Taxol with herceptin

svitola
svitola Member Posts: 15
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi Everyone, I am new in this board. My mom was diagnosed on July 27th with Breast Cancer Stage 3C. She had her first chemo (Taxol 80 mg/m2 with Herceptin) last Tuesday and will be on for 12 weeks. Can you give me some advice on:
1. Side effects of Taxol/herceptin
2. What to expect
3. Best way to help her

Should she continue with her normal life (going to church, driving around, going to the gym?)
Any other advice...

Thank you everyone!

Comments

  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #2
    Hi svitola. I didn't have
    Hi svitola. I didn't have chemo so I am not much help to you. But, I did want to say hi to you and to your Mom. I am sure another bc survivor who has been thru chemo will post for you.

    ♥ Kylez ♥
  • meena1
    meena1 Member Posts: 1,003
    #3
    I was on taxol/herceptin for
    I was on taxol/herceptin for 12 weeks also. First of all, read what you can about breast cancer, her oncologist should have something to give her. The side effects are loss of hair, tired, loss of appetite. However, everyone is different, I was constipated, so i had to take a stool softener, (her doc will let her know). I preferred to eat soft food, like applesauce, oatmeal with fruit, scrambled eggs with toast, popsicles. VERY IMPORTANT--drink lots of water!. I also drank green tea and peppermint tea. I had alot of indigestion, so my dr prescribed something for me. Also, there are certain over the counter drugs, I think it is advil, and supplements that you cannot take on these drugs..No soda or alcohol..(even mouthwash). Sometimes you may get mouthsores (I did), doctor prescribed magic mouth wash, My oncology nurses were wonderful, they helped me with everything, so ask them questions.
    As long as she feels well, she can continue her normal life, stay away from sick people, especially children. I stayed out of crowded places, like the mall, and I went to stores during non busy hours. My blood count was low, and i was anal
    Also, she will lose her hair, it can be traumatic for alot of woman. My daughter is 19 and sobbed when I lost mine, she said it made me look sick. It was tough being bald. But on a good note, I completed my 12 weeks last October, and I feel really well. I did not have any major problems. SHE NEEDS TO LISTEN to her body, if she needs rest, she must rest. TAKE WALKS, I have read that this helps breast cancer patients, helped me. Take care, and I wish your mother the best of luck on this journey. This combination of drugs is wonderful, and Herceptin is truly a miracle drug. Hope this helped.
  • redbobb
    redbobb Member Posts: 8
    #4
    Hello...welcome to the
    Hello...welcome to the board. I just joined yesterday! I too am stage III C. I was diagnosed on March 13, 2009.
    I just finished my 12 weeks of Taxol/Herceptin. Honestly...it wasn't near as bad as I thought it would be. I never got sick. My stomach would get upset after my chemo treatment...but we figured out it was more of the foods that I eat during treatment...not the chemo. I ate during my treatment and made sure to drink lots of water...before and after. I never lost my appetite.
    We would drive our 4 hours to Houston on Thursday mornings and come back that night. Felt just fine after. I went to work the next day. I never really stopped what I was doing before. Just went a little more Organic than I was before and only have a glass of wine everyone now and then. Doctor said it was fine!!!
    I did experience some numbing in the toes and told the Dr. right away. Just keep a good journal of your side effects and tell the Dr. about every one....everytime. There are plenty of good medicines to help with side effects.

    Of course, you will probably lose your hair. I had really thick hair and it started coming out about 2 weeks after treatment. It took a couple more weeks to finally get too thin for me. I shaved it and had a party with girls friends and wine and cheese!! I head did hurt alot when the hair come it...I have a friend that said her head never hurt. I got cotton beenies and slept with them on. That helps.

    For the mouth sores....I swish with an 8 oz glass of water and 1 tsp of baking soda every morning. That seems to have helped keep the sores away.
    Keep walking and just keep doing what you do...if you feel tired...lie down.

    The best way to help is to offer to do those not so fun things that we have to do. Cook meals and clean and shop. I would get tired often...and these things really helped.

