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12-01-2010, 10:26 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Northern California
Posts: 64
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Half Way Through Chemo
Hi all:
I am going into my 4th of 6 tch treatments on Monday. After 3 treatments, my body is completely worn out. I am right now recovering from a bad case of the flu and lets just say my digestive system isnt happy either  For me the worst side effect has been the bone pain from the Neulasta shot.
I would love to hear from folks who have been there. How did you keep positive when you feel so ill most of the time?
Thanks
__________________
41 Years Old
Dx w/IDC in August '10
No family history
ER+/PR-/HER2+
2.2cm tumor/Stage 2A
No node involvement
Tested negative for BRCA 1/2
Participated in a UCLA clinical trial testing TCH and/or Lapatinib in stage 1/2/3 bc patients that can be removed by surgery.
Underwent neo-adjuvant therapy to shrink tumor prior to surgery.
1st Surgery date: 2/16/11
Pathology report indicated ADH/DCIS in margin.
2nd Surgery: 3/21/11
Clean margins!
Started radiation: 4/11/11
Completed radiation: 7/8/11
1st post-surgical mammogram: 8/16/11 - CLEAR!
6 Weeks of Tamoxifen - Failure to Respond
Started Lupron/Arimidex: 8/29/11
Herceptin until September '11
Recurrence - August 2018
Same profile - ER+/PR-/HER2+
Undergoing neo-adjuvant therapy prior to surgery;
Gemzar, Carboplatin, Herceptin & Perjeta
Chemo through the end of 2018...
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12-01-2010, 11:14 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Re: Half Way Through Chemo
Hi Ginny,
I found that when I got to treatment #3 I felt concerned about getting through the next 3.
As you may already know the treatments are acumulative and by #3 you are really getting the impact of the drugs. I can only say the next three was not as difficult. While I still felt the after effects of the shot and also the tired feeling etc. the last three were just not as difficult as the first three.
I found warm soaking baths in epson salt were helpful along with a heating pad on my shins and back. Also alieve was also helpful.
Wishing you an easy last three.
Best Wishes,
Jean
__________________
Stage 1, Grade 1, 3/30/05
Lumpectomy 4/15/05 - 6MM IDC
Node Neg. (Sentinel node)
ER+ 90% / PR-, Her2+++ by FISH
Ki-67 40%
Arimidex 5/05
Radiation 32 trt, 5/30/05
Oncotype DX test 4/17/06, 31% high risk
TOPO 11 neg. 4/06
Stopped Arimidex 5/06
TCH 5/06, 6 treatments
Herceptin 5/06 - for 1 yr.
9/06 Completed chemo
Started Femara Sept. 2006
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12-01-2010, 11:30 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 434
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Re: Half Way Through Chemo
It's hard to be positive when you are weak and in pain. The only times I have come close to depression is when I have had really tough chemo like you are having now. Once my body recovered I felt better emotionally. All I can suggest is to remember "this too will pass" and you will feel better again when you have had time to recover-but that may not be till a couple of weeks after the chemo is over. Don't expect too much of yourself till then. Hoping things will go well,
Trish
__________________
5/2004 (R) 30mm bre gr3 infiltrating ductal ca 16/18nodes er (2+) pr (3+) HER2 (3+)
6/2004 6 cycles(FEC), Oct 40 rads, Tamoxifen
5/2006 oopherectomy, Arimedex
12/2006 liver mets largest 9cm
1/2007 Herceptin,
3/2007 Taxol + Herc
1/2008 Herc alone
4/2008 Multiple bone mets,Zometa
7/2008 Herc + Gemcitabine
8/2008 Herc+Navelbine/vinoralbine
10/2008 Herc+Carboplatin+Taxol
12/2008 Tykerb+Xeloda
2/2010 Herceptin + trial drug
5/2010 Herceptin+Tykerb
8/2010 Tykerb+Abraxane
9/2010 Abraxane
12/2010 Abraxane+Tyk+Herc
4/2011 Tyk+Herc+Femara
6/2011 Liver and bone mets prog.Abraxane continue Herceptin,Tykerb,Femara and Zometa
8/2011 Probable liver progression and increased neuropathy. Xeloda with Tyk+Herc. Zometa 6 weekly.
9/2011 Liver progression,TM +++. Cyclophosphamide and Methotrexate metro Herc Zometa
10/2011 liver mets prog.Herc, 3 Tykerb +2mg decodron daily,Zometa
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12-01-2010, 11:35 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,210
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Re: Half Way Through Chemo
Just remember the title of your post...."HALF WAY THRU". I am also reminded of the saying "when you are going thru hell, keep going"!
I guess I am not too well equipted to offer advice on this matter since my doc stopped my tx after #4 because of neuoropathy. But I was prepared to keep plugging away.
As Jean said, it is cumulative, no denying that fact. But you are HALF WAY THRU!
Keep the faith!
__________________
Bonnie
Post menopause
May 2007 Core biopsy, Rt breast
ER+, Pr-, HER2 +++, Grade 3
Ki-67: 90%
"suspicious area" left breast
Bilateral mastectomy, (NED on left) May 2007
Sentinel Node Neg
Stage 1, DCIS with microinvasion, 3 mm, mostly removed during the biopsy....
