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Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

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Comments

  • ChickaD
    ChickaD Member Posts: 971
    edited October 2013


    Miss Moon....thanks for the bang tip...I'm going to check it out as I am not a wig girl

  • flowergirl1
    flowergirl1 Member Posts: 36
    edited October 2013


    I am feeling a little achy tonight. I probably overdid it today. I plan to rest more tomorrow. Lovewins- I have been having heartburn too...I think it is the Decadron. I have been taking the Zantac and Tums too and that helps. This morning my face was flushed red as a beet for a couple of hours. I asked about it when I went for the Neulasta shot and they said it was the Decadron and it was normal. I am a planner so I have lots of scarves, a wig and a couple of baseball caps all ready to go when the time comes. That is the part I dread the most....

  • ChickaD
    ChickaD Member Posts: 971
    edited October 2013


    Hi Miss Flowers.....my ugh point was losing my long eyelashes....my hair didnt bother me too much but cried about my eyelashes...no hair is really a time saver.....lol

  • flowergirl1
    flowergirl1 Member Posts: 36
    edited October 2013


    Lol...That is true ChickaD. My friend told me to look at it like this....no having to shave legs for a while. :) I told her there is always something positive if you just look for it.

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


    I know I never realized that ALL hair goes until I had tx. Um the nether hair kinda goes all at once. Someone on the boards called it the exploding bunny syndrome....as in they woke up one morning with an exploded bunny in their undies... LOL

  • ChickaD
    ChickaD Member Posts: 971
    edited October 2013


    LOL Miss Moon...its like being 10 years old again

  • flowergirl1
    flowergirl1 Member Posts: 36
    edited October 2013


    :-)

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


    Chicka D - also look in the same TLC catalog that Moon recommended for a "halo". It's sort of like a circle of hair that peeks out from the caps instead of just the bangs.


    Lovewins - I love Buffs. That's about all I wear when I'm out. Academy had such great choices - first spring & then fall. Too bad I don't sew anymore.


    Moon - Bunny? Hmmm. Hope you have a better night tonight.

  • bren58
    bren58 Member Posts: 688
    edited October 2013


    Moon, funny. I never heard it described as the exploded bunny before :) That made me smile this morning.


    I kept my lashes and brows all thru tx, then they all fell out after. Now a lot of my upper lashes are growing in again but are growing straight down instead of out like they are suppose to. Anyone have any ideas about how what to do with these errant lashes? I tried plucking them out in hopes the next batch would come in properly, but the new ones are growing straight down too! I did tried an eyelash curler, but either I am too clumsy or something because that isn't working either.

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570
    edited October 2013


    thank you moonflower...I am going to check that out!!

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


    Bren, my eyelashes came in that way too. I plucked them if they were bad for three days. Otherwise they got longer and didnt bother me. Its always something small that gets to us. Sigh.....

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570
    edited October 2013


    Gosh Bren and moonflower...the eyelash thing sounds so annoying! I don't know if I would have the guts to pluck them myself...yikes!

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


    love, once again it depends on the SEs you get. Yours might just curl up just right. My eyebrows never came in heavy. I just have to pluck the ones that come down real low on my brow-like almost on the freakin eyelid! LOL

  • bren58
    bren58 Member Posts: 688
    edited October 2013


    Moon, you are so right. It is the small things that seem to get to me more than the big things. Like this one: I started using a topical compounded pain cream for my continuing post op pain. After 4 days it caused a rash under my arm and now I am worried about cellulitis! Does this stuff ever end???

  • flowergirl1
    flowergirl1 Member Posts: 36
    edited October 2013


    Lots of leg pain today I am guessing from the Neulasta shot on Friday. Any ideas on how long this will last? I have been taking the Claritin since Thursday.


    Lovewins, I hope all goes well with you tomorrow.

  • travlmom
    travlmom Member Posts: 18
    edited October 2013


    Flowergirl - I have read to take it for 3-5 days. I did not take one today (day 4 of shot) because I am trying to figure out the weird sensation on my face. But it does not seem to be the cause. I have had a little more stingers from my knees and ankles today. I hope it is better tomorrow. I am tracking everything for the next round to compare.


    Do you have any pain pills? I have those too but I am holding out until tonight so I can get a good nights sleep.


    Wishing you a good evening.

  • flowergirl1
    flowergirl1 Member Posts: 36
    edited October 2013


    Travlmom I do have some pain pills left from surgery but have been holding out too. I took Ibuprofen earlier and it helped some but it is still there. And headache but thankfully no nausea. My face turned blood red on Friday and Saturday and burned for a couple of hours. My onc nurse said it was the decadron. I finished it last night and didn't have it today so I guess that is what it was.

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570
    edited October 2013


    Thanks Flowergirl...I hope you are feeling better soon.


    I am not gonna lie Flowergirl it was hard losing my hair and I had ALOT. Now I have just a wee bit that sticks out under my hat. It gets easier as the days go because one thing I am learning on this journey is about acceptance. Once I accept things like things tasting like crap, having a yucky mouth etc...things get easier, I try to make things better of course but acceptance for me is key.

  • Viji
    Viji Member Posts: 89
    edited October 2013


    Thank you Lovewins-I think that is my problem too. I understand about the acceptance part-accept what you cannot change. I got some nice wraps for my head over the weekend and they do lift my spirits. Nobody stared at me when I wore them out.


