Come join others currently navigating treatment in our weekly Zoom Meetup! Register here: Tuesdays, 1pm ET.
Take our poll: Caregivers, what do you find most difficult about caregiving?
Weigh in: What are the best and worst gifts for people with breast cancer?

Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

1…555556558560561…627

Comments

  • ChickaD
    ChickaD Member Posts: 971
    edited November 2013

    image

    Blessed are You, Compassionate One,

    For giving me these droplets of TCH,

    Like refreshing dew and healing rain,

    may they save my life.

  • soriya123
    soriya123 Member Posts: 384
    edited November 2013

    Day 2 with no crusty eyes.  I put Aquaphor on top and bottom around my eyes.  Thanks Special K for the tip :)

  • soriya123
    soriya123 Member Posts: 384
    edited November 2013

    Any of ladies drink coffee during chemo?  or like 8 or 10 days after chemo?  Thanks

  • bren58
    bren58 Member Posts: 688
    edited November 2013


    soriya, sadly coffee tasted terrible all during my chemo so I rarely made it. Thankfully with chemo over I am able to enjoy my morning cup again.

  • soriya123
    soriya123 Member Posts: 384
    edited November 2013

    Thanks Bren!  :)  Did u put any creme or sugar in your coffee?  My nutritionist n MO says to put to sugar or creme the way  like.  So confusing about sugar thing, some say to stay a way and some say okay.  

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570
    edited November 2013


    Yes 10 days after chemo coffee taste real good to me!

  • flowergirl1
    flowergirl1 Member Posts: 36
    edited November 2013

    I still have my coffee with half and half and sugar.   

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


    moon - I put Aquaphor there too, lol!

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


    yep. We all need to buy stock in aquaphor!

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570
    edited November 2013


    Hi Ladies...I am at my folks again. I find myself really digging deep to build up my strength and positive attitude about going thru chemo 5 & 6. I know I do not have a choice so like someone already wrote I feel like the person who is being dragged with both arms with there feet firmly placed in the sand. I am finding some comfort in that these are the last two and the 4th was actually the smoothest, although don't misunderstand still awful. I don't think I can ever be a poster child for breast cancer. My MO grows on me little by little. I told him how anxious I was the last time and he told to go ahead and take my Xanax and not to worry about becoming addicted...I just need to get through treatment. I really loved him for that and the proof was when he refilled my prescription. Looking forward to having some fun before it all starts over again. My Parents and I have grown so close during this. I have been able to take care of them in ways I never could before and visa versa. So I pray in 13 days I will be ready for treatment 5. I tell you I am going to plot for 6 weeks how I will celebrate my final treatment!!!! Hope you are all doing well and holding up under the stress and SE's of this TCH. Wishing you all the best and thanks to the veterans who have held my hand along the way.

  • bren58
    bren58 Member Posts: 688
    edited November 2013


    soriya, I understand your concerns about sugar and actually when I did have coffee during tx I did put just a bit of sugar in it because it made it taste better. Normally i don't use sugar, just a bit of 2% milk. I didn't really try to change my diet too drastically during chemo because everything tasted bad anyway. I was just trying to find anything that didn't taste awful.


    lovewins, I am so glad you are finding comfort in the relationship with your parents. We all know it's no fun facing the last one or two tx's. Kind of like saying you are looking forward to having 2 more root canals. I hope you plan an awesome celebration for when you are finished.


    Yep Aquaphor is amazing stuff! I have found many uses for it since finding out about it from the wonderful ladies here.

  • soriya123
    soriya123 Member Posts: 384
    edited November 2013

    Thank you ladies!  :)

  • flaviarose
    flaviarose Member Posts: 249
    edited November 2013


    I still wanted coffee during chemo, but it was too much. Sometimes I'd end up taking half a cup of coffee and putting in half a cup of hot water. I still love my coffee and have it every day (addicted) - but I'm thinking of trying to switch to green tea..... it will be a challenge, especially since my husband gets up early and there is always that wonderful smell of coffee in the morning.

  • LeanneF
    LeanneF Member Posts: 32
    edited November 2013

    Hi ladies. You all share so much good information. I am so glad I found this place. 

    I know this is going to sound vain and insignificant, given what we are facing, but I do plan on getting through this and getting back to really living. My skin around the corners of my mouth has become significantly more wrinkled and saggy since I began treatment. Now, it is very dry and even flaky. I have taken to wearing night cream even during the day for the extra moisture. Anyone else experienced this? Any tips for protecting our skin during treatment?

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570
    edited November 2013


    Yes I did Leanne and I was as upset as losing my hair. I did not realize my skin would get so dry. I bought some Jason vitamin E cream that is all natural with no chemical. It has no scent and it is improving my skin. I have the dry flakey patches too near my tear duct's. Le me know what you find but this is the best thing I have found so far.

  • soriya123
    soriya123 Member Posts: 384
    edited November 2013

    Ladies, I used Lindi skincare(face moisturizer).  so far i like it.  I also put Aquaphor on dry skin part before apply  any make up on.  

  • LeanneF
    LeanneF Member Posts: 32
    edited November 2013

    Thank you, I will look for both of those. Lovewins, I am more upset about this than the hair because the hair will come back. But I have always been more concerned with keeping away wrinkles. :) 

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


    Leanne - by the time I was done with the TC portion I was actually putting Aquaphor all over my face - as crazy as that sounds. I found that some of the wrinklies went away the farther out from chemo I got, as I started to look more alive, lol!

