Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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You might be ok, the first two or three days, I was just tired. More will chime in. Good luck.
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Neda517,
I'm in your same boat. Had bilateral with DIEP reconstruction May 1. Just met with my oncologist, have already had EKG and bone density test this week. My dic gave me two options for treatment and I'm torn. Will have to do herceptin for one year and tamoxifen once chemo ends. He says I can chose the chemo with adramiacin or not. The one with adramiacin will be a bit longer and has more side effects. I don't want recurrence if I go with the less aggressive treatment, but its shorter. I apologize that I don't have names of meds, It's hard to get everything he says in one appt.
Any thoughts out there?
Thanks, Lauren0 -
ChickaD I was a little spacey on Friday from the Emmend and also Zyrtec. Granted I never heard anyone else complain about that. I didn't drive because the Emmend really did effect my eye sight. My onc had me on the Zyrtec the entire time so my body got used to it but the eye sight thing wouldn't clear up till Saturday. I wasn't flu tired but if I was on a plane I probably would sleep. But I'm sure you've heard… everyone is different.
Lmo45 I wasn't given a choice. My onc, at least in 2010 does the TCH (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin) regiment. They all have SE but I think she feels the heart risk with the Adrimycin is a more serious SE so she opts for the other unless you can't do taxotere. Adrimycin is slightly better but I felt a couple of percentage points was something I was willing to risk and my heart was not. I knew going in that I did not want Adrimycin.
I have a couple of friends that did the Adrimycin. It was tough but they got through it. One started with Taxotere but after her 2nd tx her onc took her of due to serious neuropathy. She begged to stay on it so she would have to do the A. Saw her last week. She looks great. Her hair is a bit poodle but she always had curly hair. The other is one of my reach to recovery partners. She's done with the A part. She too was wiped out from it and had nausea but got through it OK. From what I see the A seems to really wipe people out for a few days (flu like tired). But its only for 4 tx.
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I had the adriamycin 4tx every 2wks. For me he SE's were pretty bad. The emend was a godsend. Significantly reduced the nausea, I did one tx without it, to draw the comparison. The adriamycin round was also when my hair loss happened.
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Lago - I'd be interested in hearing more about your friend who was switched to AC due to severe neuropathy. How bad was her neuropathy? I too have significant neuropathy after only 2 treatments - my feet hurt making standing for any significant amount of time or walking any distance difficult. My hands are numb (mostly the left one) which makes driving distances difficult. My onc delayed my last treatment (was supposed to be last Wed) due to abnormal liver function tests (ALT = 123 and AST in the 80s). She thinks the abnormal liver may be keeping me from processing the Taxotere. I've been wondering if my labs are still as bad, should I try another TCH knowing that my neuropathy may get even more severe because my liver didn't heal or should I ask about doing a different regimen (like AC or FEC). I'm wondering if your friend had liver problems too and if her neuropathy was worse than mine. Thanks for any additional info you have!
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I'll ask tomorrow but her neuropathy was pretty bad. I mean she begged to stay on it because she didn't want to do Adrymicin but her onc said no. We were treated at the same place but she has a different onc. She's hormone positive but HER2- with a strong family history of BC.
Remind me if I forget. I have a busy day tomorrow. Finally get to see the ENT regarding my hobbit ear.
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Did any of you ice your nails during chemo ? Just wondering if it helps.....cant sleep...I strangely hurt all over...joints...bones....My PharmD took me off my Cymbalta (only 20mg per day) 2 days ago b/c it interacts with the Herceptin.... I use it to manage my pain from the ruptured discs in my spine....I cant believe my pain is from only being off small dose of this drug for 2 days....but maybe....ugh........
Port tomorrow....then chemo starts Tues....0 -
Thanks Lago!
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KIRKL, I HAD TO BE.OFF MY ANTI-inflamatories during my tx. I hurt like you wouldn't believe. It git better after a couple of days, but I got stiff. Was real glad to get back on them. Hang in there.
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chicka - yes, I iced and definitely recommend it, starting from the first tx.
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Miss Special....hi there....during the T, C or H or all ..... hands and feet?
Ill be in Tampa next weekend to see my best friend!0 -
Has anyone tried wetting and freezing wet fluffy socks and gloves and then wear those during chemo?
