Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?
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Hi All, Been reading back a bit. Finished my 4th of 4 TC treatments on Monday. wondering who's TC stands for Taxol/ Cytoxan as opposed to my Taxotere/ Cytoxan? The 3rd tx was the worst for me, but overall the very worst part has been the Neulasta shot. The wicked bone pain, headache, insomnia etc. have been much better this 4th tx as my onc decided NOT not give me the Neulasta. We're risking neutropenia here, but I'll take that over 13 straight days of 2 or less hours of sleep per night. Who else had a bad time with Neulasta?
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ELZROSNER- 1st off, not shouting with the "all caps" just can't get my "bold" option to stop thinking it's "italics" Just wanted to tell you something my BS told me. He said lymph nodes vary in each person. Just like some have thick hair, some have thin. Some people have 1 sent. node and a dozen nodes in the upper 2 layers (which is what they remove) while some can have 3 or 4 sent. nodes and 2 dozen lymph nodes there. When they go in, they search and remove all the nodes in the area, they don't count to 10 and say "okay we're done" So if you had 27 removed, that's just because that's how many were there for the taking. I had 14.
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RSDSBOYS- I have the water retention, spent 2 days on the recliner with my feet up and the leg swelling is much better today. The red face might just be the steroids which should fade. You can buy vitamin e oil in pill form and poke it with a pin, apply at night. It also comes in small bottles if you can find it. Fruit of the Earth alcohol free 100% Aloe Vera Gel can calm the skin and you should get some for the radiation anyway. I did rads before this chemo crud, do yourself a favor and get the gel. Rads treatments are daily, for just a few minutes at a pop, so not sure about what you mean with the ovary removal. Are you having some sort of internal rads therapy?
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Thanks to all of you for replying. Nadine: I've been working with a PT for over a month now, twice weekly, and that has made a huge difference to be sure. Much of the time has been to work on the scar tissue in my breast that developed after a hematoma. Major pain and etcetera. For several weeks of that time I was getting twice weekly acupuncture too. Now I'm finally starting to see improvements, and have also had one session recently with a lymph drainage specialist, which seems very promising. I'd been given a sleeve as part of a study that I joined immediately following my (second) surgery, so that's been part of the routine too, every time I exercise (which is daily). Thanks for the encouragement! Ann-idiot: I really appreciate your explanation, which does make sense. Lucky me with hitting the lymph node jackpot. My T/C is taxotere cytoxan, by the way. And I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you that 3rd round was the worst, not the 4th. I'm definitely finding this post-3rd period the most challenging so far.
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oops: I meant that T/C thing to go to Nadine.0
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ann-idiot
Congrats on completing your fourth-of-four TC treatments! I just completed my third and will take my last on the 29th. I hope to learn more about your progress. Are you also taking Herceptin?
I also had very bad SEs from my first Neulasta (migraines), so my onco decided to proceed w/o it. My WBCs gets low after TC, so I take an antibiotic the following week. Then my BCs go up each week to expected levels.
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onevoicecounts- No, I'm not on Herceptin as I'm Her2-. The Neulasta headache was monumental for me as well. So far, 4th tx is better than the 3rd, mostly just because my onc let me skip the Neulasta and risk the neutropenia (like I got with my 1st round), but I'll take that over the wicked bone pain, vice-grip headache and complete sleep deprivation any day. I'm now able to just experience the actual chemo pain and se, how refreshing!
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Just dropping in to say so far so good since chemo on May 13th. Waiting for the shoe to drop however...Naps are longer and harder to wake up....sleeping better at night and only up 1-2 times. Foods tastes have taken a turn...got used to tasting everything now its just bland. So far no pains from the shot. Voice seems to always change during the first 8 days but nothing that can't be tolerated..I just have to repeat everything to DH so he can hear me. Every treatment and or the handful of drugs seems to produce excessive mucus...just hope the nose bleeds stay away this time...Still experiencing foot and ankle pain, some in the fingers but not to bad. I found if I do a few minutes only on the treadmill it seems to help, can't figure why, could be a mental lift but it does seem to help. So far so good hope it lastes~~~will post any unwelcome changes~~~keeping my fingers crossed for a break this round. One more to go, figure that one will be the hardest since its the last...mental for sure. Will never be so glad to have something done and over with in my life then on to the drug therapy. Sure been a trip and not one I want to take anytime soon thats for sure.
