Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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princess, glad you're over the chemo phase!
the only hair that's fell off me thus far is my head hair.. all other hair still around.. and i hope it stays too.. then again, it's just a few days after my second chemo, and i will be doing 4 cycles like you (though my c is cytoxan instead of carboplatin).MinusTwo, i shall be getting an echogramme for the heart too.. after the 4 cycles of chemo.. thankfully today the heartrate is up a bit.. (didn't fall below 60).. and ironically, while that seems better, nausea seems to have hit me.. felt it a bit for the past few days..and today it's worse..
hope your LVEF will increase in due time.. i remember being told that the effects of herceptin is reversible.. my doctor also asked me to pop ciproflaxin from tomorrow onwards, which is day 5 after chemo (prevention against neutropenia).. but i'm a bit concern as my neutrophils was 2.1 (half lower limit before i took ciproflaxin the last round) and it jumped to 23 (double the upper limit after i took ciproflaxin) on the day of my second chemo, which is a week after i took the antibiotics.. it's just a few days ago, and i'm wondering if i'd be overdosing.. shall be calling my doctor to ask whether i can have a blood test before taking the pills. Am curious to know how others might have experienced this too...
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Yens,
I had Neulasta shot, on the day after chemo. 24 hours after it had to be. That cause my counts to go up in the second week. It took me a few days to respond to it. I did have to take antib's for different breast infections, but still got Neulasta.
I have no experience with prophy antibiotics to raise counts. But if in doubt ask your doctor.
Vivian
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thanks Vivian! did you take the neulesta only once (during that first round), or also on subsequent rounds? and how did the breast infections happen? because of the chemo?
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Yen,
I had 6 rounds of TCH. 1 every 3 weeks followed by Neulasta.
I picked up pseudomanas at mastectomy . Part of incision would not close and lots of fluid. It cause me to have TE replaced about 4 wks later. Was on antib but not correct ones. Another 4 wks and TE was removed. I stayed in Hosp for a week with IV antib's and went home with 3 weeks worth of IV antibiotics. After TE removed a small hole stayed in incision.would not close. I had to keep it dry, not get wet. It had to be covered with gauze because it leaked a bit. In Feb it swelled up and was MRSA ,lots of fluid and infection was coming from small hole . On antib's for 8 weeks. Being on chemo didn't help with healing, but I continued and finally cultures were clean and I was cleared for surgery.
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Question: How long after chemo stopped did it take to grow back hair to lets say chin/shoulder length?
My amazing boyfriend proposed 2 weeks ago....and now need to plan a wedding. I was supposed to start chemo last week, but postponed it for 3 weeks to do another round of IVF. So now I am starting in week 8 post surgery (BMX) on July 16th.
Although I was prescribed the standard 6 treatments, my cancer was .6cm with no node involvment....so discussed doing less treatments....right now I am leaning towards 5...which would make bring me to Oct 8th for my final treatment. Of course I will be continuing Herceptin for the full year. I would like to have enough of my own hair (with extensions if needed) for my wedding....so wondering how far out I need to plan it. Was thinking June or July...but have no idea how long my hair will be by then....
Does your hair start immediately growing back when the Chemo stops? How many inches did you have 8months post chemo?
Thanks!
Jennifer
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Jennifer, Welcome to the thread and I am so sorry that you have to be here.
Your question is hard to answer because we all seem to grow back at different rates. I am almost 16 months post chemo and the longest part of my hair is 6 inches, but others who finished chemo the same time as me have much longer hair. It really is an individual thing. No matter what length your hair is your hubby to be will think you are beautiful no matter what!
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scared - congrats! It took the better part of a year for my hair to reach shoulder length. The problem with growing your hair out is that it will grow out uniformly so the tiny hair at the top takes a while to reach the other hair that grows lower on your head. My hairdresser warned me that I would have to cut it frequently to make it look intentional, it grows kind of like a chia pet. My hair did not grow more slowly on Herceptin, but it does for some people. It took about a year to get it to the look in my avatar picture, but I had cut it probably five times at that point. Depending on the texture you may have some trouble with putting extensions in, but hopefully not!
