Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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Gmao4 I had a bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders. I was told by my PS that I could wait until I am finished with chemo to have my fills. I was also told that I would not have my exchange surgery for the implants until I was finished with rads. These TE can be very uncomfortable and especially for a while after the fills. I did not want to have to deal with chemo and that at the same time. I have an appt. in about 2 wks for a fill, but need to decide within a wk. to do it or not. I went shopping today at Whole Foods and picks up a few things people have recommended. This site has been great!!!!!
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sharon1953 My PS is doing the exchange and then the Rads one month afterwards. I was concerned as I had read others doing it AFTER rads. I talked with him about this and this is what he told me. Sometimes Rads shrink the skin sometimes it does not. There is NO WAY to know if it will. He also said sometimes the Rads take well over a year to have the final results so to be 100% safe you would have to wait one year after Rads. He also told me some of the biggest hospitals in New York have been doing it this way for years. I told him I wanted him to call my radiation Dr. to make sure she feels the same way ( I am having radiation at a different place then my PS ) He called and she is on the same page. Said yes first exchange then Rads. I feel good they are on the same page. My PS went to Yale and Harvard and teaches PS at the university so I have confidence in him. He simply said if your skin shrinks and it effects the implant we will go in and fix it end of story. Better then waiting a year for a what if.......
As for the bone pain I did some research on that. I wondered why the clariton didn't help me with #1 #2 and #3 but the last three shots I had no pain. Well I read online that the shot expands the bone marrow and pushes on the bones when it makes more cells. After the bones have expanded, after a few shots the bones are already expanded and no more pain. I might not have this wording 100% correct but you can google it and read upon it. Makes since to me....
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Gmao4,
I am going to ask about using ice for my nails. What kind of meds will I be getting to help with the SE. One important thing I want to ask about if the meds I am on now will interact with the chemo. Some people say we should not take Vit C. Also, I take cymbalta and it may interact with the Herceptin. I was told by my MO I would be there 4 to 5 hrs.
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You are such a cutie. I wish I looked that good with no hair. Bad shaped head and I looked sickly like Gollum.
No Imodium… I got the big C instead.
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ChickaD I thought the pillow behind you was your hat! LOL I was giving you Funky Style points! LOL, you are cute even without the hat! LOL
Tangled, you have it right, but, every time you get the shot, it pushes more white cell production.so its always worse with the first and then usually not so bad, but as you all know everyone is different. As I, unlike Lago got the big D and never used a stool softener and had to get diarrhea meds! LOL.
I want to tell you that are starting chemo this week that you can and will be ok. You might take a few "scenic detours", (as I call those inevitable moments when something goes wrong) but it will be.over before you know it. It can hit you hard, BUT it can also pass with very few SEs. That is what I hope for all of you. Much love.0 -
Hello all. I've not been on in awhile due to some completely aggravating computer issues. Due to the computer itself AND the provider, I lost all the way around. Glad to be back. I see I have a lot of catching up to do.
I have two Herceptins left, but had had another interesting issue come up. A few weeks back, I seemed to have a bit of vertigo. I mentioned it when I went for my last treatment and spoke with the Nurse Practitioner, who I'm not too thrilled about right now. I've had vertigo before, but it was 8 years ago or so, so I'm familiar with all the pat answers. The NP however, took it a bit further and threw out brain cancer....on a Friday afternoon at 2:30........and told me to have a good weekend. I was mortified. I spent the weekend burying myself. I also called my regular provider, who I just love, and she gave me some steroids for inner ear problems. That seemed to do the trick. I called my onc on the following Monday, who told me I am such a low risk that she gave me the "atomic bomb" of chemo to keep it that way and that she doesn't think I have anything at all to worry about.
I still have a funny feeling in my head, though. Not quite vertigo, maybe a little fuzzy? Just a little off, but not enough to affect anything I'm doing. My worst problem is getting those two words out of my head, and I think that's making me feel worse and anxious. Has anyone ever had this type of feeling after chemo?
I hope everyone is doing well. I will be spending the day playing catch up to see what's going on with everyone. I missed being here !!
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rickysgirl When you first described what was going on my initial reaction was inner ear problem not mets to the brain. Why, 1. because it's very rare to get mets when you are being treated. 2. Because if you get mets usually the brain is the last place it goes. While herceptin may not cross the brain blood barrier I was told (but haven't confirmed) that Carboplatin does.
I know two people (one family member and one friend) that both have vertigo problems. Neither has ever had cancer. If your onc was worried she would be doing a scan. I totally agree with your onc.
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THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are my favorite go to girl on this kind of stuff. In my mind, I feel I am fine, but I am one of those that, after going through all of this, any ache or pain I get makes me think Uh-OH, I've gort "it" again. I know I'm under some stress that is the same old, same old, so I think I may take a note from my therapists book, and go get a massage. Maybe that will help. Ya think?
