Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?
Comments
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Thanks Deanna. You are helping confirm that the Adriamycin is not a good option for me, espcially since heart disease is the big history in my family.
I have had both my surgeries (7-22-08 and 9-15-08) and started my chemo on Oct. 13th. Originally as I said it was supposed to be the first surgery, six weeks or radiation and five years of anti estrogen blockers. But, that second diagnosis made everyone a little nervous so we put the chemo on the table. It was supposed to be very straight forward once we made the decision,
I agree with you that my local onc (who is top notch) is a little lost as to what I should do and he actually is the one to suggest contacting the onc I saw at Moffitt. The local onc had a case where the woman had really severe peeling hands by continuing and that is why he does not want me to go further on the taxotere. Unfortunately the Moffitt onc is out on vacation until next week, so we have to wait..........always the hardest part. If we need to send additional info to Moffitt and I need to go there again, I surely will. This new decision is becoming overwhelming.
I think I may also contact my radiation onc, who I only had a consult with so far, and ask him to weigh in also. Maybe the two treatments, plus the radiation and estrogen blockers may be the answer.
Thanks for the UCLA input. Caren
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Hi Caren,
I'm sorry about the curveball you've been thrown here. With all we have to endure with this diagnosis, this certainly makes the path even more rocky.
When I was deciding which treatment to do, I also ruled out Adriamycin due to pretty significant heart problems in my immediate family history as well. As Deanna pointed out, that risk is apparently higher than it was orignally thought to be.
If you don't mind my asking, what was your Oncotype score? I noticed you have a grade 3 tumor, and that was a decisive factor for me to get chemo. So if it were me, I'm not sure stopping treatment would be an option. But everyone's cancer is different, so I think you come back to getting some other professional opinions. The waiting is hard but at least you'll hopefully be feeling well for the Holiday. Try and enjoy!
Sherrie
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Hi everyone
Caren: So sorry hear that your tx is not going well, on top of dealing with bc now you have to deal with these issues! But you picked a great place to come and vent, or whine or yell and scream because we will be behind you telling you YOU CAN DO IT!
My weekend was not to bad mornings I am finding are not bad, usually I am pretty tired by the afternoon and evening. My issue is dealing with bad stomach pain and then yesterday the bone pain hit again
So I take each day as it comes! I have noticed my hair is starting to shed, it will be day 14 tomorrow since my first chemo tx.... So i am wondering if the hair is going to let go now, who knows. But this place has been a lifesaver for me, I went from not wanting to talk to anyone about the cancer, to being able to talk here. I feel like I have lost who I am somewhere between the lumpectomy and the chemo tx. Anyone who calls wants to chat about it and I want to say hey I am still me somewhere LOL!.Anyway have a great day! If I don't make it back in again before Thanksgiving, I am thankful for each one of you and 5 years from now we will be having a cancer free Party! Keep on and remember we are not given more than what we can handle...
God Bless
Linda
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Hi Linda- tought of you today as my hair began to fall as well. Right on schedule!. Sorry about the bone pain. I've been doing quite well. A bit tired in the afternoon. Compared to last week, I feel like a million. So no complaints here. Need to hit the holiday hat sales this weekend tho.
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Caren, tought decision! And they did not even suggest Abraxane? Look at Katie2u's post of 11/22. It might be worth asking about it. My onc did offer CMF when I had bad SEs (not as bad as yours). It's better than nothing, if you need chemo, which is the big IF. Good luck! --Lani
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Hi ladies,
I had tx 4 last Thursday. This has been a tougher one than tx 2 & 3. I seemed to get zapped of any energy right away. Did the Neulasta shot Saturday morning. Sunday had pretty bad bone pain and worse fatigue than usual. Discovered yesterday that I have a low grade fever - it's around 100. Same today. I just feel really lousy all over. My question to all of you is if any of you experienced a low grade fever and what happened. I called the onc yesterday and since it isn't above 100.5, and I don't have any obvious signs of infection, and my blood cell counts were good last week, they don't advise any action at the moment. I'm trying to be patient, but the last two tx I was pretty much back in the swing of things by Tuesday. I really appreciate any thoughts or advice you have.
