Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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caseyDoodle and Traci I am also from Ga. I am from Douglasville which is about 20 miles west of Altanta.Are either of you getting treatment in the Atl. area? Casey I am coming up your way tomorrow...my husband is taking my son and I to the mountains for a few days before I have surgery next Thurs. We are staying in Ellijay, but will drive up through blueridge and Blairsville.! Small world huh?
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Where's Aly these days? Are you doing OK, girl?
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we have an oncology center here in town and it seems I am getting the same treatment as everyone in the bigger cities. Our oncology center seems to be great, I like it alot. If I were to have any continued problems I am sure I would go to a larger center. Are most of you using a large cancer center or what?? I never imagined I would need an oncologist! I am learning as I go. By the way Tifton is in south Georgia an hour north of Florida.
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Traci/Lisa: I wonder why the cheese works but that's funny b/c those little Laughing Cow cheddar thingies in the red wax have been a staple for me - (the crackers to go with it were cardboard.)
Carolyn -- I hope you get a picture taken -- I'd love to put a face with your story and sweet heart. I need to post my fishie picture while I'm at work b/c my Photoshop editor --to make the pic small enought -- isn't working on my home computer -- but I keep forgetting when I'm there.
Aly -- where are you? Hoping that you're feeling better.
Shelby -- I loved your locker room story. Courageous and compassionate -- women are able to reach out to each other effectively and lovingly --how lonely it would be (from my perspective) to have so much to bear and not be able to talk openly about it when we can and want to. How I wish I could run 5K -- but I couldn't run before this.....My commitment to exercise is going to change now that I've been hit 'long side the head with this 2x4.
This site has provided such useful advice. I'm now also reading posts on a "beginning radiation" thread and it's loaded with tips. Names of creams and what to expect -- out the wazoo.
Hoping everyone's better everyday -- even if it's only temporary until the next tx, Bethany
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Went to the surgeon visit today and I was so happy to finally find a Dr. that is on his mark. I don't know if he re viewed my file before my visit or he just remembers me, but it was nice that I was a person and not just another cancer patient. He was the one that seven months ago did the needle biopsy and also called to tell me it was cancer. Also the Dr. that came in and after weeks of the infection from the colostomy smelled the dressings and told me to boil some water, add two teaspoons of bleach and soak my packing in it, wring it out, and pack the wound. Cleared up in two days. No I like him allot and I think that is important. Long story short he wants to wait 4 to 6 weeks after Tuesday (my last TCH) to make sure all the chemicals is out of my body first. I will have a Modified Radical Mastectomy with removal of lymph nodes. How many will determine what he finds when he goes in. He remembers the lump being the size of a golf ball and was pleased to see it is gone now. After the surgery will be 6 weeks of rads everyday. Of course continueing with the Herceptin to complete the year. I will see the plastic surgeon on Monday although won't have that until a year after the Radiation. After the Mastectomy I will go in and have the Colostomy put back in my body. He does not want to do both at the same time as was suggested by the first onc. He says the surgery will leave a small margin of things going wrong and when you open the gut for the Colostomy it just puts me more at risk for an infection. I agree and have gotten used the little bag so it isn't a problem to wait on that. I'm just so happy to have a new road to go down and have a plan to walk it.
Lisa I can't handle tap water even with Crystal light peach tea, but I can use bottle water with it and it is ok. After chemo wears off I can use tap water.
Traci that is why I go in the next day for an extra bag of IV fluids as it is hard for me to get water down too and this helps to keep me hydrated. Also going in the veins makes it better than drinking anyway.
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Dear Cupcake,
So glad to hear that the tumor is gone. That is wonderful news. It must be a relief to have a better idea of "the plan."
God bless you,
Bethany
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Hi All,
Had the first chemo tx yesterday. Herceptin infusion went fine. Taxotere, well that sucked, after 15 drops through the IV I was having terrible back cramps and spasms in my spine down to my tailbone. They loaded me up with more IV meds, benedryl, dexamethasone and pepcid and tried again. As soon as they restarted it same thing happened. Oncologoist then thought we might have to stop for today and change the chemo regimene to other drugs, but she wanted then to try IV Antivan first, and take one more shot at it. That worked, although I was pretty loopy after all the meds. They then followed with the Carboplatin and there were no problems. It was an 8 hours process but I'm glad we got through it. Next week it's just the one infusion of Herceptin, hopefully that will be like a piece of cake after the first full blown adventure.
