Post-BMX - Stage 1a IDC HER2+ - Facing Herceptin/Chemotherapy

Omaz

BlairK - Lowered dose of taxotere next time or switch to taxol?  Hope the naproxan helps!

AmyIsStrong

BlairK - hope the fever stays down. Isn't her next treatment coming up soon? How is her hair holding up, or is it too soon to tell?
Please send her love & support from all her online sisters here. I am very touched by the following you have gathered since your journey began.

suzieq60

Blair - good to hear the docs are paying attention and doing something. I hope she feels better soon. There are alternatives to TCH, one lady on here (another Aussie) was given FEC and herceptin by her onc. Maybe you could ask about that.

((((((HUGS)))))))

Sue

BlairK

The oncologist plans to reduce the dose of Taxotere and Cytoxan for the next treatment by 25 percent while keeping the dose of Herceptin the same.  It is too soon to tell whether the fever will stay down but my wife is reporting feeling better since she started taking Naproxan yesterday evening.  I think it is too soon to contemplate an entire change of the chemo regimen.  Hopefully the 25 percent reduction in chemo dose will help reduce the side effects.  My wife still has her hair but it is beginning to thin out.  The Oncologist expects my wife to lose her hair between now and the next chemo treatment currently scheduled for 1/10 - next Tuesday.  I am hoping that this thread and my previous DCIS threads will be helpful to anyone who reads them.  At least I am documenting very thoroughly what my wife is going through and the key decisions that have needed to be made.

SpecialK

blair - glad they do not think it was c-diff, because it is a nasty thing.  Maybe this is TMI but for others c-diff diarrhea is usually sticky, slimy and really foul smelling.  That is how you can differentiate it from regular old diarrhea.  It sounds like you are making progress with finding out the origin of the fever and that the ID doc is on the right path.  So sorry you are both having a hard time with this, and hoping you are both doing better soon.  How is your foot?

BlairK

Dear SpecialK - I did not look at the toilet bowl so it is hard to judge - my wife said it was soft stools.  This may be gross but I could smell it from a mile away.  My wife only had three days of IV antibiotics so I thought it would take "C diff" longer to materialize.  I took Clindamycin for my foot infection which also carries a warning about "C-diff".  My foot is better but the red spot is still there although it has gotten much smaller and is cool as opposed to hot when it first appeared.  I ate a lot of "probiotic" yogurt when I was taking the antibiotic.  My wife had Activa yogurt last Thursday and Friday but did not continue it.  My wife seems more energetic today compared to the last 11 days when she had trouble getting out of bed.  I will update later.

SpecialK

blair - I think just about every antibiotic now has the c-diff warning.  You were smart to eat probiotic yogurt to try to control your intestinal flora while taking your Clindamycin.  I am hoping she did not have c-diff, just bad Big D, like so many of us.  Hope all the bathtub issues are also resolved

Anonymous

I hope things are going better. It seemed that while I was on chemo with herceptin, it was one or the other....diahrea or constipation....I thought the constipation was the worst as I ended up with fissures, which led to another doctor. I still have diarrhea for a couple days after herceptin. Honestly though, the combination of metformin with an antibiotic for two weeks in December led to my fissures pretty much healing....thank God. That was awful. I am knocking on wood as I type this hoping I am not jinxing myself.

BlairK

It is now Thursday January 5th in the morning.  The naproxen has worked very well and so far my wife's fever has not returned.  Also, she has not had any diarrhea yesterday or so far today.  She has a lot more energy and has returned to her pre-chemo activity level.  I hope they get all the test results and close the book on the cause of my wife's prolonged fever which was awful.  My wife is beginning to lose her hair in a major way.  It is falling out in clumps on to her clothing and also when she takes a shower.  She is not at the oncologist (I went to work) and I will get an update later.  We are looking forward to our son's 9th birthday over the weekend.

momofthree2011

Blair, I'm so glad your wife is feeling better! The same thing happened to me about losing my hair. I started losing it quickly so I decided to have my head shaved. It was easier that way for me. Also, I started using the Nioxin shampoo, conditioner and booster.  I can't believe how great it works. My friend who works at a salon referred me to the line. She said, she would wash her scalp with Nioxin shampoo when she was going through chemo. I will keep your wife in prayer and believe the next treatment will be an easy one for her.

Blessings,

Debbie 

suzieq60

Blair - good to hear she is much better. I take Naproxen for my arthritis (been on it for years) and was on it during my chemo days, maybe that's why I did ok. We should have suggested she get her hair buzzed to you - that made it a lot easier when it fell out. I did it when strands of hair were starting to come out and didn't regret it. Debbie is right - Nioxin is great, although I didn't find out about it until after chemo, I did use it and it makes your scalp really healthy. You have to choose which system is right for you based on your normal hair type. I used system 6.



Sue

BlairK

It is Thursday January 5th in the evening.  My wife has lost almost all her hair and is now wearing her wig.  Her visit to the oncologist was OK - her total white blood cell count is OK.  She will have her second chemo treatment next Tuesday 1/10.  She is continuing to take Naproxen and her fever has not returned.  She has not had any diarrhea problems since Tuesday but the pendulum may be swinging toward constipation.  More later.

