So the chemo/targeted therapy I'll be receiving this time is TCH (Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin)
It is one of the standards of care for Hormone Receptor Negative, HER2 + tumors.
It also allows me to avoid additional Adriamycin. That evil red devil has a lifetime maximum dosage due to irreversible heart damage. Several of the drugs in my regimen can also cause heart issues but thankfully they are reversible. Because of that I once again had a MUGA heart scan prior to starting treatment and will have those repeated every 3 months. If numbers decline too much, treatment will be delayed so that heart can improve. I've read a lot about the issues and as such have increased my CoQ10 (which I've been taking since mom's open heart surgery).
First round of chemo took a little longer than I had hoped but that was partly due to some issues with my Medi-Port. My nurse's educated guess was probably residual scar tissue from my previous chemo. The solution was easy enough I was placed on a pump and the only inconvenience was unplugging it every time I needed to use the washroom. Thankfully Chemo Buddy Lorrie is excellent at plug work.
I really noticed next to nothing with the Taxotere and Carboplatin (the two chemo drugs). When it came time to push the Herceptin (the targeted monoclonal antibody) the first infusion is slowed down (much like my initial Rituxan) I noticed some muscle aches and flushed a little bit.
The best news from this go at Chemo is the biomedical engineering advancement with Neulasta. Thank goodness my insurance is covering the Neulasta OnPro which is a medial device that will give me the Neulasta infusion in the comfort of my own home. So far it seems to be working as advertised. A little green light lets me know the connection is still good. (I had it placed on belly because I'm a side sleeper and back of arm was other option)www.nuelasta.com
Side effects are seeming pretty good today. Although being an advanced patient, I've been using lots of lessons learned before. I started the Zofran 12 hours post pre-meds. I still woke around 2 am feeling nauseous so I supplemented with the Compazine. Better safe than sorry I think for the next few days. The good news is I haven't noticed the headache I had with the Zofran last time.
Goal for today. Lots of hydration, fiber and rest and relaxation.
No comments:
Post a Comment