Starting TCHP Chemo Soon

Smw248

Hi everyone! I was diagnosed last month and will begin the TCHP regimen on 11/23. Has anyone had the same treatment? How were your side effects from the 1st treatment? Also, I read about people icing their hands/feet to prevent neuropathy. Which drug specifically causes the neuropathy? That's something I am very concerned about and would like to find out more to possibly prevent any or some from happening. Thank you in advance for your help

MinusTwo

Smw - you need to go to the "search" option. You will find a TON of people who have done just. If you look for tips for chemo, that are great ideas. If you search people who are currently going through this, the posts & feedback will be helpful. Like Chemo November - but I'd read through october too.

MinusTwo

Here's one of the general tips threads

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topics...

WC3

Smw248:

TCHP is the protocol for HER2 positive breast cancer so many here have had it. Both taxotere (or taxol) and carboplatin can cause neuropathy. Some do ice their hands and feet in an attempt to avoid it but not everyone gets it to a severe extent.

Everyone's experience will be a little different but generally I had taste changes, acid reflux, tender throat, irritated taste bud on the tip of my tongue, stomach cramping, fatigue, bone aches, and weakness to name a few side effects. I tended to have different side effects at different points in my cycle though. My nausea was only severe on one or two occasions when I got off my anti-nausea schedule but for the most part is was mild and only lasted a few days.

Melbo

I just did a write up of what I have experienced so far on TCHP in the November chemo group. There were also quite a few of us on TCHP in the July chemo thread if you wanted to scroll through that one.

SpecialK

smw - if you are triple positive, ER+/PR+/Her2+, you can check the TP thread, which contains a lot of good info even if you aren't! Here is a link - there are many on TCHP on that thread. Also agree that current chemo month groups are a good source of info - it is good to also go back to some previous month threads because they have been on the regimen longer and may have some specific insights. People sometimes have a slightly more intense with their first treatment because they receive loading doses. Your MO has many tools to help mitigate so make sure you inform them of any and all side effects. I would advise using Claritin (not Claritin D) ahead of your Neulasta injection if you are receiving one to help with bone pain. The antihistamine in Claritin helps prevent edema in the bone marrow caused by the rapid manufacture of white cells the Neulasta causes. I did ice my hands and feet during the taxane portion (Taxotere) of the infusion mostly to help with the prevention of nail loss, but some also use it for neuropathy prevention. I took some supplements to help prevent neuropathy, 30g of powdered L-Glutamine, a capsule of B6, and the recommended dose of Acetyl L-Carnitine - daily throughout the time I was receiving chemo. I did experience mild neuropathy for the first three infusions which resolved in the iterim between treatments. After that the neuropathy stayed, but was relatively mild, and I continued with supplements until after all chemo was done and my neuropathy was gone within a couple of months. For icing and supplementing speak to your oncologist prior to starting to get their take on things. I know there are some who feel icing and supplements don't work, or are not necessary, but if your MO doesn't object it is worth considering. Good luck!

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/80/topics/764183?page=1303#idx_39087

MinusTwo

For icing hands & feet, I used frozen peas in zip lock bags. I had two sets since the recommendation is usually to ice at LEAST 30 minutes before the hour long Taxotere infusion and 30 minutes after. The nurses kindly kept the spare in the freezer of their lunch fridge.

MinusTwo

Here's the link to the general HER2+ forum

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/80

MinusTwo

And here are some of the threads I followed. The first three are in the HER2+ forum, but there are things about TCHP in a number of other topics. See the last two links for examples.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/80/topics/767013?page=1

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/80/topics/728442?page=1

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/80/topics/823947?page=1

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topics/578284?page=1

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/6/topics/818139?page=1

Smw248

Thank you!