Hope everyone is doing well. (((HUGS)))
Nadine
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Nadine: good for you. Keep up the treadmill work, that is an inspiration to all of us. If I could make this the last round for you I would
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Kmmd: Thank you! I can do this, so many are far worse off. I just hate those words of "Tolerable", and so on. But then its something that we must do so we just march on and face it as it comes. I could never have made it through all of this without all of the wonderful people on this forum. Sure has given me the strength I needed and also to know I am never alone. And I have had the privilege of knowing such wonderful people !!!
(((HUGS)))
Nadine
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Nadine, I'm glad to hear that this tx hasn't been too bad. Maybe the shoe won't drop this time.
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Nadine, hope you continue to feel better. I have been using a saline nose wash this cycle and it has really helped with the nose bleeds. I got the idea from someone on these discussion boards.
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Hello Everyone- I keep searching the threads and I see alot of woman are gettimh Taxatere and Cytoxin. I am getting Taxatere and Carboplatin. Is there anyone getting Carbop[latin?
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Firni: Holding my breath for sure on mild SE's. Hope the shoe doesn't drop on my foot...that could hurt.
Hrf: I posted some time ago the saline solution. I have one which actually makes it worse on the nose bleeds. The one prefer to use is Ocean. I had sinus surgery years ago to remove a tumor and for some reason Ocean doesn't work well on the right side. I continue to use it anyways. The Onc told me Ocean would also be the best to use. He feels this just may be something on the right side I have deal with through all of this. I can deal with nosebleeds if the other SE's stay at bay thats for sure.
Hope everyone is doing good this Sunday morning. Bee's are out here in my little Idaho town so got to be aware of bee stings since there is no feeling in my left arm. For sure got my epidural pin with me just in case I get stung.
Nadine
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Nadine, thanks for the tip on the saline. My onc didn't recommend any one brand the pharmacist recommended hydraSense which has a very gentle mist and it's helping.
It's sunny but cool here in Toronto - a good day to get out for a walk.
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DianneB, How did your TC go? Any more seizures? I hope you are finished now and doing well. Someone directed me to your note because I am on TAC but also got some kind of "mini-seizures" (I'm just calling it that; no medical diagnosis) for 3-4 days after both first and second rounds. Once or twice a day for 3 or 4 days, my jaw snaps involutarily and I bite my tongue or lip, while at the same time I get big and little muscle spasms, my jaw and neck muscles are taught, I see odd shapes and feel like I'm falling in a tunnel. It only last a few seconds but is scairy. My doctor says she's never heard of any kind of seizure related to chemo. Any ideas? Thanks!
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elizrosner
Yes, I had 16 nodes removed and only one was cancer.
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My mother had first treatment of TC last friday. She is doing well, all things considered. What is troubling her most right now is stomach cramps. Has anyone experienced this and what did you find that offered relief? She is not having any constipation or diarrhea.
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ForMyMother - The stomach cramps might just be bladder irritation from the Cytoxan. She should be drinking lots and lots of water. Drink, drink, drink. Staying super-hydrated helps to flush her system and really helps with the bladder pain. It's ALWAYS a good idea to call the doctor with questions - that's why they get the big bucks! - Ann
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Wow! Do I have a nasty case o' chemo brain today or what?!?! If this is permanent, I'm sunk!
