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11-29-2014, 07:16 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 81
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Side effects-THP
Hi ladies!
I know there are numerous threads that address my questions but I am just too lazy to look for them right now. I appreciate your patience~
I started a new chemo regimen Monday---Taxotere, Herceptin and Perjeta, to treat liver metastasis. I have also been on heavy steroids for brain mets (16mg/day)for the past two weeks, now weaning down to 12mg, next week 8mg, etc until I see neuro oncologist on Dec 15.
Side effects of chemo hit me hard....fatigue is phenomenal, cough, raw mouth,and skin changes already hitting. I'm chalking it up to the body already being beaten up/broken down from the steroids.
I'm doing all the standard stuff---mouth rinse, lotions, rest, fluids, supplements, movement as tolerated, ....anyone have any more ideas, tips,suggestions?
I find you ladies often have better remedies than the docs, 
Thank you thank you thank you.
Love to you all,
xoxoxoxoxox
__________________
Dx 4-12-2012
R unilat Mx 5-25-2012 (no reconstruction)
Stage 2B, Grade 3, Her2+++, Er + (15%), Pr -
4.2 cm, 2/14 nodes +
3 AC, 4 T/H
Zoladex 4 months
Oophorectomy Feb 2013
AI daily
Herceptin every 3 wks until Sept 2013
Gamma Knife June 2014, 2 cm brain met
Liver mets Oct 2014
Taxotere/herceptin/perjeta-CLEOPATRA trial Nov 2014-Mar 2015
"RISK BEING SEEN, IN ALL OF YOUR GLORY!" Jim Carrey
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11-29-2014, 04:36 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,045
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Re: Side effects-THP
Hi Embur, nothing much to add, sounds like you're doing everything ... except -- have you tried an Epsom Salts bath? Very relaxing plus it adds magnesium to your system, which I really needed as I got very constipated from the steroids and Taxotere. Plus it's supposed to help draw toxins out through your skin. If nothing else, it's so soothing just to lie in the hot tub!
I had godawful indigestion from the Taxotere and ginger ale really helped, plus peppermint candies. I got the stevia ginger ale (no high fructose corn syrup!) at the health food store and also I later found a regular grocery store that carried it.
Hope this helps, please know I am thinking of you and hoping this chemo brings you to NED!
Carol Ann
__________________
July 24, 2013: "Infected" Right Nipple and benign cyst removed, pathology report revealed Paget's, DCIS, and ILC 1.25 cm, ER+/Pro+/HER2 equivocal, Grade 2 under benign cyst, previous diagnostic mammo/ultrasound said I was perfectly healthy in both breasts.
Aug 18, 2013: MRI report says Left breast is perfectly healthy "consistent with previous studies".
Sept 2013: I insist on a bilateral mastectomy anyway. Too nervewracking to let left breast remain with higher risk after 3 cancers in right, nipple in right is already gone anyhow.
Sept 18, 2013: Bilateral mastectomy, 11 right nodes removed, ALL negative BUT -- ER+/PRO+/HER2+ tumor, 1.0 cm, Grade 2 found in a piece of "grossly unremarkable" breast tissue from prophylactic mastectomy of left breast, no nodes removed.
Oct 25, 2013: 13 left side nodes removed, ALL negative, Stage 1 across the board, NO RADS needed, YAAAAY! Port also installed.
Nov 25, 2013 Begin 6 rounds TCH.
March 10, 2014 Just finished 6th and LAST Chemo today, YAAAAAY!
March 24, 2014 Echocardiogram to make sure I'm still good for Herceptin every 3 weeks.
March 31, 2014 Echo results NORMAL, first Herceptin all by itself. Now if only my eyes would stop streaming from the Taxotere ... :)
April 21, 2014 Started Arimidex and therapy for "mild" lymphedema in left hand and arm
May 2014 Therapy completed, I have sleeves and gloves for both arms, a Flexi touch lymph pump to hook up to for an hour every day, and I've become an arm bandaging expert. :)
June 2014 Begin Fosamax to prevent osteoporosis; bone scan revealed osteopenia
Nov 17, 2014 FINAL Herceptin!
Dec 4, 2014 My right thigh muscle has been extra achy for days ... I discover a blister rash cluster on the side of my right thigh while taking a shower. Port appointment cancelled until Dec 17, my doc is working me in tomorrow afternoon to see me and the rash. My muscle at least feels less achy.
Dec 5, 2014 Yep, I have shingles. Boo! I start acyclovir and also have a prescription for a painkiller just in case for over the weekend.
Dec 17, 2014 Port is OUT!
January 2016 Shingles again and this time it started where my left breast (where the hidden HER2+++ tumor was!) used to be. My onc nurse got me a same day appointment to see my doc when I called and told her I had a rash on the site. The antiviral meds are working once again, though, so that is good news. :)
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11-29-2014, 04:58 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Somerset, NJ
Posts: 487
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Re: Side effects-THP
That "magic" pink crap they gave me for my mouth didn't help much--in fact, sometimes after I used it, I felt like my throat was closing up. The studies I read at the time say it's more effective for most patients, but I had a couple of bottles of chlorhexidine left over from dental work, and it did a far better job for me. I also gave up my regular toothpaste and used Biotene instead because it was less irritating.
