Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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My onc does 6 TCH regardless of tumor size and nodes. That is what was in the BCIRG 006 study and I don't think there is a released study for 4 TCH though I hope there is something in progress. Sometimes I wish she was okay with doing 4 but others I think as long as I decided to do chemo to lower my risk of recurrence I might as well do it as thoroughly as possible. I figure if I'm too bothered by side effects, I could tell her at 4 that I don't want the last two - they can't make me take the infusions.
I'm enjoying my week 3 of the cycle this week. Pretty SE free this week except for a small acne break out on my face and more on my scalp. Tx # 3 on Monday.
I wondered if I would lose some or all of my remaining peach fuzz hair after Tx 2 but so far it is staying put.
Shelby - wierd. I wonder if they are latex and its a latex allergy. I don't know that it was my worst discomfort, but my longest lasting one was the dressing adhesive reactions. I still have red spots from the port insertion dressings.
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Shelby, I have a latex allergy and I was really worried that I would get some bad reaction during my mastectomy, but they asured me that latex alergy is so prevelant now that most latex has been removed from the OR. Having a reaction to the leg thingies is just strange. I have not gotten any mouth sores, so I am gonna stop complaining about the head sores.
Shelby you are right about the number of treatments. If I stopped at 4, I would always wonder. However, if I can find a study that says 4 with positive nodes is OK, I will be sure and let my onc know!!!
Time to get off the computer and get my Christmas tree decorated!! Ho Ho Ho!
Lisa
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Lisa, I also had 6 TCH treatments and I had no node involvement. I imagine that in my case the combination of a 2cm grade 3 tumour and being HER2+ was the decisive factor, although I haven't asked my Oncologist how the decision is made between 4 treatments and 6. In my case, I was happy to do the full 6, just to be sure. I'm hopelessly paranoid as anyone here will tell you (lol!).
)Aly.
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hey lisa 1964,
i live very close to you (miles), and i wanted to ask some questions regarding who you are seeing (onc) and your regimen. I am triple + and probably won't start chemo until after the first of the year. i sent you an email to your horse farm. contact me when you get a chance.
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Aly, thanks. I know I need to go ahead with the six - but - Oh well.....
Nicole, I really enjoyed talking to you on the phone today. You will find a ton of info and support on this board. Also, please call me anytime! I look forward to a lunch date!
Lisa
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Welcome, Nicole! It's good that you have Lisa nearby to help you out. You can also come here any time to ask questions, vent, or whine.
Shelby: Re. the tatt: Yeah, maybe a lightning bolt or something. It's peeling now like she warned me. My PS did the recon and nipple at the same time, too. Actually, the nipple is smaller than the "real" side - he said that since my real nip is so large (who knew???) he'd have to make a large scar across the foob to match it. I'm fine with it the way it is now, and I had no embarrassing incidents of accidentally gouging out any eyes when I bent over a kid to fix his punctuation or subject-verb agreement or something.
Family members are flying in from colder climes for a short visit, so everybody have a good weekend.
Sue
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Aly, I am happy for you to have finished rad.
Traci congrats on finishing the TC of chemo. I was so happy when I finished that.
Shelby congrats on the good news but sorry you had a hard time in the tube. I saw a poor lady not any older than me I don't think and she was a mess from doing radiation. They gave her some meds and I guess they were going to try again.
I start my rad this next Tues. I guess they will do all the set up and stuff that day and then we will go from there. Aly how many tx did you have for rad? I go back to work on the 15 and I hope I can make it. they gave me a pneumonia shot yesterday and my arm is killing me today. I did not sleep good at all but my hubby did. the one night I could have slept. I also had my first 3 tx of H and I was not sure what caused it but I felt awful. I hope it was the shot and not the H because I can't work feeling like that. My legs are still weak so I need to really start working them to get back in shape.
