Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?
Comments
-
Audrey, Sherrie... I'm also deciding about doing rads (which I've been told would be a benefit), and also left side. Here's a very interesting article I recently found and wanted to share. (If the link doesn't work, Google New York Times and search "Radiation" to bring it up.)
One of the new developments talked about (along with shorter rad time for some) is delivering tx's while on your tummy vs. back. I'm very interested to find out if either the local rad. onc I've talked to or UCLA (where I'm being treated, but cannot conveniently do daily rads due to distance) is doing this.
TNT... I also want to tell you how much your post regarding losing your son affected me. I am choked up and tearful just writing this. I honestly don't know how anyone forges ahead after such a devastating loss. My heart goes out to you. I'm also going to PM you. Deanna
0 -
Teena, I am looking at a wig on Headcovers.com ~ I think they have a VERY nice selection. I've got some hats from them too. My insurance doesn't pay for wigs. Why don't you query online Customer Service if they take insurance reimbursements? The other way to go depending on how your insurance works is to get the wig and then submit the receipt.
You have had more than your share of sorrow. My heart goes out to you. My husband passed away from brain cancer in 2000, and I still miss him every day. I am also determined to honor his journey by being courageous and by HAVING FUN every day.
Try not to forget that even if your breast cancer is aggressive, you have a GOOD prognosis, compared to the brain cancer. You can beat it off for quite a while. Even if I recur, I know I have quite some time!
Hugs ~ Anne
0 -
Hi Galz ~
Having a bit of a run today in the poop department. Should I try a little Immodium? Five trips today. I am blaming my accountant who delivered me a LOVELY dinner Friday and included a wonderful SALAD, which I snacked on most of yesterday. Too much salad? Or chemo SE? They were somewhat hard for the first week after my treatment, now much too soft and loose.
Anne
0 -
Hi Unique:
You may want to get a prescription for Lomotil. I was getting bad cramping but that went away with Benadryl. Maybe that would help you. Remember not to eat raw foods such as salads during the time you are Neutropenic. Hope you feel better soon.
Katie
0 -
Katie ~
OMG I forgot about the raw salads! Is that because they might be contaminated or because the food is too hard on the system? Guess I was thinking because this is a friend she wouldn't poison me.
0 -
It's probably not the salad, Unique, because diarrhea is one of the most common SEs of taxotere. I advise you to jump right on it with Immodium, and if that doesn't do it and you have painful cramping, call you onc and get lomotil. My first bout lasted 2 weeks with Immodium only, the second just a week with lomotil. The third and fourth were just a couple of days because I was even more aggressive with the lomotil.
0 -
Hi Lani,
Got a question here - I had some constipation the first week, and now we have the diarrhea. Is that the usual sequence? BTW, I haven't gone since around 5pm and feel okay now. Hmmm.
How are you doing?
0 -
Deanna,
Yes, I did read something about that method - I think it was someone on one of the boards who did this. She did it in NY. It's called the "proneboard method" I think. I am very interested in something other than the normal route b/c a lot of heart issues run in my family. One of my brothers had his first heart attack when he was in his late thirties. So I want to do everything I can to protect my heart. I am definitely going to ask my current radiologist about this. Have you looked into the mammosite option as well? My radiologist will do this method for me, but they are not pushing it b/c there is not as much data on the outcome as there is with the traditional method. I would love to get this over with in 10 days vs. six weeks.........but it scares me when your own doctor is really not recommending it.
Sherrie
0 -
Hi everyone -
I just started a new topic for those of us who want to share experiences with recovering from chemo and starting radiation.
Gina
0 -
Annie, thanks for the tip about Headcovers. They have good stuff at reasonable prices.
