Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

IowaSue45

Thanks Amy is Strong

Omaz

Iowasue - How are you feeling?  Aren't you just a few days out from number 5???

IowaSue45

Yes had TCH last Fri. I messed with the steroids and did better this time. Instead of taking 2 for 3 days, I took 1 day before chemo, 2 chemo day, none the day after. 1 Sun.1 Mon. and 1 Tue. . If I take 2 for 3 days in a row I can't sleep at night for more than 3 nights. So I adjusted them and 1 a day works fine. I did not have near the fatigue I have in the past. too bad it is taken til I'm almost done to figure it out. Day four today and I went to work and was productive.

starella

iowa sue,  are you on Emend?

IowaSue45

Only had Emend the 1st chemo, it caused bad diarrhea, so onc. stopped it.

Omaz

I had a nerve conduction study today.  It was fine.  Even though I have a lot of numbness in my feet and ankles it didn't show up on the study.  He said the troubles may show up later however for now I am a go for treatment 5 next week.  I don't know whether to be happy or sad.

Omaz

iowa - I have a tough time with the steroids, what were your actual doses?

lago

Yesterday I discussed the nueropathy with my onc. She said that so far the symptoms I have are not serious and will go away… but she is still watching. That made me feel better.

IowaSue45

omaz - steroids 2 the day before chemo, 2 day of and 2 day after. Its to much for me so I just spread it out 1 a day is plenty for me.

Omaz

Iowa - how many mg?  Mine are 4mg each.

IowaSue45

4 mg

Omaz

Geez IowaSue - I am prescribed 5 pills the night before and 5 pills the morning of chemo.  That is 5 times a higher dose than you???  I feel a bit overmedicated to say the least!

IowaSue45

Omaz- just wondering how do you sleep?? With 2 a day =8mg I could not sleep at night, and for me that is half the battle to feeling good the next day.

Omaz

Sue - Who said I sleep on steroids???  They make me sick.  I don't get that energy rush that some have described.  I get an upset stomach, bloating, red face and rapid heartbeat.  It sucks!!  I completely crash on day 3 after chemo.  I sleep the entire day, then feel ok the next.  Now its the hot/cold flashes that are affecting sleep, last night I actually kept count - 11 of them.

Omaz

Sue - Who said I sleep on steroids???  They make me sick.  I don't get that energy rush that some have described.  I get an upset stomach, bloating, red face and rapid heartbeat.  It sucks!!  I completely crash on day 3 after chemo.  I sleep the entire day, then feel ok the next.  Now its the hot/cold flashes that are affecting sleep, last night I actually kept count - 11 of them.

starella

Omaz, can you ask for ambien, it has helpled me alot.  My steriods are at 4mg, i take 4 day before and only two, day of chemo (because i take emend) then 2 the day after (because of the emend), two the next day (because of the emend). but i have decided to take 1/2 in the am, and 1/2 in the evening, the last day, i am doing this because first round i went from completely vertical to horizontal for 10 days, muy malo.  My chemo was reduced this time around i hope i can avoid the nosebleeds and clots i developed the first time and the paralyzing fatigue. I have used steriods for asthma and i never just dropped off like that, it has to be tapered off.

Omaz

Thanks Starella - I have mild asthma but used oral steroids once and they also tapered them off.  I was surprised at this schedule.  Glad you got your dose reduced. 

Ang7

Last Herceptin will be today!

Planning on going out with hubby and kids and enjoying a nice dinner and drinks.

Hope I will be able to look forward instead of looking back...

IowaSue45

Good news, surgeon is 99,9 % sure it is just fatty tissue. He removed it and showed it to me then sent it to the lab. He said make sure you have anything you find checked out no matter what you think it is. Very relieved, Sue

frosty1

To all of you fighting the fatigue that builds as you go through your treatments - it does end!  I started out strong and walking 4 miles every other day and by the time my 6th treatment came around the end of June this year, I was out of breath getting out of a chair.  I would really encourage you to continue to walk ... even if it is a shuffle.  Keep moving keeps you motivated.  My energy returned and my stamina returned ... I started training for a half marathon in July and will walk a half marathon the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  Don't become a couch potatoe (although it is tempting) ... it is so much harder to get moving if you do that.  You will make it!

Omaz

frosty - What timely advice!  I was soaking in the tub and when it came time to get out I just couldn't muster the energy!  Finally got out and went straight to the couch.  Arms and legs, really all muscles, are just sore and achy.  I do walk every day except right around treatment but its getting slower and slower and slower.  Treatment 5 is next week.  thanks, it is good to hear that it does actually go away and that it is 'normal'!

lago

I too agree with the keep moving. I haven't had the fatigue other have experienced except at the end of the day on day 3 and the morning of day 4. I think it's because I have kept moving. Yes tx3 was Tuesday and Wednesday I did 35 minutes on the elliptical (6.7 mph at level 3) & 35 minutes on the treadmill walking (4.5 mph at 1/2" incline). Thursday I walked all around town with a friend. Yesterday I did take it easy… I just cleaned house.

I will be going to the gym today. I don't know what else could be keeping me going. I quite caffeine prior to chemo because I know soda can upset the stomach and I dont' drink coffee.

stlcardsfan

ANG7 - congrats on getting your last Herceptin. Another milestone to check off!

 I go in for # 16 out of 17 on Wednesday 11/24. Counting down the days until I am done also. 

As several others have said, exercise really does help with the fatigue while on TCH. Herceptin has cause me a few minor side effects, but I found that exercising helped with those too - as does Tylenol! The most annoying one has been the joint discomfort that sets in a few days after each treatment. It is almost gone by the end of the cycle, and then I go in for the next H and it comes right back. I started doing very light leg weight lifting and that actually helped my knee joints.  

michcon

I think Omaz and I are on the same schedule. I'll be heading to #5 on Tuesday and am not looking forward to it after how I've felt after #4. Usually by now I feel back to myself, but I'm still exhausted and achey. I'm in fear of how tired I'll be after #5. Will it get worse until it's over? I'm planning to do some more walking, but it's just so tiring to even go up and down the stairs to do laundry. 

Someone please tell me I won't be an invalid next week! ha. 

Omaz

Mich - I feel EXACTLY the same way!

Kadyann

Did any of you experience weight loss on TCH?  I have always heard that chemo causes weight gain but that has not been my experience so far.

IowaSue45

My onc. told my you more and likely won't waste away with BC treatment. yes I have gained 15lb. she told me all the meds. TCH and steroids cause weight gain.

lago

Some people do lose weight but most gain. It's mostly because we eat more (appetite increases) I tend to gain about 5 right after in bloat but lose it a few days later. So far I've gained about 3 but I have been eating more so no shock there.

If you aren't eating or can't keep anything down then you will lose weight.

who_knew

Currently a week out from tx#4 of TCH. Glad to know that others felt that the s/e increased w/each tx.  I have one question for everyone. Did everyone get additional scans done after initial dx? Unfortunately, I have two friends who are fighting this fight as well and they both had additional scans done (i.e. PET & CT scans) to make sure it hadn't spread. My onc didn't send me out for them and now I'm always worried about having missed something. My tumor was <1cm (.9cm) so maybe that's why. Any thoughts? Is this something I should ask for?

Omaz

I have a question about risk - can someone help me understand the difference between absolute risk reduction and relative risk reduction?   I am confused about how these relate to individual risk of recurrence!  Thx