Any Her2/Neu Starting Chemo in October?

Gayle - Pepper?  Do tell.

Hi bluedasher....I didn't get the results of my muga yet.  The test itself was a breeze.  Looks like you and I are on the same schedule.  I get my port next week and then TCH starting on the 29th. 

I hear you about the hair.  I'm a little concerned about what to do myself.  I have a hair appt. scheduled for Friday and I'm going to ask them to cut it waaayyy down short, but I've decided to wait and see what happens after the first treatment and then take it from there.  Good luck to you and I pray that you will have few SE from the chemo.  I hope that your business trip goes well.

All the best to everyone here.

Anne 

In my understanding, both MUGA scans and echocardiogram can be used to check the heart before Herceptin. Both can provide a measurement of LVEF, but the MUGA seems to be more commonly used for the chemo checks. I don't know why.

Bluedasher - you are right about ECHOs or MUGAs being used to check the heart prior to (and during) Herceptin. I had (and will continue to receive) ECHOs, since my doctor prefers them to MUGAs. She gave me a technical reason as to why she prefers them, but, unfortunately, I don't recall what she said.

KimmySue, my herception continues for a year too.

TNT, I'm trying to decide about whether to have the genetic test. I don't have any daughters but I have sisters and a granddaughter. On the other hand, as far as I know there is no family history of breast cancer or prostate cancer (some variations of the gene also make breast cancer more likely) and I was over 50 (56) when diagnosed with breast cancer. I probably wouldn't consider the test at all except that I am of Ashkhenazic Jewish descent and I'm not sure that I have accurate 2nd degree family history information. 

Hi, I am new at this.  I am Her2 + and one of the oncologist told me that my tx plan is to have herceptin, carbol and taxol.  Another oncologist suggested herceptin and taxol and another one suggested herceptin, carbol and taxotere.  He said that taxotere is better than taxol.  does anyone know anything about it?

Is anyone getting taxol and herceptin only?  I think I read that someone here is having taxol and herceptin only, how is that working for you?  I know that if you have herceptin and taxol you won't lose your hair and the side effects are not that strong. 

I am having my port this wednesday and I am really scared.  I've been reading a lot and I do believe that there is a natural or better way to treat cancer other than chemo.  I also read that DIM or I3C also helps to lower your estrogen.  Anybody know anything about it?  For those in chemo, I read that taking calcium with vitamin D is good to prevent bone density loss. 

I am trying to find holistic/natural ways to treat this cancer.  I do believe if we eat healthy and if our immune system is strong, it should be able to fight cancer.

does any of your tx plan includes tamoxiffen?  I am premenopausal.

Good luck to everybody.

strongmom27 -- I watched the movie last night too.  I was just blown away by the doctor's persistence and faith in his drug!  I'm not a cryer ("stiff upper lip" is my middle name) but had tears in my eyes at several points.

Is your onc team giving you anything for nausea?  Right before the chemo, my onc nurse first gives me a bag of an anti-nausea drug called Aloxi.  (I also get a bag of Benedryl, and 2 Tylenol by mouth.)  Mabe it's the Aloxi or maybe I'm just lucky, but I've never been nauseous.  I'm in the middle of round 3 right now.  I was also prescribed some anti-nausea pills called Promethazine.  I filled the Rx just in case but haven't had to use them.

 Take care,

Gayle

I was on Zofran and decodron for 3 days..don't know what it would have been like without them. I never actually vomited, but just didn't want to take anything in. I thought for sure from the steroid I would be chowing down. The neulasta side effects have not been so bad so far, just a bit achy. My job and boss are great. I have no worries here. I have a very flexable schedule thank goodness. Don't worry if you have not started yet Kim, it affects everyone different and from what I have read most people don't feel too sick after.

Just checking in after tx#2.  My gosh it was like night and day from this tx to the first.  This time I've been tired, a little neausea, and some bathroom issues but really not bad at all.  I hope the rest of my treatments go like this. I almost thought maybe they forgot to actually give me chemo maybe it was just saline.  

Teena-Hi, hope you doing good!!

Kimy-seems I am following in your footsteps with tx2.  Hopefully 3 is as "easy" at 2!

Chelli-My hubby went to St Thomas Moore. We are probably coming up sometime before Thanksgiving.  Of course it all depends how I feel. 

Take Care!

Hi Kimmysue

I'd like to update my treatment based on what my onc is telling me:

6 rounds of chemo on a 3-week cycle -- taxotere, carboplatin, and herceptin (TCH) the first week, then just herceptin the next 2 weeks.  My last day of chemo should be the 18th of Dec.  Then after surgery & rads, like you, I will get herceptin once every 3 weeks for a year.

Hi everyone,

Ango74, good to "see" you here and I'm glad to hear your tx went well! 

How's everyone else doing who was in the chair this week?  I had my 2nd tx Thursday, and it went much faster than the first tx - about 3-1/2 hours total instead of 5 hours.  Thank goodness they didn't give me the bag o'benedryl this time.  That was the only part of it I really hated, right before the first herceptin, in case you're allergic.  I feel okay, just a little tired at work yesterday, and went to sleep early last night.

I'm running an experiment.  They give me Emend anti-nausea meds in my IV with the decadron to begin tx and want me to take an Emend pill on days 2 and 3 - but they also prescribe compazine and kytril for nausea!  I think 3 meds is a lot, so I didn't fill the Emend pills this time (2 pills of this stuff on my BCBS insurance costs $50).  So far, so good.  Tomorrow night will be the test, as that was the only touch of nausea I experienced last time.

Kim, I'm glad to hear you're doing well!  You're getting exactly what I'm getting and on the same schedule, too - only your #1 was my #2.  What study are you referring to?  I thought there was an open phase II trial of that tx combo, but wasn't aware of any other.  Linda (plakatakr) is also on our schedule, same stuff. (How'd it go?)  My next tx #3 is November 13.

How's the hair?  My hair started out as thick, 12 inches long.  About day 14 or so, a few strands started coming out in the brush.  By day 18, thicker strands started coming out in my hand, so my husband cut it just above shoulder length.  Handfuls have been coming out since, and now it's day 24 following the first tx and something needed to be done (my colleague at work said she found a piece of hair on the way in and thought "Teena's been here").   So, I had my husband crop it about 1/2" on the sides and 1" on the top with clippers.  It's thin and still falling out, but I still have some for now.   Estepp - great tip for the lint roller!  I found one at Target for $1. Also wear a hairnet to cook and lint roll myself before going into the kitchen.  I tried to wear the hairnet to sleep, too, but it doesn't stay on.

Take care everyone.  My prayers are with you!

Teena

Kimmysue -

Wow!  Cannot believe that you can keep track of all this.   Sorry to be a late comer, but I started chemo last Thursday (Oct. 23).   My regimen is Taxol+ Herceptin (still determining number of rounds) and then Herceptin for a year.   

I got my port last Monday and then they started up treament last Thursday with the lovely Neulasta shot on Friday.   Felt like hell over the week end - lots of joint and muscle aches and very fatigued.  But, the cocktails of medicines they gave me to ward off the severe side effects like nausea/vomiting appear to be working.

I wish the best to everyone starting their treatment courses !   Keep the faith.

Jill