I just finished the mammosite radiation 3 weeks ago and it was over in 6 days - 1 day to put the device in and make sure it's placed correctly, and five days of treatment, twice daily. I worked while I did it, and it was entirely do-able. The device hanging out of your breast is uncomfortable, but not painful. And you have to have 11 CT scans - 1 before the first treatment, and one before each and every subsequent treatment for a total of 11. Even though there's not equivalent data compared to WBR, they do have limited 7 year data which shows that it is comparablly effective. The thing that finally convinced me is that it works from the INSIDE out, targeting the prime areas with the highest dose, rather than trying to get from the outside in. Just make sure whoever is doing it is VERY experienced and knows what they're doing. And I like the idea of pioneering something that may be a better option for women in the long run...
Happy Monday,
Teena
0 -
Unique, that is the typical sequence. Most people get constipated the first few days. And for some it turns rather abruptly into diarrhea. So go easy on the laxatives, because you will regret them if it changes to diarrhea. Stool softeners was enough for me. I had a touch of diarrhea this time but lomotil took care of it.
0 -
Monday kind of snuck up on me, but here's the schedule for the week below. All the best to MKR39 and SueG, who are starting treatment this week, and a rousing cheer to MariaG, Hood1980 and dlb, who are finishing up:
Schedule for Week of October 6th:
Monday, 10/6-Young79 (#5 of 6), hopefullady (#2 of 4), Sue508 (#2 of 4),
MKR39 (#1 of 4)
Tuesday, 10/7-MariaG (#4 of 4), Drea (#3 of 4)
Wednesday, 10/8-Hood1980 (#4 of 4), dlb (#4 of 4), SueG (#1 of 4)
Thursday, 10/9-LASHON (#4 of 6), rosemaryap (#3 of 4), Diane1214 (#2 of 4),
peeps1111 (#2 of 4)
Friday, 10/10-Nannie96 (#2 of 4), Kat70 (#2 of 4)
Please get back to me if I screwed up your dates or if there are changes I should know about. Have a good week ladies!!!!
0 -
Sandra,
Thanks for keeping up with us.....Congratulations to you all who are finishing! I see that there are several of us on tx 2.....good luck.....I am hoping for less se's and no hospital this time.....Praying for all of us...
Hugs,
Nannie
0 -
Yes, Sandra, THANK YOU for keeping the schedule so that we know who is up when! I always look forward to seeing it, and realizing that we are all moving along and getting through this process that seemed so daunting going into it!
And have a great time in Sedona! It's one of my favorite places, and, come to think of it, would be a great place to keep in mind for a possible TC board reunion someday. Not only is it amazingly beautiful, but there's a lot of healing energy there.
Sherrie... I have not looked into mammosite b'cuz my bc was multicentric (more than one tumor), so, unfortunately, I don't fit the guidelines for that type of rads. And thinking back when I had the first tumor removed (before we knew there was more going on), I think I was told it wasn't located deep enough to make me a candidate for mammosite. I got the idea if the tumor site is too close to the skin, there's a much greater risk of serious damage to your skin with the high dose. I think Teena's advice is excellent. Be sure you don't let someone attempt it that who isn't very experienced in it. Your doc's lack of enthusiasm would make me wonder about that in his case.
Prayers and positive thoughts to everyone here, and especially to those having tx's this week ~ Deanna
0 -
Has anyone had their hairloss just stop? If so, did the loss resume? About day 18 after my first treatment, I started to lose large amounts of hair. By day 21 I had lost about 35 - 40% and cut it to approx. 1/2 in long. I have been wearing a wig. Strangely enough, it is day 13 after my second treatment and I don't seem to have lost any more. Has anyone had this experience? Thanks,
Jennifer
0 -
Deanna,
Thanks for the appreciation, and I'm sorry I didn't get your handle quite right in the chart (dlb rather than dlb823. Good luck with your last treatment on Weds!
0 -
I called radiology at the Mayo Clinic today. They have the capability to do the face down radiation into the breast only. They do not feel this is any better and do most patients laying face up. She said that the face down way is not as accurate.
