Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
Comments
-
Wow I am so late in posting. I had to read so much to catch up!!
Shel - thanks for the note about the poo issue. Right now my irritable bowel is playing hell with me so I'm not having much fun but in general throughout chemo I haven't had any constipation or diarrhea, just if I ate something funky that disagreed with me or if I was on antibiotics. The colour (yellow brown) has remained constant ever since I've been on chemo. I've had all my bacteria, my liver, the whole shebang checked and I am assured nothing's wrong but it's a little disconcerting.
Carolyn - the Neulasta hurt me for pretty much a week to 10 days, which is about all the longer it's supposed to last. It was debilitating pain for me. I never had it again. The Neupogen has been so much better for me it's not even funny. I hardly ache at all, just a twitch or two now and then.
What I REALLY need before I shoot myself is for someone to tell me how to get rid of or at least cut down this HORRIBLE taste in my mouth. I've had sewer mouth before but this one is a doosey this time. It has made nearly everything either tasteless, or taste terrible. Up until last weekend I could eat curly fries and mostly taste them but today I tried them and they're awful. My dear friend Coca Cola can't even be stomached any more because it just tastes wrong. I'm also on Coumadin so that could be contributing but this is baaaaaaaad. Anybody have any suggestions at all? I made an English rice pudding yesterday (my parents and 3 siblings were born in Britain) and it tasted mostly OK and I thought I'd eat that, at least it's *something* but now I'm afraid today it will taste terrible too.
My eyelid is twitching as I type this. Someone SHOOT ME!!!!!
)0 -
CAN'T.....STOP.....EATING.....CHOCOLATE.......
Now that my case study is done I have come to the conclusion that steroids cause severe chocolate cravings aka addictions! I got my husband(or so that was the plan pre steroids) chocolates for our anniversary on Sunday and that's all I can think about! AAAAAGH! I never craved it before, could care less about it. Now I'm looking for a support group!!
I'm seriosly inept at spelling and typing lately so that event is out for me. I guess my newest event is the power eating chocolate competition! I'm the favorite for the GOLD!! Go USA!!
Tomorrow's #5. I got company tomorrow so it should go faster. Usually I go alone. I'll talk to you guys tomorrow. I could type more (took my roids can you tell) but I've no ambition. hahahah I think everyone can relate!
Happy Chemooooooooooooooooooooo!
PS. New chemo brain story, I'll be brief: I had my 3 month MUGA today. Anyway I get in my car, put the keys in the ignition and start it---then I start looking in my purse for my keys!!!!!!!!!!!!
hahahah
Donalee
0 -
Aly
I by a large bag of lemons right before chemo. I put tons of them in my water and it taste good. Also I make lemon tea, that's good too. Food is pretty much tastless. I love sour patch kids candy too. They make my mouth taste a little less sewerly. Hope this helps.
Donalee
0 -
I also am having 4TC. My diagnosis and all indicators look exactly like yours, Shel! One reason I think I am being given 4 is that here in Canada they do not give Herceptin unless people have chemo (that's the way the studies have been done). So because I was ER-/PR- and Her2+++, the onc. team thought I would benefit from Herceptin. Probably would not have recommedned chemo if I were ER+/PR+ and Her2-. So to be approved for Herceptin, I had to also have chem (probably didn't matter if it were 4 or 6, but why not go with the smallest dose proven to be effective?) I'm happy with all the decisions. Even the rads (20 sessions) are probably based on the fact the tumour size was small (0.7cm), negative sentinel node and very clean margins.
I am pleased to report that I just got back from a 5 km. walk around the neighborhood. Took an hour and I'm bagged, but I did it!!!
Gina
0 -
This is weird - I just posted this last message, and it was right after one by shelbaroni. What happened to Shel's positng?
Gina
0 -
Woah! Gina did a 5K. That rocks! And my posting is at the bottom of the previous page.
Aly: A lot of people say that lemon works on the cesspool mouth. Unfortunately, I despise anything lemony, so I didn't try it. I think that the yucky taste contributed to some of my "eating off my plan"--just anything to get rid of the taste. I'm totally done with it now, thank God. There IS deliverance. YES!
