Agnes17

Hi all:

I send my positive thoughts and energy. You all will get through chemo. I just finished my last treatment, thank God. I do recomend that you look at the list of stuff to help you get through chemo and pick them up beforehand. Things I learned are: 1) don't get constipated it makes the nausea much worse and all of the antinausea medications cause constipation. I first tried colace and dulcolax but found that Sennakot 2 tablets in the morning and 2 tablets in the evening at bedtime keep me more regular. I got aloxi pre chemo, emend for 3 days and steroids and still had a problem with nausea (But I was also someone with morning sickness for the whole ninth months so this may not happen to you). I learned to take compazine 4 times a day for about 5 days after the chemo. 2) I also occasionally had to take Zofran (which is similar to the IV Aloxi which is suppose to last for five days). 3) Stay hydrated- jello, chicken soup, hot tea anything but make sure you drink every couple of hours. 4) Put tree tea oil on your fingernails and toes at least once a day (you can buy it in Whole Foods or the Body Shop) - 5) put rewetting eyedrops in your eyes twice a day (I used the renew brand), 6) call your oncologist or triage nurse with symptoms- you can get real sick real fast by ignoring something. 7) use a clean towel and washcloth every day when you shower. I actually went out and brought 7 new towels and a bunch of new wash clothes. 8) try to walk every day even when you don't feel like it- it helps with the fatigue. 9) rinse your mouth out frequently (atleast 5 x a day) with a mixture of 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp baking soda in a cup of water. Take care Agnes

Hi Chili, Kerry, Sue and Alicia:

I feel the same way -overwhelmed, depressed, just wanting this whole nightmare over. My thickening in my brest was found June 6 and it has been a wild rollar coaster ride since.I was dx in July with invasive lobular cancer, I had bilateral mastectomies with reconstruction July 23, developed a post-op wound that still isn't completely healed and started chemo August 27. I had a minor reaction first chemo with taxotere and a major hypersensitivty reaction from taxotere with my second chemo 3 weeks ago. I am due for my third chemo this Wednesday and I just don't want to go. The oncologist is changing my taxotere/cytoxedn to adriamycin/cytoxen. So a new drug with new side effects to get use to. After my first chemo I was very sick for about 9 days. Getting the chemo I feel like I am a widget on the medical assembly line. Agnes

Hi

I had chills during my first taxotere treatment then had a hypersensitivity reaction during the second treatment(abdomen pain, chest tightness, coughing, shortness of breath and turned beet red), I needed emergency treatment with albuterol, IV steroids, and IV benadry. I due to get my 3rd tx next week and the oncologist was going to give me an allergy prep prior to the taxotere. he called me yesterday and I went in to see him. he discussed my case at a conference with other oncologist and they came to a consenus that I was at risk of a serious anaphylactic reaction if I get taxotere again so they are changing me to adriamycin with cytoxen instead of taxotere with cytoxen. for my last 2 treatments.

Hi Amann:

I asked about Abraxane and my oncologist said he wasn't comfortable using it until he had more data on the side effects. So we are going try taxotere for # 3. They are going to give me an allergy prep first with 50 mg IV benadryl, 100 mg IV Solu Cortef  ( a steroid) amd IV Tagemet before givng me the taxotere to see if they can prevent another hypersensitivity reaction. It should be interesting.

Agnes

Hi all:

I am day 3 post chemo not feeling great but more on top of things than during my first chemo. The oncologist started me on diflucon before I get sick with a yeast infection ( I have had lots of problems with yeast infection prior to my cancer because of steroid use with my asthma so he thinks it is a good idea to pretreat me.) I am taking compazine around the clock. I did have aloxi pre chemo and the emend for 3 days. I am also trying to keep from getting constipated by taking 2 sennakot twice a day. I think I was so constipated on day five last time that was why I threw up. I am putting tree tea oil on my fingernails and toe nails and so far they look good. I am also eating jello with extra Knox gelatin in it for nail strength. I have learned that I do better trying to prevent the side effects but I do feel like a walking pill cabinet. Agnes

Hi Lani:Thanks for your kind words. I had my second TC chemo today and after receiving 21 cc taxotere I had a hypersensitivity reaction in which I turned bright red has shortness-of breath and some chest tighness. I do have allergies and asthma. I have to admit the nurses were fantastic. I called over one nurse who was just walking by she immediate assessed the situation and said in a calm but loud voice that she need help over here now Five nurses and my oncologist came over and worked as a high performing team to reverse the reaction by stopping the drug and giving me IV bendryl and IV steroids and IV fluids. The funny moment came when the reaction was gone, the taxotere was off and I asked my oncologist what was his plan -he told me he was going to take some Malox and a Valium and he would get back to me. He was kidding but it did lighten things up.They were able to challenge me at a slower rate and I was able to finish my treatment. Next time they will premedicate me with IV steroid and benadryl.I did take decadron as prescribe prior. Agnes

Hi Girls:

Chemo # 2 is this Wednesday. I am not looking forward to it. In the past 2 weeks I finally felt well in the last 2 days and here I go again.

Hi all:

I have a real problem with thrush in my mouth and throat and GI tract than I developed a yeast infection around a still healing mastectomy/reconstuction wound after my first chemo. It was treated first with nystatin swish and swallow then after I got sicker with diflucon 100 mg by mouth for seven days. I have asthma which unfortunatley was triggered by the yeast and also contributes to me having the problem since I was a long term steroid user. Before cancer I would keep my yeast problem in check by taking a probiotic every day.I was taking Jarro-Dophilus+FOS which has 12 billion friendly bacteria including L acidophilus, L rhamnosus, L casei, Lplantarum, B longum, B Breve. I been kind of afaid to take it since I don't want to get a bacteria sepsis from friendly bacteria. Has other people taken probiotics? Any infection problems?Any thoughts or information you run across?

Take Care

Agnes

Hi Lana

I am finally feeling better 10 days after my first cycle with taxotere and cytoxen. I did have compazine and ativan for breakthrough nausea and got Aloxi pre chemo and 3 days of Emend. But I still had problems with nausea from day 3 to day 5 and when the Aloxi wore off on day 5 with vomiting. (I was someone who had nausea and vomitng all through my 3 pregnancies and get nauseated when sick so I guess I am just prone to it. Then on Tuesday I got thrush in my mouth and had serious trouble swallowing and felt like I was getting the flu. First I was placed on nystain swish and swallow than yesterday Diflucon was added after I developed yeast around my mastectomy wound. Well thank God that today I am finally feeling better. Agnes

Hi all:

I just finished my first cytoxen/taxotere treatment last Wednesday and got the neulasta rescue injection on Thursday. My biggest problem days were Saturday through Monday (a wonderful Labor Day Weekend). I actually started feeling sorry for myself. But than cancer does suck. Nausea, and bone pain were my two big problems. I think the Aloxi wore off on Monday(day 5) and I had a couple of episodes of vomitting.One of my biggest problems was a got very constipated so I sure will be more proactive the next time around. I think the constipation was what made me so nauseated on Monday. Tuesday I came down with trush and my mouth tastes horrible. I am now on Nystatin swish and swallow and I have been doing the salt and HCO3 rinses and using biotene mouthwash. I do feel like my life is on hold and I am not in control of what is happening right now. It's been a long summer. Lump was found June 8, biopsy June 23, Double mastectomy with reconstruction and lymp node bx and port placed July 23. Post op wound that is still not entirely healed and now 3 months of chemo. I am usually a glass half full person but this feels like a mack truck hit me. Agnes