Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

Izzy325

I survived #3 TCH Wednesday. My onc reduced the dose this time. Had blood from my kidney, nausea that lasted 7-10 days and a some mouth sores. And lots of eye watering.... So annoying. So I guess that justifies the decrease... Not sure but feel better this round than last. We also added low dose steroids to yesterday and today. Also found swelling near my thyroid which is not cancer per the ultrasound but just one more thing to fix. Hair is buzzed ( 1/8 inch or so) and still falling out and eyelashes on left eye are starting to go. Hard to feel sorry for myself when I see others with bigger struggles on this forum. Just happy to hit 1/2 way with the TC.

I find all water and food tastes spoiled for about a week after tx. But citrus or fruit flavors tasted closer to normal. I guess the trick is to try everything and drink/eat wht you can.

panamajayne

musicalmom, you might want to hold off on the hair buzz as  I kept my hair even after  4 A+C but then after the 2nd Taxol my hair starting coming out in clumps.  

panamajayne

Lago, I have learned so much from your posts &  congrats re: 16th Herceptin.  Were these monthly doses?  I have one more Taxol than onto Herceptin once a month for 12 x's.    I don't know if I could have made it this far without the inspiration & support from all of you who post on this site.

lilylady

  6 weeks PFC and I just lost my eyebrows and eyelashes-they were fine all during tx. I thought I was out of the woods but they fell out this week. COULD NOT BELIEVE IT!! Nails still seem fine. I drew some eyebrows on because my forehead looked so huge. I have about 5 eyelashes on each side.

  As far as the taste thing went my one constant thru the whole thing was lemonade. Simply Lemonade or Kroger brand frozen pink lemonade. I watered it down a little. neither of those are overly sweet either. Still have to force down the water-it really keeps things moving thru your system. The other thing when nothing else tasted right and I was desperate was crescent rolls. The kind in the tube in the bisuit section.

  I was so sensitive to sweet-Miracle Whip and catsup gagged me with the sugar. I still cannot drink anything carbonated either-still tastes wrong-and that is a good thing.1 more sugar laden thing I don;t need

dragonfly1

lilylady That seems right on rime for the eyebrows and eyelashes...my eyebrows had already thinned throughout TCH and then I lost even more at 5 weeks PFC and my eyelashes fell out completely at the same time:( I am happy to say they are making a full recovery at 12 weeks PFC so they will be back!

I'm with Omaz on what to drink during chemo. I forced myself to drink water because I just didn't want to get in the habit of drinking soft drinks and anything that had a high sugar content. I tried to also get fluids from soup/broth on the days I felt really bad. I really missed my coffee due to the taste alteration but I was always able to drink weak, hot tea which was also comforting...

On a different subject, how is everyone out there doing with Hurricane Irene? I'm in Suffolk Co. Long Island and it's headed straight for us tonight-we've had a lot of evacuations along with NYC. I'm in the center of the county vs on the coast so I'm not being told to evacuate but I won't be surprised if we lose power. Stay safe everyone... 

SpecialK

dragonfly - glad to hear from you, I wondered if you needed to evacuate.  Glad to hear you are a little inland.  DD's Navy seal BF lives in Virginia Beach but is currently in training in Nevada - is having to rely on the one remaining roommate to move all his valuables to the upstairs of the house.  Hope the roof doesn't blow off!  Of course DS the fireman (in Virginia) thinks this is all fun because it means they are busy!  He thought the same about the earthquake.  Crazy kid.

dragonfly1

SpecialK This hurricane is crazy. I'm at work today and we've had veterans moved to our hospital from all over the place because so many other hospitals were evacuated both on the island and in the city. Manhattan VA evacuated yesterday! I'm taking tomorrow off so that I won't be driving to/from the hospital during the storm and I have lots of emergency supplies in the event that we are without power for a while. Of course, DH is away on a trip! I'm just grateful that I'll be able to weather the storm at home and not in an emergency shelter...

SpecialK

dragonfly - sounds like you are prepared.  DH's are always gone at the wrong time!!!  Mine is currently driving home from SC.  He went up on Thursday to be with his parents (who live on the water just south of Charleston) in case they took some damage.  Glad to won't have to deal with work craziness tomorrow - just stay safe!

lago

panamajayne I  get my herceptin like I did my chemo. Every 3 weeks. Just one more a week from this Tuesday and I'm done.

musicalmom

Hi Ladies,



I just feel like my body has low level pain running through it. It seems like the hours are just going by so slowly. Don't know what to do with myself. Over did it at school and almost had a major meltdown because I forgot to bring a snack. Couldn't get home fast enough and I've been resting all day but my body feels achy I guess. Have any of you taken Aleve or over the counter pain meds for relief?