Anyone had any luck w/Blue Cross paying for wigs?
0 -
Iowagirl, I think if you get the doctor to write a prescription for the wig you can submit it to your insurance. I have Blue Cross, but I got my wig free through the American Cancer Society, so I didn't try it.
Chris
0 -
iowagirl - bluecross paid for my wig. It took a while and some phone calls. I had a Rx from the onco for a cranial prosthesis. I don't recall the limit but my wig was about $240.00 - synthetic. Good luck.
0 -
Chris ~
Say again? You got a free wig from ACS? I had a fitting scheduled but needed to cancel. I had no idea one might get a free wig. If so, I'm making another fitting appointment!!! Blue Cross said no payment for wigs. How did you get your free wig?
0 -
Samian, I lost about a quarter of my hair day 21. I haven't had any further hair loss but wear it clipped short. I am now day 8 post my 3rd treatment. I love not having to mess with my hair!!! I also have been one of the very lucky ones with very few other side effects other than fatique day 6,7,and 8 post treatment. God knows why we are each so differently affected.
0 -
Annie... Some of us have gotten free wigs at the ACS Look Good Feel Better classes. It doesn't seem to be a consistent benefit throughout the country -- just depends if they do it in your area. At the class here, they had a table of wigs to try on and we could keep one, which was a wonderful surprise. The selection was a bit limited -- just whatever's been donated to them -- but everyone in our class seemed to find one that looked nice.
After seeing Sandra's recent post re. how long it takes hair to grow back, I finally broke down and bought a really pretty Raquel Welch wig yesterday. My insurance company (Cigna) does not pay for wigs, but they have been so wonderful about paying tens of thousands of dollars for everything else, I can't fault them for that. It just took Sandra's post and my DH's urging to make me realize that investing in a really nice wig would improve my overall spirits, which it has. Deanna
0 -
Hi Deanna, Hope you have started drinking lots of water in preparation for your chemo tomorrow! I sure have! I feel like a bloated whale, not only from all the water I've been drinking but the 15 pounds I have put on! Looking forward to my final tx tomorrow and will be praying for you too! Hope all is well with everyone! God Bless!
0 -
Regarding getting your insurance to pay for wigs - I've been told you must always refer to it as a cranial prosthesis and determine your insurance coverage for a PROSTHESIS - do not say WIG, because they will not cover a WIG. Tell them you have a prescription from a physician for a cranial prosthesis and ask what your coverage allows and how much, and if there's any restriction on the type of prosthesis. From what I've been told, it's all about the language used to ensure it fits within the policy. Most insurance policies pay for a prosthesis I believe...it is NOT a wig!
I haven't tried this yet, but this is the advice I've been given for what it's worth...
0 -
Hi Everyone,
I start my first round of TC next Tuesday. I am keeping myself positive, and I am just going to try to be very strong. I am frightened, but I am excited to know that the sooner I start, the sooner I will be finished. We are still waiting on my Oncotype score. I am praying for a low number, and sort of believe that it will be low, just intuitively, so I hope I am right. Can anyone tell me how long they imagine I will be in the "chair" during the treatment? I was wondering about that. I counted the days...64, from start of treatment until the last treatment. I have my wigs lined up, along with hats and these weird sort of hair halos? Does anyone use hair halos for under hats? I am just trying to get ultra prepared. Let me know what I should go out and get before Tues. Thanks ladies, I hope to hear back from you. Also is this treatment the one that makes you gain or loose weight? Just wondering
Love,
Elizabeth
0 -
Elizabeth... TC and the pre-meds they give you usually takes about 2 hrs. to administer. However, the first time will take longer because they will go very slowly with each drug, to be sure you don't have an allergic reaction to any of them. I'd say allow 3.5 to 4 hrs., and it may go a bit quicker.