I never got bumps on my head but my face felt grainy but didn't ever break out, now it is soft again like normal. My friend who had a different med in her chemo said hers got soft with the chemo. People are so different but then the med has something to do with it too. My onc said I had more trouble with low RBC than most but he thought it was because of the arthritis and fibromyalgia. I am wondering if it is the meds I have to take to control the pain. I hope I don't have to have transfusions with rad. The woman who was doing my last trans said she had seen some who did need it with rad. I will probably be the one!
Have a good day everyone. I was wondering about donalee and cupcake too.
Carolyn
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Carolyn I hope you do well with radiation. I have not heard too many horror stories about radiation. Most people tell me the hardest part is the chemo.
I have had a surprising reaction to finishing my chemo. I think I held most of my emotions in during my treatments and now they are pouring out of me. I felt myself "coming unglued" right before my last tx but I managed to reel my emotions back in. I think I knew I had to keep it together throughout my tx's or I would have never made it. But now that I have made it through them I am letting all of those emotions out. I have cried and cried. I feel happy, sad, frustrated, grateful, scared, angry and every other emotion you could imagine. I feel so much better getting it all out. I feel like it is more of a break through than a break down. Did anyone else go through this?
I have also decided I deserve a vacation before I start rads. I am leaving next Tuesday to TN. I can relax and enjoy the pretty views and just have a change of scenery. I am very excited. Well, I am off to cry some more (jk) and rest because the neulasta is kicking my butt. I hope everyone has a great week...traci
btw Welcome Nicole...these ladies have been very helpful and have given me support when I really needed it. You never feel alone here and you can share freely.
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I hate chemo - this morning I have a very annoying pimple on the side of my nose to add to the acne on my head. And my bottom is sore from having diarrhea so often in the past few weeks. I'm trying Balmex on it.
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bluedasher, I used the cream they use on babies for diaper rash. You can also use Preparation H too and the onc prescribed a cream for me too but it did not help as much as the baby rash stuff did.
Welcome Nicole! have you not started chemo? Come here anytime for a shoulder to cry on or questions answered even though we are not docs but I think once we have gone through it we are better about side effects than docs are. anyway we will try to help you.
Carolyn
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Traci;
I think I've mentioned before that the same thing happened with me--much more emotional reaction toward the end of chemo. My counselor actually categorized it as post traumatic stress. See, early in the the stage of diagnosis, testing, surgery, and then beginning chemo, you're so busy with going to the doctor and just learning about what's going on that you don't have time to actually PROCESS everything. Now that you're finishing treatments, you finally have the chance to crank away at things in your brain and react to them. Yeah, I guess it's a stage you have to go through, and hopefully you don't have to go through it alone. It's really hard when you have to "play normal" for people all the time and paste the friggin smile on your face. I'm fortunate that I had my counselor and a friend or two who didn't mind me verbally puking all over them from time to time. And you can always let some of it out here, too!
Shelby
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I can absolutely see where all the emotions come out toward the end!! In the beginning, we are all obsessed with the research and the questions about our diagnoses and treatment options. Not to mention surgery, recovery, family, jobs, etc. And I think we purposely keep our minds full of all of the above so we don't have to have spend too much time on the the bare bones fact: We have Breast Cancer!! It is so much easier to focus on the spin-out issues than to deal with the bottom line. Once the treatment is over, we are/will be, left with only one truth: We have breast cancer. And then we will/do wonder; Is it gone? Did the treatment work? When is it gonna come back? Will I have to do chemo again?
Makes perfect sense to me - cry all you want.
Lisa
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Carolyn, sorry for the delayed reply but I had 30 radiation treatments. The last 5 were my "boost" they called it, where they concentrated the beam over my lumpectomy area. I have a perfectly triangulated "sunburn" in that area.