Donalee: Power chocolate eating works, too. It is, after all, full of antioxidants, if you go for the dark kind. My main vice right now is coffee, which I use in excess to combat my lack of energy. Napping is not in my vocabulary, nor is fatigue. So I push back. I'm still waiting for some smart medical researchers to find that coffee cures the top ten killer diseases! I've got an acrylic class tonight and I need to pack for New York tomorrow, so I'd better go drink my coffee!!!!
0 -
My doc decided to do 6 TCH even though my tumor was small (9 mm) and my sentinel biopsy was negative (1 node taken) because I was Grade 3, had a high Ki67 (I think) of like 52% and they found a positive intramammary node contained within the removed breast. The intramammary node is a very uncommon situation- especially when the intramammary node is positive and the sentinel is negative - something like 80% of the people with a positive intramammary also have a positive sentinel- this is what has landed me in the gray area on everything!
Next week I have to see the rads doc to get his opinion on post mastectomy radiation- because of the same situation. I elected not the have a full axillary dissection- that was another area of controversey- onc wanted it and surgeon didnt recommend it.
Every case is really different and there are so many factors- worth asking your doctor about their reasoning and most will explain it I would think.
Kristy
0 -
The one thing I seem to be able to tolerate to get some liquids down is Lipton Cup a Soup- Chicken Noodle (go figure, I never ate it before).
Gina
0 -
Aly: Although this doesn't help getting food down, one thing I used for sewer mouth was Orbit gum. It's not bad for the teeth and the minty flavors helped the bad mouth taste. Sometimes I'd chew it all day while trying to get water down. I eventually discovered crystal light lemonade powder.
Terri.
0 -
Hello ladies, I want to throw my name in for membership to the Pile Party. At last, I had a flush heard around the world. I thought it may not happen. You all have given me a tremenous insight as to what may be post chemo. I am now armed with the dynamite I now know I will need to keep things moving. I am 11 days post first treatment,(tch) and showing signs of actual human life. May life give you all chocolate! Maryanne
0 -
Thanks everybody, as always. I have a frozen pizza in the oven (one of the things that always seemed to taste OK) and I'm going to see if that is edible. This really makes me angry I have to say. I mean, isn't it bad enough to have to go through all of this without it sucking away my ability to stuff my face with cookies and junk food to make myself feel better?
)0 -
Had the Herceptin today and ask for 2 extra bags of IV and by 4:00 I began to come alive, unbelievable difference. I do think I was dehydrated and will make sure they don't scimp me again. I guess you really have to be your own health advocate and not just blindly go in thinking they are the experts and know everything. Just wanted you all to know I am ok now. Shell my tumor is so small they can't find it. What are the margins? Don't they have to find the tumor to know that???? No one mentioned that to me on my dx.
0 -
Mare....The flush heard 'round the world, eh? Yeah, I know. When I finally unloaded after my first treatment, I was sanctioned by the EPA for toxic dumping. I was told to file an Environmental Impact Statement next time, especially since we live so close to the watershed. Seriously, a number of us have posted aggressive regimens for Bowel Prophylaxis that work. Look back in the posts and find one to your liking. But it's of utmost importance to get things moving a couple days before the treatment!
Brenda....The "margin" refers to when the pathologists look at whatever tissue is removed, whether or not they find a clear line of healthy tissue around the cancerous tissue. This is referred to as a "clear margin", meaning that they "got it all". However, if they fail to find a clear margin, there is still tumor in there. Your dx says that you have "mets", meaning that the cancer is thought to have spread. This could be why they are treating it more aggressively. And then, too, there are doctors who just don't think that 4 treatments are enough. It just so happened that my poisoner and the breast specialist who gave me a second opinion thought that it was enough.
Hey you guys: Mare gave me an idea for another Camp Chemo olympic sport: Power Pooping! It's like power lifting, same facial expression, same basic position as the Dead Lift, except, well...you know... Too gross? yeah maybe...
How about this one: the Dexa-cathalon, which is a competition to see how many things you can do at once (commonly known as "multi-tasking" for women and "ADHD" for little boys) while under the influence of dexamethasone.
Well, I need to finish packing before people need to go to bed and dump all my clothes on the floor. Good night, ladies. And I can't wait to hear your sports stories!
