Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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Prilosec is omerprazole.
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Pangtidor, I did a search on this site trying to find out if there were any words of wisdom about getting over diarrhea after completing chemo......I have completed 6 rounds of TCHP, my last infusion was September 18. It has now been over 5 weeks, I had surgery to remove the remnants of my tumor last week, but the diarrhea continues! I will say that the Herceptin and Perjeta did their job! My tumor could no longer be detected on mammogram or ultrasound when I went into surgery. The marker from the biopsy was marked and the surgeon removed scar tissue from the area. I get the pathology reports this Wednesday at my follow up .
I am decidedly bald with a touch of peach fuzz now and 4 of my nails have gone from painful to multicolored and I'm expecting liftoff ! I can live with all that, but I'm very weary of these stomach aches and running to the bathroom. My MO gave me Lomotil to take on top of Immodium. They usually give me about a 24 hour break before the gas and cramping start again. So, the question for me right now is: will this resolve with time? I'm truly hoping so! Has anyone completed TCHP ? Did you have intestinal issues?
I'll start back on a Herceptin alone next month when radiation (7 weeks) begins .....Herceptin will be until next June, every three weeks. I'm told that it will be a walk in the park .....crossing my fingers that it is!
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I addressed that reply to Pangtidor and her question about the "BigD"...... Then I got a bit sidetracked ! But, in answer to your question, my MO has blamed Perjeta as the likely culprit in my unrelenting diarrhea. May it is the P in TCHP or maybe not:) , but she indicated that she has other patients on Perjeta with the very same complaints.
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I had Big D issues all through chemo for at least 10 days following each infusion, and continued with Herceptin only until I started a probiotic, then the problem was solved. This was on the advice of one of the MO nurses.
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Perjeta is know to have the SE of the big D. Also watch what you eat. Don't eat things that you know will make you go like dried fruit, beans, whole grain and other stuff that you eat when you have the big C. White rice (not brown) and pasta (not whole wheat though) are some examples.
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I'm a firm believer in probiotics, especially Florastor. Reduces your risk of getting c-diff. DanActive drinkable yogurt also has good evidence for this.
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Whew! I am having insane hot flashes! No period, but man I am feeling the heat wave!
I had to delay chemo today because my WBC was 1.8, but after my next session they will give my Neulasta. I hate that they have to delay it, but it is for the best. My hgb took another hit. 10.5 last time to 9.8 this time.
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VioletKali, it does seem distressing to have a chemo delayed, but your body needs the break and your next session will go so much better. Good luck.
I'm having intense hot flashes too. I was post menopausal to start, thought I was done with hot flahes, but they are even worse now. MO says its due to the decrease in hormones and I didn't even start the AIs yet. YIKES!
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debiann I was perimeno before chemo (Last period 2 weeks before chemo started). I went on AI 5 weeks after chemo. Hot flashes were worse on chemo.
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Thanks lago, I do hope the hot flashes become more tolerable.
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My chemo-induced hot flashes were horrendous at first. Really intense and about 5 times a day. But after chemo they subsided considerably to "warm flashes" and less frequently. But now that I've started on Tamoxifen, I feel them revving up again. I keep a hand fan with me all the time now.
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My chemo-induced menopause and hot flashes were pretty wicked, too. About 25 a day at one point - seriously so intense I became nauseated at times. I was pretty miserable. Unfortunately mine continued to be very intense (and actually worsened) while on Tamoxifen for a while after chemo - I forget when they started to moderate, but maybe about 9 months to a year? But now I have absolutely none at all and feel great (knock on wood!). I think it really varies person to person how their body reacts with hot flashes.
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I am pre menopause, age 32, so this is definitely a new experience. I do like not having a period though.
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I took Premarin for 10 years or so due to severe hot flashes after menopause at age 48 and full hysterectomy at around 50. When I was diagnosed with B/C this spring, of course I had to ditch the estrogen and I've been suffering ever since with hot flashes. I did not realize that chemo brought them on worse. I finished TC about 7-8 weeks ago and am just on Herceptin and rads now and I still am having about 5 wakeup sweat calls every night and about the same number of hot flashes during the day. I am dreading taking Arimidex/Tamoxifen. I will probably go on Ambien and become addicted to it.0 -
Blownaway be sure to discuss this with both your MO and GYN. Lack of sleep and intense hot flashes need to be dealt with.
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Lago - I have a prescription of Ambien but I tend to shy away from taking it on a regular basis. I would hate to build up a tolerance/addiction to the stuff and while I'm getting up at 5 a.m. to be on the rad table by 7 a.m., I'm afraid that if I take a sleeping pill, I won't wake up with the alarm. Right now, I'm taking Benedryl and Melatonin at night but still wake up about 5 times a night with a pounding heart, sweat, pissed off.....you name it. I don't know why I tend to react so strongly to a hot flash but I remember my grandmother having terrible hot flashes. My mom always took Premarin from the time she was 24 and had a complete hysterectomy until she was in her late 60's, so who knows how bad her's would have been. Do you know if there is something they can do to alleviate them while not introducing hormones into your body?
