Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
Comments
-
I think I was getting Benadryl with my chemo but I had my last tx on Feb 5 so no more issues there. I am putting Aquaphor on the outer rim of my nostril because it's cracked from all the drippiness, but not up in my nose....I wasn't sure if that would make it worse.
0 -
I slightly rubbed the inside of my nose with Vaseline and it helped. Just don't gunk it on. You don't want to suck that crap into your nasal passage.
0 -
Have you tried using a room vaporizer at night? I've used one when my nose has been messed up from regular colds.
0 -
steiner - this may qualify as an overshare, but I put Aquaphor on a q-tip and put it up my nose, then pinched my nostrils together and kind of smushed it around in a thin layer on the inside. I have issues with a dry nose and lips without chemo, so it was much worse on chemo - this did the trick.
0 -
Steiner, I did the same thing SpecialK did with the aquaphor....put a tiny bit on each end of a q-tip and then rub the insides of each nostril with each end of the q-tip. It really helped me with the bloody noses.
As for the eye tearing, there is hope!!! I'm about 9 weeks pfc, and my eyes are still tearing, but MUCH less than they were. Now, I only use drops a few times a day, usually in the evening. During chemo, when my eyes were really bothering me, my eye dr. suggested using systane balance lubricating eye drops (not the allergy drops..he said those drops would dry my eyes worse) and refresh eye ointment at night while I slept. The ointment was really annoying because it is like a thin line of vaseline, so it makes everything blurry. It was soothing, and prevented me from waking up with crusty eyes. You should put that in your eyes right before you go to sleep.
He also prescribed pred forte eye drops. Those were a steroid drops, which, to be honest, didn't really help at all. After a few days, I stopped using them, because prolonged use can increase the pressure in your eyes.
I think the only thing that helps is finishing chemo. Good luck!
0 -
thanks for the feedback on the nostrils ladies. I'll probably try some Aquaphor up in my nose tonight, a light layer. You're right Lago, I don't want to get it in my nasal passages!
0 -
I am hanging in there the Neulasta shot is kicking me hard in the neck,knees, and ankles. Doc gave me some Vicodin but it still hurts can barely move my neck. Have had it fused twice from a skiing accident so it a very tender place to begin with. No fever just pain trying ice too. Sleeping last night was tough ugh.
0 -
Volleymom ask your onc if you can take Claritan. The ladies here will help you with which one. I believe it is NOT claritan D.
0 -
I already do
0 -
volleymom77,
ColleenKelly on the January thread mentioned that her oncologist cut the dose of Neulasta, i.e. only gave her a portion of the shot versus the entire syringe.
Here's a link to her post:
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/797712?page=65#post_3421240
0 -
Thanks, I am hanging in there, my counts are so so before this chemo wbc 4.0 rbc 3.39 hgb 10.6 hct 31.7% mpv 7.9 seg neutrophil 39% lymphocytes 47.8% just got to have faith docs know what we can handle. Thank God only two more rounds, then surgery.
0 -
Volleymom, are u taking the 25 hour claritin?
Does anyone know if your oeriod can come back during chemo? I got off the pill when dx, and have had hot flashes since... But two weeks after round 5, after having sex on valentines day ( first time since new years) i thought i was just chafed, but am still bleeding birght red, but minimal.. I'm 53 and dr is hoing to do hormone test to choose meds after rads while continuing herception bit im anxious to know, was hoping to be done with periods...
Thoughts ?0 -
Oops i meant 24 hour...
0 -
Sickofpink I think anything is possible but it might just be the end of it. Your ovaries just might be a little wonky on chemo. I know my last period was 2 weeks before chemo. Chemo killed my ovaries at age 49. I went straigt to Anastrozole, passed on Tamoxifen. I was tested for 5 months to be sure I stayed in chemo-pause.
0 -
Sickofpink,
If you haven't already done so, I would call my gynocologist and run it by him/her.
Good luck!
0 -
Good idea, thanks!
I'll call tomorrow during my last tch..woohoo. Only now my earlier side effects are returning so I'm trying not to get too excited or it could be a long month, overlapping with rads and the herceptin only. Anyone there already?
Sweet dreams!
0 -
I had my 5th TCH treatment yesterday and all was going well until the last chemo bag of the day which happens to be Carboplatin. I had just recently taken my hands out of the frozen peas and ice packs when my right hand began to feel hot, swollen, itchy and numb. At first I didn't think anything of it but when a nurse walked by and asked how I was doing I mentioned it to her. She immediatley stopped the carbo drip, took my vitals, and called the doc. She said it could be an allergic reaction or the beginnings of neuropathy. Oh joy! Doc said to discontinue the carbo, attach all new tubing and finish with the saline flush. This all happened even after they had decreased my carbo twice already and I was down to a flat 630, instead of going by weight and kidney function.
