Any HER2+ starting Chemo in December?

Heathersmom

Hi,

I will get my first treatment on December 4. Anyone else starting in December?

I get my port put in tomorrow.

Can anyone give advise, encouragement? Feeling pretty scared.

My prayers go out to all fighting this!!!!!

lyn1117

Marcy,

I just started Herceptin with Taxol and received my first treatment today the 2nd of December.  It took so long.  I was at the doctors at 10am and didnt get out until 3:00pm!  Three and a half of those hours were getting the injection.   There was a problem on my scans, I have a significant amount of fluid surrounding my heart.  I have never had a heart problem and not certain what is causing this ( neither are the doctors).  It could be a virus or even metatastis of my breast cancer!  I will have to have further tests but opted to go ahead with the treatment rather than wait for the test results.  I am scared...I was ready to start exersizing to get back in shape and now I am scared and dont know what it means for my future.  Besides that, I so far are ok (feeling), now 3 hours after treatment (by the way the timing is weird as I live in Switzerland).  Marci, good luck and let us know how it goes..

 hugs,

lyn 

wendyk13

Hi Marcy.....I finished chemo May 2007 and a year of Herceptin January 2008.  So far so good and my hair looks fantastic!  Actually grew back thicker...

I was very lucky and had almost no se's from the chemo and virtually none from the Herceptin. I was able to keep exercising thruout tx which I know helped.  Just remember to take your anti-nausea meds even if you feel okay...much easier to prevent nausea than to treat it.  I well remember where you are today....it is all so scary, isn't it?  Who ever thought they would be going to an oncologist, let alone having chemo?  I sure didn't.  But...once you get the first chemo under your belt and you know what to expect, you really will be much better.  It's the unknown that is frightening...the known can be dealt with.

Sending you enormous hugs!  You are on your way.....and you will be okay.  Trust me.  You will be okay.

Heathersmom

Thank you all for the words of encouragement. I am just back from the day surgery getting the port put in.

Lyn, I will pray that all goes well with you and your treatments. I know how scared you must feel about the heart issues and having the treatment.

 I haven't seen the results of my MUGA scan yet, or the CT scan... I am hoping since they were done almost 2 weeks ago that if there was anything significant that I would have heard by now. But I have been here before and know that "no news is not always good news".

Wendy, Thank you... you have given me much hope.

I'll let you all know how it goes...

Marcy

Heathersmom

Well here it is day 3 after treatment and so far so good, as far as nausea goes. I feel like a niney year old woman today. Had the neulestra shot and the pain isn't as bad as I anticipated, but still feel achy.

The day of my treatment I was running late picking up DH from work, heading down the freeway to the medical center, I was talking away (nervous energy) and all of a sudden there was a motorcyle cop in my rearview mirrior with the lights and siren going. I was pulled over for speeding! He said I was doing 73 in a 60 and was I aware of that. I said I wasn't watching the speedometer, keeping up with traffic and by the way I am going to my first chemo treatment and am running late. He said he was sorry and wrote the ticket for only 5 over the speed limit. What a way to start my treatment day.... then I get to the center and they are running late also and I wasn't in to see my onc until 45 minutes after my appt time. All in all I was there from 10 am to 6 pm. They didn't start the drips until noon. I had a really nice, on the ball nurse. She made all the difference in my experience. Unfortunately she came from another hosiptal just for that day due to the number of patients they had scheduled for the day.

I hope the SE's stay at a minimum through out all the tx's.

Lyn, How are you doing?

Bold

Hi Sistrs:

 I am starting tch on the 29th of dec. I am not having a port put in my onc. says that it is not necessary. I have great veins. I have posted on the other starting in dec. forum but I will have more in common treatment wise with you. One other weird thing is that I had only 2% estrogen and my onc. want to treat it as though it is positive. I want to be aggressive and not leave a window open. I just not sure about going through more SE is warranted. I guess it is done in adjuvant therapy so I will have time to research and make that choice.  I have enough on my plate with starting chemo and all that comes with it. ugg.

fear knocked on the door courage opened it and there was no one there.

mattscot

I finally start chemo today (taxotere, cytoxin x4 and herceptin for a year)  I ended up pushing start date back a week because they could not get me on the schedule in the afternoon as I has originally requested-- (I am trying to work full time through out)  The real reason of course is that I just really do not want to do this ... 

turns out they also booked me for 6 hours so I am going in the morning. .  Anyway I am hoping my SE are light...   On the upside looking at my schedule my last chemo is 2/19  so before spring I wil be done (still doing the herceptin which seems to be not a big deal)

My general response to chemo is that  I am feeling pretty crabby... a general pissed off state of mind ... I am sure I will be a better camper after I get this first round under my belt.

Bold

Mattscott:

You will do great. I have read about nine books since I was dx and read every post going back to the stone age, This is doable. I agree that is sooooo sucks. You can count your blessings I have two more tx than you. GRRRRRRR.  Did you have a lumpectomy?

When I get pissed I think what if I had node involvement or it was metastasized. It makes me appreciate that I caught it in the early stage. You too.

We will be stronger and more compassionate people as a result of this..

mattscot

Hi

I am reporting back after my first treatment yesterday -- other than it took 7 hours it was not bad I did not have any reactions -- the first treatment has a lot of wait time to see if you have a reaction. Also I have Herceptin added to the mix.  My next 3 treatments will be half that time (supposedly)   No port in due to my wonderfully juicy veins ... I dont know after a year of Herceptin how juicy they will be.

.  Last night I felt like I gained 10 pounds from all the fluids (not to mention the steriods)... this morning I feel like myself (no nauseu...) have to go in today for the neulastra shot --- think our wonderful board has some tips on this . Anyway good to get it out of the way feeling less crabby.

Bold

Hi mattscot:

Yes on advice on Nuelastra You can take claritin D to stop the bone pain. So I heard and even my onc. recommended it.Good work. I am anxious to hear if you stay as great as you are now. I sure hope so.

plakatakr

I'm sneaking in on your board. I finished my Chemo on 12/5. Plan on feeling great for the first 3 days and crashing on day 4. That is usually when the steroids leave your system. After that, intestinal distress of one form or another for a few days. Good luck. I didn't get a port either, or the neulasta shot, BTW.

Bold

Good for you!!!! You DID IT. How many rad tx do you have? And do you have a adjuvant Herceptian and hormone too? So many questions? Sorry. I thrilled to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel. One more did you lose or gain weight?

plakatakr

Bold- My first 2 Rd's were TC and the next 2 were TCH. This Fri will be my first H only for a yr/every 3. I had a bone density last Fri and if all is well will start Arimidex, if not, the first 2 yrs will be Tamoxifen. With each cycle, I lost and then gained 10lbs. As far as rads, I was lucky and was able to do Mammo-site which is twice a day for 5 days. That was a week after my lumpectomy in August.

Bold

Wow that is aggressive treatment for node neg. I am sure that you are cured. For good forever. and you will die of old age.