Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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Hey Jinkala, glad you're home. I have thought about you all day. One down, and counting. Now that we know the routine, I think we'll be better. Do you have a port? I really didn't want one, but like everyone says, I'll be glad I have it. I hope you get a good nights sleep.
They gave me anti-nausea 1st, then the Taxo, then the Carbo, and about 20 minutes before the Carbo ran out, they gave me a Tylenol and a couple of Benadryl in prep for the Herceptin. No problems, except my eyes got a little droopy and dry, and I got a little flushed, but it went away.
Congrats again on one down. I figure we'll both be through around Thanksgiving and oh, what a happy thanks that will be. We're here for ya !!!! Rest well.
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You have a good point there. I will keep an eye on it. My doctor didn't give me any specific danger number but I figured that if it starting hanging out above 300, I would start asking her if we should do more about it. I just went and tested and right now it's sitting at 201.
I'm still not sure whether I'll get the diarrhea or the constipation but I'm prepared for each one. Both are annoying in their own 'special' ways. :P
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rickysgirl - What is your avatar picture??0
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jinkala, so glad you're finished with #1! now you only have 5 ... that's progress. it will just get easier with each treatment because you know what to expect.
ricky, i agree with lago about the frozen peas. they start getting smushy and don't stay cold long enough. i brought a few extra towels and ice in baggies and put the baggies on my toes and wrapped them with the towels. toward the end, i was just sticking my fingers in cups of ice from the ice machine as long as i could stand it, then take them out a minute and put them back in. i chewed on ice as well. i also swished with biotin mouth wash every night without fail. i fell in love with that stuff! no problems with mouth sores at all.
the girls here will remember that i had a hard time with my family during chemo, especially my adult daughter. of course, she was pregnant at the time and we were having the hottest summer on record, but she was not very kind and certainly not helpful. i was like you ... i have cancer and i'm taking chemo so I MATTER! in the end, i realized that it really didn't matter what i thought: my family would act just exactly as they needed to. i just had to take care of me, and i live alone as well. you'll get through it, even though those are somewhat hollow words at the moment. i promise that you'll get through it, though.0 -
That's me and my cow, Ms. D. It's an oldie but one of my favorites. I look just the same, with some years added. It's a happy memory.
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Thanks Yaya for the advice. I am getting a glimpse of what I may be up against. I ordered the book Love74 suggested so I could read it and get a feel for what my mate is going through. We had a nice talk last night. Apparently his mother put in her two cents worth and, as he said, "she took your side." We talked about doing as much as we can on the days I feel up to it, at which time I suggested I would really love to have a juicy big ol' honking' hamburger from the joint in town today. Instead, he took my truck and my mower to go do his yard. Will be back tonight. No burger for me. I don't feel bad today, but don't feel comfy driving my other car as the a/c is out and my head seems to be a little bit fuzzy. We'll just take it one day at a time, and that burger won't get too far from me.
I didn't sleep as well last night as I thought I would. I took the last of my Decadron, and thought when that wore off, I'd be able to rest. I took it early in the evening. I watched the clock all night, waiting for sleep. I think I got some during the 2:a.m & 4:a.m hours, as those were the only numbers I don't remember seeing on the clock. That may be why my head is fuzzy. I'll do some chores, and get a nap and reset myself. I'm being kind of hard headed about taking the Ambien, but I may have to cave tonight and take one. Other than that, so far so good.
Jinkala, how's is going? Did you have a good nights rest? I hope so, and hope your morning is going well for you. Let us know.
Have a great day everyone !!!!!!
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Rickysgirl and Jinkala - Keep your fluid intake up! Eat when you can.0
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I'm trying. Just so tired, for some reason. I have my water and I'm going to take a nap. Any suggestions for combatting the fatigue? I'm moving at a snails pace.
