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Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

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Comments

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570
    edited August 2014

    Blownaway, I can confirm what Linda said as far as SE.  I worked part time doing rads and Herceptin and I am working full time with just herceptin.  It does make your nose run and my eyes and I can be achey.  I did get pretty tired towards the ends of rads.

    It is a walk in the park compared to TC....please be encouraged.

  • princessrn
    princessrn Member Posts: 270
    edited August 2014

    blown away.... TCH x4. Was really hard on me. Now herceptin with rads doing great.  Back ache after herceptin. But working fulltime and run and bike 6 days a week. I feel very good. 

  • wyomama
    wyomama Member Posts: 79
    edited August 2014

    so I officially finished chemo #6 yesterday :) I think I'm still in shock a bit :)

    I have to say it was somewhat anti-climatic. That being said, I'm still a big ol cryer, so that keeps happening haha! I still have rads and the remainder of a year with herceptin. Then of course tamoxifen until forever. I'll take it, I don't care. Most likely I'll get a hysterectomy in a few years too. Just be done with it. 

    You ladies have made me laugh, cry, advocate for myself, give myself a break, helped me see the humor in a dark situation, walked me through se's imagined and truly felt, and I love each and every one of you for it. 

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited August 2014

    wyo - yay!!!!!!

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570
    edited August 2014


    Congrats wyo!!!!

  • bren58
    bren58 Member Posts: 688
    edited August 2014

    Great news wyo, you made it! H only should be much easier.

  • Blownaway
    Blownaway Member Posts: 662
    edited August 2014

    Well, Im glad to here that its going to get easier after my next and hopefully last infusion of the hard stuff. Right now, the bottoms of my feet look like I've been walking on hot coals and my left armpit where the lymph nodes were removed looks like I've been burned there also.

  • jennliza
    jennliza Member Posts: 176
    edited August 2014

    ANyone get an infected Port? Mine is infected. I've been given Levofloxin....took 2 doses (1 dose/day) and so far it seems worse. Wondering if there is something more I can do. I need this healed by Wed...my next treatment. If it not then the chemo will have to go through my vein..


     

  • LLizz
    LLizz Member Posts: 25
    edited August 2014

    I had my first infusion of TCH-P on August 19... 

    I don't remember anyone saying that my breast cancer would start to hurt.  It already hurt before the Dx, but now it's super angry and pissed off. 

    And my bed smells like bleach, because my husband was trying to be helpful, but it's disgusting. :(

  • Fionascottie
    Fionascottie Member Posts: 56
    edited August 2014

    Llizz....the area of my breast where the tumor is has been tender from time to time and often has sharp pain 'stabs' off and on. I've told myself it is the chemo shrinking the tumor!  I was really sore when I first started chemo, but at that time  I attributed it to my recent biopsy.

    I have completed 4 out of 6 TCHP treatments and the last two times I have bounced back pretty strongly after the first 10 days . I'm crossing my fingers that treatments 5 and 6 don't take be back down the slippery slope! I'll be SO, SO glad when this chemo is over. I'm getting Perjeta neoadjuvantly.....I had a relatively small tumor which I found early so my onc. recommended TCHP before surgery, with the hope hat the tumor would shrink if not disappear. 

    Are any of you opting for a lumpectomy? I know radiation is necessary if you have a lumpectomy so I waffle a bit back and forth. My surgeon maintains that my survival odds at 5 years are virtually the same if I do a lumpectomy as they would be with a mastectomy. I'm not leaning toward reconstruction and the surgery ( ies) required. 

  • Blownaway
    Blownaway Member Posts: 662
    edited August 2014

    Llizz - A HELPFUL HUSBAND! Please describe what that is like, Ive never seen nor heard of a helpful husband. 

  • Blownaway
    Blownaway Member Posts: 662
    edited August 2014

    Fionnascotti - I had a lumpectomy. The doctors never gave me a choice and I was told that even if I had both breast removed, I would still have to do 12 weeks of TCH, with a full year of herceptin, 4-6 weeks of rads, plus 5 years of one of the anti-cancer drugs. My tumors (2) were less than .6 cm, one was ICD but the other was starting to spread, although lymph nodes were clear.

  • AmyIsStrong
    AmyIsStrong Member Posts: 426
    edited August 2014

    Fionnascotti  - I had a lumpectomy also (over five years ago). I was not given a choice either, and was too much in shock at the time to question.  Back then, I felt my breasts had betrayed me and that I would never be able to see them positively (let alone sexually) again. But as time has passed, I have healed and I am very glad I did it that way.

    I know that many women who do BLM are very relieved and pleased with their choices as well. I don't think there is a right/wrong here, it is what you feel comfortable with. 

    Talk to a lot of people, get input (both from professionals and friends/personal referrals). Trust your gut.

    If there is anything I can do, please PM me any time.

    Amy

  • musicalmom
    musicalmom Member Posts: 46
    edited September 2014

    Dear BC GFs

    I haven't posted in a LONG time...it has been a hard recovery but I wanted to let you know I am 3 years cancer-free and I am surprised to admit that the hell I went through i.e. treatment has actually faded over time in my mind.  So please hang in there and cling to your family and friends. This site will be a source of inspiration and for those of you of Christian faith, the Lord was my strength and hope. HUGS!!!!

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited September 2014

    Congratulations musicalmom

    I too celebrated NED's 4th anniversary yesterday (note the day of my BMX). Life's Good

  • SlowDeepBreaths
    SlowDeepBreaths Member Posts: 6,702
    edited September 2014

    Happy Anniversary to you both!! I love hearing about the anniversaries.

