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

suzieq60

Blair - hugs to you both

Sue

SpecialK

Blair - I woud suggest she follow a brat diet at least for a few days of tx and after - bananas, apples, rice, toast.

Warning - as this goes on she may be grouchier! Just an FYI!

AlaskaAngel

Salads are a raw vegetable that has no natural covering (such as an orange has), so it carries more organisms even when washed (since one doesn't usually boil it....!)  So probably the salad was the culprit. Glad to hear she is doing better!  Keep her hydrated.

A.A.

BlairK

It is Thursday January 12th in the evening.  My wife has rested most of the day and has been very tired.  The diarrhea has gone away.  She has been in effect following a BRAT diet.  More later.

suzieq60

Blair - hope her temp stays down

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

Sue

SpecialK

blair - even though she is fatigued it sounds like she is hanging in.  Glad the BRAT is working.  She is half-way home, right?

jbennett38

Blair - I haven't posted to you since you were on the DCIS forum.  Just wanted to let you know I have been following you and your wife and hope this treatment goes much smoother than the last. You are half-way there!

Anonymous

I get diarhea from herceptin. It begins the same day as treatment and lasts for a couple of days. Then gone. I just try to drink lots of fluids. It does not impair me and it isn't usually the emergency kind.

SpecialK

I was Big D prone (for the first 10 days following) each chemo.  It did continue with Herceptin alone but not for as many days.  For the last few Herceptins only I have not had a problem.  My head onc nurse suggested taking a probiotic supplement daily and that seems to have done the trick. 

Anonymous

agree with special k on the probiotic. I have one that I keep in the fridge, along with kefir, so my biggest problem is remembering to take it.

BlairK

It is Tuesday 1/17 in the morning.  My wife has spent a lot of time resting.  She has begun to complain of stomach aches - we think it could be caused by the Naproxen.  Today she will have a blood count and checkup.  Will update later.

suzieq60

Blair - I had an aching tummy - my onc ordered Somac for me. Hope her temp has stayed down this time and her bloods are better.

SpecialK

blair - It sounds like eating the BRAT diet helped with the diarrhea, but I am wondering if it is not enough to protect her stomach from the corrosive effects on the Naproxen.

Trisha-Anne

I also had the big D with Taxotere - and also Herceptin - although nowhere near as bad, usually just the day of infusion and sometimes the next day.

Blair, I feel for your wife, I had a terrible time on Taxotere, for a while I thought I would die.  They reduced the dose for the second round and that was a tiny bit better but still bad - I couldn't do the third dose.

I'm not surprised she's been grouchy - I was too - I was so sick of being sick.  All you can do for her when she's like that is say very little and cuddle her a lot :-)

Trish

BlairK

Today is January 18th in the evening.  It is my wife's birthday and she felt well enough to go out to dinner.  Unfortunately the kids wouldn't behave themselves.  Yesterday, her total white blood count was 14.  Oncologist wants her to continue to take Nexxum and Naproxen.  Her stomach feels better for now - she ate lasagna, salad and birthday cake for dinner.  More later.

BlairK

By the way I gave my wife an iPAD2 for her birthday.

SpecialK

blair - nice!

BlairK

It is now January 20th Friday in the afternoon.  The last two days have been OK.  The main thing I am observing is my wife's lack of energy.  GI systems are less.  No fever.  She is completely bald but her wig looks nice.  My wife is beginning to learn how to use her iPAD.  Have a nice weekend.  More later.

dragonfly1

BlairK Thank you for the update-I think of you and your wife and family often. The Ipad is such a wonderful gift:) Mine gets me through infusions and sleepless nights. By the way, aside from your wife's SEs/physical issues, how is she doing emotionally? Is she staying in good spirits through all of this?

SpecialK

blair - the lack of energy thing is normal and unfortunately, will probably get worse.  Good that there is no fever and she is enjoying her ipad.  I got one for my DH Christmas before last.  He tried to return it but I insisted that he keep it - now he loves it.  He downloaded movies and watched them at chemo with me.

Anonymous

Love my ipad!!!!!!!! Glad to here things are working better. I too was lethargic. Still am for a couple days in between hercptin. Ive jst iven in to it.

momofthree2011

Blair, 

Glad your wife is doing better! What helped me fight the fatigue was exercise. We had to attend a chemo class before starting treatment and the nurse told us that exercise is very important and it will help with the fatigue.  I also had acupuncture treatments before my chemo treatments (with my drs. approval). I would go in and feel exhausted and my stomach hurting me and leaving 45 minutes later feeling great and telling my husband that I want something to eat. I was a skeptic but acupuncture really works. When I finished chemo I tried to walk at least 1 mile everyday to keep my heart strong since I was still on Herceptin treatments.

 Debbie 

Minnshark

Blair, continue to be strong and supportive. While, I am not going through chemo I couldn't have gotten as far I have without an incredibly strong support network at my home. Thank you for the reminder that I need to let my DH know how much he means to me... Good luck on your wife's journey.

BlairK

It is Tuesday January 24th in the late afternoon.  My wife had her checkup today.  Her total white blood count is OK.  She has stopped the Naproxen and the fever has not come back.  I know my wife has been grouchy in the last few days.  The next chemo treatment (#3) will be on 1/31.  I hope everybody is doing well.  More later.

suzieq60

Blair - good to hear she's OK - keep giving her those cuddles we send

 Sue

Nana2three

If echocardiogram and PET SCAN reports come in by Wed., it look like I will be on the chemo/herceptin protocol.  I have one question.  Do any of you have MS that are on this regimen?  My MO is working with my MS Specialist and I will continue my daily MS injection of Copaxone which I give myself and have for 10 years.  Basically, my quality of life has been good and I am concerned about the new drugs.  This thread is so very helpful to me in facing herceptin/chemo.  I will be posting and reading often.

dancetrancer

Hi Blair,

I've been studying your thread for several days now, and have learned so much from it.  I wanted you to know that.  Thank you.

I've been diagnosed with a 3 mm IDC that is HER2+ (diagnosis has been delayed for 4 months due to pathologists missing it).  I currently am exploring whether I will do the chemo/Herceptin treatment or not...I have my own thread going.

Best of luck to you and your wife, and I continue to believe you are such a great husband!  (I was involved with your DCIS threads back in the fall.) 

Mocity

I went through almost the same thing however I started with DCIS in only one breast.  I opted to do a bilateral.So after the bilateral I found out I had to do chemo and Herceptin.  I did 12 weeks of Taxol and then Herceptin for a year.  Now I am taking hormonal therapy - Lupron, Tamoxifen.  If she is HER2+ my guess is that she will for sure take Herceptin.  I didn't have too many issues with the Herceptin.

BlairK

Hi dancetrancer - I remember you from my DCIS threads.  You are now in the same category as my wife more or less - you are Grade 2 and she is Grade 3.  Please let me know if you have any questions relating to your decision about chemo and herceptin.  I guess we know a lot about it now from first-hand experience.  My wife's third chemo treatment is tomorrow 1/31.

BlairK

It is now Monday January 30th.  My wife is doing OK.  She will have her third chemo / herceptin treatment tomorrow.  Will update later.  I finished reading the book "Promise Me" by Nancy Brinker - Susan Komen's sister and the founder of Susan B. Komen for the Cure.  I will now give the book to my wife to see if she wants to read it.