Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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Aside from a nasty cough that lasted about 2 weeks after round 1, my side effects have been generally consistent. I have noticed that the stomach problems (acid reflux, gas, hunger pangs, and general non-nausea irritability) and the fatique are lasting longer with each round.
I go in for round 4 tomorrow. This time, we're not doing the Neulasta shot the following day to see if that is the culprit for the horrendous bone pain and muscle ache I've been getting Friday-Sunday post infusion. I have a feeling, thought, that the real culprit is the Taxotere and I'll just have to suck it up for the remaining infusions.
Good luck.
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flsun - I'm on day 6 post tx 3. Same regime as you and I've found my se's have been much better for txs 2 & 3! That loading dose is a b!&ch. first round I had such severe diarrhea and taste issues I lost 13lbs in just over a week. Also had migraines (fixed when I added excedrin migraine to my anti nausea) and some fatigue. Last 2 txs, I've made a point to get saline on days 2, 5 and 8 and had a dose of steroid shot too around day 5 for nausea/fatigue (had it yesterday) and it's helped a ton. I have diarrhea still, but not like before, and I can eat more things. I will say I'm more tired. 3 more txs will suck for fatigue, but I can handle it if the rest of the se's stay like they've been.
I hope yours diminish too, I've been told perjeta is a nasty nasty drug (even though it's awesome and saving our lives!) and that it's a big se causer. A lower dose will be better
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flsun, I think everyone's experience is a little different. For me, the bone pain was really bad the first time, but the nausea was controllable with anit-nausea meds. But, the bone pain got better, probably with my white cells dropping, but the nausea, fatigue and diarrhea got progressively worse to the point that by round three I was vomiting each time. But, like most people have said on here, the worst was around day 3-5 or so after chemo, and they didn't see me again till a week later when I was starting to feel better. I began developing peripheral neuropathy by the fourth round, so they lowered my Taxotere dose on round five. Then on round six, they cut out the Taxotere completely, but go figure, I had the worst vomiting ever the last one, so I think the most offensive chemo agent was the Carboplatin for me. But then again, I had a slight allergic reaction to the Carboplatin each time, so in hindsight that shouldn't have come as such a surprise.
After the sixth round they had me come in to check my blood more often because they skipped the Neulasta shot, took one look at me and put me in the chair for IV fluids and anti-nausea meds, then come in again the next day for more. Had I only had that after each round, I probably wouldn't have suffered such severe side effects. I wish they had asked me, or I had had the sense to let them know how severe my side effects were because I think had I had the fluids and IV meds after each one I would have felt a lot better. So, if you find yourself in the situation where the symptoms get really bad, I would follow Julieho's example and workout a schedule to have you come in for fluids. Don't tough it out like I did because it really doesn't get you anywhere. I told them I was nauseous and had some vomiting, but I really didn't really tell them how severe. Had they seen me within days 3-5 of chemo when it was the worst, I think they would have recommended it all along.
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EverForward, Sorry about the muscle aches and joints.
Are you taking Claritin? It helped me to take it continuously, every day it is usually recommended for a few days before neulasta and a few days after.
Also Herceptin can cause muscle/joint aches. I am receiving it weekly still. I stopped for 3 weeks due to surgery and after 1 weeks pains were gone. When I went back to it, I had my infusion time lengthened to 60 minutes. I had been receiving for 30 minutes. The longer time works better, less pains.I am going to 90 minutes next infusion.
Ask your MO about daily claritin ? and lenghtening your herceptin infusion and see if it helps.
Feel better,
Vivian
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FLSunshine - I too had TCH & P. I was fortunate not to have nausea but I had Emend with each infusion. It's supposed to be the miracle drug for nausea & I had oral Emend to follow up if needed. Also had Dedacron oral steroids for 3 days. My problem was diarrhea - for two weeks out of three. I also insisted on fluids 1/2 way through the 21 days, and once I had an extra liter of fluids every week. Ended up losing 60 lbs over the 6 treatments. Do talk to your doc and make sure you have several kinds of nausea meds so that if one doesn't work, you can immediately transition to the next.
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I think for me the hardest side effect to handle was being out of breath all the time. For me it got worse with each round. Now almost 6 weeks PFC, I feel significantly better. At one point I could barely walk from my office to the bathroom without breathing hard. Really freaked the DH. He was convinced I needed an electric cart and a handicapped plaque. But like everyone says, it gets better. I do have the muscle aches form the H, but it is soooo much better than TC. In retrospect, I think I could have used fluids after a couple of the rounds, especially the first.
Feel better
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haha, how i wish i can lose 60lbs.. andMinusTwo, am sure hoping i will lose some pounds (side benefit of chemo -trying to see the sunshine here!
