Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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praying for you volleymom77!
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volley - ugh! So sorry - hoping you are doing better soon!
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VBall,
You are in my thoughts and prayers. Hope you rebound quickly.
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Vbal, hang in there. We are praying for you. On the positive side, when you come through this tx, you only have one more. You can do this. I know you can, I know you can. Chug up that hill, I know you can, I know you can.
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Vball, praying for you. Hope you get some relief Monday.
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Looking for you Vball . . .
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amylstrong - you were one of the first ladies I met on this forum.. Will never forget how you guided me on how and what to tell my employer about my dx. .. I am so happy to see you are doing well and all of the great news .. grandchild, the new project at work!! The courage and strength we develop going through this journey is something I will never forget! I was scared to death but with courage I saddled up anyway! Will be finished with Herceptin in June, wig should be off at that time too.. soooo excited.
Also want to thank lago and SpecialK for always answering my questions (at times I thought they may be trivial)... but neither of you ever made me feel that way.
Will be staying on the forum and will talk to you soon. Love, Diane
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I had first chemo treatment last Tuesday. Felt ok until Friday and the aches stated. By Sunday the bathroom issues began and this morning still there. Really not sure how to get a handle on this. First I was constipated and really tore myself up then I got the opposite effect. Someone mentioned Boudreaux's Butt Paste. That is helping with the soreness. I have also lost 10 pounds. I am heavy so I can afford to lose some just not this way.
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For constipation I took Metamucil as directed starting the night of chemo (because it would start pretty quickly for me. You might need to wait a few days depending on your SE cycle). I stopped as soon as things moved properly again. I ended up with hemorrhoids the first time I got the constipation. I had tried everything at that point. Be sure not to over-treat or you will get diarrhea. It's tricky.
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Soccermom - I have suffered with constipation throughout my treatment with varying success. I would get terribly constipated and then a few days later I would actually get diarrhea type cramping and pain. But without being able to unblock anything. I would sit on the toilet and just strain - praying that I could get things moving. Miserable!!
Finally - at my last treatment (#5) - I started taking Senekot S (with stool softener) the night before chemo. Then I would take a total of about 6 tablets each day. The directions said to take up to 4 a day, but my dr said I could take up to 8 safely. I found that 6 was just about right for me.
I also took my dr's advice and reversed how I used the anti-nausea meds. I had been using zofran as my main med and used compazine as sort of a back-up to it. But it was the zofran that tore up my digestive system! Compazine did not. (The compazine made me a little sleepy, but I didn't care about that.) So, this last time, I mainly took compazine and used the zofran just twice during my queasy days. Within about 4 days past chemo I was able to go without any anti-nausea meds at all.
Bottom line is that I was able to "go" at least once every day, and my tummy (and backside!) were so much happier! I don't know if any of this will work for you, but I thought I would share. I'm only sorry it took me so long to figure out what worked for me! Once I quit taking the anti-nausea meds, I was able to stop taking the Senekot S altogether. I still get a tiny bit of diarrhea from my chemo cocktail drugs, but I can handle that as long as I can keep everything moving along nicely. I'll take that over the constipation any day. Good luck with everything, and I hope you feel better real soon!
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Back in hospital counts low dehydrated just a mess
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volleymom, I am so sorry you are back in the hospital. Prayers being said for you.
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Thanks I am getting scared the cancer might be in my bones, I have had 2 blood transfusions and might get my 3rd tomorrow if it doesn't go up only been 10 days since last one. My potassium and magnesium are low too, afraid to ask doc. She did say next and last chemo would be 20 percent less.
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volley, I'm sorry you're having such a rough time. Hang in there! Why are you thinking it's in your bones?
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Volley - I hope you are doing better today. Sounds like a really rough time and I hope the drs and nurses take good care of you. Sending a big hug!
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Volley -
Thinking of you. Just spent 3 days in the hospital with fever. Never had so many antibiotics! Glad I had the port. I am worried about the later rounds as the counts just drop. Looking up more nutrition today to try and eat as well as I can for the red and white counts.
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positive - not much you can eat will benefit your white count - that is why many of us receive Neulasta or Neupogen. Same with platelets. Red cells are about all that will benefit from iron-rich protein and leafy greens. Also advise that you eat some yogurt or take probiotics when receiving antibiotics if possible to keep your gut flora balanced.
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they gave me two pints levels still low and platelets scary low 38 ugh. I am sacred. I am home now till chemo on Friday the 29th if levels ok
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Oh volley, so glad you are home. I kept checking for an update from you. Sending love and prayers. Now that you are home - REST UP!
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Yay Volley is home.
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volleymom, so glad to hear you're home!
Re: white blood cell count - I'm going to throw this out there, just in case it's of interest.
Back in January I had a consult with the integrative physician at the cancer center where I'm being treated. She recommended acupuncture for increasing WBC counts. She was a radiation oncologist prior to doing this (this being integrative medicine) and she bases everything on studies/trials.
I was a bit skeptical and wasn't sure how I'd be feeling on any particular day so I procrastinated on scheduling acupuncture.
