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Belinda · 06-08-2007, 09:25 PM

Hi Caya! Congratulations on getting through chemo!!!!!

I had 4 3-weekly ecs, then yesterday had my 4th of 12 weekly taxol and herceptin treatments. The first two were long (because they go so slow) and arduous - the pre-meds with the taxol wiped me out. But the next day on both occasions I was just fine.

And, I am feeling so alive and healthy compared to on EC, my quality of life has returned, I am positive and focussed, and have returned to work.

Any of the side effects I am having (there are few - slight peeling on feet, achiness about day 3 but not severe at all, funny bowels) seem to be from taxol and pre-meds. So I can confidently say that herceptin seems more than doable - it is for me a walk in the park.

I have read others posting about se's and it seems that some of that might be because the solution the herceptin is mixed with - in my case all along it has been mixed with a weak glucose and sterile water solution, basically on the morning of my infusion. That might be helping.

I just read down and realise you'd posted to confirm you'd had an uneventful loading dose - good one!!!

Happy going, Caya!

Belindaxxx

06-08-2007, 09:25 PM	#19
Belinda Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Posts: 144	Hi Caya! Congratulations on getting through chemo!!!!! I had 4 3-weekly ecs, then yesterday had my 4th of 12 weekly taxol and herceptin treatments. The first two were long (because they go so slow) and arduous - the pre-meds with the taxol wiped me out. But the next day on both occasions I was just fine. And, I am feeling so alive and healthy compared to on EC, my quality of life has returned, I am positive and focussed, and have returned to work. Any of the side effects I am having (there are few - slight peeling on feet, achiness about day 3 but not severe at all, funny bowels) seem to be from taxol and pre-meds. So I can confidently say that herceptin seems more than doable - it is for me a walk in the park. I have read others posting about se's and it seems that some of that might be because the solution the herceptin is mixed with - in my case all along it has been mixed with a weak glucose and sterile water solution, basically on the morning of my infusion. That might be helping. I just read down and realise you'd posted to confirm you'd had an uneventful loading dose - good one!!! Happy going, Caya! Belindaxxx __________________ Belinda Diagnosed 3 Jan 2007, Stage IIb, Mastectomy and axillary clearance 10 Jan 07, 6 of 19 nodes affected, multi-focal cancer, HER2 positive. Second mastectomy (prophylactic). Chemo - AC 3 months, Taxol 3 months - then radiation 5 weeks. Aug 2011 - Diagnosed with Stage IV mets to lung, sternum and 12 or so thoracic nodes - Rads to Sternum, then weekly abraxane and herceptin for 12 weeks. May 2012- good scans - all nodes still about normal size, hole in sternum repairing, lung tumour 'obliterated'. Ongoing herceptin every 3 weeks. Bloods still all good! Life good! March 2013 - recurrence - tumours in lungs and mediastinum (coughing up blood) - immediate radiation treatment to right lung and mediastinum, still on Herceptin, and 3 months of Vinoralbine - stable for a little while! Coughing and breathlessness started again September 2013, treated as radiation-induced fibrosis (which can be seen on scans - albeit stable). ie puffers, steroids January 2014 - cough becomes bloody again, scans show big mediastinal tumour wrapped around and choking the life out of my right main bronchus, radiation deemed off limits as my lungs are hypersensitive to radiation (measured by existing damage from 2013) .....................- ie I am in the 5% of people likely to suffer severe radiation damage to the lungs that they warn you about before starting treatment! (so special! :) ) Started chemo Feb 2014 - continuing Herceptin (continuous since Aug 2011), with Carboplatin and Gemcitabine. Discontinued Gemcitabine because of se's. Starting cycle 5 Herc/Carbo 5 May 2014. Meantime.....coughing and breathlessness increased to SCARY levels with racing heartbeat that won't slow down, breath that won't come back, even just walking to the bathroom or up 3 or 4 steps. ICU from May 5 2014, collapsed right lung due to tumour, small pulmonary embolism (left), tumours growing in mediastinum left and right, dvt lower right leg Plan seems to be bronchoscope next week to see if tumour can be lasered and stent inserted in right bronchus to reopen air access to lower parts of right lung. If that is successful might be able to have brachytherapy to worst tumour, otherwise no more options for external radiotherapy.