[chrisy]

Hi Skip,
Well you hit the nail on the head with that last comment!

But it will get better. There should be periods during each cycle where she feels pretty good - you might try calendaring it, then you could both at least know "oh, I feel lousy today but by sunday I know I'll be feeling better". I have some s/e on TDM1 but they are like clockwork - we know Friday is "fever day"... and Saturday I will be normal.

I'm not sure I remember your wife's treatment plan exactly, but in my situation I initially had 6 cycles of TCH and then continued in a maintenance mode on herceptin alone. Physically the herceptin alone is less bothersome.

I do also know the sleepless nights. I assume your wife gets decadron premeds for the taxotere - and it is known to have people up all night cleaning the house...or worrying. Possibly she can get a dose reduction on that.

For me, on my treatment day I always took an Ativan in the evening - it is an antinausea med but also helps with sleeplessness.

Over the long haul, I do still have SOME sleepless nights - and there are times (like around scans) that I lay awake wondering how things came to this and worrying about the future. But mostly I live a pretty normal life.

For example last night I couldn't get to sleep because I was stressed out over stupid things people had done (or not done) at work. But tonight I'll probably sleep just fine because TGIF!

Hang in there