Anyone else doing TCH?

Bonnie:

I did TCH also. (Finished chemo 4/8/10 and Herceptin 10/22/10) Chemo was murder on me.  I quit after two treatments.  Got every SE you can imagine PLUS clinical depression.  Here's what I did:

1.  Went on anti-depressent.  Effexor.  Chemo destroys the seritonin in the brain that makes one accept stress, etc.  Helped TREMENDOUSLY!  My primary Doctor prescribed.  Onco won't.

2  Went to a therapist who told me "Don't have preventative regret"  Finish and know that you are doing everything you can to not have a reoccurance.  I reluctantly agreed and finished my 4 other TCH's.  I upped my survival rate by 50% by finishing.  Had to go in for hydration after a couple of days from chemo for almost every treatment.  Wasn't fun.

3.  With the Effexor I resumed with a better frame of mind.

 Side Effects:

Dizziness/Foggy:

Drink, Drink, Drink...more that the 6-8 oz. that we are supposed to drink.  The day before, day of, and as many days as possible after.  This helps get the chemo out of your system faster.  And it does work.

Naseua (or however you spell it):  Ask for more than compazine.  Emend helps.  Ativan calms and helps.  Big guns:  Sancusco, a patch that really helps.  Coca-cola stirred to get rid of bubble or ginger ale stirred helps considerably.    Sip, don't overload stomach.  Water might make you more nauseaous.  I could drink water with something in it.  Chrystal light, etc.

Diarreha:  Go to the health food store and tell them you are a chemo patient and need probiotics.  They will give you proper dosage.  This will help against "D".  Good bacteria will be destroyed by chemo.  This will replace.  Start a couple of days before chemo, can stay on them until you are done.  You might still have "D" but you won't have the painful abdomin pain.  Take immodium or ask the Dr. for prescription immodium.

Eat what you can get down and what doesn't upset stomach.  If it's a week of instant mashed potatoes, that's fine.  (Helped me alot)

I know this is rough, but instead of being a victim (as I felt), get mad!!!  Cancer is not going to do you in!!!  Everytime I slid back into waaah I made myself stop and say "@#*% cancer!"  And I also looked at all these side effects means the chemo is really killing any left over cancer. To  let you know how bad all my symptoms were, my Onco once introduced my as "MY PROBLEM PATIENT!"  But  I made it!

If you have any other symptoms let me know. I'll see if I have any tips and I'm sure other gals will chime in.  It's going to be hard, but it's what you have to do.  Nothing else will cure you.  It's only 3 more times then Herceptin, which is certainly a lot easier.  You can do this!!!!! 

Hugs,

Shelly

Hi Bonnie,

You will have a triple dose of Herceptin every three weeks.  I did it over a 1 1/2 hr period. Wasn't bad, symptoms FOR ME were "blue" feeling for a couple of days, maybe diaherra but most often not, some bone ache (not bad).  The biggest thing was I have asthma and I would have shortness of breath for quite a few days. (No heart problems).  I had to use my rescue inhaler often.  But even so, a walk in the park after chemo.

Eating:  Really--try instant mashed potatoes like Ore-Ida in a packet.  Just add boiling water to mix.  Can be reheated too.  That's what the onco nurses would give me at infusion. Really helped.  Because it's just 'taters went down pretty smooth.  Also, try Pedialyte apple flavor drink for infants.  My regular Doc recommended this because no sugar so won't cause diaherra.  Make sure to put ice in it and sip.. Not as nasty as Gatorade and restores electrolytes, etc.

 I had a masectomy so no radiation.

You can get through this.

 Shelly