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Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

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Comments

  • MichelleRN78
    MichelleRN78 Member Posts: 19
    edited June 2013

    I have a friend with an Etsy shop that makes sashes.  She does custom orders.  I think I will ask her to make one for me when I am done. :)

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited June 2013

    They gave out sashes to all the survivors last year at the ACS Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Chicago. No crowns. All the survivors on the volunteer planning committee (myself included) heard the suggestion and screamed NO Way. Tongue Out

  • tangles
    tangles Member Posts: 211
    edited June 2013

    I am 3 wks and 2 days PFC and have two main side effects hanging on. The eyes wont stop watering. Very annoying! The other one is a biggie. My legs and arms just about kill me when I try and do anything. Walk up a few steps and they are burning, put the bag chair back into the bag at the T Ball game last night and my arms are burning. Even drying off after an shower and rubbing lotion all over I am wore out. I feel like I am a 300 LB person way way out of shape. At what point do you think it is still the chemo or maybe it is because I have been laying on my butt for 5 months........

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited June 2013

    tangles 3 weeks is the cycle of your chemo. After the first 3 weeks is when your body will start to repair. I noticed they stiffness finally started to get better at 5 weeks. I think the tearing too. I was shocked because I was so stiff that I never thought it would go away then at 5 weeks I was wow this is so much better. When I stopped Herceptin it was even better but I do have some stiffness still because I'm on Anastrozole (generic Arimidex, an AI) because I'm hormone positive… but nothing like I did on chemo. Climbing stairs were the worst.

  • GrandmaV
    GrandmaV Member Posts: 1,045
    edited June 2013

    Hi tangles, I was told that it depends on a lot of factors.  It depends on how well your kidneys and liver get rid of it.  That's why lots of fluids are necessary to wash that stuff out and restful sleep and exercise are important, too.   Some side effects take even longer for the body to repair itself.  And some side effects may be permanent (like the tinnitis I have).  

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited June 2013

    tangles - one of the reasons you are feeling muscle exhaustion is that your hemoglobin is low from chemo.  Hemoglobin supplies your muscles with oxygen from your red blood cells.  Once your hemoglobin normalizes - usually about 6-8 weeks PFC, maybe longer, that feeling should go away.  You may see gradual improvement before that but that is when most of us have started to have normal energy.  I found the tearing of my eyes to dissipate about the same time.  Hang in there!

  • sciencegal
    sciencegal Member Posts: 546
    edited June 2013

    Hi Tangles, I have started working out again, a bit, but am still feeling stiff and with a lot of joint pain. It is getting slowly better though. A bit worse after each herceptin infusion but that's okay- that stuff is like liquid gold to me, it melted my 9 cm tumor (with the TCH as adjuvant therapy - no sign of tumor except for one dead "nest" at the time of mastectomy).



    I am trying to move more, as I did very little aside from my normal work day while I was on chemo. I also gained 20 pounds- UGH! I have lost about half of that by now (water swelling from steroids) but clearly will need to exercise to remove the other ten. One day at a time. Rads next. ugh.



    Thanks to those of you who gave advice about the ankle swelling and toe numbness. The edema is gone by now- woohoo! That was really debilitating.

    I do still have numb toes in the middle on one foot and will see my GP for a referral to our vascular center to make sure it is just side effects and not PAD. I am too young for that! haha. chemo seems to age us huh? But if the cancer is gone I can handle anything else.



    Good luck to all and I wish you a happy and healing weekend.

  • sharon1953-
    sharon1953- Member Posts: 9
    edited June 2013

    How many people continued with their refills(tissue expanders) during chemo?  I will start chemo on Tues. TCH 6 treatments every 3 wks. and Herceptin for yr.  I will also need rads.  My plastic surgeon said if I wanted to wait on refills during chemo that would be ok.  I know I will need refills before rads.  Just wanted to know what others did. The tissus expanders aren't fun!!!

  • sciencegal
    sciencegal Member Posts: 546
    edited June 2013

    Hi Sharon, the TEs should not leak so dont have to be refilled- the "fills" are just to expand the tissue even further- to stretch the skin and breast capsule so that larger implants can be put in.



    I would say to hold off during chemo because the cells in the skin and tissue cannot heal properly when faced with the chemo drugs. so the expansion would not be so great anyway, and larger TEs just make us more uncomfortable.



    We need all the comfort we can get during chemo. Good luck!!

  • ChickaD
    ChickaD Member Posts: 971
    edited June 2013

    Hi ladies...did I mention that chemo SUCKS......round #2 and every side effect kicked in again already....the wolves are chewing on my bones from the shots (changed from Neulasta to Neupogen to try and lessen the bone pain but didn't work)...I am a big baby today...ugh.....I woukd like off this ride...lol



    Hugs to everyone!

  • ProfMagic
    ProfMagic Member Posts: 13
    edited June 2013

    Hang in there ChickaD! I have my 2nd round of TCH on Wed and I must say everyone's advice on this thread is helping me prepare mentally. I hear they are all different and I know what agonizing pain and discomfort I was in from round 1 so I'm trying to psyche myself out for #2!

  • ChickaD
    ChickaD Member Posts: 971
    edited June 2013

    You hang in there too Magic

  • tangles
    tangles Member Posts: 211
    edited June 2013

    Hang in there gals! Praying for mild SE for you all.

    As for the TE I had them filled during Chemo. I can say it was not fun, but I want these puppies OUT ASAP and they have to be fully filled 30 days before surgery. I finished chemo 3 wks ago and will have my exchange in 10 days.I am counting down the MINUTES!!!! Wish I didnt have to do Rads to but ome step at a time.........

    .

