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Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

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Comments

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited September 2013

    chickad - yay!

  • bren58
    bren58 Member Posts: 688
    edited September 2013

    Nicky, that sounds like a great program. I hope it works for you.

    I started a "Strength after Breast Cancer" program, which is designed to help women regain their strength after BC and also decrease the risk of LE. Well after 4 sessions, they told me I should not continue because my pain and swelling is not under control. So now I am off to see a sports medicine/pain specialist doctor next week who is very well versed in dealing with BC patients and LE patients. I have not been dx'd with LE yet and I do hope and pray that it is still just post surgical swelling.

    This go round with BC is a lot more challenging than the first time!

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

    (((((Bren))))) Hope it is just swelling too.

    Jaris yipee!

    ChickaD I am so glad your getting your chirpy back!



    Much love to all.

  • mcgis
    mcgis Member Posts: 74
    edited September 2013

    I had my last chemo on Tuesday September 10 Laughing. When is it OK to travel. I'm not talking about getting on a germ filled plane but driving down to San Diego and staying a couple nights at the Legoland Hotel with my daughter.  I'm planning on taking clorox wipes!!! It will be 4 weeks after my chemo.

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited September 2013

    mcgis - have you had a recent CBC?  Your white count (WBC) will dictate when you are safe, but I never stayed away from crowds at any point, and I know a few who went on vacation (planes, hotels, restaurants) during chemo.

  • mcgis
    mcgis Member Posts: 74
    edited September 2013

    Special K, I had it done today (no results yet) but perhaps I should have it done again closer to that time for those numbers. Thanks.

  • mcgis
    mcgis Member Posts: 74
    edited September 2013

    I have my first Radiology consult next week. I'll find out if I'll be getting radiation or not. My plastic surgeon wants to do the boob switch before radiation. Is that normal or have you found it depends on your Dr.? I've heard that the bad thing about doing the surgery first is it can make the new girls hard. And the bad thing about doing the surgery after, is having to wait months.

  • Viji
    Viji Member Posts: 89
    edited September 2013

    Thank you Moonflwr912!

    Viji

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

    Hi ML40! I think you got lost a couple pages back. I went back to see a post and realized no one met you. Sorry about that, we are usually more on the spot. You are welcome here. Please repost your question so you can get some answers. But welcome!

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,359
    edited September 2013

    mcgis:  I had a hospital nurse tell me yesterday that Clorox Wipes don't have any real clorox in them.  I don't have any wipes to check the label, but this was for hospital use re: their infection control department since clorox is apparently the only thing that kills c-diff.  They're having to pay for a product that you can only get as a hospital.

    I'm headed to my 2nd radiation consult tomorrow.  I already have implants from 2011 but the issue is - can 3rd surgery or rads do a thorough enough job if they stay in.  PS & RO say they should be able to stay.  MO says should go.  BS will have to make the final decision when she gets in & sees the extent of mets.  PS will not put a new implant in if one comes out before rads since he feels the risk of problems with radiated skin is just too great.  RO says complications could be capsular contracture & tightness or this side pulls up if the implants stays in.  Wish I had an answer for you - or for me.  Surgery to be confirmed by Friday and will probably be next week.

  • Shasha10
    Shasha10 Member Posts: 212
    edited September 2013

    Mcgis I went down to Florida to visit my mom about 2 weeks after chemo ended. I wore a face mask on the plane because its the same air circulating and someone in my chemo group recommend doing that. I explained to the crew before I boarded, the reason so there was no weirdness. Good luck!

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

    Shasha I bet the flight attendants were jealous. My daughter was one and she said she wished they could wear them so much is on the planes.

    Minus and mcgis. Hugs to both of you.. whatever you decide will be right for you. Just go with your feelings. Much love.

  • Shasha10
    Shasha10 Member Posts: 212
    edited September 2013

    Moonflwr not sure about thatWink

    Keep your fingers crossed. another Echo Monday. Hoping to resume Herceptin.

    Good luck everyone

  • Heidi9256
    Heidi9256 Member Posts: 13
    edited September 2013

    mcgis:  I have tissue expanders and my RO wanted to make sure that they were not the permanent implants because he said that some research showed that the radiation could POSSIBLY stick around in the permanent implants.  I know some PS are doing the exchange before radiation so I'm not sure how much of a possiblity this really is.  I had IMRT radiation because it is supposed to protect the pocket that the implant sits in and reduces the chance of contracture.  My insurance denied the IMRT at first but I filed an appeal and they then quickly approved it.  They always deny it at first hoping you will go away and when they figure out you aren't going away they will usually approve it.  My skin took a beating as I had 28 bolus (keeps the radiation near the skin) treatments but my PS was pretty happy with the results.  The irradiated breast shrank a little but it is still very soft & round.  He was able to put a little extra saline in the right breast to make it even with the left and it looks pretty good.  He will do the exchange surgery the third week of October.  He said you have a window of 4 - 6 weeks after radiation to do the exhange to get the best results.  I hate the expanders and cannot wait to get them out but the best part of keeping the expanders until after radiation is that it's easier to fix the potential shrinkage.