    Just had my steroids in preparation for tx #2 tomorrow. A question about the anti-nausea-they recommend I take it four times a day for 48 hours. Can i cut that down safely? Just read the list of possible SEs and wondering if I should take less?


    Thanks to whoever answers this question..


    Viji

  • bren58
    bren58 Member Posts: 688
    edited October 2013


    travlmom, I had the weird sensation in my face too. I never did figure out if it was from the steroids or the chemo drugs, but it went away after a couple days. It usually always started the night of my infusion.


    For all of you going thru active tx right right now, drinks lot of water, tea, juice, whatever you can down. It will help flush the drugs out of your system. If you are nauseous, try to stay ahead of it with your meds. It is way easier to ward it off ahead of time than try to treat it once it comes on.


    Hang in there and ask your questions, we will try to help you the best we can.

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570
    edited October 2013


    Viji...I have taken 2 different anti nausea meds...the first one was so strong it blurred my vision and made me slur my words when I took half. The 2nd one lowered my serotonin and made me cry and depressed me. Round 3 I am thinking of cutting down on the first one and will discuss it with my MO tomorrow. In the end I opted to lower my dosage my 2nd round which did cause me to vomit a few times. At that point I opted to vomit instead of cry!!! I would talk with your DR or nurse, many people have told me to keep trying different ones until I find what works...I am amazed at all the SE. I am interested to talk with my MO and see what he says...last time he said well all pills have SE. I found no comfort in that answer. Hope this helps. Good luck and wish you the best.

  • flowergirl1
    flowergirl1 Member Posts: 36
    edited October 2013


    Thank you lovewins...Acceptance is the key and as with everything the dread is worst part. Once it is here I will wonder why I was dreading it so and I will deal with it. One day at a time.

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


    ODAAT. that is so true.


    You can do it ladies. Hang in there, and drink a lot. Take the meds to stay ahead of symptoms. Much love.

  • ML40
    ML40 Member Posts: 12
    edited October 2013


    Hi Ladies, I was in the hospital for a couple of days. Last Wednesday, WCB count was at 0, liver count was too high, had a fever of 101.7, was admitted, stayed in a isolation room and given antibiotics through my port for several days to ward off infections. TCH kicked my a##. MO is going to adjust my chemo. I will be meeting with my MO this week to go over all my vitamins to see if anything could have made my liver counts high. I am starting to feel a little like myself and asking myself how can I do this again next week?

  • bren58
    bren58 Member Posts: 688
    edited October 2013


    ML40 I am so sorry your TCH was so rough on you! Hopefully your MO can figure out a better course of tx for you. I know Pbrain also had a very bad time with TCH and had to switch to another chemo. Hopefully she will stop by with some words of wisdom & encouragement.

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570
    edited October 2013


    Sorry to hear you had a hard time ML40, glad you are feeling a little better. I pray all goes well with your appointment.


    I go today for treatment # 3. Not looking forward to it...no way out though if I want to stay well. I pray the Dr and nurses aren't too far behind today and my treatment goes smoothly. Thank you ladies for your prayers and encouragement.

  • Miss_Mama_Bear
    Miss_Mama_Bear Member Posts: 20
    edited October 2013


    I have a question about muscle fatigue/weakness. I am scheduled for my #3 on Wednesday but the last couple days I have had horrible muscle weakness or something. Climbing the stairs makes my legs feel like I have just done about 50 squats! And then last night, even worse, every time I changed position my legs would burn so bad just from the effort of turning my body that it would wake me up! I did a bit of research on this and found that it can be a side effect of Taxotere, but most people dont' get it until the last treatment. Am I totally doomed?! Is there anything I can do? I am quite terrified of beign incompacitated to the point that I can't take care of my kids. I am all on my own in this.

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


    ML, so sorry you had problems. I ended up in the hospital after my 2nd TCH. My kidney shut down. It was due to one of my BP meds, and my anti-infamatory and chemo together causing a toxic reaction. I had to postpone my tx for a week. After that, my MO cut my dosage by 25%. I asked if that was high enough to do the job and he replied" you have to be alive for any of this to work." Um, yeah..... So there are things they can do for you. Like Pbrain was put on another type of chemo or cut dosage like me. BTW, I had a much better time after tx2. I still got major D but I got through the rest without ending up hospitalized.


    Lovewins, I pray that things go smoothly and that you have small side effects.


    MamaStewart, if the muscle pain is that bad you NEED to contact your MO office asap. There are things they can do but only if they KNOW you are having trouble. My MO saw me before every TX. I had a full panel bloodwork every time. I ended up in the hospital before I knew I had a problem because my blood tests were so bad but they were on top of it. So call and see what they can do. Read my answer to ml for more info.


    Much love to all and to all those sitting in the chair today - small SEs!!

  • Miss_Mama_Bear
    Miss_Mama_Bear Member Posts: 20
    edited October 2013


    Yes, I am going in today for my pre-tx appointment and bloodwork. My liver levels were elevated last time as well (for unknown reasons) so I am curious to see what they are doing now. I feel okay besides the muscle issues and the cold. Day 19 and I am finally getting back on my feet... just in time for round 3!

  • bren58
    bren58 Member Posts: 688
    edited October 2013


    Mamastewart, I had terrible pain in my leg muscles. Turns out it was related to my very low potassium levels. I had to take potassium supplements twice during tx. I wish Tonlee were still checking in, she could explain the whys of it. It got better with the supplements but didn't completely go away until about 6 weeks PFC. Hopefully your MO will be able to help you out with this.

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