Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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Just a follow up on talking to the onc. He gave me hydration before the herceptin that day, said I'd get hydration the day after chemo Tuesday, and he's changing the class of anti-nausea meds to a stronger one. I should've written the name down, but I didn't. It's gotten to where I don't care anymore, just make it so I don't get so sick again next chemo.
Enjoy the good days.
Just a heads up. Don't throw anything away!On a few good days I thought I'd clear out clutter, and I just figured out I threw away our cars pink slips (owner registrations), and gave all my good books, and $100 computer part, to the goodwill.I thought I was doing fine.
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Oh, Not! (((Hugs))) AND giggles. It's funny and not, but we've all been there. I flushed a set of keys worth $300 down the toilet during one of my big D episodes. Then I tried to catch them. Sh*t and giggles! Well, now anyway! The posts around that time on here show that I wasn't laughing, but I was crying hysterically.
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Today is two weeks since my 2nd treatment. Nausea hit me again and I spent last week just eating what I could. My sense of taste got screwed up bad (still is kind of bad) so stuff that worked for me on the first round didn't work this time. Most of my nausea is pretty low level but it lasts the entire time from treatment to treatment. I think that drinking carbonated sodas might be the trick so I will start doing that more on my 3rd round. Diet drinks taste even worse than usual though so I'm having to just not drink very much of the sugar ones at a time because of the diabetes.
They told me they may add Compazine to my list of drugs for nausea. I was reading about it and was a bit concerned about dizzyness and the mental effects it could have. I may prefer my low-level nausea if Compazine makes my head feel 'wrong' or if I feel dizzy. The other option, I guess, is to lower the dosage on my Taxotere.
I was back at work most of this week and survived okay. Next week should be my 'good' week and then back to chemo on Thursday (8/20).
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Jinkala your SE will continue to intensify a bit with each treatment… one of the most sucky things about chemo IMO. You really need to get a handle on the nausea before it gets too bad. Ginger is supposed to help. Canada Dry is supposedly made of real ginger but most ginger ales aren't. I didn't have nausea on chemo but I know in the past the pickled ginger you get with sushi really worked for me. Compazine was one of the drugs I had for nausea but of course never needed it. I hear it does work.0
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Jinkala, I had some nausea. I used the Compazine and it worked. I got just a bit lightheaded if I turned my head too fast. Other than that it beat throwing up! Much love.
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I'm getting scared of chemo #5 because #4 was so bad. I want to try the chat rooms but can't seem to get in there. Are they closed after a certain time?
It's after 1 am and I can't sleep as usual. This time it's because my daughter said she can't be here on the days I need her. I went through the roof. Nothing should be more important to her than me now!
[[[[breathe]]]] My BPs through the roof and it's usually too low. I never ask anything of anyone and I don't want to start, but 2 days is not much to ask.
Is there anyone else in here without a husband or SO who asks family members or other people to be with them after chemo?
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Thanks for understanding Moonflower
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Not, my situation is not quite the dame as yours. I have help on tx days and the weekends. But, my DH was not there.for me before Dx. I thought.I would have to do this alone. At first my daughter would be with me on tx days, then my DH started coming on the weekends. We have been married almost 39 years but live apart for the last three. Then he started staying over on Friday too. Once in a while on Monday. But I would be alone on M, T W, Th. I have a very good friend, who called me three times a day to check on the days no one is here. She lives about a block away, and I share my schedule with her. If I am supposed to be home and don't answer she comes over to check. Also if she isn't babysitting, she will come over on some of my bad days. I also have a neighbor who works near the drugstore I need to use and she will pick up scripts when I couldn't. I try not to burden anyone too much. My friend who calls is a worrier, and I think she would call me that much even if I just had a cold. LOL so I have been getting more help than I thought I would. Good luck, I hope you find help. Ps, take a deep breath! Heck, take a deep breathing class. Or even the Wii fit has a breathing exercise. But ((((hugs))))
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Hi Not, I too am single. My daughter is 17 and she is around most of the time, but is with her dad every other weekend and Thursday nights. My sister comes to stay at the house on weekends and I have friends who would come if I called them. I just don't want to be a burden. Seems to me I always seem to feel my worst when no one is here. I am beginning to wonder if it is psychological.
Lori
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Hi All,
I got my first TCH treatment on Weds and my neulasta shot on Thurs, and woke up this morning feeling like I had the flu. I was warned about this, but I didn't expect it to feel so intense. My bones and joints hurt, but worse, I have a really bad headache, which doesn't seem to go away.
