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Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

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Comments

  • suemed8749
    suemed8749 Member Posts: 210
    edited July 2012

    Hi to everybody on this thread, which was my "home" 4 years ago. I just wanted to stop in and wish you well. I finished TCH 4 years ago today and am doing great - there IS light at the end of the tunnel, TCH sisters.

    Wishing you ALL the best! Sue

  • moonflwr912
    moonflwr912 Member Posts: 5,938
    edited July 2012

    Bless you Sue, for popping in and giving us that wonderful thing called HOPE! THANK YOU.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited July 2012
    Hi Sue. so glad you popped in and are doing well.
  • ColorMeStrong
    ColorMeStrong Member Posts: 6
    edited July 2012

    Hi. I've been away from the board for awhile...

    I'm wondering if anyone is experiencing a significant decrease in cognitive functioning and whether that improved upon finishing treatment. I'm only on #4 of 6 chemos and then on to surgery and radiation. Any info you have would be greatly appreciated.

    thanks

    Patti

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited July 2012

    Patti I was just discussing this today with another survivor that is complaining of the same issue. She ended chemo last January. I took Acety-L-Carnitine during chemo to keep nueropathy at bay. I found that my memory got a little better so I kept taking it. It does say it's a memory booster.

    Ask your onc if it would be OK to take it.

  • ColorMeStrong
    ColorMeStrong Member Posts: 6
    edited July 2012

    Thanks lago!!! I appreciate your suggestions. --Patti

  • dougieswife
    dougieswife Member Posts: 74
    edited August 2012

    I am on my 5th only Herceptin treatment and man....talk about exhausted.  The others, I was fine afterwards.  Does the Herceptin have a cumulative effect on you as well???  Heck, I was nauseous and falling asleep coming home yesterday.  VERY thankful that my hubby went with me yesterday.  I'm sure this is all normal, but just wanted to make sure!!!  : )  Someone even said that I looked tired today and yesterday all of my Dr's said how great I looked...it must be the vitamin H.

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited August 2012

    dougieswife - because you have had Hgb issues in the past, I am wondering if they have done a recent CBC on you?  I didn't really have too much fatigue with Herceptin, but it does have the ability to depress your counts.

  • dougieswife
    dougieswife Member Posts: 74
    edited August 2012

    Ya know...they haven't done a CBC since end of April/May, I'm guessing.  My legs have been sore, too, but I attributed it to my new exercise routine...walking and running.  But, yes, extremely exhausted...like falling asleep just sitting here.  The other thing, too...I had the nurse that I really don't care for.  I had an afternoon appointment and trouble getting a blood return so we had to wait for the cath flow to do it's thing, which put us a little bit behind.  She was out the door leaving before we were even out of there.  I have a suspicion that she ran it in quicker than normal.  I didn't check my watch, but, everything yesterday was weird.  

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited August 2012

    dougieswife - ask for a CBC to be run, and make sure they are running your H in 90 minutes, not less - should ease your pain hopefully.  Doing that made a big difference for me.  The good news is that you are about half way through the H only portion, right?

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited August 2012

    I agree with MsK. I was never tired on Herceptin. Have you told your onc?

  • dougieswife
    dougieswife Member Posts: 74
    edited August 2012

    Um, Yeah....I can GUARANTEE it wasn't run in 90 minutes...more like 60 or less.  I really do not care for the nurse I had yesterday.  I have sat at watched her look up vacation rentals on line ALL FREAKIN day.  

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited August 2012

    dougieswife - geez - the onc nurses at my center are so busy they can barely eat lunch!  They are really nice and more than one is a cancer survivor too - I think that makes them a lot more warm and fuzzy!  I am sorry you had a McGrouch.

  • dougieswife
    dougieswife Member Posts: 74
    edited August 2012

    Yeah, she was in a hurry to get out of there...she whizzed by me and beat us out!!!  All of the other ones are really great and she is nice, too...she is just the lazy one, I guess.  Oh, well!!!  