This morning I'm noticing that my face and chest are red. Not like hives or a rash, but all over like a sunburn, put lotions and creams on to see what happens. Anybody else experience the "sunless sunburn"?? or should I be watching it like it is another reaction to the meds?
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My face got all red from the steroids they gave me. It went away the next day.
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Cali I also had very red cheeks and a few red splotches on my body. They said mine was from the steroids but I would give your dr a call and let them know. They know all about these things and better to be safe. Your Herceptin tx next week should be alot better for you. I have been getting them weekly since August and it's a breeze at this point. Good luck!
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Good morning all!
Susiered - enjoy the beautiful mountains. I am working in Dallas Texas this week, but when I left Blairsville last Saturday, the leaves were still on the trees and beautiful. My bother-in-law and his family live in Douglasville, we have made several trips there. Where are you getting your treatments? I see Dr. Janice Galleshaw at Georgia Cancer Specialists, Northside Hospital in Sandy Springs. it is quite a drive for me, but she is a breast cancer specialist and came highly recommended by two friends that have battled breast cancer.
Traci - I chose to have my treatments at a larger cancer center just because the cancer center in our small town did not have a breast cancer specialist.
Shelby - you are an inspiration to me. I am like Bethany - have made a new commitment to exercise. I am up to walking - SLOWLY - 2.5 miles each day. I hope someday to be able to run a 5K. You go girl!!
Can someone tell me how to PM? I can't figure it out for the life of me!!
I had the same problem drinking water as most others have noted - it had a funky metallic taste, whether bottled or tap. I settled on green tea and it worked well for me during chemo. Of course now, I gag at the sight of it and don't think I'll touch green tea for the rest of my life. I am back to drinking water. I also had IV fluids twice during the week following chemo. It helped so much!
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Cali4 I also had the "tomato" face as my onc. nurses called it. Mine was also from steroids and went away in about 2 or 3 days. I would also suggest letting your onc. know, but that is probably what it is.
CaseyDoodle I go to a Dr. Brenda Simpson who is also at Northside. She is a breast specialist and was highly recommended to me. My surgery will be at Northside next week. I did my chemo in Austell by Cobb Hospital. I have a friend who went to Dr. Galeshaw and LOVED her.
I hope everyone is feeling well today!
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I used to steep mint leaves or lemon mint leaves in hot water and then mix it into a quart or two or plain water to flavor it- regular water tasted horrible during chemo!
Kristy
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Well, I have a great title for any writing I do in the future about my bc experiences: "The Cat Peed on My Wig and Other Adventures in BC". She's always been scared of it when I leave it lying around, and while getting ready for work this morning, I found my wig behind the couch, wet in one spot (thanks heavens just on the ends - she's not a good aim, obviously.) I guess she thinks it's another pet or something and she's jeaous, or else she's just crazy. I was able to quickly shampoo that spot and get to work on time, but it will be soaking all evening, believe me.
Brenda: So glad you are finally dealing with a doc you like! And what great news - the treatment has eradicated the tumor!
Cali4: I, too, always had the lovely magenta complexion after tx. After about the 5th tx, I also developed little bags of fluid under each eye - this made me even happier that I took that day off each time.
CaseyDoodle: To send a PM, click on that person's name (in the left-hand column, above their picture.) Their bio comes up, and in the right-hand corner it says "Send ___ a Personal Message." Just click on that.
Hi to Aly! We miss you and hope you're doing OK.
I'm taking the afternoon off to go get H - hope everybody has a good day.
Sue
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susiered - you are in good hands. Dr. Simpson did my surgery on May 1, 2008 at Northside. My Dad kept telling everyone "Kay's surgeon must be 19 years old!" because she looks so young. I could not have been happier with that group of doctors. Dr. Galleshaw is my onco and she is great too. I have always felt like I have gotten excellent care. Good luck on your surgery!
