Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
Comments
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After reading over the post again I remembered this last Herceptin time when they passed the round of tyenol and benedryl I said I didn't want to get sleepy and only took the tyenol. I wonder if that was the connection between not feeling as good this time? Wonder what benedryl has in it outside of drying you up? I sure am not going to pass it next time.
Well off to get the pre-chemo blood work done. No blood, no chemo is their rule. Hope all of you in the grasp of chemo are having not so bad of a day and those in the good window are having a wonderful time. Chat with you all soon...probably after this next round. Not much on wanting to get on the computer until its over.
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Laurie, How did you know to take Claritin? did your doc tell you or do you just take it for allergies anyway? I am willing to give this a try!
Bethany, my port does not itch but it does bother me. When they pump that herceptin in too fast it gets sore and so does the tube going out of it. Most don't do it that way just one nurse. I wonder if you are allergic to latex? I think the rubber part of the port maybe latex. do rubber gloves, support hose or latex band aides bother you? You might not know if you are allergic if you had never used any of these things but I would ask the nurse or doc. Also they may use iodine when they clean it to get ready for the tx and you might be allergic to iodine. Just thinking again!
Carolyn
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Has anyone heard from Shel? I know she was not feeling good from the Herceptin. Shel plaese check in!
Carolyn
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Thank you ladies for advices. I was also hoping I will be lucky not to have much SE, but boy it was pretty bad last night (Day 3). I got sick quickly, had terrible bone and body pain, high fever, and tiredness. I felt like I was having a flu. Emotionally and mentally, it beat me up, too! I woke up this morning feeling much better, but not sure if I can go to work as usual. I feel a little light headed and I am scared I wil get sick there. I wonder these symptoms are actually from Neulasta?
Yuyu
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Hi ladies,
I usually post on Anyone starting TCH in July but I need some advice from some veterans. I just got back from having my cbc and I am SOOOOOO bummed. My platelets are low (87) and they said I might not be able to have my treatment tomorrow. They said it needs to be over 100. It was supposed to be # 4 out of 6 and I was so looking forward to being done, at least with the TC portion on 10/21. Has anyone been delayed due to low platelets? Is it possible for them to go back up in one day? I also started the decadron this morning. Do I continue to take it tonight? I'm anxiously waiting to hear back from the nurse......
Isn't it funny how we actually look forward to having this poison injected into our body just to get it over with????
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Cupcake,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,happy belated birthday girl. That was a nice thing to do with the 50 bucks. Very sweet.
Mobay,,,,,,,,,I too had low platelets once during my treatment,,,,,,,,and I did get the chemo but had to come back the next day for neulasta and then get the shot for low platelets. Dont remember the name at the moment though,,,,,sorry bout that. But had to go back several days afterwards to get follow up labs and the platelets came up.
Good luck to all,,,,,,,,,you are doing a great job.
P:S...............yes once the hair starts coming out,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,it just continues. I had my family shave my head a couple of weeks after the first chemo as it was the one thing I felt somewhat in control of. Was too depressing for me at least to have it come out in handfulls. (Since losing my hair was such a huuuuuuuuuge issue for me anyways.)
You know,,,,,,,,,,,,reading everyones posts here brings me back to those dark days. But for those of us who are at the other end of the tunnel..............hang in there,,,,,,,you will be there soon. There is good things after bc treatment for us all.
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Michele: My platelets were never below 100 on treatment day. On my last treatment day, they were 112. Like you, I was paranoid about missing a treatment, especially my last treatment, due to low counts. I was so happy when they told me that I "passed" and would get treatment, even with 7 readings out of whack. Three weeks after my last treatment my platelets were down to 92. That did not delay my first Herceptin-only treatment.
Good luck tomorrow. Here's wishing you some PLT regneration tonight.
Terri.