Femara (discontinued 7/07) Resumed 10/07
OncoType score 36 (July 07)
Began THC 7/26/07 (d/c taxol and carboplatin 10/07)
Began Herceptin alone 10/07
Finished Herceptin July /08
D/C Femara 4/10 (joint pain/trigger thumb!)
5/10 mistakenly dx with lung cancer. Middle rt lobe removed!
Aromasin started 5/10
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12-02-2010, 08:32 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Moultrie, GA
Posts: 431
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Re: Half Way Through Chemo
Ginny,
You are half way through~you are almost there! After I had A/C and began Taxol, Herceptin, and lapatinib, I became very ill. My Hgb dropped to 9 which for me (my normal was 14) caused shortness of breath, high pulse rate, nausea, and my white count dropped. My study nurse and oncologist started talking about taking me out of the lapatinib trial. I guess that got me "stirred" up enough to fight back. I told them in no circumstances would I agree to that. They gave me blood which proved to truly be "a gift of life" for me.
I had the Neulasta injections while I had the A/C and they do hurt. I tried to prepare myself for them by telling myself that the pain meant they were working. I discovered the cycle where they would occur and just planned on doing nothing that day. Usually mine lasted only about two days.
You will get through this. Just keep your eye on the goal and don't get stuck in "hell"~keep going......!
Sandra
__________________
Diagnosed: 7/25/08 ~ age 63, no family history
Surgery: 8/14/08 Bilateral mastectomy; tumor left breast, node dissection; right prophylactic with expanders: 1/12/10 latisimuss dorsi flap on left side: 9/22/10 implants in
Pathology Report: ER/PR-; HER2+ (3+); Grade 3, StageIII; 3cm tumor plus 21/21 lymph nodes positive; 5cm DCIS
Chemo: A/C; Taxol/Herceptin/Tykerb; phase II study at Mayo adding Tykerb for early stage
Radiation: 25 rads
Vaccine: Walter Reed GP2/AE37 vaccine study ~ last booster 9/17/2012
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12-02-2010, 08:55 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: PA
Posts: 297
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Re: Half Way Through Chemo
Hi Ginny, Halfway there is alot better than not having started. It's not fun but it sure saves alot of lives. Those Neulasta shots are pretty rough. I hurt so bad from them. I refused the last one I was supposed to have because I just couldn't take the bone pain anymore. I hope the 2nd half of your treatment goes well and quickly. Have a wonderful holiday season! Best wishes. Mary L
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Mary L from PA Diag: Oct 2003 w/6mm mass, IDC grade III ductal carcinoma in-situ, IBC stage IIIB. tx A/C followed by Taxotere(only able to have 2 tx, allergic), mastectomy, 3 0ut of 7 positive nodes. 35 rads. Recurrence 9 months later, skin mets to mastectomy site. Tx Carboplatin/Herceptin. Stayed on Herceptin almost 5 years, had 3 more recurrences when I had to stop Herceptin due to my ejection fraction getting too low. Herceptin stopped and ned 3 years in Oct. 2010.
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12-02-2010, 10:35 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Missouri
Posts: 28
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Re: Half Way Through Chemo
You're doing what I did to remain positive...I visited this site. This is where I found much inspiration. In addition, I kept telling myself, "I know I can...I know I can...I know I can..." (my rendition of the Little Engine That Could)
Hang in there and keep on chuggin'. You'll make it through the chemo and feel so proud of what you were able to accomplish.
__________________
Yvonne
Nov 09 - Grade 3 IDC + Grade 3 DCIS, ER/PR-, HER2+++, KI-67 91%; BRAC 1 and 2 negative
Dec 09 - Mastectomy LB, 2.4 cm, 1/27 nodes, Stage IIB
Jan 10 - Taxotere/Carboplatin/Herceptin (TCH) for 18 weeks (1X every 3 weeks); Herceptin every week for 18 weeks then every 3 weeks 'til week 51
Apr 10 - Blood transfusion to increase red blood cells
Apr 10 - Change regimen to Taxotere/Cisplatin/Herceptin
May 10 - Chemo done!
Jul 10 - Brain MRI normal
Dec 10 - PET scan NED
Dec 30 10 - Last Herceptin
Feb 11 - Port removed
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12-02-2010, 12:56 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Thornhill, Ontario
Canada
Posts: 2,320
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Re: Half Way Through Chemo
Ginny - is there a reason you must have the Neulasta shot - here in Canada they don't just give it to everyone as it is not usually necessary.
I had my blood checked before every chemo, my counts were fine and I never needed the shots. Of course if your counts are too low, the shot would be administered.
Ask your onc. to test your blood counts, maybe you don't need the shots.
all the best
caya
__________________
ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+
1.7 cm and 1.0 cm.
Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested)
MRM Dec.18/06
3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere
Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08
Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years
Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012
BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative
Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal
Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so.
Reclast infusion January 2012
Oopherectomy October 2013
15 Years NED!!
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