Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

Sickofpink

My onc sent me to

Eye doc after i was tearing so much from round 3. He did the steel needles in the tear duct dialtion, worked great. Two weeks after round 4 and i'm going back tomorrow... Don't want stints or lingering issues. Plus I'm a writer with a book coming out in May - need to see! Expect to do it every roundI guess.¿

I also have the 3 week H after this (plus rads) and yes it's a year total including the ones with TCH. Then hormones , right?

Do compresses work at all ?

SpecialK

sickofpink - you may start the hormonal therapy after you are done with chemo, but possibly during rads.  Some oncs like to allow a washout of chemo side effects before starting hormonal, some of the SE are the same (bone pain and hot flashes) so they give a little break.  Some may wait until after rads, but during the Herceptin only, they won't wait until Herceptin is done.  I did not do a lumpectomy, I did BMX, then chemo/Herceptin, finished chemo, but started Femara about 6 weeks after chemo while still having Herceptin.  Man, that sounds confusing!

Dx 9/27/2010, DCIS, Grade 3, ER+/PR+, HER2+Dx 9/27/2010, IDC, 2cm, Stage IIb, Grade 3, 2/14 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+Surgery 11/01/2010 Mastectomy (Both); Reconstruction: Tissue expander placement (Both)Surgery 12/06/2010 Lymph Node Removal: Axillary Lymph Node Dissection (Right)Surgery 12/21/2010 Reconstruction (Left)Surgery 01/07/2011 Reconstruction (Left)Surgery 01/21/2011 Reconstruction (Left)Chemotherapy 02/17/2011 carboplatin, TaxotereTargeted Therapy 02/17/2011 HerceptinSurgery 07/20/2011 Reconstruction: Tissue expander placement (Left)Hormonal Therapy 08/01/2011 FemaraSurgery 02/24/2012 Reconstruction: Breast implants (permanent) (Both)Hormonal Therapy 06/20/2012 ArimidexSurgery 12/14/2012 Reconstruction (Both)

lago

My onc likes to start hormone therapy 1 month after chemo unless you are having rads. Then after rads. I didn't have rads and started 5 weeks PFC because I wanted to start on the first of the month.

LindaKR

I started chemo in May 2010 and ended Herceptin almost a year to the day from when I started.

rickysgirl

Hello all.  Been MIA for a bit.  Have had a bunch of stupid trouble dealing with household problems/repairs that had to be taken care of.  Won't go into it all, but suffice it to say that, after being told otherwise, I had no choice but to make a trip up to my local laundromat.  Nasty, filthy dirty.  "Nough" said.  I started taking my Tamoxafen on the 14th and since that time, it seems I have had a lot of trouble sleeping, and am very aware of being in a deep, dark state of depression.  Most of it is environmental, I'm sure, but it's still hard to deal with.  I only see relief when I get out of this state, which I am working on.  It won't come soon enough for me, but it is on the horizon.  I am going for my first eye check up tomorrow ( no problems, just thought it would be good to go, just in case) and on to Herceptin after that.  This will be my 2nd Herceptin only treatment.  Haven't had a lick of trouble with that.  YAY !!  Hope all are doing as well as can be expected. 

Moonflwr912

RG, hope you feel a bit more up soon. Much love.

SpecialK

rickysgirl - what time of day are you taking Tamoxifen?  I used to take my AI at night and had trouble sleeping (which I had before BC) but I switched to morning and it is much better.  Also, Tamoxifen can cause the mood issues, so it may be the drug too - don't discount that.

cvmarilyn

Hi All - don't write a lot here but sure do get so much helpful info. Just had my 3rd Herceptin TX with the "P" drug - either placebo or pertuzamab - anyway - have  A LOT of leg achiness - ugh just when I thought that was over - so I guess it's the Herceptin. Anway talking about eyes - Monday - out of the blue I had a migraine and since then lights are really bothering me. So - it too could be a Herceptin thing - right?

Keeping the port is interesting... my last one will be in July - after 18 treatments.  Right now I think I'll either burn it or build a shrine around it... LOL.