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Mobay, my platelets were 72 last time but I was just getting herceptin. they have been down to 79 before and I had my TCH treatment but they gave me a shot for red blood cells. It always comes back up to just above 100. After I had a blood transfusion it came up to 291 so I guess I will probably do that from now on since I have bad reactions to the shots. blood seems to help me the most too. I hope they don't cancel my tx Wed. but they may. I guess we will see. Good luck on finishing your tx on time. I read that milk and cabbage will raise your platelets but I have my doubts on that one. i drink milk anyway. Do you take aspirin or Ibuprofen? If you do don't take that because it does thin your blood. Take Tylenol instead. they give me blood thinners which I think could be part of my problem. I tend to bleed easy anyway and I wondered why they put me on Warafin.
Carolyn
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Well I finally worked up enough nerve to do it. Look at my picture and then I will put on the new me; Opps they deleted the other one. Hopefully it is on the past ones?? If not you will just have to remember how pretty my hair WAS
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Dear Brenda,
Such a sweet smile and I wish I could meet you in person. You look like you would be so nice to meet --- and we know you are such a trooper.
((()))) Bethany
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Brenda - You look beautiful! I wish we all could get together for a night and meet face-to-face. What a sight we'd make!
Jo Anne, I hope tx#4 went well today. And Yuyu - hope the se's are better.
Carolyn - Best wishes for Wednesday! You're almost there, just a few left.
Shel, sounds like the H-only really hit you hard. Hope this is a one-time only reaction. I had #2 H-only on the same day as you, and I really didn't feel any se's at all. I've been lucky with both chemo and Herceptin side effects.
Have a good week, everyone.
Sue
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I decided it was time for a new avatar, since you all are being courageous and going commando. Also, my last photo was taken when I felt really crappy, and I don't want you all to think I'm a little sick-o all the time. I shot myself next to my portrait of Keith Richards, cuz as we all know, ya can't always get what ya want!
Brenda: Ditto on the photo. You DO look sweet. It's amazing. I think many women's faces actually look prettier when they don't have hair.
Sue: Yeah, it clobbered me. I felt fluey Thursday night through Saturday afternoon. My husband is convinced that if I hadn't taken the 10 mile training walk on Friday, I would have been fine. Next time I get the H, I'm just going to take it easy for a couple days and see what happens. I'm stumped on this one.
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Shelby, You just crack me up. So I have this to say:
I went down to the Chelsea drugstore
To get your prescription filled
I was standin' in line with Mr. Jimmy
A-man, did he look pretty illWe decided that we would have a soda
My favorite flavor, cherry red,It took away this sewer breath, and so I got I what I need.
;-}
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You know, I wish Willy Wonka and all his Oompa-Loompas were real, because I'd get them started on the Sewer Mouth Problem. I'd have ol' Willy come up with something delectable that you could chew all day that wouldn't rot yr teeth and wouldn't make ya puke and wouldn't make ya fat. Any fun names out there worthy of Wonka's Chocolate Factory?
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Hi Carolyn,
I found out about claritin somewhere on these boards. I'm not
sure which one. My doctor didn't know about it, but said it would
be safe to try if I wanted and I'm so glad I did.Laurie
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Laurie, I may have to get me some Claritin! I do take the Benadryl because they have that and Tylenol. the only problem is Benadryl makes me have a motor mouth. The first time they gave me 2 and I guess they seen how wound up I was they just give me 1 now. I don't understand that because I take 2 at night with 1 mg of Xanax for my fibro pain and I go to sleep for about 5 hours and then I am awake again but it is too late to take more Benadryl. I have to get up at 4:30 to get my grandson and husband off to work. I was so sleepy this morning I just laid on the couch after they left and napped a little.
Brenda, I like you hair! Or lack of it) I would like to cut the rest of mine off but I keep asking my husband if he thinks I should and he never says yea or nay. I would like to go to the barber shop and have her buzz it. I was thinking the other day I would stop but it was Monday and she is not open then. It is just ragged. I cut it myself when it started coming out and it was such a mess everytime I washed it. hair was all over the bathroom. I have to run to Harrah today anyway so I may just do it! I don't think I would look as good as you girls do though. it doesn't look good now so I guess it would not matter.
