Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

dancetrancer

Texas I too iced my nails during Taxotere (and 15 min prior and post) and also chewed on ice to prevent mouth sores (wasn't too careful with this the first TCH and ended up with a few sores). I also did cold caps. The icing of the nails and mouth was much more uncomfortable for me than the cold caps, but I felt it was worth enduring to try to avoid side effects.

MinusTwo

Texas: note from another one who iced nails w/frozen peas & bungee cords. I didn't get real fancy w/my toenails until tx2 so I'm losing one big toe nail. For the rest - I agree w/Bren - my nails never turned dark but they are still splitting back. I do agree that Herceptin & Perjeta add another dimension to the problem.

I let my hair go but used Latisse on eyelashes and eyebrows so I never lost those. You can do this!!!

Bren: yes I moved in too. I took not only a rolling cooler but a rolling duffel bag. Thank heavens they had warm blankets or I'd have needed a 3rd piece of luggage.

OneTexasDay

do I need a prescription for Latisse? If so, where can I get one? Not sure my MO is too worried about my brows and lashes....

SpecialK

onetexas - do you have a PS? They can write you a prescription for Latisse.

OneTexasDay

awesome. Gonna see my PS on Wednesday. Start chemo on Thursday.

When should I start the Latisse?

SpecialK

I can't advise you there as I didn't use it, but if the goal is not to lose lashes I would say as soon as you get it. The first chemo infusion prompts the hair loss so the prevention would need to be simultaneous.

flaviarose

I didn't ice, and had no problems with nails, other than some discoloration on fingernails. no mouth sores. I took glutamine, and recommend it.

MinusTwo

OneTexasDay - My MO wrote my Latisse RX. I checked w/my ophthalmologist who said it was worth trying & safe. Rx was for twice a day. I only used once a day at bedtime, but Special is right - start the same time as your first infusion. Don't be surprised at the high cost. My medicare drug program doesn't have it on any of their formularies and won't pay any of the cost. But it sure has worked for me - lashes & brows.

Amusing side bar - I spent several years trying to get stray brow hairs eradicated with electrolysis. Now I've spent 9 month keeping the strays growing.

AmyIsStrong

Just a reminder - I never iced hands or feet (there wasn't publicity about it five years ago) and didn't have any nail issues at all. Just don't want anyone to think that you DEFINITELY will have problems without icing.

I never lost my lashes or brows, but my brows definitely thinned. And now, five years later, they have never grown all the way back. Not terrible, but definitely noticeable (to me). I used to have thick, dark brows - had to wax. Now I really don't even pluck them. Sometimes even use an eyebrow pencil to darken when I put on makeup (which is a rare occurrence). It's not a terrible SE, but seems to be permanent.

Everybody reacts so differently to this process.

lovewins

Hello ladies...my platelets rose from 60,000 to over 100,000 today so I could have my 5th treatment. Never thought I would utter the words Yeah for chemo but I did. I have been so bummed about being a week behind. So concerned about my job and my fmla already running out. I can't help but wonder what happens or how long before they think it is too long for me to be off work. So far everyone has been wonderful. Worried about starting rads...I am going to ask for higher dose with less appointments if possible. I really feel for anyone who is working thru this...I am worried about my disability running out before I can return to work. I just have to pray everything will work out.

I pray for those getting treatment this week...I don't post alot but I am always reading and keeping up to date on threads. It is just too much for my mind to respond in writing but I am praying while I read. Take care all hope you all have light SE's.

Less than 3 hours to the end of chemo.

Viji

Good for you Lovewins. Had my last TC last week and I know how you feel. I too have been off work for nearly four months now and just want to get my life back to "normal" as soon as possible! I am so sick of this stupid cancer!!!

Those who have recently finished with TC, can you please tell me how your energy levels are? I have had bad sore throat issues with treatment #3 and 4 and feel like I have lost myself. For #1 &2, I was able to function almost normally, and walking everyday. But now I have to drag my feet, feel constantly tired and keep going to bed. My cough keeps me from sleeping well at night.

Amy, thank you for sharing your experience. Guess that is another thing to be prepared for.

lovewins

thanks Viji...glad you are all done with those treatments. looks like you are on Herceptin too. I ended up having a reaction today so I was there 7 hours. I am doing ok now.

SpecialK

viji - most of us noticed a difference at about the six-week point PFC.

Viji

Thank you SpecialK. Good to have an idea what to expect ahead.

lovewins

I found this on facebook and wondered if it might taste good during times when water tastes so bad. I am going to try it.