All the magic formulations are here; maybe one of the is the right one for you:
http://www.drotterholt.com/magicmouthwash.html
Objectively speaking, I'm not sure I had that much going on in my mouth, but it was enough to drive me absolutely bananas.
__________________
2/6/09 Core needle biopsy: negative; Mammos through 2010: no change
3/30/11 Pea-sized lump in left breast at site of prior biopsy; mammo negative, sonogram not so much
4/14/11 Core needle biopsy: negative for cancer
5/18/11 Excisional biopsy 1.2 cm tumor, LVI, positive margin; ER+60%,PR+20%,HER2/CEP17 5
6/15/11 BMX: Left DCIS & LH; Right ADH; SNB: 2/3 nodes: 1.4 cm and 1 mm; ALND L1&2: 0/10; Stage IIa, Grade 3
7/14/11 CT/Bone scans NED; MUGA 66%
7/19/11 Biweekly dd AC w/Neulasta; done 8/30/11
9/13/11 Transfusion (Hemoglobin 8.6); MUGA 64%
9/20/11 Start Taxol + Herceptin; Taxol done 12/6/2011; continue Herceptin until 9/4/2012
12/27/11 Radiation - 6 weeks; 2/27/2012 - DONE! Yayyyy!
2/29/12 Start Tamoxifen 20 mg/day; continue until 2/28/17
5/16/12 Start five-years Metformin trial
6/19/12 MUGA 61%
8/21/12 Brain MRI NED (head still hurts, brain still fogged)
9/4/12 Herceptin done!
9/6/12 Port out!
7/11/13 Aricept 5mg for cognitive impairment; increased to 10mg as of 8/23/13; back to 5mg 12/2013
5/2014 Add Namenda 7mg
9/2014 Stop Aricept and Namenda; Neuropsychological evaluation
10/24/14 Start cognitive rehabilitation therapy
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11-29-2014, 07:04 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 494
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Re: Side effects-THP
Hi Embur,
Sounds like you are doing the right things. I found taxotere pretty hard, but it worked well for my liver mets. Watch your eyes (dryness, causing watering) and nails - both permanently damaged for me. Do try to work against the fatigue; but listen to your body and take care of yourself.
Best wishes...... Pam
__________________
Diagnosed 2004: Lumpectomy - 2 tumours, both grade 1 infiltrating duct carcinoma, about 12mm. ER+,
C-erbB-2 status 3+.
Clear margins, no nodal involvement.
Radiotherapy, i year Tamoxifen, 4 years Arimidex.
Rediagnosed 2012: Multiple bone metastases.
3/12: began on Marianne trial - T-DM1 + Pertuzamab/Placebo.
5/12:Unexpected development of numerous bilateral liver mets. Came off trial.
Started Docetaxol/ Herceptin + Zometa.
8/12:Bones stable +major regression in liver (!)
9/12:Can't take any more Docetaxol! Start on Herceptin and Tamoxifen. Cross fingers!
Changed to Denosumab.
11/12: Scan shows stable - yay!
11/13: Still stable :-) !!!
1/16: All stable, but lowered calcium, so switched to Zometa 3 monthly.
2/19: Happily still stable on Herceptin, Letrozole and 3 monthly Zometa.
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11-30-2014, 08:11 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: San Diego
Posts: 411
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Re: Side effects-THP
Embur,
Sorry to hear you are having such a tough time. I had really bad mouth sores. My onc nurse suggested that I eat ice chips while getting my chemo infussions. Once I started doing that, I had no more sores.
Good luck to you.
__________________
8/2013 Diagnosed IDC Left Breast ER-/PR-/HER2+ Stage 3C, DCIS ER+/PR+/HER2- Right Breast (54 yr)
8/2013 PET/CT scan shows mass in uterues and suprclavicular nodes
8/20/13 Begin 6 rounds TCH chemo, Perjeta added for rounds 4-6
9/2013 After 1st round of chemo, mass in neck and breast no longer able to feel
11/2013 Hysterectomy, mass from PET/CT scan not cancer (adenomylosis)
12/2013 Finished chemo
1/2014 Double mastectomy with chest expanders
1/2014 Pathology report from surgery and SNB show complete pathological response!
3/2014 Finish IMRT radiation
8/2014 Fat transfer to radiated breast
8/2014 Completed 1 yr of Herceptin
10/2014 exchange surgery expanders removed implants placed
6/2015 3D nipple and areola tattoos
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11-30-2014, 08:15 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Somerset, NJ
Posts: 487
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Re: Side effects-THP
Oh, how I wish someone had told me to do that. Mouth sores are just the worst. Great tip.
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11-30-2014, 09:49 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 113
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Re: Side effects-THP
I also used Biotene toothpaste and mouthwash. In addition, I did salt/baking soda rinses many times a day and coconut oil pulls once a day. With the coconut oil, you put a teaspoon or so in your mouth and swish for a while. It's supposed to be 15-20 minutes but I never lasted more than 5 minutes - it's kind of gross but works really well.
__________________
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5/15/14 Dx IDC, right breast, 2 cm with 3 cm lymph node ER/PR- Her2+
6/11/14 Taxol / Herceptin / Perjeta
9/17/14 Lumpectomy, axillary lymph node dissection 3/9 nodes showed previous involvement but all clear due to THP!!
9/24/14 NED
10/8/14 AC x 4
12/16/14 rads x 20 WBRT only
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