Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
Comments
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Ricky they knocked me out with a local when I had my port removed this October. I remember they told me to eat lightly because the local… It was about noon when I left. We marched straight to the Italian restaurant around the corner. I had spinach lasagna. So much for eating light. It was tasty
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Good morning Ladies,
I had very few TCH side effects for the first 3 rounds. Last week, at 8 days after Round 4, my hands started itching badly. They alternate between burning and itching and then feeling completely normal. My finger nails also started to hurt and develop red lines across them the same day. I assumed this was some mild neuropathy.
This morning I woke up itching all over. My back itches, my neck itches, my arms itch. There are some small bumps on my back. I went to the beach yesterday for the first time since starting chemo and we ate dinner out. I'm wondering if the body itching is related to the chemo or is an allergic reaction to the beach or possibly something I ate...
Did anyone else have anything like this? Is there anything I should take? Thanks!
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Yep, I still have my port until at least November (herceptin continuing), but my surgeon said it is just a quick procedure with local anesthetic, and they go in through the same scar.
Sounds easy but I was not sure- thanks grandma V for weighing in!!!
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Wow Lago your really scareing me:-( Of course my hubby says have trust in your doctor he is the profesionl and if both him and the radiation doctor agree it must be for the best, but after I see your post it really worries me now.......I dont want to have to go through this TE crap again, or a big repair surgery. UGH.....
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Wow Lago your really scarring me:-( Of course my hubby says have trust in your doctor he is the professional and if both him and the radiation doctor agree it must be for the best, but after I see your post it really worries me now.......I dont want to have to go through this TE crap again, or a big repair surgery. UGH.....
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Tangles don't be scared and assume it will happen to you. Just don't rush your PS. S/he if you truly trust him/her wants a success too. Your PS should have let you know there can be challenges with radiation but one of my friends had no issues at all… but did take it very slowly and didn't make her too big because he didn't want to challenge the radiated skin too much. Even I had a revision because one of my boobie prizes was too low. I did it at the same time as my nipple recon so I didn't have to go under twice.
monkeymom call your onc. Itchy like that is an allergic reaction. I know my onc had me on Zyretc the entire time on chemo. You may need an antihistamine but you need to check with your onc about what is the right one with the meds you are on and your medical conditions.
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monkeymom, it could be a reaction to the sun at the beach. I was told no sun until chemo over and even on herceptin to take plenty of precautions. Definitely call your onco.
edited to add: http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/ask_expert/2005_06/question_02
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What? No sun? Why did I need to get cancer in the summer....again. It just adds a whole new level of suck.
Marsha0 -
For those of you having herceptin problems, I hope they figure it out. I think that I have heard those who were able to slow it down had better luck. I was 30 min, I just got very tired. And, I had to quit herceptin because my heart Ejection Fraction fell below 50. Was actually 48%. So I had to quit after my third herceptin only tx.
Also, if you are having pain, headache (a wellknown herceptin se) , or fever. CALL YOUR MO! Don't wait. Much love.0 -
Thanks lago. I'm kind of hoping they knock me out, but I think I heard he just deadens and then removes. THAT"S the part that has me scared. Remember though, my pain threshold is nil. I know I'll be fine, but................
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Thank you so much!
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Marsha, I live in VA Beach and my MO told me I could get out in the sun, but to use sunscreen. He also told me I could play golf! LOL I was an avid golfer, but I think my PS would have something to say about that. I have tissue expanders and will have a fill Fri. I know it seems all the things I use to do and enjoy have to be put on hold. I keep telling myself it's only for a short time. This will pass!!!! It's hard when you have been so active, going to the beach, enjoying outdoor sports ect.
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It is so hard to tell if this severe muscle pain is from the Herceptin. I have a hard time thinking it is because I have been getting it for 5 months now just not solo and I have never had pains like this. Maybe its just that I was so sick with Chemo all I did was lay around and now I am moving and my muscles are responding? I dont know but I feel like I have been run over by a train I am so sore. Walking like a 90 year old grandma. Surgery tomorrow so not looking forward to adding more pain:-(
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Are you having your exchange surgery tomorrow? If so, good luck and one more thing out of the way !!!!!!!
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Sharon, Thanks for the info. VA Beach is not very far from me. In fact was most bummed thinking about the trips to VA Beach I was hoping to do this summer!
For those talking about their ports. When I had my first port it always was painful, and this one is a "low profile" port but is still painful. I begged my surgeon to put it in the same place because I keiloid and I didn't want a matching scar. It's on the left, new cancer side, which everyone thinks is strange. Not sure why it wasn't strange before. I was like, you are doing a double mastectomy, why does it matter which side the cancer is on? There is a lot of scar tissue in this area. The nurses told me I had to keep it in for a year, and I emailed the surgeon and told him it hurt and I wanted it out ASAP and he did it for me. If he didn't I would have gotten someone else to do it. Turns out I did need it again ... 7 years later. Glad I didn't have it for all that time. I have a new bright red puffy keiloid. Can't wait to get that revised.