    I hope this helped...All I can tell you is what I went through...everybody reacts so totally different. Good luck and keep us posted!!
  • svitola
    svitola Member Posts: 15
    #5
    redbobb said:

    Hello...welcome to the
    Hello...welcome to the board. I just joined yesterday! I too am stage III C. I was diagnosed on March 13, 2009.
    I just finished my 12 weeks of Taxol/Herceptin. Honestly...it wasn't near as bad as I thought it would be. I never got sick. My stomach would get upset after my chemo treatment...but we figured out it was more of the foods that I eat during treatment...not the chemo. I ate during my treatment and made sure to drink lots of water...before and after. I never lost my appetite.
    We would drive our 4 hours to Houston on Thursday mornings and come back that night. Felt just fine after. I went to work the next day. I never really stopped what I was doing before. Just went a little more Organic than I was before and only have a glass of wine everyone now and then. Doctor said it was fine!!!
    I did experience some numbing in the toes and told the Dr. right away. Just keep a good journal of your side effects and tell the Dr. about every one....everytime. There are plenty of good medicines to help with side effects.

    Of course, you will probably lose your hair. I had really thick hair and it started coming out about 2 weeks after treatment. It took a couple more weeks to finally get too thin for me. I shaved it and had a party with girls friends and wine and cheese!! I head did hurt alot when the hair come it...I have a friend that said her head never hurt. I got cotton beenies and slept with them on. That helps.

    For the mouth sores....I swish with an 8 oz glass of water and 1 tsp of baking soda every morning. That seems to have helped keep the sores away.
    Keep walking and just keep doing what you do...if you feel tired...lie down.

    The best way to help is to offer to do those not so fun things that we have to do. Cook meals and clean and shop. I would get tired often...and these things really helped.

    I hope this helped...All I can tell you is what I went through...everybody reacts so totally different. Good luck and keep us posted!!

    Thanks everyone for the
    Thanks everyone for the advice! I will keep you posted, so far she has been with no side effects besides constipation. Hair has not fallen yet! Baking soda seems to be working great since no sores!!!!! Everyone tells her that she will feel bad after 4th treatment so, she is worried since nest Tuesday will be the fourth. I will keep praying!
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #6
    svitola said:

    Thanks everyone for the
    Thanks everyone for the advice! I will keep you posted, so far she has been with no side effects besides constipation. Hair has not fallen yet! Baking soda seems to be working great since no sores!!!!! Everyone tells her that she will feel bad after 4th treatment so, she is worried since nest Tuesday will be the fourth. I will keep praying!

    You are a wonderful and thoughtful daughter
    The input and suggestions on this thread is great advise. My only add on would be to continue letting your mom how important she is too you, and beautiful she looks .. bald and all.

    If mom has not picked up a few hats or scarves, maybe you can purchase a few and have a hat party at home -- play dress up - just like when you we a young girl. You both can practice with scraves bows etc on each other . Something fun .. and memorable for the two of you.


    VickiSam
  • tgf
    tgf Member Posts: 950 Member
    #7
    VickiSam said:

    You are a wonderful and thoughtful daughter
    The input and suggestions on this thread is great advise. My only add on would be to continue letting your mom how important she is too you, and beautiful she looks .. bald and all.

    If mom has not picked up a few hats or scarves, maybe you can purchase a few and have a hat party at home -- play dress up - just like when you we a young girl. You both can practice with scraves bows etc on each other . Something fun .. and memorable for the two of you.


    VickiSam

    taxol/herceptin
    I completed 12 weeks of taxol/herceptin and had few side-effects. I'd been told my hair would thin ... and it did ... but not a hair here and a hair there. On day 15 after my first treatment I ran my hand through my hair and ended up with a handful of hair. It was coming out in hunks. One day it was fine ... the next day it was coming out. I called a friend and told her I was on my way over to have her shave it all off. Luckily I'd bought a cute little denim "bucket" hat which covered up old baldy. As others have said ... constipation is a real side effect but stool softeners are a blessing. I also developed a rash on my back and my bald head itched ... and the tops of my hands broke out in some red itchy/burning rash. A dermatologist gave me stuff to help all of that. I had absolutely no nausea. I continued working full-time during the entire 12 weeks.

