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Topic: Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

Forum: Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After — Regimens, side effects, and support from others going through chemo.

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Posted on: Apr 5, 2007 07:04PM

Posted on: Apr 5, 2007 07:04PM

cinrae123 wrote:

Anyone out there on taxotere, carboplatin, and herceptin? I am starting this program in May, I will be doing it every week instead of every third week,,,,,,,,and would like to know what sort of side effects anyone has had. Example,,,,,hair loss, nausea, vomiting, etc. I chose the every week routine as I was encouraged by a woman in the drs. office that is halfway thru and has not had any hair loss. I was thinking that because each cycle is spread out every week instead of a big dose once,,,,,that maybe that has something to do with it. I am having a difficult time with the thought of losing my hair. Silly I know,,,,everyone says it grows back,,,,but its just a personal thing for me. So anyone out here that did TCH every week? I would truly like to hear from you.
Thank you,,,,,,,,,,,
Cindy Dx 1/2007, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/3 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2+
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Apr 22, 2007 03:41PM cinrae123 wrote:

which one of you gals are doing weekly tch?? And I was wondering how things have been going with weekly? Especially,,,,,,side effects,,,,,,,,like hair loss, nails, nausea, fatigue and weight gain. Those are my main issues I have. Especially the hair loss and weight gain. If anyone has some info they would like to share I would sooooooo truly appreciate it. I will be starting weekly tch on May 7th. Yuckyyyyyyyyyyyy
Cindy
Cindy Dx 1/2007, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/3 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2+
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Apr 24, 2007 08:57PM KarenO wrote:

I'm having TCH every three weeks and will have my second treatment this Friday. My hair just started falling out today. How long before it is so far gone that I'll need to shave it off? Is it just a matter of days, or could it be a couple of weeks? I have really short thin hair to begin with.

I'm so glad I found this board! It is very reassuring to know that this is doable.
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Apr 24, 2007 09:26PM Chelee wrote:

Leslie, Good question! I was given NO choice or say so in my chemo treatment. I even asked if I had any say in it? He said "Absolutely not". (Being newly DX and scared to death I just did as I was told.) But later I found out they are SUPPOSE to by law give you your options no matter what. I have a highly aggressive bc with positive nodes so I should of been given a choice. But its too late now...and TCH is a good choice. But the standard is still AC followed by TH. Had my onc told me all about TCH and AC/TH...chances are I might of still with with the TCH. But it SHOULD of been MY choice...not his.

The TCH just might in time be the standard since it reduces the cardio risks and seems to do just about as good as AC. And now with the herceptin...it just might be the best way to go. (I am still a bit upset that my onc which has barely a year practicing did NOT even mention AC to me?) When I had a 2nd opinion AFTER I finished chemo...I was told at the City of Hope they would of given me AC/TH. Then I switched onc at the same place I am at...and my new one there that had 24 years behind her said she would of given me AC/TH to with my bc history. To late now...whats done is done. It might of been a good choice since it is almost as good as AC.

Chelee
Dx 12-05, Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++, Er & Pr pos, 5 of 16 pos nodes. Dx 12/20/2005, IDC, 3cm, Stage IV, Grade 3, 5/16 nodes, mets, ER+/PR+, HER2+
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Apr 24, 2007 09:43PM Chelee wrote:

cinrae123, I did TCH...but NOT weekly. I did it every 3 weeks. I did run into problems with my finger nails and toe nails. Only the big toe and the one next to it on each foot. (Strange?) Half the nail eventually lifted off towards the very END of trt. But no big deal. Most my finger nails were discolored...or should I say black. They were also very thin and cracked easily.

As to nausea...I always felt like I would be sick...but with the pills I took like Zofran...I never did. Around my 3 trt I got brave and decided to go without any anti-nausea meds. I did great. The WORSE thing I think was either the Taxotere or Carbpotin RUINED my taste buds. Food was just GROSS!! Nothing tasted good to me. I had to actually force myself to eat. I would have what felt like a coating of yuck on my teeth all the time too even when I brushed them LIGHLY 3 or 4 times a day.

For me it was a heck of a way to diet. lol I lost almost 40 pounds. I was always amazed when I read other women gained weight on their chemo? That blows my mind? (but we are all so different and our bodies react different.) One of the nurse prationers actually got onto me one week and said "Why have you LOST 10 POUNDS in ONE WEEK"! She seemed mad. I thought "Hey lady...you do taxotere and carbpotin and then you ask me that again"! hahaha

The day of infusion I had no problems other then being a little tired. I could eat on day one and day two. But the third day was awful. That is when it hit me. I knew each time I went for chemo not to expect to feel good on that 3rd day. I planned nothing but to lay around.

I found it very important to load up on liquids. Lots of water which is mainly all I drink other then tea. So you want to keep hydrated at all times. Towards the end of my trt the water got to tasting really bad so I started drinking some sports drinks...like Power Aid. Now that tasted SO GOOD.

As to your hair...since your doing weekly...I can't say what will happen? But for me it started slowly falling out in little clumps. Then around day 17 or 18 it all came out. Then I totally shaved it. Maybe doing it weekly will save your hair? All I know once you get this all behind you none of that really matters. (I know that sounds hard to believe right now...but in time you will see.) Your going to do ok. You hang in there and keep asking questions. Thats what were here for.