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Ricky I was not a big fan of meds either prior to my BC dx (dx = diagnosis). But this is a different story. You are in a war and you need to view meds as being part of your arsenal. You are going to be very fatigued in general from the chemo so you MUST get some sleep. That is why you are so tired today. Pleeeeeeeze take the Ambien and get some sleep, sleep is one of your weapons. A good nights sleep and some nap time during the day is essential for your well being right now. I took Ambien during chemo and stopped when I was done. Haven't taken any since. You won't get hooked I promise, but right now you need to use what you can in order to maximize your energy. Take the meds! Big hugs to you 0
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When you do get the proper amount of sleep and are still feeling the fatigue (which you will) it will be easier to get some exercise, which believe it or not, helps with the fatigue. Light exercise, whatever you can manage, but you need to be well rested in order to be able to do that, which is why you need to get some solid restful sleep at night. Ambian is your friend right now
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I slept pretty well last night even with the Decadron. I was up until around midnight (not that unusual for me when I don't have work the next day) and didn't wake up until 5:30 to pee (I was drinking water right before bedtime). I went back to bed and slept in until 9am. My blood glucose numbers were lower last night and this morning with readings in the 160s which may have been a result of doubling up my Metformin the last two nights. I took my last Decadron for the cycle this morning so my glucose readings should get trending back down to my normal numbers.
My stomach as been feeling kind of unsettled ever since the chemo. I took a Zofran last night and another this morning with breakfast. I am still not sure whether I will be getting the D or the C but I think I'm trending towards the C. I don't enjoy either but at least the C won't keep me from going to work next week if the rest of me feels up to it.
I've had some mouth dryness since yesterday too. I'm using the Biotin mouth rinse when drinking water doesn't seem to be handling it well. It does help.
Oh - I don't have a port. They haven't offered me one yet but I am still not sure I want to go through more surgery to get one. I handled the Herceptin drip just fine so as long as my arm can handle 5 more chemos over the next 4 months, I should be fine after that. I'm going to ask next time if they are going to do the drips slow to hopefully avoid any of the same issues. My arm looks fine today with only the faintest of bruising at the IV sites.
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Thanks Relda, I see what you mean. Took a long three hour nap and it did wonders. I have been going full force with the housework and getting lots accomplished. I'm thinking maybe my recliner might work better than sleeping in bed. My port, being so new, is kinda bothering me, the way I lay down. Reclining in the chair seems to be not so cumbersome. I was very snuggly and comfy. Onward !!!!
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Yeah, Rickysgirl, sleeping in a recliner chair helped me after my BMX, and port insertion, and my sinus surgery. Whatever works.
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Riskysgirl and Jinkala - Relda is right about the exercise. Walking when you can is important, each day. I made a little track around our house and sometimes it was a very slow walk but I tried.0
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I started icing on the 2nd but I think they started to get sore by then. I'm not home now so I can't check my SE diary.
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I don't know why I'm up at 3:43 a.m. I took an Ambien, but I guess it didn't work. Guess I'll get something to drink and try again. This is getting a little rough. Another nap is in my future today. Has anyone else gotten off their sleeping patterns?
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Rickysirl,
Perhaps you're the exception but most everyone gets " off their sleeping patterns" during chemo . Do not be surprised if your sleep patterns change forever. The new normal.0 -
I didn't sleep well at all last night. Too many bathroom trips because of all the water I've been drinking. I think I went through three liters yesterday at least. Part of that is just because it's just been so hot here in L.A. this week and I don't have AC (hardly ever need it where I live). I also started feeling some stronger nausea so I had to get up and take another Zofram. I also experienced some D yesterday but the Immodium seems to have put a stop to it for now.
So - not really feeling much worse so far today - so I guess that's good. LoL I do expect that I will need a nap at some point though.
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Hey Jinkala - I'm in LA too - we live in Sun Valley (just north of Burbank) so our AC is on 24/7 these days - UGH its been soooooo friggin hot! Where do you live? If you ever need anything I'm close by!0
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Relda - I'm in San Pedro - It's usually a good 10 degrees or more cooler here than in Downtown and possibly 20 cooler than where you are. I just don't tolerate heat well though so when we get weather like this I just feel kind of wiped out. It's supposed to be cooling down starting today at least. The weather site says it's 79.5 degrees right now which is warm for here but better than yesterday.
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San Pedro huh. Guess I'm not as close as I'd hoped lol. Great area to be for leaving on a cruise! Last time I was down there was when I dropped my niece off for a cruise she was taking to Mexico
I don't tolerate heat well either - I HATE SUMMER! I used to live over near the Grove/Farmers market area and it was not as hot as it is here in the Valley but I do enjoy the slower paced vibe out here and I absolutely LOVE being close to my onc who runs the Disney Cancer Center in Burbank. So I suffer through the summers as best as I can. Which translates into spending a ton of money on my DWP bill 
Here's how my year has gone - I finsihed chemo in mid-May (only did 4 of 6 tx cause I had so many SE's that were causing a bunch of trouble), spent 3 days in the hospital with neutropenia, got out and started feeling better and then found out we had to move! So I've spent the past 6 weeks packing, finding a new place, moving and now unpacking. All in the hottest summer on record. NOT FUN
HOWEVER: I am NED, will only have to do Herceptin til December, we are all moved in, we love the new place AND I finally got a job after being unemployed since 3/11 which means I will get my insurance paid for again instead of me having to pay $500 a month for COBRA. So things are looking up! Woohoo!
