Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
Comments
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Okay, so I am two weeks out from my first tx and have had a headache for 10 of the 14 days. Was thinking it was my usual headaches (I have battled them for 3 years or so) but re=read the info sheets. Headaches are a side effect of the herceptin! At least I know there is a reason for it. I think the smoke didn't help much. But, home safe and sound now. Just dealing with the headache. Again...still...always.
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hbb - I am 33, had TCH February through May this year and my cycle has not yet returned. I'm still having mild hot flashes so I'm guessing my hormone level is still weird. Onc has no clue if or when it will come back, and I'll be on a med to basically shut down my ovaries before long anyway.
Patti - I too have struggled with the thought of having a child after I get through this. I am 33 and have no children. DH and I were planning on trying late this year. DH said he would support me in whatever I wanted to do. Eventually I decided that I will not have biological children. Preventing a reoccurance is more important to me. This has been extremely painful for me. Honestly it has been just as painful to cope with as coping with the diagnosis of breast cancer has been. It's such a personal choice, you have to do what is right for you. But this is what felt right for me.
I am just over four weeks PFC and last week my feet got swollen. I put them up as often as I could, wore compression stockings, and it went down. Now they are all swollen again, and sore too. Why is this happening now? I did not have swelling at all through treatment.
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I just want to thank everyone on this discussion board for sharing so very generously. When I was diagnosed in January 2011, I wanted to find women who were going through the same things as I was, and then I discovered this board. From everyone sharing their experiences I was able to prepare myself for the worse. I was one of the fortunate ones who had minimal symptoms and was able to work a full schedule throughout my chemo and radiation. I shared what I could -- which wasn't much because I didn't have too many of the issues that some of you had.
I finished TCH on July 28, 2011, completed radiation on Oct. 13, 2011, and had my last Herceptin on April 20, 2012; my port was removed on June 22, and now I feel that I have put it all behind me.
I wish you all the very best. I hope that when all of this ends, you will find peace in your lives, and be stronger for having gone through this horror.
Take good care of yourselves and each other.
Evelyn Marie
www.notmytatas.blogspot.com
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Vicki... I had headaches badly in the beginning too. I also struggle with migraines. I tried my usual migraine meds but they didn't even touch the headaches I had from chemo. I told my onc and she wrote me a script for Vicodin. I don't to use it much at all now it, but it really helped get over those terrible initial headaches. Also I have such a hard time staying hydrated post a big chemo, and that can cause headaches too.. So try your best to keep up with your fluid intake.
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Dianefights, I dislike Vicodin so very much. It screws with my head and makes me feel loopy. I will probably ask my MO for something to deal with them when I go for tx number 2 on Friday. I have been drinking lots of iced tea; cups and cups of it.
Going to the DAM on the Fourth with my girly-girl to see the Yves St Laurent exhibit! Lots of beautiful clothes and my DD to enjoy them with. Good to have something like that planned before my next tx.
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Vicki, I have a script for Tramadol. It is a Non narcotic pain reliever it works for me. Enjoy the show, nothing like retail therapy BTW, did you see the thread by the mods asking about people in the area of the fires to check in? just FYI. Much love
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Happy Weekend to All ~ I haven't posted in awhile on this thread. I finished TCH in March and rads in early June. I will continue with Herceptin until October 12th...but who's counting? Me...only 5 more to go! I want to thank all the wonderful women on this thread that made me believe I would get through the TCH. I wouldn't have made it without all the support you gave (Grandma V., Kelloggs, Lago & SpecialK to name a few). I am thinking only positive thoughts for those of you currently in treatment. If I got through it, anyone can! I wish you few and mild SE's. Always remember that you are stronger than you ever imagined you could be. Hugs...Linda
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I did not moonflwr, I will go and check in.
And yes, just the thought of seeing all that spectacular art will make me smile. My DD and I are so looking forward to it. There is a restaurant in Denver we are thinking we might try also, so it might be a total day out thing.
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Just wanted to say I am in the same boat as other ladies here about wanting to have kids someday. I am 31 and just got married 2 days before my bi lateral mastectomy. We actually chose (per onc recommendation) to freeze embyos before chemo. Who knows what will happen. But, I felt like it was the right decision for us.
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linny - thanks for the shout out - good to "see" you!
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Major hugs to all women going through tch right now! I had a really rough time in it, so I especially feel for those of you having a hard time with the side effects. Vicki...I went to college in the springs, have had y'all in my thoughts.
To hbb, my periods disappeared after my first tch treatment too. They were gone the whole time I was in treatment, and came back maybe 5 months or so after. They weren't entirely regular, but I definitely wasn't in menopause because I got pregnant. ( ;
To Patti, I wish you all the best in making your decision on whether to end treatments early to get pregnant.0 -
Hi Girls, I follow you all and was here back in 2009, yes alive and grateful for all they did. I wanted to jump in the conversation about having a baby. I am 3 years since diagnosis and in 2009 we were preparing to have a baby but ended up have cancer. Oh well we turned that into a blessing a well. Now I am older and still want a baby 42. WE already of 2 kids but we wanted more since our outside family is very small. My oncs all say wait 2 years but after 2 years there is no research so even then who knows. None will say good or bad idea but all give statistics of recur and yes we would have to get of tamoxifen ( that I don't worry since I have heard that it may not be that helpful to her2 gals anyway) Jejik, what has gone on with your pregnancy and cancer? You are the first person I know that has gotten pregnant so quickly after cancer. I feel strong but don't want to risk not seeing my kids grow old. My heart says one thing and my worry says another. I know God has a plan for us all and we have to have faith that our choices are the ones that he has intended but sometimes its hard to surrender. Blessings to you all!!
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Hello All!
