Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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kfontiane only one eye?
lucky you.
Most of us had it in both. When they twitch out of sync it can drive you crazy. It does eventually go away. 0 -
Thanks so not alone on eye twitch! Thought itwas something serious!!
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kfontaine - I have the eye twitching as well. Try to drink more water - I find it helps with the twitching and the watering. Mine is only in one eye.
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kfontaine, yep, I had the eye twitching, too - it comes and goes (I'm still in treatment).
Regarding the hair not growing back, yes, that does happen, unforuntately, in about 3% of cases where Taxotere is involved. It can go as high as 6% if another drug is also involved - I believe that is Adriamycin (but not 100% sure on that drug).
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Kfontaine - I have the eye twitching too, sometimes just one, once in a while they both get going.
I shaved my head about 15 days after my 1st treatment. My hair has already started coming in, I don't know if it will stay. A couple of my friends said their hair started growing immediately and never fell out again. I wonder if that happens more frequently than not? anybody else experience this?0 -
The eye watering is from dry eyes. Try using eye drops/artificial tears. Do NOT use visine or any of those products to get the red out.
As far as hair loss. Yes it happens and I do believe dance's stats are correct from what I remember reading. 3% possibly 6% on Adriamycin.
A friend of mine (from when we were little kids) was diagnosed with cancer of the anus 1.5 years before I was diagnosed. She had 4 rounds of chemo (not sure what her cocktail was) and radiation. The radiation is what caused permanent life style issues. Her sphincter muscle is compromised so she "leaks" a bit and wears depends. Sex is now painful because of the area that was radiated. Ask her if she's sorry she did chemo… no way. She is so happy to be around her daughter, husband, brother, father, nieces… well you get the picture. I know I too ready about the hair loss and thought I would be one to get something like that since I seem to get the less common stuff. I came to terms with that very early on in my treatment. Decided I rather be bald than have mets.
Granted I will never know what it's like to have permanently lost my hair but at least I prepared myself. It's really very rare. Granted it rare to have nails lift and be permanently damaged/lifted but I'm living with that SE just fine. Nail polish, wigs, Anastacia brow duo what ever it takes. (My eyebrows are thinner now too but so what). I feel good!
Bottom line is understand there are risks but don't assume it will happen to you.
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Thank you all so mch was getting really scared for a minute! Will try more water and eye drops! Thanks so much!!!!
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Kfontaine, yes, I have eye twitching off and on every day. Also, my eyes water especially when I first get up. My 5th TCH is coming up in about 10 days. It seems like each treatment brings slightly different SEs. I've developed sore corners on my mouth this week. As for the hair, I had my head shaved once my hair started falling. That was in early April. I now have a short gray stubble all over my head plus very fine hairs (sort of like a baby bird) that are about 1/2 to 3/4 " long. I have no idea what color my hair will be when it grows out. I suspect it will be gray or white. I was a blonde once upon a time and have kept that color up until TCH got underway. Still have eyebrows and lashes for now. My scalp has been covered with a rash, but MO prescribed antibiotics, which have helped. I'm grateful it has stayed off my face. So, if you are like the rest of us, you'll experience an array of SEs, some of which will be more annoying or uncomfortable than others. Thank goodness this group is here to help us all cope.
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kfontaine - be prepared for the eye twitching to hang on, but get less frequent, for about 6-8 weeks.
alice71 - try Aquaphor for anything dry or cracked on your face/feet/hands. My nose cracked on the inside and I put it up there too! I slathered Aquaphor on hands and feet and wore gloves and socks to bed.
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Cuticle cream also works on fingers and feet. I used this stuff:
< click picture for linky
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Aquaphor has been a lifesaver for me as well...and coconut oil. There is also a rimmel lipgloss...something with moisture in the name...that has prevented the corners of my mouth from cracking. Once it happens it keeps cracking everytime you open your mouth!!
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I have the eye twitching also! So far just on one side but I still have 3 treatments to go!
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eye twitching = YES!!! so annoying!!! small potatoes in the grand scheme of things though!
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Thx for the Product suggestions Special K, Iago, and love74. I have written down the brands and will try them all.