How long do the neulasta side effects take to wear off...at least I hope this is all neulasta side effects. I don't have any fever, or anything like that.
Thanks,
Cheryl
PS I took claritin the day of the shot, and every day thereafter, but I guess that didn't work for me.
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Hi Cheryl,
I don't know about the neulasta, but I get those SEs from the chemo, probably the T, and it always starts 3 days after. I found out hydrating is very important to make the SEs go away. Drink a lot of water etc.
I got SO sick after chemo #4 I went to the ER and got hydration IV. It made me feel so much better! They do it often for chemo patients, so it's always an option if you get so bad you can't take it any longer and you have insurance!
Next time I'm getting IV hydration the day after chemo at the clinic. Everyeone there says it helps lesson SEs. It seems like they should just lower the dose, but they don't.
[[[[hugs]]]]] Gina
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Hi Lori,
I feel ya! Everyone says they'll help, but I don't want to burdon anyone. This is the time we want family, espeically a DH, or SO, to be here for the ugly parts, but for some reason we're doing this alone. We'll be stronger for it in the long run.
{{{{{hugs}}}}} Gina
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You sound very well loved Moonflower {{{{hugs}}}} 0
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cqesq - sorry you are feeling bad! Some of your joint pain is most likely coming from the Taxotere. Are you taking any pain meds? If not you might want to try something for the joint pain - like Tylenol or Advil at the least. Some people alternate those because Tylenol can be hard on the liver and half your chemo drugs are liver-filtered. Also, you need to drink a minimum of 100 oz. of fluid a day. Soup, juice, water - just make sure you are flushing the drugs out of your system and hydrating enough to keep from getting a headache.. If you are taking Zofran for anti-nausea it can cause a pretty severe headache, I had trouble with it. Some of the ladies (even those who didn't take Zofran) had a headache on the first tx but did not get it again. The good news is that this feeling is usually days 3-5, then the SE dissipate.
not - I am not single but my DH does travel a lot for work. He was always there for chemo on the day itself but would often have to leave several days later when the worst of the SEs would kick in. I just always made sure I had stocked up on groceries, paid the bills, cleaned the house, had nowhere I had to be, etc. prior to chemo (thank you steroids for the energy, lol!) and then just camped out. I had people I could contact in an emergency, and my DD is local but she is in college, no other extended family in the area. My tx #'s 4 & 5 were very bad, but #6 was not.
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SpecialK.... I'm getting #5 Tuesday and I'm scared because #4 was so bad. That's odd that your 4&5 were bad also, but #6 wasn't! Is there any reason #6 was better? Why are 4&5 so bad?
#4 I couldn't move, talk, or anything without feeling very seasick and nausous. I could feel my brain banging around in my skull and it hurt. It hurt all over and I was so uncomortable, chills and sweating. There was no way to get relief! What can you do when you're like that?
If #5 is that bad I'm taking a sleeping pill.
{{{{HUGS}}}}
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Cheryl my 1st neulasta was the worst. My back pain was so bad I couldn't stand up straight for several days. The ones after that weren't so bad. I was working out (except for 3 days the 1st TX because of nuelasta). I think that really helped with the bone pain/stiffness. Once I stopped some time after TX4 I got much stiffer. I really think it's because I stopped power walking regularly.
I did take Aleve for the pain but I asked my onc first. Aleve can thin the blood so your onc might not want you to take that depending on your situation. I'm not good with narcotics (makes me nauseous, dizzy and constipated… and chemo made me constipated too) so I opted for Aleve.
I never got flu like symptoms or nausea so I can't help you there. I got the weird stuff like every nail lifting. If your nails become a problem I can let you know what might be ahead. Hopefully you won't get that more rare SE.
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Not, have you told your onc? It's important to let them know. After my troubles they actually lowered my dose of TCH.it helped. Tx 5 & 6 were so much better. there is hope, drink a lot. And a bottle of wine to drink when your feeling better might be good too. Much love.
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not - Are you taking Zofran by any chance? I had severe headache from it and it did not work on my nausea. Compazine was much better for me, but there are other anti-nausea drugs that work well too. Emend works for many and also the Sancuso patch for a longer lasting effect for those whose nausea does not dissipate. Also, if I remember correctly, didn't you need to go in for more fluids? I think maybe they should give you fluids this time right off the bat, I have seen others that had to do that as well. I have seen other patients at my center who have done it in order to get through tx. I have no idea why #6 was easier - I kept waiting for the SEs and they never came! I was pretty happy but really exhausted!