Well, I've had two herceptin only infusions, was having minimal side effects, just a little fatigue, however, I started running again. Just a couple of miles, and some walking before and after. I'm having terrible knee pain though several days after. Anyone else have this? Is there anything to take for it? I don't see my MO till August, not sure if it is do to TCH or just old age and lack of activity the past few months
Last TCH was May10th, could it still be causing issues or is it the Herceptin?0 -
I have LOTS of joint pain all over - it comes and goes sporadically so it's hard to say it's the Herceptin. MO did tell me that H can cause joint achiness, but I'm leaning towards blaming it on chemo after-effects.
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When I was on H only my lower back and hips ached. I walked as much as I could and took ibuprofen. I'm 4 months past last H and the pain is gone.
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I was stiff on chemo but it got better about 5 weeks PFC. Then after I stopped Herceptin it got even better! Granted I still have some stiffness from the ESD (estrogen sucking drug) but once I get moving I'm pretty good.
Yes Herceptin can have some stiffness associated with it. Lots of women on this forum have reported it.
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Hi linny! Ditto on everything you said....the ladies here have gotten me through everything! I finally feel like life is on an upswing. I got good news yesterday....still NED! My hair is coming back (slowly) and I feel good again. To all you ladies just starting this journey, hang in there. There is a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel and you will make it through!
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yvyc - I had more joint pain on Herceptin alone than I did on TCH together. Particularly on the first H alone which was infused in 30 minutes. I had trouble sleeping because I had to shift positions since my hips hurt so much. I slowed down the subsequent H infusions to 90 minutes and that seemed to help. I had the same experience as lago in that I noticed less joint pain after H was done, but have new and different stiffness from the aromatase inhibitor. I started on Femara and had some pretty bad hip/ankle/foot pain, which improved with movement - is worst in the morning, or if sitting for too long. I also developed a trigger thumb on my dominant (and LE) side - which is a PITA. I switched to Arimidex, joint pain is not as bad but I have not been on it long, only about 2 -3 weeks.
jejik - congrats on the pregnancy - hope all goes smoothly for you!
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Special K I find not sitting for long periods of time really helps me with the stiffness. BTW my left middle finger has trigger finger in the morning for about 5 minutes when I wake up. Just noticed it last week. Left hand does have some stiffness throughout the day but very minor. Can you tell I'm a righty.
BTW I think the horse pee (not really sure if it comes from a horse but pharmacist thinks so) has softened up my nails a little bit. They are starting to flatten out and be a little less brittle. Still that yellow brow color where they have lifted on the ends though. Not bad for 1 week.
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lago - I tend to be a running around sort of person so I don't usually sit for long periods, but just took a trip to see in-laws for MIL's b-day - 6 hour car ride, getting out of the car I looked like I was the one who turned 81! The trigger thumb seems to be improving slightly - I want to avoid an injection or surgery because it is my LE side, but it really hurts and I am having a hard time gripping things like scissors or a knife without pretty sharp pain. Hoping it will spontaneously resolve - I have read that it does happen. Yay on the horse pee for your nails! That may be the weirdest sentence I have ever typed, lol! Glad it seems to be working.
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I have been using Sparitual nail conditioner for a week so far. They aren't brittle or dry and seems to be growing quickly. You put it on every day for a week then every three or four days after that. Looks like clear nail polish. I got it at the cancer salon. Sparitual also has a few other products like cuticle oil and anti-fungal polish. Its just over $20 a bottle here in Canada but probably a lot cheaper in the US.
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Okay, I've been away for a few days but I go to the BGC in about an hour. Going to put my slap on, get my e-bag together, hydration station going and head out.
BTW, someone should invent a vacuum that specifically targets chemo patients and sucks the hair off; this is driving me crazy!
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Vicklind come to Chicago. It may be hot but it's really windy right now in the city. I think I posted about my windy october walk in the park when my hair was coming out didn't I?0
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So is this fuzz on my head supposed to be my new hair?
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Shelclaire...my pregnancy is going well. I have about seven weeks left until they will induce me. It is hard to say what is going on with my cancer since I haven't had a pet scan in so long. My mets were to my liver and I did have an MRI without contrast a few months ago that didn't show any evidence of disease. But going off the herceptin when I wasn't even a year is definitely not something I feel too comfortable about. I was actually trying NOT to get pregnant, though. Being stage Iv, with liver mets, the odds are I won't be around for much of my child's life...that is very hard to live with.
This pregnancy is so bittersweet.0 -
Jejik, (((hugs))) wish I could do more. Lago, I think you did post it, but you could always repost. Vicki, I got my hair buzzed when I couldn't stand finding the Da*n hair in my food, pillow, clothes, etc. I shed more than my cats did this week with 100 degree.temps! Looked funny, felt so much better. Much love.
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Special K, What do you mean by trigger thumb? I had really bad pain at the base of my thumb, very hard to stretch my thumb away from my hand. I kept thinking it would go away if I was careful and I tried not to use it much. I finally had a steroid injection (ouch) but it took the pain completely away.
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laura5 - when I bend my thumb at the joint it gets stuck when I try to straighten it and then pops to straighten. Here is a video that explains it. Sounds like you may have had the same thing if a steroid (cortisone) injection solved the problem. For me this came on suddenly after about 3 months of Femara.
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Special K, I guess Trigger Thumb is not what I had. My problem did come on suddenly though, and really was bothering me. A few days after the cortisone injection it felt completely fine.
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I am debating what to do about it - nervous as it is my LE arm - I am still hopeful that it will resolve, it is not as painful now on Arimidex as it was on Femara. The pain is quite sharp if I move it the wrong way and sometimes it actually gets stuck before it pops, and it is a burning intense pain.
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