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Update: I am finally done with chemo. My last session was on April 20, 2012. I had Taxotere/Carb/Herceptin. My hair has started to grow back - grey lol. but I will take it, its better then nothing. I have noticed though that my eyebrows are falling out after chemo. New hair is growing back in, but I can't understand why my brows didn't fall out while I was on chemo!?! hmmm, I have heard that brows/lashes will fall out, grown back, fall out and grow back again.
I enjoy reading all the post here, it helps me cope a lot better with my self and my state of condition that I am facing. I have to say, if I get cancer again, I will not go through chemo again. The taxotere was so horrible, even though I didn't have the sickness, I had every other side effect known to man and will never want to go throught that again.
Thank you ladies for posting your stories on here so that we all can stick together and kick this cancers ass!
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dmorgan - yay for being done! My lashes/brows fell out toward the end of chemo, but didn't cycle - only fell out the one time. Both are thinner than before but still decent - nobody could tell, they look normal.
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dmorgan41 congratulations! My lashes and brows thinned on chemo but never fell out till 5 weeks PFC. I do believe it's because the new hairs pushed them out. My hair came in grey and black! The morning after I went topless I was sitting in a salon chair getting my hair colored. It really does make a big difference… so when your ready don't wait. It will look soo much better. Now get your butt over to the hair thread. 0
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Love74, for the record in case others are interested, the Rimmel lip gloss you recommended is called RIMMEL MOISTURE RENEW CREAM LIPGLOSS PINK PROTECT. I've ordered some from Amazon.
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Thanks for info about eye twitching! Tried more water yesterday and this Morning much less twitching already! Thanks ladies!
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Thanks Alice71...I could have looked in my purse for you but I was so comfy on the couch when I was typing! It does work good and its not thick and goopy. I have a few different colours...love them.
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Rimmel is also sold at Target.
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Had my last TCH today. Whew! Glad that part is over. Quick question, my feet are swollen, nowhere else, but, my feet are really.big. hard to zip up my shoes. Weird had some swelling before, but not like this. Kept my feet up for a while, and it helped some, but still not normal. Is this from todays tx? I'll wait and see how they are tomorrow after sleep. Much love.
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Huge congratulations moonflower! Regarding the foot swelling, I'll let the more seasoned members reply on that. Just wanted to say congrats, congrats, congrats!!!!0
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moonflower, congratulations!!! And like dancetrancer, I will let more seasoned members reply in regards to the foot swelling.
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Moonflwr,
My feet (and hands) also swelled when on TCH. Started around tx 3. Onc put me on a low dose of Lasix when I couldnt get my feet in any shoes and I was hysterical. Sorry to say I'm still on it a year PFC. The Lasix helps with the tingles and prickles I have from the neuropathy from the Taxoterrible.
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I had my last TCh (for now) on Monday and I got swelling in legs and feet. I found drinking more water helped! Butof course keep an eye on it...
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I too had the swelling but it was not only feet and legs but midsection too. After chemo my onc put me on a low dose diuretic and it helped. Went off it and was fine for a while but it started up again. My PCP feels its from the ESD (Anastrozole). About 7-10% of women do retain water on it.
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Congrats to those of you who just finished...YAY, you made it!!!
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Ok, I will watch it but not worry, thank to all who chimed in. And kfontain, glad you finished this set!
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Congrats to all who have finished chemo. I've been monitoring the forum as I wind by wy through my rads. Down to 2 boosts left and I'm afraid to say it but the Omaz method has served me well so far.
Just popped in to tell you something that is just so wonderful that it couldn't wait. I met with a dear friend that I haven't seen in years. She is a world renowned researcher and medical school professor.. specializing in fertilty issues , hormonal regulation ,gene expresion and uterine hormone.and has extensive knowledge about breast cancer issues as a rsearcher and breast cancer survivor.
She said that right now.... if there is such a thing.... that the best cancer to be diagnosed with right now is breast cancer. There is enormous progress being made on many fronts and this Herceptin carried smart bomb is truly a remarkable breakthrough and not only for BC.
I know it's hard to stay positive but there really is reason for optimism.
Have a great weekend everyone.0
