Her2 + Starting TCHP tomorrow. Anybody else joining me?

hi mye,

Just droppin in to say you can do it! Join a chemo group here, it really helps to go thru it with sisters. It is different for every woman, so hope yours is mildly annoying only......prep is so helpful, so just do your best and it goes pretty fast. Best tip I got was eat whatever you are able to, drink loads of water, and be sure you let onco know of any issues asap.

I finish Herceptin on july 10!!!!! You are not alone. Mark your calendar for a huge party when done and it will get here. Hugs!!!

mye,

i too did not want to bug them when I had major issues with the big D aka diarrhea and nausea. I almost landed in hospital too! So never hesitate to call onco, that is part of their job. I did have to get iv to replace fluids once, but had my hubster not intervened and called, I surely would have had an overnight stay vs. the iv. I learned that during chemo our old habit of pushing thru on guts does not work.

Is today your first tx? Is someone going with you?

yes, I had major Big D but just for about 7 days post each tx. Then it tapered off. I took loads of Immodium and pounded gatorade. Most everyone in my chemo group had the D. As awful as it sounds, get a clean up kit ready in your car--wet wipes, change of clothes, towels, large ziploc bags, hand sanitizer,etc. believe me, you will be glad to have it one day. Just when you least expect it.....poo tsunamai!

I had unrelenting nausea for the second treatment and right on through to the end. Any movement, especially car riding, made me green. They gave me the Zofran and other rx things, but it only took it down to about 20%. Then my onco told me to smoke leaf marijuana for relief. That was great and really also helped anxiety, but took the nausea down to only about 10%. Desperate times, desperate measures. Some women don't get nauseous at all, or if so, the meds work great.

For most of my chemo I was on the BRAT diet. Some women have no trouble eating anything at all. I was very envious of them! I had many difficulties with food. Your tastes may change and your smell may be off, so things you normally absolutely love will disgust you. It is a very bizarre thing. I could always manage to eat mashed potatoes and gravy though. Just try to eat when you can, and what you can.

I tried to walk a little each night. Did not always succeed. It helps with the fatigue though.

Never was a pill taker pre BC, but found a little xanax very helpful before chemo and for sleep.

So best wishes for good sleeps tonight, it will be a scary rough day first time. I remember it well, and so good that your DH (darling hubby) is with you. It gets down to about 5 hours or so after the first few times. And when you get to herceptin, it only takes 1!

Hope i have not scared you but honestly these are things i wished I had been warned about a tad more. So here is hoping you need none of my tips!!!!

so glad you are done with number 1. Lol the poo tsunamai!

I forgot to mention that yes, it sets in in about 2 days. Ha! I prayed for constipation, never was that lucky . But yes, that does happen to some ladies. I got miralax and only needed it after my surgery later on.

The neulasta shot, did anyone mention taking claritin to minimize aches after? I hated that darn shot.

The cycle is, chemo=side effects for about 10 days after, then gradual improvement till next tx, repeat. So you will have some good days, it is not all bad. You will feel almost normal a few days before the next tx! Fun times....

After the first tx, I felt both my very palpable tumors shrinking, and could not find either one after tx 2. That is a powerful, wonderful feeling! So if you can feel yours now, they should be going bye bye soon. Also, when they die off, i felt little jolts like tiny shocks. Not painful. I ended up with a total pcr (complete pathological response) to chemo.

Take good gentle care my friend......be kind to yourself and your body. Rest, hydrate, journal, netflix, whatever makes you feelbetter. The pills really do help, so it is good to have them. You will do fine!

Hi,

I just joined in this group today and am glad I found this so I have sisters to ask and share with. I have HER2+ breast cancer and maybe in two weeks would start the treatment. But tomorrow I will have a surgery which will put a "thing" on my chest (forgot what the name was ).

how is everyone doing front ttratment

Hi ladies!

I'll be finishing up with TCHP next week! I'd say (comparatively speaking) I had a pretty easy time of it. I'd feel tired right after chemo, and then the Nuelasta shot would have me down for about two days feeling achy like I had the flu and a horrible headache. The first week after treatment the worst SE was not being able to eat anything. Everything tasted horrible, sounded horrible—even seeing a commercial with food would make me cringe! And heartburn was pretty bad too—over the counter Prilosec worked for me. I had diarrhea, but never the "running to the bathroom" type (Imodium worked). Probably for the first 4 treatments, I'd have one bad week—then 2 good ones where I felt perfectly normal. Now I am feeling the cumulative effects with extreme muscle fatigue. Walking up one flight of stairs and I'll have to stop for a few seconds on the landing—my legs feeling like I've been climbing 5 flights! I can't WAIT till I feel strong again!

I will second what Bippy625 said…let your MO know right away if you have any issues. I had some acne like bumps appear on my face that was driving me crazy. I called MO to ask what I could do and they called in an Rx…those bumps were GONE after one application!

Here are a couple of threads you may not have seen, if you'd like to hear from some of us a little farther along… TCHP Ladies Late 2014/Early 2015 https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/828404?page=6#idx_163

and

Neoadjuvant TCHP – Post Results Here https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/80/topic/823947?page=12#idx_354

--Lorie

I'm starting TCHP on March 23. I'm trying not to negatively anticipate the SE, but that is so hard! How do you cope with that?

Hello seashine,

my mother (74) is going to start chemio next 17 march for a HER2+ cancer. The therapy will be herceptin (trastuzumab) + taxotere(docetaxol) + carboplatino.

You ask how to cope with the tension .... and I tell you I feel devoured by anxiety and anger and bad thoughts .... and I MUST NOT SHOW ANY OF THAT because I want to be a support for my mother and give her courage.

So ... I have started "acting as if" the cancer was not there, as if the chemio was just a promenade ... pretending that everything will be all right .... that she will not suffer any side effect, that she will not suffer any relevant damage to any vital organ ... that she will live happily for many, many, many years to come and .... you know what?

.... IT WORKS! ... I feel fine and she feels more reassured any time we meet and I am sure the future will be fine too.

I hate hypocrisy or day-dreaming ... but this is different and acting "as if" everything is well does no damage of any kind at all. It actually opens the door and the whole house to ... sunshine all day long!

I will tell you more in the coming months. Forgive my English. ciao,

lumacarrabbiata