I wonder if Willy could make some Kemo Kisses? Guaranteed to sweeten your taste and would calm the tummy. rid you of foul smells too! No calories, no dental decay. when popped in a chemo patients mouth they become whatever flavor that person can tolerate. Like magic it will become all things to all chemo campers.
Carolyn
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Hi all. I am going to have my last of 6 tc's in two weeks, then 12 more Herceptins. Re: driving. I found that for a couple of days after chemo I really am too chemo brained to be driving. I almost had a crash last time-I pulled out of my parrallel parking spot without looking or signaling. Fortunately the guy I almost hit had great reflexes and swerved out of my way. A volunteer from the American CAncer Society told me that all cancer patients are eligible for up to $700 worth of taxi rides that they will pay for. It may only be to treatments and medical appointments-but worth looking into if getting rides is an issue.
I'm glad to know that the flushing is from the steroids. i thought I had spent too long in the sun this time and I know I am very careful about that! good luck to you all with treatments. Mine were not too bad-chemoshmemo.
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Carolyn:
I LOVE Kemo Kisses! Who else has a name for Willy Wonka's treats to combat sewer mouth?
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Hi Everyone,
I finished the TC the end of June and now have a short stylish hair style. When I finally took off my scarf with a few strands, it was great to feel the wind blowing through them. I struggled with fluid retention and loss of tone and strength and I think as the result I hurt my back when exercising. Now although the fluid is gone and I have strengthened my back is a continuing problem...MRI indicated herniated and extended disk and arthritis.
Now I am on herceptin alone and just started radiation. Now recently I have started to have pain under my left (remaining) breast especially when laying down and sometimes when breathing. I have a mugga scan scheduled for next Monday. I am a little concerned that there has been damage to my heart as I have never had a problem with my left side before. I would be interested to know if anyone has had a problem due to herceptin and had stop treatment.
Take care all
Jamie
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Hey,,,,,,,,,does anyone know how to paste a picture on here? I dont mean in our avatar,,,,,,i mean like in our post area?
Ive tried it several times and it just doesnt cut and paste here. Am I a total idiot when it comes to computers or what? lol
Cindy
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I used to tell people I felt like I had been cleaning the Dallas sewers with my tongue...the taste was so bad. I went through a bottle of Biotin mouthwash every chemo cycle (that was what really saved me...)
But IT does end. I looked SO forward to my final TCH... knowing that after my final cycle, things would only improve. And they did.
It's been 18 months since I finished chemo and it's only a fuzzy memory now. I wish fuzzy memories for all of you (*smile*).
Janet
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Hey Cindy,
I've just tried everything including pasting a URL for a photo in one of my Picasa web albums but the picture didn't come up -- only the description. Hope someone knows. I followed the directions in the HELP section but to no avail.
Cheers, B
p.s. Mr. Wonka, I'd like a "Good News Bar," some wax fangs for the decadron days, life savers, no milk duds, or snickers.
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Shel: Love the picture next to Keith. And Bethany - your reply was genius. Thanks for the laugh!
Could Willie cook up some Heavenly Herceptin Hash? You could serve it at the Lifetime movie showing.
Sue
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Hi everybody! Wow, I'm behind on posts again. TX #5 locked and loaded yesterday. Only one more to go!! It's strange, the effects have been hitting me earlier every time. I'm less than 36 hours out from TX and already feeling very tired and achy all over. Yesterday I was my usual vampire pale as all the colour drained out of me and today I'm a lovely shade of pink. Such strange side effects.
I asked my chemo nurse yesterday about the whole 90 minute "loading dose" of Herceptin. She told me that they used to do that in the very beginning, but then it was determined that it was clinically unecessary, particularly if you had already been getting Herceptin with your Taxotere and Carboplatin, so they no longer do it. No reason for any extra dose apparrently so not sure why some get it and some don't (I won't be).
Shelby, I hope you're feeling much better from your Herceptin side effects!
Brenda, you look absolutely adorable. Thanks for posting the pic!
I hope you are all well this evening and managing your SE's as well as possible. You are always in my thoughts!
Aly.