  • dancetrancer
    dancetrancer Member Posts: 2,461
    edited August 2012
    Dougieswife, sorry you are so tired!  I agree, tell your onc.  That sucks you got nurse lazy.  Frown
  • moonflwr912
    moonflwr912 Member Posts: 5,938
    edited August 2012

    Dougieswife, yeah check your hgb. I too got very tired after my Herceptin when my hgb was under 9. It finally made it up to 10 this week, so we will see if I feel so tired after my next Herceptin next week. Of course, my magnesium was also low then so it could be something like that too. But let your mo.figure it out! LOL

  • vickilind61
    vickilind61 Member Posts: 143
    edited August 2012

    So the Herceptin is adding to this debilitating fatigue that kicks my butt for the week after sitting in the BGC?  Great...that makes it a side effect with all three...no wonder I suck wind walking more than 15 feet!

  • moonflwr912
    moonflwr912 Member Posts: 5,938
    edited August 2012

    Vicki, yeah, sorry! All the chemo sucks. I am now 9 weeks PFC, and am finally feeling better. I can now make it to the grocery store, go around the aisles, pay, load the car go home, unload, put things away, and THEN collapse! Progress is measured in baby steps. LOL I have yet to start my ESD, so don't know what that will do to me. Also having surgery on the 13th to replace my left TE. So still healing. Will have to get back to work soon too.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited August 2012

    Moonflwr I found the first 3 months of ESD I had no SE. Then I started to get a little stiff in the morning. Good luck with the surgery. You know you'll get a little more tired as your body heals but as you know nothing like the  BMX.

    Hang in there vicklind. This isn't forever. Treatment is a time suck but at least you can see there is an end to it.

  • moonflwr912
    moonflwr912 Member Posts: 5,938
    edited August 2012

    Thanks Lago! You know I always seem to find the odd SEs in my tx. But let's hope not this time! LOL. Actually, I got a note from.my insurance telling me that two drugs I am on can cause muscle pain my husband looked to see why I was laughing so hysterically. Um, I said, "how the hell would I know it caused my pain!". LOL, I mean, joint pain, bone pain, muscle pain is pretty much a given on most chemo including Herceptin. So it would be hard to tell. So I just had to laugh. Ah, its way better than crying, LOL.

  • YaYa5
    YaYa5 Member Posts: 532
    edited August 2012

    hi, everyone.  i haven't been on in awhile and at the moment, i'm in the hospital.  dang.  i finished my last herceptin two weeks ago. as some of you know, i've had problems with my port since the very beginning and now i have a blood clot in my neck from the port.  it's scary.  i haven't been in a hospital since i had my daughter and she's 33!  i'm on coumadin and another blood thinner that they shoot into my stomach and they won't let me do it myself at home because i live alone.  i'm so bummed right now.  i think i'm having my own little pity party here.  i've been through chemo, radiation, herceptin and i've told my onco all along that something wasn't right with my port.  and now this.  and it hurts!  i can't remember any of you having the same problem, but if you did, let me know how you did.  it's 1:30 in the morning and i can't sleep.  i'm just a mess and tired of being brave.  :-(

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited August 2012
    Sorry to hear that YaYa but blood clots is a risk with these ports. Seems it's always something. Remember I got shingles 3 months PFC. Granted it didn't send me to the hospital. You'll be out of there soon enough. Did they removed the port?
  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited August 2012
    Hi Yaya - I remember your problems with the port.  That just sucks.  On the other hand - congrats on finishing herceptin.  I hope the medicine gets the clot absorbed quick and you are on your way.  ((((yaya)))) 
  • dancetrancer
    dancetrancer Member Posts: 2,461
    edited August 2012

    yaya - so sorry to hear about the clot and hospital admission.  I surely hope they get it resolved soon for you.  I understand the being tired of trying to be brave - think we've all been at that low point at some point.  <hugs!> 

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited August 2012

    yaya - sorry to hear that you are in the hospital with port/clot problems!  If they can get the clot dissolved are they considering removing your port?  I know I have read that others have had clotting issues with their ports but off the top of my head can't remember who.  Hope this is resolved soon so you can come home!