AlaskaAngel

BlairK,

Truly a time of emotional fragility for her, but I am glad she is feeling better physically. Best to you both.

A.A.

suzieq60

Blair - make sure she takes something like sennacot starting the day before her treatment and keeps it up for a few days after - she does not want to go there - that's the one thing I have a really bad memory of.

Sue

Anonymous

blair, that is exactly what happened with me...one r the other. Dulcolax stool softeners work well. Better for me than a laxative, and easier on the colon.



I use the nioxin also. I know you are supposed to pick a certain type, but I read the ingredients and all the major ones are virtually the same. I ended up with the one or colored hair because it was 50% off, lol, and since I am now coloring my hair again, it works!



So glad to hear she is doing better.

SpecialK

I would hold off on the Senecot prior to treatment if she experienced diarrhea the last time.  I had it with every tx for 10 days.  For constipaton my brother-in-law, the gastroenterologist, recommends Miralax.

Anonymous

my bff, a nurse practitioner recomends miralax also. I know it isn't supposed to taste when mixed in with something, but I swear it does. That is how I ended up using dulcolax. I do try to use Miralax when I can. I was using the laxatives, but they weren't doing their job during chemo. She was the one to tell me to get off the laxative and use the stool softener. It made a huge difference.

BlairK

My wife has been using Colace (spelling?) which is OTC.  I have used it in the past as well.

SpecialK

blair - Miralax is OTC as well.  Grocery stores and chain drug stores will have it.

AlaskaAngel

BlairK,

Whether or not it is standard treatment, I will throw this in for consideration. Metformin also offers similar effect. Of course, it is an antidiabetic drug and not yet authorized specifically for cancer, so one would logically have to monitor for insulin effect, etc. but labs are standard protocol for cancer patients undergoing treatment, so it wouldn't be a stretch to use it and monitor for that.

A.A.

Anonymous

AA-so true. Althugh the metofrmin effects shouldn't last forever. Mine have actually been minimal until they were combined with an antibiotic.



I can't wait until the pase 3 study releases results to see if it realy helps. I am taking mine religiously, and keeping all the forms. The only thing I noticed on my bloodwork when I had herceptin last week, is that instead of being in the mid 90's, I was 83 for a count. No one seemed concerned so I guess it is ok.



Blair-most over the counter things work really well. I would just go easy on the laxative component as it can cause cramping, etc. The stool softeners and Miralax are much less likely to do that.

BlairK

It is now Monday January 9th.  My wife continues to do OK.  Tomorrow will be the second chemo + herceptin treatment.  My wife took dexamethasone this morning.  I will update tomorrow evening after the treatment.

suzieq60

Blair - I truly hope she does better with the reduced dosage - give her our love.

Sue

BlairK

It is now Tuesday January 10th late afternoon/early evening.  My wife had her second treatment today.  They reduced the dose on the Taxotere and Cytoxan by 25 percent.  Also they changed the order.  The first treatment it was Cytoxan - Taxotere - Herceptin and this time it was Herceptin - Cytoxan - Taxotere.  I am not sure why they did that or whether the order matters.  My wife took Emend in the morning.  When we got home, my wife had immediate and bad diarrhea.  Without being too gross, it just gushed out in high volume.  I have advised my wife to rest more this time around and to continue to keep up her liquids.  Tomorrow she will have the Neulasta shot.  Her White Blood Count was till a bit high at 15-16.  Her hemoglobin was a bit low borderline low.  She continues with the Naproxen.  If my wife were to have an infection then the fever would break through the Naproxen.  Hopefully she will not have too many side effects this time around.  At least now with chemo it is two down and two to go.  More later.

BlairK

My wife is having a lot more diarrhea immediately following today's chemo compared to the first treatment.  Has anyone come home from chemo and then immediately had bad diarrhea?

suzieq60

Blair - I haven't heard of this happening before - my goodness - she must be allergic to one of the drugs or maybe the premeds they're giving her - this is really bad. When my husband had his second lot of chemo after showing such nasty sensitivity to the oxalyplatin - they would admit him for every treatment and really dose him up on antihistamines.

AlaskaAngel

Blairk,

I would be concerned to stay in close touch with her providers about it, especially in regard to both dehydration with such loose stools and in regard to the exposure to infection. Have they recommended any treatment, and is it working at all? If not, be persistent in her behalf in getting it evaluated and addressed.

A.A.

P.S. Is the naproxen continuing to keep her temp normal?

orange1

I had tons a lot of diarrhea but it was always delayed by a few days after treatment. mmmm - your wife's sitation is a bit disturbing.

suzieq60

Very disturbing!!!

BlairK

My wife's diarrhea seems to be less today - just a little bit in the morning. After confirmation with the oncologist, she took Imodium.  She had her Neulasta shot in the afternoon.  Her temperature seems OK.  She said she had eaten a salad yesterday during the chemo.  Maybe that was the wrong thing to eat.  She seems OK but grouchy.  Anyway, today is Wednesday January 11th.  Will keep everyone posted.