Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

Day 2 with no crusty eyes.  I put Aquaphor on top and bottom around my eyes.  Thanks Special K for the tip

soriya, sadly coffee tasted terrible all during my chemo so I rarely made it. Thankfully with chemo over I am able to enjoy my morning cup again.

Yes 10 days after chemo coffee taste real good to me!

moon - I put Aquaphor there too, lol!

Hi Ladies...I am at my folks again. I find myself really digging deep to build up my strength and positive attitude about going thru chemo 5 & 6. I know I do not have a choice so like someone already wrote I feel like the person who is being dragged with both arms with there feet firmly placed in the sand. I am finding some comfort in that these are the last two and the 4th was actually the smoothest, although don't misunderstand still awful. I don't think I can ever be a poster child for breast cancer. My MO grows on me little by little. I told him how anxious I was the last time and he told to go ahead and take my Xanax and not to worry about becoming addicted...I just need to get through treatment. I really loved him for that and the proof was when he refilled my prescription. Looking forward to having some fun before it all starts over again. My Parents and I have grown so close during this. I have been able to take care of them in ways I never could before and visa versa. So I pray in 13 days I will be ready for treatment 5. I tell you I am going to plot for 6 weeks how I will celebrate my final treatment!!!! Hope you are all doing well and holding up under the stress and SE's of this TCH. Wishing you all the best and thanks to the veterans who have held my hand along the way.

Thank you ladies!  

Hi ladies. You all share so much good information. I am so glad I found this place. 

I know this is going to sound vain and insignificant, given what we are facing, but I do plan on getting through this and getting back to really living. My skin around the corners of my mouth has become significantly more wrinkled and saggy since I began treatment. Now, it is very dry and even flaky. I have taken to wearing night cream even during the day for the extra moisture. Anyone else experienced this? Any tips for protecting our skin during treatment?

Ladies, I used Lindi skincare(face moisturizer).  so far i like it.  I also put Aquaphor on dry skin part before apply  any make up on.  

Leanne - by the time I was done with the TC portion I was actually putting Aquaphor all over my face - as crazy as that sounds. I found that some of the wrinklies went away the farther out from chemo I got, as I started to look more alive, lol!

Thanks SpecialK! You give me hope! You look great! I love the beach, but I am diligent about keeping my face out of the sun to prevent wrinkles. Now, this stupid cancer is attacking my skin too! Where can you buy Aquaphor? I've never heard of it.

Regarding SEs: treatment 5 is kicking my butt this week. I think this may be the worst round yet, but believe I also have a cold on top of it. I made the mistake of traveling to Atlanta to work last week. 2 people in the office were sick while I was there. Lesson learned - I will be staying in the confines of my home office until this is over.

coconut oil is also great for dry skin - good for daytime because it absorbs well. I've been using Shea butter at night for my skin during / after rads and while my pj shirts may never forgive me, my skin is loving it. I always have a little left on my hands after lubing the boob (lol) so I smear it on my face.

A little less than a week away from my 5th treatment. I am here with my folks again refilling my spirit and gearing up. I am thankful this last time was the easiest so far but by no means easy. I can't wait for this to be over although I know now it will never be over in that I will never be the same after having BC. I haven't been posting much, been thinking a lot about the next step radiation...wondering how I will manage to work everyday and get treatment M-F. Right now I know I am not strong enough to go back to work, but if I don't go back to work for at least 1 week after the 1st of the year I will not get paid. I was wondering if anyone out there knows if it might be possible for me to return to work and work one week to allow my disability bank to refill and then go back off for my radiation treatment...I mean this from a Dr. point of view. To me it seems like they want us to work during that time and I just don't think I have it in me yet. Also does anyone think they would allow me to delay treatment for a week to get that week of work in or does the radiation need to start 3 weeks after chemo ends? I realize no one knows for sure and that I will have to discuss with my RO, but that will not be for 6 weeks. Any input, thoughts or personal experience is appreciated. I hope and pray you are all doing well...even when I am not posting much I am still reading and wishing everyone the best.

I have issues with vision too. Hoping it will improve after treatment but I will be on herceptin for a year.

Lovewins, I think everything is negotiable. This damn disease and treatment has to also fit in with our lives. I think a lot has to do with insurance and what they will pay for as far as treatment goes. My two cents worth!

One more TC, can't wait for it to be over!!!! But as you say, it will never be over....

vision changes are common with chemo. Mine got quite a bit better after i finished but kept improving for a long time. I need to get new glasses now. It's a bit worse but not nearly as it was right after tx. Much love.

lovewins you should be able to wait long enough to work that week. I worked 3 days in 2012. And I just found out that because of that ( my raise going into effect) that I get 10$ more a month in disability. Best part is I should have gotten it starting last Dec. So i got a bump on my Dec disability check. It's not much but it helps. So i hope you can manage to work enough days to reset your time off for rads. Much love.