  • moonflwr912
    moonflwr912 Member Posts: 5,938
    edited August 2012

    Yaya, hang in there. I didn't have problems with my port but ended up in the hospital due to some weird med issue. Had kidney failure. Sure didn't exactly plan on that. Hospitals suck. And they hurt. Just get through it, you can. ((((((Hugs.))))))) Much love

  • ashla
    ashla Member Posts: 1,566
    edited August 2012

    YaYa5,

    So, so sorry to hear about your troubles! I'm always on the edge of being a 'mess' as you call it! I hit my worst " mess" moment during rads which most everyone else seems to sail through. I just reached the point after 7 mos that my bravery reservoir was just depleted. I cried so hard during my last treatment...they had to redo it!

    But we're all here to give you a shoulder to be a "mess" on!

    How did they discover the clot? Pain? I always wondered about that.

  • rickysgirl
    rickysgirl Member Posts: 139
    edited August 2012

    Hi all.  I am new to the board, as of today.  I hope I can use it wisely, as a computer genius I am not.  I was dx'd w/IDC, HER2+, no node involvement, stage 1, grade 2.  Had a uni mastectomy on July10th, and was told by the surgeon that I probably wouldn't need chemo.  WRONG !!  When I went to see the onc and got the news, I had a major, immediate meltdown.  I am having trouble getting past all of this as it all came up quite suddenly.  From mammo to biopsy to surgey was probably 30 days.  I go for a port placement tomorrow and am scared to death, then off to my first chemo on Thursday.  I have been on this site reading ALL DAY.  Did anyone have any immediate problems with the port?  I am a pain woos, so I am worried.  I got through the mastectomy pretty much o.k., after the initial shock.  Reading all of this makes that surgery seem like a cake walk.  No one has said anything to me about radiation.  Is this a normal course?  I know I will be doing 6 rounds of chemo every 3 weeks, with the herceptin in triple dose with each chemo.  The onc nurse told me there have been no problems doing it this way, that weekly, or triple dose every 3 weeks is about the same since it stays in your system for about 3 weeks.  Anyone else done that?  Ya'll are such a great group and are so supportive and positive.  I hope, through you all, that I can find my positive side. 

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited August 2012

    My port placement was easy. Took a bit to get used to. I've had mine for almost 2 years. Just found out yesterday I can get deported anytime from October on. It did take a little getting used to but I was so glad I had it. I got my port one day, got chemo the next. I was going to do it the same day but there wasn't a chemo chair available. I got chemo/herceptin every 3 weeks.

    You may not need radiation. It depends on where you tumor was located, how big and if you had node involvement. Usually over 5cm you get radiation but I got a pass (in gray area). I think my rad onc was worried it would hit my heart or lungs or both because of it being in the posterior region near my heart and lungs.

    Hang in there. Most of us do just fine. 

  • ashla
    ashla Member Posts: 1,566
    edited August 2012

    Welcome Rickysgirl!

    You've come to the right place for many helping hands and willing and able counselors for this unwanted journey!

    I had what is called neo adjuvant( chemo prior to surgery) TCH chemo every 3 weeks just as you will. You will find that each of us had different experiences with it. I had no major setbacks, allergic reactions and no unberable SE's during chemo. I had many of the symptoms you've undoubtedly been advised about but they were manageable.

    As far as the port....mine was installed during my sentinal node biopsy and I have had no problems with my port intallation and after 13 infusions . Truthfully...pain.. Of any kind has been way down he list of symptoms I've experienced.

    What you are experiencing right now...the fear , anxiety , questionning and decision making were and continue to be the most difficult part for me at least. We here for you as you start the fight and onward.......

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