Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
Comments
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Cindy and Terri, I take Neurontin as well, although I was taking it for chronic pain before I was diagnosed with cancer. Didn't know it helped with the hot flashes! I was on Lexapro once for depression but it made me gain weight so fast that I was literally waking up a pound heavier every morning and I wasn't stuffing my face either. I gained I think 15 pounds before I finally said this is ridiculous and made my psych take me off of it.
Aly.
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Boy, the date of October 18 sounds really good to me -- that will be DAY 5 of my last treatment -- really the end of the end of the end of the chemo phase. Hallelujah.
I'd forgotten that I'd mentioned The Man with Two Brains -- pretty redonkerous movie, eh?
I don't know if I told you guys that my surgeon's name is Dr. Falkenberry but I got to calling him Dr. Foolin' Boobie to my onc. b/c she thought that was kinda fun. Last time I went in to see her for TX, I decided to provide some graphic entertainment. My lumpectomy scar looks like this: ( o next to the nipple.and so, with some eyeliner I drew some blue eyes with eyelashes to match my smurfy colored skin: ( o : Does anyone else still have the blue dye showing?
She teased me and asked if she could take a "polaroid" for Dr. Foolin' Boobie. (Who still uses/has a polaroid camera? Funny, I just realized how kinda old school it was for her to say that.)
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Boy, the date of October 18 sounds really good to me -- that will be DAY 5 of my last treatment really the end of the end of the end of the chemo phase. Hallelujah. Laughing
I'd forgotten that I'd mentioned The Man with Two Brains -- pretty redonkerous movie, eh?
I don't know if I told you guys that my surgeon's name is Dr. Falkenberry but I got to calling him Dr. Foolin' Boobie to my onc. b/c she thought that was kinda fun.
Last time I went in to see her for TX, I decided to provide some graphic entertainment. My lumpectomy scar looks like this: ( o next to the nipple.
and so, with some eyeliner I drew some blue eyes with eyelashes to match my smurfy colored skin: ( o :
Does anyone else still have the blue dye showing?
She teased me and asked if she could take a "polaroid" for Dr. Foolin' Boobie. (Who still uses/has a polaroid camera? Funny, I just realized how kinda old school it was for her to say that.)0 -
Sorry, I must not know about something. Blue dye?
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Bethany: I had blue dye for a long time as well. I am trying to remember when I saw my surgeon and she commented on it. I guess it was my Nov. appt., three months+ after surgery. She said sometimes it can take up to six months to disappear. Going through chemo at the time, a blue tinged breast was the least of my worries. I don't really remember when the dye finally disappeared but it is gone now.
Aly: The blue dye is used during the sentinel node biopsy. My surgeon used both the radioactive whatever injection and the blue dye injection to trace to the sentinel node. I hear the blue dye injection is pretty painful so I was glad I was under by the time she did that.
Terri.
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Cindy, they give Neurontin for nerve pain for arthritis and fibromyalgia. My son also took it for his nerve pain when he had back surgery. It is true they say it helps you sleep. It did nothing for me. they kept increasing it and the SE got bad. I never heard of using it for hot flashes but hopefully it will be better for that than for nerve pain. I have a friend that takes it for her neck problems and she thinks it has quit working but she is still taking it. I think she is afraid the neck will get worse or maybe it is helping her hot flashes?
The only reason I can figure out that they are pushing Herceptin is because some are not wanting to take it because of heart problems. It was a concern for me since I have a lot of heart problems in my family but then I figured the TC was not completely safe. neither is Rad. On the other had cancer is not safe at all. I wanted to watch that cancer show last night but my dh did not and I went to sleep anyway. I have that tick bite on my hip and it is getting better but I took some Benadryal to help it along. It does help me sleep too! In fact that is what I have always taken at night because of the pain from fibromyalgia along with Xanax. We can not find anything else that works as good with few SE. I am still in pain at night but it is better. I am hoping my shoulders get better after the chemo. They really bother me.
.I tried to watch the trailer on that movie but my computer would not let me. I need to go to a different server I guess. I have a lot blocked on this computer since I use it for work.
Ya'll, have a good weekend!