I'm struggling right at this moment because I had an ECHO test on my heart on Monday. The cardiologist called tonight at about 6PM (west coast time) to say all was well, that he read the results as being "borderline normal" but he doesn't have anything to really compare it to because the last test (about 11 months ago) was a stress echo (treadmill), and not just the ultrasound part by itself. He said the reason for the "borderline" call is because my heart rate is slower now than it was 11 months ago during the stress echo. He said we'd do another test in a few months and see how things were looking. Then he told me he wasn't at all worried and that I shouldn't worry and if I even *thought* about worrying I should call him. I said OK, hung up, and promptly had a small nervous breakdown. I'm afraid that Herceptin could be affecting my heart (he asked me how far along I was with my Herceptin treatments) and I'm deathly afraid that they will have to stop it and my risk for recurrence or mets or whatever will shoot up.
Then I started reading. I read that Herceptin can cause lung inflammation, which I currently have according to my CAT scan a couple of weeks ago. My rads onc countered my medical onc again on Monday and said it was *not* pneumonia like she had said (he thinks this because it's in both lungs), that it was inflammation but they didn't know the specific cause (many things could cause it, he said but that he thought it was most likely from irritants. Then he gave me a big lecture about trying to have some "faith in the system"), the only thing they could say for certain was that it was *not* cancer. Nobody mentioned that Herceptin can cause that and on Herceptin.com it talks about how your doctor could potentially have to stop the treatment over something like lung inflammation. My anxiety levels are at about a million percent right now. In trying to find some information on *this* site I read a post from a woman who had a bronchoscopy because of shortness of breath and a bad cough and they found cancer cells in her lungs even though she didn't have any tumours. Can you say "panic attack"? I knew you could.
So my question is, does anybody have any information from *their* oncs about this kind of stuff? I really didn't need this at 6PM on a Friday when I can't call my medical onc for any kind of reassurance (sigh).
Aly.
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Aly, I am sorry for all the confusion you are having to deal with. Thanks for your reply. I go for my first rad. on Tuesday and I guess that is when they will do the set up. I had the test for my heart on Friday but I don't know the results yet. I asked him what it was at the beginning and he said 64% which freaked me out because that sounds low but I did some research and I found that 50% and above was normal. I also talked to the people that do my husbands cardio rehab and they said it was good so I am not going to worry about it any more. I thought maybe it should be like 100% but I guess not. I am amazed how they measure stuff in the medical field. I also got a pneumonia shot on Wed. and it is all hot and swollen so I went by the chemo lab to let them look at it and they called my doc's PA. she said put ice on it but not to take anti biotic unless I start running a temp which I had at first but now I don't. I looked it up on the Internet today and some people have this reaction because of the immune system. Hopefully it will go down soon because it hurts.
Aly, did they put you on anti biotic for the lung thing? If so do you feel better? Are you having a hard time breathing? If you are more prone to asthma or allergic reactions to some things this may be the reason for the inflammation in your lungs. If anti biotic does not help then it is not a bacteria but could be a virus and anti biotic do not help a virus. You might try deep breathing to build up your lung strength. I know every time my husband has had surgery he has had to do the spirometer to get his lung strength back up. I would ask if the rad. people thought this might help.
I do not know why these docs call at the end of the day and then you are left to wonder about things. I know it is a convence for them to make their calls in the evening but they should know we won't get a wink of sleep if it is not good news. Please try not to worry and I am not sure about faith in the system but do have faith in God and speak to him when you are worried.
Carolyn
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Aly;
I woke up thinking about your situation this morning. I smell something slightly off-color, and it's not the remaining Thanksgiving leftovers in my fridge. The first thing that comes to mind is why weren't there any echo studies for 11 months? The protocol for Herceptin is echos every 3 months. And why did you have a stress echo in the first place? Did you have heart issues to begin with? And why would they be comparing a regular echo to a stress echo? I think those might be some good questions to have answered. Heart rate is not really what they're looking at anyway. They're doing the echo to make sure that the Herceptin is not interfering with the ejection fraction, or the efficiency with which the heart pumps blood. So I don't know why he was talking about heart rate. Heart rate can be influenced by something as simple as whether you had coffee, took the stairs, or were nervous or calm when you came in there. And in the clinical studies, so few women had heart problems from Herceptin that I wouldn't worry about it. And I worry about just about EVERYTHING!
