HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - TCH- What to expect?

StephN · 11-03-2008, 12:22 PM

Hi -
You are getting the "gold standard" for our kind of breast cancer. It has been studied and shows the best chance of long term survival. Keep that in mind as you go along.

And hopefully you will be pleasantly surprised, as I was, that the treatment was not as debilitating as I feared. I did not have Carbo, but had other very harsh drugs.

My most pleasant surprise was that I had NO nausea. I was given the Kytril antinausea at treatment, but never needed any at home. I would even eat during my treatment as my cancer center offers lunch to patients.

Your blood counts will drop and this will cause fatigue. It will also up the susceptibility to germs. I hope you have had a flu shot.

I kept a spray bottle with a light bleach solution at the ready to use in kitchen and bathroom. Also the prepackaged disinfectant wipes are a MUST for your purse. You WILL be able to go to the stores, get gas, post office, etc. Wear your gloves and wash them often. Use the wipes for the carts in grocery stores. (I usually use 2.) If anyone around you is sneezing or coughting, turn around and go the other direction. That includes even stepping out of a checkout line to avoid these germy people or their kids.

It actually HELPED my frame of mind to get out a little even if I felt tired. Freshen up and put your game face on.

11-03-2008, 12:22 PM	#5
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Hi - You are getting the "gold standard" for our kind of breast cancer. It has been studied and shows the best chance of long term survival. Keep that in mind as you go along. And hopefully you will be pleasantly surprised, as I was, that the treatment was not as debilitating as I feared. I did not have Carbo, but had other very harsh drugs. My most pleasant surprise was that I had NO nausea. I was given the Kytril antinausea at treatment, but never needed any at home. I would even eat during my treatment as my cancer center offers lunch to patients. Your blood counts will drop and this will cause fatigue. It will also up the susceptibility to germs. I hope you have had a flu shot. I kept a spray bottle with a light bleach solution at the ready to use in kitchen and bathroom. Also the prepackaged disinfectant wipes are a MUST for your purse. You WILL be able to go to the stores, get gas, post office, etc. Wear your gloves and wash them often. Use the wipes for the carts in grocery stores. (I usually use 2.) If anyone around you is sneezing or coughting, turn around and go the other direction. That includes even stepping out of a checkout line to avoid these germy people or their kids. It actually HELPED my frame of mind to get out a little even if I felt tired. Freshen up and put your game face on. __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018. Last edited by StephN; 11-03-2008 at 05:45 PM..