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Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 2,701
    edited January 2009

    Pat ~  That's really interesting, especially after having been on chemo.  And, as I recall, my RBC was very low by the time I finished chemo, and I haven't had a CBC since.  Hmmmm....  I wish I'd known that sooner.  My rad onc scheduled me for an MRI that's in a couple of hours.  I feel so firmly that this is all connected to the Taxotere, but she felt we should check it out, just to be sure there's nothing else going on, which is kind of scary.  Based on what you've said, I almost feel like calling her and asking if that could be the problem, but I doubt I'd get through to her before I'm supposed to show up for my MRI.  So, I'll probably do the MRI anyway, and assuming it doesn't show any other problem, ask her about the anemia.  Thank you so much for your input!  Sometimes I think the community knowledge here trumps that of our medical providers!       Deanna 

  • BonnieK
    BonnieK Member Posts: 271
    edited January 2009

    Thanks for this information, Pat.  My legs are still driving me nuts at night and are also starting to feel really heavy and weak during the day, so I should probably call and report all of the leg symptoms to my onc just in case.  

    Let us know when you get the MRI results, Deanna.

    Bonnie 

  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 2,701
    edited January 2009

    Well, thank God, the MRI they did on my leg didn't show any problem, so I have to assume the pain I'm still having is somehow due to Taxotere or Cytoxin or Neulasta or getting off HRT -- none of which my docs are prepared to blame.  I plan to follow up on Pat's suggestion (although I've never really thought of the pain I'm experiencing as RLS), and call my onc for a CBC.  Otherwise, maybe it has to do with getting off HRT and cutting back on exercise concurrent with my last chemo tx.  Who knows?  I do think it's extremely odd that I can have such horrible pain, and yet they say everything looks normal.  But, I am so relieved and grateful that it's not the worse case scenario, that I can live with not pinpointing what's causing it, and will try some natural stuff (whey protein, possibly an iron supplement, more exercise, etc.) to address it.    Deanna 

  • babyc
    babyc Member Posts: 20
    edited January 2009

    Hey, all!  Well, after having my first treatment Mon. and neulasta shot Tues., all has been okay with one exception:  constipation.  My onc. recommended Milk of Magnesia but to wait to see if I would need it.  I had been on the steroids and anti-nausea meds two days prior to treatment and will be so until Sat.  I aready take Benefiber and Zegerid (high powered omeprazole) due to Gerd and Diverticulosis.

    Anyway, I waited as she suggested but added massive amts. of water, the almonds, Activia, prune juice, apricots, vegetables, fresh turnip greens, and walking.  This morning, finally,---success! I've read  all kinds of different approaches but given my existing conditions, this has been very scarey.  I didn't try the Mag. until Wed. (2T.) and Thurs. (4T.)  Anyone out there with advice.  Yes, I will talk with onc. but wondered if anyone else has ideas......... Thanks!

  • unique
    unique Member Posts: 209
    edited January 2009

    Lindasa and all ~

    I can get restless leg syndrome when really sick (in pain) but the legs themselves don't hurt. For me I think it is anxiety. I don't feel that I'm anxious, but feel a compulsion to move my legs, especially wave my feet. I can see myself in the nursing home now, urgh. My tentative theory is pain uses up all the Serotonin and then I don't have enough.

    While on Taxotere or Neulasta I had hip pain, but a Tylenol fixed it. I got 8-hour Tylenol for sleeping.

    All you wakeful gals - be sure to take a 1/2 Ativan before bed for the couple days after treatment to counteract the effects of Decadron, which causes that awake all night syndrome. Talk to your onc about it.

  • unique
    unique Member Posts: 209
    edited January 2009

    My  hair's coming back! I colored it, it was all grey on top so it's orange up there, dark on sides. Kinda punk.

  • plakatakr
    plakatakr Member Posts: 45
    edited January 2009

    unique- YEAH! It looks great. Mine is starting but it's mostly white peach fuzz with a little bit of brown. From more that a foot away, I still look completely bald.

  • marlenet
    marlenet Member Posts: 114
    edited January 2009

    Hi

     I started Taxotere and Cytoxan Jan 13th.  Had few se. No nausea!  Today feel a bit achy, said i may feel flu-like symtoms but Dr said okay to take Tylenol.  Nothing to keep me down and out. I  Feel good . 

    one down ONLY 3 to go !!! 