Marsha
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Yes having surgery tomorrow. I did ask my MO today if this bad muscle and joint pain is from the Herceptin and she said highly unlikely......She said I have been getting it since Feb so probably not. She also said MOST women have no or very FEW issue with herceptin. She thinks it is the light workouts I have been doing and the fact I have not taken pain pills in 2 weeks and I was on lots of pain pills for the fills. Guess will wait and see in a few Weeks what happens with the next Herceptin!
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tangles - I did not get bone/joint/muscle pain from TCH, but my first H only I was in agony. I literally could not sleep for 72 hours because I could not lay in one position for more than 10-15 minutes - and that was the first time they ran the H in less than 90 minutes. I went back to 90 minutes and didn't have the problem again. My deductive reasoning tells me it was the Herceptin.
This is from Genentech's site, check the last listed SE:
What Are the Most Common Side Effects Associated with Herceptin?
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Infusion reactions
- Diarrhea
- Infections
- Increased cough
- Headache
- Feeling tired
- Shortness of breath
- Rash
- Low white and red blood cell counts
- Muscle pain
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specialK did you get the pain right away? I dont think I really felt Horrible until 3 days later. I will ask more in a few weeks when I go again and also ask if the dose was different and ask if they run it slower if it would make a difference. I really just talked to my MO nurse today when I was at the hospital, and she asked my MO so I didnt directly talk to her.....It has been one week today and I am still feeling horrible:-(
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Hello Ladies!
This past round (2nd of 6) was OK. Nothing tastes good. I tend to do better with savory vs. sweets. I do eat and have an appetite but I can't find anything to drink that "tastes good". What are you all drinking? I've tried water, flavored waters, pop, juices... The only thing I can kind of tolerate is V8 but that makes my dry mouth hurt more. Ugh. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!!!
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mcgis-I went through the same thing after #'s 1 & 2. After #1, all I could drink was choco milk, and it had to be dutch choco, not Neslte's Quik or anything like that. After #2, all I could drink was Mr. Pibb soda. After that, I was pretty much o.k., but those first two.................WOW!!
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tangles My muscles in my legs were very stiff and sore frome TCH. about 5 weeks PFC I started to feel better and was power walking again. Still a bit stiff. Once I stopped Herceptin I was even less stiff although still has some but that was from the Anastrozole. Now I just have some in the morning from Anastrozole but I exercise daily.
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I am still SO sore, especially when I get up in the AM or stand up after sitting for awhile. I dont think I am old enough yet for this to happen naturally so it is probably somehow chemo-related. It does not seem to be worse after herceptin though, just fairly constant.
I got a pedometer and am working back up to that magical 10,000 steps a day that is "average" or "recommended" but I havent been able to make it yet- too sore and my right ankle swells up.
One week at a time right?
Tangles GOOD LUCK with your surgery!!! I'll be sending good vibes for you tomorrow.0 -
Mcgis - I recently discovered coconut water. Loving the dark chocolate one - maybe it will be an alternative for you.
Marsha - I'm living under the umbrella at our neighborhood pool this summer while my boys swim the summer away. Today it was stinking hot with that wig on!0 -
Anyone else have any issue with swelling hands, legs and feet? This seems to be my new se. Have treatment today so will discuss with onc. Can this be the herceptin affecting my heart?
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My feet and ankles swelled up terribly, now much better but the right one still swells if I stand up too long or exercise too much.
I just had a MUGA and my heart is fine- my onc said this happens a lot with chemo, the vessels get leaky. Do you get the MUGA scans?
Try to elevate your feet, even when sleeping, and raise arms when you can. That helped me.
It is my most lingering SE, for sure.
Good luck!0 -
okie, the steroids can make you swell as well as the chemo drugs. My weight was up and down the whole time I was on chemo due to the water retention in various parts of my body. My left ankle would still swell even after I was finished with chemo. It took about 6-8 weeks PFC for that to settle down. Not sure why it was only the left ankle, just another wierd oddity.
On another topic, my "taxo-tears" had finally gone away about 8 weeks PFC, but now I find that they are back in the mornings and also the evenings. Not during the day. Anyone else have this? I thought I was done with that annoying SE!
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Bren, my nose drips only in the morning and evening. But not the tears. LOL
Sciencegal, during my chemo rehab PT, my PT was thrilled with my 2000 steps a day. In fact she yelled st me if i went higher because she said I was doing too much and not giving body time go heal. Do, don't go for 10,000 right away! LOL0 -
Moonflwr, my nose drips all day long, but I guess I'll have that until I am finished with Herceptin. I just thought I was done with the eye tearing
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tangles - I noticed it about 48 hours later - unfortunately we were visiting my BIL/SIL for my MIL's 80th b-day party and staying in a hotel with a very firm bed so I was miserable, but it did go away within a week.
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Thank you for putting the number of steps into perspective Moonflower! I want to get on with my life but the body clearly is not ready for a lot of exercise yet. Your post helps, thanks. One step at a time...
Bren you couldnt have new allergies could you? our immmune systems get kind of messed up. For instance I became allergic to my pillows and had to get hypoallergenic ones and wash pillowcases in no dye or perfume detergent.
The taxo-tears did suck! I also had a lot of vision problems and temporarily ramped up my vitamin A intake, mostly through carrots and pumpkin (pie haha).
I hope everyone feels better soon.0
