Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

SpecialK

moon - I did not work during chemo either - went back 30 days after the last one.  Working in a biohazardous lab would not have been good - plus handling samples from nursing floors, and contact with staff who have direct contact with patients, nope!  Plus scrubs, a wig, a lab coat, a mask and gloves!  That is a walking hot flash!  Nope!

Moonflwr912

LOL understood. That's why for me too. But of course long term unemployment is questioning it. Always something.

SpecialK

moon - I ended up resigning with a re-hire clause.  I was too tired after chemo and 5 surgeries.  I had another one two days after resigning.  I knew that I was headed for twice a week PT, weekly fills and still doing Herceptin - not fair to my co-workers.  You understand that it isn't the kind of job you can leave for an appt. and then come back 2 hours later!  My salary was mostly to offset the two kids in college thing - fortunately one is now on a scholarship.

OneToughCookie

Hello Eileen -

Congratulations on getting thru chemo #1!! Hopefully a lot of your stress and fears will now go away. Here's hoping you have an uneventful week with minimal side effects!!

YaYa5

can someone talk to me about chemo brain?  how long does it last?  im so afraid that it's dementia or something worse that i'm experiencing.  i'm having the hardest time finding the right words at times.  please tell me it's chemo brain.  my last treatment was november 14.  

SpecialK

yaya - hi!  I think it is chemo brain, but try some Acetyl L-Carnitine, it is a brain booster.  I took it during chemo to ward off neuropathy, then stopped (because I ran out), then started again - I think it makes a difference.

YaYa5

thank you, specialK!!  i'll put it on my list of things to buy tomorrow.  you're the best!

lago

Yaya I've been on it since chemo #2. I too felt it  boosted my memory. I never experience chemo brain. I still have trouble remembering names but I've always been that way.

YaYa5

lago, thank you, too!  i'll definitely try it.  fingers crossed it helps.

slgarcia05

Hi Ladies.  I have noticed weird, unexplained bruising on my feet over the last couple of days.  Anyone else have this?  Also, my fingernails hurt really bad and are two different colors.  I will try to explain.....from my cuticle about half way up is almost a white color, and the top half is pink.  They are not lifting or anything, but I am worried they will eventually fall off.  Is this a sign they will?  Any input on these issues is greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance!

Moonflwr912

Slgarcia, CALL your doc! They have to know, it sounds like the taxotere for the fingrs, but the brusing on your feet concern me, I thimkyou should Call ASAP, as soon as you read this, try have nite and weekend number and coverage. Please call.

lago

slgarcia the hurting nail beds is how the lifting starts. I did lose some toenails but never any fingernails. Be sure to avoid pressing down on things if you can. The less trauma you put on your nail beds the less likely you will lose a nail. The darkening thing is very common.

The bruising is something you should call your onc about.Taxotere can reduce platelets (helps with blood clotting). Excessive bruising is a sign of this.

christina0001

forget my complaint about the constipation, now i have the opposite problem. lol every day with this stuff is a surprise.

lago

Christina that can happen, sometimes from over treatment of the constipation. Just don't become dehydrated.

slgarcia05

Thanks ladies for your input.  I see my onc on Tuesday, so I will let her know then about the bruises on my feet.  There is one on the "knuckle" of my left big toe, and one right on the top in the middle of my right foot.  They don't hurt or anything.  Lago, I pray I don't lose my fingernails.  They are so painful sometimes I want to cry.  I will let the onc know about this as well.  I figure there is no need to bother her over the weekend, especially b/c I feel pretty good.  I had to call her weekend before last and ended up in the hospital for 4 days!  I hate calling on the weekend.

lago

My nailbeds killed but like I said I didn't loose any fingernails. I think I lost 2 toenails and one big one had to be removed. Hate to tell you this but they will smell and ooze too. I got this really badly. I have pictures but it would scare the hell out of you. I hope you don't get it as bad as I did.

