Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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Thank you ashla and lago !! I have been all over th net looking at stuff, but I think you ladies are THE PLACE to be for this kind of thing. It seems like every time I turn around there's a new piece of information, so I have written a long list of questions for my onc on my first chemo visit, courtesy of you guys. Frankly, some of them I couldn't have thought of myself in a million years.
lago, my tumor was located at the 3 o'clock position on the left breast. I'll never forget my surgeons words on my first follow up..."though your breast is gone, the tumor is gone, so the cancer is gone." It apparently hadn't broken out of the tumor site. This is why I am asking about radiation. It was 1.8 cm at the largest point. This is also why I was so floored when I heard I had to do chemo. The onc said something about looking at my veins during surgery and seeing cancer cells trying to form in there, and that it's also possible they could already be in the bone marrow, according to "the latest studies."
And ashla, I'm glad to here your pain was low-listed. I have such a severe reaction to pain, (goes back to childhood) even the smallest thing. I practically pass out every time I get blood drawn. Cold face, nausea, dizziness. It's psychological, I know, but I do have a physical reaction. I have put together a ditty bag for myself with every known otc remedy for anything that may come along.
Did ya'll have to take the Decadron before, during and after chemo? I have a feeling I will be awake for 3 days straight and wondered if there was something to counteract that. I was told it will cause insomnia (maybe like a speed feeling). I cannot imagine having to go into chemo on no sleep.
Right now, my nerves and anxieties have the better of me and I need to shake that off. Maybe after the first treatment, some of that will go away. I'm already tired of the mental aspect of it.
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Welcome ricky - I took the decadron the evening before, the morning of chemo as pills (dexamethasone) and then some more in the pre-chemo infusion. I also had a little ativan in the infusion because I was so nervous.0
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Ricksgirlll
I did get the premeds and took them. Many ladies waited to see if they had nausea before taking them and never needed them at all. Never even occurred to me not to take them because nausea is very difficult for me to handle. Everyone is different. I was like on speed or the first few days but during chemo I got enough sleep albeit some nights better than others. I slept better during chemo than I do now! I even slet through parts of chemo! As soon as they gave me benadryl would not off. If I had been in a quiter infusion room I might have slept a few hours.
Most doctors treating cancer patients are very willing to give you any meds you need to get you through treatment.....pain, anxiety, depression .....anything.....
The mental part ...not the physical....has been the hardest or me all along. I'm still working it out.
You will get though this just as we did. It's not easy or anyone but unfortunately Some take the scenic route .0 -
Ashla, I was under the impression that the reason I'm taking the Decadron is to combat any allergic reaction I may have. I did read somewhere that it is also given for nausea, but the onc has already given me two scripts for nausea. I think I also read or heard that they give Benadryl for the allergic reactions. I'm wondering just how many meds I will get. Another reason I am freaked is because, at 52 years old, I have never been sick a day in my life and am a hard core anti-pill. I take something for my cholestrol, an Aleve now and again, and I don't mind taking an antibiotic, but other than that....NO PILLS. Now all of a sudden I'm going to be barraged with all kinds of stuff. I'm trying to reconcile that in my head.
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ricky - I was the same with meds. My onc PA told me that the steroids are to prevent problems with the taxotere. Taxotere can cause swelling and I think the steroids help prevent that.0
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yaya - How are you doing?0
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rickysgirl, i think i can safely say that we've ALL been right where you are at this moment. it's so scary at first with so many unknowns. you've found the BEST place to come, though, to get questions answered and to be supported throughout this journey. i swear i could never have gone through it all without this wonderful forum and the beautiful women here.
the port placement isn't bad at all. it will take a few days to get used to it, but you will learn to love your port. it will be your BFF. ha. i just had mine removed this morning, as a matter of fact. i'm not sad it's gone, but i loved it when i needed it. you'll get used to the decradon, too. you'll have other meds that will make you sleepy, so it shouldn't be a problem.
i know it won't help to ask you not to worry, but just know that most of us here have already finished what you're getting ready to start. as they say here, it might not always be easy, but it IS doable! you got through and so will you. come here any time and we'll help you with your fears and questions and we'll celebrate with you, too, during the good times.
ashla, lago, specialK, omaz, moonflwr, and dance, thank you for your support. port was removed today and i'll be back home in the morning! i'm doing much better. love you guys.
