Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?
Comments
-
Deanna I am sure you will make the right decision. Just like you did with Chemo. I know it's tuff to decide, but go with your heart. I am praying for you to have confirmation on your decision.
Audrey
0 -
Hi ladies, it's been sooo long since I posted here. I just want to say hello and tell you all that there is beautiful life after chemo. I finished my 4th TC in April 2008, my hair is back and I lost most of the extra pounds (except 1 or 2 around the waist - because of chemopause
). Life is good. So if you ever feel that the treatments seem to take forever, please know that it will be over soon and you'll be back in the game.God bless you all, and may your days be merry and bright!
Aurora
0 -
Aurora, thank you so much for posting. I am at that point where I could really use an encouraging word. Glad you are doing so well.
Mary, my TC infusions take about 2 hours. The first one was maybe a bit longer because they start things off slowly in order to watch for reactions, etc. But, after the first one, it's blood work, then a visit with either the nurse practitioner or the oncologist, and then the 2 hour infusion. That's if everything goes well.
Chris
0 -
Annie, I asked for a taper after tx 2 because I had such a total crash after stopping the steroids. It really helped a lot. I had 2 mg twice a day the day after (with decadron in the infusion of day 1), then 2 mg in the morning for the next 3 days, then a half pill (1 mg) the next 3 days. Much much better. People seem to vary quite a bit in their response to decadron, but the taper sure helped me and a few other people on this thread.
Pinky, good to hear from you and glad to hear you're doing well. --Lani
0 -
sama710: I am also doing 6 cycles of TC. If you go back about 4-5 pages, there is a thread about 4 versus 6. To sum it up: they don't know....the data is with 4, but there will soon be data with 6, but not a comparison of 4 versus 6. The oncs just look at the risk vs benefit and make a decision.
0 -
thanks kmg! i took a look. they are running the TC vs. TAC trial at the cancer center here, but i am outside of the trial because i definitely wanted TC instead of TAC. there is sketchy data on TC for people like myself who are node positive (2 of 17), but the statistics for even 4 rounds of TC vs. 6 rounds of TAC were pretty similar, so i went with TC only. Hopefully that will turn out to be the right choice, and to hedge my bets, i'm opting for 6 rounds.
thanks again.
0 -
Lani ~ This is what I did this round, and I think it's much much better!!! Sort of improvised as the nurse kept saying, take it as it says, and I was in a mood. I haven't done it right yet anyhow, don't tend to get the 2 pre-infusion doses the day before (2nd round got the script but left it in the office!), just the one in.
2 tabs eve before, 4 tabs morn and eve day of, 2 tabs morn day following, 1 tab Sat morn and 1 tab Sun morn. I was very tired Sat and a little achy but not bad, took 2 Tylenol, 1/2 Ativan, a good book and a nap. Sent 10y.o. a block away to get pizza for lunch for himself. Guess I am thinking Crash Day just do the sofa and a novel. Snooze and read, it was actually rather lovely.
Sama710, I hope we keep the 4 vs. 6 thread going, as I am wondering how many to do. My main onc who I adore sez 4, guess I'll ask him again why (chemo brain) - what I remember is that the protocol is for 4. But I also have positive nodes, altho was told microscopically positive, no cancer visible (sounds good, huh? but may not matter in long run as the little beasties can GROW).
I am nearing the end of 4 rounds so am thinking of FOLLOWUP. Asked my surgeon about MRIs, mammograms, bone scans, BRAC tests and the like. Well I took horrible notes, but I assume mamms and/or MRIs every 6 months or something. I have I asked about rotation but not the answer! I need to see the expert at UPenn anyway. I saw MDAnderson does bone scan followups for certain cases and I think I may be in that group (node+)
What are you gals getting in terms of followup?
I will definitely be getting Femara or Arimidex with the accompanying bone density followup.
Issues on my mind -
1. Checking to ensure metastasis caught ASAP (bone scan)
2. Checking to make sure estrogen levels stay low (estriadol levels)
3. BRCA test?
0 -
Hi Everyone:
I was doing research and came across this article from a professional medical book. It is copyrighted and I could not "copy and paste". Scroll down to "Cell Survival" Am I reading that Decadron protects cancer from the effects of Chemo?
Psychoneuroimmunology - Google Book Search
On another note there are trials underway that are giving breast cancer patients a Cox-2 inhibitor along with Arimidex/Tamoxifen because it has an added benefit. There is a study now in Tela-Viv which is giving a Cox-2 inhibitor (Lotrin) along with Inderal (a beta blocker) before and during the time of surgery and finding a decrease in recurrence because it inhibits VEGF overexpression which can happen during the stress of surgery. There seems to be a benefit of being on a beta blocker.
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00502684?term=blockers&rank=14
I apologize if this is too much information.
Katie
0 -
Katie,
Interesting trial for cox-2/betablocker. I believe that surgery does accelerate the growth of cancer cells and increase metastases.
