About to start chemo - taxol and herceptin

Thanks for the feedback. So are you using cold cap for 3 hours? Any tips for getting through this bit? I know it's just the cold - but I've seen lots written about severe headaches etc. 

thanks, Anne

Thanks. We sound similar - and yes HER2+, hormone + so I'm also on the tabs after all the treatment. 

Where are you doing cold cap treatment? I'm going NCI. Someone said only a couple of places offer it. 

I start 30 Dec - so it sounds like I might be a week or so ahead of you. 

Anne

Thanks for the advice 

Thanks for the advice. I am lucky I don't have to go red devil - I feel very aware of that.  And yes, I'll be back on here if any issues or I start to go a bit crazy! Thanks

Hi Anne

I had my chemo and Herceptin at Macquarie Uni Hospital using cold cap. I don't think there is difference between public or private except that there's waiting time and maybe less confirm able at public compared to private. At the moment there're are only 2 private hospitals offering the cold cap, non in public hospitals in Sydney. 

Cold cap cap works a little but in the end I still used scarf because I still lost patches of hair.

Rosemary

Hi

Im about to start the exact same thing as yourself. The oncologist explained to me that its only in small tumours, with no node involvement and HER2 positive that this type of treatment is given. He said only 20% of BC diagnosis is HER2 positive and then when you add the Stage 1 type tumour the % is even lower, hence why there is not much around re information etc.

He assured me that the symptoms are "milder" with the common ones being feeling achy, runny nose and the one they worry about is tingling/numbness in fingers/legs. There is also not much risk to your red/white blood cells in this regime. He said to me its still "chemo" but the mildest kind i can give you for your situation and for maximum effectiveness.

The Herceptin will continue for another 9 months after the chemo is finished. In my case where im hormone positive too, i will then start on the tablets as well.

Im going cold cap for my treatment too, ive chosen private as thats where i can access the cold caps and also where my oncologist practices. My doctor also mentioned that he has had good success with cold caps with the taxol chemo.

Ive attached the study he referred me to that shows the effectiveness of this kind of treatment

http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/herceptin-plus-taxol-reduces-recurrence

Best of luck with it, i start in early January, will keep you posted of any symptoms etc

I also never went cold cap in the beginning it's all about the hair toward halfway it grows back if anything I'd try Latisse spelling for eyebrows lashes very expensive avail in states but no guarantees xxx 

Hey Anne I think a lot of us had AC red devil prior to taxol I'm on my 6 th taxol round now after 3 months of the red devil I don't think any of us can predict for anyone else how our bodies do it nor our minds I've found the taxol a lot easier than the red bastard excuse my French but chemo is still hard I find the taxol does more bone pain but remember it's different for everyone on taxol my hair is starting to grow be aware of the steroids drink heaps of water I mean heaps I do with lemon and when it gets mental jump on here the best thing u can do is share with all of us nutbags we get it xxx and no I went private with surgeon I'm public with chemo just remember it's yr body u will know what u can and can't do my onco public well in the beginning not good be strong say what u think my love xxx 

Hi Annebirdy, im having Taxol but after I finish my AC chemo which I started last week and now doing every fortnight...  Im getting my chemo in a private hospital but opted against using the cold cap as I really could not be bothered with it.

Good luck xx