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Aly, Wow only one to go!! I know what you mean about thinking of friends on this site.
I start to tell people I see during the day, "Oh, guess what, Aly, started her treatment today" or "Shelby's in NYC visiting her older kids"....and then I realize no one really knows you guys or has heard of Willy Wonka candy for Camp Chemo, but I do feel close to you guys and want you to know you are all in my thoughts and I hope for the best for all -- s/e wise and long term of course.
Jamie, Your description of two months growth to have stylish hair makes me happy. Crossing my fingers that by Christmas, I might be able to rip off the scarf or wig and have a dark head. I'd settle for 1/4" if it's thick enough to cover my scalp.
Have a very upset tummy tonight, Day #8. Feel so bloated and then had to run to the john twice after no action all day....such extremes. Think I'm make work a short day tomorrow - I'm so tired.
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Bethany:
God bless you and your tummy. I feel the same way about you all. I find myself praying for some and thinking fondly of others. And then at the end of the day when no one else really understands, I get on here and talk to my friends. What we need to do is web-conference!
Aly:
You are just about ready to get your chemo completion badge, girl! What a champ! And what you said about a 90 minute "loading dose" of the big H...I wonder if they gave me MORE H than I'd had before, since it took so long. Hmmm. I'll just count on having the flu every 3 weeks. Then if I don't, I'll be pleasantly surprised.
Well, my husband's off on a biz trip tomorrow, so I'll be driving, cooking, doing laundry, etc. for the next three days without help. Yikes! I am now a month away from my last chemo, and there is fuzz on my head. It's clear that it's growing faster in the back and sides than on the front and top. And it's very fine and transparently white. Weird...I think I'll still be able to do the Avatar thing for Halloween. Still haven't gotten rid of the edema.
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Hi all - I had tx 4 out of 4 yesterday. I should be cheering, but I think I'll hold off till after the SEs. I was much more tired than usual yesterday and am constipated and retaining about 5 pounds of addtional water. Hopefully these SEs will go away soon, as I have my radiation simulation on Friday. I will inject myself with Neulasta in a few hours, so there will likely be aches and pains in my immediate future.
I'm now getting anxious to nail down my schedule for the 20 rad treatments and the year of Herceptin, so I can move into a more controlled/controlling lifestyle and work.
By the way, my favorite wig frizzed up in the front when I forgot I had it on and opened the oven door to remove a casserole. Fortunately I have a couple of more and can still wear the favorite at home, etc. But maybe you could learn from my mistake!
Take care all and I wish you no side effects!
Gina
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I did send an email when I read this just to tell my story. I am not one for hosting much of anything. Hec it takes enough to get me to even attend stuff like that. I do think it very cool that there is a documentary about it and I watched the trailer and thought it way cool.
LOL i frizzed up the front of my ONLY wig when opening the oven. I was able to still wear it though b becuase it was hardly noticable. UGH.....
Another thing were you ladies that are suffering with flu-like stuff from herceptin advised to take tylenol before??? I was and did the first time as it was a 90 minute infusion, and then for the next few. I don't do it now with the herceptin only though. I have no noticeable side effects luckily.
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You will look great with a short hair do Bethany and you'll have it back before you know it. Hope you feel better today.
I went to the emergency room last night for the chest pains and a CT scan indicated pleural effusion which is fluid between the chest wall and lungs (thank God it wasn't the heart!). According to herception info there is less than a 1% incidence of this. Will talk to my doctor next week about whether the risks of continuing taking herceptin out weigh the benefits. Have already had mastectomy, TC chemo, 7 months of Herceptin, and just began radiation.
Take it easy everyone
Jamie
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Didn't get my 4th tx because platelets were down to 55 so they are going to try next week with Cytoxon. He said I am not doing good on carplatin. I hope I do better but I did get my Herceptin and I do okay with that. I was afraid I would have to miss one since they were going down. Now I am really going to get behind. I am supposed to go to work Dec 15 and I hope I make with Christmas and all. I guess won't be much from Santa if I don't!
Carolyn
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