0 -
Shel, I hope you have lots of fun with your skiing. I wish we had a vacation to look forward to. Maybe in the spring we will go someplace for our 46 anniversary. We were going to go this summer but didn't. We have 3 couples that we are close friends with (one is a cousin) and we all got married in 1963 so we were going to take a trip together. 2 of us got cancer! Mine was minor compared to one of the guys small intestine cancer. they gave up on him but he went to MD Anderson and got into a study and so far he is not showing cancer at all so I am hoping everything is go for next year.
As for the Olympic games I am not very interesting right now. I mostly look like a turtle on the days after the bad ones. My port is sore and probably my imagination but seems to be growing. I am losing weight so maybe I am losing it in my chest of all places! Once I get through today's Herceptin things should start tasting better and I will gain the pounds back. I lost 5 this time though and it had been just 2 so maybe the amount of weight I can lose and gain could be a sport.
Have a good day for all. I am going in late for the Herceptin. I like early but they did not ask me so noon it is.We have to go talk to the insurance people today since my husband is supposed to get on Medicare and when he does I will not be able to get on insurance. I just know they are going to jump at the chance to cover me with all my history. I already can't get long term care because of the fibromyalgia. At no cost!
Carolyn
0 -
Shell you are so witty I swear! How DO you come up with such funnies? Its 3:00 am and the joint pain set in so no use laying there in agony so decided to go ahead and get up. So it is the tumor and not the cancer cells that have the margin? It obviously spread or metathesized because it is in the Lymph Nodes is where they found the cancer cells, but still have not located the tumor.
Carolyn sure hope today is going to be better for you. What day are you on now? Herceptin by itself doesn't seem to bother me it is the big 3 that kicks my butt. I do hope for a happy day for you.
Going to make it to my big race event this weekend. I have planed if I get to tired to go to the motel and rest, but so glad I will be able to be there as I have worked on putting this together for over a year and long before my dx. I have 75 vintage race cars from 6 states coming for the first annual California Vintage Nationals. I have turned all the work over to others at this point, but next year I see the car count to even double. So that is where I will be girls. Hope all of you have a wonderful weekend....Brenda
0 -
Carolyn, Your grandson and the puppy are pretty adorable. Sorry about your friend's cancer and that you guys couldn't go on your trip. Poop. Hope your Herceptin/Insurance day goes ok. ~ Bethany
p.s. I'm going to a Look Good Feel Better Workshop today at noon - I'll let you know how it went. b
0 -
Bethany - I hope you enjoy your workshop as much as I did mine. It was great and they give you tons of free products. Speaking of "feeling better", how are you doing today? Yesterday i was pretty tired, but otherwise no SEs. Today I have more energy.
Gina
0 -
Ladies: This will be my last post before I get on the plane for the Big Apple. I promise.
Brenda: I have a friend with your situation. She had breast cancer in her nodes under the arm, but they never found the primary tumor. She's now a 5-year survivor and doing great!
Bethany and Gina: Sounds like you guys are doing pretty well. Glad to hear it! My Look Good Feel Better workshop is pretty basic. I avoid looking in the mirror as much as possible. I don't have any hair to brush or make-up (runny eyes and sensitive skin). So I'm just basically me, take it or leave it. It's interesting...I just sort of forget about it most of the time. For the benefit of others, I do manage to throw something on the ol' casaba melon before leaving the house. Other than that, I'm just your dear Uncle Fester!
Carolyn; On those bad days, getting your teeth brushed is worthy of a gold medal. As my nurse always says, "Just push back a little bit. Every day, do a little bit more than you think you can." That advice has made all the difference for me. Don't worry about what others are doing. Just try to top your own personal best!
0 -
Brenda, I think that if you only show cancer in your lymph nodes near the breast where they think the tumour is, it's referred to as "locally advanced". Metastasis is when they find cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, like your liver or lungs or something like that. Am I right guys or am I way off base? Have you had a PET scan or any kind of check of the rest of your body?
I just read a really negative and depressing article on this website that talks about being overweight/obese and how you're more likely not to survive breast cancer. They give the stats at like 50 some-odd percent of obese women were dead after 5 years. To quote:
"After 5 years, the researchers report that 58.6 percent of the obese women, 58.3 percent of the overweight women and 69.3 percent of the normal-weight women were still alive.
After 10 years, 57.3 percent of normal- or underweight had survived compared with 42.4 percent of obese women and 44.1 percent of overweight women."
