Tch?
 

Hi guys,
I'm starting chemo Aug,13th. It will be Taxotere, carboplatin and herceptin. I've read about alot of allergic reactions to taxotere and I'm getting really nervous.

How bad are the reactions and can they always reverse
them? I'm not as worried about the side effects as i am about the reactions.

I hate the waiting,
Laurie

Laurie, I was on TaxOL, carbo and Herceptin. My big fear was a Herceptin reaction. I got hung up on it. But the cancer center psychologist would say that when I received my first infusion it would seem like a balloon being stuck with a pin and all the air being let out. All the anxiety being released. It was a good image for me. And that is just how it turned out. Also, I was reasssured by the treatment room nurses that they first administer drugs to prevent any adverse reactions, they stat the chemo slowly, monitor you carefully and can halt right away. Plus there are drugs to counteract any adverse reactions. AND you should receive some anti-anxiety med to get you through that first time. Maybe you could visit the treatment area ahead of time and talk to staff to tell them your concerns and get some reassurance. .
Most of us have been where you are right now. The anticipation is the worst. But we have come out the other side and you will too...
Keep the faith.

Hi Laurie,
I was on Taxol and Herceptin after during 4 rounds of E/C. My nurse assured me it will be much easier to take. And she was so right! As Bonnie mentioned, I too received drugs prior to the administration of the chemo. I never became nauseated as much as I was on E/C (big thanks to the meds of course); just some headaches or wooziness. The metallic taste was still there, but more significantly, Taxol gave me neuropathy - the tingling sensation - on my fingers and toes. It took quite a while for that to go away. Other than that, it was much better for me.

Keeping you in my prayers!

Regarding neuropathy, I had almost forgotten about it because mine has become alot less noticible. My onc recommended trying an amino acid product called "Glutamine" during chemo. It is thought to ease the symptoms. Basically is a powder you mix into a beverage. Over the counter, health food store thing. You might want to ask your doc about it.

Hi Laurie!
First of all....you can do it! You will sit in that chair and take a deep breath and tell yourself how lucky you are to have someone giving you this yucky stuff to knock those dang bc cells out of commision. Taxotere and carboplatin can both have side effects that require meds, but you might not have them, or very mild effects. Ask them what meds you might need and then ask them to give you prescriptions for them all. Get them filled and even if you think you might, maybe, someway, feel like you're getting them, take the pill. Get all prepared for anything and then it probably won't happen. Whatever, you can do this, girl! The purpose is far greater than any side effects. And have them drip you slowly and you'll do even better. You can do it!
We'll all be praying for you and available to "talk to".
You're so smart to be asking questions! And you will be so proud of yourself when that time is up. Have a "victory plan" for something terrific to do, eat, someone to talk to, something! Reward yourself and have it to think of the whole time. Ask the nurses if you don't understand what is happening. You can do it! ma

Hi Laurie,
I had Taxol and Herceptin weekly for 6 months. I had a slight anxiety attack at the 4 month point. I was very tired but read a lot of books and I love reading. I lost my hair and put on weight.
My oncologist said that weekly doses which are lower, would be easier to take and I think he was right.
hugs and love
sarah

L - I had Taxotere with Adria and Cytoxan... and Carbo with Taxol and Herceptin. On both regimens, I usually felt pretty good on infustion day and the day after, then by day three when I started feeling puny for 2-3 days, fatigued for about 5 total days, and then felt pretty good for the remaining two weeks until my next 3 week infusion.

Just a few hints that I learned:

Take your anti-nausea meds at regular scheduled times and stay ahead of the nausea. I never got full blown nausea at all, I only ever got queasiness. And never got sick, beyond queasiness.

Taxotere can screw up your nails - take care of your finger and toe nails before you start the regimen and before every infusion. Use tea tree oil on your cuticles and Sally Hanson's Hard as Nails on your fingers and toes before every infusion. It can cause ugly darkening of your nails if you don't take good care of them.