Carolyn
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I'm finally back to the land of the living. Herceptin alone turned out to not be a piece of crumb cake for me--felt like I got whacked in the head with a cast iron frying pan the day of treatment and all the next day. Slept about 9 hours last night, and I finally feel somewhat normal...although I still have some of the tell-tale fluey sinus pressure. But that might be some seasonal allergic stuff, too.
Yeah, on the topic of blue dye--it's a trip. They didn't tell me after the surgery that it would make me PEE BLUE! I don't have mine anymore, since they whacked off the whole thing.
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I must not have had the blue dye then, just the radioactive tracer. I never peed blue or had my skin turn blue or anything that I remember.
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I just finished a year.. I little tired but no real problems.. You never know where the side effects are coming from with chemo.radiation and drugs.. I noticed my face if puffy a little and a tad water retention.. But that could be from menopause too.. I am 44 and. What I have noticed in the last two years with my ovaries out as well...
tired
face puffy in am
hands stiff in am\
ankles hurt in the morning ( armidex)
WEIGHT HARDER TO COME OFF
foggy soemtimes (MENOPAUSE)
Thats it sister good luck
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I am done with everything.. and just finished a year of herceptin treatments.. its seems so long ago but I do rememember it well.. I bought a wig and hated it so I wore those cotton lovies with diff scarfs and sometimes justs went bald.. I never was bothered my the hair loss and felt so free.. its when others look at you like oH SO SAD FOR YOU that is bothered me... bald is beautiful girls and since I am at the other end I can help pull you through.. get massages, peds, makeup sessions.. pamper yourself..
Trish
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Thanks for the exercise advise everyone....I hate feeling tired! Barb
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I've had Herceptin only for 8 months now and not really experiencing side effects. I go back to work right after a treatment. No problems.
I hope the program "Living Proof" shows women who have been on it for more than a year, since I've been told I'll need to be on it for life. I'd like to know if there are long term side effects.
I just had surgery Aug 25th. Starting the reconstruction process. I chose implants, but first I have tissue expanders. Because I had radiation that included the chest area 8 years ago for Hodgkins, they're not sure how much the skin will streatch. I most likley will not be the size D I once was, oh well. That's life.
Good luck to everyone,
Fawn
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Happy Saturday,
Has anyone had problems with itching at the port site?
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Hi Gals,
Just wanted to mention that last night I discovered the first of the "FALLOUT" - my hair that is!!!!
I knew it would happen (I was told by my onc) - BUT when it really happens, it's a whole different story!!!! Very upsetting to me! Quite a few people that I know had said it usually happens around the 14th to 16th day after the first TCH tx - sure enough, yesterday was Day 15!!!!! I know the Herceptin has nothing to do with that, but I just mentioned the tx as such - 'cause I get the Herceptin once a week, and also on the day of the TC - This coming Wednesday, 9/10 will be tx 2 for me - so, I guess now that my hair has started, it won't be long before I'll have none. Thank God, I had purchased a wig and have been wearing it to get used to it - so in that respect, I'm ready - but psychologically - nope! But, like anything else, I'm sure I'll get used to it - have no choice in the matter, do I?? LOL - But, I keep telling myself this is the least of my worries - just have to always remember about that light at the end of the tunnel !!!!!
Did anyone watch the program last night - StandUp2Cancer?? I thought it was good - some stories very upsetting - but just goes to show - as bad as we may have it, there's always some poor soul worse off than we are!!!!!
There's another one on tonight on CBS - can't recall the name of it - but it is sponsored by the Susan D. Komen organization.
Well, girls looks like everyone is just moving right along - hercpetin and all!!!! Good to hear - take care everyone and have a good weekend!
Maggie
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Hi everyone,
I go for tx#4 on Monday. I am beginning to feel very tired. Under what conditions do they give transfusions? How anemic do you have to be? Do they give it to you the same time as your infusion? Is there anything else can can be done for anemia?
Does it just get worse as the treatments progress?
Thanks,
Jo Anne
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Terri,
My rad onc suggested I not do the water classes because I am being marked in pen and cant have the tatoos. I am allergic to cobalt which is usually in tatoo dye so rather than take a chance, I wont be tatooed. I printed out some arm and shoulder exercises for me and my little 1 lb weights so I will work with that and the treadmill I lived on all through chemo!