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570
    edited September 2013

    Well I am off to my 2nd treatment today.  came home last night after spending 10 days with my folks and the change of scenery was wonderful.  Went shopping and did some retail therapy and that lifted my spirits more than I thought it would.  My lunch is packed, my nook is charged...I cut off my nails and put the free nail polish on it because I heard this may prevent nails from lifting on another thread from SpecialK.  I wondered why they gave the nail polish?  I bought some Miralax and immudium because that was my worse problem last time, I pray I can take better care of myself this time around.

    I do keep you all in my thoughts and prayers and read post but it becomes overwhelming to post responces...please know i am praying for you all as i read your posts.  God bless and may you all have a wonderful day.

  • ChickaD
    ChickaD Member Posts: 971
    edited September 2013

    Good luck Miss Love!

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited September 2013

    chickad - how are you feeling?

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570
    edited September 2013

    Thank you ChichaD and SpecialK....I am almost done with my Taxotere and soon to have Carboplatin.  I am glad to hear no herceptin today...Yah!  It sure is alot of waiting around.  They ask you to come 15 minutes early to have you wait over half an hour to see DR.  I guess everything looked good because I had treatment today.  I warmed up a little more to my MO...at least I got him to smile a couple of times and see his real self.  I am changing my nausea medication to see if I have better luck with something else.  I am happy I found a couple of comperters here to pass the time since they blocked Hulu because they did not approve of the content.  Hope you are are having a wonderful day...so far so good.  It is so busy here...so sad to see so many fighting cancer.

    Drat the nurse just figured out I needed Hercptin today so that adds another hour.

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited September 2013

    lovewins - why would you not be getting Herceptin?  I got it with each infusion.

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570
    edited September 2013

    The nurse screwed up she must have thought I was coming every week or something cuz at first she said I didn't need it and then came back and said I did.  It is just not as much as the first dose I had first treatment.

    Specialk I just wanted to say how awesome you are I was reading about how you took all that food to your daughters school for her and her friends.  You sure keep busy!!!

    Well it is count dn now less than one hour and I am done. 6 hours!  Wondering if it isn't better to see DR on different day?  Oh well this is why I am off work...to take care of myself.  I am having same craving as last time chicken with broccoli with white rice. 

    Good luck to all of you and I pray you all have no SE and those not going through chemo I pray for continued good health.

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

    Lovewins, it does make for a long day doesn't it? But Id rather get it done in one day. Just what I preferred. My worst days were days 5-10 with the big D. I was able to drink lots iw fluids unti the D hit. Then it was so hard to drink even though I needed to replenish fluids. Take your meds BEFORE you feel sick don't wait. I hope this tx has less SEs for you.

    ChicaD are you finally doing a bit better?

    Heidi I am hoping you get your squishies on schedule. That would be awesome! Every success gives me hope, and I didnt even get rads. LOL

    Much love to all

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570
    edited September 2013

    Thanks Moonflower...I know you are right to do it all in one day.  Especially because I live in a fairly large city and the hospital is downtown and that is a trip in it's self.

  • Shasha10
    Shasha10 Member Posts: 212
    edited September 2013

    Love wins when I was getting tch during the chemo taxotere I would ice my fingers and toes. It seemed to help. No se so far. Not sure where I read about it. Good luck

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570
    edited September 2013

    thank you Shasha I haven't done that yet but thinking about bringing frozrn peas as SpecialK said she did.  Seems like that would be less messy.  You know there was over 20 people there today and no one iced, I asked my MO about it and he said I could but nothing will help prevent neropathy...

  • ChickaD
    ChickaD Member Posts: 971
    edited September 2013

    Hi everyone......feeling much better since transfusion.....thank God!

    My 1st Herceptin only tomorrow...lets hope for NO side effects.

    Leaving on cruise this Sunday for my CruiseOne National Conference on Norwegian's new ship...Breakaway...can't wait.....   www.TravelByDana.com

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570
    edited September 2013

    ChickaD...glad you are feeling better.  I hope you had the most wonderful time on your cruise!

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited September 2013

    lovewins - thanks, you are sweet! I love to cook and those girls all miss home! Here is some info about icing - I didn't do it to prevent neuropathy, I did it to keep my fingernails and toenails from lifting and coming off.  I took a cocktail of supplements to ward off neuropathy - 1500mcg of Acetyl L-Carnitine, a cap of B6, and 30g of L-Glutamine powder - daily. 

    http://breastcancer.about.com/od/lifeduringtreatment/tp/fingernail_disorders.htm

    http://www.skinandallergynews.com/index.php?id=1059&type=98&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=3478&cHash=da03e20e36

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570
    edited September 2013

    Oh...i misunderstood!  I need to read up on the neropathy, thanks.

  • mckatherine
    mckatherine Member Posts: 180
    edited September 2013

    Shasha - did you get your results?



    ChickaD - hope the cruise is fabulous! :)

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

    ChickaD here's to no SEs from Herceptin. I just got real tired the day after H. Otherwise until it got to my heart half way through the year no problems. Hope your cruise is absolutely fabulous! Much love to all.

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