Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

meliaanne

Hi all,
I am triple neg so no herceptin, but I hear it's a wonder drug. How is it given? Are there side effects? Just nosy ....
Melia

kids123

How did you join the HER2 site, I can't seem to find that forum. Thanks for the help.

Caya

It's www.her2support.org - that's the website, then hit the "COMMUNITY" tab and then MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION, it's pretty easy to register as I recall.
all the best
caya

sharon56

joni : the airport in toronto is on my way to Detroit . It would be good to have some company driving . Its about a 6 hr drive along the 401 , the quickest route would be through Sarnia and down to mizissy's . Its a longer trip for you coming into TO , I would be taking the Friday and the Monday for travelling . if you look at the map i am near Newmarket .

Caya

shorti,
I still don't know if I will be able to go, as I will be on Herceptin and I don't think my out of country insurance will cover me if I go out of the country. Of course, if I feel okay and want to "risk it" - that would be up to me. Would you be able to pick me up on the way as well - I could get out to the airport and meet Joni and wait with her there.
I can't give a definite answer yet because I have not started Herceptin yet and of course have no idea how it will affect me, but by early September I will have been on it about 3 months ( I think, have to confirm with my onc. tomorrow) and should have an idea how the side effects are treating me.
thanks
caya

jonimb

Shorti, that sounds good. I could fly down there on Thursday nite, and fly back on Monday. I'll stay at the Sheraton at the airport on the Thursday, and then you could pick me up on the Friday, whatever time you decide to leave. Does that sound good?

I have a couple of girlfriends that live in TO that I want to visit with on Thursday, but you're welcome to stay at the Sheraton with me if you'd like.

Caya, I doubt my insurance will cover me crossing the border at that time, but I'm going anyways. If worse comes to worse it's only a couple of hours back to Canada.

Joni

NOLONGERREADINGORPOSTING

Canada Gals, Windsor is only 60 minutes from Pinckney according to Yahoo maps; it's a big city with a big hospital, so you're covered. Plus we have some of the most excellent medical facilities in the world right here in Ann Arbor. SO don't sweat it!!! But you'll need passports so make sure you get your that done ahead of time if need be.

It's so nice to hear yall talking about this and making it happen. Since you're coming so far, Joni...you and your husband could have my biggest guestroom, but it's just a double bed, and Caya, are you coming on your own or with someone (sorry I can't remember if you're married). I've got two other unoccupied upstairs bedrooms...(1) a nice room with a very comfortable single bed with another single the same size that trundles under it, and (2) a large room with lots of windows I use as an art studio that we can put another single bed in, or an inflatable queen mattress. We have two full baths upstairs and a half bath downstairs.

Since Lynn and Jan are the only other two who are talking about coming who would need accomodations, and Shorti--you have a camper--I don't think we'll have any problem with space. I've also got a really cool popup tent camper that we have parked in the backyard that can sleep as many as four. Mary, there's room for you too if you don't want to repeat the commute!!!

AND a huge finished basement that is very private. We'll manage.

There's lots of beautiful scenery around here, rivers, lakes, parks, nice places for picnics & swimming. Great hiking and biking trails. And for culture, there's always A squared, or even Detroit for the more fearless.

I'm already looking forward to this!!!

Mizsissy

mer1957

Unfortunately with Calgary time, I was unable to watch the game and woke up to the unpleasant news this morning. Oh well, we'll give you one game -- just to make it interesting.

mer1957

Mizsissy, since I'm so close, I'll probably just come for a day and not spend the night. When I was at my son's in Houston I had a huge allergy attack with the cats. I should have taken the Allegra before going to his apt not after. I should be okay with just being there for the day with taking some medicine, but the longer I am there, the more it affects me and my asthma.

jonimb

MizSissy:

I doubt that Dan will be coming with me. Someone has to stay home to look after Thor. Is everyone else bringing their spouse or significant other?

Joni

Lynn12

Mizsissy,

I put the dates on my calendar and will fly into Detroit. I don't plan on bringing my husband, he's fine staying home. It's going to be awsum!

