IDC, Triple positive, starting treatment TCHP on Friday

Hi:

My story is, diagnosed at 47, a stay at home mom with a fifth and seventh grader. No family history of breast cancer except an aunt on my mothers side. My breast cancer was IDC, triple positive, multi focal, 4 tumors 9/11 related.

I started TCHP in July of 2017 and finished up in November of 2017. I continued on with Herceptin and Perjeta til early August of 2018. To me this regemin was tough but doable. I felt that each round was tougher almost as if it was cumulative. I did manage to fit in a weeks vacation to Jamaica between rounds 3-4. I was planning on going back to work when I was diagnosed so i was not working at the time, which I felt was a godsend. The day After each round I went back to the Oncologists office for my Neulasta shot because I would get an IV of fluids to hydrate. I really believe that hydration was key for me. The Neulasta shot was painful 2 times for me. I took plain Claritin not Claritin D to avoid the bone pain associated with the Neulasta shot. If I remember correctly I took steroids the day before, the day of chemo and day after. I would crash the day after the last dose of steroids. It was almost clockwork and I would run around getting errands done before that crash. I did try to exercise when I could even if it was a walk around the block. The constipation and diarrhea was a problem I would alternate quite often. I totally lost my appetite but nausea wasn’t much of a problem at all. The key is to take your anti nausea meds before you are nauseous. Ask for the dissolving tablets. Headaches were an issue too but I asked for migraine medicine which worked. Remember all of these meds are constipating. Skin issues were a big issue, rashes but not itchy. Neuropathy wasn’t a problem til after chemo was done. I believe the Carboplatin was a culprit in my neuropathy. I listened to a good podcast on this site which was helpful. The neuropathy was crazy itchy and tingling in my upper arms and the back of my upper legs and both sides of my neck. It was weird it did not happen to my hands and feet. Gabapentin helped with that and I am happy to say that the neuropathy has almost completely disappeared and I stopped taking the gabapentin this past December. I cold capped which wasn’t too successful. My hair thinned a great deal, I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes after chemo was over. The Herceptin and Perjeta infusions were a breeze. You can go to these infusions by yourself. The only problem I had was fatigu.

I started this journey at 191 pounds and lost thirty after my mastectomy and DIEP flap. I started chemo at 160 pounds and went down to 137. I have since gained back almost 20 pounds at 155. I am happy to report I am back to normal and feel better than before I was diagnosed. Put yourself first, accept all and any help offered to you. People really do want to help. I also asked to go on an anti depressant and asked for a prescription of anti anxiety meds.

You can do this! Once you start your journey you will also be closer to the end of it. It does stink but I promise you, you can get through this, it is doable. I kept saying to myself this too shall pass. Come to these boards often and if you have any questions through this process please PM me. Gentle hugs (( )) to you. Sorry for the long novel lol!

I’m through 5 of 6 TCHP infusions and nausea and vomiting have become a problem, since the 4th one,I’m on 3 meds but none seem to work. I really don’t know what to do.