Christean

Hello to all!  I'm doing much better, and feeling like myself again.  No more tears for me.  I feel strong emotionally and that is so important.  I have to say...I was not prepared for the emotional roller coaster of chemo.  I expected all of the physical SE's, but this depression and crying crap really sucks.  I really felt like I might go crazy and just fall apart.  That is really tough because with this disease you really need to keep your head and your heart in the right place.  Thank you all for your words of encouragement and suppport.   I realized the other day that this emotional spell of mine hit me at the same time I was suppossed to start my period....so I really think my body was going through a hormonal nightmare.  It has taken #4 TCH treatments to keep my period away, which I know has contributed to my anemia.  Just hope it stays away!

Lago- I am so excited and proud of your upcoming end to herceptin!!  Congatulations!  What an accomplishment to be proud of!  I hope you have a big celebration!!

Dragonfly- Ohhh, be careful with this hurricane.  I just got shivers when I realized you were in the middle of it...and home alone.  You are one strong lady!  So glad to hear you won't be driving to work tomorrow.  Please try to keep us posted.  Please stay safe!

I agree with everyone about how tough it is to stay hydrated. Water sometimes feels so gross and slimy.  For me, adding lemon has helped some.  I also find slushes and snow cones sometimes taste good- if I can make it past the sweetness.

Omaz

musicalmom - I took tylenol for the discomfort from the neulasta shot.

lago

musicalmom I took Aleve for nuelasta bone pain for a couple of days each treatment because my back  hurt so bad I couldn't stand up the first time. BUT I asked my onc 1st. The problem with Aleve, ibuprofen and aspirin is it can thin your blood. Chemo can do that too. So be sure to ask. Typically the have you take Tylenol but that doesn't do crap for me. Some people do take narcotics. Narcotics don't thin your blood but I'm not a big fan of them. First of all I was never  in that much pain. Also made me nauseous and constipated.

Christean I was given prescriptions for anxiety too. Many women have had to use them. If you need them don't be shy. If you weren't given any talk to your onc about this. I will admit that tx #3 was the easiest for me but tx 4 was the worst emotionally. The SE really started to kick in and I also got LE. Bumped me out but I did snap out of it quickly. If you are not snapping back ask for help.

Christean

Lago- Yes, I have anxiety meds (ativan) and after this last week of emotions I will not hesitate to take them!  Also, I have ambien which has helped me sleep.  My family laughs at me when I am on the ambien, but o-well.  Apparently, I say/do funny things...but don't remember anything the next day.  But, I have discovered that sleep is very important to your emotional health...so I will take the meds if I need too.  I have also started prozac...which I don't like the thought of, but I am going to take it anyway.

I am doing so much better, and have snapped back  (yay!)  The other thing that helped me is finding something to laugh about.  Funny Youtube videos are great.  And, a good friend and I are planning a trip to Vegas, which gives me something to look forward too.

musicalmom

Christean,



I am glad you are doing better. Laughter sounds like a good plan as well. I had a lousy night of sleep. I went to bed early. Woke up at midnight. Decided to try an ativan and was up and down all night and in and out of sleep. I long to say what you did..."feeling like myself again". I guess there is some fear in me if I am feeling like this chemo one what happens in the chemo 4, 5 or 6 experience?



Everyone: All I can say today is thank you , thank you, thank you for being here. I need you and I hope I am be a contributor and a help too.

Grimbol

I went through that fear stage about subsequent tx too and the building SEs, but then realised I couldn't change anything so I just had to suck it up and get thru it.  It helped once I was feeling better too, I had a better attitude to it all again.  2nd tx looms on Wednesday, back on Xanax!! Losing hair rapidly too, gobs in the shower this morning, ugh!

Izzy325

Christean- so glad you have found something to help. I have been fortunate not to hit that emotional rough road yet. But I have been there in the past. It sucks and feeling physically bad is tough enough.

Musical mom- you describe how I have felt/feel too. And with the first tx I worried that it would be too hard to do this 6 times. But after a few days pass and I start to turn the corner back to normal, I KNOW I can do it. It's not supposed to be easy. I tell my kids (8 & 10) that as much as this stuff makes me feel bad, it is doing it's job. So hang in there. Tell your doc about your SE so you can work together to minimize them. Good luck and congrats on 1 down.

Amelie_Rose

Thank you so much for all the suggestions regarding the taste issue.  I spent all day yesterday feeling really bad and too weak to even go online.  Today is a bit better but still not great.  I remember that it took until the next Tuesday (9th day) before I started feeling myself again. I agree with the feeling that just the thought of repeating this multiple times is beyond overwhelming.... But, I thank God for all of you ladies on this board.  You are such an inspiration to those of us just starting this treatment.

Lago, congratulations on getting to your last herceptin.  How wonderful!  You should definitely celebrate.  I am so happy for you.

