Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

lago

DanceT if the "esophocam" shows erosion will your gastoE do anything differently. I know I had one of those and did have some ulcer/erosion way back when. Did seem my gastroE did anything different. Granted he sucked so I switched and that's when the new gastroE prescribe the carafate.

dancetrancer

If the endoscopy shows erosion of any significance I don't know that gastro treatment, per se, will change (since I'm at max meds), but it could mean that I need to delay my next TCH to give my esophagus a bit more time to heal before assaulting it again...but I don't know really.  I'm waiting to discuss that possibility with my onc.  Gastro doc also said he can also determine if perhaps I have thrush of the esophagus, which of course would be treated differently (I doubt it, though, b/c I swallowed so much Nystatin for my mouth thrush that surely it would have healed any in the esophagus...don't ya think?).  And of course if anything is there and he biopsies it and it shows any precancerous (leading to Barrett's esophagus) changes, that would impact whether I should assault it again or not. 

So to me, the main gain for doing it would be if it affects whether or not I do the next TCH on time or not.    I'm undecided and waiting to talk to my onc.

dancetrancer

I just heard back from my oncologist, and he wants me to go ahead and have the scope done Friday morning.  Apparently he doesn't think it is too risky, yay!  He said now, just before my next TCH, is indeed the best time to have it done.  So at least I will find out if there is anything serious going on or if it is all just hypersensitivity to acid.  This will give me good peace of mind about proceeding.  

Moonflwr912

I'll be praying for you Friday..

dancetrancer

Thank you Moonflwr! 

MizMarie

I'm wondering how often others are getting Echo or MUGA scans?  I had read somewhere that heart function testing should be done every few months.  I had an Echo right before I started chemo in August, then another one in January right after chemo ended.  Everything was still within normal limits at the time, and MO hasn't mentioned it again.

Grimbol

I get an echo every 3-4 months.  I had one at the beginning, last August, one in December and I've just had the third one.

lago

Got a MUGA before chemo. Never had another. I'm 15+ months PFC and 7+ months PFH

Moonflwr912

Had a MUGA in Jan right before I was supposed to start tx, tx was delayed to Feb because of an infection . Just had another one and it came back only 2 points lower than my baseline. Happy. I am to be getting one every 3 to 4 months throughout Herceptin tx.

dancetrancer

That's great news Moonflwr! 

SpecialK

I had a baseline echo 2 months prior to the start of chemo, then one every 3 months (so 2 during chemo) and then a final one after Herceptin was done.  My EF wandered around in the 50's but this last one at the conclusion of Herceptin, EF was 61. 

racerdeb

Shown below is a link for an update on the clinical trial for the HER2 vaccine.  Although it's not meant to replace chemo or radiation (at this point), it is showing a decrease in the chance of a recurrence in the current trial group.  This news is very encouraging for us "HER2 Ladies."

http://www.click2houston.com/news/Study-Breast-cancer-vaccine-dramatically-reduces-recurrence/-/1735978/13419554/-/8vs535/-/index.html

dancetrancer

Hey all! I'm done with the endoscopy (which went well minus some nasty stomach cramps afterwards) and am thrilled to say no severe damage was seen by the doc!!! I had "mild irritation" and a small hiatal hernia, but no major erosions or bleeding ulcers. This is a huge relief to me of course, especially since I did have Grade I erosions back in 2005, and my symptoms this time were MUCH worse!!! I guess my esophagus has just become incredibly sensitized to acid, so I am one of the ones who gets severe symptoms without major damage, thankfully. This information makes me feel much safer moving forward with my next TCH. Third one scheduled for next Tuesday. My heartburn has been significantly better over the past two days. I will stay on all of my currrent meds and hope that they help prevent another bad flare after Round 3.

My platelets continue to drop, but not low enough to need a platelet transfusion. My hemoglobin is up a bit to 9.7. Hoping it climbs further so that my chance of needing a transfusion is lowered after round 3. Just have to wait and see and do whatever is necessary.

Thank you all for the continued support - happy to be able to share good news for a change!  

