2009 Herceptin group

Hi K,

So sorry to hear about the infection you have been battling......sending smiles and hugs your way!!

Thanks for your input on FEC.  I'm feeling better today and have more energy.  I agree that the most constant SE for me has been the taste in my mouth.  Mine is more chemical and I'm most turned off of water and ice chips.....could be worse!!  The Taxotere/Herceptin part of this excursion doesn't sound like it will be much fun.....hopefully the silver lining is that the Taxotere is the root of most of the awful side effects for you. 

Good luck with your next treatment and please keep me posted.

Hi Beach,

Thanks for your kind thoughts. I got out of hospital yesterday it's great to be home again! When is your next treatment?

Mine is scheduled for the Tues after Easter but there may be some delay since I've been in hospital. I hope not as I feel fine and just want to get it done. Will find out when I see my oncologist tomorrow.

Talk soon

K.

Hi Beach

My SE's haven't been too bad really.  I didn't experience what you did, but on day 6 and 7 of my second dose, I did feel a bit lightheaded but when I drank some water, I felt fine so I think I may have been a little dehydrated.  Other than a little queasy, got sick a couple of times, not too bad at all.  I go on Tuesday for my last of FEC - so I am curious as to when I will be starting the Herciptin..  Do you have your port in?  I don't as of yet, but have a consult with the doc on the 21st of  April.  I was hoping to hold off until as long as I can for the summer, but we'll see!!

Hey K....good to hear you are back at home!!!  Sending positive energy your way for your treatment to happen this Tues.  I know what you mean, my main goal is to try to stay as healthy as possible to keep all of my treatments on schedule!!  My next treatment is on Tues Apr. 21st and, lucky me, I get the port put in on the Monday before.  I know the port makes sense but I'm not looking forward to the procedure or having it at all......have no idea what to expect!!  

Take care of yourself.

Rufusmama,

Welcome aboard..... this is the ride that no one wants to take, but I must say the support here has been the main thing keeping me sane and strong!!!

Sounds like your last couple of months have been a whirlwind and life's about to get even crazier, but good to hear you're fairing quite well overall.  It's amazing the strength we find when we need it. Stay strong, live in the moment and try to laugh....... a lot :-)))

Sending gentle hugs to you throughout your journey!! 

Hi i am new here, my name is Candra. I too am doing TCH. My first Chemo was Fri (4/3) with Herceptin this fri and next, then all over again. Can any one tell me if Herceptin alone is like,or worse than the TCH chemo i just had? The 3rd day my chest was hurting and now my ears hurt and my voice is hoarse. I'd say i have an infection. I still have an appetite but nothing tastes good.I have 2 days before my appt. and a little scared. Glad 2 be on ur party bus and looking forward to chating with you all.                            

Hey Ladies!

Well, I am almost done with radiation FINALLY!

I will be going to the every three week Herceptin! Wahoooooo... I should end Herceptin in Oct.09'

The party bus continues! Welcome all new ladies.. sorry you're here.. but we all sure can make good friends on BCO! We have a lot in common now!

Gods Love to all and party on ladies!

Laura

MamaKaren

How is your Mom? Did you get my info on Onc in Tucson.

I hope her spirits are ok and that she feels the Peace from all of our prayers!

Hi Candra..I've had several Herceptin-only treatments thus far.  My onc says there are no side effects from this if you make it through the first 2 treatments without an infusion reaction (it is a biologic, monoclonal antibody).  That's why they start slow and then by the 3rd one you can have it infused over 30 minutes.  I've had no side effects (SE) from the Herceptin that I am aware of; however, my nose always feels stuffy and I'm using lots of saline nasal spray (have bottles of it all over my house so I can easily grab and sniff !!). 

The worst SE I've had from the Taxotere (most likely cause) was nasty heartburn, which was quickly taken care of with Protonix (acid blocker, need a script for it and is much better than the over the counter choices).  I am continuing to take Protonix every day.  Constipation after the "cocktail" weeks (TCH every 3 wks) was helped by just taking 2 Senakot s each night for 3 or 4 days after treatment.  Didn't need it on H-only weeks.   Also, I'm taking B6 200mg daily...really helped some foot numbness (neuropathy) that started after tx #2.  I'm having TCH combo #3 (yipee!  half-way done with the combos !!! ) this week.  Neulasta shots after the combo have been great...minor hip pain afte the first one and all my counts are within normal. 

Best to you and I hope your experience is as good as mine has been thus far.   I was expecting the worst, and know that effects are going to be cumulative, but as long as it kicks CA butt, I have decided to focus on positive ! 

Hello ladies, I am one of those Her2+ people who will be doing herceptin for a year.  I am going to be doing #6 of weekly taxol this week and will have six more to go.  I have the herceptin every 3rd week.  I am joining your bus ride.  I will still have rads to do when the taxol is over.  Most se's seem to be from taxol, achy joints and tingling in toes and fingers. I do seem to have the sore crusty nose thing going.  I guess if this is the worst it gets, we can get thru it a day at a time.  It is great to hear about someone ready to have their last treatment.  That is still to far away to even think about yet.

My husband and I are at least thinking about a cruise this fall after chemo and rads are over, I think we will need something to celebrate and get us out of the pattern we will have been in for so long at that point.  A cruise where you can see new places and be waited on, seems like just the thing.  Hugs and good wishes to all of you.  Annette  

Age: Turned 39 on 4/3/09

Married: Single, never married

Live: Baltimore, MD (being treated at Mercy Hospital Hoffberger Breast Center)

Kids: No children

Cancer: Stage III IDC (2 tumors, 8.5cm & 6cm), never felt a thing, but got a rash that alerted my primary care doc to order a mammo...Started chemo on 4/10 (Taxotere & Carboplatin) and will be on Herceptin every 3 wks. for a year.

Career: I'm the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Director for a federal agency in DC. I've been super-blessed to have a job that allows me to work from home when I need to and has been incredibly flexible with the crazy month I've had thinking-I-might-have, knowing-I-do-have, and then starting-to-fight this cancer. But I'm the EEO Director, so it would kinda be odd for them to say they would NOT accomodate my medical condition. LOL!!!

Since switching to the every 3 week herceptin, I've definitely had more side effects.  This is only my second dose, but since all the symptoms that I chalked up to something else last time, came back, I gotta feeling the Herceptin is the culprit.  I have an awful cough, nose drips, weapy eyes (Maybe I have a sinus infection??), nausea, diarrhea, shooting pains starting at my feet and hands.  The thing that scares me is that I read that people with lung mets have more problems with coughing on Herceptin.  I'm calling my onc tomorrow, but for now, I'm a little freaked out at the thought.

Alaina~ I almost went to Mercy but I was really comfortable at GBMC   Sorry you had to join our bus.  Not sure if you have stopped by but there is a TCH tread that is really helpful wiht all of the SE that can come with TCH. 

Hi Jaimieh,

I had to choose between Mercy & GBMC as well, but Mercy got me in faster (by 2 days) and I was extremely comfortable there.

My grandmother passed away at GBMC so in many ways, I just didn't have a comfort level in returning there (too many bad memories) although I know I would have gotten excellent care there had I chosen to go there.

Yup, I know about the TCH thread.  :-)