Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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Welcome, Donna. Most people will say that everyone reacts differently, but there are some common SEs. I'll share what mine have been. My infusuion is on Wed, and I take the whole day off from work (yes, I've been working full time through chemo as much as possible). I go to work Thursday and Friday, and by Friday afternoon I start to feel sore and achy. I had really bad bone pain from the Neulasta shot so stopped taking it after round 3. Even without the bone pain, Friday evening through Sunday I usually feel muscle aches, swollen, and sore from the back of my head and neck through my torso and arms. Mineral Ice helps. Constipation usually lasts through Sunday as well, and transitions to the big D on Monday like clockwork. I also have digestive issues and funny taste buds for that week. Fatigue hits off and on and I'll take a day off if needed. Since round five, the general fatigue and the muscle fatigue in particular have been getting worse. I've never had any nausea or neuropathy but others have reported it.
I'm in the chair today for my last TCH infusion. Good luck to everyone joining me this week. Hoping for minimal SEs!
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Hi Lizz
You should also look for the August chemo group so you can all share your experiences. I started last month so my group is the July chemo group. You should read some of those posts because we are writing all about se's and what to buy and what works for what. I'm on the same treatment as you are and I wrote down all my stuff. Maybe there is a way to just click on my profile and read all my posts.
I learned so much from this forum and my July chemo group. I bought so much stuff prior to my first treatment and I was totally prepared.
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Welcome Liz and Donna, I am glad that both of you have found our thread. You have already received some good info. Yes everyone does react differently so you will have to see what SE's you each get. If you are getting anti nausea drugs with your chemo, be prepared for constipation afterwards as it is a very common SE, although a few of us had really bad diarrhea instead. Either way, some kind of wipes are a good idea. Remember to drink lots of water, the day of chemo and for several days after to help flush the toxins out of your body. Feel free to come back here often with all of your questions, someone is sure to be able to help you.
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Well Ladies...... This "cocktail" is really kicking my ass. (I'm also doing Perjeta)
I've had three treatments so far, and my fourth is next week. I am absolutely dreading it. My side effects seem to be getting worse after every treatment, and I don't know how much more I can take =(
To sum it up, I feel good for a day or 2 after chemo. Then I have EXTREME FATIGUE and exhaustion which literally makes me sleep for 3-4 days. Followed by another 10 days of nausea. This round I did not start to feel good until yesterday, which meant I literally laid in bed feeling like crap for a whole two weeks. I cannot get the nausea under control. I started to throw up blood eventually and called the doctor. I was told to alternate 2 different anti-nausea meds every 4 hours. I did this for 2 days around the clock and it still didn't stop the vomiting. It just went away on it's own and now I finally feel good.
I hate this. Sorry for the newbies I'm not trying to scare anyone...... I know some people fly through this like it's nothing but I am having a really difficult time with it. I could just cry thinking I only have 6 more days til I have to go back. I can't eat or drink a single thing (except a few bites of fruit and sips of water here and there) when Im nauseated, which has resulted in me losing over 15 pounds. I was already a small person. Now I'm really tiny. It's awful to just lay there feeling like I'm wasting away to nothing.
Sorry for all the venting. But I'm desperate for any pointers. I will definitely be talking to my oncologist about everything when I see her next week but I am so disappointed this is going so terrible for me.
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fl_sunshine - have they tried a Sancuso patch for you? They are generally the court of last resort due to cost, but they are supposed to be super for nausea.
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I have never heard of that...... I wonder if my insurance would pay for it. I will ask about it. I'm willing to try anything at this point!
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fl_sunshine - it is definitely worth trying and if your physician characterizes your nausea as intractable, and I think you meet the definition, your insurance company might be more likely to cover them, as it is quite expensive. They are timed release patches you wear on your skin. I have a good friend who recently used them for ACT and her insurance had no problem with paying for them.
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sunshine...prayers and hugs your way
. These ladies are great with answers to se's. Sorry I have nothing. Hope you can get the patches, and I hope they work for you !0 -
DonnaNJ - My first treatment of TCH did not include "Emend" a medication for nausea. I was sick for 3 days. After reading here, I requested Emend to be added and I had absolutely no nausea after the second TCH infusion. Not having nausea made a huge difference for me. If you don't get the Emend added in time, be sure to take your anti-nausea prescription meds the minute you feel nausea and stay on top of it. Also, headache and body aches - take something as soon as you feel achy - don't wait. Drink, drink, drink water to flush the chemo drugs out of your body. I didn't ice anything and my hair started falling out on day 14 after the first infusion. I also have some numbness in my fingertips to discuss with my onco. Think about getting a port, especially if you had lymph nodes removed because the nurses will only be able to use the other arm for infusions - that's going to be very hard on your veins.0 -
I would like to know "Am I the only one gaining weight?" AAaarrrgg,,,,0 -
I gained about 20. Super swelling to legs. Ugh I felt so bad. Feeling great now. Lost 30. I hiked a mountain last weekend. I am having radiation currently And finished chemo end of April.
