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12-29-2006, 12:21 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oregon
Posts: 715
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Hi Margi,
Yes we can all get on the same site and communicate and compare notes even Australia to Oregon. I completed all of my chemo in August before my surgery. Chemo was not fun, but I made it. Taxol was tough on me.
Are you having Herceptin along with the chemo? I am only on Herceptin now.
See my profile. I am still trying to navigate this site.
More later, all the best, Catherine
PS I barely work 50% of my former schedule. I love taking time off and being good to myself. I excercise and sleep as much as I can.
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12-29-2006, 01:30 AM
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#2
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Guest
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Hi Catherine- it's good to hear from you....and yes I am still trying to understand how to navigate around this site also...and understand some of the different words used.
Taxol is different to Taxotere...but similar class of drugs...and I am on Taxotere and yes, started it with Herceptin as an infusion two weeks ago.... I finish Taxotere on 16 February and will continue the Herceptin for the twelve months apparently.
I am just hoping I do not have the same side effects for so long next Friday when have second Taxotere.
Did you find it became worse with Taxol each time?- Accumulative fatigue I guess after all this chemo too.
My neutrophils dropped significantly (0.6) after my surgery to remove lymph glands when I started A/C chemo so I now have neutropenia and have injections of Neulastin to boost the white blood cells in bone marrow twenty four hours after each chemo session.
I see the oncologist just before I have chemo- this week two days before so will discuss my side effects in case my dose needs to be adjusted as had aching joints for 5-7 days, flu type symptoms (I know Herceptin can cause this) for which I take an antihistamine and epigastric discomfort for which I take Nexium as well as the awful metallic taste which has dissipated a bit thankfully.
Did you get any similar symptoms on Taxol? and have they dissipated now that you have finished it?
Fatigue is amazing and you just have to rest and sleep as needed don't you? Thankfully it does not usually hit me until late afternoon or early evening but like you sleep/rest is essential and pacing oneself....you cannot do otherwise and you really get to know your body I think...
And I also know that exercise is the key- the oncologist had advised me to walk to eradicate fatigue and I know when I do something such as walking or heavier gardening feel great and need to do it more......I was weeding bent over for ages recently in very hot summer weather and although it worked up a sweat felt so good afterwards...the key to know this and do it more often. Is Herceptin alone causing you ongoing fatigue? Did you find radiotherapy caused fatigue?
All the best Margi
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12-29-2006, 05:49 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Margi,
When I was getting my chemo my blood counts dropped - both red and white cells. I was getting Procrit shots the day of chemo for the red blood cells and Neulasta the day after chemo for the white blood cells. I also had bone/joint pain with the Taxatere. When I was on the Taxatere I received Decadron (steroid) as a pre-med so I attribute a lot of my side effects to that. Chemo does have a cumulative effect but you will get through this.
__________________
Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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12-29-2006, 01:26 PM
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#4
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Guest
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Hi Kate
Thanks for your reply.....yes I think the cortico-steroids that you take pre and post Taxotere for the three days can cause a lot of the problems..as I had this spiking feeling in all orifaces and with joint pain felt Id go crazy if it lasted...but the spiking feeling disappeared after three days..the GP (local doctor) felt it may have been the steroids....I am hopeful it will become less...the consolation is that you hope you are being healed...dont you?..and you have obviously come along way and have similar treatment.
How have you found the Herceptin?...most people say its very tolerable after the chemo.
all the very best Margi
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12-29-2006, 07:18 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Margi,
In comparison to the other chemos that I had, I must say that Herceptin is a walk in the park. My counts (red) still drop and I still get Procrit shots about every other treatment. There is a thread here about sides effects of Herceptin that you might find interesting. It's entitled "Herceptin side effects real or perceived."
__________________
Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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12-30-2006, 03:17 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 77
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er/pr neg her2pos
they call it micromets, if it has gone from breast tissue to lymph node involvement.... at least that is my understanding.
Carol
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12-30-2006, 03:29 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 77
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P.s.
P.S. my understanding in terms of er/pr neg, that er/pr-postive is probably preferred since the use of Tamoxifen and other drugs are available since the tumor or tumors were estrogen fed... and those drugs block the hormones..Though now with the availability of herceptin for those of us who are er/pr neg and her2 pos. it may change the playing field and outcomes..
Carol
P.S. correct me if I'm wrong....
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12-30-2006, 05:04 PM
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#8
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Guest
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Hi Kate- can you please help me find the thread to the article on Herceptin side effects..real or perceived?...have gone though a few pages to find it..with no luck..is there a page number it is on? Thanks!! Margi
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12-30-2006, 05:08 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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http://www.her2support.org/vbulletin...ad.php?t=23696
Here is the thread on Herceptin side effects - real or perceived.
__________________
Kind regards
Becky
Found lump via BSE
Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45
1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side)
2 micromets to sentinel node
Stage 2A
left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg
lumpectomies 9/7/04
4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol
Used Leukine instead of Neulasta
35 rads on right side only
4/05 started Tamoxifen
Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to
trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations
Oophorectomy 8/05
Started Arimidex 9/05
Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06
Arimidex Only
Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia
NED 18 years!
Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"
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