Me

SpecialK

cvmarilyn - can you control the speed of the infusion?  I found that slowing it down helped with achiness - from 30 minutes to 90.  Not sure about the migraine, but I did have headaches more frequently toward he end of H only infusions.  Still have my port and finished Herceptin a year ago!

rickysgirl

Hey SpecialK, I'm taking my Tamoxafen at night.  Along with my vitamin and my Biotin.  I am up at 4:30 this morning.  I laid in bed awhile listening to see if I can hear my hair grow, but decided to just go ahead and get up.  I'm getting some chores done before I'm off to my appts. I also need this time for the many trips to the bathroom I will need to make before I can leave the house.  Could that be Tamoxafen related, too?  I have started eating a bit healthier, more fruits and veg.  I am so paranoid about it, though, that I don my paper panties when I'm going to be away from the house. I'm actually quite miserable at this point.  Even more so than chemo, it seems.  Since I'm not sleeping well at night, I end up falling asleep at all kinds of different times of the day.  I've tried to stop that, hoping for a better nights sleep, but it just doesn't seem to be happening.  I am also so hot at night.  It's not hot flashes, just plain hot.  Have to run fans, even when it's in the 30's out.  During the day, though, I am so cold I bundle up in sweats and run the heat all day. 

jittersmom

Rickysgirl......... I was on Tamoxifen and now switched to Femera due to blood clots. I had terrible digestive issues while on tamoxifen told my MO I stopped once for 2 weeks NO PROBLEMS!.went back on problem back again. I took immodium, they said try to bulk up, tried giving up certain foods..no luck. I would get up hours early to make sure i could leave the house with no issues....Had to stop the tamoxifen again because i got a blood clot..bam no more immodium or issues! i too was hot at night and freezing during the day, and just generally kinda depressed feeling. Good luck its so frustrating all the side effects!

rickysgirl

Thank you.  Now I feel like I'm not quite so alone.  I will ask about these issues when I go to Herceptin today.  I don't see the onc until next month, but maybe I can get her to drop by.  I've only been taking it (the Tamoxofen) for about 12 days and I was hoping things would kind of level out, but so far......not.  I'm scared about the ride over, due to the "d".  It just whooshes with not much lead time.  Since 4:30 this morning, I am at 6 and counting.  Hope the Depends hold up.

cvmarilyn

Special K - I will sure ask about that timing - thank you for the idea

Ricky's Girl and Jittersmom - what about asking for Arimidex?  If you're post menopausal that seems to be the drug of choice. I sure would let my doctor know those symptoms... you sure can't live like that for years

lago

I've heard that Femara might be better for old women (over 60). Not sure about that though.

momto5children

Going on my 6th and final round of chemo next Wednesday.  For the most part it hasn't been terribly bad.  My labs have been normal, just a little anemic (11.2).  And my MUGA scans are in the 60's.  The last 3 rounds have been pretty predictable.  Nausea starting on day 2 and lasting for about a week.  My biggest problem now is the extreme muscle weakness.  I have to work 2 12's this weekend and again Tuesday and am dreading it.  Anyone have any suggestions on anything that helps with the weakness.  I think I might try an epsom salt bath or bengay, or both.  Any thoughts???

Moonflwr912

RG, I feel for you. That was my problem too. Um, I still have a disposable in my purse! I have to take magnesium supplements, but guess what happens with those! LOL. Please make sure they watch your potassium and magnet levels with that many visits to the restroom! I ended up in renal failure due to the D so be careful. If immodium doesn't work by the third time, use the prescription kind. My mo gave me Lomotil. It worked. I think its dyphenhydrate atropine. Hang in there.

SpecialK

For those with GI issues have you tried a probiotic?  I had Big D problems during chemo and continuing into Herceptin only - much better once I started a probiotic. 

momto5 - I did take a number of baths during the 6 weeks or so after chemo ended until that muscle weakness improved.  Tonlee posted about the muscle building (or improving or repairing, lol!) supplement called Juven, might be worth a try too.

laurie2025

Had 2nd 'big 3' chemo treatment thursday, am doing ok, but went to bed so early last night I am awake already.  Was wondering if anyone has tried acupuncture to reduce chemo symptoms, and if any luck.  I am mostly dealing with food tasting horrible, constipation, mild nausea and tiredness.

Thanks for any info, and have a good day everyone.

Cocobean

Hello ladies, I have a question for those of you who have finished treatment. I am 3.5 weeks PFC....I have noticed some slight swelling in both hands and lots of muscle soreness...I am going to a LE therapist for the swelling on my left side b/c I had nodes, but I have swelling on both sides.i have read that it can be chemo related....did anyone else experience this? Any advice on the swelling and soreness? Thanks.

lago

Are you retaining fluid? I know I was retaining for many months after chemo and had to be put on a diuretic. Then fluid retention kicked in again from Anastrozole (not common but it is an SE of Anastrozole). My retention is legs and tummy but I do get it in my fingers at times when I eat salty stuff. Everyone retains differently too.

Sickofpink

SpecialK thanks for the tip about having to start hormones sooner - Post round 4 of 6, I've gained all my weight back ut guess I need to drop a few to coutner the weight gain I hear about with the homrones - is that always true?