Well, I'm about 30 pounds overweight so I qualify as "obese" I guess (God, what a horrible word) so now I've had the hell scared out of me.
ARRRRGGGHHHHH!
0 -
Aly: I had an appointment with my surgeon today. She loves to give me a scar massage and for such a tiny person, she manages to put a lot of weight into it. Owwww! Anyway, she said that the greatest risk of recurrence happens years 2 - 3. So look at it this way. You know what needs to be done and you have a year to try to get your weight to a level that works for you.
She also read an article that said one researcher is pretty convinced that a lot of breast cancers are "cured" with surgery alone and adjuvant therapy is unnecessary. But the doctors are a gloomy bunch and prescribe adjuvant therapy anyway. She wanted me to have sunny thoughts instead of worrying about recurrence. I was also warned to keep up with everything that went into my "risk of recurrence" probabilities. Like don't stop taking Tamoxifen.... Luckily I'm tolerating that quite well.
I had Herceptin on Monday and have one more to go! I felt sorry for a woman in the infusion room with me. She was discussing with her husband how to get help getting the kids to school and back home (has one just starting kindergarten). Her onc came into the room and she asked if she'll be on Herceptin for a year. He told her she'd be on it for longer, as long as it works. She must be in a more advanced stage of BC.
She came in without a wig/scarf/hat and had some henna tatooes on her head.
Terri.
0 -
Hello Campers! what's the story on hair here? Does it, or doesn't it fall out on TCH? When I just had a #2 buzz, the fur was flying, so I shaved it down to the scalp...now it appears to be growing, and it feels like sandpaper. Will I ever get to be smoothe scalped? I am having my 3rd TX tomorrow, so please tell me it will all fall out (did I really say that??) because i stick to my pillow like velcro!
I am LOL with the poop v no-poop stories. I definitely try to prevent constipation and prefer the former, but last time I was on the tank and also vomiting! is there no happy medium? I take iron every day, and colace stool softener daily, but when the poison hits my intestines, it has a mind of its own. With stories about how TX#3 has gone with others before me, I am not looking forward to this weekend. Good luck ladies. See you on the other side. Gail
0 -
Terri, I'm glad you have a positive surgeon. Mine would never say anything that might commit her to an opinion. I'm trying not to worry about it but it's hard. This whole thing has been *so* hard I wonder if I could go through it again if the damn thing came back. My onc said so far (knock on wood) she hasn't had anybody recurr. My radiation onc is *very* positive. He was telling me he figured that surgery alone would "cure" me but that having chemo wouldn't hurt just in case there were some little cells floating around that they couldn't find. My radiation onc is so cute I keep calling him Dr. Adorable (not to his face, of course!). Not sure my husband likes that too much (lol!). Everybody tells me I have a great prognosis but damn it's hard not to be scared!
Gail, I shaved my head when my hair was falling out like crazy, but my hair is still growing. I have probably 1/2" on my head right now. The thing is, only the gray hairs are growing. The natural coloured ones are not. So, you may grow too. My chemo nurse said usually the hair grows just a smidge and then stops. So far mine hasn't stopped. My hairdresser asked if I wanted her to shave it again and I said no. A head full of little wiry gray hairs is better than nothing for me!
)Oh and Terri, I've lost 15 pounds so far since I was diagnosed in March, so it's a good start.
) If you see that woman in the chemo room again, tell her to talk to the hospital social worker. They will be able to get her the help she needs. It's really hard when you have little kids to deal with. How did the henna tattoos look? My sister thinks I should do some. )Aly.
0 -
Oh and Terri, I've lost 15 pounds so far since I was diagnosed in March, so it's a good start.
) If you see that woman in the chemo room again, tell her to talk to the hospital social worker. They will be able to get her the help she needs. It's really hard when you have little kids to deal with.0 -
Aly: Congratulations on losing weight since diagnosis. The tatooes on the woman in the infusion room looked good. They were understated being henna. The woman had some kind of network she was tapped into. She and her husband were discussing putting on a posting saying they needed help getting the kids to school, picking them up and then taking care of them for an hour afterwards. Caregivers.net or something like that? I'm glad I only had to worry about myself and two cats.