Chelee
Dx 12-05, Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++, Er & Pr pos, 5 of 16 pos nodes. Dx 12/20/2005, IDC, 3cm, Stage IV, Grade 3, 5/16 nodes, mets, ER+/PR+, HER2+
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Apr 25, 2007 04:39AM cinrae123 wrote:

Chelee? Thank you for all the great info. How far are you into your treatment or are you finished already? O wow 40 pounds? Thats a lot. Hope it isnt too much for ya? I could afford to lose 40 pounds,,,,,,,,,ok maybe not 40 but 20 is good. lol And where in So Cal are you? Im in so cal also. Take care and thanx again for all the info.
Cindy
Cindy Dx 1/2007, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/3 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2+
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Apr 25, 2007 07:12AM lwy wrote:

hi guys, just checking in. i love reading stuff from you guys because it gives me strength to get through this!
Leslie
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Apr 25, 2007 07:31AM janet11 wrote:

Gad, wish *I* had lost 40 pounds when I was on TCH. I will admit that the taste bud changes were the worst thing about that chemo combination. Chocolate still doesn't taste good for me (*laugh*) and my last chemo was Dec 27th 2006.

I think my problem was that I kept trying to find things that didn't taste disgusting. I usually found something (*smile*). The only time I had a real problem was in cycle 6 when I had about 3 days when NOTHING tasted even tolerable. Even water (my preferred drink) was disgusting, and it was hard to force myself to even take a sip. But that passed after 3 days and while things didn't taste good, they were edible.

I just had a mental list of things that I couldn't (anything spicy, coffee, anything with vinegar, chocolate, anything that was hard (crunchy), anything with tomatoes, etc.) And then I worked around that. I'm sure everyone on TCH has their own list (*smile*).

I CELEBRATED about a month after I was done with chemo and had a salad with vinagrette dressing. Paid for it (indigestion), but the TASTE was finally NOT YUCKY. Yippee.

I still can't eat things that are too spicy (my spicy threshhold is way lower than it was before chemo), but it's improving. And things taste good again.

Yes, things will taste good again! Good luck to all of you going through this now!

Janet
Janet Dx 7/21/2006, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/4 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2+ Surgery 9/6/2006 Lumpectomy: Right Targeted Therapy 10/6/2006 Herceptin (trastuzumab) Chemotherapy 10/6/2006 Carboplatin (Paraplatin), Taxotere (docetaxel)
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Apr 25, 2007 10:56AM Chelee wrote:

Cindy, You asked how far I was in trt? I started in 2-06 and finished in 6-06. So after June all I did was continue on my herceptin which I JUST finsihed my last one making it a full year. So techically I have been done with chemo (Taxotere & Carbpotin) since June of 06. Doing JUST the herceptin alone was a piece of cake.

As to losing the 40 pounds...that actually was a GOOD thing. I needed to lose some. But that was one HECK of a way to do it. lol But it was sure easy to turn away any and all food. I can't even explain how BAD all food tasted to me. I seriously HAD to FORCE myself to eat. Nothing tasted good. At one point I was just drinking chocolate Ensure with protein, Omega 3's and Omega 6 in it. If I put it in the freezer and got it REALLY cold. It actually got to tasting good and was easy to get down. It was better then nothing. But it wasn't long after my last chemo trt that I was back to enjoying all my foods. Now its dangerous...my tasted buds are back and with a vengeance. But I have been behaving myself.

I am in Orange County...not to far from Disneyland. Where are you in CA?

Chelee
Dx 12-05, Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++, Er & Pr pos, 5 of 16 pos nodes. Dx 12/20/2005, IDC, 3cm, Stage IV, Grade 3, 5/16 nodes, mets, ER+/PR+, HER2+
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Apr 25, 2007 11:27AM talbrig13 wrote:

Hi girls...I do TCH biweekly and have been on it since 2/8/07...#6 treatment is tomorrow...I still have my hair, although it is extremely thin and brittle. I am thinking one more treatment should do it in.
I have all the same side effects as you...nausea, tired, no taste buds. Even water tastes funny. I think the steriods (Decadron) in my premeds just makes me want to eat, even if there is no taste....I could lose 30 or 40 pounds. Steroids are just weird that way and the onc warned me to watch so I wouldn't gain weight. I have gained about 5 lbs...but it is water...my fingers and ankles are swollen. He gave me a water pill and potassium to use when needed...

best of luck to all of you....it is nice to find you who are on the same treatment. My most frequented board is mostly those on AC or a related tx.

Love,
Terry :) Dx 12/8/2006, IDC, Right, 1cm, Stage IA, Grade 3, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+, Surgery 12/27/2006 Lumpectomy: Right; Lymph node removal: Right, Sentinel Targeted Therapy 2/7/2007 Herceptin (trastuzumab) Chemotherapy 2/7/2007 Carboplatin (Paraplatin), Taxotere (docetaxel) Radiation Therapy 7/11/2007 Whole breast: Breast, Lymph nodes Hormonal Therapy 8/31/2007 Femara (letrozole)
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Apr 25, 2007 03:35PM onlygirl4 wrote:

Karen,
I had my second treatment on Friday, the 20th and my hair had already started coming out. I had cut it short in anticipation but it was pretty thick. By this Monday it had really thinned badly and today I had a friend buzz it. It seemed like once I got that second treatment it was all downhill. It really hurt so I'm glad I had it buzzed, I think. I don't really seem to be losing hair anywhere else like some others I have read.

Beth

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