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Jennifer,
Conratulations on your engagement.
I can speak for me. My chemo was 6 rounds of TCH and I continue on Herceptin and have had 1 month of Tamoxifen. I will be 5 months PFC on 7/13 of the TC. I have about 1-1 1/2 inches of hair. It has been thickening and filling in, it was shorter and thinner in the front. I am told herceptin and tamoxifen slow things a bit.
I always have had very long hair. My ponytail was 18 inches when cut. While I do miss it, short hair is not so bad. I like the things I can do with a bit of gel.
all the best,
Vivian
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Hi Scared
As the others have said or seems to grow at different rates for all of us. I had 6 rounds and herceptin for a year. My hair started coming in around two months after finishing last chemo, full coverage but just a buzz look. I feel like mine grew slower while I was on herceptin but who knows.
I am 15 months out from the end of chemo and my hair is just below my chin with shorter layers on top still.
I have trimmed it to shape it as it has been growing. My hair also did not get cut when it came back, it came back a bit finer/softer.
I use Biotin which is supposed to help with hair growth. My hair was down to my breast before chemo, not sure I have the patience at this rate to grow it that long. This in between short hair drives me nuts. I actually liked it more last summer when it was a real short cut look but I really want to try getting it long enough to put up again.
Aldo, my friend had hers come back super curly and she had super straight long hair her whole life.
She is younger and her hair is growing in faster but it is staying very curly so far.
You will be so happy to have hair again when it grows back that I wouldn't wait on having a specific length in mind. Just my two cents.
Sorry you are going through this but congratulations on your engagement.
Take care,
Julieho
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jennifer, i am 7 months PFC and my hair only 2 inches long
specialK your hair grow pretty fast, one year and your hair almost touch your shoulder.....wow!!!0 -
soriya - my hair seemed to be unaffected by slow growth on Herceptin. I just cut it into a long bob, but it had been down to my elbow by the two-year point.
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specialk, you are so lucky. i cant wait for my hair touch my shoulder. i think will take me at least 3 years to get to my shoulder length
i had beautiful long hair before chemo so will see how my hair will turn out. 0 -
hi scared,
Have you considered penguin cold caps? You still have time to get them before you start chemo. They're expensive and not covered by insurance, but I finished tx 3 2 weeks ago and I still have my hair. It's thinner, it's not as amazing as it used to be, but you wouldn't know I'm in the middle of chemo looking at me. I can give you info if you're interested. So sorry you're going through this, but congrats on your engagement!!
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that's my hair less than 2 weeks ago.
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that's such gorgeous hair Wyomama!!!
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thank you!
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Wyomama, Gorgeous hair. I am so happy for you.
Good morning all, hope those of you in treatment are feeling better.
Update on nail/toenails. I am 4 1/2 months pfc .... Nails all looking ok, moisturizing because they are dry and brittle. Ridges seem to be diminishing. Toenails I will be losing my first one, next to little toe. It is still connected at the base and there is another nail underneath. I just did my own pedi, 2 days ago and didn't realize toe had an issue.
Take care,
Vivian
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viv - the toenail for me grew faster than the fingernail - the new one was growing in and kind of pushed the old one off. My fingernail just kept lifting and had stuff under it that was not good so the dermatologist cut the whole thing off. It took about six months to grow completely out again. I always carried band-aids in the car so I could cover it up - it was not cute at all!
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special. All 10 fingernails lifting
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princess - have you seen a derm for a culture of what is underneath? Mine had both fungal and bacterial stuff which was not helping! I did get a prescription, and the issue cleared with the removal of the nail - this had continued for an extended period after chemo was over as this particular nail was injured half way up the nail on the side of my finger prior to the start of chemo. The other nine fingernails did not lift, discolor or have any ridges or lines. I iced from the beginning, but it was not enough to save the injured one. The toenail that I lost was the baby and I don't think it stayed cold enough, but the new nail was right underneath. I am so sorry that you are having issues - it is such a pain because you need your hands!