NOLONGERREADINGORPOSTING

Mary, we can quarantine the cats for your visit so they won't be downstairs. I certainly don't want to cause anybody to have an allergy attack!!! Joni...did you have an allergy problem too? If a cat has been in a room is it a problem; we can vacuum everything real well. We have wood floors throughout so allergens don't collect. Also...the weather should be beautiful and I think we can spend most of our time outdoors sitting under the trees. BTW...the camper would be cat free!!!

Lynn..Super..!!! We can pick you up at Detroit Metro. So no one's bringing a husband, that makes it even easier to accomodate folks, since I've got a few twin beds. Shorti, you were talking about bringing your man...it would be nice for Erik to have someone to relate to!!!

Mizsissy

Caya

If I come, it would probably be without DH.
Caya

jonimb

No allergies here....I have a cat myself. RC (rotten cat).

Looks like it is shaping up.

Joni

Caya

I'm going to bed early tonight because I'll be up at 5:45 a.m., my mother is picking me up to take me to chemo # 5, taxotere # 2 of 3 - second last one, only one more to go + YIPPEE!! I certainly hope I don't have the same s/es I had last time -tush sores and bladder infection, as well as muscular pain - actually the muscular pain was relieved to a point with Motrin extra strength. Lots of questions for my onc. tomorrow - mostly about starting Herceptin, side effects of that etc. and about scheduling the next MUGA scan... between chemo brain and sheer exhaustion, I can barely keep track of all this -
Robertin, I have just noticed in the past 3 weeks since my first Taxotere that my eyebrow and eyelashes have been thinning... still have some hair stubble though...
Amera, you probably just did loosen some scar tissue, but it is a good idea to ask about this. My scar is a bit tight, the surgeon and plastic surgeon discussed the options before my mastectomy - remember, I had fresh scarring from the breast reduction so there was less to work with, and that new scar did not help - but my surgeon and then subsequently my PS were very happy with the outcome. I just rub cream into every morning and night, and sort of tap along the scar line - I think this has helped loosen it up.
Jan - how's your aunt?
Mary -how's your BIL?
I hope everyone else who is going for treatment this week - or rads, will feel well and have a good weekend.
Finally they are calling for some nice weather for Toronto as of Friday - sunny and around 17 - 19C - that's 65 - 70F for those south of the 49th parallel - hopefully if I feel okay I can actually go outside for a walk - it's just been too rainy, windy, cold miserable etc.
good night all
Caya

skyedivine

Quote:

---

Hi all,
I am triple neg so no herceptin, but I hear it's a wonder drug. How is it given? Are there side effects? Just nosy ....
Melia

---

Well, it's only a wonder drug if you are HER2+, which isn't a good thing because it means you have an aggressive type of tumor. It's given by infusion, like chemo, and it seems there are side effects. Herceptin.com lists a lot of them, chief worry being heart problems so that you have to be tested with heart scans before they will put you on it. I've been having chest pains since starting it so have to spend 4-5 hours next Tuesday getting a stress test and consult with cardiologist. I also got leg rashes and flulike symptoms, both common se's. But it does not cause the major se's of chemo like hair loss and nausea. And I think most of us with HER2 feel it's worth the risk. - Skye

skyedivine

Caya, sleep tight and hope you have a good infusion day tomorrow.
Amera my lashes and brows seem slimmer since going on Taxol, but are still hanging in there.
Speaking also of scar tissue, I've noticed my lumpectomy incision scar, which is sizable, starts hurting if I am up too long or get over-fatigued. I wonder if it takes longer than we realize for these surgeries to really heal.
Going to make myself some tea now and try not to melt the stove down. :-)
Skye

Anonymous

Thanks to all for the many kind words about my aunt. I really appreciate it. There isn't any new news at this point. She's still basically in a coma with no expectation for her to regain consciousness. Some of the family has flown in to be with her. I think my mom is torn between taking care of me and my kids here and going there. I told her to go - I have plenty of help here, but she said she would wait.

TPPJ

Jan, is this your mothers sister? That's rough....

Skye, I have intermittent itchy leg rashses. It looked like a resurgence of eczema which I only developed when I moved to OH 5 yrs. ago. (Allergic to OH? I've used Neosporin on it and it clears up immed. I also get it on the tops of my hands. I kind of chalked it up to nerves. Never realized it could be Herceptin.

