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Lolly · 07-05-2007, 09:45 PM

Flori, I haven't had Carbo so don't know about the side effects, especially in combo. I HAVE had Gemzar earlier this year in combo with Herceptin. Side effects were very minimal, I found it very tolerable. I had Zofran IV before each(weekly) and had no problems with naseau. Tiredness was so-so. I felt it would have been very doable for me, but unfortunately the "unseen, unfelt" side effect was that it was too hard on my counts and I could never get two weeks in a row under my belt. Always had to skip a week before I was able to get another tx, and for that reason it wasn't very effective for me so I had to move onto Tykerb/Abraxane.
Hope you get some feedback on the Carbo, and hang in there; give yourself time to think this through. It's never easy starting a new treatment, it takes some "mind bending" to adjust, that's for sure.

<3 Lolly

07-05-2007, 09:45 PM	#2
Lolly Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,756	Flori, I haven't had Carbo so don't know about the side effects, especially in combo. I HAVE had Gemzar earlier this year in combo with Herceptin. Side effects were very minimal, I found it very tolerable. I had Zofran IV before each(weekly) and had no problems with naseau. Tiredness was so-so. I felt it would have been very doable for me, but unfortunately the "unseen, unfelt" side effect was that it was too hard on my counts and I could never get two weeks in a row under my belt. Always had to skip a week before I was able to get another tx, and for that reason it wasn't very effective for me so I had to move onto Tykerb/Abraxane. Hope you get some feedback on the Carbo, and hang in there; give yourself time to think this through. It's never easy starting a new treatment, it takes some "mind bending" to adjust, that's for sure. <3 Lolly __________________ Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation. Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.