Sometimes herceptin only makes me sleepy (probbaly the benadryl) and I have a constant runny nose. Last week I came home and slept 2 hours which is not typical- I usually dont feel overly tired after treatment but that may a new se.
Anyone on rads- do they cause a lot of fatigue?
Kristy
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Bethany: I don't have itching at the port site, but that's ONLY because I don't have a port! Since my immunological system is a veritable Petri dish for weird skin reactions and allergic dermatitis of all types, I'm surprised that I don't have itching at the port site that doesn't exist! For example, I had such a bad case of dermatitis from the things they put on your legs after surgery to prevent blood clots, that the itching far surpassed any pain I had as a result of the mastectomy!
Speaking of immunological responses, I don't mean to scare you all, but it is possible to have your butt completely kicked by Herceptin only. I am in bed this afternoon. I fought back on Thursday (day of treatment)...went grocery shopping and to a party even though I felt weak. Friday, I made myself go to yoga and took a 10 mile training walk for the 3-Day, even though I felt like crap. This morning, I went to my daughter's first soccer game of the season. We were going to go to a multi-cultural worship service tonight, but I hit the wall. My sinuses have been pounding, despite my best efforts to manage it (and that's one of my first signs of a flu) and I've been weak and nauseated. I called the chemo nurse, and she assured me that this type of thing limits itself to the first 24 hours. Uhhh. I don't think so. My husband says it's because of the long walk wearing me down. I surely hope so, because I'm not putting up with this every three weeks until June. This has been almost as bad as chemo. I know it won't be like this for all of you, but I just wanted you to know that it's possible. I just drew the bad card, like Aly did with the Neulasta (which never bothered me in the least!/
Jo Anne: Unless they decide that you're anemic enough for a shot, there isn't anything you can do for the anemia. Just ride the wave. Mine actually got better between tx3 and 4. I don't think it necessarily gets worse for everyone. But I agree: the fatigue sucks. It sucks so bad that I would put my freaking fist through the bloody wall. But I don't even have enough strength right now. I know.
Maggie: There is no way you can "be ready" for the hair loss. I would love to compile an article about the psychological aspects of it and submit it to magazines, because it's fascinating. Here we are: fighting for our very lives, some of us fighting to stay up with our careers and creative endeavors, many of us raising children and trying to be good wives. And here we are, devastated over our hair. I think I have cried more tears over my hair (which was never anything to write home about) than I did my breast (which nursed five children for a total of 14 years!). It's amazing. About day 14 after my first treatment, my head was itching like there were lice crawling all over it. I sat at my desk trying to write, and ample handfuls of my newly short hair were coming out. I knew what it felt like to be a shedding dog. Or a molting bird. My husband came home that afternoon and got out the buzzer that he's used on our three sons in the summertime and shaved my head without an attachment. Then HE took one of my Xanax. All I could do is giggle. At first. But the post-traumatic stress has since taken a toll.
If anyone would like to post their hair stories, maybe I could compile them. In the meantime, I think some of the newbies might benefit. It's kind of like young, pregnant women hanging around with more experienced moms to find out "what it's like". It won't prepare them all the way, but it helps a little, I think. That way, we could all rest assured that we were helping someone else.
