Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

vickilind61

lago, my heartburn issues, which I had for about 2 years, eased up greatly when I quit smoking after my diagnosis in Feb.  Still get it, but not as bad.  Prilosec works for me, but even OTC and generic, it is expensive.  Or I'm cheap.  Whatever.

I'm watching the US Open and a little depressed that I have't been on the golf course yet this year.  And probably won't at all.    Just can't imagine trying to hit a driver with this stupid TE, combined with the port.  Seriously, just kind of sucks.

Hey, do any of you know if swimming is an okay thing to do while on chemo?  We have a nice pool here at our MHP and it opened 2 weeks ago; I've been in twice before my tx.  Now, I'm wondering if I can go in again.  Any ideas?

Relda

I was told in chemo class not to swim in a public pool while doing chemo.  Too many germs.  Sorry.

YaYa5

hello, everyone!  DT, congrats on finishing TCH.  i remember that day like it was yesterday!  hooray for you.

ashla, being done with rads is HUGE.  so happy for you.

vicki, having the first chemo behind you is a good thing.  i thought the first one was the worst because i had no idea what to expect. also, i found my heart burn went away, too, when i quit smoking over a year ago now.  isn't it a great feeling to have stopped? 

 

specialK, i'm so excited that you are going for the trial.  like others have said, i so hope you get the real thing.  i admire you so much for going through it.  it's women like you who help all the rest of us and the ones following behind us.

 

i hope everyone here is doing well.  i've missed you guys.  i have only two more herceptins left and then i'll start arimidex.  for those of you who are just starting, please believe us when we say that it does get better.  it's true.  i'm 7 months PFC and 5 months past rads and i'm feeling just about normal.  i don't get as tired and there are days when i actually don't think about cancer.  

 

i had a scare a few weeks ago, called an ambulance because of the intense pain in my lower back, and found out in the ER that it was my damned gallbladder.  i'll see a cardiologist next week to be clear for surgery because of the herceptin and then i'll get it out.  i kept saying in the ER that i would gladly do chemo again if the pain would just go away.  ha.  thank goodness they had some awesome pain meds there.  anyone had surgery while on herceptin?

 

 

 

Relda

I had had 3 Herceptin infusions when I had my lumpectomy back in December.

lago

I was on herceptin when I did my exchange surgery with fat transfer. I was told it wouldn't be an issue but I didn't have any issues with Herceptin. I had 3 more months of Herceptin to go.

SpecialK

I was done with Herceptin by the time I had my exchange, but I did have my left TE put back in shortly after chemo ended, while still on Herceptin.  No problems.

yaya - thanks!  Of course I hope to receive the actual vaccine, but I also feel good about participating in the study.  The expression "it takes a village..." - I am fortunate enough to have many good friends who are letting me camp out with them, a friend whose DH is an airline pilot who is giving me passes for the flights, and my family holding the fort down at home.  I am packing right now, leaving tomorrow morning.  I am staying with a friend who has been there for me all through my BC journey - long distance - as she was in Colorado, but just moved back to DC.  I have known her for 20 years, our boys started kindergarten together.  She lost her Dad to stage IV prostate, and her step-mom has also had BC.  She has been a wonderful and loving support and I am so excited to see her!

lago

SpecialK have a safe journey. Hope you get the vaccine.

vickilind61

relda, thanks.  I kind of knew that was going to be the case.  That makes me sad.  I love swimming and to have one right outside my door and not be able to use it the whole summer is just depressing...yet another crappy thing I can blame on BC.

zumbagirl

Did anyone experience kidney damage from their chemo? I had my last chemo the end of Sept. 2011, and my onc nurses, said, that my kidney filtration has been trending downward since about January.

They are recommending I see a kidney specialist.

I had to look up kidneys on line and see what exactly they do, and they sensor and filter all the blood, and can tell if something is wrong in your body, and not just with your bladder or kidneys.

I have been drinking extra water just in case.

Relda

Yeah I know just how you feel Vicki, swimming is my main source of exercise and to not be able to do it during chemo just SUCKED.  BC sucks!!  Again, sorry

dancetrancer

That does suck Vicki!   

Zumbagirl - if you look back through the last couple pages, you will see my fears about kidney damage and carbo.  (My GFR was down between #3 and #4, back up just before #4).  Several people replied.  It can happen - seems like most of the time you can heal from it - although that is not 100% guaranteed.  Here is an article I read that you may find helpful:

 Kidney Damage (Acute Renal Failure)

Do you know what your numbers are? (GFR)  

Please keep us posted as to what you find out from the renal specialist.  I am still worried about mine, and will be keeping an eye on it.  Also keep in mind that GFR is an estimate, and can be thrown off by dehydration.  You are smart to keep drinking lots of water, as I would imagine that helps the healing process.  I am doing the same.  