  • sciencegal
    sciencegal Member Posts: 546
    edited June 2013

    Tangles, profmagic, ChickaD, one day at a time is right. it is all we can do. And be sure to cross each of those days on this roller coaster ride off on the calendar- we have earned the right to do that for sure. The end of the chemo/surgery/radiation ride will come. We can do this.

    ((((hugs to all))), I wish you a peaceful nights sleep.

  • moonflwr912
    moonflwr912 Member Posts: 5,938
    edited June 2013

    Oh, ladies, please hang in there. I wish I could make it better for you, but all I can do is offer a hug.



    For the bone pain, have you tried Claritan? Not the D kind. Just regular. You take it starting the day you get the shot and for at least four or five days. It helped me.

    Much love. this, too, shall pass....

  • ChickaD
    ChickaD Member Posts: 971
    edited June 2013

    Miss Moonbeam...using Claritan but not helping...ugh

    Hugs everyone!  Crawling back in my hole for a few.

  • sharon1953-
    sharon1953- Member Posts: 9
    edited June 2013

    Having my first chemo treatment on Tues.  Go to my class tomorrow, and have all my questions ready.  This site has been wonderful!!! I read it many times a day.  Have my shopping list ready and will shop today.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited June 2013

    ChickaD I know I used Aleve for the bone pain but ask your on if it's OK because it does thin your blood. Depending on what else you are on your onc may say no. Granted you might have tried all that. My NP told me to take narcotics but narcotics make me feel worse so I never did.

    Good luck Sharon.

  • Laura5
    Laura5 Member Posts: 419
    edited June 2013

    I have a friend who suffered severe bone pain after her Neulasta shot. I took Claritin but I have forgotten how many, how long etc. Anyone remember?

  • sharon1953-
    sharon1953- Member Posts: 9
    edited June 2013

    tangles, Are you having your exchange surgery before you have rads?  My PS will not do the exchange until after the rads.  I was told that rads may shrink the skin so, they will have to fill more on the radiated side.  I still have a long way to go.  I will not start chemo until Tues. 

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited June 2013

    laura5 - regular Claritin an hour before the injection, then one every 24 hours for at least several days - or as long as needed.  I usually took it for 3-4 days.

  • Gma04
    Gma04 Member Posts: 14
    edited June 2013

    Sharon 1953. Curious as to what kind of questions you are asking . I too will be starting chemo next week. Also what do I need to shop for.



    Thanks,

    Gma04

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,359
    edited June 2013

    Neulasta pain - I took Claritin from the day before through a full 10 days after.  It appeared to work for tx#2.  It definitely did not work for tx#1 or tx#3.  LOTS of pain.  I had also switched to getting the Neulasta shot in the belly after #1 because of another recommendation.  Again it makes no sense since it seemed to work once but not the next time.

    Like Lago, I took only Aleve per my MO recommendation since I don't like what narcotics do to my system.  Aleve didn't help that much.  Walking did help so I tried to keep moving, but I for two nights I just lay there and rolled around and moaned.

    But the good news - my WBC counts have always been REALLY good.  So I guess I'll grit my teeth and get on with it.  #4 coming up this week.  I'll take Claritin & have the belly shot.  It will be interesting to see if the pain is only associated with odd numbers.  That makes about as much sense as many other things associated with this crazy BC journey.

  • ProfMagic
    ProfMagic Member Posts: 13
    edited June 2013

    The Claritin didn't seem to help with the bone pain.  I will ask about about Aleve as well.  My MO prescribed Tramadol for the pain; however, I get severe insomnia from it so I only took it once and stopped.  When I had surgery the doctor prescribed me Vicodin, but I've found it makes me nauseous and the anti-nausea meds don't counteract it.  I'm not looking forward to the Neulasta shot on Thursday, but I will deal with it all in stride!  Everyone keep your heads up--we will conquer this beast!!

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited June 2013

    ProfMagin I never took the Vicodin for that reason. I was also on Zyrtec the entire time on chemo (my onc has per patients on it) so I never tired Claritin. Aleve took the edge off but to be honest the worst Nuelasta really was the first. I couldn't even stand up straight my back hurt so much.

  • ChickaD
    ChickaD Member Posts: 971
    edited June 2013

    Love all of you...I don't feel so alone with all your input...THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

    Too funny..I also roll around in bed and moan and sigh a lot...pathetic me...lol

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,359
    edited June 2013

    ChickaD - the funniest part about the rolling & moaning is that I live alone so I get no sympathy.  Sigh.  On the other hand, I'm glad my son isn't here to see it.  It doesn't suit my image of the strong, brave, superwoman.  I wonder if BC will change that too?

  • ChickaD
    ChickaD Member Posts: 971
    edited June 2013

    Gma04...there is a great post about what to shop for regarding chemo....its on the main area and if I did this correct you should find it here....REALLY HELPFUL

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/706846?page=1

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited June 2013

    Shopping for Chemo. Other than the meds I would wait. The only thing that I really needed special is a wig and scarves. Best to try on the wig when your  hair is short. My wig ended up being too big even though they thinned out my hair. Some of the scarves I bought at first were either too slippery or too itchy. I found cotton to be the best.

    Because you don't always know what your SE will be it's hard to purchase the right foods etc. So much of what I bought was a waste. I was told not to use tampons so I went out and bought some pads… for the first time in my life! I  had to ask some woman for help. No one told me those things can fly now (wings). Anyway my last period was 2 weeks before chemo. I went into insta-pause. Never used the Imodium. To date never used the thermometer although I do recommend you have one in the house.

    Best thing someone bought me was this long fleece robe. I still wear it but I had chemo during the winter.

  • ChickaD
    ChickaD Member Posts: 971
    edited June 2013

    Great advice Lago.....I wish I never needed the Imodium...lol

    ps...my very sexy new bald look compliments of "TCH" (The Chemo Head)

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