SpecialK

dance - yay!

dancetrancer

racerdeb - thank you for sharing that video link!  I believe this is the trial that fluffqueen is in right now.  (I think?)  So exciting to hear the preliminary findings!  

imatthew

Hi Everyone, following up on my earlier post about my wife experiencing vaginal bleeding 13 months or so after finishing the "TC" portion of TCH (she was pre-menopausal before starting TCH) and is currently 52 years old.

Her bloodwork showed that she was menopausal, so her OB-GYN sent her for an ultrasound to check uterine thickness (a thick uterus (>5 mm) is an indicator of endometrial cancer) as well as her cervix and ovaries.  Fortunately everything checked out ok so it appears the bleeding (which has now stopped) was hormonal.  She'll chat again with OB-GYN next week but it looks like we're past this scare.

Omaz

Good news imatthew, thanks for the update!

dancetrancer

Good news imatthew!!! 

Msbelle

Had my first herceptin only tx yesterday. What SE has everyone else had with herceptin only?? Praying they are few!

SpecialK

Herceptin only SE's I experienced were slight aching in hips and legs - made better by longer infusion time - first H only was 30 minutes and I had a lot of aching, slowed it down to 90 and aching was minimal.  Also, mild headache and runny nose - no biggie.  I finished Herceptin in January and have noticed in the last month that my hair has started to grow quite fast, and it took about 6 weeks from the end of H only for any of the residual aching to dissipate.  These SE's are a breeze compared to chemo+Herceptin.

MizMarie

I'm not sure if it's Herceptin, or just lingering effects from chemo, or even radiation (RO says "absolutely not") but I have lots of joint pain, especially my knees, ankles, and wrists (my infusion runs 90 minutes).  Some days it's barely noticeable, others, more bothersome.  I also have the chronic runny nose.

Moonflwr912

Yay DT and imatthew! I like good news.

lago

DanceT great news but aren't you going to post the picture they gave you to take home?

imatthew, Yay!

Msbelle I was still a little stiff or shall I say the stiffness got better once I stopped Herceptin. Also my hair grew even faster… and now finding that I have to cut it every 3 weeks! But in general non of my SE got worse on Herceptin only. Even my runny nose got better.

dancetrancer

Lago, it's such a pretty pic...I'm sure all would appreciate it...LOL! 

lago

They gave me one after colonoscopy too. Considered posting it on facebook but I chickened out

dancetrancer

Hey all,

Has anyone run a low-grade fever a LONG time?  First cycle I had one for 11 days.  This cycle, I've had one off and on for about 14 days.  It is now day 18 post 2nd TCH, and I still have a fever (it's low, in the 99's).  I also think I'm getting thrush again...which I am perplexed by at this late stage.  Shouldn't my WBC have recovered by now enough to prevent that?  It was borderline low on Thursday so they gave me one more Neupogen shot then.

Also, my tinnitus appears to be worse the last several days.  I'm having trouble blocking it out as easily during the day (and I have to run a fan/sound machine at night, which only partially blocks it).  

So I don't sound like a complete complainer, my heartburn is MUCH better still.  

GrandmaV

Dance, Here are some free tinnitus sounds you can try to see which ones help.  My DH made a CD of purple noise that really helped me.  I got it off of another web site that is no longer available, but maybe you'll find something that helps from these. 

edited to add the site(chemo brain): http://www.virtualdreamer.com/tinnitus.html

dancetrancer

GrandmaV -can you repost?  The links didn't come through.  Thank you!!!  

oops - I see them now! 

GrandmaV

Hear's another one: http://www.tinnitustreatments.org/listen-to-masking-sounds-free.html

dancetrancer

GrandmaV - I downloaded the shower one.  It is awesome.  Thank you so much!  I can play it while I surf on my computer.  I think it is going to help better than having the t.v. on.  I'm also going to purchase a sound pillow and hook it up to my ipod with this and try it.  We have 2 sounds machines and a fan in the room, but it still doesn't block the ringing 100%.  I'm hoping having it right under my pillow helps better.  Oh - here's a link to the sound pillow I'm gonna try (just in case you are interested):

Pillowsonic Speaker