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Congrats on the job, relda. Jinkala, rickeyshirl, be careful tomorrow, DON'T stop drinking. I always found it hard to drink enough the following Monday of my tx. Just tired of drinking so much and the nausea stuff they give you and the steroids are done. Then it hit me. So try to keep drinking.
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Hello ladies.
Been spotty for a few weeks; just too tired to do much more than read a few posts and then not reply. The fatigue is so dam* debilitating. Have tx number 4 this coming Friday. I will be going on short-term disability after. Till I am done with Chemo. Just cannot function. Between the muscle pain, bone pain after the Neulasta shot and the all-consuming fatigue, just going to stay home. And the Olympics end today. So, not sure what I'm going to watch, but I'm sure I'll find something to fall asleep to.
Hope you all are doing well. Have an appointment with my actual MO tomorrow. (haven't seen her since June 15) so I am going to ask about possible rads and let her know that I just haven't been happy with how I've been treated. I mean, how can my MO talk about how "difficult" and "strange" my cancer is and yet do NOT ONE scan of any kind and simply blow off the idea of rads? 2 of 4 nodes had cancer, yet she dismissed it like it was nothing.
And I know many of you have told me to get a second opinion. It just seems like so much work adn to be honest, I am tired and lazy. So, this discussion will be my first step. My sister (3 year survivor) is coming with me to hold my feet to the fire.
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Hello ladies.
Been spotty for a few weeks; just too tired to do much more than read a few posts and then not reply. The fatigue is so dam* debilitating. Have tx number 4 this coming Friday. I will be going on short-term disability after. Till I am done with Chemo. Just cannot function. Between the muscle pain, bone pain after the Neulasta shot and the all-consuming fatigue, just going to stay home. And the Olympics end today. So, not sure what I'm going to watch, but I'm sure I'll find something to fall asleep to.
Hope you all are doing well. Have an appointment with my actual MO tomorrow. (haven't seen her since June 15) so I am going to ask about possible rads and let her know that I just haven't been happy with how I've been treated. I mean, how can my MO talk about how "difficult" and "strange" my cancer is and yet do NOT ONE scan of any kind and simply blow off the idea of rads? 2 of 4 nodes had cancer, yet she dismissed it like it was nothing.
And I know many of you have told me to get a second opinion. It just seems like so much work adn to be honest, I am tired and lazy. So, this discussion will be my first step. My sister (3 year survivor) is coming with me to hold my feet to the fire.
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vicki - I came across the series 'Bones' during chemo and watched all the seasons. To this day the theme song sends me back. I also watched many seasons of the old 'Hawaii Five-O' and 'Mission Impossible'. I also took short term disability and mixed it with working from home when I felt up to it. Hang in there!0
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Hi Vicki
Did I read that right? You haven't seen your oncologist since the middle of June and you're about to have tx #4?? Who do you see when you go in for your treatments? Seriously I have never heard of that in my life. I see my oncologist prior to every treatment, we go over my bloodwork and discuss any and all issues I am having with the chemo. I'm kind of blown away by this - has anyone else had this experience or do I just have an exceptionally diligent oncologist??
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Relda, my MO is like yours. I love him. But there are many others on the board who have it the other way. I think it depends on insurance and if its a teaching hospital, it may be.different.
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My onc works closely with an oncology physician assistant and I usually see her. I like her alot and she does a great job.
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Wow Moon I had no idea. I feel very very lucky. I couldn't imagine not having total access to my onc, he's my rock! I ADORE him. After 6 years with him, no one knows my body better, except me 0
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As far as I've been told, I'm supposed to see my MO between every cycle. My next appt with her is scheduled for the day of my next treatment. I did have some (non-urgent) questions for her though so I use the Kaiser email message center for that. She's been good so far about responding.
Instead of cooling today like it was supposed to, it got even hotter than yesterday here. 95 for a high just wipes me out completely. I took a long rest/nap this afternoon to try to just get past the worst of the heat. Bleh - I don't need this on top of the chemo recovery....
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