Keep them clean and dry. You don't want any infections. Mine never did get infected although one finger did swell up.

slgarcia05

Thanks Lago.  My toenails seem just fine.  I am keeping my fingernails short and neat to avoid any further injury.  They also have ridges on them.  They seem to be firmly in place, just painful.

dragonfly1

slgarcia The nail issues can vary in severity. My toenails were never affected at all. Yet, my fingernails became extremely painful during cycle #3 and became discolored as you described-half purple. At that point I couldn't open jars, button my clothing, etc. because they hurt so bad. Are you icing them during infusions? It seemed to help prevent mine from getting any worse. By cycle 4 they had settled down somewhat and weren't as painful-just discolored. When I finished chemo, the ends of my nails were slightly "lifted" (maybe 1/3 of each nail) but the pain was gone and I kept them cut very short to prevent catching them. The weird lifted part grew out in a few months. I'm hoping that your nails improve and don't get any worse.

racerdeb

I've been using the frozen peas during my Taxotere treatments and have not experienced any nail problems.  I really think it makes a huge difference, and I owe a lot of thanks to the fine ladies on this message board who gave me that wonderful advice.  My doctor didn't necessarily agree with it, but thankfully I did it anyway!

lago

Racer the pain started in my nails after tx3. at tx4 & 5 I did peas but they just got worse.

The nail lifting is a more rare SE. Most women don't get it.

Omaz

lago - Didn't you start the peas at tx 2 or 3 though?  I think it's important to start right from the beginning. Am I remembering right?

lago

It's possible but I don't think I started till I first  had issues. Either way I would think that it would help somewhat if I started at the first sign but you know how bad mine got. I am not convinced that the peas were cold enough. I didn't freeze my toes. Toes aren't that much worse than my fingers. I think the main reason why were worse is because of the trauma of shoe wearing.

But the ice chips in my mouth got rid of the mouth sores.

Omaz

lago - I think I'll ask my onc how often they see the nail problems at my next appt.  Apparently no one at my center has done the nail icing except me.  They were very good about it but I don't think they thought it made any difference.

SpecialK

omaz - I got the same kind of impression at mine.  Nobody else was doing it, I felt like the nurses thought it was not going to help, but they figured I could do it if I wanted to.  So I did!  My DH manned the frozen peas!

Omaz

specialK - my husband was pea and cap man!  Oh yeah and he lugged the cooler in and out of the back of the truck too.  What a good sport.

anafoefana

I am known as the "pea lady" at my infusion center.  Some of the nurses always ask to see my nails.  There is a woman there that has penguin caps, but apparently she is losing her hair anyway.

I saw my MO this week and she told me to watch for headaches.  She wants me to have a brain MRI, said Herceptin does not reach the brain.  I knew that, just never really thought about it.  I am not worried, worrying won't do me any good anyway.  It is not a pleasant thought though and hopefully I won't freak if I start having headaches.  I suffered with migraines for years, but had botox treatments that got rid of them.  I know I will never be able to brush things off the way I used to when it comes to my health.  I am not as tough as I thought! 

sewingnut

anafoefana,

If you go to Herceptin.com you will see that headaches can be a side effect, along with bone and muscle aches and pains. I would always tell my onc of the side effects I was having and she would say "that's normal" so she was away of the side effects. You ARE as tough as you think =:0)

OneToughCookie

Anafoefana -

I agree with sewingnut . You ARE as tough as you think . You just need someone to remind you every once in a while!

anafoefana

Thanks!  I don't always feel tough anymore.  When I think about recurrence, I feel pretty weak and helpless. But, I will do what is in my power to stay healthy.  That is all I can do. One day at a time!

NeedtobeSTRONG

I wanted to write and thank all of you wonderfull ladies for your posts and help on these boards.  Tomorrow is my last TC....  WOO HOO  then only Rads and Herceptin..  So exciting to put another check on the treatment plan.  I wanted to let the ladies just starting or having a difficult time know we are so much stronger than we know......  keep going you WILL get through the TC part!  There were times when I thought I do not want to do this anymore.  But here I am all pumped up with steroids and major rush of adreneline eagerly awaing my infusion tomorrow  lol... never thought I would feel like that. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN!!!  Now eagerly awaiting to see my hair grow back (although i do have a little growth already)....even took my hat off in themovie theatre today... mostly because I wore a winter hat and was so freaking hot...  but I did it "in the dark"  baby steps lol