It will get better.
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My MO wrote a prescription for Marinol. My nausea was kept under control, so I never had to use it. It's supposed to stimulate appetite and help with nausea. May be another thing to try as a last resort.
Blownaway, I gained 40 lbs. during treatment. So no, you're not alone!!
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Sunshine, I too had a very difficult time with TCH. Hugs to you! And, if you aren't getting Emend in your IV, ask about that!
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sunshine, (((hugs))) to you. Definitely talk to your MO, you should not have that much nausea. Hopefully he/she can find a solution for you.
Blownaway, I too gained weight during tx, probably about 10 lbs. A year later it is all gone.
princess, good for you going hiking! Great pic BTW.
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Many thanks for all the awesome information! I am overwhelmed how much I keep learning on a daily basis. Does anyone get migraines? I use Relpax which is a prescription and I wonder if it will work on the chemo headache.
Blow away: what do you take for bone pain? I've read the recommendation for Claritan on day one, is that what you take? Thanks!
It's a bit late here in Eastern time, but I wish you all a pleasant SE free evening!
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donnanj - the Claritin (regular Claritin, not Claritin D) is used for bone pain associated with Neulasta injections. I don't think it has much value for any bone pain caused by taxane chemotherapeutic agents. Just wanted to clarify that!
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I finished chemo yesterday and got to ring the gong and everyone clapped. It was hard not to cry. I still have to go back for the Herceptin every few weeks until April so I'll make a bigger ruckus with the gong then. I was feeling pretty good by the evening so I walked around the corner (overruling the muscle fatigue) to treat myself to dinner and a decadent dessert while my taste buds and digestive system don't object. I was wearing a scarf without the wig and I noticed a family at the next table glancing over my way. When they got up to leave, the father made a u turn toward my table and said, "I wish you well. I had prostate cancer." I thanked him and almost started crying again. Now all I have to do is get through the next 9 days until I get on a plane to CA, aka a little slice of heaven.
Donna, Nothing helped my bone pain so I ceased taking Neulasta after round 3. I didn't notice any difference in my other SEs or fatigue after round four, but from round five I was tired more often and the low blood cell count certainly affected muscle fatigue. But that could be cumulative fromreaching the end of treatment and not from a lack of Neulasta. Seems like muscle fatigue is a common end-of-treatment SE.
Princess, you look amazing! I used to enjoy hiking and I can't wait to feel healthy enough to get back to doing all the things I love. Thanks for motivating me.
Blownaway, I have gained a good ten pounds around my stomach and hips only since all this started. Not sure I'm done, either. More and more of my work clothes are going in the "too small" pile. Boo!
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Ever, congrats on finishing the hard part of chemo! H only should be a piece of cake.
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DonnaJ - I take hubby's tylenol 3 but so far have not had neulasta shots added to the mix so my pain is probably not as severe as the ladies getting that.
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Everforward - after just 1 chemo, my red blood count, hemoglobin, hematacrit dropped below normal levels. Already my thighs burn when riding my bicycle only a short distance. I wonder if the onco can add B12 to the iv cocktail mix? I know some of my weight gain is from swollen ankles, hands (just fluid retention).
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ever - yay!
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Ever, great news!!
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Hello, I am happy to report that even I made it to round 6 of my chemo, yesterday! With many delays due to low blood platelets (which always bounced back, last time from 53,000 in week 3 to 123,000 in week 5, go figure ...). I was at a small hospital, not infusion center, thus, no gong, but I was so happy with the nurses and the personal attention I got, and the private room with a bed. I brought goodies for the nurses, and will go back there for Herceptin until end of February.
My MO wants me to start on Tamoxifen right away, and I have to get my head around the questions I want to ask her. All hyped up on steroids now, will be on "vacation" next week (haha, luckily we are not going anywhere, just whale watching here in California next Friday, and a few day trips if I feel well enough). It's been a drag, and I am glad it's over. Hopefully never again. Now I have to get that hurting hip diagnosed properly and fixed - I am doing PT, and had a clean xray, but can't do MRI due to tissue expanders, and my MO is hesitant to schedule a bone scan due to added radition, but I might do it nevertheless for peace of mind. Before Tamoxifen, I am also requesting a bone density scan, as my little brother at 39 years has an extremely heavy case of osteoporosis, and I am not sure whether that could be a problem for me as well. Does it ever stop?