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Did you have trouble sleeping?
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hi, omaz!! i posted before i saw your shout-out! i'm doing well. port taken out today and going home in the morning. i'll be on coumadin for three months but i should do fine. just another bump on the road of happy destiny!! i hope you're doing well.
rickysgirl, they will give you anything you need to sleep. i was already taking trazodone for sleep and it worked well. the decatron didn't seem to bother my sleeping at all. i know how you feel about taking pills, but believe me, you'll get used to that too! it's all good. all these meds are your friends, too, as is chemo and especially herceptin.
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Rickysgirl,
I think you'll find most of us here had an aversion to meds prior to dx. I was 62 at dx and had never taken any long term meds. Hadn't even had a cold in years!
I was not prepared to tough out chemo without help however and it all workec out or me as far as I know. You will have SE's . We all do.
I just started taking my first long term med a few weeks ago...Arimedex. Can't remember to take the pill because i've never done it regularly.
I took chemo on monday... I was hyper for two days and by thursday I was feeling the effects. The worst lasted til sunday, monday usually. Constipation which had never been a problem before started two days after chemo. I had to monitor that for at least the first week. Many others have diarrhea.0 -
Great to hear that YaYa!
Rickysgirl...
No big problem with sleep for me during chemo except the first few days after treatment because of the steroids. I aws very very tired most of the time. I have had more trouble with sleep as a result of menopause.0 -
What is SE? I'm the newbie, remember. That's one term I'm not familiar with.
I am blessed to have so many wonderful new friends who understand what I am going through. I appreciate each and every one of you, and I thank you for answering my questions. I will keep everyone posted, and start checking on ya'll every chance I get.
One for all and all for one !! I'll take it, and I'm glad to be part of this group.
Wishing each of you ladies a wonderful night, and I'll be back......................
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Welcome Rickysgirl, sorry you have to join us. I seem to be close to your Dx, except my IDC was 1.6 and I am grade 3 . At first they thought no chemo. But Her2 meant chemo. I got my port almost a month late because I had an infection they had to clear before chemo. I had the port in two days before the chemo, they left the needle In those two days. The port hurt, but not bad, the wait is just the worst thing. Hang in there. I did TCH with the Herceptin weekly during that time. I am now on the three week pattern, til Feb 2013 . all of us here had SEs all over the map, but I can NOT ONE OF US GOT EVERY ONE! So, here's hoping if you get any they are small and easily handled. As all here have said, stay hydrated, take the meds as recommended, if as needed, take as soon as you need them, don't try to tough it out. I didn't like pills, nut my morning load is 10 pills, LOL. Whatever, I do what I need to do, so will you. And, these boards are my lifeline.
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Rickysgirl
SE...side effects!0 -
SE...I feel so silly. I should have known that !!!!!
Hi moonflwr, and thank you so much.
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yaya - great news!
rickysgirl - welcome! Yes, I had trouble sleeping with the steroids. I eventually broke down and took sleeping pills (restoril). Once I did that I was so glad - the sleep was REALLY helpful to my healing. Understand the not wanting to take pills...I was the same way...but you do what ya gotta do to get through chemo...and then you are DONE, and you put the pills away!
This group was a lifeline to me throughout my chemo. You are in a good place.
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Rickysgirl- I never took medicine for anything either. When I had to take meds for chemo, I had to write them down. Also could not stand blood being drawn or shots. But, you will learn to deal.
You are in the midst of the toughest part right now, I still remember the total disbelief I felt while hearing that awful news from my doctor. You will get through it one step at a time. The side effects are manageable. There are pretty good meds for nausea. I couldn't stand the thought of the very public side effect of hair loss, but I found out about cold caps and kept my hair. Good luck!
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Rickysgal if you are HER2+ you will get chemo with Herceptin. Herceptin is specifically for HER2+ and works better with chemo. That's why you are getting chemo. Only 25% of all breast cancers are HER2+.
I loved the steroids. I had no trouble sleeping on them. In my case they kept the fluid retention down. As soon as I stopped taking them I but on 4lbs. Happened after every tx.
My point is every body is different. I assumed I would get every SE and really badly. I thought for sure I would be puking my brains out. Never tossed once.