Thanks,
Diane
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Diane,
With a holiday weekend pending, I would be concerned about spiking a fever and not being able to be seen or get antibiotics. You might call and ask your onco to phone in an Rx just in case. I ended up on antibiotics twice after Txs 2 & 3, but not until I had a low grade fever for several days. After the 4th Tx they prescribed the antibiotics prophylactically. I recovered from that treatment a lot faster than #3.
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Hi Sherrie,
I think my oncotype was 14 the first time and then they redid it on another piece of the tumor and it came in 17 if my memory serves me correctly. I would have to go look it up. The first result all my doctors were comfortable with not doing chemo, and just radiation and oral therapy following my lumpectomy. But the second score was borderline and then we found my second cancer in the same breast so the original thought was to do the chemo now as just an insurance even though my survival odds were around 90% without chemo. Now my bad se has confused the issue. I did speak to Moffitt today and my oncs nurse who is terrific assured me that he will consult with the local onc on Monday even though it is his first day back from vac. She said I really shouldn't go off schedule by more than a week if possible and I will be a week late by Monday, so I am a priority. Who knows, they may now decide that infact the two treatments I have had are enough based on my case. If not, I am looking at 12 weeks more, because I am not comfortable with the adriamycin which would only require 6 weeks more. I will know more by Monday, but it is a long wait. Trying to keep my spirits up, but had my heart set on last chemo being Dec. 15th and being done when the kids came down for Christmas. We were going to celebrate big time, and now I might be right in the throws of treatment. But somehow we handle whatever we have to. Aren't you suprised how strong we all are!!!!!
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Diane, I found the side effects to be a little bit worse after each treatment and to last just a bit longer each time also. The week of treatment I always run a low grade fever, which never managed to get to the magic number of 100.5. It seems to straighten itself out after a few days, so nothing was ever done about it.
Chris
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Hi Diane,
It's Jerri. I'm so sorry you are feeling Cruddy. With your temperature of 100.5 did you have to call the doctor? I know they have told me I will have to if I get a fever of 100.4. I get first Chemo tom.
I hope you get to feeling better especially for Thanksgiving.
Jerri
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Most Onc's say you MUST be seen by a Dr. if you spike a temp over 100.4. I had a low grade temp, 99.3 for two days(days 4&5). Just enough to make me feel yucky, not enough for me to see a Dr. I don't have one today
. The Nadir of Cytoxan is 4-9 days, Taxotere's is 10-14, so your WBC count could be low during that entire time. My onc checks my WBC levels around day 10. Most Dr. don't want to give out any antibiotics unless they really have to. Too many bugs are becoming immune to them.Mary
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I've been following along with this thread ever since I finished my 4 rounds of Taxotere & Cytoxan this past June. Just thought I'd add my 2 cents...
Caren, it sounds like you have "Hand/foot syndrome", right? My onco said it was rare to develop that on TC, but it was fairly common on other chemo regimens. Leave it to me (or to some of us) to get it anyway. Mine was way milder than what you're describing; it only affected the sides of the soles of my feet; and it healed pretty well before each (next) chemo infusion. If it doesn't heal, though, and if the skin blisters and peels bad, there's not much that can be done except stop the drug that's causing it, or change the schedule to allow for healing. Good thing your onco is on top of it, and you're getting advice from MCC.
I, too, decided against Adriamycin because of the cardiac risks. My onco thought I was borderline for those risks based on my medical history, but she had no problems with using TC instead of AC because of my risks. She said the good news was that there was growing evidence that TC worked even better than AC (note that I'm HER2 negative); but she did think the immediate SE's of TC were worse than AC.
Diane, I also seemed to have a low-grade fever (99.5-100.0 but no higher) through days 6-8 of each chemo round. I thought it might be associated with the Neulasta bone pain, but I guess it could have been the temporary drop in neutrophils before the Neulasta kicked in.
I can't say the SE's got worse with each successive round of chemo, but they were different each time. I did develop a fever (100.5+) around day 12 of rounds 3 and 4, so I was on antibiotics both those times. Otherwise, it was just the run-of-the-mill SE's everybody talks about here (bone pain, muscle aches, diarrhea, tender mouth, ridged fingernails, no hair--anywhere!, etc., etc.).