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Cali....I had much the same reaction to taxotere, back in Feb 07.....they tried 3 times to give me the first dose and then quit and fed me cytoxin instead. The second time I premedicated myself with steroids the night before and had no more problems with taxotere. Did a total of 10 Carboplatins, 9 taxoteres, 1 cytoxin, and herceptin for a year.
I was always redfaced and hot for a few days after treatment. It is the drugs...also constipated, but that doesn't cause your face to get red (maybe??)
Good Luck and Hang in there!
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I just got back from my herceptin tx. I did not have a good day. The tx was uneventful but my labs have me all upset. I have had good blood test results every time but today they told me my hemoglobin was low and if remained low next week I would need blood. My platelets are also low. I am two weeks out from my last big tx and I am due for my next big tx next Thursday. I don't want to have to have a blood transfusion. It sounds scary to me. Have any of you had to have blood? I have had four of my big tx and they said the chemo is wearing me down and if I don't have to get blood next week that my next tx could drop my levels again and before Thanksgiving I could end up needing one. I guess they are preparing me. Did anyone else go through this??? I am really upset about this. I am taking iron now to see if it helps.
Suemed I laughed so hard and so loud when I read about your poor wig. That is the funniest thing I have heard so far. I met another woman at chemo that was complaining about having to wear her old prosthesis because "the dog ate her boob"!
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Well, I had 4 weeks' worth of the Big H today, because my next day would be Thanksgiving. Sue--I loved your story about the cat and the wig. What a hoot! As I always say, it's much better to be pissed off than pissed on! As for me, I would totally go commando all the time now, except now that it's getting a bit cooler (even here in Camelot), my head gets chilly. But actually, I rather LIKE my hair. And until cats learn how to fly, it's relatively safe from being urinated upon!
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Traci,
I had somer eally low blood counts too. I was hospitalized in August just before tx #6 and my hemoglobin dropped to 7- partly because they kept drawing blood to check on the blood staph culture (I got staph in my PICC line). My doc wanted to igve me blood and I REALLY did not want to do that- didnt want to add ANYTHING else to the mix. I was stubborn and didnt have it and Im still trying to get it back up to normal (Chemo ended August 14) - I took multivitamins, tried to eat iron rich foods and exercised- they say non of those really help but my doc thinks the exercise will heop with the red blood cells.
ROFL about the hair stories. I was going commando everywhere except church and my office and now Im commando there too- told the men at church that when I had as much hair as Barack and more than McCain, I was officially released from the hat/wig obligation LOL.
I have salt and pepper- really dark pepper- and I amn starting to like it- I kept it colored before but I may go wih this if it stays as pretty as it is coming in- then I can spend all the hairdresser money on something more fun!
I have Herceptin and see Onc tomorrow- pray for my nurse to get the IV first time- it so stresses me when the IV goes poorly!
Kristy
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Cupcake, A million crongrats on such a positive doc appointment!!! I must say I think you were given excellent advice to NOT close the colostomy and do the mastectomy at the same time. I have had a colostomy (not cancer related) and several susequent large intestine surgeries and infection is THE BIGGEST concern. Large intestine surgery is also a mega-bear to recover from; so many muscles have to be disturbed in your core region - ouch. I had a double modified mastectomy before my chemo and I would NOT want to have to recover from both of those procedures at the same time. Good luck with all that is coming up!!!
Ladies, as for water: I give up. I am getting very dehydrated, I can see it and feel it. So today I just started guzzling diet coke. Normally, I NEVER drink soda, but it tastes good, I can drink all I want and it is liquid.
Loved the Cat on the Wig story!!! I laughed out loud!!! I just had my new wig styled today so it will be ready when my hair starts coming out this weekend. I will be sure to keep it far, far away from my cat!!!
Lisa
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Thanks Lisa. My colostomy is not cancer related also, well sort of. Because of my very first Chemo tx I blew a bowel from constipation and had to have emergency surgery to correct it. They can re-fix it later.