I did gain about 8 pounds, especially in my belly (never had one, now I look slightly pregnant ...) Hopefully that will go away soon. My engergy levels vary greatly, 2 days after my last chemo I went kayaking with my son in 90 degree weather, it was a mistake, and I almost keeled over, but hey, life goes on. My fingernails look gross, all broken off and ripped, yellow and red, I have to paint them blue, I guess to at least not have to look at the grossness every time. Hair: 1/2 inch, pretty grey, formerly dark blond (I am 44). But a bit of color when it's longer will do the trick. I have not worn my wig once, I only wore hats and scarfs, and I did have some people come up to me with comments, or huggin me and telling me they had had cancer. So, we are not alone.
Hugs to all you ladies going through it right now, it shall pass and hopefully never come back. Everyone's side effects are different: I did not have any nausea or constipation, but had a completely dried-out nose for weeks, but it was runny, all at the same time. Bad mouth sores (biotin helped, toothpast and moutwash), painful fingertips and bad nails (I am trying to just ignore), dry and teary eyes, bad acne from steroids. I had a bout of shingles in between that just would not heal and what not. But, I am here, and I am not planning to go anywhere. I worked three days a week through all the treatment, and I credit my sanity to that for the most part: if forced me to get up in the morning, face the mirror, shower, put make-up on and get dressed. People got used to the lady in the hat, I learned to ignure the stares (many Indian and Chinese males with a different set of manners and varying degrees of rudeness in this respect in my company). I went home when I felt crappy or worked from home, but the social interaction in the office environment definitely helped me. I have to say, however, it would have been a lot harder to be a teacher or a sales person, as you can't hide. So, everyone is different, do what's best for you. I don't want to call it a journey, but it is a process of adjustment and seeing what works for you personally.
So, back to work. I hope everyone is having a SE free day and is looking forward to a nice weekend. I will deal with my SEs this weekend and got a few movies to watch, and my husband will dink around with the kids.
Hugs to you all, this is a wonderful forum for ranting, asking questions and getting answers and most of all, feeling that you are not the only one.
Summerwheat
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summer wheat..glad to here...you go girl.
I was told here that about day 14, hair usual starts to come out. Doesn't make a dif to me. Over the last 12 yrs I have lost it plenty from different chemos . But I woke up that day, still with full head of hair and said HA, I guess I am keeping it. Then came the evening...lol so I am doing the Demi Moore look and took out my big huge earrings. Love to go with the flow and decorate it...lol
Hope everyone is doing well. Feeling great this week, going back for number 2 on Wednesday.
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Good evening everyone! I have officially completed my first day of chemo! It was a long uneventful day! My port worked well, not too bad of a pinch going in, coming out hurt a smidge more. Lots of flushes, anti-nausea Meds, Benadryl (which knocked me out!), 90 minutes of Herceptin and taxotere and carboplatin. I feel great! The only trouble so far is the severe indigestion from the steroids. Second night, but I already took the Zantac BEFORE it wakes me up at three! I take the steroids again tomorrow, so I expect Sunday to be my first down day...or not! I hate the sitting duck feeling! I get the Neulasta shot at nine on Sunday. Taking Claritan first! I'm also very thirsty. Drank six bottles of water so far. Hoping they don't keep me up tonight! I hope you are all feeling well and have a restful night! Hugs to all!
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yay, summerwheat. Glad you made through all 6 round of chemo, it sounds like you are doing well.
DonnaNJ, I am glad it was a just a long boring day. That how it was for most of us. Hope your SE's will be mild, and keep drinking tons of water for the next several days.
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DonnaNJ - Did your doctor give you steroids to take at home? I know I'm getting steroids in my IV during the infusion every 3 weeks but the only drugs at home are anti-nausea pills.
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Hi BA! My doctor gave me oral steroids, two a day starting the day before and then the next two days, so today is my last day. I didn't get steroids in my infusion yesterday. I went to an oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering first and her protocol was oral day before, in infusion, then two more days. It seems like the steroids prolong side effects for a few days. They are causing nighttime indigestion, but generic Zantac takes it right away. I'm a little shaky today, my hands feel shaky but you don't see any shaking. Heading out for some exercise and fresh air, as fresh as 81 degrees can give! You are probably used to much hotter in Texas! Have a great day! PS the only other at home drugs I have are anti-nausea Meds.
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Donna, I had the oral steroid plus the iv steroids the day of infusion. I had killer indigestion and the Dr switched me from Zantac to Prilosec. That switch did the trick. I was shaky coming off the steroids. Nice thing about all the steroids, nothing hurt and my house was really clean! You're on your way. Hang in there.
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Everyone seems to do so well on steroids then hits the wall after...too bad we can't stay on them! I started the day a little shaky, but went to a picnic, rode pedal go-carts, did some walking, and just came home at nine. No indigestion yet, but may take the Zantac anyway so I don't get a middle of the night attack. Today was my last day of steroids, so I expect another good day tomorrow. Headed for my Neulasta shot at nine tomorrow. Taking Claritan before. My fingers are still crossed and hoping for the best! Have a good night everyone, feel good!
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