What I am very pleased to tell everyone here is that it all goes away. I am 5 months out from my last chemo, and my hair is growing back thick and curly. I've been running around hatless for about a month now, but yesterday was the first day I went hatless where anyone besides family would see me. It was great! Lots of compliments about my short 'do, which is about as long as some women keep their hair intentionally where I used to work (a vet school). The white bands on my fingernails are all grown out except on my thumbs. All the other chemo SE's are totally gone and I feel "normal" again.
I am not trying to minimize what you are going through. I'll admit that I felt miserable some days--the worst for me were days 4 through 6 of each cycle. "Run over by a truck" pretty much says it. But, I just kept telling myself it was temporary. Kerry_lamb over on the May 2008 thread said this, and I love it: "Cancer is an interruption, nothing more."
Hugs...
otter
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Thanks so much for responding and so quickly. It really helps. I feel pretty much the same. Temp ranges from normal to 100.3. I have very low energy. Called the onc this morning. He called in an antiobiotic but seemed on the fence about doing so, and I'm on the fence about taking it.. I think like Chris, Mary and Otter explained, this might just be temporary and not get any worse. Right now my temp is normal, so I think I'm going to wait a day or so and see if it stays that way. It's just tough feeling crummy for 7 days straight, but compared to my 1st tx when I was really sick and hospitalized, I can tell I'm not in really bad shape right now.
Otter - I really appreciate hearing stories of many months down the road and things returning to normal. Thanks for checking back on this board to help us all along the path.
Jerri - good luck on your 1st treatment. Hope all goes well for you.
Happy Thanksgving to all.
Diane
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Diane,
I'm glad you had the onc phone in the Rx--just in case--and here's hoping you will get through Thanksgiving without needing to pick it up. Hope everyone has a great turkey day and that the food tastes really good, metal mouth or no!
Sandra
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Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Caren - my hands also turned bright purple and peeled like crazy. It did get better after the 3rd tx. Udder cream - and time - helped heal. I too, really wanted to avoid the Adriamycin - sure hope it works out. We have very similar DX so keep in touch!
Happy T day - Gail
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Hi all ~ Well I had my last treatment today and that's great!!! But I can't celebrate yet, because altho my sister drove me to chemo etc. on account I took Ativan this morning at 8am, I drove myself to dinner with family at 6pm only I didn't get very far - I rear-ended another car at a stoplight and had to skip the dinner while the State Police came, etc., etc. My whole front bumper and grill are messed up and the radiator is leaking fluid. Darn it darn it darn it. I did drive it 1/2 mile home and my fav auto repair place is a block away. So! I sure thought the Ati would have worn off by then. The trouble was there is always a huge traffic jam there so the light changes and a couple people go thru and then it's red again. So it turned green and I thought I was going but then it turned red, and I guess I just didn't have the reflexes for it. This is only my second big accident in my whole life!!! Otherwise I am fine, guess I won't know if aches and pains are due to chemo or the jolt when I crashed, LOL.
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Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. We share a sense of community here for which I am very grateful. I can't imagine going through bc without the support, friendship, advice, and laughs I've found here. I am truly grateful for all of you! Thanksgiving blessings.... Deanna0
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Hello Everyone, and welcome all the new comers. I have been off the this thread for a while because I am on the Rads one now. I just want to say I hope everyone has a Happy Thanks Giving! I am about 2 months out from chemo.
Caren, I had severe hives the second tx. I had to skip a week and started 4 weeks later for my 3rd tx. with Abraxane. That was a lot better than the Taxotere. It cost more for Insurance Co. but if you can't tolerate the Taxotere, they should approve it for you. Good Luck.
Unigue, sorry to hear about your accident, as long as you have insurance you should be fine. I hope this last tx is much easier for you. Hooray, your done!
Take Care,
Audrey
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Annie, don't give yourself a hard time about it. You're already working as hard as you can at chemo! Take care and have an enjoyable Thanksgiving. --Lani
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Had my second round of Taxotere and Cytoxan today...Everything in the clinic went fine. No problems.
But I did see the Onc before my treatment. She said my WBC was higher and My Liver Emyazynes (sp?) were elevated. She said nothing I could do and at this point she would like to still go with the treatment as is and just keep an eye on it. She suggested that if these numbers are high then the next dose would have to be adjusted. I did not think then to ask her what that exactly meant....but I did ask the oncolgy nurse in the clinic...she said that the doc would lower the dose, then I asked dose that mean more treatments, her response was not usually.
