Taxol X12 with Herceptin and Prejeta

ThePrincess

Hello Ladies!

I'm almost done w/AC and moving on to Taxol weekly with Herceptin/Prejeta thrown in every 3 weeks - can anyone give me info on how this goes/feels? For example, day 1 is fine, but day 3 and 4 are very fatigued? Other SEs to watch for? What works to lessen those SEs?

Thanks in advance!

ThePrincess

anyone?

Italychick

Somebody will come along and respond. Usually this time of day is kind of a dead zone when people are doing commutes home from work, dinner, etc.

I am only doing Herceptin, not Perjeta, but I haven't been able to really detect any Herceptin side effects, other than if I bend over my nose runs like a faucet, and when I do a bike ride, my eyes water like crazy. I think a lot of people have indicated Perjeta gives them diarrhea, like the surprise kind, oops, I just shat myself.

I have had five rounds of Herceptin in combination with chemo, and so far, no Herceptin issues.

Mommato3

Weekly Taxol (with Herceptin/Perjeta every three weeks) was so much easier than AC. My taste buds were a little off for about 24 hours. The fatigue didn't really start until about halfway through and it slowly got worse. It wasn't that I couldn't do anything, I was just more tired by the end of the day. I did experience some neuropathy in my feet towards the end that finally went away a few months after chemo ended.

Mommato3

Italychick just reminded me of the Herceptin drip. Not sure why I forgot that one. I still have it! It usually lasts a couple days after my Herceptin infusionand then goes away. I only had a little bit of diarrhea a couple times but it was definitely after my Perjeta infusions so I'm blaming it on that. Haven't had it since then.

ElaineTherese

Hi!

AC made me spacey, and I was happy to get off of that regimen. In contrast, Taxol/Herceptin/[Perjeta] gave me mild diarrhea beginning on Day 3. On days where I had to be on the go, I just took Immodium. This combo also did a number on my taste buds. Everything tasted awful, so I ended up eating a lot bland food like chicken and rice. I've heard of ladies putting ice in their mouths during the infusions to avoid taste bud changes. Finally, I did feel a little achy in the bones. But, it was no biggy.

Best of luck for few SEs!

ThePrincess

ladies! Thank you for the replies!! If the D starts on day 3, when does it usually subside? Thanks again for the help! Some of the April ladies and I are super worried!!

ElaineTherese

For me, the D subsided around Day 6. But, it may be different for everyone, and I never left home without my Immodium. If I had an episode first thing in the morning, I would take the Immodium right away, especially if I were teaching that day.

ThePrincess

ElaineTheresa! That it is manageable is a great relief! You were able to keep working? Thank you so much!!!

ElaineTherese

I worked through AC, THP, and rads. But, I can work at home a lot, and only taught a few days a week. (I'm a college professor.) There are many, many times when I worked on a laptop in my bed, propped up with lots of pillows.

I feel lucky to have had few SEs. But, MO was very clear -- if I had SEs, I was to let her nurse know and to treat the SEs right away. For example, I'm on aromasin now and it made me feel moody and depressed. MO was happy to prescribe Celexa (it's an SSRI), and I feel much better.

Best wishes to all!

ThePrincess

Ok - since I know I troll endlessly trying to get info as I prep for something, here's my account of Taxol/Herceptin/Perjeta #1 for ladies following behind me:

- talked MO into letting me have claritin instead of benedryl so I wouldn't be sleepy.

- cryotherapy is way colder than I expected - makes me wonder how those cold cap ladies do it, it's COLD.

- way easier than AC treatments - no yuk feeling at all and the tired is not the same bone draining tired! YAY.

- day 5,6,7 got the tiny D (not the big D I was expecting) and as someone that takes Metformin regularly, doesn't even register on my "bothers me scale"! PHEW!

- no bone or joint pain

- day 6 developed a rash on my cheeks - not the sunburn look others complain about, more of a rashy look? WTF?

ThePrincess

Ok - have finished 6 Taxol - 3 infusions of Hercep/2 of perjeta - MO held off one dose of perjeta to rest my tummy, she doesn't like her patients having D at all and was hesitant to do perjeta when I was scheduled for my second dose of it - but I got dose #3 on time and no D this time?! They do lower the does of herceptin and perjeta after the initial dose so I guess the lower dose is ok w/my body, thank goodness.

The stupid face rash is still here. As is MONSTER breakouts, really on a different level, so that is oh so lovely.

TIRED - fatigue increases, but bearable, haven't needed naps, just not too much exertion!

Nails are still clear and no evidence of neuropathy.

Lisa1230

Hi ThePrincess,

I just had my 7th Taxol and 3rd Herceptin and Perjeta 2 days ago, darn diarrhea started today so popped 2 Immodiums. Stomach is upset, and am having some light fatigue as well.

So far no nail changes or neuropathy, thank God! Constant drippy nose, except today it is stuffy. Bloody nose too after each infusion.

Plese tell me it gets better, knowing I have 11 more infusions of Herceptin and Perjeta every 3 weeks until this coming Dec. 1st!