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Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

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Comments

  • mckatherine
    mckatherine Member Posts: 180
    edited July 2013

    Dance & Lago - did it eventually go away??? I thought it was getting better today but it hit hard right as my sweet neighbor was bringing over dinner for my guys. Just about tossed my cookies right in front of her. :(

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

    McKatherine I was on Protonix/Nexium all through chemo then had to had Carafate at the last 2 tx. I gradually weaned myself off the Nexium. You have to do it slowly or you'll end up with worse heartburn. I did have to use the Carafate again after exchange surgery. General anesthesia messes with my tummy too. The doctors say it only effects you for a week but it seems to take about a month for me to make it better. Remember your body has been through a lot. It even takes your hair 12-18 months to get its normal texture back. I doubt it will take that long though to get your digestive system back to what it was.

    Granted I don't eat chocolate before I go to bed, ever. Tongue Out

  • dancetrancer
    dancetrancer Member Posts: 2,461
    edited July 2013

    Yes, it went away, but not until a month or two after my last chemo.  During that time I gradually weaned down to just 1 Nexium a day.  And then, miracle of all miracles, I got off the Nexium completely.  I had GERD prior to chemo and had been on a proton pump inhibitor for 7 years.  I had tried so hard to get off of it...except I couldn't give up coffee.  Well, I was so sick with reflux on chemo I finally couldn't take it anymore and gave up coffee.  I also added probiotics to see if that would help.  Those two things seem to be the magic trick for me to keep it away.  So hey...there's a silver lining to it all...I figured out what I needed to do to get off Nexium permanently.  That's nothing short of a miracle, b/c I tried unsucessfully for years to get off of it.  I guess my symptoms just never were severe enough to make me give up the black gold until chemo.  lol  I'm now addicted to green tea...a much healthier addiction!

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

    Yup I do probiotics too. Never drank coffee but I would have at least 1 Dr. Pepper every morning since 1983. Gave up soda. Really helps. No more gerd issues.

  • mckatherine
    mckatherine Member Posts: 180
    edited July 2013

    Thanks. No caffeine for me, and I try to take a probiotic every day. Right now I just don't have enough med slots - antibiotic, ppi, vitamins?, Tylenol - guess I need to add it all back in slowly and see if I can make it work. :)

  • ChickaD
    ChickaD Member Posts: 971
    edited July 2013

    Hi my friends...just checking in..this chemo #3 is totally kicking my butt...Neulasta bone pain is unbearable this time...ill be back when i crawl out of this hole....xoxo

  • bren58
    bren58 Member Posts: 688
    edited July 2013

    ChickaD, I am so sorry. I know this is not fun. I remember someone from my December chemo group saying; the only way Out of the chemo valley is Through the chemo valley. Sad, but true.

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

    ChickaD I hate hearing this is kicking your butt.

  • dancetrancer
    dancetrancer Member Posts: 2,461
    edited July 2013

    So sorry ChickaD.  Hope you feel better very soon!

  • tangles
    tangles Member Posts: 211
    edited July 2013

    ChickaD I feel your pain. This Chemo was REALLY hard on me too. I just didn't understand why some people had an easy time on it but I didn't. Some on this same CHemo were working! There was NO WAY I could have worked. I am 6 weeks PFC and just now feeling aboput 50-75% energy back, although I had surgery last week which set me back a little. Just know its not forever!! I had an apt yesterday with my PS and while walking in the hospital there was a very young mom with her daughter about 8 yrs old bald head and feeding tube. She looked at me and said I see you don't like wigs either. I said nope Im a hat person. Done with Chemo hoping for hair soon. She looked at me and said her daughter has a year of Chemo to go. She had a ten hour surgery and feeding tube. The mom said I hope I never get cancer as I am NOT putting myself through this hell. I felt very lucky to have only had 18 weeks and not a YEAR of chemo!! Keep your chin up!! I never had any bone ain after the 3rd treatment so here's to hoping that same thing for you

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

    Chuckadee and tangles, hugs to you. Maybe this can help you.

    One of my favorite quotes, "When you are going through hell--- KEEP GOING!" Winston Churchhill. Don't quit now. Much love.

  • ChickaD
    ChickaD Member Posts: 971
    edited July 2013

    Thanks my friends for the encouragement...slowly crawling out of hell....truly had thoughts today that I could not do another chemo ever....cant wait to reach the sunny side of the street....ugh lots of love to all...and Moon...that saying is on my fridge:)

  • mckatherine
    mckatherine Member Posts: 180
    edited July 2013

    ChickaD - while my fatigue seemed to get worse with each round, the body aches and bone pain were better for rounds 4-6. Praying that's the case for you.



    Hugs!!!

  • ChickaD
    ChickaD Member Posts: 971
    edited July 2013

    Thanks Miss McK....me too..hoping for better

  • ChickaD
    ChickaD Member Posts: 971
    edited July 2013

    Side effect question. ?..any of you have eye twitching with TCH? Its driving me crazy and wanted to know anything that helps stop it....its just below one eye but constant now.