Laurie - I had my tearducts dialated forthe second time Thursday but they are still tearing...what was the determining factor for your stent surgery? I would love to avoid that and just deal with this and hope it goes away...it's intermittent...and eh SE's sound normal, havent; tried accupuncture but did have a massage..

Mom2child - baths are great for achey legs (and hemorroids, nut not fast enough) and walking helps....

 So I did have saurkraut and a pickle yesterday, my eyes are reallty swollen today (in addition to tearing, could be part of the problem?)- sounds like salt could be the culprit?

Thanks!

lago

OMG stay away from pickles and sauerkraut. I would be a balloon if I ate that Seriously I could put on 3-4 lbs in 1 day by eating that much salt even with my 1/2 pill of diuretic.

SpecialK

sickofpink - I don't know that everyone gains weight on the hormones as opposed it may become harder to lose weight.  I haven't really gained as much as yo-yo'ed with the same 10 lbs.  This was going on prior to diagnosis too though.

cocobean - halfway through chemo I swelled rather dramatically, had to go on a diuretic.  I have tried to go off of it but I think I am just a person who swells, which is a PITA.  Prior to diagnosis my hands would swell so much I could not get my wedding rings off if I walked, ran or exercised.  It is pretty common and for most it goes away after a while post-chemo.

sewingnut

SickofPink,

I also had the eye tearing from taxotere. My Dr put me on a steroid eyedrop called FML. It slowed down the tears. I used it from my 3rd tx on till about a month PFC. I had no scarring and everything resolved. My Dr said "I want to hit it early and hit it hard to avoid stents". I also have glaucoma so he was extra vigilant in my case.

dventi

laurie2025... yes... i had acupuncture treatments 2 times a week during chemo and have continued after chemo.  My MO was so pleased with how I pulled throught the tx.... Funny, last week I went for my Herceptin tx and the head nurse came over to me and said, "Everytime you came here for your tx, I could not believe you had cancer"

.. I am truly believe that the acupuncture helped with fatigue and nausea and the immune system. Could be the power of believing.. but whatever it is... I had very mild side effects .... As with any profession, the results are only as good as the acupuncturist... I suggest you find someone who is in practice for a while!

Good Luck and let me know if you have any questions....

cgesq

SickofPink,

I hate to tell you this, but I had my last TCH on 12/26 and my eyes are still tearing from the taxotere.  It started after my 3rd treatment, and only lasted a few days.  It lasted longer after my 4th, and basically hasn't stopped since my 5th treatment.

My eye dr. tried putting me on steroid drops during my treatments, and that didn't work.  Last week, he put plugs in my tear ducts, which were supposed to make it better but wound up making it much worse.  (I had him take them out the very next day.)

Basically, I'm back on the steroid drops, (called pred forte) which seem to be helping a little more, but it won't be fully resolved until all this chemo SHIT is out of my system.  Nobody can tell me when that will be.

If your eye dr. has a magic solution, please post it.  Good luck!

Btw, I love your name!!

LindaKR

Sickofpink &  cgesq - the steroid drops did not work for me, and the tearing was such that I couldn't read, watch TV, drive, for more than 1/2 hour maximum - because my vision was so distorted from the tearing and my eyes would just ache, which would give me a pretty intense headache - I got the stents in 3 weeks PFC - they can't put the stents in when your numbers are low, so between the doctors schedule and my chemo schedule, it took a while to get the appointment.  There was a big difference within 3 days, and by 1 week my eyes were mostly back to normal, they left the stents in 4 months so that my tear ducts would heal, and then pulled them out.  I just wish I had gotten them in sooner, would have made things much easier.  Let me know if you have any questions - the stents were 100% worth it!!

cgesq

Hi Linda,

I specifically asked my eye dr. if I needed stents, but he did a test and my tear ducts aren't blocked...my eyes are just extremely dry from the chemo doing a number on the membranes in my eyes.  (I had PRK laser surgery on both eyes, so maybe that makes them more susceptible to damage from the chemo.)

Sickofpink

Criminy! My eye dr said my tear ducts shrunk so he dialated them again -no help this time.... but no word about steriod drops ... Do not want stents ! Major editing to do tomorrow and now i can't sleep either, ugh!



I cant wear my rings either and broke out oddly two weeks after steroids for chemo. Ok no salt!



Never heard about bloating halfway thru - is that common? just figured im eating too many carbs trying to find stuff that tastes good - and can't eat salad or fruit like i used to .,..



Still cant believe this is happening sometimes...

Bren58

Thanks for discussing the options for tearing of the eyes. Mine started after tx3 and is getting worse. I was going to say something to my MO on Tuesday when I go in for tx4. Now at least I know a little more info about it and the different treatment options.