HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Reduced Decadron and Chemo Side Effects

Hi all,

I am gearing up for TCH #3 tomorrow. After the first infusion I had my Decadron dose decreased by half as the speeded up, racey heart, twitchy leg feeling kept me awake all night.

After the second infusion I was experiencing horrific sinus problems that lasted for 2 whole weeks. My onc gave me Augmentin but that really didn't help. I am hoping and praying hard tonight that those sinus problems were due to an actual sinus infection and not a TC side effect that came on because of the decreased Decadron.

I suppose by thursday I will know for sure as I continue with the decreased Decadron dose (8mg daily instead of 16 with all of it dumped in IV on chemo day).

My question is if anyone else has had a side effect like that within two days of the infusion....I am hoping not.

Thanks
Leah

__________________

39 year old wife, mother of one and nurse.
April 20, 2012: Dx Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
April 25, 2012: ER+(5%), PR-, HER2+++
May 10, 2012: BRCA 1,2 Negative
May 23, 2012: MUGA Scan EF 70%
May 31, 2012: B/L Mastectomy. 2/2 nodes removed and CLEAR!! Power Port placed. 2 Drains. 2 Expanders placed
June 5, 2012: Drains OUT! Ahhhh..
June 12, 2012: Final Pathology Report, .8x.3cm tumor. Micromets to 1 node .35mm under cytokeratin staining. Stage 2A. Onc says "you are lucky to have found this early"
July 10, 2012: Started 6 rounds of TCH with weekly H
Sept 5, 2012: MUGA 65%
Sept 20, 2012: CAT scan of brain clear!
Oct 23, 2012: LAST TC! AMEN! Continue Herceptin every three weeks until July 2013.
Nov 19, 2012: Port out!
Dec 5, 2012: Started radiation
Dec. 10, 2012: MUGA 65%
Dec. 13, 2012: Turned 40. BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!
Jan 23, 2013: Last radiation. Told I am NED. Continue Herceptin every three weeks till July 2013.
Jan 29, 2013: Begin 5 years of Tamoxifen.
Feb 28, 2013: CT Scan with Contrast of lungs. 5mm and 4mm nodules of unknown origin. Rescan in 3 months.
Mar 6, 2013: EF 60%
May 8, 2013: Exanders out, implants implanted...abd. lipo and fat moved up. Girls are looking good!
June 3, 2013: CT Scan with Contrast of lungs. Previous nodules gone. New nodules (2mm and 3mm) found. Rescan in 3 months. So sorry I opened this can of worms...
June 11, 2013: EF 60%
June 25, 2013: Last Herceptin. wow...
Aug 20, 2013: Tumor markers within normal limits. Xray to sore left ribs shows no disease or fractures.
Sept 9, 2013: CT of lungs shows no disease. Closing this can of worms and moving on.
Nov 20, 2013: Tumor markers within normal limits. Severe Vit D deficiency, started on prescription Vit. D. Blaming chemo for this.
Feb 2014: Tumor markers within normal limits.
May 2014: Tumor markers within normal limits. Graduated to twice yearly onc appts.
Oct 2014: Tumor markers within normal limits.
May 2015: Tumor markers WNL. Bone density scan fine. Bone scan and xray of ribs shows "something" 4th right rib. Could be healed fracture but if it is healed why does it hurt?
Nov 2015: Tumor markers WNL. Follow up bone scan clear.
Feb 2016: Syncope! WTF? Dizzy too. Brain scan clear, ECHO EF 60%, Halter Monitor shows heart is fine. Viral? I will never know.
June 2016: Tumor markers WNL.
Oct 2016: Stabbing pain right eye. Long story short, trigeminal neuralgia.
Nov 2016 Brain MRI clear.
Jan 2017: Tumor markers WNL, still getting weird pain right rib area, and sometimes right upper chest. Xray x2, Bone Scan, Breast MRI all clear. Scar tissue? Rads. I may never know.
www.onmywaytosurvivorhood.blogspot.com
www.thechemobag.com
www.facebook.com/thechemobag