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Most of my other friends call me "the voice of reason." Powerwalk! Great stress reliever. I feel grumpy the days I don't do it.
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I started a walking regimen. I lost 20 lbs so far since chemo. My only problem is the road in front of my house is very treacherous. I started getting shin splints. The boyfriend and I are working on a new schedule that will put me on firmer ground. My road is gravel, rock,sand, holes, snakes, uphill, downhill. I've slipped a few times on the loose gravel and sunk into the sand. It rains ALOT here, so that causes problems. I do feel good after. Lots of energy. Wish I had a swimming pool to go to. May have to join the "club".
You are a voice of reason. You may not realize it, but your advice has brought me down off a few cliffs since this all started. I am grateful.
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ricky's girl - Carboplatin can damage the inner ear - that is why some of us get tinnitus. It is quite possible that the Carbo has caused some damage that is affecting your vestibular apparatus (which is also in the inner ear) - making you feel dizzy. Glad it seems to be improving for you!
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I did not know that. I'm going to put it on my list of questions for my next visit. There is never an end to what I can learn on here. I thank you. It does seem to make sense. Every once in awhile, my ears kind of "zone out" and I hear like I'm in a tunnel or something. Other times, there is a little twinge of a pain, not bad, but it goes away immediately. I also was told, years ago, by the radiologist that I worked for, that I have some minimal changes in the c-spine, and he said that could cause some of this. But that was years ago. I don't have neck pain as a rule.
Hope you are doing well, and thank you for the info. Always appreciated.
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In terms of Aleve for bone pain, I know they want us to use Tylenol and not Advil and other nasaids.... but, I did want to share this very interesting thing I came across in the nutrition workbook that my nutritionist gave me: "if you need to take aspirin, or any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, please take lecithin granules 1 rounded teaspoon with each dose of NSAID. NSAIDs including Aspirin, Motrin, Advil and similar medications work by compining with phospholipids to create anti-inflammatory prostaglandins that reduce pain and inflammation. Aspirin, Motrin, Advil and other NSAIDS strip phosophlipids from the gut wall. Lecithin naturally contains these phospholipids. When lecithin is combined with aspirin or other non-steriodals, not only is there no damage to the intestine, according to a study at the University of Texas, the medication is 80% more effective in reducing pain and inflammation." who knew?
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Sharon I never iced my nails and they look perfect the chemo did not effect them at all. I also used Nioxin the entire chemo and never went fully bald. Was it the Nioxin? One will never know but its nice that I have "some" hair. It may be SUPER thin and fuzzy but not bald. I can see scalp, so I still have to wear a cap or wig. As for my brows I never lost them either. I used Brian Josephs lash and brow gel. Got it on ebay. Was it that? Not sure, but glad I tried it because I never lost them. Keep in mind everyone is different though.......
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Question about nails.... did anyone continue to do gel or acrylic nails during their TCH ??????
My motto today after crawling out of my TCH funk.... feeling better today... NO bone pain... THANK GOD...
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I think I do have "cliff talker offer" on my resume now.
chickaD I would check with your onc but I wouldn't recommend it. Sounds like a place to harbor bacteria.
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I wouldnt get the nails as they tell you to keep them very short as the nail beds get weak and can lift off. My MO said some ladies lose and entire nail if they are long and catch them on something. OUCH!!!
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Thanks to all regarding the Claritin advice. I will pass it on.
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Hi everyone - just had my neulasta shot today and I'm so scared about the bone pain everyone has reported. My onc told me to take prescription naproxen (double strength aleve I think) and then Claritin to deal with the SEs, but he kind of prepared me that it still might hurt. It's so scary knowing that something is coming, but you don't know when or how bad it will be. I know I am lucky in many ways that my cancer isn't worse but it just feels like every day is going to bring a new horror with it. Does everyone feel that chemo has a cumulative effect- gets worse with each treatment- or was it worse in the beginning? What day did the SEs peak for everyone? Had my first chemo Friday am so today is Day 4, I think.
Thanks so much for your responses- it helps so much to talk to people who have been through this.
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Hi Miss Maureen....my worst days were 3-5 with the bone pain.....just nasty....but i just had round 2 and it wasnt as bad as round 1.....so it does change but that bone pain really keeps me down...ugh
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Thanks for your reply, ChickaD. Did you get neulasta the day after chemo? Trying to figure out the days. So, day 3-5 would be day 2-4 after neulasta? Sooo glad to hear that round 2 wasn't as bad as round 1! I know I can't expect that result myself, but good to know it is at least possible.
I am so freaked out about everything.
