2009 Herceptin group

joan11847

Hi Ladies

I have been away from this site for awhile, but am doing OK and hope you are all doing the same.  I have finished my 4 (every three weeks) chemo treatments and now am on the H alone.  So far so good.  I get Benadryl (25 mg.) before the H and two tylenol for the headache.  I even go to work after the treatment (I'm a teacher).  I will continue this treatment until July, 2010.  What happens after that I have no idea, just going with the flow. I just wish I knew when my hair will start to grow back. It has been six weeks since the chemo stopped and not a bit of fuzz yet.  The wig gets hot in Florida.  I guess I should not complain after all I am making it!

Joan 

ccbaby

I will go in for Herceptin #12 on Monday. I just finished rads last week and am very burned under my arm and inner chest.

Tucheta

Christy,

Congrats on finishing rads! Have you tried Emu oil for your burns? I have very fair skin and I used emu oil throughout the radiation period and a couple of weeks after I finished, and never had  problems with my skin. I am sure you can find more info on the radiation forum or if you google "emu oil radiation"

ccbaby

Tucheta, thanks and no I haven't tried emu oil yet, but I will check it out. I have been using silvadene cream and Xeroform pads.

septembersong

Hello, all,

I finished my year of Herceptin in July of 2009. Starting in July of 2008, I had 12 weekly doses of Taxol and Herceptin, then Herceptin every three weeks (during radiation) until July.

I experienced neuropathy practically from the beginning with Taxol, and still have it in my toes and the soles of my feet--almost a year later. Anyone else have that reaction? I had twleve acupuncture treatments, but they didn't touch it. 

septembersong

Whoops, I just went to the beginning of this thread and saw that introductions are in order.

I'm 58, married 30 years this past August. Wonderful husband and a twin son and daughter, age 24. I was diagnosed in May 2008, and had a lumpectomy followed by chemo and radiation. I had a relatively easy time of treatment. Recovery/reentry has been complicated by the fact that I was laid off in March of 2009. I work in publishing and have been able to freelance, but going out into the job market has been difficult. I carried the health insurance (my husband is self-employed), and at some point COBRA will either become too costly or run out. But my hair is looking OK (I'm thinking of keeping it short), I've lost 15 pounds, and I'm just going to have to suck it up and get back out there!

ccbaby

I am so excited about tomorrow....I will have my LAST Herceptin treatment!! It has been a long year!!  I remember thinking this day would never come!

momgovero

Hey there girls.  It has been awhile since I posted, but my finger nails have been so very tender lately.  I remembered reading somewhere about the Herceptin treatments causing that.  I will finish up my last treatment this month, and was thinking I was not going to have any side effects at all.  Anybody else having any finger nail issues? 

My hair is growing back, and life is slowly but surely getting back to "normal".  I had right side mastectomy in June, with no reconstruction as of yet.  Dealing with the cancer first, then will deal with the body image.