Neoadjuvant TCHP - Post Results Here
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Did anyone here have positive axillary nodes at dx but then have a complete response with complete eradication in the nodes? I am scheduled for surgery on Tuesday and the surgeon wants to to a SNB during surgery. He says if the SNB is negative, he will not do an axillary dissection. He seems to think if there was a complete response in the sentinal node, there would also be a complete response in the axillary nodes. Makes me a little nervous knowing that I had two positive lymph nodes in the axillary area. I had a MRI this week that showed no abnormalities at all in my breast post chemo! However it did show mildly prominent nodes in the axilla. Wondering if it is cancer or scar tissue
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Alibeths...I had watery eyes (after chemo #3) they would stop watering just about in time for my next treatment. I thought it was dry eye and thought lubricating eye drops was what I needed, but MO referred me to an ophthalmologist, who checked for blocked tear duct. I did not have blocked duct and that dr gave me an Rx for Lotemax, which is a corticosteroid. But I really didn't notice any improvement with the drops. Just now, about 5 weeks after final chemo and the watery eyes are back to normal.
I also had little twitches around my eyes...which would get worse with physical exertion. That's almost gone, just occasionally I'll feel them.
I do still have redness along the lower rim of my eyes. I experienced some blurriness...like you felt if you blink real hard it'll go away? That has resolved itself as well. --Lorie
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Hi Raleighgirl / neighbor! My surgery is scheduled for July 6th and I will be taking the same approach. I had at least one positive axilla lymph node at dx. Surgeon will first check sentinel lymph nodes. If those are clear, she will stop. If they show cancer, she will remove the axilla lymph nodes. I'm hoping for clear sentinel nodes. No MRIs or other scans for me prior to surgery.
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Good to know sugarcakes! Thanks so much for responding!
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has anyone had taxol in this regimen instead of taxotere
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why you asking Ali? They said if I don't handle the taxotere this past infusion they would do taxol but I did so I don't want to change it they said this regimen has the highest cure rate so they want to keep me on it
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Bad at usernames Glad you enjoyed the article!
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I just had my second round of tcho yesterday. Before my infusions met with my MO and he reduced my doses because of the severe side effects I was having. He palpated my tumours and only found some fibrous tissue left in the lymphnode in the axilla. He also said he thought the nodule in my Breast was. Much smaller. After only one round! Ism hoping that the reduction in dose of the TC helpme manage better. I had to be hospitalized because of severe diarrhea with dehydration and neutropenic fever. My white count was 1. I also de veloped shingles which complicated things. I am medication to suppress the shingles, he suggested taking psyllium because it helps control both constipation and diarrhea. I have prescription Imodium now too. All In all I. Am hopeful that this one will go easier and I may be able to get back to work after the Fourth of July. I did finally get back into my studio to start a painting. First time I have walked into that room since I received my diagnosis!0
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Creativevintage -- I had severe diarrhea and dehydration and got hospitalized both of my first 2 cycles. After that I got home IV drips, pretty much 24 hours for weeks per cycle! I was lucky that I didn't have any low WC counts ever. Do you get Neulasta shots? I had them each cycle and never had a problem with WBC or with bone aches, thankfully.
I don't think I ever got psyllium! I had just about everything else (immodium, prescription anti-diarrheals, questran), though and nothing made a dent in the diarrhea. In fact, I still am getting diarrhea now, and I'm 2 months post-chemo! But it's finally getting less. And I don't need IV drips, so that makes me happy. I think it's keeping me from putting weight back on, even though I'm now eating like crazy after barely eating anything during chemo! I'll need to start watching how much I eat soon, though. I'm a bit worried that I'll blow up like a balloon if I don't watch it!
Shingles! They need to warn people that chemo can cause that to happen!!!!!!!!! I was lucky and read somewhere that that could happen. I was already concerned and wanted the damn shingles shot before I got it... and fortunately they finally gave one to me right before chemo because I had a good reason to get it early (before 60 years old... I was 58, so, geesh!). Hopefully I'll manage to skip getting that! My poor dad had it and it was one of the more painful things he'd gone through, poor guy!
Good for you, getting back in the studio! I've been a total dish-rag and haven't been able to even sketch something, much less paint, since I was dx'd in November! Chemo really wiped me out. But I'm feeling more in the mood, now. I need to clear out the mess in my front room so I can do some oil-painting...
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ok who here is getting perjeta post surgery with herceptin and how?? I was just interested in this I believe it's only available if you don't have a pcr?
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Steph - I had TCHP before surgery. After surgery I had AC before going back on the Herceptin for year. They planned for me to have Perjeta for a year too but I declined once I reviewed the SEs. All chemo treatments & Herceptin doses were by infusion every 3 weeks.
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Stephmoen -- I didn't have a cpr. I'm just getting Herceptin for a year. I wasn't offered Perjeta, though. I'd be interested in knowing more about that, too. On the other hand... side-effects would not be fun... so if I could skip it, that might be a good thing.
I'm still getting diarrhea 2 months out from chemo, so I'm wondering if I'm still getting over the taxotere, or if the Herceptin is causing it? So far it's manageable... in that I'm not in a hospital getting 24hr. IV drips!