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SpecialK..... Yes I take zofran prn but he's changing the IV to a different class of drugs next time, I forgot which one, and I'll get a different prn. And, yes, lots of fluids.
Moonflower.... Thanks for the heads-up. I'm going to call Monday and ask (or tell him) to cut all of it (TCH) down even if they add another tx. I read other women have theirs cut in half.
After all this I don't want to do radiation! I read that after a year your muscles contract causing all kinds of pain. Then there's more surgeries to look forward to. What a nightmare.
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not chemo can cause muscle pain as well as any of the drugs they put us on. Do check with your rad onc to see how common this is. I didn't have rads but I none of my friends who have complained about it. If this is the main reason why you are passing on rads you want to be sure you have the correct up-to-date info. Remember most women come to this site to post issues… very few post to say they had no issues unless asked.0
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What Lago says, Not! Also, my onc only cut my drugs by 25%. And he cut only one drug one week and the next week cut the taxotere. Remember, it is a balancing act, what is best for killing your cancer, versus what is feeling like it is killing you. Will you still get enough drugs to do the job if they cut them too much? I told him that was my main concern. He said from the way my body was reacting that they were doing that. So when you go in, remember your onc is the one with the training to help you through this. Don't make changes based on other people. Your onc knows you, so make sure you listen. Good luck, you will make the right decisions for yourself with your oncs help. Much love.
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As far as reducing drugs. Chemo is based on surface area of your skin. They figure this out by weight and height. It's not always accurate so reducing the drug is not uncommon. When I first complained of nueropathy after tx 2 my onc told me to keep her posted. If it got worse she would reduce my amount.
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not -
My dose was reduced for tx's 3 and 4 as well (by 15%).
Regarding rads, I am 5 months post, and yes, my pec muscles are tightening up on that side - so I have some shoulder tightness. It's frustrating, but not the end of the world - I'm managing it by doing daily stretches,and yoga (gentle) helps significantly as well. I am seeing a slow, but steady improvement in my flexibility. I have no functional limitations. I do believe you can keep it from contracting up terribly if you stay on top of it with preventative exercise. I went into rads kicking and screaming, but I still did it, b/c after thorough research I determined my risk of cancer recurrence was higher than the risks of radiation. These kinds of decisions are nonstop during treatment, and yeah, it sucks...but we understand! You will make it through. <hugs>
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For those of you who had a bad 4th and 5th tx, can you tell me why? I am coming up on #3, and just want to be prepared, just in case. I'd like to know what to exptect. Thanks.
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Thank You Lago and Moonflower!
I need to remember why I'm doing this in the first place, listen to my onc, and do what he says to handle the SEs better next time.
If I get so sick I can't move I'll go to sleep. I just read Gilda Radner's book again, and it's very descriptive on the chemo journey she went through (a long time ago) and they used sleeping pills to keep her asleep for 32 hours after chemo!
I have a sensitive nose and the BO from the herceptin is really awful! "If it's not one thing it's another!" ~Gilda Radner
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rickysgirl - - it is just basically the cumulative nature of these drugs. I can't explain why my #6 was easier, that seems to be an anomaly.
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I second what Rickygirl is asking. I too am coming up on my 3rd and wondering if I need to make arrangements for someone to stay at the house with me on the 4th.
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Rickygirl & LoriBach I went to lunch the day after my 3rd chemo and walked around the city with a friend for hours. We must have walked about 4-5 miles. I walked home too. I looked at my diary and for me that's when some of my finger nail beds started to hurt a little. Wasn't too bad at that point. I did get a little more bone/achy-ness but not too bad. I also started to lose my lashes. 3 wasn't a big deal for me.
Now part of what set me off on 4 was I was diagnosed with LE and my nail beds were killing me. If it weren't for that I don't think too bad. I did get much stiffer but I think I was exercising less. Winter set in. It was December. Also eye twitching started.
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Dancetrance..... Thanks for sharing. Why did you do 33 rads if you had a BMX and no nodes involved?0
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Not I know that my BS thought for sure I would get Rads. Typically a tumor over 5cm does. There are all kinds of reasons including location etc. I was in a gray area. My rad onc gave me a pass because she said my treatment was so aggressive. I also think the risk of hitting my heart, lung and ribs was very high. My tumor was in the upper left, posterior region.0