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thank you so very much for the inputs ladies. GI tract SEs are better now 8 days post chemo. The Perjeta really kicks me hard. I've already added my pills supply for the next round.
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blownaway my hot flashes were never that bad. I mean I never got all wet. More like warm then cold. Now I just get warm enough to wake up. My mom didn't have it that badly. My sister does. She was officially in menopause about the time I was diagnosed and is still dealing with it. I swear by my Bucky Blinks sleep mask
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Blownaway my onc prescribed a sleeping pill to help me get good rest at least a few times a week, as my hot flashes were disturbing my sleep markedly. I limited myself to taking it no more than 2 times a week so that it would maintain it's effectiveness. There is nothing like a good night of rest to help you get through treatment.
There is an antidepressant that some onc's prescribe that helps with hot flashes without interfering with Tamoxifen. Someone on here probably remembers the name of it, but it is escaping my memory right now (chemobrain!).
Meditation, hypnosis, or acupuncture are other alternative treatments that some say may help. YMMV.
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Thank you in advance for any advice. I'm still reading through the many posts. But this is a question uppermost in my mind: How debilitating is the TCH on an immediate basis? I'm wondering if I can plan to drive myself home from the infusion(s) or if I have to arrange for transportation?
Many thanks!
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I was told to bring a driver. I felt wiped out and was happy I didn't have to drive. Just walking across the parking lot was an effort by the last 3 rounds, but I suppose if I absolutley had to drive I could have.
How far do you live from your center?
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SueNavyBlue - I could drive myself home from the TCH infusions but my fam wouldn't let me. They insisted on driving Miss Daisy. The first infusion, I got sick at 9 a.m. the next morning and was sick for 3 days. The ladies on this board gave me the names of 5 steroids that should have been in my infusion to keep me from being sick. The next infusion, I took the names of the steroids with me and it was confirmed that I had received all but one of them - Emend. The doc added it and I was never sick again. THANKS AGAIN, GALS!!!!0 -
SueNavy, I could have driven myself to and from all my infusions, but I always had a friend or hubby with me. I never really felt bad until the next day or day after. Some ladies drove themselves and some could not. It is probably best to plan to have someone drive you the first time at least, because you don't know how you will feel. It also depends on how far you have to drive.
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Dancetrance - The onco tried me on Effexor but that stuff made me feel really weird. I've asked if there was something else I could try and I got a $25 co-pay shoulder shrug.
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SueNavyBlue Don't drive it. You may get Benadryl and that can make you spacey. My last treatment my DH couldn't come because he started a new job. I actually took public transportation (bus to subway and another subway switch). On the way home I took a cab because I worried I might be a little out of it and someone might pick pocket me…
should of gone public though. It had snowed in the morning then melted. By the time I got home it was black ice. Landed flat on my ass when I got out of the cab.
Seriously you don't know how you will react.
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Good point lago, I forgot about the benedryl!
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suenavyblue, they gave me Benadryl for each infusion. On my first TCH, they checked my vital signs every 5 minutes for 15 minutes after the infusion and the nurse actually walked me outside to make sure I won't drive home. Hubby had to be with the kids and waited for me outside.
It's 2 hours drive home for me, I always fell asleep on the way home. Hubby always says I look so pale and drained out after chemo.
Arrange transportation so you don't have to drive. Talk to the social worker at your cancer center, they may help you.
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Your post sounds exactly like mine. I have the "power surges" more now than before the Premarin.......what can we do? I'm having trouble staying awake while driving because i get no sleep.......i actually sleep on towels because i am drenched...........we get meds to stop hot flashes, then we get cancer and we still end up with these God awful hot flashes
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suenavyblue - I guess I'm the exception. I had someone take me to the first infusion because I knew they were going to administer benedryl. After that, since I had no allergic reaction & no more benedryl, I drove myself every time. My infusions took 8-9 hours & I packed a lunch. Again I guess I'm weird, but I liked being by myself to be able to just read or sleep during infusions. And I liked not having to worry about someone else waiting or being bored or having to visit. My son who lives in another state often called to chat when I was stuck in the chair. I drove myself to every rad sessions too. That really made sense since it took longer to change clothes than the treatment.
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Minus Two, I feel as you do about driving myself ... I did have a driver for TCH #1 "just in case", but I was fine. I intend to drive myself from now on, with MO's blessing ... and family/friends' grudging acceptance. I live a bit over an hour away from the center.
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