Taxotere/Carbo are sensitive to B6 and B Complex vitamins... don't take them 24 hours prior to infusion or 5 days after an infusion. The B vitamins can potentially interfere with the efficacy of these chemos during this "protected zone" - and we want these drugs to work as efficiently as possible...

Let us know how you are getting along.

Thanks for the advice about b vitamins. I do take a b-complex, which I won't now. Should I be getting steroids a few days before treatment? I see alot of
us do, but I wasn't given any prescriptions.

When I had A/C I know they gave them to me right before, through the IV. Just trying to avoid a reaction if I can. Should I call and ask?

Laurie

I was not given anything prior. The steroids were in the IV. And Benedryl, to prevent allergic reactions
I had Compazine to take "in case" but never had nausea.
Oh, and one other thing, even though is is hot outside, those treatment rooms are usually kept pretty chilly. Bring something with long sleeves! And dress comfy. Have something to distract yourself, a book or iPod.
Keep the faith.

Dear Laurie,

I completed six rounds of Taxotere and Carboplatin with Herceptin on April 4th of this year. I found that the decadron and anti-nausea meds truly helped. The oncologists first started me out on 16 mg. of decadron but backed it down to 8mg. It's a steriod that made me feel really good but couldn't sleep and ended up with headaches. Changing the dosage worked well.

Just as hutchibk said I felt good the day of and day after but by day 2-3 I was ready to have a lay around day. I would take it easy for 3-4 days and then begin to feel better. Never once did I have nausea just a few gaggy moments.

One thing my family noticed was that the evening of treatments I would be sharp tongued and unreasonable at times. I felt on edge, nerves maybe and the steroids (decadron). I would get angrier than normal when my daughters didn't call to check in, etc.
Sorry to ramble on and on but this site (and others) helped me so much to get through chemo and radiation I want to pass on my experience and help others.

The carboplatin succeeded in removing my ability to taste food. Although I enjoyed orange sherbert and some spicy foods during that time. Food I normally loved tasted horrible. I would drink a soda through a straw and that seemed to taste pretty good. I was not good about diet during chemo time. Couldn't seem to successfully digest leafy salads but enjoyed pasta salad.
It did change my bowel habits from one semi-extreme to the other from day to day but it was doable.

It was important in my line of work to take the chemo months off. I felt that I couldn't be dependable enough and didn't want my employer to have to find a substitute for my "down" days. It happened that I could have worked many of the days in-between chemo treatments and did go in a few times to work behind the scenes in my ball cap covering my bald head.

I am currently receiving Herceptin treatments every three weeks - 442 mg. It's been relatively easy.

Laurie, You will do well. Chemo has come so far and is very doable. You'll feel the meds and chemo working it's miracle through out your body. It's doable and you'll be well!
Wishing you the best.
Feel free to ask me anything at timmfam@ligtel.com.

Dana

P.S. I had severe heartburn a few evenings that was uncomfortable but protonix helped.

L - You can take your B's, just not for 6 days around the infusion day. Actually, it is a good thing to take them while you are on the regimen, but not 24 hrs prior or 5 days after.

I never got decadron prior... I just got it on infusion day at the beginning of infusion.

Your white cells and red cells will possibly start to crater a little, especially with Carbo. Your doc will monitor this and if you drop too low they will give you shots to help boost your blood counts...

Like Dana and everyone here has said, you will do fine. Just be prepared to feel like you drank a little gasoline, LOL. And with the price of gas these days it's probably just as expensive as chemo.

I took Nexium for my heartburn/acid reflux and it worked just fine...

Brenda

I should include that I received a Nuelasta injection just after the 24 hour time frame of every "intense" chemo day. I tolerated Nuelasta well too. Only once did my CBC levels drop but not enough to delay treatment.
I was a ferocious hand washer too--I turned in to a bit of a germ freak temporarily. Wiping down shopping carts, etc.

Keep us posted, Laurie, and let us know how it went on 13th.

Dana