Andrea, I did 6 cycles of TCH and ran into many side affects you did with the finger nails falling off and being tired, etc. I did get procrit and felt so much better after each injection of it.
But I noticed after I was done with my chemo and JUST on herceptin they would NOT let me have the procrit anymore. Even with my counts a little low from the after affects of chemo they still said in time my counts would go back up and to just be patient. I tried like you did to explain HOW tired I was and really wanted the procrit. Was told no each time. They said there are many side affects to procrit like any other drugs and its better I not have it. So I just had to deal with it. I felt like you did so I can completely understand how you feel. I don't know if it helps...but about 4 or 5 months after chemo and just on herceptin...my counts got back to being completely normal and I felt pretty good again.  I really feel for you though....hang in there.
Chelee
__________________
DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs.
Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06
Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07
3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07
9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV.
9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa
9-29-09 Power Port Placement
10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head.
11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed
12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa.
3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed.
4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone.
5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy.
Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time.
7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
|