Do any of you have experience in this? I am a little worried about the Liver...I do not drink booze...the Doc asked me this and she said "good! and make sure you don't start" (with a smile on her face)
Oncolgy nurse told me that since I had an easy time with side effects last time, then I could expect the same this time....I want to believe her, but at the same time I see here where some have reported they have different reaction, but I think these are the ladies that get shots for low WBC. Well two more treatments to go if we stay on schedule.
Anyways...............This website and this tread has helped me out a lot, I thank you all for your encouragement and help
to allHappy Thanksgiving!, Denise
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE LOVE YOU
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Otter,
Yes, I think it is hand/foot syndrome. This started after my second treatment after about a week. Hands got red and purplish on the topside around the knuckles and eventually along the sides and around the wrists like a bracelet, but never on the palms where it usually manifests. That started to ease after a week and then the peeling started. I am still peeling, using udder cream constantly, and it is better everyday. My onco here will consult Monday with the onco at Moffitt and come up with a plan. I may be back on treatment by Monday afternoon with my hands in ice water. Does anyone know where to get the ice mittens that were mentioned earlier? I am sorry I have lost a week and have to wait until Monday for the decision, but just unfortunate that Moffitt onco on vacation this week.
Gail,
Yes, I think we have similar cases. When did your problem start with your hands, and when you said it got better after the third tx do you mean the reaction was not as bad that time. I only had it after the second treatment, and now they are concerned it could be much worse with the third. They had a case where the woman actually ended up with ulcerated hands and suffered for months and did not really have use of her hands. She eventually healed completely. I do not have any pain or itching, at least not yet. It just looked bad, and like I said I saw improvement every day and will probably be totally back to normal if I have treatment Monday, which will be four weeks out from treatment two.
Audrey,
I will ask about the Abraxane. This is not one of the choices they mentioned last week. They said Adriamycin which I have already told them I will not consider. They also mentioned CMF, which I have no idea what my reaction would be. I do know that I find no comfort in the fact that you do not lose your hair with CMF, since that is too late for me now. The other possibility still is that they may just stop my treatment at two tx's since they were never sure I would benefit since my chance of recurrance was only about 10% without chemo and just radiation and orals for five years.
Of course I am happy to feel well today for Thanksgiving since I did not have treatment last Monday, but I am so bummed about Christmas when my children and first grandbaby are coming. I was supposed to have last treatment on Dec. 15th and would have been 9 days out of treatment by their arrival. We all looked forward to a major celebration. Now if I continue treatment, I will have my last just a day or two before they arrive so I might not be in very good shape. Like the onco nurse here said.....................life happens while we are making plans.
At first I was just so bummed by all this, and then I realized we will all be together and that was really our goal. If I am well that is great, and if I am not feeling so good it will sure help to have all my family here with me. Always have to find that silver lining.
Hope everyone has a wonderful day today, and I will remember how thankful I am to have you all here with me.
Caren
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Hi everyone,
Going for my second T/C tomarrow. Had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Also had alot of energy today from the Decadron.
Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving. Heres to all our good health!! God Bless You all.
Hugs and Prayers , Tina
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Happy Thanksgiving to all. Today I feel like a plucked turkey. Hair falling by the handfulls. It was more {and still is) more emotional than I expected. But is was expected. This whole journey sucks. So greatful to be able to vent here. Next tx in 5 days. We are blessed to have one another.
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Well, I hope everyone had a wonderful turkey day.....I went for last tx yesterday and they postponed it because I have developed cellulitis in my breast and they think the beginnings of lymphedema in the same arm. I got online last night and it looked pretty common 7-10 months out of lumpectomy. I am just 4 months out....Have any of you all had this happen? Instead I got an IV of rocephrin and 14 days of doxycycline...YUK......Hopefully they can finish last tx next week........
Hugs,
Nannie
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Hi Nannie:
I hope you made an appt. with a physical therapist specializing in lymphedema.