As far as being frightened, waiting is usually far worse than the tx itself. It's like any other fear you've ever faced. Once you do it, you feel kind of elated that you were able to dig deep, face your fears, and actually realize that you are very strong -- stronger than you even know at this point. And we'll all be here pulling for you. You're doing the right thing. Many of the saddest bc stories I've heard (and what convinced me to do it) are about women who did not do chemo for whatever reason. The really long term survivors who approached me when I was first diagnosed had all done chemo. I know it's very scary, but you have to look at it as putting up with a few weeks of discomfort for a lifetime of additional peace of mind.
Joyce... I PM'd you when I saw your post. Can you believe we've made it to #4?!?! Nine weeks ago, it seemed like tomorrow was just a dream. And, yes, the weight gain is very annoying. I thought chemo patients lost weight? Not that that's really preferable; I just didn't expect to gain!
Deanna
0 -
Annie (unique), I also got a free wig from the American Cancer Society. I didn't attend a LGFB class--I just dropped in at the local ACS office on the way home from my onco appt one day. I hadn't even lost my hair yet, but apparently I looked vulnerable and pathetic enough, so the ACS people felt sorry for me!
Two ladies escorted me into the "fitting room," where they brought out some breast forms and mast bras for me to try on. I really didn't like any of them (especially the iron-maiden bras they had), but they insisted that I take a breast form home with me. I think the prostheses had been donated by a local mast supply store.
They also brought out a whole box of wigs for me to try. They had a closet full of wigs, sorted into different colors; and they tried to match my hair color and style. They didn't have one that was a good match, but there was one they agreed looked "great" on me, and they urged me to take it so I did. They were trying so hard to help me, and I didn't want them to feel bad. (I got the feeling they didn't get very many customers.)
Anyway, I left there with one wig, which I found it in the ACS/TLC catalog later; one Amoena breast form; two very nice cotton scarves I wore a lot; a couple of caps; and 3 fiberfil puffies (comfies?) to use as temporary prostheses--all at no charge whatsoever. It was a wonderful experience, and it made me want to help them out when I can.
otter
0 -
Elizabeth--Well, I have a hair halo to wear under scarves and hats, and I'm not crazy about mine, as it is itchy, hot, and kind of cheezy looking, but it looks better than being bald under the hat. A better choice might be some of the nicer bangs they sell on-line. Yesterday I went for my first session with my personal trainer, and while I was doing sit up crunches on the floor mat, the dang scarf and halo fell off!! I was really embarrassed. The trainer was very cool about it, acting like this happened all the time, but I could imagine her telling her friends about it at the Happy Hour last night and everyone just cracking up.
With regard to the "cranial prosthesis:" my understanding is that it's worth getting the Rx for same even if your insurance doesn't cover it, because you can then legitimately deduct the cost of the "prosthesis" from your income tax. Just a thought. I had my Onco write me one.
Deanna--glad you bought yourself another, nicer wig. It will help you get through the rest of this (including the coming Holiday Season) Even though I finished on 8/28, I figure I still have another 3-4 months of looking weird and I was getting really tired of it. The Rachel Welch wigs are very nice. Good choice!
0 -
Deana first of all I wish that I could give you a big hug! Your comment to me made me tear up. Thank you for the support! I know that you are right about waiting for all of this. I am just afraid, but I know this is the right thing to do, and I have so much more life to live. I need to be here for a long time, and watch my children grow into wonderful beings. I will so whatever I need to do to insure that!
Sandra thank you for your help with the halo situation. I am very proud of you for your exercise program! I don't think that your trainer would ever dream of making fun of you. I am so sorry that you had to be humiliated that way. I will make a personal note not to do sit ups with the stupid halo on!
Thanks for your help!0 -
Thanks Bonnie Lee for the info about the hair loss. I'm hoping I can hang on to what is left. It is too patchy to go bare, but I do have a little sticking out of a hat! I too have had few other side effects ... just some achiness days 4-6. My 3rd treatment is next week and I certainly hope my luck holds out.
0
