 |
06-08-2007, 09:25 PM
|
#1
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
06-09-2007, 11:42 AM
|
#2
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: LAND OF YES!
w/home in Boca Raton, Florida
Orig from L.I., N.Y.
Ever hovering IN THE NOW...
Posts: 1,904
|
HERCEPTIN + 500 CCs SALINE
HI ALL! I've posted this before but it can't hurt to repeat it. As someone who's been a poster child for Herceptin (been on it since '98 and holding...) -- I was always on Herceptin w/500 cc's saline. I drink lots of water ev single day. 10 glasses+. Flush toxins. Hydrate. Good for skin that is dry, nourishing. Once a new pharmacist gave me 250 cc's. I looked at the bag as they went to hang it on my pole and questioned its' different size. They checked. 250 cc's is the standard recommended protocol. That day, after Vitamin H I felt immediately very light-headed, shaky, weird, super fatigued. So since then I demand, and they accomodate my habit, 500 cc's. Swear it helps!
WHAT IS FEC???????
Hope every one does well, gets their butt into stable territory and stays there. Hope I can keep on keeping on. Much love... ANDI
__________________
Andi BB
'95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive...
'98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!)
+ good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either...
Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...
|
|
|
|
|
06-09-2007, 06:09 PM
|
#3
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
|
I took in 6 rounds of TCH which I finished May 11th. Now I am on the 3 week schedule of heceptin. Being on herceptin is a BREEZE compared to the chemo. Whew!!! I will be on it until January 2008. I feel pretty good and excercise daily. I also started CoQ-10 as of today. I don't notice any noticeably side effects from the herceptin. I think the side effects I do have are residual from the chemo.
harrie
__________________
*** MARYANNE *** aka HARRIECANARIE
1993: right side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads
1999: left side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads, tamoxifen
2006:
BRCA 2 positive
Stage I, invasive DCIS (6mm x 5mm)
Grade: intermediate
sentinal node biopsy: neg
HER2/neu amplified 4.7
ER+/PR+
TOPO II neg
Oncotype dx 20
Bilat mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction
oophorectomy
2007:
6 cycles TCH (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin)
finished 1 yr herceptin 05/07
Arimidex, stopped after almost 1 yr
Femara
|
|
|
|
|
06-09-2007, 07:29 PM
|
#4
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Thornhill, Ontario
Canada
Posts: 2,320
|
What is FEC
Hi Andrea,
FEC is a commonly used chemo cocktail in Canada and other commonwealth countries - UK, Australia, New Zealand -
F - Flurouracil
E - Epirubicin (same family as Adriamycin, less toxic on the heart)
C - Cyclophosphamide
My onc. is one of the tops in Canada, involved in many clinical trials, publishes many research papers etc. - says he has used FEC for about 15 years - says it is the most aggressive chemo out there. Combined with the Taxotere, Herceptin, and Tamoxifen, he has given me a "well over 90% cure rate" as a prognosis.
Thanks for everyone for your suggestions. I am definitely going to ask my onc. about taking CoQ10, and what amount. He's not crazy about supplements, but that was during chemo. He may be more lenient now that I am on Herceptin.
caya
__________________
ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+
1.7 cm and 1.0 cm.
Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested)
MRM Dec.18/06
3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere
Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08
Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years
Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012
BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative
Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal
Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so.
Reclast infusion January 2012
Oopherectomy October 2013
15 Years NED!!
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:36 PM.
|
Hybrid Mode