Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
Comments
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Iago, I think the pain has followed the nerve path. I've checked everyday for a rash.
Grimbol, Omaz, my BC was on the right side and this pain is on the left. Would I get cording on this side? I had to look that up as ive never heard of it before. I had a lumpectomy and 2 nodes removed on March 2. I don't have any problems with range of motion in either arm.
My thoughts are that it is somehow related to the infusion. Each time I've had an infusion, I've had a different nurse. I thought this would be the easiest as I only had the Herceptin; didn't even have bloodwork done. The nurse was a bit hyper, rough, louder, etc than the others. It seems like when she did the heparin, she plunged th syringe pretty fast. I don't have enough experience yet to know what is " normal." She was not gentle when she accessed my port even tho' I told her it was my first time. This Friday I will have Cycle 2 TCH.
Thank you for responding to my question. All the best to you.0 -
Hope it feels better Alice!0
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Iago, I think the pain has followed the nerve path. I've checked everyday for a rash.
Grimbol, Omaz, my BC was on the right side and this pain is on the left. Would I get cording on this side? I had to look that up as ive never heard of it before. I had a lumpectomy and 2 nodes removed on March 2. I don't have any problems with range of motion in either arm.
My thoughts are that it is somehow related to the infusion. Each time I've had an infusion, I've had a different nurse. I thought this would be the easiest as I only had the Herceptin; didn't even have bloodwork done. The nurse was a bit hyper, rough, louder, etc than the others. It seems like when she did the heparin, she plunged th syringe pretty fast. I don't have enough experience yet to know what is " normal." She was not gentle when she accessed my port even tho' I told her it was my first time. This Friday I will have Cycle 2 TCH.
Thank you for responding to my question. All the best to you.0 -
Alice - after a couple of my TCH treatments I had alot of redness and transient arm pain on my port side. One time it was painful enough that I saw my MO for it. It was just irritated from the chemo. I think it does have alot to do with how they access your port. Good luck with tx#2 Friday! We'll be cheering you on!
PS...love the new avatar cuz you are smiling!
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Would love to have some suggestions about skin care products you recommend. Are there any chemicals you've been told to avoid by your drs? Are soy based products a no no? I understand herceptin makes for increased sensitivity to sunlight so sunscreens and shades a re absolutely a must . Just how dangerous is sun exposure and does the danger subside after Herceptin treatments are done?
Cleansers, exfoliation , moisturizers, and sunscreens ??
I like to be prepared by my experts when I ask my mo these questions...
I'm cleared for rads. Will meet my ro tomorrow. Think that's dr number 7.......0 -
Ashla no one ever told me about sun sensitivity and Herceptin. I had herceptin all through last fall. I don't sit in the sun but do walk in the mornings etc. I never experienced any unusual sun effects but like I said I do try to keep my exposure to a minimum.
The bottom line with breast cancer is they really don't know what causes it. I did ask my onc/NP on Wednesday is there is anything else I should be doing. Both said I'm doing the right things (Keeping my weight down and exercising). If they knew what caused it then our doctors (gyno & PCP) would be telling us what we should be doing. I mean all doctors tell you to keep your weight down and exercise because it prevents lots of diseases (heart, diabetes, etc.)
There are more women that use lots of products with "bad stuff" in them and never get breast or any other cancer. There are women that have been all natural yet still got some form of cancer. Of course wash your fruits and veggies and stay away from know carcinegens. Don't pick up smoking.
"Short of resorting to such drastic measures, all women can reduce the risk of getting breast cancer by drinking less alcohol and losing weight. "Patients want to know what they can do," says Cobleigh. "It used to be you could say, ‘There really isn't anything.' Now you can say, ‘If you control your weight after a diagnosis of breast cancer, you'll be less likely to die.'"
source linkyNotice it says less alcohol not NO alcohol. I was never much of a drinker. Ironically women with luminal B breast cancer (triple positive) tend not to be drinkers. I still have a glass of wine on occasion just like before.
So other than exercise, eat lots of veggies and berries (I don't like fruit), drink less alcohol and stay away from crap/processed food I would say keep your stress low. No studies on stress (although I'm sure there are many) but I do believe it weakens your immune system.
What I'm saying is in order to be a survivor you need to live your life. Continue to put on the seat belt when you get into a car but don't walk everywhere so you can avoid car accidents.
Somtimes shit just happens and it isn't anything you can control.
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Lagp...