About the lung thing. Please stop reading random threads on this website or anywhere else. I believe in God, so therefore, I believe in satan. I believe that satan surfs the waves of fear and anxiety, and that he can manipulate information we expose ourselves to in such a way to amplify those fears to the point that we are frozen and become totally self-absorbed. It might be a good time to "fast" from reading things on the web and immerse yourself in things that fill you with joy and faith...whatever those things might be. But keep asking questions, because you definitely deserve answers. I'll be praying that they get things figured out for you and communicate it to you quickly.
Shelby
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Shelby, I do remember you mentioning your reaction to your last txs. I guess with this chemo brain I did not remember right away. It makes me feel more normal knowing I am not the only one to have such a powerful emotional reaction to finishing my chemo. I can say that the last tx has really kicked my butt. I can barely get around and it has been 5 days. I am exhausted.
I also agree that Satan has an agenda to rob us of our peace of mind. I have some areas that I am sure are scar tissue but Satan plants the seeds of doubt every chance he gets. I pray and don't give him many chances. Aly, I pray you be given the "peace of God that surpasses all understanding" That is what has gotten me this far. I know what "could" happen but I hold on to my faith. There have been times that I had no one to talk to about my feelings, fears or anything and that "peace of God" has been all I needed. I also think God led me here because this is the only thing on the internet that does not scare the bejeezes out of me but instead all of you encourage me. Don't listen to all of the bad stories. They are not you! My Grandmother had heart problems for 25+ years. She lived with one foot in the grave for as long as I remember and lived in constant fear. She died in a car accident two years ago (healthy) at the age 75 or so. I think about that when I start "freaking out".
As far as the MUGA scan. My results were 55 or 56? before I started. Anything over 50 is good. I was told I could have "temporary" weakness from the chemo but that was very rare and not something I should worry too much about. My resting heart rate has always been high for no reason. My heartrate at my last tx was 111bpm! I have learned that the normal range is much broader than we think. Everyone is different. If your doc says don't worry then don't worry and just talk to him about it the next time you see him. Please, don't cause yourself undue stress for no reason.
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Hi Shel. Thanks for the response. I do think I remember him trying to explain the whole thing to me and ejection fraction sounds like a familiar term although I don't know why. I have serious chemobrain memory and retention problems right now but what I got out of it was that a "normal" reading is 55% and he read mine at 50-55% so he called it "borderline normal" (keep in mind this is an ECHO test and not a MUGA scan so I don't know if they rate them the same way). He did say the same thing, that heart rate can be influenced by a lot of things. In the light of the next day, I am not 100% sure that I understood everything he was telling me other than he told me he wasn't worried, that I shouldn't worry and if I started to worry I should call him. He said we'd check it again in a few months. The reason I had a stress ECHO about 11 months ago (before I was diagnosed, started treatment, etc.) was because I was having palpitations and we wanted to make sure there was nothing wrong. Apparrently where palpitations originate in the heart has to do with whether they are something serious, or benign (and annoying). Mine are the latter, caused by stress and stimulants. They run in my family. So then when I was going to start chemo my Onc said we'd do another echo. I thought I was going to have to get on the treadmill again (ugh!) and I told her I had one just a few months before and did we really need to do another. She looked at the results (completely normal) and said it was fine, that we'd do another in 6 months which is why I had one on Thursday. That is why the Cardio doc is saying there's really nothing to compare the results to to see if anything has changed, because I a stress echo and a regular echo do not compare (as you said). I guess I should have gone for the ECHO they were trying to send me for in the beginning, instead of whining about whether I really needed another one. My fault on that one.