It's about two months after my second surgery for clear margins. Does anyone else still have pain? There is an area at about 6:30 below my right breast, which is where my IDC with EIC was primarily located, that is still sore all the time. Weird. I would think it would be healed by now.
Annie, my decadron is 2 tabs day before, 2 tabs day of, 2 tabs day after. I've thought about trying a taper on my own, but tx 2 went pretty well without much crash. I have tx 3 coming up this week, so will see how that goes. How are you feeling now following your tx last week? My hair is exactly like you describe yours - thin baby hair all over about an inch long with scalp shining through. I'm keeping it as long as I can.
Love to all,
Teena
0 -
Annie, I'm on Aromasin, another aromatase inhibitor with a different mechanism than Femara and Arimidex, because I couldn't tolerate Arimidex (caused joint pain). For all of these inhibitors, the oncs generally do a baseline bone density and bone scan and then repeat I think yearly. With the aromatase inhibitors they don't need to check your estrogen levels because your body makes essentially no estrogen. Be prepared for some mighty hot flashes -- for me they were stronger than the ones with menopause -- but they settle down after a couple of weeks.
0 -
Katie, is it saying that Decadron is actually Not let chemo do it's job?
0 -
Amann:
That is what I gathered from the article and it has me concerned. I don't think chemo can be given without it and if so, what else could be used?
Katie
0 -
Hi, Katie... Interesting bit of info. However, when you think about it, it makes sense. I was told when I asked about cutting back on Decadron, that, without it, chemo would kill you. In other words, Decadron protects you from chemo's immediate punch, and it probably can't differentiate between which cells it's protecting. But over multiple tx's, all the fast-dividing bc cells are eventually damaged and die off, while damaged healthy cells rejuvenate. Deanna
0 -
HI Everyone:
I still haven't taken treatment #3. I saw a cardiologist last week who put me on a beta blocker for the rapid heart rate and shortness of breath. My blood pressure is now climbing up... way too high. I took the beta blocker and it lowered my heart rate to 45 but the blood pressure only came down to 130's over high 80's. I was put into chemopause abruptly and feel this could be contributing to the high blood pressure. I have an appointment with a second oncologist tomorrow afternoon. I am still leary of going through with another treatment although with being Grade 3 I'm not sure what to do.
I hope everyone had a good weekend. Hugs, Katie
0 -
Hi All,
I will be posting this week's list tonight (I'm at work now). Sorry for the delay; my parents had a birthday dinner for my dh yesterday and we were in Asheville all day (had a wonderful time).
XXOO.
Donna
0 -
Hi Everyone! I hope you are doing okay! Finished round 2 of 4 on Tuesday. Glad that that is over! Felt bad days 2,3,4! Better today. My hair is very thin but not all gone. I did not shave it. It is thin all over! I do not go out in public with it, I wear hats or the wig. I just don't feel like shaving it off. Also I am going to see how much stays. I know it will most likely all go, but I am just watching it. The scalp is not as sore as it used to be. You gradually get accustomed to all of this. I would say that tx #2 was much like the first one, so maybe that is how it will be. I have to go in for iron infusions...Tues morning, since I am very anemic. they make me feel better.
Looking forward to feling better still this week. I hope you guys are hanging in there. Good luck to all of you sisters getting treatments this week. One step at a time, we are getting through this!
0 -
Katie, I hope you stabilize soon and that your new onc visit goes well. Hang in there. --Lani
0 -
Elizabeth I Love My Kids! I'm so glad to hear from you.
Katie, this has got to be soooo stressful for you. About the Decadron and Beta Blocker stuff - I think if it shows promise in the study we'll see it come up in our treatment plans. I would tend to agree we need a little Decadron to hack our first couple days. Try to take a deep breath and remember most of us do not have recurrence, and treatments for this are working fairly well. As we learn more we will get better treatments but the key is to live for TODAY, the TODAY we have right now. I did copy the Beta trial info for my Breast folder, and I will ask about the results if I ever have to do more surgery, to see if they would add that to my surgical meds. So thank you, and never too much info, ha ha ha.
I think the Neulasta is starting to kick in here, a funky feeling in the hips. I am on Day #5 now, so it's the right time for it. Basically Round 3 has been going well for the most part. The worst of it is that I'm tired and my mouth is icky. But I got a lot of work done this morning, huge amounts, and my brain fog doesn't seem too bad. Fortunately the one client I spoke to has had breast cancer, so it wasn't too embarassing to have forgotten one of the admin's names ...
0 -
OK, I finally got a SE. I am so fat in the stomach, it's like I ate three Thanksgiving dinners or I'm pregnant or something. Taxotere can cause bloating? Is that what it is? I really haven't been eating that much, I do drink a lot and I had some lasagna for dinner, it was good, lasagna and a little cranberry juice and I feel like I'm going to explode. Anybody know what's up with this?
I noticed some of this the last round and in fact went out to the Thrift store and got three new pairs of jeans in a size 20 instead of what I've been wearing, 18 short. But tonight it like a major thing, I'm really kinda uncomfortable. Smaller meals I guess, teeny tiny meals, more frequently or something.