That's basically the way I've looked at it and it and both my bs and mo seem to agree. When I ask about supplements and this type of question they say if you would like to...go ahead .My mo who is older smiles when I ask him about the latest lrecommendation and tells me his wife asked him the same question. He's seen these miracles come and go.
Right now my plan is to get thru rads, finish 9 more Herceptin, continue on a nutrient rich diet lwith as little fat as possible . I'm trying not to waste calories and slowly getting into an exercise routine to get myself slim and toned again.
My dad lived to be 91. He didn't do any of the things they're recommending these days except exercise. He had a glass of blackberry brandy every night His weight was great and he was jogging
until he was 89 years old!
I agree about the stress. I was under enormous stress for the 3 years prior to dx....much of it due to keeping my ornery jogging dad (and others ) safe from himself! Oivey.....0 -
Ashla - sounds like a good plan. I am now 3 years out (YAY!!!) and my lifestyle changes are:
eat a moderately healthy diet - NO JUNK FOOD and as little processed as possible
get GOOD ADEQUATE RESTFUL sleep (this is proven to be very important)
no alcohol (I limit myself to a glass of wine or two per quarter). Drinking was never very important to me. If it was, I would probably allow myself more.
avoid stress - I was under HUGE UNRELENTING stress the 9 months prior to my dx. No more!
Exercise daily, strenuously (well, at least 5x/week anyway). Moderate walking doesn't count.
Enjoy life. No one knows the future. I want to live intentionally, making choices to make life as satisfying and meaningful as possible, not just drifting aimlessly through the days/weeks/months. When my days are done (whether due to bc or something else), I don't want to have regrets.
I do take a lot of supplements as well. But I see them as adding to an already healthy lifestyle, not being the be-all/end-all of keeping bc away.
Hope this helps somebody. I saw my onc this week - only go 2x/year now, and she said in 2014 I will only have to go once/year!!! For those of you living under continual medical appts, it really DOES END.
Stay strong ladies. One day at a time - you WILL get there!
Amy
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ashla you do need some fat in your body just be sure it's the good fat. I replace butter/margarine with olive oil. It's still high in calories so use sparingly but it is also good for you. Part of the Mediterranean diet… which is highly recommended.
Amystrong I went on 2X a year after my 1st year… actually my onc and BS split that so I only see each of them once a year. I'm not sure what happens after year 3 or even 5 once I'm off the ESD (estrogen sucking drug). I know my BS nurse said I would have to see him for life since I don't get mammos (no real boobs) and need physical exams. I would think my gyno would be doing that but maybe I get felt up 2x a year for the rest of my life. I believe I see my PS too. I hope that isn't going to be year. Too many doctors for someone who feels fine.
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GrandmaV, thank you for sharing. I hope I only have tinnitus for a week like the other ladies you mentioned. It is still constant. I can block it out by the tv, etc. I was able to get in with an ENT tomorrow - have to see them before I can get a audiogram. I want to see if there was actually hearing damage, and if so, how much. This will be critical in helping me make decisions about how to proceed. I contacted MD Anderson, and they said they would not recommend a lower dose or even a weekly dose to make it less dose-dense. I know they put the cancer risk much higher than the hearing loss risk. We'll see what I decide. My ears, my life. Hmmm... It will all depend on how bad this ends up being/if it goes away/etc. I know my local onc will work with me. He is so kind and tolerant of me!
SpecialK, thank you for sharing your story. Did you ever get your hearing tested? Perhaps I will be lucky and react like you.
rk85, thank you. I slept 11 hours last night!!! Only up once for the Zofran, immediately quelled the tummy rumbles. I feel SOOOOO much better today and can actually THINK again. I was such a mess yesterday. What was keeping me awake the night before was indeed a combo of things, but mostly having to go to the bathroom so much from all the fluids, and stomach cramps, AND, biggest of all - mind WIRED from the dex yet body exhausted. Hate that dex. Gotta do it though. That's a good thought on the cold in the ears, but not sure if the cold would injure the inner ear or limit the blood flow/help it...reading and thinking. Also will talk to ENT about it tomorrow. Next treatment in 3 weeks, May 1st.
VR, as you know, I'm reading up on that...lots to learn........
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Asha - I used Calendula cream for my rads. There is some research behind it (none of the research on rads and creams is super strong, but you gotta go with what you can find). I had an excellent response - got pretty red, but only a few tiny blisters the week after rads, and my skin has healed incredibly well. I highly recommend it. It is from the marigold extract. You can find it at an organic store, Whole Foods, or online. I used it 3 to 4 times a day, anytime I could think of it!