Moonflwr912

Zumnagirl, I suffered acute renal failure after tx 2. I was dehydrated, and had medicine issues. They had to change my blood pressure meds, put me on iv fluids and four days in hospital. My nephrologist,(kidney doc) said I should recover fully, and so far so good. He also suggested a sleep study as that can affect the organs! I still have to set that up. But they also changed my tx a bit. BTW, I was on TCH x 6

hbb

Hi everyone, Vicki, there's a woman on the cold cap forum who says she swam every day except infusion day with no ill effects, so maybe check with your doc.

I know I asked this before but i'm still fighting this crazy rash , am I really the only one? Luckily tomorrow is Monday,I plan on stalking my onc, lol.

vickilind61

hbb, stalk away!   I am going to ask my MO tomorrow; dont' think I would submerge, but would be nice to get in and walk in the shallow end and sit on the stairs.  Hold on the edge and kick my legs.  Here's hoping...

hbb

I plan on doing the same. I have two little girls and there's no way that I'll make it thru the summer without going to the pool.

Another question, has Anyone experienced neuropathy?

lago

I had some neuropathy. I had some pins and needles in my hand/fingers in my left hand after tx 1. TX 2 my left heel started to get numb but resolved by next treatment. After TX2 I started to take Acetyl-L-Carnitine 500 mg.  I still have the numbness in my left food but it depends on the weather. Cold and dampness make it worse but it's not too bad. My NP said if it doesn't go away 2 years PFC it probably won't. It's now 17 months PFC so I have a feeling it's not going to go away completely. I do feel the Acetyl-LCarnitine helped.

zumbagirl

Thanks for sharing dancetrance and moonflwr,

The nearest kidney specialist is two hours away, so I am waiting for them to call with an apt. that fits my schedule. I do hope the kidneys will improve on their own, I don't want to be on any new pill or treatment. I am so burned out on the last 14 months of treatments and two more months to go.

I will keep you all informed on what happens.

ashla

Hbb,

I had some neuropathy mostly in my fingers and a bit less in my feet. It lasted till a few weeks after TCH but seems to have resolved almost completely 4 mos PFC.

hbb

Went to my oncologists partner today to check out the rash and he literally had no idea what to do. He gave me antibiotics and told me to get some otc cortisone. Sooooo frustrating. I'm going back Friday if it isn't gone.

Today the Herceptin runny nose I've heard so much about won't quit. Yay chemo.

lago

hbb I know when I had issues with my toenails my onc sent me to a podiatrist. When I had issues with my fingernails she sent me to a dermatologist. I know several folks that heart issues where sent to a cardiologist by their onc. Maybe next time you should suggest to your onc (partner) that it might be time to see a dermatologist if it isn't gone by Friday.

dancetrancer

hbb - try a little bit of baby oil or some other moisturizer (some have used Aquafor) on a Qtip in the nose every morning.  It has helped my runny nose - but I'm not sure if my runny nose is due to Taxotere or Herceptin at this time. 

hbb

Lago I was thinking the exact same thing cuz this us ridiculous, not to mention unsightly!!! So frustrating,I woke up this morning and my face looks worse, full of pus like a sixteen year old. Horrible!!!!

Kelloggs

hbb - I have Herceptin nose today, too.  It's so frustrating, just feels like the faucet gets turned on randomly!  I'm on Herceptin only now so I hate to tell you, but it will probably continue after the chemo portion of your tx is done.  Carry Kleenex!

Relda

I was always told that the runny nose is because along with the hair on our heads going bye bye, so too went the hair in our noses. And with no nose hair to hang on to, everything just comes pouring out! Sure enough the first time I went through this, as soon as my hair started growing back, gradually my runny nose went away. Coincidence or not, there ya have it!

Kelloggs

Relda - I'm glad your runny nose went away.  Unfortunately mine hasn't, even though I have nose hair now.  The runny nose can also be an SE of Herceptin.  Guess I just got lucky to have it still!

lago

My runny nose wasn't too bad but did seem go go away when doing only herceptin.

Relda

I am sure that Herceptin alone can cause runny noses (most data puts a runny nose as a Herceptin SE at between 2-25%), I was just pointing out that most of the time the runny nose SE is caused by the lack of nose hair (after all, most patients not receiving Herceptin experience this SE as well), and for more people than not, it goes away when your hair grows back.  Same as the teary eye SE can most of the time be attributed to a lack of eyelashes.  It goes without saying that everyone is different and we all experience different SE's or similar SE's that are attributed to different things.  For most cancer patients though, the runny nose will go away with the return of their nose hairs. 

Kelloggs

Didn't mean to upset anyone, just giving my experience

Relda

If you're referring to me, I'm not upset - just giving my experience as well as pointing out that the runny nose SE is more often due to the nose hair thing than a causation of Herceptin alone. I just thought it was important info for people to have. Gives them hope that they will be able to put away the Kleenex sooner rather than later ;-)

hbb

The funny thing is it only seems to run like a faucet when I'm eating. And yes, i've been doing Vaseline inside the edges and I agree that helps.

Zumba, question, did you drink an abundance of water during treatment?

My next TX isn't until next Friday,I almost wish it was every 14 days instead of 21 just to get it over with quicker.