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Wow wyo, if I had hair that gorgeous I would have done cold caps too! Glad you are keeping your hair!
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Hi Wyomama,
So I had asked my Oncologist about the Cold Caps....and she was against it. So I went out and bought a wig (synthetic...was waiting to buy the real hair...phew).
But I am reconsidering not using cold caps now. I was nervous due to the fact that I (we) have HER2+ cancer....not that I know if that means we are more prone to scalp mets than other types...but reading some of the literature...I think Cold Caps are less harmful than the Chemo. The Oncologists have no problem prescribing Cytoxan....meanwhile a side effect is possible Leukemia or Lymphoma.
I am highly likely going to use cold caps now....instead of buying a real hair wig. The Cold Caps are only $240 more (plus the deposit)....than the real hair wig. And keeping my hair is worth sooooo much more than $240.
Question: are you using a cooler and dry ice....or are their coolers/freezer at the hospital for you?
My hospital doesnt have a freezer to use....will have to use coolers and dry ice. Wondering if that is just as effective?
-Jennifer
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Cold caps/Icing fi gers & toes - I asked my oncologist about doing this and was told flat out No. He feels that with Her2+ cancer that no part of the body should be protected from the drugs. I am doing 12 weeks of TCH every 3 weeks followed by what (I forgot).
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blownaway - followed by Herceptin only infusions for the balance of the year.
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I am also Her2+, triple positive. TCH completed TC in Jan, still on H until Oct. Oncology here in Hawaii offered cold caps. My oncologist shared that he went to west coast clinics that give there cancer patients cold caps while taking treatments. There are different philosophies but u need to do what right for you.
I decided not to do the cold caps, it would have entailed my husband driving to the port to buy dry ice, the same day as my infusions and more assistance from my family. I didn't want to burden them with a additional task. It was hard at first when chunks of hair started falling out, eventually went to the barber shop and shaved my head. Seven mths after TC, My hair is filling in at less then 1/2 inch. I style my hair as if I intentionally want a extremely short pixie.
Hope everyone HS a great weekend
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What is the theory behind why icing works? I am guessing the ice somehow cools certain areas which "protects" them from the effects of the chemo. But chemo continues to circulate through your body for days so to be protected wouldn't you need to keep those areas cool for as long as the chemo is in your system? If icing only during the infusion saves hair and nails even though the drugs remain in your body, is it possible it is also reducing the effectiveness of the drugs in the areas you want it to work?
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debiann - here is some study info. Nails and hair are rapidly growing so the icing serves to prevent damage from the taxane drugs. Your theory of the cold temps preventing the circulation of the medicines is why a number of oncs do not support the use of cold caps because there are those patients who develop scalp mets. I don't think the discouragement of hand/foot icing is because of the worry about metastasis there, as that does not seem to happen, but rather there is a large number of docs and nurses who feel it does not work, so is not worth the bother.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15994152
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Thanks for the explanation Special K. I didn't consider cold caps or icing my nails because I cannot tolerate cold at all. I read that to be effective, cold caps need to be worn during the infusion plus 90 minutes after. Way to long for me too be cold!
When do the eyebrows & eyelashes usually fall out? I'll be starting round 4 this week and still hanging onto those. I lost maybe 60% of the hair on my head and body after round 1, but there was no shedding after rounds 2 & 3. I am happy to see what hair I have left growing, its going to be so sad to lose it.
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debiann - I never lost all of the hair on my head - and didn't start losing it until day 24. You may not lose much more than you already have. I had to shave my legs throughout chemo, just not as often. My brows thinned but I never lost them, lost all of the bottom lashes, most of the top. My lashes did not cycle after chemo was done - some have them fall out more than once.
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it's really lovely reading about your hair and lashes SpecialK.. i'm midway through my second cycle, and lost most of my head hair, and none of my other hair. Frankly, i hope my brows stay.. i've never used eyebrow pencils in my life and would feel really lost if i've to go out without brows..
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