  • kt57
    kt57 Member Posts: 75
    edited January 2009

    unique: Yeah!! hair again.   i am on the direct other end - it's starting to fall out - I'm steadily shedding every day - It's day 16 for me. I'm right on schedule.   Found the razor I used to use when my son lived in a buzz cut.   Not ready to use it yet.

    marlenet: Awesome.  Did you get anything for nausea beforehand? Are you getting neulasta?

    Kathy

  • marlenet
    marlenet Member Posts: 114
    edited January 2009

    kt57

     Hi , Yes i did take the nausea , had to problem with that.  Only a little  achy today.  Dr said that is one of the sc i may feel.  It is not causing me any real problems but just a lil achy.  I am not getting any neulasta, YET. I go back the 23rd... 

  • DesertRider
    DesertRider Member Posts: 37
    edited January 2009

    Unique, great color! Can I color mine at 1/2 inch?? How did you do yours when its short?

    Also, I need to move my legs around at night in bed a lot - is that RLS?

    Great weekend everyone - I'm off to ride! (Not really suppose to after the exchange surgery last week but I'll take it easy with no galloping and friends to lift the saddle!).

    Gail 

  • thegoodfight
    thegoodfight Member Posts: 124
    edited January 2009

    Unique,

    I am thrilled your hair is coming back.  I can't wait for mine.  I ask my husband every day and like a dutiful partner he looks, but says................not yet.  It is only two weeks since I finished chemo.  When did you finish?  How long is your hair now?  I am so ready for a little, so I can spike it and walk proud without a head cover.  I am hoping by my birthday in May.  You look great, although I always loved your hats!!!!

  • apfuentes
    apfuentes Member Posts: 12
    edited January 2009

    Hi Ladies - I've been doing lots of reading, but not a lot of posting.  I hope everyone is doing as well as can be expected.

     I had TC #2 on 1/6 and I feel great right now.  Both times, day 4 was the worst for me...just real fatigued.  My question is...I still have quite a bit of stubble on my head, all my arm hair is still there and there's even still some hair down below.  The leg hair hasn't really grown back except for a little around the ankles.  Will I lose more hair around day 14 this time around?  Just trying to prepare myself for any additional hair loss, even though the most traumatic part is over with!  Thanks! 

  • hopefullady
    hopefullady Member Posts: 102
    edited January 2009

    apfuentes, It's really hard to tell since everyone seems to react differently.  I never lost any of the hair on my arms, and kept the stubble left after I had my hair buzzed.  Now that my treatments are over, the stubble is growing quite nicely, and some color is showing up in back and on the top.  The sides are still colorless.

     Chris 

  • slortiz
    slortiz Member Posts: 142
    edited January 2009

    Here is my latest picture showing how much hair I have 4 1/2 months post-last chemo. It's still not much, but your mileage may vary. My hair grows really, really slowly, but at least it's coming in thick and brown and curly.  The picture was taken after three days of skiing my butt off at Mammoth, so see, ladies, there is life after BC.

    Hope everyone has a great week.

  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 2,701
    edited January 2009

    Annie ~ Your hair looks so cute, but I miss your cute hats, too! 

    Sandra ~ Lookin' good!  I'll bet no one even suspects you've been through chemo now!  And I'm impressed that you're back to skiing.  My legs still tire easily and ache when they do.  Did you experience any of that post chemo?   Maybe going to the gym has helped?

    Gail ~ Sorry I didn't call you back yet, but glad to know you're recovered enough to even think about riding!   That's great!

    About hair coloring... I just used a natural henna product on my hair, which was coming in kind of salt & pepperish.  I actually used it twice.  The first time, I left it on 20 mins., and my gray hair turned yellow.  So, I did it again (plenty of product left when you're coloring hair that's probably less than an inch long!), left it on 55 mins., and it worked pretty well.  As Annie and I have both found out, chemo'd hair does not take color the same way normal hair does.    Deanna   

  • marlenet
    marlenet Member Posts: 114
    edited January 2009

    kt27

    Good Morning all .

     Today the achy feeling  has almost ended.  Took my Tylenol ,feel real good!  Laughing  This is day 6 ( including chemo day)  I hope all are feeling okay!

  • rickster
    rickster Member Posts: 16
    edited January 2009

    My extreme hip and leg pain was linked to a herniated disc / pinched nerve (around Lumbar 4 or 5) . . .