0 -
Hi Unique, Maybe it's not the food. Could it be from fluid retention?? Taxotere can cause major edema. I would keep a close check on your weight. "They" say to let your Dr. know if you gain more than 5 lbs. in a week. Do you feel short of breath?? Are your hands or feet/legs swollen as well?? I hope it goes away soon. I am NOT looking forward to gaining weight when I start my treatments. I hope the taste problems will even out the steroid hunger pangs!!
Mary
0 -
Thanks Goldendragonlady, I think I might be having a problem with this. I was 166 last weight check and this was really +10 lbs from a week or two ago, so there you are. My Mom asks if I'm eating too much salt. Not that I know of, but maybe I should cut it out or at least down to a minimum. Let me go weigh myself. I do feel a tad better than I did an hour ago. I'm not swelling anywhere except my stomach, definitely not in my extremities, they look and feel fine.
0 -
Here's this week's list:
Mon 11.10: Lili46, Margaret1102, ladyleen4, jenn46
Tues 11.11: robichaon
Wed 11.12: birdsong (6/6!!!!!)
Thurs 11.13: nurseKim, oldlady, tattered_tata, Wink,TNT, OregonPenny
Fri 11.14:
This will be the last treatment for birdsong, nurseKim, robichson, oldlady, tattered_tata, Lili46, Margaret1102, Wink. Wah Hoo!!!!!!
Wishing everyone mild, few, no SEs!
XXOO
Donna
PS Please let me know if I've missed anyone
0 -
Annie... I think what you're reporting is fairly common around tx #3. Taxotere seems to hold water in our tissues, as Mary said, especially our tummies. I gained about 5 lbs. right around tx #3, and several other gals on the August 08 chemo board had similar weight gains, even though we felt like we weren't eating as much as we normally eat. I'd like to tell you it goes away quickly, but I'm 4 weeks post tx #4, and still dealing with it, although I haven't been able to walk (exercise) due to a foot injury.
Good luck to all who have tx's this week, and a big "WaHoo,"" for those finishing up!!! Deanna
0 -
Hi:
My onc told me that decadron is necessary to prevent swelling of the legs and behind the heart.
My weight is like a yoyo on TC. I was the thinnest I've been in years on Wed. last week, then Sat. I weighed myself at my mother's and there was an 8lb. gain. The first week after chemo I have metal mouth and don't eat much, this week I feel better but I'm still trying to watch it. Some of it may be due to the constipation during the first week too.
Peeps
0 -
Good grief, I'm having tx#3 this week on Thursday, and I've gained about 15 lbs so far! They prescribed a diuretic for water retention and swelling in my legs, which I took for a couple days but the potassium pill you have to take with it is very large, chalky and difficult to swallow, so I stopped taking all of that. Fortunately, the leg swelling subsided, but the weight gain is really distressing. Bald, fat and tired! How alluring is that! My poor husband. LOL
0 -
Teena - you made me chuckle. That's exactly how I feel right now!!
Deanna - interesting what you said about treatment #3. I was up 3 lbs. before treatment #3 and wham - gained 4 lbs. afterwards. So I was up 7 lbs. before #4. I asked my onc about it and she said it's not the steroids because we're not on them long enough to cause weight gain. She ordered a thyroid blood test, but said that for many, not all, people just eat more. You feel bad and your reaction is to eat to make you feel better. I can honestly say, that's me. Chemo does not seem to be killing my appetite. Also, I have been using a lot of salt because I can't taste anything. I never used salt before. That, combined with the lack of exercise I think is at least part of my problem. About Taxotere holding water in the tissues - I have noticed that I have not been going to the bathroom as much after tx's 3&4 even with drinking the same or more fluids. I wonder why my onc didn't say anything about that?
A question for anyone who's completed treatments. I've noticed that the metal taste is really strong this time. When did you finally get relief?
Sherrie
0 -
At tx #3, I had gained 7.5 pounds; I'm kind of dreading Thurs not so much for the Tx, but for the weigh-in
. It's those darned pink peanut M&Ms!I have a couple of questions for those of you that have experience with a steroid taper. Is it decadron? Does it help? Did you have to ask for it or was it normal protocol?
Donna
0 -
Sherrie, metal mouth went away completely by about 12-14 days post tx4 (though gradually better after the first week or so).
Donna, it was a decadron taper and it helped a lot for me, because after the 2-day decadron I crashed in bed for 4 days. I stayed out of bed the last two treatments except for an occasional nap, though I did sit and read a lot. It (the tape) enabled me to get my kids to school and pick them up, stuff I really had to do. I had to ask for it.
0 -
Sherrie - I also eat to feel better; if my stomach is empty I feel nauseated. Yep - I'm salting everything in sight. My latest excuse for not exercising is the time change - too dark to walk when I get home from work
.0 -
Thanks Lani - I'm going to ask for a taper - why don't they offer these things to us?
0
