My sister will have her second chemo Friday.
 

I will go back to stay with her for her treatment and for the week after. We don't know yet, based on the first treatment, if she can expect each to go as the first one did. She is trying to think of the treatment regimen in stages. Surgeries were first, this chemo combo is second, another chemo combo third, radiation is fourth and then just herceptin is fifth. It seems a bit more "doable" to think that she will be half way through this segment after Friday's treatment.

She had her head shaved recently and seems to be coping with that loss pretty well....has a couple of wigs, many scarves, some "bangs" and ball caps. I haven't seen her without her hair yet.

For those of you had AC and then taxol with herceptin:
Did you tolerate one regimen better than the other? Probably a simplistic question....I suppose there are differrent side effects for each and they can't really be compared?

We thank you so much for your kindness in reading and responding to my posts. It's such a relief to have a "safe" place to ask and vent.

God bless you all.

Barb

Barb,

I broke my chemo and treatment up into stages as well. First stage was 4 rounds of AC. Then 4 of taxol and Herceptin. I'd break those down into 2's. Once I had 2 under my belt I'd say I was half way through that stage.

I did dose dense ACTH. The AC was definitely harder on me than the TH. Yes, they did have different symptoms, but the TH was easier overall. Although it was the TH that took my eyelashes and brows, not the AC.

Thanks for the update on your sister. Godspeed to you all!

Thanks so much....
 

for replying Marie and Laurel. My sis's treatment was yesterday and she is resting at the moment. I had the opportunity to meet her oncologist for the first time yesterday and my first impression was good. He told her, just as Laurel said, that her second regimen would be easier. There would be different side effects, but should be tolerated a bit better than the AC.

She will have two more AC treatments, on a three week cycle and then twelve weekly Taxol and Herceptins. Her chemo nurse told her that she might find that the side effects with the AC are a bit harder as she does more cycles.....we didn't want to hear that!

Laurel, did the eyelashes and eyebrows also grow back? She is still a bit sensitive about the shaved head, but is comfortable enough with her husband and with me to skip the head coverings. She's my sis and she's beautiful to me, hair or no hair! She has worn a really nice wig when she goes out.

We'll probably be asking lots more questions as we go....thanking you all in advance for your kindness and caring. I pray for your regularly.

Barb A.

Barb,

My eyelashes were long and lush until the second Taxol. Then they began to fall out over a period of a few weeks. Eventually they were all gone. My brows thinned severely, but never completely feel out. The E.T. look wasn't a good one for me. After the last treatment of TH my lashes began to grow out quite quickly it seemed. As for my hair, I had my first haircut at about 4 months. It was very short, but I went wigless everywhere. I just wore larger earrings. Everyone enjoyed coming over and rubbing my hair. It never bothered me.

I have 2 more treatments of Herceptin. My nails are awful, soft and break easily no matter how trim I keep them. My lashes began falling out a week or so ago, but have new growth, albeit short growth, coming in already so I really didn't get the ET thing going again. My brows seem to be holding steady.

I feel good and have a very optimistic view of my future. The present fight is so worth the future it ensures. Hang in there!