I do very much believe in Satan and I believe he gets in my head and messes with it quite often. I'm sure he's the reason for all the anxiety and the worry. I try to use logic to calm myself and sometimes it helps but this cancer thing has really thrown me for a loop. It's like, a big boulder came out of left field and whacked me in the head and now I'm jumping at everything just in case another boulder is gunning for me.
Carolyn, yes, my ENT actually put me on antibiotics for my sinuses and she put me on Levaquin because it would do double duty in killing any infection that might also be in my lungs. I'm no longer coughing up wads of green goo, but I still feel like my breathing is ever so slightly heavier than it should be. My rads onc did say it could be from a lot of things, including irritants (we have 5 cats and the 3 of us are pretty much always congested). The inflammation is new since my last chest scan which was 5 weeks ago. My rads onc also said that they may be uncertain as to the cause of the inflammation but that all 4 doctors are certain of the most important thing, which is that it is not cancer. I go back in on 12/22 for another CAT scan of the interstitial space in my lungs to see if the inflammation is better or worse. That of course makes me wonder what will happen if it's worse and they want to do a nasty lung biopsy. This is how the anxiety works to make me CRAAAAAZZZYYYYYYYY!!!
)I do have faith in God but my biggest problem has been turning things over to him and then letting them go. I can say "God, please take this from me" but then I still hold onto it. I think it's because I have a controlling personality. That is probably why I can't put complete faith in my doctors either. My friend in Missouri who is going through this (she's just a couple months behind me) doesn't seem to worry about anything. She doesn't even know complete details about her treatment. She seems to just put her faith in the fact that the doctors know what they're doing and therefore she's not worried. I have some of the best doctors in the country and still I can't trust completely. My husband said to me the other day that he is of the mindset that everything is fine, until someone proves that it's not. I am the opposite. I'm a certain something is wrong until someone proves that it's not. No wonder I'm in therapy!! (lol!).
I'm thankful for you all who listen and try to help even when I'm being completely neurotic. God bless all of you for that.
Aly.
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Can anybody tell me how many Decadron they are on each TX? The first TCH, I was on 2 per day for the treatment day and 2 days following. Then my oncologist upped my dosage to 4 the day before treatment and 4 more on each of the next three days. I was very uncomfortable with this much Decadron and it seemed to affect my moods.
I will be asking her to lower my dosage, but I was just wondering what you ladies did?
Also, what is the significance of Decadron? Why do we need it?
Any information you could give me would be helpful. Thanks.
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my2boys, I had Decadron in my I/V drip as a premed before chemo, and then I took the same as you, 2 per day for the following 2 days. Decadron is a steroid and it treats the nausea and vomiting caused by the chemo drugs and I found it also helps with the energy levels which is why a lot of folks experience that "crash" on day 4 after they stop taking it.
Hope that helps!
Aly.
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I take 2 the day before, none the day of because I get it in the drip and 2 the day after.
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my2boys -
I'm currently having chemo will have 3rd tx on 12/19/08, and take two 4mg decadron in the a.m. two in the p.m. for the day before, day of, and day after treatment. So I'm taking 16 mg per day for those 3 days.
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Thank you so much for your replies ladies. I am scheduled for my next treatment on 12/10. I will be meeting with my doctor the day before and I will be asking her to reduce my Decadron. She currently has me on 16 mg. per day for three days and then an additional 8 mg. on day 4.
I do experience some nausea, but that is usually controlled by the anti-nausea meds. The Decadron seems to do more harm than good when it comes to me. I felt better when I took the lower dosage after my 1st treatment.
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I get decadron in the drip with the tx and that is it! I was given zofran for the nausea last time and it worked fine. I don't think I would want anymore decadron than I am all ready getting. It is hard enough to sleep that first days as it is.
Lisa
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I take decadron pills - 8 mg twice a day for the day before, day of chemo and day after. Except last chemo I forgot to take the morning dose so they gave it to me in the drip. I think it is partly to prevent allergic reaction to the Taxotere. I also take Zofran starting one hour before chemo and continuing 3 days for nausea - then as needed but mostly the three days has done it.
