Cutting TCHP treatment short?

Anonymous

Cutting TCHP treatment short?

heidirgorecki

Hi there, I was wondering if anyone could give me some experience if this has ever applied to you, doing TCHP, being given the option to cut out the last 2 treatments.... (sorry this is long but backstory...)

I have been having pretty random, and at times, severe side effects with each treatment. I finished #4 of what's supposed to be 6 total, 1 every 3 weeks. I get my pre-meds/infusion on Friday, fluids on Sat morning and then in the afternoon start tanking physically each time. Start getting super nauseous, 2nd and 4th with vomitting, lots of fatigue the first week and barely wake up on Sunday, diahrrea Sun/Mon which continued the first two cycles all thru but the last 2 has now switched to constipation after that, the 2nd cycle I had a bizarre allergic reaction a week later with hives all over for 3 days and had to finally go get a steroid shot for it to stop, really congested and eyes/nose constantly watering, neuropathy, fingernails look like they're starting to bleed underneath, and then the typical hair loss etc.

But this last one, the 4th round, just over a week ago I got an incredible amount of muscle fatigue all over to the point that I could barely get out of bed the first number of days and finally made it downstairs a week after treatment, only to start vomitting from overexertion. I can get about 50 feet and then feel like my legs are going to give out, like they ran out of juice, super lightheaded like I could pass out, and my heart is beating out of my chest. Driving is a task because of the muscles in my arms and I can't chew anything tougher than a blueberry anymore without feeling like my jaw muscles are just shot. I can't fathom it's dehydration because i'm drinking 70 oz of liquid a day, half electrolytes and i'm down to 110 lbs, so way over my half-weight. I am trying to push myself (which I do all too well) to get my strength up but it's not making much of a dent besides getting around my house.

I called the nurse to find out where my line of normalcy is or if anything was of urgent concern, mostly at my husband's urging and they are having me go for labs but said otherwise there's not much that seems an emergency and is not really a whole lot that's manageable, which is really what I figured. (they do echo's every 6 weeks and I am do next week again) But she said my dr wanted me to consider - not to make an appt now but think about for next week's appt/infusion - whether I wanted to stop treatment.

If I'm honest, both scenarios scare me. If I went from just being a tired and long walks are not happening, to 50-75 ft walks are over-taxing, what does 2 more infusions look like? But if I stop prematurely? I'm getting a bilateral mastectomy so it's not like I'm leaving things but still...

Please tell me anyone has had this scenario/choice and weigh in? I'm just really struggling with what is best......

Newfromny

I had a really hard time with TCHP especially with 4 through 6 went from 125 to 105 lbs. as I vomited every day and had no appetite. I didn’t have the allergic reactions you’re having though so I can’t really say if you should stop or not. I felt like stopping but I did all 6 , I got a double mastectomy and had a complete response so the pain seemed worth it . Listen to your body and your doctor, best wishes from NY

SpecialK

heidi- a number of your symptoms - lethargy, muscle exhaustion, lightheadedness, rapid heartbeat - all sound like your hemoglobin may be too low. Please be sure that you have a CBC done and know that some people are symptomatic even if their hemoglobin is not at the typicaltransfusion level. You may benefit from a blood transfusion, which may provide enough energy to get you through the last two TCHP infusions. The allergic reaction could be a totally separate issue - happened to me as well and the rash went away after I finished the Taxotere. Wishing you the best.

heidirgorecki

Thanks you so much Newfromny - that is super helpful. I really want to ask him if we can just reduce something and split the difference so maybe that’ll be an option and I can keep going.

SpecialK - they sent me over orders for that today thankfully. It was my thought as well and if it’s a simply fix, it’d be better to know. Just got done getting them pulled so hopefully tomorrow I may have more direction. I appreciate it so much

Amyadipose

Oh man, I'm considering bailing after 1 week. Hell no.

santabarbarian

Please look into fasting briefly for chemo before quitting... it helps a lot to reduce SEs. My SEs were minor but I did "fasting mimicking" for 5 days each cycle. Lots of posts about it on this site.

heidirgorecki

Amyadipose - yeah I keep having multiple people tell me this is an “intense" chemo. They aren't kidding. I had colon cancer 5 years ago and the Folfox I was on doesn't even compare to this one.

Santabarbarian - is the fasting before or during/after chemo? If during/after I am basically doing that now because i just can't eat. And anything I do is liquid for almost a week...

And in other news, the labs came back Tuesday with my WBC at 2.2 and my ANCs at 0.18 so they sent me to the hospital till they came back up with Neupron shots. Made it home yesterday and they're delivering a walker on Monday so I can do more than get around the house. Feel like im 38 going on 88 lol. I see my ONC on Thursday next week and we'll figure out what Im going to do. I think it'll end up being adecrease and not stop but we will see