BTW I never had any nausea on chemo. Never used any of those nausea pills. I was 49 at diagnosis. Currently 49+2. I too never took meds. Only meds I'm on now is the Anastrozole for hormone therapy for breast cancer and a diuretic because Anastrozole has me retaining a little fluid. Totally healthy.
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rickysgirl - welcome - sorry you have to be here. Steroids are for nausea, swelling and allergic reaction. There is some overlap with other anti-nausea meds and also some oncs give Benadryl as a pre-med day of chemo. The anti-nausea, day-of Decadron and Benadryl are given in IV form right before chemo - I also got Tylenol by mouth. The other anti-nausea meds are to have at home if you need them. I only had steroids on the day of for the first 3 tx - then I had an allergic reaction (I am certain it was to the antibiotic given for a UTI) but because they did not know for sure I started getting steroids day before, day of, day after for tx 4-6. Taxotere made me swell like a bad boy starting with #4, but my onc also said sometimes steroids CAUSE swelling too! Kind of a catch-22! I really did not have too much of a problem with steroids keeping me awake, then again, I can drink a cup of coffee and fall asleep with the cup in my hand, lol!
yaya - glad the port is out! Yay on the going home!
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Rickysgirl - I know how it felt to think you don't need chemo and suddenly need it. My IDC was really small, great margins, no nodes - but HER2+ put it in the chemo recommended camp. Lovely surprise. :P
I'm starting chemo on Friday this week.
I also generally avoid medications with the same sort of exceptions as you stated. I'm on diabetes meds now but I would like to get off of those too though the cancer and the chemo are kind of necessitating me staying on those at least for a while longer.
We'll get through this. Many other women already have so I know I can do it too.
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I drank alot of water during treatment. I drink alot of water in general.
I haven't been on here in a while. I just finished my last herceptin last week, and I got my port out yesterday
I have my final echocardiogram the beginning of Sept, and my final oncology apt, the week after. I did have my first mammogram a few weeks ago, since being diagnosed, and it was good, (I felt like a 500 lb. rock was lifted off me)
Next step, my breast cancer ribbon rhino tattoo, Aug. 29
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zumba - yay on the final Herceptin and good mammo news!
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Yay zumba!!!0
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Welcome Rickysgirl. You will find lots of support and information on this website. I know I have. My port placement went without a hitch but I too was very anxious. After the first night I was at ease with it and am glad I got it. I am also stage I, grade 3, no node involvement, Her2+++. Also 6 rounds every 3 weeks and then I do 6 weeks of radiation. Am getting ready to have round 5 next week. I have definately had my ups and downs and have referred to this site for tips to get through. I found that taking my comfort items with me helped: my prayer blanket, cross, something to read or my laptop, a drink and hard candy. I hardly read when there though because there is always someone to talk to including the nurses who are so compassionate and full of information. I wish you a strong support system and smooth sailing with minimal side effects.
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Good morning. 5 a.m. and I'm off to get my port placement. I will ask the surgeon for sleeping pills..........just in case. I'd rather have them and not need them than need them and not have them. I have to take my steroid as soon as I get out and am able. They say take with food is a must, but I don't know how hungry I'll be. HMMM. Hope everyone is having a good morning so far.
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Good luck Rickysgirl. I know you'll be fine and we'll see you posting today once the grogies go away from the anesthesia.0
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Rickysgirl thinking of you this morning and know you will do fine. I had my port placed 2 days before my first chemo. Like everyone has said, it was a little sore but after that I hardly know it is in there unless I accidently hit it. I am also a stomach sleeper and have not had any problems.
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I'm back. So far so good. As usual, I am a bit pharmaceutically stoned, which I guess I better get used to. I ate something and took my decodran, but got a few sleeping pills in case it keeps me awake tonight. Right now, I'm going to take a nap, as sleep never came last night. I hope everyone else if doing great today. I have a funny sensation of my nose being numb and I'm not quite sure what that's about, but we'll see if it goes away. Wishing all you ladies a blessed day. Til next time...............I thank you all for the wonderful support.
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Glad you are back and doing ok ricky! I had a funny feeling too after placement, like I had a bug on my earlobe for a while.0
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Glad your ok, rickysgirl. Have a nice nap.
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