    It gives me so much hope!!

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,356
    edited September 2014

    Adding my wishes for happy anniversaries.  So glad you're both here to remind us it does get better.  I not quite celebrating but I only have two more Herceptin infusions.

  • dancetrancer
    dancetrancer Member Posts: 2,461
    edited September 2014

    Happy Anniversaries to both of you!  It is such a wonderful feeling.  Never thought I'd feel happy about getting older.  But now I truly understand the adage "it beats the alternative!"  LOL

  • wyomama
    wyomama Member Posts: 79
    edited September 2014

    happy anniversaries ladies!  It's always good to hear positive things! :)

  • Fionascottie
    Fionascottie Member Posts: 56
    edited September 2014

    thank you, Blownaway and AmylsStrong, for your lumpectomy perspectives!   I have talked to my surgeon again and to my oncologist and gotten their input. Both affirm my initial choice of a lumpectomy and both say it is my choice, of course.  So, that is the plan once I complete my chemo. The last cycle begins with treatment on September 18, so I'm anticipating the surgery in October sometime, then radiation beginning some weeks later. Herceptin will continue until next June and I am truly hoping that it will be easy by itself! 

    Chemo is such an effective tool in this battle, but is will be SO SO glad to get to the end! The side effects have been difficult to say the least! 

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570
    edited September 2014


    Be assured Fionascotti Herceptin alone is very doable by its self.  I have my last treatment tomorrow!  I was advised the same thing that a lumpectomy and radiation has the same results as a MX.  I hope you have an easy time of it going forward.

  • naiviv
    naiviv Member Posts: 308
    edited September 2014

    Oficially 1 year NED as of yesterday, it feels good. And all of you with larger numbers makes me feel even better. Congrats !!!!

    Vivian

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited September 2014

    Actually I have seen some study posted (On Dr. Love's facebook page) stating that Lumpectomy with radiation might be more effective than just MX with no radiation. Now one study doesn't make it true so I'm sure they are doing more.

  • Scoobycat
    Scoobycat Member Posts: 3
    edited September 2014

    My last TCHP is on September 11 and I can't wait to get this in my rear view mirror. The most recent treatment (#5 of 6) kicked my butt and took almost 10 days to feel almost human again. Fortunately, it hadn't been too bad until that point. Worst se's for me were diarrhea from the Perjeta, and total loss of my taste buds. Oh yeah....and it looks like I'm on the way to losing some fingernails. Minor price to pay.

    The good news is that all seems to be working as planned. Both BS and MO say they can no longer feel my tumor. I'm planning lumpectomy with oncoplastic reconstruction and reduction, followed by radiation. They say that will be 4 to 5 weeks following last TCHP. 

    This has been quite a journey. I've learned a lot about myself and the people around me. I'm very blessed.

  • Fionascottie
    Fionascottie Member Posts: 56
    edited September 2014

    lovewins, thinks for your encouragement about the. Herceptin alone and congratulations on finishing your year! 

    Scoobycat, I am 9 days out from my last TCHP and it was my 5th treatment. I have felt worse than other times with more numbness in my fingers and toes and a total taste bud meltdown! I've had diarrhea all along, so no break from that . My fingernails have suddenly gotten pretty tender and they are looking kind of red under the nail. Signs of things to come? 

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited September 2014

    Fionascottie If your nails beds are hurting I hate to say this but it is a sign that they are lifting. Do your best not to press down (avoid trauma) to the nails. It can make it worse.

  • everforward
    everforward Member Posts: 57
    edited September 2014

    Fiona, round 5 is when things took a turn for me as well. The cumulative fatigue and muscle ache was bad. My taste buds were the wonkiest after round 6. My fingernails started turning black and yellow. But I'm  almost 5 weeks PFC and although my nails are still tender, there hasn't been any lifting (yet).

    The bad news is that the next month or so might be the worst of it for you; the good news is that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and you WILL make it through. Sending positive vibes your way!

  • debiann
    debiann Member Posts: 447
    edited September 2014

    Round 5 was the absolute worse for me too. MO gave me a one week break before #6 and a 20% reduction.  This REALLY helped make tx 6 tolerable. 



  • Fionascottie
    Fionascottie Member Posts: 56
    edited September 2014

    lago and EverForward, thanks for your input and positive thoughts!  #4 chemo cycle was the best yet, so I guess I had expectations that 5 (and6) would be similar. This is Day 10 of the 5th round and I'm just looking for the upturn....but instead I find that this morning the sides of my cheeks back toward my molars are roughed up and my lips feel a bit numb. I have found that those fruit Popsicles from Edie's , etc. are appealing. They are cold and a bit tart . 

    I am going to have a visit in just over a month from the grandbaby in my photo and it is my hope and goal to feel better by the time she and her parents arrive for a long weekend! She is the source of my user name: Fiona, called 'Fi' . I have missed her immensely since May when this all started! 

    I hope everyone has a good weekend!

  • pangtidor
    pangtidor Member Posts: 121
    edited September 2014

    Thank you so much for the postings. I have been reading the threads to get me prepared with the SE...

    I'm done with TCH round #1. The 3-5 days post chemo were bad but I was still able to work all day. I'm going to get the second round on next Tuesday. Are the SEs going to be worse for the later rounds? I will have to go for one year Herceptin after the mastectomy. the Mo told me Herceptin alone will be like a breeze compares to the TCH. Is it true ? Whewwww, I'm thinking how much they will cost us financially and physically. Lol.

    Happy anniversaries to you lago and naiviv ... The anniversaries bring us hope :-) great positive impacts on me as I just started the journey..:-)

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