Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

lago

Wow Karebear, they are making you do chemo again. How many rounds? I hope you get through with minimal SE. But at least they found it in time so you can get herceptin!

They can miss the HER2+ status in a biopsy. That's why they do all the testing again after surgery. It is possible to get samples in the biopsy from only one part of the tumor. I know part of my tumor was DCIS. Had they only taken samples of that part and done chemo first I probably wouldn't have had Herceptin either. Yes this crap happens. If only this was a perfect science.

Jaimieh

Karebear~ I would get a second opinion on adding the TC part instead of just going to the H for a year.  ((hugs))

karebear76

Jaimieh: I am going for my 2nd opinion follow up on Wed am. I am headed to Boston tomorrow night. I have been to Dana Farber before and they said the exact same thing my onc said the first time I went so I trust that the same will happen this time. No matter what I am anxious to find out exactly what I will be doing and how long.

lilylady

Please everyone say a prayer for me tonight. I have a scan tomorrow to see if my chemo is working.

Omaz

Best wishes for a good scan lily!!

kriskat

Fingers crossed Lily!!!

lago

This is for you Lily: linky

pejkug3

Prayers being said for you LILY.

LindaKR

You're in my prayers Lily

karebear76

I hope your scan goes well Lily!

lilylady

The scan results are in-and they are fantastic. Breast tumour shrunk by half and no longer dense. Liver tumour-which was my biggest has shrunk and now is difficult to visualize. All surface tumours on the liver are gone. Lung thing kind of confusing-some things shrinking-but not as much % wise as the other tumours. Other things now may be old scars from histo or other lung diseases. All tracheal, supraclavicular, and axillary nodes are now normal in size and shape.

I will be talking to the onc tomorrow-this is my spin on things from the report. Just wanted to share.

I will be in the chair Friday for #4.

Omaz

G R E A T!!!!!!!!!

dragonfly1

lilylady That's wonderful news!!!

libraylil

Lily this rocking news. I do believe your chemo is working!!! Keep shrinking! Lobraylil

Anniemomofthree

Fantastic news Lily!  Keep that wonderful chemo flowing....Annie

pejkug3

YAY!  I logged in tonight specifically to see how your scan went. 

YAY!

lago

Lily here's some music to happy dance too:

★ ✩ linky ✩ ★

sharonann11

I also just started TCH after having had A/C 8.5 years ago.  This is either a recurrence or a new primary, but regardless, the treatment is the same.  My treatment was Friday and I was ok Saturday and part of Sunday.  Then, wham!  It felt like I had been beaten by someone holding a Louisville Lugger!  The nurse said it was the Herceptin part of my cocktail that did it.  That's scary, b/c I have to have Herceptin for a full year, after 5 more TCH treatments.  Anyone have really, really aching muscles??

lago

Sharon I'm just had my 12 herceptin today ( 6th without chemo) and I'm fine. I would check with your onc. I bet it's from the taxotere.

sewingnut

Sharonann,  Its probably from the Taxotere. I have had Herceptin every week  from the start (15 weeks) and my most annoy SE from Herceptin is a runny nose. Did you have Neulasta shot the day after treatment?  If so, it could be from the shot.

dragonfly1

Sharon I agree with everyone else-I'm on TCH#5 (#6 will be next week) and I've had terrible side effects but they are all from the Taxotere. I get Herceptin weekly and the worst thing I've had from Herceptin is cold-like symptoms so far. Taxotere can really make you miserable but hang in there. Once you get a handle on what your specific Tax SEs are, you'll manage a little better. I've had both sore muscles and bone pain but I think it's from both Taxotere and the neulasta shot. It's also gotten worse as I've gone along but everyone is assuring me it will go away a month or so after chemo is done. Count those treatments down and you'll be done before you know it (I never thought I would make it but I'll be reaching the end next week...)

Jaimieh

It's from Taxoterrible.  It works to kill BC cells and in the mean time makes you feel like crap . 

Marylou747

Hi all, I have been lurking here for a while and ya'll seem like wonderful people! I am not nearly as well informed as you guys but my first tch treatment is Friday May 26 and I am scared to death about it. I had a bilateral mastectomy last month and I didn't ask too much about chemo but from what I got I have 12 weeks of chemo and when I talked to the nurse she said they hadn't decided between tc and tch. so Tomorrow I Friday I will have my first treatment. 

So I wish all of you well and I hope Friday goes wellfor me.

libraylil

MaryLou. While chemo is not fun, itia certainly doable. You seem to have a very positive attitude. Imagine the TCH hinting down any escaped camcer cells and kicking their azz. Good luck on your first treatment, breathe and relax. I had so many patients come over and sit, chat with me and really put me at ease the first time. Take plenty of things To keep you busy. I could never nap there so always read, used my laptop, etc. Take your anti nausea meds BEFORE you feel queasy. Likely they will give you nausea meds in your IV pre chemo. No reason for us to throw up. Find out what you are getting. These ladies will tell you if the dr is trying to skimp on meds. Good luck. Li raylil

Omaz

Marylou - The 'H' is herceptin and isn't exactly chemo it is called 'targeted therapy'.  You would only get herceptin if your tumor cells were Her2 positive.  That should be in your pathology report.  Usually herceptin is given for a year on either a weekly or every 3 weeks infusion schedule.  It is designed to go directly to any leftover tumor cells that might be lurking in the body and do things to keep them from growing and help them die.  Do you have a copy of your pathology report?  If you don't just ask your doctor for it.  Lil had good advice about the chemo.

lilylady

Maylou-the first one is the hardest because you don't know what to expect. Side effects are very individual. I am one of the lucky ones and have barely noticed anything-and there has been nothing I can't fix with a pill. Keep positive-do some exercise every day-drink lots of fluids.

I just saw someones tag line that really resonated with me-hopefully she won't mind me repeating it. Forgot to get the author though.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE BRAVE-YOU JUST HAVE TO SHOW UP!!

lago

Maylou the first one is the strangest. You just wait for something to happen. In most cases it does not but if it does the nurses take care of you right away. The only think I noticed was the benadryl going it. That stuff always makes me a little spacey. I never even got nauseous, thought all 6 treatments. (That's atypical though).

I would call your doctor and find out if you are HER2+. Herceptin is a very important treatment if you are. This is not something you want to skip. It's not chemo. I would think they would be checking your heart function before they give it to you.

sewingnut

#6 over and done. What a relief. Now I will be waiting and watching for hair growth :0)  

Starting 3 week herceptin next friday.  My onc told me she was amazed at how well my blood work was all through chemo.

I had a 2.5cm cyst develop in my axillary.  Had it aspirtated last week and it was B9.  They think it was part a seroma from surgery.  WooHoo!!  Doing the happy dance.

Good luck to all that are starting chemo. It will go quickly......

dragonfly1

Sewingnut Congratulations on finishing chemo!!!!!!! Dance, dance, dance...

Omaz

sewingnut - Whooo Hoooo on finishing chemo - yippeee on the cyst!!  My what interesting things we get excited about here in BC world!!