HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - 4th chemo Taxotere/Herceptin having trouble

Becky · 02-05-2012, 09:48 AM

I think that Herceptin itself causes fever in a few women. It is immuno therapy and can do this - especially the first dose which is what this is. Taxotere or any taxane causes the nerves to fray which is why you are experiencing the joint pain and your legs probably feel like rubber bands. At this point, you can probably use OTC pain killers. Take some and then take a nice soak in the bathtub. Just totally visualize a really nice place and close your eyes and let the discomfort soak away. If you are only allowed to take Tylenol and it ends up not working well for you, ask your doctor (even today - call and ask) if you can take Advil or Motrin instead. Take your temperature before doing anything to make sure its not up. In general, taxotere is not as bad on the counts as FEC, AC or if you had the taxotere with Carboplatin (Carbo is bad on the counts - counts meaning white blood cells).

If you call the doctor service - do it now since it is Super Bowl today (just to be nice). But call!!!! You are paying them to care for you.

02-05-2012, 09:48 AM	#4
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	Re: 4th chemo Taxotere/Herceptin having trouble I think that Herceptin itself causes fever in a few women. It is immuno therapy and can do this - especially the first dose which is what this is. Taxotere or any taxane causes the nerves to fray which is why you are experiencing the joint pain and your legs probably feel like rubber bands. At this point, you can probably use OTC pain killers. Take some and then take a nice soak in the bathtub. Just totally visualize a really nice place and close your eyes and let the discomfort soak away. If you are only allowed to take Tylenol and it ends up not working well for you, ask your doctor (even today - call and ask) if you can take Advil or Motrin instead. Take your temperature before doing anything to make sure its not up. In general, taxotere is not as bad on the counts as FEC, AC or if you had the taxotere with Carboplatin (Carbo is bad on the counts - counts meaning white blood cells). If you call the doctor service - do it now since it is Super Bowl today (just to be nice). But call!!!! You are paying them to care for you. __________________ Kind regards Becky Found lump via BSE Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45 1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side) 2 micromets to sentinel node Stage 2A left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg lumpectomies 9/7/04 4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol Used Leukine instead of Neulasta 35 rads on right side only 4/05 started Tamoxifen Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations Oophorectomy 8/05 Started Arimidex 9/05 Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06 Arimidex Only Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia NED 18 years! Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"