    I finished TC in early November.  I was disappointed at all the residual pain that continued.  Within several weeks it seemed to be concentrated in my left hip and radiating down to my knee, with the worst, most excruciating pain occurring at night.  By early January I had gone several weeks without sleep.  My radiologist ordered a hip X-ray to rule out cancer, it showed nothing but mild arthritis (nothing significant enough for the amount of pain I was in); he then upped the pain meds and ordered a hip MRI, which showed nothing further (mild degradation of the bone / possibly mild arthritis). Within a day or so, I had an appt with my oncologist to go over / prepare to start hormonal therapy.  When she heard how bad my pain was, saw that I was losing strength in my left leg and learned that I could hardly sleep (even with pain and sleeping pills) she ordered an MRI of my lower back which the orthopedic surgeon determined showed a herniated disc / pinched nerve.  While I cannot blame this on the chemo, I am fairly certain that it is related to my inactivity and sitting / working for extensive and L-o-n-g periods of time while on chemo (I had not done any extreme activities or had any injuries which could have caused it).  I received a steroid injection to that nerve on Thursday and obtained some relief on Thursday night, but much of the pain has returned (although not quite as severe);  I am scheduled for a second injection two weeks from the first (assuming I don't get long term and more complete relief in the interim). 

    I am curious if anyone else has experienced anything similar.  I was in pretty good health, fairly active and with very strong bones prior to chemo.  I doubt that this is actuall a side effect (but I feel it is definitely related).  If any of you are experiencing extreme pain, especially on one side, you may want to get an MRI on your lower back.

    Well, it's a beautiful and sunny day at the ocean so I plan to get out, even if only for a short, slow walk and breathe in some fresh air while counting my blessings that nothing worse showed up in the X-rays / MRI.  Having finished rad's on Friday, I am anxious to move forward and work thru the residual side effects and this little bump in the road on my back.

    Wishing you all the best!!!  Rickster

  • BooBee
    BooBee Member Posts: 288
    edited January 2009

    apfuentes I'm on 4 of 6 TC and still have baby fine hair on my arms.  I'm blond and never really had much hair there anyway.  Once I shaved my legs it never grew back, some pubs still hanging on, gray hair stubble still fighting to stay alive, all my eyebrows fell off yesterday, all at once, that one was freaky.  Eyelashes.....well.....they're a bit sparse as well but still hanging on.

    Are we having fun yet?

  • slortiz
    slortiz Member Posts: 142
    edited January 2009

    Hi Deanna et al:

    I do think the gym has helped me tremendously, and like all converts, I've now become a perfectly obnoxious fitness buff, but I didn't really start with the physical trainer until the first of October, a good month or more after finishing chemo. I was reluctant to start sooner because my RBC was still low until then and I had considerable SOB (shortness of breath in medical jargon) upon the least exertion.

    The main SEs I experienced during chemo were crushing fatigue, mouth pain, very low RBC and WBC counts, some fever, some acid reflux. For whatever reason, I did not experience the bone pain everyone talks about, or much achiness. This may be because my bone density status is so extremely good (thanks, mom, for making me drink all that yukky milk for so many years). My oncologist was really delighted with the remarkable state of my bones given my age (66) and my prior exercise status (total couch potato). Guess there really is NO justice in this world. The good bone status is a blessing  because I am going to have to take the darn Femara for five years and it is known to really deplete bone density. I might add though that I don't seem to be experiencing any SEs from the Femara--other than sticker shock. While I was skiing I dropped one of the Femara tablets under the faucet, and that was $10 down the drain!!  Do the math!   Fortunately, my co-pay for this drug is only $50 for a 3-month supply, so I can't complain, but the US taxpayers are footing the other $800!!!  Shocking!!!

  • apfuentes
    apfuentes Member Posts: 12
    edited January 2009

    hopefullady and renees...thanks so much.  I'm handling the fatigue, nauseousness and raw mouth pretty well, but the hair thing....well that's just depressing me.  I had SO much thick hair before, so I'm just not sure what to expect through this whole journey.  My last TX is 2/17...I can't wait. 

    Thanks ladies for being here and opening up your thoughts, fears, feedback and encouragement to everyone.  Makes me feel not so alone.

  • slortiz
    slortiz Member Posts: 142
    edited January 2009

    Dear apfuentes,

    You are such a pretty young woman. I cannot imagine having to go through this so young, and you are handling it really well. Even for me--66 with skrunky, thin hair--the baldness was the most difficult thing. I just looked at myself in the mirror and bawled. And judging from your picture, your hair was the crowning touch on your beauty. Hardly surprising you are feeling the loss!!!   

    Well, I am here to assure you that it is just hair, and it does grow back. Hopefully yours will grow a lot quicker than mine. Good luck with your last treatment. Won't that be grand to have that behind you.!