Be very careful of the soda's...although they taste good you are already getting dehyrated and sodas will dehydrate you more because of the caffeine. Try Crystal Light in a flavor you like.
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Hello everyone, I finished the #6 yesterday and I have to go in today for the Neulasta but I begged not to since my white cells were good but they would not back down. I had to wait the extra week to take this one but the counts all came up to normal range in that week and I felt really good this past week but not I guess I am down for a couple of weeks. They gave me an extra Decadron when I took the Carbopatin because I was having breathing problems with it and even though I still had some it was not as bad but did last longer this time. I guess if I had not had the extra I wold have had to have something to revive me. I am glad it is over! Now I have to wait for my doc to get back for knee surgery and I will have a mammogram and MUGA and then sign up for rad. I really dread going down town everyday. I can do this though! I am going to try to work too before they fire me. I am passed my off time to where they have to keep me so who knows with the lay offs.
As for the sex thing yes it is the chemo I think and I am going to try the stuff Cupcake suggested.
We have had a busy week this week with getting everything done before the chemo and then going to vote and doing errands. On Wed which is usually my tx day my husband was due for his heart scan and then my chemo was on Thurs this week which has thrown me totally off. Next Wed is my Herceptin and his update on his heart scan so we can do that all in one day thank goodness.
Lisa1964, don't drink too much soda because it will not absorb into you system like other things will. If you drink soda drink no caffeine.Drink root beer or flavor like grape, ginger ale etc.I bought a strawberry soda to take to chemo yesterday and it tasted awful before the tx because it was so sweet but it was going to be at my lunch time and I needed something besides water and as the treatment went on it tasted better. they did not get onto me for the soda though. We stopped for my husband to eat lunch/supper at a cafe and I drink decaf. coffee to warm me up which game me indigestion. I did sleep all night without a pain pill thanks to steroids and no pain for a change. I took my anti nausea med and that really knocks me out. I go about 2 weeks with stuff tasting bad and then one good week and then back to tx but I hope no more tx unless this other lump has to come out and then who knows. I am hoping it is scar tissue and the radiation will help anything else.
traci1970, rub your arm slightly pushing upward into the arm pit but not hard. I had tingling and some pain at first and still have it at times. You have to get those lymph juices flowing he said. I had 22 taken out under my arm pit. Stretch you arm as much as possible without doing damage. My surgeon said if I didn't do it early then it would not happen and so since I am short I had to reach plenty anyway. My arthritis in my shoulders are what hurts me the most. My aunt has lymphedema in one of her arms from a mast a long time ago and she has to go to a physical therapist that puts some kind of strips on to wear. they are like the ones the girl wore in the Olympics that played beach volley ball and that has helped her more than anything. she always wrapped her arms every night in ace bandages but really was not as helpful.
have a good day everyone
Carolyn
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Good morning all!
Carolyn congrats on tx #6!!!! Yea!!!!!
Well ladies, once again, you guys are right. I should not have had all tha diet coke yesterday. This morning my face feels like the sahara desert; don't even want to look at the rest of my body. I will go today and get some de-caf soft drinks. I am still leaning toward the diet drinks because the thought of all that sugar is a bit gaggy. I know the artificail sweetners are not good either, but I am searching for a middle ground here.
I stayed up late last night reading the last ten pages of the "Hair Thread", those ladies are a hoot! In some ways it really made me feel better about being bald in a few days. But now I am just waiting, and waiting, and waiting...... Most seem to start losing their hair around day 14 and I am on day 12. Oh well, I will just make sure I keep a baseball cap in my truck at all times as a plan B.
Cupcake, my large intestine issues are all birth defect related, so I have been battling the surgeries all my life. Once they get you "re-hooked" you will be fine and never know anything happened at all.
Have a great day ladies!
Lisa
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Lisa, do you like Martinelli's sparkling cider? I've been drinking that some of the time. It has the fizz to help it down but it isn't nearly as sweet as soda. And sometimes I have been drinking water with a slice of lime in it (lemon would be good too but right now our lime tree has fruit on it and the lemons aren't ready yet). Or if I'm feeling lazy I put a packet of simple lime or lemon in. Sometimes I put in a packet of sugar too for just a little sweetness.