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Hey Cindy! I see you have hair! I haven't been on here in so long, and last time I was on you were still wondering when your hair was going to come back nice and thick. It looks good in your avatar! Mine has come in thick, soft and curly. The curly part is the kicker--my hair is just like my mom's hair used to be. I wonder if it will ever go back to just a little wave.Welcome to all the new women here who are starting or in the middle of tx. I haven't read all the posts, but I know you have a good support team here for the TCH crowd. I hated it, but survived it, and I'm glad I did it so I can feel like I kicked those cancer cells to the curb.Best to all,Carolina0
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Carolina,,,,,,,soooooooo good to hear from one of the oldies here. I dont mean old in age,,,,,Iol,,,,,,I mean from when we started this journey. Thats cool about your hair Thick and curly huh? Sheesh,,,,,,,I wished mine came in thick. Ive always had fine and thin hair and it hasnt changed one bit. Although,,,,,,,sometimes if I dont blow dry my hair right away,,,,,,its a tad wavy. But I think I had some of that before treatment too. Have you always had thick hair? You lucky duck. Still kinda thin on the top though,,,,,,,,so hope that improves. I do feel lil hairs coming in. Takes forever huh? I got done with chemo in Aug 07,,,,,,,,,,,,,and I thought that I would have hair by Dec. 07. Boy did I fool myself. Ive been going wigless for over a month now,,,,,,,,and the breeze on my head feels wonderful. Its the small things in life that delight me. lol How long is your hair now? Seems like it took forever to grow,,,,,,but someone told me that herceptin slows the hair growth,,,,,,,,,,,and I am beginning to think thats true. Cause at the end of Jan 08,,,,,my hair was only like 1/4 inch long. And now its probably 3 1/2 inches long. Still kinda short for me,,,,,,,,but its hair. lol
Again,,,,,,,,soooooooooo good to hear from you. How are things going with you? Good I hope.
Have a good weekend ladies,
Cindy
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Hi Cindy...yes, my hair was always thick, but never curly. I finished chemo 11/29/07, and I took my wig off (to go out in public) on Easter Day 2008 and never looked back. My hair was REALLY short, but I was so over that wig. My hair now is about 2 1/2 to 3 inches, but it's close to my head, so it looks short. I'm just so happy that it's not gray. I'm 49, and I did not have a gray hair on my head before chemo, and I hope the chemo has delayed the graying process for me, lol.Things are pretty good. I had my ovaries out in February and started on Arimidex. Not liking the SEs at all. I can deal with the hot flashes, but I have swollen, stiff joints, especially my fingers. I'm taking Lexapro to stave off depression and Ativan to sleep at night (down to 0.5mg and hoping to eventually stop and sleep on my own).My dd is 3 1/2 y.o. now and seems to have weathered the bc storm very well. She's a smart, happy, athletic, funny little girl who makes it all worth it. Even on the days when she is a pill herself, lol. I am so lucky to have her.Hope all is well with you. Best, Carolina0
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Shel, I wonder if you have a sinus infection? My brother got one after he was into his treatment and it was worse than the treatment. If you don't feel well soon you need to see a doctor about it instead of just calling. As for the herceptin I do sleep the day I get it. I am tired from being up there and also the meds they give me.
Aly, I had a blue spot on my boob after surgery and the surgeon said I would pee blue which I did for a few days and it took a while for the spot to go away. the onc thought it should have been gone by the time he seen me but it wasn't. My friend had the blue dye injected while she was awake and it hurt her so bad. I am not sure why they didn't use something to keep her out of pain. When I had the biop. I didn't have anything to numb it but it did not hurt but mine was close to the top of the skin. My friends is deep in her breasts.
Maggie, my hair has not fell out completely yet. It seems not to be coming out anymore. I cut it short because it was a mess to deal with when I washed it. It started coming out after my 2nd TCH tx. I am having my 4th on Wed. It may come out some more then. I can deal with that but being so sick after the TCH tx are the hardest for me. the Herceptin tx are not bad except I am a little tired for a couple of days but I can eat a lot!
jap, I am not sure how anemic you need to get to to get a transfusion but my onc gave me Aranesp shots first. On 2 occasions but they made my arms break out in red spots. I still have them but just on my arms. he said he had never seen this before and then the next time he decided to give me whole blood. It takes about 4 hours to get and it was the day after my treatment. I was weak after that and was glad I had someone take me. I am afraid they will have me have another one after this next treatment. I hope not but then my WBC has been a bigger problem and the Neulasta just killed me. My friend takes one every time she takes a treatment and she said it does not bother her. I don't know why some have these SE and some don't.
It is good to hear from those who have gone through this and feel better now. I just don't feel like I can do all 6 but I am sure I can. I am not looking forward to radiation either!
Carolyn
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Hi,
Mydoctor will not give shots to raise red blood cells for stage 1 and 2 because the growth factor may stimulate the cancer she claims. When I had trouble with Neulasta she cut the dose in half -- it still works and reduces the SEs alot.