Caya, I can't believe you just got past all that trouble you had w/the last infusion and it's time for another one already. Well, I guess I can... how long are your breaks? Not just a week in between, right?

TPPJ

My lashes thinned, but were never gone. My brows thinned too and what's left is very light like my regrowth on my head. Not grey, thank God, but very light. I hate the look of the pencil and I stink at it. I'm reluctant to color them though, once I start hair color, because I'm afraid they'll totally look Joan Crawford-esqe. And it's hard to get color to fade if you overdo it accidentally....

TPPJ

My six year old came up with what she thought was the ultimate threat in order to get me to do what she wanted: she'd tell everyone I was bald! Ha-ha, I told her: everyone already knows!

Anonymous

TPPJ - yes it's my mom's sister. We just had an uncle who died a few weeks ago (her brother-in-law) and she has another brother who is very ill. My poor mom is having a very rough time right now. I feel so bad for her. She had 7 brother's and sisters. One sister died just 2 years ago. They are all very close to each other.

I love the 6 year old threat - that is so funny. I can just hear my 6 year old saying something like that. I love the way their brains work!!!!

TPPJ

I wonder if it takes longer than we realize for these surgeries to really heal.

SKYE, YOU'D FLIP IF YOU SAW MY TRAM FLAP SCAR. HIP TO HIP AND NASTY. DARK RED. THE MOST AWFUL PART OF IT IS IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE TIED A ROPE AROUND MY WAIST. NOW THAT I'VE PUT ON TEN LBS. SINCE CHEMO, THE WEIGHT GOES OVER THE SCAR...LIKE "MUFFIN TOP". AND IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE. FEELS LIKE IT'S STRETCHING THE SCAR. I'VE LOW CARBED BY BUTT OFF THIS WEEK AND THE SCALE HASN'T MOVED. I'VE TREADMILLED PRETTY HEAVY DUTY TOO. I JUST READ IN CAROLYN KAELIN'S BOOK THAT HER WEIGHT DIDN'T COME OFF UNTIL HER PERIODS RESUMED. I THINK I MAY HAVE WROTE THIS TO ALL OF YOU LAST WEEK. CHEMOBRAIN...I'M NOT SURE. SORRY IF IT'S A REPEAT OF INFO.

TPPJ

Jan,

Is your grandmother still living?

luckymel

Well, I read everybody's posts and was going to respond, but my chemo brain can't remember a thing tonight. Still trying to get past the benadryl effects, I guess. I'll try again tomorrow. But wanted to at least come on and say I'm DONE with chemo!!! My legs are so swollen today I can hardly bend them, but I'm sure that's just fluid. Otherwise, don't feel any different, except a sense of relief that I've finished at least the chemo portion of this journey. Now for some recuperation before surgery.
Hugs,
Melinda

Lynn12

Hi everyone,

Just whining about the lack of sunshine here in the Northeast. I think it's been about a week since we've seen the sun and it's been rainy, raw, cold (most of April so far) If the sun doesn't come out soon, I think I'm going to scream! There's hope, supposed to be sunny in the 60's this weekend, I hope to be out on the deck. It sure doesn't help to feel lousy and not be able to enjoy the fresh air.

Caya, sleep tight!

Mel and Melia, hope your taxol's went ok.

Jan, your poor mom! We're here for you!

Joni, you crack me up. I still laugh everytime I see the name of your cat (RC)

Thanks everyone who has sent me your address. Keep them coming to lynnjm@charter.net if you haven't yet sent me your address.

love to all!

TPPJ

CONGRATULATIONS MELINDA! I'm happy to say it's been 2 1/2 weeks for me and I had quite a bit more engery today than I've had in a long time...

Lynn12

Mel, you posted while I was, congratulations! You did it!

Anonymous

You are getting my whole family history tonight No - none of my grandparents are alive. My mom's dad died of lung cancer when I was very young. That was after years and years of smoking heavily. Maternal grandmother died in her late 80's. My paternal grandmother also died in her late 80's - hit by a motorcycle as she was walking across the street.

Anonymous

Melinda - that's wonderful. So glad that chemo is behind you. I hope you start feeling better very, very soon so that you can enjoy it.