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What i have read here as been very helpful for my appt with the Chemo oncologist. i have a number of concerns especially after i have read up on TCHP therapy. My concerns are
1. weight loss caused by the chemo. i am a vegan; i am trying to gain weight with more beans, nuts and seeds. Any thoughts on that/
2, the toxicity of the chemo- i have kept my body 'pure' with a nutritarian diet, weights, running, biking. dancing. i would like help in wrapping my brain around taking in the toxicity.
DX 2011; DCIS left breast age 59
Surgery; mastectomy with reconstruction and right breast enhancement
Targeted Therapy; Tamoxifen- had to quit after 11 days- reaction was too severe (loss of peristalsis, extreme swelling and inflammation of vaginal tissue
DX June 16 2015; metastatic breast cancer in lymph nodes, 2/10 nodes, triple positive age 62
Surgery; lymph dissection
Targeted Therapy; will find out next week
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coastal -- not everyone experiences weight loss. I don't think I would have lost much weight if I didn't have my worst SE be severe diarrhea so that I couldn't absorb food or liquids very well! I did get anemic by my last/sixth cycle, but that was also due to the diarrhea. I think if you're careful to keep up with your proteins, you should be ok. Your appetite will be affected, as will your taste and your mouth lining--so foods might not be appetizing and some may seem bad texture-wise... but, at least for me, beans--softer the better-- remained OK. Meats, which I ordinarily eat, were totally unappetizing! I was drinking lots of milk... and I heard almond milk, etc., were fine with most people. Good luck with that!
toxicity of the chemo... well, it's not something any of us want in our bodies, I think! It's obviously killing off lots of cells and you know it when your hair falls out (if you aren't cold-capping, anyway), and your GI tract feel raw and upset! On the other hand... cancer cell, made in your own body, are worse. I think there are new therapies coming that aren't going to be so harsh... but they aren't here yet. Maybe it will help to think of just getting through chemo and then doing all you can to get your body back on track and healthy and pure again? I wish you well with all that, too.
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coastal, I lost a little bit of weight after my first round of TCHP, but generally speaking I ended up right around where I started when all was said and done. I ate what I could, aimed for the best nutrition possible when I could and tried to keep my weight up.
As for toxicity, yes, chemo is toxic. The thought of stray cancer cells coursing through my body to take hold in my organs or bones scared me more, so I said yes to the chemo.
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Coastal - I lost 60 lbs because everything tasted horrible and I had almost constant diarrhea. I used Beneprotein Powder. It's made by Nestles and was recommended to a friend by MD Anderson. She ordered it by the case directly from Nestles. It dissolves in anything and has no taste. I added to Carnation Instant Breakfast and applesauce and cereal and mashed potatoes, which was about all I ate for awhile.
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does anyone have constipation? I seriously think after chemo my body just went to hell & constipation is constant. But what's worse is when I go, it kills. Miralax, lactulouse, colace, lidocaine. All of this to use the bathroom... But still it's just I want to go to the bathroomwithout hating it
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running - There's a great constipation thread on the boards. SAS will love someone else checking in. If you can't find it, let me know & I'll post a link. For awhile once I finished Herceptin I was eating 3 prunes every day in addition to taking a Colace and that seems to work for me. I still keep the dried prune out on my cupboard but have finally been able to drop the Colace. I'm not quite one year past the last Herceptin.
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No constipation here. Diarrhea has always been my big SE. And I still have it, only not as bad as during chemo. Chemo went to the end of April... so it's been a while... maybe it's the Herceptin I'm still getting? It's a bother, but at least I don't need the IV drips! Still--can't be good for my GI tract or other parts...
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just got the call with my pathology results.
13 lymph nodes removed, all negative of cancer
Left Breast: original 4.5cm tumor down to 0.9cm. Still high grade. Clear margins.
Right Breast fine, as expected
So not a complete response but pretty darn good.
Still have my drains. Reporting totals daily and waiting for PS to tell me I can come in to have them removed.
Then, 1 or 2 TE fills, TE exchange for implants, and radiation.
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That is great news Sugarcakes!!!!
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great news sugarcakes!
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SugarCakes - congrats on the results. Will you have your exchange before rads?
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Great news about the 0 lymph involvement and good margins! That's what you want to hear in a path report! ... I was happy with that, too. Complete response would have been nice, but the nodes and margins are more important, I think! Congrats!
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thanks ladies!
Yes, MinusTwo. Implants before radiation is the plan. I still have my drains though! I thought they would be out by now
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has anyone else only finished 5 tchp 4 days after #5 I developed an infection in my port turned septic had to get it removed now I have a picc line and have to infuse antibiotics into myself 3 times a day for 4 weeks not sure how much more I can tak
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I only wanna do 5 too
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Steph, I'm sorry to hear that. It sounds scary, but you've got a treatment plan now. I suspect that having just 5 TCHPs will be OK.
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they are talking about doing the last one after being done with antibiotics I'm just not sure I canhandle it between the neutropenia hospitalization after #1 the allergic reactions to taxotere every infusionand now this I just don't think I can do anymore
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Yes, a couple on here have done 4 or 5 instead of six. Patty, are you back from your vacation?
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