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Yep got Neulasta day after chemo...first time was so bad for me they changed my shots to Nuepogen x3 days...i still keep taking the claritan but nothing worked on my pain, not even morphine
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maureenb the bone pain wasn't the worst. I managed. To be honest chemo wasn't near as bad as I thought. The flu was much worse for me. I think towards the end I was just annoyed having to deal with not feeling better. The worst thing for me had to be shingles that I got 2 months PFC, lasted 5 weeks and delayed my exchanged surgery. Only a small handful of us get shingles. I was one of the special ones.
But I was working out through my 4th chemo. I stopped because I wasn't going to the gym (worried about germs) and it was too cold. My 4th chemo was in December. Big mistake though. I felt much better when I worked out.
Also after the first neulasta the bone pain was not that terrible and only lasted 1-2 days. It does sound horrible when you read it on the boards but most of us don't have it that bad. Just a few of us are unlucky.
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Thank you Iago! So good to hear that the Neulasta SEs might not be too bad... I'm scared to even say it- thinking that I will wake up screaming sometime in the middle of the night. But hopefully not. I need to stay positive- that's just not always in my nature.
And working out would be so, so great! I can't imagine it right now, but if I could even get a few workouts in on the weeks I feel ok, I would be so happy. Before Cancer I had started swimming with a beginners Masters group and would love to do that 2x/week. Plus I always loved my yoga class. Hope I can start that back up again.
Hope everyone has a happy, peaceful, good night's sleep!
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I had no bone pain from neulasta.
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I did not have problems with bone pain from Neulasta either - I did take Claritin though. I did not have bone pain from Taxotere either. I never took anything stronger than Tylenol at any point during chemo.
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I will be doing TCH starting June 10.
I did ACT in 2007 and did Neulasta shots. I never had any bone pain. I had the shots delivered to my house and administered them myself to save me a trip to the hospital. I'm trying to get that arranged again but I have different insurance.
I am curious if anyone has any research that supports that light through fingernails is what causes issues. I don't usually paint my nails and never had any issues with them before. I'm thinking that nail polish might cause more issues rather than less.
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maureenb be careful not to let these boards scare you. Most people post on the boards to discuss issues they are having. If you are not having problems you tend not to post about it unless someone asks. I know one of my friends stays away from the boards for that reason. When she doesn't she reads all this negative stuff and gets scared… and most of the time non of that stuff even happened to her.
marsha1970 From what I have read it seems if you want to prevent nail lifting the best thing to do is to ice them to slow the blood flow so very little chemo gets to your fingers. I did wear clear, then black polish on my fingers. Never had an infection but did have the nail issues on both fingers and toes. My toes were always in shoes and or socks because it was winter so they were kept away from light. My toes were worse than my fingers in many ways. Lost a few nails on my toes didn't on my fingers.
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Thanks everyone for the responses. So far, so good. Today I feel ok, actually got up and made pancakes for my kids although I did have to sit on a stool in front of the stove.
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To all you lovely ladies going thru TCH and Neulasta...I have to agree with Lago...you can and will get thru this b4 you kno it.
I am seeing claritin and aleve etc for the bone pain. My bone pain was pretty bad...but I was reminded to take my antihystimine (sp), I used generic benedryl and ibupropin the day of, the day after, and one more day after that, so 3 days in a row. Made all the diff in the world for me. Just wondering if your onco's are saying 3 days or less/more? Oh, and when I cud...I did 'walk' around inside my house 5 mins at least 3x a day (I have a small house)...moving DOES help with the pain.
Nails....I did not ice them as I hadn't found Lago yet (heehee)...but I did keep coat of clear (OPI Nail Envy) on them and kept them very short. They lifted about 3/4 of the way to the cuticle, but they did grow out eventually. My toenails I also kept polished (color), they barely lifted at all. I live where the sun shines 98% of the time, so don't kno if light had anything to do with it...interesting theory tho.
Flav - Thanks for the info on the nsaids. I printed it as I worry about too much of it affecting my stomach...will b getting some lecithin soon.
For big D - think I've mentioned this b4, but liquid immodium is only thing that worked for me.
Neuropathy - got it....in my feet, did take L-Carnatine(sp) but when I went to Cancer Treatment Center in AZ, they said to get off of it. Mind you...I was finished with TCH by the time I went to CTCA (2nd opinion on BiLat) and the damage to feet already done, so I did stop taking it. I can still walk...they are just numb and ache sometimes.
Don't be afraid of the se's...as many have mentioned...everyone reacts differently. I lost my hair, my brows, my eyelashes. But my hair has grown out, my brows a bit but I have to use a pencil to fill in, my lashes...NOT...missed them so now I have semi-permanent ones but on.
Keep fighting ladies....sending love, prayers, and positive healing energy to all,
Sue
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