Going through chemo it's hard to imagine having to go through treatment again. I know I felt that way. But as you move out from it and radiation, it becomes less central to your thoughts. I promise! It's a lot like childbirth (I assume). It hurts but then the pain fades with time.
And I know what you mean about only the gray hairs growing. I didn't realize I had some fuzzies up there since I never did shave my head. It was only when the hair started growing in dark that I realized I had two-toned hair. So something must have been growing when the follicles were compromised.
Gail: Good luck with TX #3. If it's bad, I hope it's your worst treatment (we all have one) and you tolerate the following ones better.
Terri.
0 -
Hi Gail and all, I have a sandpaper head also. We shaved my head after the buzzing grew out b/c even the shortest length would bend and hurt against the pillow case. Left the buzzy hair around my ears where it doesn't bother me - a little bit like Bozo but I thought I'd keep what I could. So I still have quite a bit of hair I guess and I'm having TX 4 on Tuesday. Dunno.
I'm glad that I shaved it though, b/c it made me feel that much more was behind me and my head could be ready for new healthy hair.
I went to the Look Good Feel Better Workshop at the Amer Cancer Soc today and it was great. Like Christmas -- even some Chanel bronzer! Bethany
0 -
Yes Ally the dx says locally advanced, but also says mestatic to lymph nodes. ???
I have a question for everyone. I am on day 8 from TCH and day 2 from just the H. My tummy just won't get where I want it. I feel queasy all day and it is wearing on me. I know you take zofran for the first bad days, but what do you do with the no so bad days, but just enough nausea to make you uncomfortable? I'm tired of course but rest of SE has gone away, but that stinking queasy feeling. The stools have went from the runny diarrhea to a loose stool, but manageable and not taking anything. Seems like with this stupid colostomy bag I am having to empty it 4 or 5 times a day, and I swear the process is so bad that I have stopped breathing through my nose until the job is done. It is absolutely toxic! Oh for the once a day BM. I will be so glad to have this reversed after the chemo, I don't know how people live with these things.
0 -
Hey campers! Here I am at 47th and 7th, right in the middle of Times Square! Had my first glass of wine in 5 months and having a great time. We'll talk more about weight loss when I get back to San Diego. Did I ever tell you guys that I used to be a weight control counselor back in the '80's? I'm going to have to take some of my own medicine! Have a great weekend, everyone!
I have sandpaper head, too. I shaved it a couple times with a razor and it feels really weird. The first time was when I went to Comic Con as Avatar. I think I'm going to let it grow now...if it will!
0 -
Hey girls.............
omg Shel,,,,,,,,,,have a wonderful time. I went there about 1 1/2 years ago and had the best time ever. You know there is a camera there at Times Square,,,,and when we went there,,,,,,,we called home to let them know where to go on the web and what time we would be there and we were waiving and talking to them on the camera and on our cell phones If you are interested,,,,,,,,,I will let you know where it is and you could tell us if u go there at a certain time and we can see you. Hope this makes sense. It does to me. lol I dont think you told us about your being a weight control counselor. Pretty cool. Maybe you could give us some tips. lol
Sounds as though you all are doing ok now. I am so glad. Keep on top of those side effects ladies,,,,,,,,,,,,,and the light at the end of the tunnel is just around the corner.
Cupcake,,,,,,,,,,,I took Compazine for nausea,,,,,,,,,,,,,have you taken that? Or did the dr prescribe anything for nausea? You are a pretty strong lady.
I changed my picture here. Thats how long my hair is 1 year past chemo. Not too long huh? Took frickin forever to get to where it just looks like I cut my hair short on purpose. lol Still too short for me,,,,,,but its hair and growing,,,,,,,so I wont complain. Lord knows I did enough complaining in the past year.
Gail,,,,,,as far as the hair thing. I started losing mine about 2 weeks after my first chemo,,,,,so had the family just buzz it,,,,,,,then all the stubblies fell out,,,,,,,,,,and it didnt grow at all during chemo or radiation or the herceptin I took for a year. I finished chemo in Aug. 2007 and in January I had about 1/4 in of hair. So for me,,,,,,,,it started out growing very very slowly. But now I think it is speeding up a bit. Good luck with that. I wished mine grew during my treatment. So its kinda cool that it hasnt all totally fallen out.
