it has been 5 months since my mastectomy. I think having active kids helps pass the time. I don't know, that is just the way it felt for me. I thought it would drag, but it hasn't. I hope the rest of the year goes smoothly and quickly as I face my exchange surgery, and Herceptin until November. I think the 5 years on tamoxifen will be a challenge. Anyone have thoughts/advice for that? Hugs to you all.
Shannon
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kelloggs and slgarcia - yay!
slgarcia - I am post-meno so went straight to Femara. I am sure there are many ladies on Tamoxifen who are doing great - they are probably not posting. You may not have any trouble at all!
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Thanks ladies...I can't believe this part is almost over. Of course, being a triple positive lady I have alot more treatment ahead, rads and Tamoxifen.....but this seems like the hard leg of the journey.
Happy Spring everyone!
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Hello all...I glanced at the posts on this page (uh, not reading 432 pages, LOL!). So nice to see so many familiar faces!!!! And hello Shannon - thank you so much for talking to me this morning!!!
I just got back from a 2nd opinion at MD Anderson yesterday for tx of my very small (3 mm) HER2+ tumor. They strongly suggest I consider tx, based upon their research studies. Uggghhhhh!!! They recommend TCH X 6. I have a call into my local oncologist (one who has been agreeable to treating me with Herceptin only...hopefully he will be on board with the TCH regimen...my other one refused to tx me except for Tamoxifen). I am waiting for a call back to find out about getting an echo, getting started, etc. etc.
Anyways, I'm going into this kicking and screaming!!!!! Gonna need some major hand holding...so glad you all are here to support us newbies! I'm petrified of developing neuropathy. MD Anderson suggested that I should at least try the chemo, and if symptoms present, I can stop and go to Herceptin. She said if I at least get a few chemo's in that will be very helpful due to the synergistic effect.
Man I'm scared.
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Dance - this came out a little while ago comparing 4 vs 6 treatments - I thought you might find it interesting. LINK
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Hi Dancetrancer!
I just started TCH a week ago tomorrow - so far it has not been too bad. I think I need an adjustment on my anti-nausea meds, I've felt a little queasy on and off for pretty much the whole post tx time. Not nauseous, just queasy. Very little appetite, I'm drinking lots of protein shakes to counteract my not feeling like eating. Stay hydrated to avoid constipation and stay on top of the meds they give you for nausea, never try to chase it, always take it well in advance to prevent it. The neulasta shot gave me very little bone/joint/muscle pain - I took Claritin as recommended on these boards and I popped a vicodin to help me sleep one night and that was it. I've been having some diarrheaissues the past few days so that hasn't been too pleasant but all in all its very doable. Hope this helps!! We can do this!
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OMAZ - can you repost the link? It didn't work. Thanks
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Try now!
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Worked! Thanks.....
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Omaz - that link isn't working - can you repost please???
Relda - thank you!!!! Taking notes!!!
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Duh, cross posted - link works now - thanks!!!
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Get out your pad! My first go round in 2006 I had TERRIBLE constipation problems, they were literally the worst part of the tx's. This time I have been drinking TONS of water, especially the day before, day of and day after treatment. Also a product called Natural Calm was recommended here and I sent away for a box of it on Amazon. I have been drinking a glass of it a day and so far have had no problems. Lots of women also ice their finger and toe nails - sometimes you will have nail lifting as a possible SE from the Taxotere. I didn't have that problem the first time so I probably won't bother, but that seems to be an option that has worked well for people. If you do get the queasies, its important to keep a small amount of food in your tummy even though you will not feel like eating. It does help. Also light exercise helps with the bone/joint/muscle pain and general fatigue you will be feeling - I do 15-20 minutes a day at a slower than usual pace on my recumbant bike. But really just getting out and walking will help. The tendancy is to take to the couch and veg out but getting up and moving really will make you feel better.
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Omaz...hmmmm...did you read the sidebar by Dr. Vogel? Sounds like, if I'm reading it right, he is saying the study may have had lots of patients who had a good prognosis to start with (ER+, node negative). So, likely many may not have needed chemo, so then of course you'd see little benefit from the chemo and especially less benefit with additional treatments. I noticed also that only 20% of these patients were HER2+, so the data would be diluted by the fact that there were 80% of patients with likely a much better prognosis to start with. The study also only went out 4 years, so long term data on recurrence is still needed before firm conclusions could be drawn. It's great that they are starting these studies, but I'm not sure we can draw firm conclusions from them yet. Thank you for the link - very interesting!!!
My doc said this about 4 vs 6 schedule: "There's no data. There's absolutely no clinical trials or data of TC (taxotere and cytoxan) with Herceptin, so this is "creative oncology" and we don't like to do that." (I'm not sure why she said cytoxan instead of carboplatin, which is what she advised for me.)
All that aside, my doc also said this: "Now what has happened with my patients is after 3 or 4 cycles of TCH, they've just had it. They just can't finish it b/c of toxicity. If that is the case, you can always stop the chemo and just continue with Herceptin. But at least give it a try. Now you are not a person I am going to put a gun to your head and say you have to finish these 6 cycles of chemo, but if you can do it, do it."
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Thanks so much Relda...my cut and paste function keys are burning up, LOL!
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Relda - Great advice. I would add that sometimes the nail problem shows up later so being ok on the first treatment isn't assurance that you won't have a problem later. I think about 30% of women are at risk for mild nail problems and a much smaller percentage (I don't know the number) are at risk for worse problems. Lago can speak to that. Cottage cheese was my best friend in the evenings for the queesies.
dance - Yes, I agree, too soon to draw conclusions. I did read from another source that if they limited the analysis to HER2+ 4 vs 6 was still similar. I'll be looking for the peer reviewed publication in the future. I agree, it's great they are asking this question.
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DanceTrancer - my integrative physician (natura-doc) suggested I take l-glutamine daily during chemo to prevent neuropathy. I did it and never had any at all. Did it work or was I just lucky? Who knows. But it might be worth considering.
Also, seeing the natura-doc was super helpful. He worked WITH the chemo, but helped bolster my body to withstand and heal. It was tremendously encouraging/helpful to have someone who I felt was working WITH my body as I went through TCH. Maybe you can find someone near where you live. I only saw him about 5 times (mabye one time/mo or so) and insurance did not cover so I paid out of pocket. But it ws totally worth it and I would highly recommend.
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