Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

SpecialK

dragonfly - you didn't have problems with constipation last time did you?  I was def the opposite which I anticipate this too - but maybe not!!!  I'm not sure which is worse!

Do you get your H with your TC and then weekly?  I only get H with TC every 3 weeks.

dragonfly1

SpecialK That's right...I didn't have constipation the first time and now I have it on round two. And yes, I get the H with the TC and also receive it weekly. It's crazy keeping up with the ever-changing side effects...

SpecialK

dragonfly - It is like every day is a surprise party!  And not in a good way!!!

nora_az

i think every single TX I had a totally different set of SE's. The previous SE's would go away and new ones would come in their place The first 4 days are always the same though. Endless sleeping and forgetfulness.

This time (number 5) wasn't too bad except for the end of it. I am set to go back in tomorrow and the past 5 days I have done nothing. I do take a walk everyday but nothing else. I just sit here, sleep and watch tv. On Tuesday I didn't even take a shower or get out of my pajamas or walk.

LisaGH

Hi- just checking the board today. I went to work for 2 meetings and had 4 conference calls but from home- that made it easier.

I ate lunch ok- but dinner was like mush. I did see a dietician- we have a cancer wellness center w/ free services- even for patients not treated there. Susan Komen supports a good bit of services there too. 

 Some tips I had not heard of: I can eat produce, salad, fruit as long as WBC count is ok and MD ok. Tip to rinse and spit out some liquid you like- she said- water, juice even beer or wine- swish and spit out- to get a good taste. She also said experimenting w/ spices- like pepper, cinnamon or something else on food like that. She said one lady rinsed her mouth w/ pickle juice and put pickles on food during chemo wk b/c that was all she could really taste- on cookies etc. Sounds weird but like being pregnant all over again sorta without a baby but just cancer fighting. Somehow the baby at the end was a better treat than this ride? (trying to have a sense of humor!)

I am going to read through other tips too- she was good. I can go see her again. There was more she told me- but I have to find the papers and read them (I don't remember things so good right now- starting to feel the chemo weirdness that starts this time of the cycle). Waiting for the side effects- if they come- hoping to get ahead of them... 

SpecialK- you are tomorrow right?

Hope dragonfly is ok.

I got neulasta at 3p today (i waited almost an hour to get the shot?) weird. last time it was just a few minutes. 

So that bone pain is starting to worry me. I was so sore in all bones last time. I took motrin this time (w/ permission of my md) last time white knuckled it on just tylenol- that was the totally wrong thing.

Also plan to take benadryl or another med i have to sleep if sleep doesn't come easy. I'll be weaning off the steriods a little more slowly which might help. last time i felt like someone beat me when i was off.

The weekend was the worst last time. Keeping fingers crossed. Sorry i get so long winded. I am so nervous- but happy to have one more done. YEAH.

SpecialK

Lisa GH - I was today.  It went fine.  I got out a little faster today , like 5 1/2 hours.  Are you allowed Claritin before the Neulasta?  I took it last time (my shot is tomorrow) and for a couple of days after and I had some pain in legs and hips but not too bad.

The rinsing the mouth thing with a strong tasting food is interesting - I wouldn't have thought of that.  I couldn't do pickle juice because it is too acidic and I got a mouthful of sores last time.  I drank too much lemon (mainly because I could TASTE it!) last time.  Italian Lemon Soda mixed with pomegranite juice.  It was delicious but apparently not a good idea.  One of my old roommates from college is an RD with a Master's and Phd.  She is a professor in the department at our old school so I thought I would email her and ask her if she needs a real-life project for her students and then be the guinea pig.  It might be interesting to see what ideas they come up with.  We went to an Ag&Tech school, learn by doing university,  and they require a thesis for B.A. and B.S. so I might be helping someone out!

I had trouble with Zofran not working for me last time so they recommended taking the 2nd and 3rd line meds that will make me more drowsy.  I am definitely going to take Ativan at night.  I am not on a tapering dose of steroid, I only get it day of infusion in the drip.  It should be easier for me to sleep but I had a killer headache too last time.  Dragonfly already has it this time, she is a day ahead of you.  The Carboplatin also caused ringing in my ears that kept me awake.  I am not going to be shy with the meds this time so I am hoping it will be easier.  As long as I don't sleep through some diarrhea.....that would be VERY bad!  I went downhill on day 2 - going into 3 so I am nervous too, but so happy to be 1/3 done!!!

Keep in touch if you can - I worry about you my triplet!

Omaz

SpecialK - I started claritin a couple times the day of the shot.  I also took it for about 10 days since the neulasta is time release for 10 days.  I have read some women already were taking claritin or zyrtec for allergies before they started chemo and just kept on taking it.

constipation  - I took colace as well as MOM as well as X-lax. The constipation was very uncomfortable and my belly hurt.

SpecialK

Omaz - I had taken Claritin off and on previously with good results for non-Neulasta reasons.  I took it an hour before the injection and probably for about 3 days after.  I got the kind that dissolves on your tongue.  I had very tolerable bone pain, pretty mild.  I stopped taking most of my meds by day 4 post-tx because I wasn't eating and couldn't put all that stuff in my empty tummy. I felt like crap on a stick.  Now that everything is blooming here I may just keep taking the Claritin though, especially since now I have no NOSE HAIR!!!  I also have to take Lipitor daily and had problems with mouth sores so was trying to medicate those.  I was trying to take B-6, L Acetyl Carnitine and L-Glutamine to ward off the neuropathy (I am most afraid of that SE) and I think if I can better medicate my gut this time I stand a better chance of staying on those.  I had to stop early (like day 2) last time but didn't have any neuropathy.