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ForMyMother,
I had nasty stomach cramps that would not go away three days post chemo after my first round. When the nurses at my hospital called to check up on me, they chalked it up to nausea/queasiness when it was really pain. Anyway by the fifth day I was in so much pain from severe heartburn that I thought I was going to pass out!
Good thing my husband was around cause he called my onc who put me on Nexium until I'm done with chemo. In the meantime, I have been taking Maalox and Tums when I have minor flareups.
Good luck with everything. I hope this helps!
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ForMyMother - I PM'd you
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ForMyMother: After I had some severe gastro-intestinal reactions, my oncologist adjusted the amount of decadron (steroid given to help prevent nausea) in my pre-chemo cocktail, which did seem to help for the subsequent rounds. Meanwhile, Pepsid Complete helped with the immediate relief of symptoms for me.
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Has anyone who already completed the 4 cycles of T/C found that #3 was the hardest, rather than #4? I'm looking for encouragement as I head into my final #4 next Wednesday...hoping that I've already been through the worst. Or do I just need to brace myself anyway?
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elizrosner - YES! 3rd was definitely the hardest for me. Finished my 4th and final last Monday, and it was more like the 2nd one. I'm just real tired cause my blood counts are wicked low (my onc decided I could skip Neulasta this time - the se were too extreme) My 3rd tx I went 13 straight days with little or no sleep and the se lasted all 3 weeks. I know where you're coming from, I was dreading my 4th and honestly didn't think I was going to even show up for the treatment. Glad I did. It's over (well at least the TC is anyway) Good luck with your 4th !!!! You're almost done!!!!
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ForMyMother... Yes, I definitely had stomach cramps. I found that drinking LOTS of fluids helped me. I also found that taking ativan helped as well. Do tell your mom to drink, drink, drink!
elizrosner... For me personally (4 rounds of TC), I found that #1 and #2 were the worse. #4 was the best as far as immediate SEs and the worst as far as my energy level. In fact... my mom commented, in reference to my fewer SEs on #4, that maybe they didn't give me as much chemo!
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Thank you to all who shared their advise with me and will file it to memory! The nurse told me to try Imodium and that has helped for the time being. I think all of you are amazing and strong women! As I tell my mother, the cancer is the poison and the chemo is the antidote!
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formymother - FLUIDS!! We've all had gastro problems either from the chemo or the other drugs but the most fluid you mom can consume will help her immensely.
elizrosner - my 3rd was also my worst - don't know why, but I was exhausted and sick. That bad word "cumulative" of course but found #4 to be manageable and maybe that was emotional because I knew it was the last. Either way, give yourself what you need - rest, fluids, meds - remember, atavan is your friend along with all the other great drugs out there. I'm not big into pharmaceuticals but during chemo they saved my sanity.
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Hey all. I've been meaning to post, but have been hit with fatigue this week. Napping helps for a bit, but it doesn't take much for me to enter that fogged zone.
I did want to mention to everyone to go to Lifetime.com and sign the petition about legislation pending about mastectomy and hospital stays. They are trying to pass a bil making a mastectomy an outpatient procedure. That seems crazy to me. I had a lumpectomy, so I can see that being outpatient, but with ports and LE issues, this bill seems ridiclulous to me. I believe the petition is to require a mandatory 2 day hosptital stay covered by health insurance.
Okay, gotta take a neighbor to the airport early tomorrow, so I'm going to head out.
Catherine
Pass the word around on this one!
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I had 4 rounds of Taxotere/Cytoxan, last round was on 5/6/09. 1 week after my first treatment I was hospitalized with neutropenic fever (no Nuelasta). I received Nuelasta after the subsequent treatments and did well. I did not notice that I felt any worse with or without the Nuelasta.I was hospitalized after the 3rd treatment for dehydration from severe nausea. I was given Zofran for 7 days for the 4th treatment and did fine. After each treatment I felt as if I had a slow progression of the flu that peaked about 5-7 days after my chemo. I also noticed that I would fatique easily. Overall it was not as bad as I expected.
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