  • ChickaD
    ChickaD Member Posts: 971
    edited November 2013


    Miss Love.... I too had the hardest with 5 and 6 as I was only supposed to have 4 and then BAM... Onc hits me with news of 2 more.... I swear I had to convince myself to go thru with it... it was not pleasant but my family helped me thru! Keep your chin up and keep counting down to the END xoxox

  • LeanneF
    LeanneF Member Posts: 32
    edited November 2013


    Thanks SpecialK! You give me hope! You look great! I love the beach, but I am diligent about keeping my face out of the sun to prevent wrinkles. Now, this stupid cancer is attacking my skin too! Where can you buy Aquaphor? I've never heard of it.


    Regarding SEs: treatment 5 is kicking my butt this week. I think this may be the worst round yet, but believe I also have a cold on top of it. I made the mistake of traveling to Atlanta to work last week. 2 people in the office were sick while I was there. Lesson learned - I will be staying in the confines of my home office until this is over.

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


    Leanne - you can get it at Publix, CVS or Walgreens. It is like Vaseline, but in a tube. I still use it - especially on my feet - I put a bunch on and put on some socks and sleep in them. I did that during chemo when my hands and feet started cracking - I had socks and gloves on at night - looked like a nut! I also used a lot of Palmer's Cocoa Butter - it is also great stuff. You can get it at the above places too - I used it when I was pregnant on my tummy - no stretch marks!

  • mckatherine
    mckatherine Member Posts: 180
    edited November 2013


    coconut oil is also great for dry skin - good for daytime because it absorbs well. I've been using Shea butter at night for my skin during / after rads and while my pj shirts may never forgive me, my skin is loving it. I always have a little left on my hands after lubing the boob (lol) so I smear it on my face. :)

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


    aquaphor also comes in jars. Small and really large. Also as a lip tube. If you don't know if you would like the lip tubes are a very small investment. Just use it however you like. You can always buy a small jar later. But use it up top, or on your bottom that stuff is worth it. A lot of people use it for rads too.

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570
    edited November 2013


    A little less than a week away from my 5th treatment. I am here with my folks again refilling my spirit and gearing up. I am thankful this last time was the easiest so far but by no means easy. I can't wait for this to be over although I know now it will never be over in that I will never be the same after having BC. I haven't been posting much, been thinking a lot about the next step radiation...wondering how I will manage to work everyday and get treatment M-F. Right now I know I am not strong enough to go back to work, but if I don't go back to work for at least 1 week after the 1st of the year I will not get paid. I was wondering if anyone out there knows if it might be possible for me to return to work and work one week to allow my disability bank to refill and then go back off for my radiation treatment...I mean this from a Dr. point of view. To me it seems like they want us to work during that time and I just don't think I have it in me yet. Also does anyone think they would allow me to delay treatment for a week to get that week of work in or does the radiation need to start 3 weeks after chemo ends? I realize no one knows for sure and that I will have to discuss with my RO, but that will not be for 6 weeks. Any input, thoughts or personal experience is appreciated. I hope and pray you are all doing well...even when I am not posting much I am still reading and wishing everyone the best.

  • monkeymom
    monkeymom Member Posts: 27
    edited November 2013


    Has anyone had vision changes after TCH? I've always had 20/20 vision but I've noticed since chemo (I'm still on Herceptin), I've had a hard time reading small print like on bottles. Things look "fuzzy" and I have to concentrate and squint to read it. I think it's a little too early to have age related vision changes (age 35)- I'm guessing this is related to chemo. If so, will it improve or should I go get my eyes examined?


    Thanks!

  • Viji
    Viji Member Posts: 89
    edited November 2013


    I have issues with vision too. Hoping it will improve after treatment but I will be on herceptin for a year.


    Lovewins, I think everything is negotiable. This damn disease and treatment has to also fit in with our lives. I think a lot has to do with insurance and what they will pay for as far as treatment goes. My two cents worth!


    One more TC, can't wait for it to be over!!!! But as you say, it will never be over....

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570
    edited November 2013


    Thanks Viji for sharing your thoughts. Congrats on 1 more TC Woo Hoo!!!!!


    I noticed my first treatment I had blurred vision and it went away. For me it may have been a nausea or pain medication I was on.

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


    vision changes are common with chemo. Mine got quite a bit better after i finished but kept improving for a long time. I need to get new glasses now. It's a bit worse but not nearly as it was right after tx. Much love.

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,357
    edited November 2013


    Love - lots of people have neoadjuvent chemo then have surgery before rads. From what my RO indicated, they delay the rads until you've healed an have good range of motion moves. She was going to send me to a PT before starting rads. All academic since I'm doing yet more chemo first. Sorry the treatments are kicking your butt.

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


    lovewins you should be able to wait long enough to work that week. I worked 3 days in 2012. And I just found out that because of that ( my raise going into effect) that I get 10$ more a month in disability. Best part is I should have gotten it starting last Dec. So i got a bump on my Dec disability check. It's not much but it helps. So i hope you can manage to work enough days to reset your time off for rads. Much love.

Categories

Join Us on Zoom: Upcoming virtual meetups. Read more...
Give your account some personality! Add a profile photo.