08-20-2012, 05:48 PM	#1
LeahM Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Bethlehem PA Posts: 395	Reduced Decadron and Chemo Side Effects Hi all, I am gearing up for TCH #3 tomorrow. After the first infusion I had my Decadron dose decreased by half as the speeded up, racey heart, twitchy leg feeling kept me awake all night. After the second infusion I was experiencing horrific sinus problems that lasted for 2 whole weeks. My onc gave me Augmentin but that really didn't help. I am hoping and praying hard tonight that those sinus problems were due to an actual sinus infection and not a TC side effect that came on because of the decreased Decadron. I suppose by thursday I will know for sure as I continue with the decreased Decadron dose (8mg daily instead of 16 with all of it dumped in IV on chemo day). My question is if anyone else has had a side effect like that within two days of the infusion....I am hoping not. Thanks Leah __________________ 39 year old wife, mother of one and nurse. April 20, 2012: Dx Invasive Ductal Carcinoma April 25, 2012: ER+(5%), PR-, HER2+++ May 10, 2012: BRCA 1,2 Negative May 23, 2012: MUGA Scan EF 70% May 31, 2012: B/L Mastectomy. 2/2 nodes removed and CLEAR!! Power Port placed. 2 Drains. 2 Expanders placed June 5, 2012: Drains OUT! Ahhhh.. June 12, 2012: Final Pathology Report, .8x.3cm tumor. Micromets to 1 node .35mm under cytokeratin staining. Stage 2A. Onc says "you are lucky to have found this early" July 10, 2012: Started 6 rounds of TCH with weekly H Sept 5, 2012: MUGA 65% Sept 20, 2012: CAT scan of brain clear! Oct 23, 2012: LAST TC! AMEN! Continue Herceptin every three weeks until July 2013. Nov 19, 2012: Port out! Dec 5, 2012: Started radiation Dec. 10, 2012: MUGA 65% Dec. 13, 2012: Turned 40. BEST BIRTHDAY EVER! Jan 23, 2013: Last radiation. Told I am NED. Continue Herceptin every three weeks till July 2013. Jan 29, 2013: Begin 5 years of Tamoxifen. Feb 28, 2013: CT Scan with Contrast of lungs. 5mm and 4mm nodules of unknown origin. Rescan in 3 months. Mar 6, 2013: EF 60% May 8, 2013: Exanders out, implants implanted...abd. lipo and fat moved up. Girls are looking good! June 3, 2013: CT Scan with Contrast of lungs. Previous nodules gone. New nodules (2mm and 3mm) found. Rescan in 3 months. So sorry I opened this can of worms... June 11, 2013: EF 60% June 25, 2013: Last Herceptin. wow... Aug 20, 2013: Tumor markers within normal limits. Xray to sore left ribs shows no disease or fractures. Sept 9, 2013: CT of lungs shows no disease. Closing this can of worms and moving on. Nov 20, 2013: Tumor markers within normal limits. Severe Vit D deficiency, started on prescription Vit. D. Blaming chemo for this. Feb 2014: Tumor markers within normal limits. May 2014: Tumor markers within normal limits. Graduated to twice yearly onc appts. Oct 2014: Tumor markers within normal limits. May 2015: Tumor markers WNL. Bone density scan fine. Bone scan and xray of ribs shows "something" 4th right rib. Could be healed fracture but if it is healed why does it hurt? Nov 2015: Tumor markers WNL. Follow up bone scan clear. Feb 2016: Syncope! WTF? Dizzy too. Brain scan clear, ECHO EF 60%, Halter Monitor shows heart is fine. Viral? I will never know. June 2016: Tumor markers WNL. Oct 2016: Stabbing pain right eye. Long story short, trigeminal neuralgia. Nov 2016 Brain MRI clear. Jan 2017: Tumor markers WNL, still getting weird pain right rib area, and sometimes right upper chest. Xray x2, Bone Scan, Breast MRI all clear. Scar tissue? Rads. I may never know. www.onmywaytosurvivorhood.blogspot.com www.thechemobag.com www.facebook.com/thechemobag