The transfusion sounds difficult. Has anyone else had one?
Thanks for all the very helpful information.
Jo Anne
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Hello everyone,
Just thought I would check in here. I now have 2 of my treatments under my belt and I must say they were more than I bargained for (even as an oncology nurse!). The malaise and GI distress were more severe than I anticipated, even with an arsenal of antiemetics, laxatives and antacids. I have found myself incapacitated for a good 6 days after each treatment. And my taste sensation is still off 10 days after #2! I totally underestimated how unpleasant that is. I honestly don't know how I will get through 6 of these. Maybe my onc will tell me 4 is O.K. I need a light at the end of this very dark tunnel! Rose
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Hi, everyone. I just had my first chemo (TCH) two days ago. I have been blessed, I have not experienced major side effects yet. Just dry mouth and ocasional cramping and diahrea which meds seem to be doing good job of controlling. I am not that fatigued, at least not yet.
I'm curious, though, about how chemo works??? I mean, I am assuming these drugs stay in your body for a long time to work, and everytime you get a next round of chemo, it will continue to build up in your system? If I am not experiecing much side effects, then could it be that it is not working for me? May be 2 or 3 chemos, then side effects will get worse?
And, I know ladies here have been taking about it already, but I am going to be a pain and will ask: How soon in average did you start to see bunch of hair faling out with this combo of chemo...? 1st week? 2 weeks? 3 weeks? I just don't wanna any surprises...
Yuyu
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Hi Yuyu, and welcome to our little club! The chemo attacks cells in our body that replicate quickly the way cancer cells do. We lose our hair because hair cells replicate quickly, too. Most of us start to experience thinning around day 14-16. Hopefully you have thought about getting a wig. If not, there is still time if you want one. Everyone tolerates this differently as you will find when reading our entries. I have had 2 treatments so far and find that days 2-6 after my TCH are the toughest in terms of fatigue and GI distress. I, personally have had the most problems with foul taste, nausea and constipation. The side effects are not necessarily cumulative, however, I think the fatigue can progress, particularly if your blood counts remain depressed. My counts were very low 2 weeks post-chemo but came back well before #2. Some of us receive neulasta injections if the counts don't come up on their own. I hope that was helpful. Good luck! Rose
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Hey Yuyu. If you are not experiencing many side effects it doesn't mean the chemo is not working, it just means you are lucky.
) And that, I understand is the most common question folks ask because there's that old wive's tale out there that if you don't get really, really sick with chemo, it must not be working. I'm here to say that that is absolutely not true!Aly
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YuYu I hope you are one of the lucky ones, but my SE started on day 3 so maybe its right around the corner but hope not. My hair began to fall out on day 14
Maggie I THOUGHT hair loss was the least of my fears, I was more worried about the nausea, but you know when it began I cried as I reached up and pulled out some hair. I never connected it until the next time and I cried again and then I realized I was more bothered than I thought.
Shel this last herceptin did make me awful tired, but I think it was because of the heavy weekend with the race cars and I just overdid. I will see next time if it kicks my behind.
Well tomorrow began the decracon and they added amend this time for the nausea so hopefully it will help. On Tuesday I go in for the poison treatment. Then the next day I am planning on going in for more IV and the neueslasta shot. This will be #3 and half way through for me. I ask my onc why didn't I get the 4 treatment round instead of the 6 she gave me and she said it was because the cancer had metastatic to my Lymph Nodes and they wanted to be more aggressive. I also found out that after the chemo I will go in for the surgery. She wanted to reduce the lump before surgery so that is why she did the chemo first.. Not looking forward to this next week beings I got so sick last time, but I just have to remember when I am in it that it won't last forever and I will feel better in a few days.
My birthday was Saturday and Friday when the telethon was on for stand up 2 cancer I ask my husband that was watchnt it with me, as he was taking me out to dinner the next night for my birthday, if instead we could donate to the telethon the $50.00 he would have spent on me at the dinnner and he said yes. Best birthday dinner I ever had!
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Brenda, that was nice. We did not watch that and I don't remember why. We have Relay for Life where I work and I always donate to that. I have had a lot of friends that died with cancer but most did not catch it in time. Oh! Happy belated birthday!