    Regards,

  • DesertRider
    DesertRider Member Posts: 37
    edited January 2009

    Hey, Sandra, I'm so proud of you going to the gym - and with a trainer! Each day I think I'll start getting fit again and I haven't done a whole lot about it! And it's been 2 months since my last TC so no real excuses. Just really inspired by you!

    Gail

  • kisblessed
    kisblessed Member Posts: 2
    edited January 2009

    Hello All,

    On 2/9/09 I'm starting TC x 4. My surg. will be after completion of chemo.

    Is it better to eat /if so what ?? on the morning before each cycle?

    Does walking work well on the body on day #1 afterwards? 

  • kt57
    kt57 Member Posts: 75
    edited January 2009

    ReneeS; Why did your onc reccommend 6 tx instead of 4?  Mine did too.  I see most here only get 4. 

    kisblessed:  I was too anxious the morning of my first tx to eat much,,.drank a can of slimfast as part of the fluid push.  Next time I'll have a light breakfast.  My nausea didn't start until day three, and the Zofran took care of that, ativan helped with the anxiety.   With all the steroid I had on board, I could have walked for miles....I didn;t on day 1 (chemo day)as i thought should hang close to home to see what was going to happen --- i did walk/exercise on Day 2.

  • mimiwhite
    mimiwhite Member Posts: 7
    edited January 2009

    Annie, your hair looks great!  I too had ILC and will be done with 4th TC 02/01.  How is radiation going for you?  Are you doing your whole breast?  I plan on it.  Then will start Tamoixifen.  I don't have nearly as much anxiety thinking about radiation as I did (or still do) with chemo.  Thanks for your help and as always your positive attitude.

  • kisblessed
    kisblessed Member Posts: 2
    edited January 2009

    kt57 That really helps. Since I am flying in the day prior to starting chemo, my in-office teaching will be done the same morning so I am trying to plan to be prepared as much as poss. I am currently on Tomxifan until I start chemo.  Can't wait to have energy to walk!

    Stay strong.

  • apfuentes
    apfuentes Member Posts: 12
    edited January 2009

    slortiz - Thank you so much.  That is so sweet.

    Well I'm on day 14 after TC#2, and I actually feel great.  I went to the gym today and feel pretty much back to normal.  Of course, it's just in time for treatment again next week, but I can honestly say that this past cycle was better than the first.  I just hope it's not too good to be true for #3 and #4. 

    Keep those heads warm ladies..it's cold here in VA. 

  • unique
    unique Member Posts: 209
    edited January 2009

    Hi all ~

    Forgive me, too tired to go back up and answer individually. But I love all you gals just the same! Tired on account of long weekend with kid at home, he wanted playdates and sledding and I felt just well enough to indulge him. I love this boy! He is 11, such a grand age. Well, they're each and every year just stupendous. He's a balm for any physical ills I might come up with.

    For those who asked about hair, the new growth popped up nearly two months to the date after my last treatment date. That last treatment knocked out what was left of my original hair, I joked that I went from Donald Trump (Tx 1) to Zero Mostel (Tx 2) to Betelgeuse (Tx 4). I don't remember Tx 3 because I caught the awful cold ... no other serious SEs but that one knocked me out!!!

    There's a real debate about how many TC treatments. You'll see some of us are getting 4 and others 6. My onc explained it is because many of the old chemos did 6 treatments. The studies showing efficacy of TC vs. AC showed 4. So as with some of the other aspects of our treatments, all of our oncs are taking a slightly different personal tack due to personalities, etc. Mine sez efficacy was shown for 4, so doing more is too much. But all mileage may vary, no one actually knows. My onc is actually kind of mad that we don't know more about such a basic element, but it's the way the trials were done.

    Good luck all of you still doing chemo, drink lots of water and take it easy.

  • BooBee
    BooBee Member Posts: 288
    edited January 2009

    Kt57 I have lymphnode involvement.  I would have had 4 otherwise.  It's funny you mentioned that.  I hadn't noticed that several ladies also have positive lymphnodes but are doing 4 cycles.

    Welcome Kisblessed!!  I eat bananas the day of chemo.  No rhyme or reason, I just like them and I'm usually so nervous I forget to eat in the morning and eat it during chemo.  Try to get in a short walk everyday.  It really helps.  My philosophy is "Water, walk and women."  You'll find the women right here.  I hope you find the same comfort in them that I have.

    Renee