Please list your best tried ideas for me.....thanks so much!0 -
I use flexible freezer packs - I take them in a cooler bag with me and swap them with fresh ones half way through the tx
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ChickaD I did try using frozen peas on my hands but gave up since I got the lifting and it just progressed. They might not have been cold enought. You need to keep your hands/feet really really cold in order for it to work. start 15 minutes before, then continue for 15 minutes later on Taxotere. It is a more rare condition so for those who this freezing seemed to work… might not have ever had to deal with the issue anyway. In my case I got it pretty badly in my feet & hands.
I did suck on ice tx 2-6 and never got another mouth sore.
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Going in for my last TCH in three days. Can anyone tell me when they lost eyelashes and brows?? I still have mine. Am I to expect they will all fall out next week when this is overwith? I am hoping not. Have my daughters wedding early August!!
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5 weeks when they start to grow back. The new hairs push the old ones out. I was never completely without. Actually I think my eyebrows looked better then. Anastrozole hasn't been kind to my eyebrows/lashes. Granted with a little cosmetics help I look fine
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chicka - I did frozen peas on both hands and feet, but I have also seen peas used with hands and feet in neoprene wine coolers to keep the peas cold enough. I got pre-meds and then Taxotere so I would start the icing about 10 minutes prior to Taxotere while I was still getting pre-meds. Try to keep them iced until at least 10-15 minutes after the Taxotere is done. I also painted my nails with clear hardening polish - one coat for 7 days in a row on nails cut as short as possible. Removed the 7 coats and started over. The night before chemo I painted them with opaque polish - usually dark gray or navy blue - as long as no light can penetrate to the nail bed. Next day removed the polish and started the 7 days of clear again. I did not get any ridges or darkening or white lines on my nails, but I did lose the pinky toe - a new nail came in right behind it. Also long the wedding ring fingernail but it had a tear that preceded chemo. I brought a Tervis tumbler iof ice chips from home to try to hold in my mouth during Taxotere. Didn't do it on the first one and get awful mouth sores - I really recommend ice for hands, feet and mouth!
tangles - I never lost my brows, lost all the bottom lashes but they grew back quickly, lost most of the upper lashes by #5, they grew back more slowly. I never cycled with brows or lashes - whatever I lost initially was it. Once they grew back they stayed. I did have to shave my legs all through chemo though.
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Chicka - Just a note to let you know that when I did TCH 4 years ago, it was not all publicized about icing your nails. i never heard of it, never did it (never saw anyone else at chemo do it either), and never had any nail problems at all. I never painted them either.
Maybe some people are more susceptible to nail problems, I don't know. But just do your best and see how your body responds.
Best to you!
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ChickaD, my icing strategy was as follows:
For my hands, I bought cheapo gloves from the dollar store and cut off the finger portion from below the knuckle. I brought a cooler from home and filled it with ice from the infusion center. I also brought latex gloves, (or any form fitting gloves) and put them on, then put the cheapo gloves over them, with my latex covered fingers sticking out of the gloves. Then, during the taxotere portion, I had the tips of my fingers immersed in the cooler with ice.
For my toes, I brought zip lock baggies and filled them with ice chips. I put on very thin socks, and used tape from the infusion center to secure the zip lock baggies to the ends of my feet, covering my toe nails.
I also chewed on ice chips, to prevent or reduce the # of mouth sores. I got really sick of ice chips, so I froze gatorade in an ice tray, and sucked on that. During my last 2 treatments, I brought frozen strawberries and chewed on those. You will need a friend with you to help feed you, because your hands will be immersed in ice.
You need to do the icing starting 15 min before the taxotere portion, till 15 min after! I have to admit I wasn't always vigilent about the 15 min after part, because by then, you are freezing!!! You don't need to ice during the carboplatin or herceptin.
Also, word to the wise.....use the bathroom right before you start this!!
This is a HUGE pain in the butt, but my I had no problems with my nails at all, and had very few mouth sores. At first, the nurses in my infusion center thought I was crazy, coming in with all my stuff. But, they became believers when I had no problems!!!
Good luck!!
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kirklandgal This is what my friend said about getting kicked of taxotere by her onc: She said neuropathy started after 2nd infusion. pins/needles, numbness and pain. Her onc did NOT hesitate for a second to decide to change chemos even though my friend begged to stay on it. Onc said absolutely not. Neuropatthy can cause permanent damage and there are other chemos available.