Sometimes plain water tastes like it has onion in it - wierd but it is only some of the time so sometimes I can drink plain water. My main problem drinking has been that I was so exhausted for a week. Its pretty hard to drink anything if you are sleeping or lying down all the time.
I've been really laid down by this first treatment. Apparently my body does need something to bring the white cells back up on TCH. I had the steroid crash day 3 and stayed crashed. No energy and a mild fever (< 100.5 where they tell me I have to go to the emergency room).
Monday I called the doctor and she had me come in for a blood count and visit. Not the day to have to do that - everything was so crowded. There was a big pile of blood slips in the bin when I put mine in but they called down more help so the wait was about 30 minutes. My white counts came out quite low especially neutrophils.
The onc prescribed Neupogen, then we had to wait at the pharmacy for the prescription to be filled. Then up to the infusion room and more waiting for my friend to be available to teach me to inject myself. One of the other chemo nurses might have been able to do it sooner, but I'm glad I waited for her. It made learning something scary much easier. It turns out injecting myself really isn't that bad. But all that waiting was sure hard when I was so weak and tired that sitting in a chair was a trial.
Tuesday my fever came up to over 100.5. Of course it didn't do that until early evening so we had to go to the ER. It is the first time of gone to an ER in decades. They did the blood count again and my neutrophils were down to about 100 (they should be more than 1500). And they gave me a bag of saline because I was dehydrated. They talked about admitting me but ended up keeping me overnight for observation. Fortunately after about 10 PM I was the only patient in that room of the ER so it was quiet but a guerney isn't a comfortable place to sleep all night. I was not a happy camper. And we hadn't had dinner before we came in - around 3 AM I just had to have something. At first they said they couldn't do anything about it but I threw a fit and they brought a tray - I don't know how the kitchen can make green beans and carrots that look good but have absolutely no flavor.
In the morning the admitting doc released me instead of admitting. He said my count showed that the white cells were starting to come up and I would be safer from infection at home in the mean time. He prescribed and antibiotic just in case there is an infection.
Yesterday my onc had me come in for another blood count and my whites were well within normal ranges so I don't have to take any more Neupogen until next time when I'll get it proactively. Hopefully, that will make next cycle much easier. I'm worlds better but still kind of tired. The onc said that is because I'm a little anemic. I hope I feel better in the next few days. I'm suppose to leave on a business trip on Sunday if I feel well enough.
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About red face and chest - the chemo advice nurse said it was because of the steroids. I got flushed cheeks and on the cancer breast but not the other breast. But someone here said that she gets it on the weeks when she gets just Herceptin and doesn't get steriods then.
Lisa, I know what you mean about something sounding good and then not when it was ready. At least the pizza delivery boy probably didn't care if you ate the pizza. Wednesday night, my DIL made a stir fry with ginger at my request. And my usually happy granddaughter was having a fussy evening while she was doing it too. Then when it was done I could barely stand the thought of it. Maybe it is just as well because I felt I had to eat at least a bit and once I got going a small portion was fine. I really needed to eat something.
Another way to get liquid - yesterday I made myself some vegetable beef soup for lunch and that was the first thing that has tasted really good. I put in about a half cup of beef broth, a couple of tablespoons of pasta sauce, about a half carrot diced and some diced yellow squash, a pinch of thme and one of oregano, a couple of tablespoons of rice and some extra water. Then I let it simmer until the rice was cooked.
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Hi everyone,
Well, I am officially finished with TCH after 4 treatments. I was due for #5 on Weds. but my oncologist decided I had received all I could safely. I had persistent problems with depressed blood cell counts and then my liver enzymes became elevated from the taxotere, so she didn't feel she should give me any more. Kudos to all of you out there who were able to finish all 6. It is a tough treatment. I have to admit I didn't feel jubilant at first, in fact I was worried that I didn't get "enough". But now I realize that the decision was out of my hands and there is no looking back. Radiation will start in 2 weeks. I am hoping this will be a cake walk after the chemo. Please correct me if I am being overly optimistic! Sue, I am still laughing about the cat peeing on your wig. What would we do without our animals? Rose
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Congrats Carolyn and Rose!