  • Rhonda2
    Rhonda2 Member Posts: 99
    edited July 2013

    Hi ChickaD,



    Yes, I had twitching several times throughout chemo along with watering eyes. Very annoying, but it does get better once chemo is over. I am two months PFC and no more twitching and very little watering. Hang in there.

  • bren58
    bren58 Member Posts: 688
    edited July 2013

    ChickaD, I had eye twitching too. It was never constant but it was definitely annoying. I also had and still occasionally get, random other muscle twitches, mostly in my face and arms.

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

    Yup I had the twitching (taxotwitch) too. Was really annoying when both eyes twitched and they were out of sync. Has the watery eyes (taxotears) started yet. Just a little bit of wind and I would have tears running down my cheeks. Couldn't play video games at my last 2tx because my eyes would water up every time I looked at the screen.

  • ChickaD
    ChickaD Member Posts: 971
    edited July 2013

    Ok...at least I'm not too crazy then....slight watering, but not bad!

  • monkeymom
    monkeymom Member Posts: 27
    edited July 2013

    My eyes have been twitching since treatment #2. It's annoying. I've also noticed other random twitches all over my body. My kids think it's funny when I'm looking at them and my eye is twitching:)

  • Adavisart
    Adavisart Member Posts: 26
    edited July 2013

    Had the watering eyes too!! now that I am doing herceptin only I have developed an eye twitch in my left eye. The day after the infusion I had the big D and headaches on and off all day. Also I have developed finger tip neuropathy. I thought Herceptin was supposed to be a breeze!! BOO!!

    I realized that my next infusion is scheduled for the day before my tissue expander exchange. Am going to call the doc tomorrow and see if I need to change the infusion date or if it is okay to have surgery the next day.



    Chickadee I am sorry you are having bone pain. i had some achey bones after taking the steroids that continued for about five days post chemo. It was never worse than leg pain from periods/ cramps. But I am thinking I must have a high tolerance for pain because I broke my foot last week and walked and worked all week before finally going to get an xray. Now I have to go to an orthopedist tomorrow. Praying I do not need surgery!! I. have a lovely boot now!!



    Darn chemo fatigue made me into a clutz!!

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

    Ada, so sorry about your foot. I think chemo brain really affects coordination too. My PS said herceptin wasn't an issue. But when the TE had to come out, and I had to be hospitalized, the hospital treated it as a chemo with all precautions. LOL

  • bren58
    bren58 Member Posts: 688
    edited July 2013

    Adavisart, so sorry about your Foot! Darn chemo-clutz! I had Herceptin the day before my ALND surgery, BS said it was not a problem.

  • Adavisart
    Adavisart Member Posts: 26
    edited July 2013

    Moonflwr and Bren thanks!

  • ChickaD
    ChickaD Member Posts: 971
    edited July 2013

    Oh geez a broken foot.....not what you needed in the mix.....heal quickly Adavisart

    Thanks all on the twitching info!

  • ProfMagic
    ProfMagic Member Posts: 13
    edited July 2013

    ChickaD hang in there! I have #3 on Thursday and I've heard it's the worse so I'm not looking forward to it.

  • dventi
    dventi Member Posts: 100
    edited July 2013

    Completed Herceptin in June and last week had port removed... Mammo/ultrasound looked good!

    For those ladies who have completed tx, is it standard protocol to conduct a blood test specifically for breast tumor markers in addition to imaging?  Would love to hear feedback from you as to whether your Onc performed this test.  I just read about it...

    During every tx, my MO would perform blood tests... but I never questioned what he was looking for.

    Thank you so much!

  • AmyIsStrong
    AmyIsStrong Member Posts: 426
    edited July 2013

    Dventi - my onc said the 'tumor marker' test was 'not ready for prime time' - he said it was not reliable and had too many false positives. So I never had it.  I think they DID use it when someone had metastases, where they could measure the up and down movement in the number to gauge the effectiveness of treatment. But in your or my case, he said no.  

    I'm sure others will weigh in with their experiences and knowledge - this is just mine.

    But MOST IMPORTANTLY - CONGRATULATIONS on finishing H and getting that port OUT! Doesn't it feel great?

  • dventi
    dventi Member Posts: 100
    edited July 2013

    AmylsStrong...so nice to hear from you... I remember last year you were the first to respond to my question for advice on how to keep the bc dx private at my office... and now you were the first person to respond to me at the completion of the bc tx.   Talk about synchronicity!!

    Thanks for your input on the tumor marker test-- makes sense to me...Will ask my MO his opinion...

    Yes it does feel great to have the port out... Now I can wear my tank tops (now that it is 90 degrees here in NY)  without something over them!

    How are you feeling since your operation?  and how is your new grandchild of yours (Hope I got it right... think I saw a post that you were going to be a Grandma)

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

    Congrats Dventi! Happy for you!

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