Had a right mastectomy and LD reconstruction on 8th Sept and currently am feeling great. All cancer removed and no metastases in any of the lymph glands. Managed to walk 8mls in two hours and all other household jobs back to normal and working part-time from home and in the office. Have been advised to start treatment on 31st October. Six sessons of chemo and herceptin together then 12 more sessions of herceptin. I cannot see where anyone has had all the treatment together and I am worried having seen info on the side effects of just the herceptin. Janet
I would not worry too much about Herceptin as they monitor your heart regularly all the way through and most women only get symptoms like a runny nose or sometimes feeling a bit fluey for a few hours. I was lucky enough to have most of mines done at home every 3 weeks as my cancer centre used a private company for this. I had nothing to mention in the way of side effects and I just got on with the day after the nurse had been.
I had a lot of joint pains and fatigue on Taxotere which is quite common. Once again don’t worry too much as the people treating you know how to deal with all the side effects you might have. Just make sure to tell them everything and don’t be afraid to ring them if you need advice.
Cherub
Thanks for that. I too am having the treatment at home after the first two chemo so will just keep walking and getting on with life. Did you have your treatment long ago? Glad you are still so positive about it all and hope life is now treating you good. Your words have given me some additional strength to start on the 31st. Thanks again.
Hi Janet,
I havent come across these 3 drugs being given in combination but I found an interesting snippet from the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology which you might be interested in. It said:
“Previous studies suggest a synergy between Taxotere®, carboplatin and traztuzumab. The findings of this study confirm that the TCH combination resulted in a response rate among the highest yet achieved for Her 2 Neu positive metastatic breast cancer.”
(trastuzumab=herceptin)
It has also been found that Tax & herceptin together are particularly effective. So it sounds like you are getting very good treatment in that combi. I have had tax and carbo separately in the past, and am now on permanent herceptin. I don’t notice any side effects from the herceptin. I also think I am right in saying that Taxotere is not one of the anthracycline drugs that carries a risk of heart problems. They will probably be monitoring your heart with a MUGA or echo scan during treatment because that is required when patients are on herceptin. Hope all goes well.
Dawn
Hi Dawn,
Thank you for the extract which gave me a boost when I read it so even more positive before I start treatment on 31st. I had a portocath fitted yesterday under a general ready to receive the treatment over the coming year - terrified of needles - so with that and kiddie cream to stop the sensation when the needle goes into the portocath I am hoping to be ok. Had my first echo last week.
I see you said you were on herceptin permanently - brave lady. Thanks again for the info.
Janet
Hi Janet, best of luck with your treatments, it sounds like a good combo for you. I had 4 FEC then 4 Tax, did struggle with the latter but so what, it’s all in a good cause.
I would like to ask about the portocath if I may. I am due to be fitted on the 4th, because my veins are shot from last years chemo’s, wondered what it’s like??? no problems putting it on, other then GA of course?
Thanks and best of luck on your treatments!
Nikki
Hi Jantharra,
Had the portocath fitted last Thursday (25mins plus trying to wake me up!) just above left boob - still under the dressing but still feels ok. Was surprised to wake up with a dressing on my kneck but told that was an insertion to connect to the vein. However was home by 5pm and managed washing, ironing and an afternoon of baking on Friday so not too bad at all. Will let you know how it actually works after the 31st. I am aiming to go back to work on 12th Nov so fingers crossed. Good luck with any further treatment you are having. Janet
Hi Jantharra
Had the first bloods taken via the Portocath on 30th and it was really ok. Didnt feel a thing. Had 90min of Herceptin on 31st and same thing - easy to put in and take out and heals almost instantly. Unfortunately there was a major mixup with my treatment and they didnt give me the chemo so that is now not going to happen until 21st Nov. Good luck with your portocath.
Janet
Hi Janet
I completed 8 cycles of TCH at the end of August and am now continuing with Herceptin for maintenance. As Dawnhc mentions, evidence suggests improved success rates when Herceptin is added to a chemo combo. This is a fairly new regime for the UK, although it has been used in the US for almost two years now. I have liver & lung mets and this combo gave me reductions of 50-80% im tumour size.
They administer Herceptin separately when you start this regime so that if you have an allergic reaction to it they can identify it easier than when all three are administered together. I had Taxotere & Carboplatin on the first cycle and Herceptin added on the 2nd cycle. To be honest, I don’t notice any major effects with the Herceptin. I used to have a few sniffles for a few days initially, but that vanished ages ago once I got used to it.