This morning I am just left with some numbness in my right hand, which is my dominant hand. The nurse said it could go away, or may be permanent, but to definitely talk to the MO at my next appt. So far my SE's have really not been too bad. I was hoping to finish these last two tx's without anything major cropping up.
So now due to this latest reaction, they are upping my pre chemo steroids to 20mg 12 hours prior to infusion and another 20mg 6 hours prior. (I was at 8mg's 24 hours prior and 8 mgs 12 hours prior chemo) So now I guess I will get to experience the steroid high and crash that so many others have talked about
I will be so thankful to get this chemo over with!!!0 -
Bren I had steriods and loved them. Not everyone has steriod crash. They kept my fluid retention down. As soon as I stopped taking them I turned into Violet. Really hope your hand gets better. For some reason I feel it's highly remote it will be permanent as long as they stopped.
0 -
Bren58, I read your post on the December 2012 chemo thread as well. I'm so sorry this came up along the way...
Does this mean they'll no longer give you carboplatin or are they hoping the increased steroids will keep it at bay?
I've seen some recent mentions about glutamine for neuropathy but I haven't broached the subject yet with my own oncologist.
Best wishes for the next infusions. You've gone through a lot with this, starting out with the port.
0 -
I took Acetyl-L-Carnitine for neuropathy when I first noticed it in my left hand and foot. Never got it in my hand again but it's been just over 2 years PFC and I still have some in my left heel. The NCI was doing studies at the time but they were giving mega doses. I believe the study showed that some patients had worse neuropathy using the mega dose. I know know if they did a study for normal doses.
But I wouldn't take anything without asking your onc especially since you've had so many serious issues with this. Adding something to the mix might make it worse.
0 -
lago, did you take it during chemo or post chemo?
0 -
during and still take it because it is a memory booster and I did notice that.
0 -
Iago - since you are the neuropathy expert, I am going to ask you this. I had my TCH back in 09. NO neuropathy at all.
I have been on Arimidex for three months now and started noticing tingling/numbness/'falling asleep' feeling in my hands at night and mornings. Thought nothing of it until I googled it and found A LOT of women saying they had it too, from an AI. Would THAT be neuropathy or something else?
It is certainly bearable. But still..... your thoughts?
0 -
lago, I knew I had a bottle of it for some reason but forgot why!
0 -
AmyIsStrong I am no expert by any means. My neuropathy is very mild. Just my left heel although during chemo my feet would burn if I walked a lot so that might of been neuropathy too. There are so many things that Arimidex might be causing and some could be just age. I would get that tingling checked out. It does sound like it could be nerve but it could be a circulation issue, maybe Arthritis, carple tunnel. I'm no doctor.
0 -
My anti-neuropathy cocktail - taken with my onc's blessing during chemo - was 30g of powdered L-Glutamine - taken in 10g doses 3xdaily, Acetyl L-Carnitine 1500mg (although a Tonlee source says you can only absorb about 500mg daily, I believe), and a B-6 cap 100mg. I had neuropathy in my tongue and fingertips that resolved between each tx, but starting about tx#5 I got it on the bottoms of both feet and it stayed. It did go away by about 8-10 weeks PFC. I have no permanent neuropathy now.
0 -
Lee, I really have no idea what they will do going forward. I only have one more tx to go. The nurses said to go over everything with my MO at my appt prior to my next chemo and I am writing everything down so I don't forget
. They don't mix the bags of chemo until they get the ok from the MO after he reveiws everything and gets the bloodwork results. I would not be sad if they stopped/reduced the carbpo and reduced the taxotere. I kind of think after 5 tx's of chemo I have gotten most of the benefits that I am going to get.0 -
It all really starting to go down hill for me on number 5. I really wanted to stop and not have number 6. My body was saying enough. But the fear of having doubts later and "what if", along with my DH and my doctor's persistance, I did all six. But I did get, I think if I remember, a 15% reduction on 5&6. Oh and an extra week in between, that really helped.
0 -
I am still trying to survive my fourth round, my prayers are with all of you. My nurse this week after my extra fluids and Neulasta shot gave me a hug, she looked sad. I had mentioned that this chemo is the big tough guys, and she agreed. Hang in there !! Thank God for Herceptin it saves lives.
0 -
Bren, sounds like ypu have good med care. Write diwn all ur qs . I dont know my steroid dose during chemo but always helps.
Volleymom, 4th was rough for me to after thought i had it down bu 3rd. Just home from 6th, back to all
Meds n doc congratulated me but when mentioned long road ahead he admitted the next month with cumulative effect would be the hardest... Rad dr called me personally to make consult appt and other gal on herceptin was feling ok so.. We can perservere...
Thanks for more good info lago...0
