Any Her2/Neu Starting Chemo in October?

Chelli- Glad you had a good Thanksgiving.  Mine was good as well, just a little tired and achey.  I have tried to PM you but when I do it keeps telling me to put something into the "TO" box and when I try to it wont let me and then I can't sent it.  I will get it figured out.

At my appointment Wed. the doctor took a look at my nails.  She said I might lose some of them.  I have some that look bruised underneath the nail and are a little sore.  Okay, loosing my hair was bad enough but not my nails. Has anyone lost any?  I'm wondering if they will just fall off in one piece or will they chip off, will it hurt?

Angie

Cristl- I broke out horribly my first and second treatments.  I never even broke out like that as a teenager but the last two tx's I haven't.  The chemo seems to be making my skin really dry so I have been super moisterizing the last couple treatments, I don't know if that made a difference or not.

I have a ton of things I wear around the house.  My aunt has made me a ton of hats, I think I have one for everyday of the month.  I also have a couple of halos and scarfs. The halo's are really cute and comfy. At first I didn't even want to see my head and always wore something but now I go comando around the house. I've been having hot flashes so the wigs and hats are really hot.

Cristl, depending on how cold the day is, I wear a scarf (cotton), a denim bucket hat, or a knit cap (a stocking cap) or fleece cap. I find that without hair to get in the way, I can tie on a scarf pretty quickly. Sometimes I don't untie it when I slip it off and just slip it back on without needing to tie it. I often end up changing several times a day depending on whether I'm too hot or too cold. Somehow my hair was always just right.

I like this bucket hat from TLC because it has multiple colors so it goes with a lot of things. I got some scarves from anokihiusa.com that tie on really easily. I also got some scarves with sparkly threads from Tzniu.com. That site has good tying instructions.

I had a minor skin break out the first chemo cycle (about 7 white heads) but it cleared up pretty quickly and didn't happen the second time. I have had some acne on my scalp too. My doctor gave me a lotion that cleared that up. 

Apparently I spoke to soon. I woke up this morning (day 15 of chemo #2) with a small break out - about 5 pimples. And I think there are a couple on the back of my head too. It looks lovely with the small dry peeling patch a few inches away on my cheek.

Hi All.  I had my 4th and last AC yesterday YAY YAY...no more red devil. so far so good today with the nausea. Just a little compare to the last 3 rounds. I did eat a nice dinner last night and drank a lot of fluids yesterday which for sure made a difference. Let's see how the next few days go. I usually feel pretty lousy for about 4 days after. regarding breakouts...I had some on my head the first week or so and figured out it was from the shampoo I was using. I realized I did no need to actually wash it everyday with shampoo. I started using my face soap (ether basis or marykay stuff) and the breakouts stopped. I have to wear something on my head all the time it seems, except when I sleep. It gets super cold.

Hi all... just wanted to let you know that I got my 5th of 6 TCH txs yesterday.  For the first time I'm get Neulasta today.  Trying not to be nervous about the HORROR STORIES I've read about side effects.  Heck, I've made it though 5 chemos ok, right?

I too am getting a little more use to looking at my bald head.  I think you are right... hair is gone and you finally just have to accept it.  I keep my wig on though... except at night.  My hairdresser had a human hair wig made for me and the scapl part is so thin I don't even realize most of the time that it is on.

Strongmom - Congrats on the last AC!!

I had my 5th (out of 12 weekly) Taxol+Herceptin yesterday.  Rather uneventful and am happy to get each one done with!  I was even able to sleep last night. They lowered the decadron even more which helped I think.

strongmom,

I didn't do the AC..... I am doing the 12 weeks of  Taxol+Herceptin weekly.  I just #5 yesterday and haven't been nauseaous yet.  I heard the taxol is pretty easy compared to the AC.

They give me Decadron the before I get the Taxol on the day of.  I don't take it any days before or after.  I keep getting them to lower it each time because I hate it keeping me up.  I am down to 6mg's and that is it.

