Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
Comments
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d - the icing of hands and feet is to try to keep you from losing your fingernails and toenails. I just used bags of frozen peas and iced the entire Taxotere infusion, which is about an hour. Most oncologists, and their nursing staff, will tell you it doesn't help, and most centers don't supply icing supplies - I brought my own. I thought it was worth it because it couldn't hurt, only help.
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Is there anyone who is *not* getting the neulasta shot and having bad fatigue or other SEs? I'm curious how that drug impacts the SEs of TCH.
I just got the insurance statement for my first round of chemo. Holy moly, neulasta is expensive! I'm really glad I've almost reached my annual out-of-pocket maximum, otherwise I'd be in trouble.
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Ever, I never did have the Neulasta shot and my numbers stayed acceptable the whole time. Not everyone needs it, but many do. I took the wait and see approach. Every tx they would schedule it and I would cancel it. I figured if my numbers went too low I could always get it. I know that approach does not work and is not wise for everyone, but I was working with a board certified nutritonist with years of history with cancer patients. I did what she told me to do and took what she told me to take. She monitored my bloodwork every tx. It worked for me. On the other hand, my mom is going through chemo right now and I never suggested she not get the shot.
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Ever - my approach mirrored Bren's (above). I never needed it either. My onc was dubious, but my naturopathic MD worked with me and my numbers always squeaked through.
Bren - if you don't mind my asking, how did they diagnose your second dx? I have always wondered, for women with a BMX and reconstruction, how they would find it. Do they do surgery at that point? The whole concept is confusing to me, but if it is too private, please just ignore the question.
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Amy, I found a lump in my armpit on the original BC side. Turned out to be a cancerous lymph node. They can never get ALL the breast tissue when they do a BMX. Because it was 12 years they never really could decide if it was a new primary or a recurrence. A BMX is not a guarantee that you will not get BC again, but it greatly refuses the risk. Mine was not a common case.
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ever - Neulasta side effects, if you have any, are usually bone pain - the larger the bone the larger the pain, and flu-like symptoms, which can blend with other chemo SE. Taxanes cause bone pain, so Taxol and Taxotere can cause additional pain when added to Neulasta. 24 hour Claritin, taken preventively, can mitigate the Neulasta induced bone pain for some by helping control the edema in the bone marrow caused by the expansion to manufacture new white cells.
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dilli- I'm doing caps! They aren't as bad as you'd think! They stay on 30 minutes and they're super cold. You feel like you're having a brain freeze for about 2 minutes, then nothing at all
I'm having my 2nd treatment in a few hours, and I have a full head of hair! My nurses saw me today for blood work and their jaws dropped. They all said my
Hair would fall out, caps wouldn't work. They have a 90%+ effective rate. For me, the cost was worth the chance of not having to lose my hair too. Not sure why, but that's where I drew my line in the sand. I'm so glad I chose this route.
When is your first treatment?
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bren - my dx is just like yours. DCIS in 1997 with a mastectomy. I found a lump in the armpit on the mastectomy side, cancerous lymph node. 2% chance of a reoccurance on that side, and all after almost 17 years being cancer-free. I can't win a scratch ticket, but I can sure manage to get cancer twice before the age of 37, both times with less than a 10% chance. Doesn't seem quite right, ya know? You just have to laugh about it, because crying gets old, and I don't have the time to be depressed. Boo cancer!
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i agree SpecialK - this was the first time he even brought it up & he wanted me to get it there & then!
Hold up, mister - now if you have a shot for this nueropathy i'd be all about it
I see people talking about the Nulasta shot - it is very expensive & you don't even know if you really need it plus i had to go back the next day every time to get it..i know they are trying to make it easier on everyone but sometimes i wonder...and once again they make it seem like you're crazy if you choose not to take it
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I had mixed emotions about the Nulasta shot every time. I agree it is so expensive as is the chemo. Deep down I always thought my SE were from the shot but I will never know. It is mind blowing what medical costs are...0 -
I never did get the Nulasta shot. My numbers were good throughout chemo.
A question for all of you. How much easier is just the Herceptin alone than when given with TC?
Have a great day everyone.
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No comparison at all for me. Made the difference between being able to work full time and not being able to with the TC. I do get very tired at times. Last time they even ran my Herceptin for 30 minutes and I did not get any SE. I had a different nurse and she told me flat out she runs Herceptin for 30 minutes when my regular nurse always did 60 minutes. Maybe I am use to it now. Herceptin only for me was easy peasy!0 -
Lovewins - I was hoping the "very tired" and winded feeling would go away after TC was done....booooo
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I think the tired feeling is from all accumulated treatment, I had rads too. It is much less and the winded feeling is gone. It is much better....I felt almost euphoric after because I felt so much better.0 -
Lovewins- the winded part is the worst. My husband has threatened to get a riding cart for me at the grocery store. LOL.
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I posted this on another thread, but thought I'd see if anyone here has had anemia problems or any knowledge of this condition. I'm 5 months PFC and 2-1/3 month post rads. Thanks in advance.
Yes, it is me w/anemia - but supposedly not iron deficiency anemia.