    I don't know if your mom's oncologist has told her or not ... but herceptin is usually continued beyond the 12 treatments ... every 3 weeks for a year and I'm having no side effects from that.

    I've been very lucky as far as side effects ... and I hope your mother is as lucky.

    hugs.
    teena
  • svitola
    svitola Member Posts: 15
    #8
    tgf said:

    taxol/herceptin
    I completed 12 weeks of taxol/herceptin and had few side-effects. I'd been told my hair would thin ... and it did ... but not a hair here and a hair there. On day 15 after my first treatment I ran my hand through my hair and ended up with a handful of hair. It was coming out in hunks. One day it was fine ... the next day it was coming out. I called a friend and told her I was on my way over to have her shave it all off. Luckily I'd bought a cute little denim "bucket" hat which covered up old baldy. As others have said ... constipation is a real side effect but stool softeners are a blessing. I also developed a rash on my back and my bald head itched ... and the tops of my hands broke out in some red itchy/burning rash. A dermatologist gave me stuff to help all of that. I had absolutely no nausea. I continued working full-time during the entire 12 weeks.

    I don't know if your mom's oncologist has told her or not ... but herceptin is usually continued beyond the 12 treatments ... every 3 weeks for a year and I'm having no side effects from that.

    I've been very lucky as far as side effects ... and I hope your mother is as lucky.

    hugs.
    teena

    Thank you
    My mom will have her 10th chemotherapy tomorrow! So far she is feeling great, no nausea at all! During week 13 she will switch to FEC75 Protocol. Thank you all for your advice!
  • devdobson
    devdobson Member Posts: 1
    #9
    meena1 said:

    I was on taxol/herceptin for
    I was on taxol/herceptin for 12 weeks also. First of all, read what you can about breast cancer, her oncologist should have something to give her. The side effects are loss of hair, tired, loss of appetite. However, everyone is different, I was constipated, so i had to take a stool softener, (her doc will let her know). I preferred to eat soft food, like applesauce, oatmeal with fruit, scrambled eggs with toast, popsicles. VERY IMPORTANT--drink lots of water!. I also drank green tea and peppermint tea. I had alot of indigestion, so my dr prescribed something for me. Also, there are certain over the counter drugs, I think it is advil, and supplements that you cannot take on these drugs..No soda or alcohol..(even mouthwash). Sometimes you may get mouthsores (I did), doctor prescribed magic mouth wash, My oncology nurses were wonderful, they helped me with everything, so ask them questions.
    As long as she feels well, she can continue her normal life, stay away from sick people, especially children. I stayed out of crowded places, like the mall, and I went to stores during non busy hours. My blood count was low, and i was anal
    Also, she will lose her hair, it can be traumatic for alot of woman. My daughter is 19 and sobbed when I lost mine, she said it made me look sick. It was tough being bald. But on a good note, I completed my 12 weeks last October, and I feel really well. I did not have any major problems. SHE NEEDS TO LISTEN to her body, if she needs rest, she must rest. TAKE WALKS, I have read that this helps breast cancer patients, helped me. Take care, and I wish your mother the best of luck on this journey. This combination of drugs is wonderful, and Herceptin is truly a miracle drug. Hope this helped.

    Starting Taxol/Herceptin This Week
    Thanks for posting this information on how your therapy has gone. I had a bi-lateral mastectomy in Mar 2008, but was diagnosed with an aggressive recurrence just last week. I'm scared as all get out but ready to fight the good fight. Thanks again to all of you for sharing.
  • custom
    custom Member Posts: 7
    #10
    devdobson said:

    Starting Taxol/Herceptin This Week
    Thanks for posting this information on how your therapy has gone. I had a bi-lateral mastectomy in Mar 2008, but was diagnosed with an aggressive recurrence just last week. I'm scared as all get out but ready to fight the good fight. Thanks again to all of you for sharing.

    stopping herceptin early
    was your original tumor large? Did you have mastectomy or lumpectomy? Have you ever had herceptin. I have Her2 also. On herceptin now. My tumor was 5cm before chemo and 3cm at surgery.

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