I took 2 Dec the night before, it was in my meds the day of and 2 the morning after. I finished my 4 rds of Chemo today ! Yeah!!. Now it's on to Herceptin every3/yr and Arimidex for 5 yrs. I'm not thrilled about the new SE's I will be dealing with. It seems like this never ends. We just have to get over 1 hurdle at a time.

Linda

Had my first Taxol/Herceptin yesterday. I hate to jinx anything but I feel almost normal this morning. I had such awful effects from my A/C that maybe these new side effects are just so mild I am ignoring them! I did have a f/u Muga scan last Thursday and my stats droped from 58 pre A/C to 51%. She went ahead and gave me the Herceptin anyway but is sending me for another Muga on Friday. She said the stats can very depending on who is reading them and what time of day it is given so not worry right now. Why does this poison we have to take to kill of our cancers have to be so unforgiving sometimes.

Thanks klfh....My oncologist lowered my decadron this time and I handled it MUCH better.

Congratulations on your last treatment.  It will be great to put this all behind you at year's end.  I had a double mastectomy a few months ago (before chemo) and I did it for pretty much the same reasons you are.....time goes so quickly.

As your surgery approaches....we will all be here for you.

Anne

Klfh - Here are a few things I did beforehand that really made a difference.  I purchased several button up the front and zip up the front outfits.  You probably won't be able to get anything over your head for a little while.  I made sure that the bras that I purchased for use with my expanders closed in the front.  Also, pajamas that buttoned up the front were a big help.  You won't be able to drive for a few weeks, so make sure that your prescriptions, etc. are all filled ahead of time.  Arrange for transportation for your children so you're not worrying about trying to cart them from activity to activity.  One more thing.....if you regularly use items that are on the top shelf of your cabinet/closets....move them down to a lower shelf for the time being.  You won't be able to reach up high for a little while.

It's definitely a doable surgery.....a bit uncomfortable for a few days, but not the worst thing in the world.  Once the drains are out and the scars begin to heal....you won't believe how quickly it came and went.  I'm still having my expanders filled while going through chemo, so I know that the road is a bit longer for me, but the initial surgery was worse in my imagination than it actually turned out to be. 

Best of luck to you.

Anne

So how is everybody doing?  This thread has been pretty quite.  I just had my #5 tx of TCH(avastin) #6.  One big one to go then I'm off to just Herceptin and Avastin.  I can hardly wait for the last one, I would do it today if they would give it to me. 

Terrilee, congrats on your #4.  I don't get mouth sores but more like throat sores.  I haven't tried the Aloe vera juice but I will.  I was told to tell the chemo nurse if I got any numbness in my hands or feet.  I guess they will give you a block of ice to hold and that is suppose to help. I am very lucky and haven't had any numbness or tingling yet.

Take care,

Angie

Today was #7 for me, only one left.  And, luckily, like #6 there have been no SE's.  Only the sore back, just rest when it starts hurting.  We're leaving town for Christmas for a few days and after spending last week in the hosp, I'm on a cleaning spree.  Trying to get the last gifts wrapped and delivered around here, then we go to dh's family for a few, it'll be so great to get away, it's been such a horrible month in so many ways!  Definitely getting to the end of chemo, talking about next steps (surg, rads, reconstruction - yay - ), those are good things.  And my son moved back in with us (that's a headstrong 19yo boy, GREAT THING, he needs to be here with us) and we got his GED test results on Friday - HE PASSED!!!  I'm so proud of him for picking up his messy pieces and getting back to real life.  He starts trade school in January for welding, which he has talked about doing since starting high school.  So I have some good that happened this month.  But he took the rough road to get there.  Anyway... hope everyone is doing well and has a wonderful holiday season!

Had my second Taxol/Hercepton on Monday. This has been a breeze for me in the SE department compared to AC. Other than the terrible chest cold I have now there has been no other issues. Thank Goodness! I am so not in the Christmas spirit and I need to be with a 5 and 3 year old! My husband has done all the shopping for them this year thank goodness or there would be no Santa. Next year will better for all of us here!