It's called "Anemia of Chronic Disease". Seems like the chemo or rads
or both messed up my system. Don't know if the problem is in the
kidney, bone marrow, or elsewhere - but my red blood cells are not
standard or up to par. I refused the Aransep injections since they
cause tumors in cancer patients (WTH) and serious problems w/heart
attacks & strokes (more WTH). 3 weeks ago my hemoglobin went down
to 8.3 (they do transfusions below 8). Last week it was up to 9.0. so
I'm putting up w/feeling tired & playing a waiting game. And even
tho the problem isn't iron, I'm eating steak 2 or 3 times a week. I've
had more beef in the last 30 days than I've had in the last 10 years.
If things continue to be sub-standard, I'll go to a hematologist but MO
said not necessary yet.0 -
Minus Two - I don't know if this might help - my naturopathic doc had me eating whey protein powder which he said could stimulate bone marrow production of blood cells (sorry I forget exactly which kind - it's been a while). I bought it, and mixed it into applesauce and ate it daily. Did it help? Who knows. I never did need the Neulasta shot though - so maybe it did.
Might be worth trying. I don't think it can hurt in any way.
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Thanks Amyls. My protein levels are good but I've been adding "Beneprotin" powder to my instant breakfast in the morning just in case. My MO said it's too long ago to be directly caused by chemo or rads & did lots of tests, which as far as I can tell only show that iron is being absorbed OK. I'm just wondering how long to wait before pushing for more answers.
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My MO took the wait and see attitude about neulasta, and I didn't ever need it! I still had pretty severe fatigue, weakness and pain, it wasn't too bad the first round, but got worse each treatment. Herceptin only was a breeze,bid get a headache and a little achy for a couple of days. When I got H weekly they gave it over 30 minutes, but when they went to every 3rd week they gave it over 90 minutes. I wish they had taken longer when I got it weekly, they accidentally did one week (gave it over about 90 min), that time no aches or headache.
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yea, that's crazy about the Nulasta - i don't even remember what it was suppose to help now...i was still in the too frightened to question anything state
Ddgm I am on Herceptin alone now with no SE's to speak up - altho i have been having headaches which i never normally had & a little bit of light-headedness - don't know if it's delayed reaction or what - but it's just started in the last couple months.
I do freak a little about every new ache or pain - just even a moments thought that this has all been for nothing freaks me out
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not - Neulasta forces white blood cell production to prevent infection, all of your blood cells (red cells, white cells and platelets) are impacted by chemo. I also had low grade headaches, particularly the last few months of Herceptin. After I was done they dissipated.
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Hello all...
Rock n Life, I pretty much colored until it fell out and as soon as I had hair I was coloring again. My hair came in 95% white and I wanted darker. I would say I have a good inch all around now and I am thinking of going blond to avoid so much coloring since my roots are white.
I see you are in Miami. Where are you getting TX?
Vivian
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Ddgm, Herceptin alone was a breeze for me. No real SE's except for slow growing hair. I had it run in over 90 minutes. I know others have had shorter infusion times. Sometimes the shorter run times can cause problems, but not with everyone. So if you are experiencing headaches or severe fatigue and they are using a 30 or 60 minute infusion time it would not hurt to ask to slow it down to 90 minutes.
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Hi all, had my first Chemo on the 27th TCH, and went back for the neulasta, Took my claritin. I seem to be doing ok so far, A little back pain and slight headache, Nothing I couldn't handle on a normal basis. I dont know if it didn't Kick in yet, Or if it's just my first treatment. Ill Keep you posted. SpecialK The peas worked? I asked my Nurses, They didn't suggest it, Only the cold cap. But I heard of bad Headache , and I had to keep it on for another 4 hours after treatment. I said No.
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thanks, Specialk - i will keep looking toward the light at the end of the tunnel
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d - yes the peas worked for me, I did not have ridges, lifting, pain, nail loss, or discolored nails. I indicated in my earlier post that you would see a lack of support from nursing staff - but these are your nails, not theirs, so for a $5 investment in frozen peas and no harm, to me it is worth it. Nail issues can be permanent.
http://breastcancer.about.com/od/lifeduringtreatment/tp/fingernail_disorders.htm
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I just thought I would add I wish I would of iced my toes because now having some nail issues. Toe nail lifting and somehow I am fighting a staph infection on my big toe. Not real bad and I am hoping these antibiotic take care of it. It does make it harder because I have diabetes and CIPN. I am being very careful!!!!
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Special - great reference site. Interesting that my 2nd round of chemo was Adriamycin and that's listed as a cause also. I didn't think to ice through that but could only tolerate 3 rounds anyway.
Yes - I iced with frozen peas for Taxotere. For a 90 minute run, I changed out for a new bag 1/2 way through. I was at a major medical center & apparently no one else ever had iced nails. I believe I kept my nails because of the icing. They are still brittle and "soft" and probably won't really get back to "normal" until I've finished the Herceptin in October, but I'm only losing my two big toe nails. (I wasn't as diligent about icing my feet).
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I've had 2 rounds of TCH and have had no change in my nails. I haven't been icing them, but I've been putting a product called Nailtiques on them every week. You can get it in any drugstore.
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EverForward, i just checked nailtiques and noticed a range of product. What did you use specifically? Would love to do exactly what you did and hopefully save my nails when i get on taxanes.
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