) though hmm..guess if one is slender, losing 60lbs might be a bit shocking! Love the sharing here and learning about side effects. For those who might be interested,i recently purchased fresh herbs from chinese medical halls which has very good results in preventing neuropathy for those on taxotere.. the herb (a blend of 10herbs) is goshajinkigan (Japanese name for it) since i can't spell chinese and the research papers are for goshajinkigan. Sure hope it'd be worth the try.. i don't know how to get the supplies directly from japan (in sachets from pharmacies), and so using the herbal name and dosages, asked a friend and sister to take printed copies to ask around and got the herbs itself to boil and drink the conconction.
i also find that my toes felt funny after taking dexamethasone today (tomorrow is my second round of chemo)... initally i thought it was the taxotere that might be creating neuropathy, now am wondering if it's some effects from dexa itself.. anyone experienced that? numbness on toes? i can't fully describe the feeling..
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Yensmiles - The taxotere does cause neuropathy & possibly some effects from the carboplatin. I can't remember about Cytoxan. I don't think the steroids could cause numb toes. But I guess it could be an allergy. Do check with the doc.
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Thanks MinusTwo, shall be asking my dr on this today.. and also on my "disorientation and dizziness".. i thought it was chemo.. cos on my first cycle i didn't really take the full dosage of the dexamethasone a day before (took just 2mg instead of 8x2mg as i was preparing for a different chemo regime before suddenly switching drs and hospital at the last minute).. so now am thinking it could be that 20ml injection of dexamethasone just prior to chemo that gives me the symptoms.
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the steroids cause me dizziness and also numb/tingly fingers and toes. It goes away after a few hours for me.
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thanks wyomama, comforting to know i'm not the only one! i'm quitw sure its the steroids though my dr somehow thinks its no big deal and could be poor cirulation from coldness.. and unlikely to be taxotere's effect cos too soon for that. one thing for sure, my heart rate goes up 10-15 beats with the steroids
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yensmiles, you're not alone. My toes got numb too and still do periodically. More severe on the cancer side. It resolved completely on the other side.
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Man. I feel like I'm back on chemo. Dizzyness and fatigue. No concentration. Pain. Big D. LOL. Guess any op as big as a TKR brings it all back. Ugh. Just my daily whine. Thx. LOL. I'll go curl up right now. Try to get to sleep.
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Big hugs moon! Hope you feel better soon!!
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moon - bummer! I had general anesthetic in March, April and May - felt like a bad hangover for weeks because it was so much in my system - you just need some time, I think they say a week for every hour of time under which was accurate for me. Hope you are feeling better ASAP!
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Just how bad does anesthesia brain have to be to forget to take your pain pills? Before PT. ? Just wondering..... LOL what an idiot. PT came and I'm struggling through and saying I can't understand how I couldn't move right. They DH pipes up maybe it's because you haven't taken your pain pills in 5 1/2 h. Yeah. And notice he didn't say anything about me not having taken them til then. Where was he an hour and a half ago? Hmm? Let me guess, World cup? LOL. Well I've got them in me now. Note to self. Pain pills THEN PT! LOL
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Oh Moon, don't be so hard on yourself!! My life consists of post it notes pinned everywhere I go. Now the really sad part is when you write a note but can't remember what the note was about!!
I hope you get some pain relief soon!!0 -
Thanks SlowDeepBreaths! I also notice that my finger (nails part) are very red.. more than usual, and wondering if that's a side effect too..
Moonflower, i left my handbag twice in two different oncologists clinics after i had my lumpectomy.. i thought it was early onset of chemobrain!! LOL!!! but really it was post-surgical brain thanks to the anesthesia.
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yensmiles -- yes, TCH is hard on your nails. Mine continued to get worse after my final treatment. They feel loose, turned very dark (blood pooling under nail), and felt sore at times. I keep waiting for them to fall off, but none have so far. (knock on wood) A lot of people ice their fingertips during chemo to minimize the damage. Somebody here can probably tell you more about it. I'm wishing I had now.
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yensmiles, I was pretty lucky with my fingernails. The color was slightly different on my new growth (old growth sort of reddish), and I had a line going across my nails but it was barely noticeable. Once they grew back, the corners on my thumbs would catch on blankets, so I wore band-aids at night for awhile. I'm past that now. I know some women have nails that can turn black and fall off. That didn't happen to me.
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Hi carolsue, thanks for sharing! good to know that you managed to keep the nails despite the soreness. Gosh, i thought the side effects would go away promptly after chemo.. looks like some linger and the build up of toxicity would take time to clear. I did ice my nails (both hands and feet) and hope that the nails will hold up.
It certainly is scary, SlowDeepbreaths to think of the nails dropping off..glad yours stayed on! hope mine will too. i did meet some women in a hospital who had blackened or fallen off and regrowing nails from the Taxotere!
now my hair is falling off too.. because we don't have access to coldcaps in my country.. still managed to go for chemo yesterday without any wig/scarf as the thinning hair was bearable to look at.. but after last night's shower.. i've quite a clear balding patch at my forehead.. so next chemo in 3 weeks time would most likely see me in a wig/scarf.