This past Monday I had my first acupuncture session since starting chemotherapy (I have had acupuncture before and as recently as this past summer). I'm currently at the two week point past treatment four.
Yesterday, I had a follow-up with my oncologist and they ran blood tests and my WBC was 5.4! I was amazed. At the two week point after the first round my WBC count was 1.8 (note: the first time I was not given a Neulasta shot).
After the second round of THC I did have a Neulasta shot and at the one week point following the infusion my WBC was 1.9 and I was kind of surprised it was that low considering I had been given the Neulasta shot.
When I started chemotherapy in January my WBC was 6.6.
Typically, it inches back up to 4.4 by the time the three weeks have passed (on the day it's time to start another infusion).
The only thing I've done different is the acupuncture and one week ago it was 3.9.
There's a woman in the January chemo group who has done acupuncture since the start of chemotherapy and she says her counts have held strong all the way through.
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Hello ladies, I just had my second round of TCH and so far it is much easier that the first round. The dose was lowered due to high liver enzymes. I soaked my nails in ice and sucked on ice chips during Taxotere and my mouth feels sooooo much better this time around!
The neulasta shot, it seems, makes my ribs hurt and causes my expanders to feel like they want to burst out of my chest. It is an awful feeling. But valium helps relax those muscles.
Volleymom- just want to send a hug to you and hope you are feeling better.
I have four more rounds to go. I got a rash during Carboplatin and they stopped it and gave me a benedryl/ steriod mix and restarted. The dr. said she may change the Carboplatin to another med if needed. The rash came back yesterday and I took benedryl and it cleared up.
I am also soaking in epsom salts to boost my magnesium and help my liver detox once a day.0 -
Lee, very interesting about acupuncture. I guess there's a lot western medicine doesn't always know!! Keep it up. Its way better than ingesting more meds!!
Adavisart, Glad treatment 2 was easier than the first.
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Made an appointment with my acupunturist. Didnt even cross my mind....of course other things have been on it. I'll let you know how that works for me as well.
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still home yeah! I was looking at my past blood work to see if any pattern in my platelets no luck just a slow decline till last chemo then this free fall, honestly don't know what to think. My platelets were 142 .Anyone have this happen to them. I am at 38 now that is flagged at critical panic low, I know in chemo world 20 is true low for platelet transfusion but the waiting is scary. Anyone have any words of wisdom......
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volleymom77, I don't know anything about blood levels other than what my own hemoglobin level was the other day along with my WBC. I don't really understand all the breakdowns within those numbers.
SpecialK used to work at a blood bank if I recall correctly. Maybe she will see your post and have something to add?
Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers and glad you're still at home!
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Hello all. I am having a sensitive problem and need some advice. Can anyone tell me about their big "unveiling"....the first time your partner/spouse saw you with a missing boob...or both? This has been very troubling for me and I am now finding it has caused problems in my relationship. I have started therapy to get over some of the troubling issues this has all has brought to my mind, but I am having a REALLY hard time accepting my new physical appearance. I opted to not have reconstruction, but I am chaning my mind on that. Not for him, but for me. It really has caused me great emotional pain. My problem with it almost drove my other half away, in a most unfaithful way, but it's really my fault, I feel. My libido is gone still, but feel I must meet his needs, otherwise, we may get to a point of no return. I know it's MY problem, as he says he doesn't care about the boob. All he cares about is that I am alive. I need to get the old spark back, but am so self-conscious that I'm putting up walls. HELP !!!!
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Rickysgirl, sorry you are experiencing these issues. My hubby saw my chest right after surgery because he had to help me strip my drains, change my clothes and shower. I honestly didn't even consider what he thought about how it looked because I was so concerned about it for myself. The first few times we were intimate after surgery I kept a shirt on, personally I felt unattractive in that regard so covering up helped me. I've got TEs and the further they get inflated and more "breast-like" my chest appears I do feel somewhat more womanly I guess. I'm starting to like how my shirts fit again, and I've got a little more confidence when undressed in front of my hubby. However, like you, my libido is ZERO during and after chemo. Even now, 7 weeks PFC, I still have no desire. I'm exhausted, my body still isn't normal, it hurts when we try.
If your other half has told you he doesn't care about the boob and all that matters to him is that you're alive then take him for his word. It's normal to feel self-conscious but it sounds like he isn't too worried about your physical appearance so I would just take comfort in that if you can. ((hugs))
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Rickysgirls girl if your spouse is being unfaithful this is not your fault. Your partner should be supporting you as you go through this rough time. Nothing wrong with changing your mind and wanting to do reconstruction if you are doing it for you. Of course it's hard to get used to being flat for many women. Granted I doubt it would have been as hard for me because I was pretty flat to start with but for women who had a large chest… I would think this is a huge change. Yes you have the right to need time.
Do talk with your onc and your gyno about the libido loss. I think therapy is an excellent idea but it does take time. Be patient and don't give up… and if you don't click with this therapist go find another.
Also don't be afraid to talk with your DH about this. The most important thing in a relationship is communication. Don't blame him or yourself for the problems. Just discuss how you feel and that you want and are working on it. If he doesn't support this then I suggest a marriage counselor as well.
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