I have had several of ya'll ask me to re-post this. If you guys share the photo, it will be saved on your timeline. Here it is again... ️FAT FLUSH WATER ️ Joi...n us here: www.facebook.com/groups/HealthyTheNewSkinny You should drink at least three 8 oz glasses per day, they say the longer it sits, the better it tastes. You can eat them as well but they are intended as flavoring and still work, so that is a personal choice. The Vitamin C turns fat into fuel, the tangerine increases your sensitivity to insulin, and the cucumber makes you feel full. Try it for 10 days and see what you think! Ingredients per 8 oz serving Water 1 slice grapefruit 1 tangerine ½ cucumber, sliced 2 peppermint leaves Ice – as much as you like Directions Wash grapefruit, tangerine cucumber and peppermint leaves. Slice cucumber, grapefruit and tangerine (or peel). Combine all ingredients (fruits, vegetables, 8 oz water, and ice) into a large pitcher. Stir & Enjoy! PLEASE SHARE To SAVE this recipe, be sure to click SHARE so it will store on your personal page.

travlmom

From my last TX - I have become very low in potassium. Last week I went to the ER and got a bag infused and another bag the next day after my herceptin. It is starting to come back up but very slowly. My MO just called in pills for me to take for a week to try and get them back up before my next Chemo. The nurses all told me that too much water does not help us out. That is all I have been trying to get down this time and have had a really hard time with the metal taste. We need to be drinking juices too. So I have been drinking cranberry and apple juices all week some times together sometime cut with water.

Lovewins - that pitcher looks lovely!

SpecialK

lovewins - be careful of too much citrus if you are prone to mouth sores.

lovewins

thank you special!!!

LindaKR

I had a lot of eye trouble with my TCH, ended up with my tear ducts growing closed and had to have stents put in until about 3 months PFC, I would worry about putting something like Latisse around my eyes and adding to the problem. I didn't lose all of my brows or lashes, but it took them longer to come back, than it did my hair. Just saying!

Linda R

MinusTwo

Linda: Thanks for the warning & reminder that all of us are effected differently, every treatment. I didn't use Latisse until I made an appointment w/my ophthalmologist and discussed it thoroughly, but I agree anything could be a problem.

LeanneF

Hi Ladies. I've been "off the grid" for the holiday, plus my 5th treatment was pretty tough. My mom and dad drove almost 1000 miles to be with us for Thanksgiving. My dad is still recovering from lung cancer surgery, so it wasn't easy for them, but I really enjoyed having them here. 

I am thrilled to report I had my last chemo on Monday, December 2! Praying the MRI looks good and I never ever need chemo again!!! Praying the same for all of us.

Bren58

lovewins, the citrus water looks great, but I don't think I could have tolerated it during tx.

yay for last chemo Leanne!

I went to an ENT doc today because I still have ringing in my ears post chemo. After examining both ears, he said everything looked good as far as my ear health and suggested I try melatonin to try to ease the tinnitus. He said there have been a couple reputable studies lately that have shown it has helped to decrease the ringing. So tonight I will start my one month trial on melatonin to see if it helps. For anyone else who is dealing with this, it might be worth a try to see if it helps.

Moonflwr912

aw crap. Went to optometrist yesterday. Have to now see an opthomalogist. Retinal bleeds. Probably from diabetes. My last a1c was 6.9. Not bad but now I feel stupid for not going last year. Just too many doctor visits I skipped my vision test. Crap. It can't be too bad though because I called for an appt and the first one they gave me is in January. Could have been the high sugars during chemo with the steroids. Crap.

m1970

moon, so sorry to hear about your eye trouble. Never did I imagine I could loose my vision during my BMX and DIEP. This health stuff sucks.

Leanne congrats on ending chemo! I hope your last recovery goes quickly.

I have hair stubble on my brows. Looks terrible but I hope ill have regular brows soon because I can't draw them evenly.

Bren58

moon, I am so sorry about your eye troubles. Don't beat yourself up too badly about missing your appt last year, I think we all probably skipped appts that we should have gone to for things other than those related to BC. But you were a little preoccupied doing tx, and follow ups, and recon and scenic detours, you probably didn't have the energy to deal with everything!

MinusTwo

Moon - sorry to hear about your eyes but glad they don't think it's an emergency. Bren's right - we've all put off lots of things to deal with our major issue. I was due for a colonoscopy and I still haven't called.

SpecialK

bren - how much melatonin are you scheduled to take?  I got tinnitus from the first chemo I had - probably the Carboplatin.  My DH has hearing loss and terrible tinnitus from years of flying military aircraft.

moon - bummer on the eyes

Leanne - yay!

lovewins

(((((Moon)))))

Moonflwr912

Thanks everyone. Much love.

Viji

Moon take care.

A question: the last two treatments of TCH have left me with a racking cough. The first responded to antibiotics so now I am on antibiotics again. This time, it is so bad that I am throwing up every time something trickles my throat. Disturbed sleep and can't eat much. Did anybody else have this SE?