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I used Calendula also and had no serious problems. I liked the research I read on it. I got mine at the local food coop.
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Well ladies...I just came from the MO for my visit and first Herceptin alone tx. I haven't put my stage in my signature but technically have been stage IV from the get go. During pre-treatment staging scans they found lung nodules. After tx #3 I was re-scanned and they had shrunk by over half and some had disappeared. I finished tx 3/22 and I am here to tell you that every single SE was worth it! I had a PET scan last week and my MO hugged me today and told me that the response was dramatic and there was complete resolution of all lung nodules! I am so friggin happy I can hardly contain myselfI No one will ever be this happy to be able to move on to rads and Tamoxifen! TCH was my lifesaver and I wish the same wonderful response for all of you!
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Kellogs that's awesome news. So that means NED right! happy dance0
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Yes....dare I say it? NED!!!!! lago - I think I will celebrate this weekend with a batch of those cookies!0
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Kelloggs - fantastic news! Thank you for sharing!
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Kelloggs - I am so thrilled for you. When one of us hurts, we all hurt. But when one gets good news, we all rejoice. And this is a rejoicing day!
Love and celebration - Amy
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Ahhh Kelloggs that is FANTASTIC!!!!!!!0
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Happy for you Kelllogs! How many tx did you have? 4 or 6?
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Kelloggs That is wonderful news!!!
Ashla I was told to avoid sun to the area being radiated and my RO said I would need to limit my sun exposure for an additional 6 months after completing Rads. I was never given a warning about Herceptin and sun sensitivity.
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Thank you ladies....it's much needed good news after a long and scary 6 months!
lago - you crack me up!
Msbell - I had 6 TCH tx and will continue with Herceptin to finish out a year.
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Excellent news - congratulations!!!
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Oh Kelloggs....i'm so happy for you.........you must have been so anxious waiting for those results but didn't tell us. I hope you had someone else to confide in as you waited..
My mo doesn't scan pre tx...You just eased my mind some...
Go out and celebrate!0 -
Is everyone getting 6 tx or are some getting just 4?
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Kelloggs, I'm so happy for you I cried!
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ashla - I was originally dx'd as stage IIb but my MO did a series of pre-chemo scans that included a bone scan, ECHO and CT of abdomen, chest and pelvis. I was devastated to find out that I had lung mets....I mean I hadn't even come to terms with the fact that I had BC at all! So there I was, stage IV from the get go. I didn't have awful SE's during my TCH, mostly annoying things like taxotears, drippy nose, a little tingling in the toes and taste changes. I was afraid it wasn't working. I hope everyone keeps their chin up during this process and can see from my experience that chemo does work!
vballmom - thank you so much!
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kelloggs - so, so happy for you!! Awesome news!!
dance - I did not have my hearing tested - I wasn't going to change anything from a treatment standpoint with a 2cm, grade 3, node positive, Her2+ cancer. I can hear as much as I need to - have not found any measurable hearing loss in my daily life, so it really did not occur to me to have my hearing tested.
msbelle - MO decide 4 vs 6 depending on aggressiveness needed for treatment., but I think most of us had 6.
DCIS/IDC ON RT, ADH/ALH ON LFT, NS BMX 11/1/10 ALND 12/6/10 TCHX6 (2/17/11-6/2/11) Herceptin done 1/19/12 Exchange done 2/24/12
Diagnosis: 9/27/2010, IDC, 2cm, Stage IIb, Grade 3, 2/14 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+0 -
Kelly.. That is great news.. I am doing my happy dance for you. Have a wonderful weekend-do something fun to celebrate this fantastic news.. Hugs Eileen
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SpecialK, thanks for your response. I agree, it is easier to proceed with the treatment when the concerns of the cancer diagnosis are higher. It was difficult for me to make the decision to to TCH, as most know my tumor was only 3 mm. Soooo....having a potentially serious side effect such as hearing loss really gives me pause. I'm not backing out, but I need to know exactly how much damage was done to my ears to help me determine if the hearing loss risk is worth the cancer risk. Sucky. Hoping it's just high-frequency loss. I can deal with that. I can't deal with going completely deaf. Not that that is going to happen...but it's scary.
Hoping the ENT can give me some reassurance. 0