Christean, so glad you are feeling better.  It's good that you have on hand the tools that you need to fight these emotional SE's. Don't be afraid to use them.  If you are like me, you probably don't want to take anymore meds than you need to but oftentimes, we have no choice.

YaYa, so glad that your SE's are minimal and that your port incision is healing. 

I will try to go to the store and see what I can find to drink.  I've been living on soups for the past 3/4 days and broth has been my main source of fluids.  Obviously, I need more than that. I've also found that lots and lots of ice can make sipping water bearable for a little while.  I might try the slushie/smoothie suggestion.

Someone mentioned having their Onc lowering the dosage, how do you get them to do that?  I asked before my second Tx and was told no. How does one know what is a normal range of SE's and what is too much?  Also, how often do you all see your onc? 

lago

My onc didn't lower the dosage but when I started to have neuropathy she did say we needed to watch that. If it got really bad she would reduce my dose. It never got bad.

The amount of chemo you get is bases on surface area (height and weight). Most of the time they get it right but at times it's too much for some folks. When certain SE get bad they reduce the dose hoping they can keep you on chemo without damaging anything permanently.

Wendyspet

My onc talked about lowering my chemo dosage only if my liver enzymes stayed into the "high" range.  Funny enough my last blood test, which was one week after chemo, showed it down in the 40s from the 90s. 

zumbagirl

Hang in there, musicalmom,

It is rough, but past day ten we feel more and more like ourselves, and it seems for me, the week before my next chemo, I can start tasting things again. Sometimes this journey seems so long, and over welming, but before you know it, you will be near the end. I have number 5 next wed. and my last one on Sept. 21, We just need to make it through each day  and I am so glad, we have each other on here, I feel very connected to you all, :O) Paula

Tiger_Blood

Hi Everyone!

I am just checking in to see how everyone is doing? Finished surgery so now on to rads!



@Christean. I had major emotional issues with my chemo, too! It would hit me around Day 5 and last until about Day 7. I would cry and cry and cry. I think it has everything to do with the hormones and the steroid crash! I just want you to know that you are not alone in that SE. After chemo was over, my emotions stabilized 100 %.



@amelie rose....just a thought...Have you tried coconut water? I could not put down water when my tastes changed. The coconut water helped me.



@zumbagirl. I am taking a shot in the dark and hoping your a rumba enthusiast? I love it, too! Before my dx is was in the works with a friend of mine to get certified to teach! I just started back this past Friday. I was able to continue until my 4th tx. It was that tx that my SE's increased and I had to just do the essential things. Looking back now, I was I would have exercised more those last 3 months. My leg strength is terrible now but I know it will get stronger.

Tiger_Blood

Darn IPad auto correct....I meant to say Zumba instead of rumba!!!!!

zumbagirl

Tiger_blood,

I am a certified zumba instructor. I love zumba, and when my white counts are too low, and it isn't safe for me to be at the gym around everyone, I do zumba dvds at home. I love it. I am glad you got to do it through most of your treatment, and I hope, you will get strong enough soon , to do it again, some times, I have to take it down to super low impact, but it is sooo fun

lilylady

I went to Florida on JUly 6 flew into Orlando and they were having a huge Zumba convention. One lady on the plane say they expected 5000 instructors. They were going to be in 7 different hotels there were so many. She was telling me all about the different certifications you could get. I flew out of dayton and my flight was probably half full of them. You could pick them out of a crowd becasue they were all wearing Zumba clothes. They were loud and rambunctious and obviously going to have a good time.

  My Mom does a Zumba class for Seniors at Curves and she loves it. She is 79. The instructor has taught them all the secret to getting their hips to swivel by bending their knees. It is absolutely hilarious to watch.

zumbagirl

The ladies I teach at the gym, are between 40-87 years old, so I try to make my zumba class easy enough for all, but still a great work out. They sing and laugh, and really are learning to shake their booties :O) It is so much fun

Wendyspet

Zumbagirl question:

I have the Zumba playstation game, but if I was to buy a "must have" Zumba DVD, which one would you recommend?  Thanks.

Amelie_Rose

Thanks for the responses re dosage, ladies; and for the coconut water tip, Tiger Blood.  I woke up feeling so much better today; looking forward to the next week and half before I have to go back.

I'd be interested in that Zumba DVD suggestion as well, Zumbagirl.  Some of my girlfriends want to start a Zumba mother-daughter group with our teenage daugthers and that'd be a great way for me to get ready. 

zumbagirl

wendyspet,

The only zumba dvd set I have is the exilerate so, I am not sure what is the best, of the 7 in the set my favorite one is the zumba toning, with the toning sticks, and the chair workout. If you find any dvd with Beto on them, (the creator of zumba) they are the best. He is so good, and his workouts are so fun. I hope this kind of answers your question

Omaz

Here is a link to the set I was thinking about trying link