HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - My Wife Rachel Was Just Diagnosed With HER-2+ Breast Cancer (Please Help ...)

starwishn2 · 07-09-2013, 09:41 PM

Hi Ben~
I had TCH (finished T&C in Dec). Taxotere was a lot harder on me than the Carboplatin. I am still having Herceptin until August 15 - that will be 17 treatments. I had a double mastectomy and did not require radiation. I also have a port - which I have been very grateful to have. Previously, (before the port) when I have had infusions, the nurses have to run the drug slowly as the drugs were so hard on my veins. The port makes it much easier. People have told me that can't even see it - and at this point it wouldn't matter to me if they could. Regarding side effects - each person is so different in how they handle each drug. My doc told me that I had every "weird" side effect that Taxotere could offer. But there are people on this forum that had very few side effects from Taxotere. I did work full time (other than a day or two following my infusion). I would get a Neulasta shot the day following chemo. My oncologist recommended taking an Aleve and a Claritin at the time of the shot. I didn't have the deep aches that many have had from Neulasta.

Sadly, this isn't a journey that any of us wanted to travel BUT you and your wife will get through it. My husband has been the greatest support for me this past year. Your support will mean so much to your wife (I'm sure it already does). Best of luck to both of you.

Jeri

07-09-2013, 09:41 PM	#33
starwishn2 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Utah Posts: 124	Re: My Wife Rachel Was Just Diagnosed With HER-2+ Breast Cancer (Please Help ...) Hi Ben~ I had TCH (finished T&C in Dec). Taxotere was a lot harder on me than the Carboplatin. I am still having Herceptin until August 15 - that will be 17 treatments. I had a double mastectomy and did not require radiation. I also have a port - which I have been very grateful to have. Previously, (before the port) when I have had infusions, the nurses have to run the drug slowly as the drugs were so hard on my veins. The port makes it much easier. People have told me that can't even see it - and at this point it wouldn't matter to me if they could. Regarding side effects - each person is so different in how they handle each drug. My doc told me that I had every "weird" side effect that Taxotere could offer. But there are people on this forum that had very few side effects from Taxotere. I did work full time (other than a day or two following my infusion). I would get a Neulasta shot the day following chemo. My oncologist recommended taking an Aleve and a Claritin at the time of the shot. I didn't have the deep aches that many have had from Neulasta. Sadly, this isn't a journey that any of us wanted to travel BUT you and your wife will get through it. My husband has been the greatest support for me this past year. Your support will mean so much to your wife (I'm sure it already does). Best of luck to both of you. Jeri __________________ Diagnosed 16Dec1993 ITP (auto immune disease - low platelets) Splenectomy 11Nov2009 Rituxen May2011 ITP playing nice Diagnosed 3Jul2012 BC 2 cm - Grade 2 - Stage IIB HER2+++ ER+/PR+ bilateral mastectomy 20Jul2012 Metastasized cancer found 1 lymph node expanders placed during surgery TCH chemo "cocktail" started 24Aug2012 every 3 weeks - 6 treatments Herceptin - 18 treatments LAST treatment Taxotere & Carboplatin 7Dec2012 -yay! Continue with Herceptin 26Dec2012 Started Arimidex 01Jan2013 (for 5 years) Surgery to remove expanders/reconstruction 18Jan2013 Infection in left breast from reconstruction/infection in most nails - SO many meds! 22Feb2013 Left implant not playing nice.... might need to remove and try again - blah! 04Apr2013 3Jul2013 - one year since diagnosis - booo cancer! 15Aug2013 LAST chemo infusion!! YIPPPEEE!!! 13Sep2013 2nd reconstructive surgery.. the FOOBs are looking good!