YuYu, I also hope you are a lucky one but my SE don't start for 3 to 4 days after the chemo. the Herceptin does not bother me fortunately but when I get the all day treatment it does bother me. I am going to be ready this time I hope. I have all my food for the BRAT diet and then I will end up with the other. I told my husband that is the way I am. Anyway I do know you need to drink plenty of water to get this washed out of your system. My chemo book they gave me says 2 to 3 quarts. this is hard for me but I fill a big cup with water and ice and it is a quart. I sip on it all day long and try to get at least 2 down but then it is hard for me to eat when I drink so much water. I bought me some root beer to change up a little. Root Beer has no caffeine but does have sugar so I will have to watch how much I drink. I also eat Popsicles which is not a lot of liquid but when my taste is so bad I eat those instead of coffee in the morning. something just to get going. Also be sure to keep the bowels going because that also gets the chemical out of your system. I always have diarrhea so I don't have to worry about that. My hair has not fell all the way out yet and I have completed the 3rd TCH. I think mine started after the second TCH which was 4 weeks but just a little and mostly when I shampooed my hair it would come out. I had longer hair so I just cut my hair short but I would still shed. when I cooked I had to put a scarf over my hair so I would not have hair in our food. As far as pain I did not have pain from the chemo but from the shots they gave me for building up the white blood cells. Hopefully you will not need those. I am old plus I have arthritis and fibromyalgia. Some do not have to have any for a long time and I have talked to some that never had one. Keep moving like walking or some kind of exercise to keep your strength up and it will help you with fatigue. I know some here run. I do good to get my house cleaned and laundry done but I was having fatigue before this.
Rak, you are like me. I want him to tell me they will only do 4 but I am not holding my breath. We can get through this though. We will lean on all these women here. they are so very supportive. It is different being on the other side of this. I hope this helps you when you go back to work. sometimes I get a nurse that is so rude to me and I wonder how they would react to taking these treatments. last time I went to get my herceptin they were not talking to each other or any of the patients. I asked my husband was it me or did it seem that way to him and he said they were being rude. I also asked my friend who goes to the same place as I do and sure enough she said she has had that experience several times with them. I know they have their problems but you know I do too when I am working and we are still expected to smile and be as nice as we can even if we don't feel like it or maybe someone is being rude to us we do not treat them bad. I know it must be hard treating very sick people and I know that they lose some. I wondered if that was part of the problem but there is no need in this one being rough and rude with me.I think she needs a different job. sorry I didn't mean to sound like I am taking it out on you. Please enlighten me as what maybe their problem. could be
Jap, I am going to ask if they can give me half of the Neulasta if I have to take it again. I had such a severe reaction to it with muscles spasms and bone pain that I just don't think I can do that again. I am still having a lot of bone pain but I am not sure if it is arthritis or the Neulasta. Sad when you have so many problems you can't tell what is causing it.
Good luck to all that are having the TCH this week. Mine is on Wed. and I am really dreading it. I think I get my blood pressure up just worrying about it.
Carolyn
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Hi Ladies,
Just a quick note to those of you having pain with neulasta. My first treatment
I had bad pain with the shot. My second treatment I took claritin the day of my shot
and two days after and no pain at all. I didn't even need tylenol. I don't know if
if it works for everyone, but it sure worked for me. Two tx down, four to go!We can do this!
Laurie
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Bethany I also have some major itching at my port site. It was installed 8/25 and used for my 1st tx on 8/27. By 9/2 I had developed a rash around it and on my shoulders (probably because I stopped the claritin 24 pills)> i really don't want to put cream on it becasue of the pimply itchy rash. So I am justwaiting until my next tx on 9/17 to see if it happen again or what. It feels very strange to have a port in your body. I don't even like to touch it. Just wierd
Maggie Iam just one week behind you. I will have my 2nd Tx on 9/17. I haven't had any hair fall out justyet, in fact it is wierd because If anything I am having less hair come out in the shower than usual. I have long, very thick, curly hair. I did purchase a wig last week and have prepared my boys that my hair may fall out...so time will tell. Its will be interesting to say the least.
Good luck everyone.
Julie
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