Omaz

Special - I still don't think I have my nose hairs back!

SpecialK

Oh man!  I guess it is ok though because are nose hairs really that attractive?  Just carry lots of kleenex, right?

nora_az

loads of Kleenex and a good lathering of Vicks. My nose gets so raw after chemo. Usually around day 5. It's so embarrassing, my nose will run like a faucet like it does in the beginning of a bad cold. I will be sitting there and with no warning it drips on me. I hate that!

michcon

dragonfly - I took Aleve and it really helped. My doctor told me it was ok after I told him Tylenol did nothing for me. I also agree with drinking plenty of water. Headaches can be caused by dehydration. I drank a lot of Gatorade during chemo and it helped a ton.

I think the tiredness is from Herceptin and not left over from Rads. Got my Herceptin on Tuesday and I'm much more tired the last couple of days than I was going in. I'm tired and achey all of the time and getting annoyed that this will continue. It's better than the alternative though, right?  

sewingnut

I have more SE with the Herceptin only days. My nose runs nonstop. The clariton helps that. Round 2 surprisingly didnt bring the bone pain from the neulasta, only a menacing little headache.

IowaSue45

   13 wks post chemo, it will never grow fast enough lol

((((((HUGS )))))) to all, Sue
Diagnosis: 6/18/2010, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/7 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2+

sewingnut

Iowa Sue, thanks for the picture.  Something to look forward to !!

kriskat

Headed to #1 TCH. Very nervous and not looking forward to this at all!

Anniemomofthree

Kriskat - you will do great. Remember water, water, water!  I am in for #4 today. I will be thinking of you! 

Anniemomofthree

Iowa sue - your hair looks great! You have such a great head and brows...

Omaz

Best wishes today kristkat and Annie!  Kriskat, ask for ativan in your pre-meds, it helps to relax you a bit during the infusions.

pejkug3

Kriskat - how was #1?  #1 was SO stressful for many of us.  But the pre-infusion jitters were way worse than the infusion for me.

kriskat

Pej:

Believe it or not, it wasn't too bad. I was most concerned about the needle stick for the iv-

since my doc doesn't like doing ports!!! It barely stung. Also, I'm giving the cold caps a try so that kept myind off it!

Probably the most amazing thing was a 74 yr old volunteer who was a 31 yr survivor with a very aggressive cancer. It really gave me hope!!

Now I'm on the lookout for the se's!

sewingnut

Kriskat,  Go for the port. If your Dr doesn't like doing one find one that will!! Especially if you will be getting Herceptin ongoing for a year. I have some form of Chemo/Herceptin weekly for 18 weeks then Herceptin every 3 wks to finish out the year. I am 5 weeks into this journey and I couldn't/ wouldn't do it without the port!!

pejkug3

Kriskat, I don't have a port either.  ANd I'm ER/PR/HER2+, so I have a long year of treatments ahead of me, too.

I may get a port at some point, but for now, I'm just going with my veins.  But I don't have nurses digging for a vein yet...

I'm glad your infusion went well.  And I hope your SE are very, very minimal.  I go for TCH #2 on Thursday.  If all my treatments go as well as #1, I'll be in good shape.

imatthew

kriskak - my wife got a port before treatment and it has made her treatments much easier, she doesn't feel the needle.

lago

I have a port and have had no problems. The port will also save your veins. Chemo can be tough on them.

Omaz

kriskat - Did your doctor explain why no port?

kriskat

She said that from an infection standpoint she just prefers to use peripheral line. Being in the line of business I am in- infections, etc are quite common with ports so I am ok with that for now. The nurse got my iv in on first try yesterday. Infusion nurse said we'll just see how it goes.

So now it is morning after #1. I slept really well even after taking decadron last night. Waiting for other things to hit....any advice as to when symptoms should start ???

elaineg

Kriskat I always slept through the steroids too. Are you having a neulasta shot today? Take claratin before you go and for several days after. I didn't do that the first time and had lots of bone aches. That was my major issue the first time and I also had bad constipation that I didn't realize until too late. I took colic the night prior and morning and night for several days to help on subsequent treatments. Some get diarrhea so it's not automatic to do this but it was beyond what prunes and fiber could take care of. Other than that I drank lots of water and walked at least 2 miles a day even when I felt not quite right and it really helped me to feel better. Hope your side effects are minimal. All of mine were within a few days of treatment and lasted about a week. So days 3-8 apron should be the worst.

libraylil

Kriskat my onco also does not routinely recommend ports. His nurse told me there was a risk of infection and that was why. The bs really pushed it. Feel like I can make it through the herceptin

Without. They are just all so different. I did not receive neulasta routinely either. Twice my WBC was low enough that I earned a neupogenx injection libraylil

libraylil

Kriskat my onco also does not routinely recommend ports. His nurse told me there was a risk of infection and that was why. The bs really pushed it. Feel like I can make it through the herceptin

Without. They are just all so different. I did not receive neulasta routinely either. Twice my WBC was low enough that I earned a neupogenx injection libraylil