I don’t have experience of other chemo regimes for comparison but am told I tolerated it well considering it is a tough regime. I started to feel tired approaching the 4th cycle, when I started to become anaemic, and I was thoroughly pooped by the 8th. Had it stopped at 6 I think it would have been just about bearable, but by the 8th I was cranky and miserable. Worst symptoms for me were constipation, nausea (first few cycles were the worst), fluid retention (cycle 4 onwards). Irritating symptoms were squiffy taste buds, heightened sense of smell and chemo brain! I was admitted to hospital on 8th day of my 1st cycle with neutropaenic sepsis (was warned it happens to 15% of patients) but had GCSF jabs thereafter to stop it happening again. I still have my nails (albeit painted throughout), didn’t get mouth ulcers, didn’t have dry skin, no joint pain. Usually felt progressively better from day 10 onwards. I’m sure there are symptoms I had which I’ve forgotten about as they were just little observations you make during chemo.
As I’m sure you’ve heard people say, chemo is do-able - horrible, but do-able! I think we learn how to manage our symptoms better as each cycle progresses. Everyone is different and unfortunately, until you’ve had your 1st cycle you don’t know how it affects you personally. I bought loads of stuff in preparation for chemo based on other people’s experiences but actually it didn’t apply to me. The most important item I bought was a thermometer (plus one for handbag). You will get loads of support and advice here to help you through it and it is the best feeling when you pass the halfway stage and can see the home run!
lots of luck!
x
Hi Janet, I got mine put in yesterday, I also wasn’t expecting the cut on the neck as well as the collarbone, but hey, battle scars are nothing to be ashamed of!!
Sorry to hear they messed up your treatments, hope that it all goes much more smoothly on the 21st. Also thanks for reassurance that the bloods / inputs are ok, I am sure it will be sore on Thursday when I have my first, but only because of the bruising, will get easier no doubt. Can’t be any worse than my last chemo last year which took 5 stabs to get a vien that’s for sure!
Good luck Janet
Nikki
Hi Ripley
Thanks for the encouragement. It is quite hard to find people who have had this combination. As I only - I say "only "- have to endure 6 sessions of the chemo and not 8 it might be ok. In many ways starting on 21st Nov could be a blessing as I will only have had two sessions by 12th Dec. I had already booked and paid for a holiday from 18th Dec and my Oncologist has encouraged me to go so I MUST be well enough. They are dosing me up to stop me catching anything on the plane and giving me antibiotics just in case to take with me. Cant wait. Bad news is probably my hair will fall out on the plane and scare everyone - good way to get an upgrade!
Anyway I went back to work full time yesterday so we will see what the 20/21st brings. Hope you continue ok with the Herceptin. Thanks again Janet
Hi to all the portacath ladies
Mine was fitted just above my left breast sort of into the chest, i’m told it was fitted into the central vein. It’s no problem when I have chemo, it doesn’t hurt, I’m told to breath in and out again and as you breath out they plunge it in.
I’m interested to read that you had it fitted with a GA as mine was fitted under a local and I’m told it will be a local when they take it out also.
Do you ladies find it uncomfortable to lay on?
Sorry, i’ve sort of hijacked the thread
xx
Hi peacock
GA as too much of a chicken for Local. My type of portocath is completely under the skin and does not show at all - I know some have tubes coming out. As a result you cannot see it or feel it so very ok to lay on.
Hope your chemo is going well.
Janet
I have had taxotere and Herceptin for the last 2 sessions. Was supposed to get it for 3 sessions a mix up. Noticed no more side effects with Herceptin. Other than falling asleep with last amount of Piriton they give you with Herceptin. No bad thing. Had Herceptin first yesterday so asleep a lot of time while taxotere being administered.
As said previously I did research on American site and found the recommendation that it increases effectiveness. So decided to ask for it. No objections raised. Cannot understand why they are not doing it routinely over here if that it is the case.
Good luck!
Hi Ripley
Had my second Herceptin last Thursday and my first Chemo on Friday. No nausea or sickness what so ever. Felt great until Monday night when every joint and muscle in my body hurt but paracetamol saved the day. Managed to spend many visits to the loo from 10pm on Wednesday for 24hrs as no one had given me any tablets but worked through that too. Have been to work all week and dont feel too bad. One down and five to go. Thanks for your positive thoughts - it did help me to approach it all in a positive way. Hope things are still ok with you. Janet