The nurse said the decadron in the drip is stronger. It did seem that way because I had trouble sleeping all that night - I haven't had that problem with the pills.
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Hello my fellow campers. Sorry I have been flying under radar, but I do come in and read how you all are doing. Many of you had your surgery before chemo and I am getting ready to go into surgery on the 17th after finishing my 6 rounds of chemo. Then the rads. Carolyn as always I am trailing you, but read with interest what you experience as I know I am in line behind you. I am feeling stronger everyday. You thought you would be 100% on your heart? That was when you were a baby maybe. Over our years and the wear and tear our tickers slow down. My first MUGA was 63 and in three months it dropped to 62 so still in good range. I have noticed that the pounding my my chest after chemo with the TCH is not as bad now with just the Herceptin even though it is a stronger dose. My hair is peach fuzz again, but no hair growing anywhere else. Teary eyes, but the bloody nose went away. Trying to stay away from malls and crowds so not to catch anything for surgery. Met with two plastic surgeons on the same day for a second opinion and had the BRCA test done and should know before surgery if I have the gene. This will make a decision to take both breast instead of just the one. Hey Shell I think you should post our camper song for these new ladies if you haven't done so. I know I sure enjoyed it. I meet with pre-op and the Anesthesiologist on Wednesday, get blood work etc for the surgery. Busy time but I do check on you all and sounds like each of you in TX are handling it well for what you have to go through. I do place my worries at the base of the cross, but have a tendency to pick them back up. Remember my dear ones that Satan got stripped of his power at Calvary. He can only mess with your mind now. Keep your eyes on our Master and he will see you through.
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Here it is, once again for the newbies, by popular demand. Enjoy!
Shelby
Camp Chemo
Sung to the tune of “Camp Granada” by Allen Sherman
Aunt Begonia, Uncle Nemo,
I’m writing you from Camp Chemo.
I’m on steroids—they think I’m witty.
It’s just too bad they cut off my right titty.
The infusion—it was nasty.
Gave me too much carbo-plasty.
The herceptin makes me snotty,
But I don’t know why I can’t go to the potty.
I’m now losing all my hair-a.
That is thanks to Taxo-tera.
Don’t know which end needs unloading.
After several days, my bowels are now exploding.
Can’t make white cells any fast-a.
This is why I’m on Neulasta.
Lips are one big, ugly blister—
Double dare you to fix this one, Dr. Lister!
(bridge)
Make it end! Dear Uncle, Auntie,
It’s so bad! I’m on a rant-y.
Don’t let them stick me again
In the arm or worse, in my rear end.
Make it end! I promise I will be so good,
A pillar in my neighborhood.
Life used to be so sweet
Before the tumor in my teat.
If this cup could pass from my lips,
I’d give every waitress high tips.
Let it end now, God my Savior,
And I’ll clean up all my horrible behavior.
Wait a minute, looked in the mirr-a.
Face has never looked any clear-a!
I can work out. I feel much stronger.
Guess I’ll put up with this crap a little longer.
Copyright Michele Marzoni 7.4.080 -
Thanks!!! That was just he laugh I needed this morning. Going in today for tx #3 and I was really gearing up to be in a pissy mood!
Lisa
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Good luck Lisa!
Tx 3 for me today too.The other times I've been able to sleep fine with the decadron but it kept me awake almost all last night so I'm in rough shape this morning.
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Good Luck Lisa and bluedasher. After today you will have one more TX under your belt.
I meet with my doctor tomorrow and my 3rd Tx is Wednesday.
Cupcake....I'm glad you're feeling stronger.....surgery will be over before you know it. You are an inspiration to all of us ladies.
Shelbaroni....that song is hilarious! Now I will be humming that tune all day...lol.
God Bless,
Anne
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Good wishes to all of you!
Thanks for the song, it was just what I needed this morning!!
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