Peeps
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Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!! My Thandsgiving was not the best, but of course it could have been worse. I give thanks for that. Hope everyone finds something to eat that tastes good
!!!! Just remember to not let the "Turkeys get you down"!!!!Mary
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Hi ~ read all your posts, notice some new folks, welcome, this is such a good place for advice and support. I did my last TC (I'm pretty sure) on Wednesday and felt fine for Thanksgiving with family. They had to pick up me up on account my car is wrecked in the front. I pulled up the hood and it seems only the front bumper and radiator are busted, the engine looks ok. I had so much energy because of the Decadron and feel like I'm wilting now. A girlfriend is gonna have to take me to my Neulasta shot and the family is going to have to pick me up again for dinner tomorrow.
Caren ~ Good luck with the agonizing decision process. I have been thru a couple of these in my life both for myself and my husband and it is no picnic, my heart goes out to you. Have faith you will be led to make a good choice for your situation. It will be okay!
Diane ~ I had also the low fevers around 99 my 1st Round around days 6-8 but they went away, on 2nd Round day 6 had 101 so got on Penicillin. Then 3rd Round was just finishing a cold that got better but developed into a continuing cough so before my 4th Round my onc gave me Augmentin which is helping with the chest congestion and cough. So it goes. Feel better and drink lots of juice, orange juice really helps sometimes.
Nannie ~ good grief that sounds awful! I had a mast and hope I don't develop lymphedema, I had 12 lymph nodes removed and I try to exercise that arm except for lifting, don't do that. Lost my lymphedema bracelet but ordered another. Good luck honey.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING ROBICHON! And to everyone else who is here.
Otter ~ Thanks for the encouragement. I met a lady behind the prepared dishes counter at the grocery and she had the prettiest hair under her cap. I told her about it and she said it was growing back curly after doing chemo last year. So we had a little tete a tete about hair and my lack of, and how it can come back prettier than ever. I never imagined. So many people touched by this disease. Well, one in 8 women actually.
Denise ~ Try to ease your mind about all this. Some folks may just metabolize the chemo differently and maybe a slightly lower dose is just what you need. Maybe ask your onc about what your worries are next time you see her/him. It sounds like they are thinking about all these things. Try to have confidence while still questioning everything! It is hard I know.
I do know some of our oncs don't do the prophylactic WBC booster and others do. I think it is 6 of one and half dozen of other. So many of us have bone pain from the Neulasta - mine has not been too bad actually since my first treatment, where I had to call in because my hips and thighs were throbbing and I could barely walk. No so much painful but just banging. Tylenol and more water made it much better but then it kept my up all night, every four hours the banging would wake me up. So I got 8-hour Tylenol but I haven't had it since. Just sometimes a lot of aching. I am a migraine sufferer so I guess almost any pain seems less than a mind-drilling headache. My first treatment though even my teeth ached!
Well I'm pooped and have really written a lot so I will sign off and go to bed.
P.S. Always nice to see Lani and Amann on here. Amann, good luck with the rads, I hear they are a pain but not as bad as the chemo. I am seeing a rad person after this as I am a borderline rad person. I had a mast so I assume they will do the nodes under my arm? Well anyway a story for later. Much later, end of year sort of decision, heh!
HAPPY TGIVING TO ALL!
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Annie,
Hope the rest of your week goes better. Happy for you that you are done with the chemo. Each week it will start getting better.
hugs,
Sandra
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Hi all,
Monee - This is a tough journey, no doubt about it. You might be surprised by how much less hard the hair thing gets in just a little while. For me, it was toughest when I knew I had to do chemo and it was going to fall out, difficult when it started falling out, easier to shave it than I ever thought it would be, and much easier to just live without it for now than I would have anticipated. I hope things get a little easier for you.
Nannie - I'm sorry you are experiencing difficulties. I haven't had lymphedema, but have been seeing a physical therapist since about a month after my lymph node surgery. I guess it's been aobut 10 weeks or so and we're still working on getting my range of motion back. This is particularly important to get ready for radiation so that I can have my arm in the right position. I agree with Peeps that you should find a PT who specializes in lymphedema. Mine has been fine but doesn't have a lot of experience with BC patients and I sometimes wonder if I would make more progress if she did.
Annie - so sorry about your car accident. I'm glad you're o.k. Thank you for your thoughtful and caring responses to all of us on this board. I'm feeling much better. Never did end up taking the antibiotic and I'm glad for that.
Take care everyone.
Diane
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