My Hobbit ear. ENT drained it. Testing for infection and cells although he doesn't think there will be any cells. Will see him again Friday. He hopes it won't fill again but if it does it will have to be removed. My gut says just cyst but it's gonna fill again. I hope I'm wrong.
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ChickaD I iced during Taxotere and 10minutes after. I used a combo of bags of frozen peas and quart zip lock bags filled with 1/3 rubbing alchohol and 2/3 water that I kept in the freezer. I put them in zippered insulated lunch bags with a frozen ice block in the bottom. When the time came for Taxotere, I nestled my hand in between everything and had someone zip the lunch bag partially closed. I tried the bags with ice on my feet but after the first 2 tx trying to keep the bags on, I went out and bought those flexible frozen sports wrap things with the velco straps. They worked great. Had to take a cooler with me everytime to hold everything, but at least I always had someone to help me schlep everything in. I had no nail problems at all. No discoloration, no ridges, no lifting.
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Tangles,
I didn't lose my lashes and brows till a few weeks after my final chemo. perhaps it won't happen to you because in fact we all have different reactions but I lost my lashes a few times. My mo told me hair in various parts of the body is on different cycles. Lashes are on a 3 to 4 mo cycle and because I lost them all at once...I lost them a second time almost all at once. After that it's more staggered.
I learned to put makeup on much better and in fact when I was lashless even though it bothered me enormously...it didn't look all that bad.0 -
Lashes & Brows: I'm using Latisse once at night for lashes & brows. My MO wrote the Rx and my eye doc said she'd seen it work. Anyone else use this? Did you still loose those hairs?
Lago: I actually had to google Hobbit Ears. Can't imagine where your cyst was.
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Minustwo..
I don't know anyone who used it during treatment but the stuff really works. Some women have to cut their lashes back. Have heard only good stuff ..except about the cost...from people who use it so far.0 -
I was going to take a sinus face icepack today that covers my eyebrows and lashes - I figure if my fingers, toes and mouth get ice why not my eybrows and eyelashes -- I figure its worth a shot....
Here was my morning Facebook post to my friends and family following my treatment:
My port surgery went well yesterday -- its uncomfortable but its in my chest, neck and heart -- so I can feel it a little -- kinda weird - John and I were at Hillcrest all day again -- I think they think we work there -- LOL
Today starts chemo -- me and my daughter, Cait, are planning a lovely day of fun, laughing and oh yeah ... God knows what.... we are going to ice my hands, feet and mount during one of the drips as it has side affects of losing your nails and causing mouth sores -- ice has been known to freeze the local area so the chemo medicine does not get full throttle to those locations and helps with the side effects.... ... Hopefully I will be able to update my journey today for those of you asking..... keep watching I am sure that Cait will take some embarrissing photos during the day....
Scared but ready!See More![MEDICAL/SURGERY UPDATE: My port surgery went well yesterday -- its uncomfortable but its in my chest, neck and heart -- so I can feel it a little -- kinda weird - John and I were at Hillcrest all day again -- I think they think we work there -- LOL Today starts chemo -- me and @[1427100103:2048:Cait McCarthy] are planning a lovely day of fun, laughing and oh yeah ... God knows what.... we are going to ice my hands, feet and mount during one of the drips as it has side affects of losing your nails and causing mouth sores -- ice has been known to freeze the local area so the chemo medicine does not get full throttle to those locations and helps with the side effects.... Hopefully I will be able to update my journey today for those of you asking..... keep watching I am sure that Cait will take some embarrissing photos during the day.... Scared but ready!](https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/s480x480/970176_10200622186534256_468707802_n.jpg)
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CHickaD good luck today. I hope you are as bored as must of us were at our first infusion because nothing happened.
Minustwo. This is how my ear looked last Thursday. I think it got a little bigger over the weekend but thankfully looks pretty normal now:
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ChickaD..
Best wishes on your journey....0 -
They just hung my herceptin for my 6th and final TCH!!! Doing a happy dance and hoping my nails (and everything else) hang on through this last round of side effects.
Lago - ouch. Hope it's all better now.
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Congratulations, McKatherine!
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Lago - Thanks for the info about your friend! I have an appt this afternoon to talk to review my most recent liver tests and talk about what chemo to do tomorrow. Good luck with your ear - I have my fingers crossed that it won't come back!
Chicka - My thoughts are with you! I am sure you will do just fine with your infusion.
McKatherine - Congratulations! Woohoo!!!! It must feel great to be at the end.
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