Rose, I thought rads were easier than chemo in a lot of ways but the fatigue was overwhelming during rads. My skin did great until the last 2 weeks and I did get some burns- I had rads to 4 different fields. I am still working on getting those healed up.
GRIPE OF THE DAY- 7- yes 7! sticks to get an IV for my Herceptin only today!
'Kristy
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Kristy,
Did you consider a port-a-cath? I love mine. One stick for everything. Rose
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Dear bluedasher, I will never complain again!!!! What an ordeal!! I hope your counts come up enough for you to make your business trip, but please be careful. Your body has been thru a lot in the past two weeks and travel may just be too much. And if you do start feeling bad, you will be away from home without your support system and your docs.
Kristy, seven sticks is way too many! Did you ask your doc about a port?
I have been doing great today. My taster is better, I even got some water down today. As long as it is super cold, I can drink it now. Food is easier too. The taster seems a little better every day for the past 4 days. My energy level is really good. I cleaned my house today from top to bottom and never had to take a break. Then I went to my barn and took care of my horses by myself. That makes a great day for me.
If this pattern continues, I will have about 8 days that are icky, 2 ok and then about 10 days of feeling good before the next treatment. I guess I won't be complaining about the neulasta shot next time either
Now I am just waiting for the hair to fall out.......
Have a great evening ladies.
Lisa
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Lisa, my white cells are back up and my onc says it is okay to go.
This is for a series of meetings that can be very intense and I chair some of them. I'm kind of looking forward to a vacation from cancer (a "cancercation"?) where I can focus on my chosen field instead of cancer for the week.
I do have someone I trust set up to take over the chair if I find I need some rest periods and I promise to take it easy. I'll be at a hotel for a conference with more than a thousand colleagues. There will be a number from my own company and many that I have worked with for decades. So I don't feel that I'll be totally without a support system though I would have to go to strange docs. It is in a major US city. I've told my boss that I can't go to a meeting later during my chemo that is in Mexico and he supports my decision.
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thanks everyone for congrats! I have gotten sicker earlier this time and all my counts were up in the normal range. I think that is strange! what I want to know is how did ya'll get to keep your animals? I was told no animals or fish tanks etc. thanks goodness I got to keep my family! I didn't really have any animals of my own but I do take care of my children's animals at times. It could be because I have an auto immune thing going on too.
This is my oldest grandson's birthday weekend and I feel like the devil but I think they may come over here to have his birthday dinner. I can't eat anything right now but it will be fun to have them all here. he is 21 and I just can't believe it. Him and his brother have gone running around to a sporting goods place. He is going to be a wildlife biologist someday I guess if he can get funding. His parents have moved out on 80 acres and are still trying to get a house built so that is why they stay with me. A travel trailer is too small for the 6'4" boy and when both boys are home it is tight too. I hope they can get by without a hard winter this year but we will see. Oklahoma is strange!
My surgery breast is very red today. I am the one who gets the red breast from Herceptin only and the young woman doc asked me about it when I seen her. I have been asking my man doc and he does not know why and neither does any of the nurses. This was a week after tx and it was still a little red. I told her how it gets but she said we would do a mammogram and a MUGA next month I guess when my doc is back so I am not sure when I will get to start rad or if I will start rad. I guess it depends on the lump I have and what they think it is. I have some hardening of the mucus membrane in my breast they have found before and they think it is from fibromyalgia. I have it in my legs and arms too. I can't be normal. Now they think my husband has blockage in his heart or blood vessels someplace so he is going to have some kind of test and I am not sure what it is since they only talked to him and he didn't remember what they said. Geez men! they wanted him in on Monday but he said he had an appointment Wed. and that is when he would be there. They thought he should be having chest pains but he doesn't. I hope it is nothing real bad. I am just not up to all this but I can be if I have to. At least I got through #6 but the SE yet.
Carolyn
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