I am drawing a blank at the moment,,,,,,,,but who else here is in California? I know that Shel is,,,,,,,,,
Well ladies...................you all hang in there ok? Have a good week and if I dont log in again,,,,,have a wonderful weekend. Be strong, be positive,,,,,,,,,,and just keep thinking of that light at the end of the tunnel. Once you get thru all of this,,,,,,,you will look back and it will all become a distant memory. Trust me ok?
Cindy
0 -
Gail,
I never lost all my hair- lost about 60-70% and it started growing after treatment 3. After threatment 4, the hair that fell out started coming back in. I still buzzed it early on but I always had a layer of fuzz all throughout chemo.
The white ones are growing faster than the dark ones now lol
Kristy
0 -
Hi Shel,glad you are having a good time. you should have a sip of wine for all of us! I really don't drink but I might have a sip. I would love to see you on that screen in Times Square. I sometimes see that on TV.
I hope everyone is doing good. I had some errands yesterday before that Herceptin and I was doing okay but had diarrhea so took some Imodium just to make sure. We got to the Cancer Care center early so I talked to the woman about the insurance and she said everything was good and it was a good thing I took my insurance papers to show her nothing was good. They have been. sending them the wrong place. This is Blue Cross & Blue Shield. I know I am not the only person who is. anyway she said they would get it fixed! I don't believe her since this is not the first time I have talked to her but that was before I figured out the problem. I hope she figures it out too! I told my husband this go get him something to eat before the treatment since they were swamped. he got a sandwich and everything smelled bad in there so I held my paper work in front of my nose and felt very sick. I had taken some Boost drink since I felt hungry. I drink some of that over ice and felt worse. I should have stayed hungry and I took my stomach meds and pain meds but when I got in the treatment room I told my nurse I was sick to my stomach and out came the little back which I grabbed but she gave me more meds by mouth that I am supposed to take. Up everything came. I am back on the BRAT diet which I should have been on since the 20th but I thought if I ate bland I would do okay. NOT! they put a bunch of stuff in my IV and I soon felt better. They asked if I was allergic to Morphine and I said no but I never took it. I guess I was not because when we got home I slept all day and woke up about 9 PM and slept until 3 this morning. Good stuff I'd say! they did not give me any to bring home darn it.
Brenda, I hope your tummy feels better soon, Have you tried the BRAT diet after the chemo? I do it a little longer because I have diarrhea and vomiting now. I was vomiting the last time for the first time until yesterday. I can't eat the bananas but I eat brown rice,applesauce and toast. You have to try it different ways though. I do not like rice so I use the chicken broth that is low in fat but not sodium. I need the sodium to make it taste okay but not for my ankles. since the steroids the ankles are good until just before I take them again but I wear support stockings everyday. Steroids takes the swelling out for me too. I buy only the natural, unsweetened applesauce but I need a smalled container like baby applesauce I guess because I can only eat half off the ones I buy. I burn the first piece of toast but that is not necessary!!!! I usually eat rice and broth for lunch and supper and I eat toast and applesauce for breakfast but if I just can't do the rice I will change it out for applesauce and toast. Do not eat peanut butter it will give you gas and diarrhea can eat bananas you have more choices. By the second week of herceptin I am able to eat again and it taste good too so I eat any and everything. then comes theTCH and I am back on the BRAT diet. I should have stayed on it longer this time. I am losing weight though so I was trying to eat and my husband wants me to eat too. I guess after yesterday I will not be bugged to eat again.
I cut my hair shorter but not buzzed but I think I have reached a place it is only coming out some. I am not sure it will ever go all away but I did ntice some of my gray hair coming out where I mostly had dark hair before. I guess we will just see what happens. I got me a couple of hats and some scarfs which I feel better in than a wig.I just could not buzz it. My friend lost most of hers the second big treatment but she has non Hopkins lymph. so she is taking 3 kinds of strong meds but only every 3rd week. She does not have the herceptin along. she has not had any tumors except on her neck removed and that is where they found cancer. herhusband died of this same thing. I feel so bad for her. She has 3 children but not the same as someone to stay with you all the time. her children do not live close either.
Well, I have some housework to do since I slept all day yesterday. Hve been working on stuff for taxes so I will have it all together when it is time to do them. have a good day all of you and I am hoping an easy day or tx if you have them.
Carolyn
0