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yensmiles, most of my hair came out in the shower too. Hang in there - it does get better!! It's good you iced your nails. I didn't know about that until after I was almost finished with chemo. I was very fortunate with my side effects. The worst chemo SE for me was the big C. I ended up in the ER with a bowel obstruction.
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Yensmiles,
I am 4 months post TC, still on H. SE happen at different times and from what I learned here, there are similarities but we are all different.
Most of my hair fell out between week 3-4 after 1st chemo. I buzzed it short. I kept some hair on my head, never went fully bald. After second tx it started coming back , filling in very slowly. I buzzed it again 1 month after final tx to even it out. It came back 95% white. Thinner than before. It has been filling in and is much thicker now. I just notice new dark hairs coming in. I have a good 1 1/2 inches all over head now.
I didn't lose eyebrows or lashes until the 6th tx . They are back now, but thinner than before. I never lost any finger or toe nails. They become dry and I have ridges of finger nails. One big toenail separated about 1/4 from skin near a corner towards center, I am protecting it until it grows out fully. Added some nail glue to nail, under polish to make it harder. It is growing well from base. I never iced them.
I did suck ice after first tx. I had horrible mouth sores after first time, after icing during taxotere no more sores. I did lose my taste buds and smells were off and had nausea.
No C for me, but days 5-12 was big D. I was tired but feeling ok on third week. Became more tired as tx continued.
But it ends and you begin to feel better. Every day that goes by a little more energy comes back and SE's lessen.
I do have some ongoing peripheral neuropathy. Numbness and tingling in fingers/hands and toes/feet/heel. Has not improved yet.
I wish you the best,
Vivian
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yensmiles - I see you're HER2+. If you move on to Herceptin, or continue it, that will slow the hair growth. Herceptin is also hard on the nails - not to mention the heart.
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omigosh, bowel obstruction?!?! that sounds awful SlowDeepBreaths. I do remember the first few days i felt constipated and wasn't as regular as i was during the first chemo session. Drank loads of water, juice and fruit.. and it helped a bit.. though without the drugs, i'd go a lot better with all the water, fruit and juices.
thanks for sharing Vivian, i do hope my hair continues growing like yours did! it sounds beautiful being able to shave because that means there's new hair growing all the time!!!. truly it was my worst fear.. that and neuropathy. hmm.. it might be worth a try to get goshajinkigan (a 10 herb chinese/japanese herbal concoction) from Chinese Medical Halls in chinatown where you live. I still dont know how to post links here. .somehow never worked when i tried, but do google, and some good research shows it minimises neuropathy. one studied compared taxotere with goshajinkigan and taxotere with B12, and found that those taking B12 to help had much higher rate of neuropathy whereas the ones on goshajinkigan had less (much less), and also less severe grade neuropathy. I've started taking them the day prior to my second round of chemo, and plan to take it daily.. my doctor reduced my dosage slightly this time round and i'm not quite sure whether it's the reduction of the goshajinkigan, but the tingling sensation i felt on my two big toes the last time aren't as apparent this time. Feels normal this time round.
oh dear, yes I am on Herceptin MinusTwo, hmm.. did you or anyone else here have a slower heart rate? I noticed that my heart rate (normally 70-80) dropped to below 60 (55 or 58) .. doctor thinks it's because i'm resting well.. though i suspect it's herceptin or the chemo, because even when i'm very well rested, my heart rate doesn't go below 60 on normal days.
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minus two, that explains why my hair is taking forever to grow and my nails are so brittle. I am 5mths out of TC and 13th round of H. I'm also on tamoxifen. What can I do to control my weight and get rid of the puffiness?
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yensmiles...I am 9 weeks out PFC. I had TCH but only 4. I am getting H now every 3 weeks. I will starts rads in July. I take Biotin for hair and nails. My nails, well, 9/10 are lifted from Taxotere. I have Raynaud's and could not ice them. My hair is growing but I do not notice much for eyebrows or lashes yet. My legs hair sparse soft hair.
Moon...TKA is a tough surgery. Especially if you have some bone/joint aches from BC treatments, then PT is an ass kicker. One day at a time deary!
Everforward..I think it was just the chemo itself for me with the muscle and bone pain. I am sure the neulasta did not help but even after I stopped, I am 9 weeks PFC, I still had lots of muscle aches and pains.
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yensmiles - I do have some reduction heart health but what they track is the left ventricle output, which has gone down. The heart rate has stayed the same - except when it was racing. My second chemo was Adriamycin/Cytoxan & since that affects the heart too, I had to stop Herceptin during that time. I have had Echo cardiograms every couple of months to make sure the numbers aren't getting too bad. Some people get MUGAs instead.
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princess
How are you getting your heceptin?
I had 3 weeks off due to surgery and joint pain improved .
When I restarted I asked for a slower dose. I receive it weekly over 90 minutes now instead of 30. I have had 3 tx since surgery and joints are much better
I am also on tamoxifen which can cause joint aches but so far not getting worse.
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naiviv. I do the same over 90. Joints seem ok just low back pain like muscular. It's ok few more months!
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