Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?
Comments
-
Dutch - so glad Annabelle's folliculitis is cleared up! Believe me, I know how great it feels when your head stops itching and all of those bumps go away. I too am laundering my bandanas and wigs more frequently, just to make sure they aren't harboring dirt or sweat.
Good luck to her on #3!
0 -
Hi everybody: I'm a little over 2 weeks post final round TC and just want to say that even though #4 was definitely the hardest for me, there is nothing quite as good for the spirit as knowing that this part of the dance is now being relegated to the past. In an email from some very dear friends, they said that eventually I'll look back on this as The Year that Bad Things Happened to Good People.
In case it's relevant to anyone else, I am finding that my energy is starting to return in the direction of normal, and I'm about to make a definite plan for starting radiation. Crazy how the timing works so that just as you begin to relax and recover, the next treatment program kicks in. Still, I'm counting on the rads being sooo much easier than the chemo, not to mention the surgeries.
Thanks as always for the encouragement and reassurances. Good luck to all of us! I'm
0 -
Hi, I am on Taxotere and Carboplatin. Do not know how it differs from cytoxan. THe Carboplatin cause low blood counts nausea, alopecia, electroytes and is less common to cause numbness tingling , loss of sensation in hands and feet, ringing in ears, and kidney problems. I worry about the numbness etc of hand and feet the most and losing my fingernails. They let me put my finger in ice to help stop that and I am going to do exercises for the numbness as a preventive. .
0 -
Kat, ask your doc about the numbness and tingling because that is neuropathy and my oncologist said if I start to experience that then they go down on the dosing because that is a sign it is too high, I'll be on a different medication so I'm not sure if that makes a difference but I think you should ask yours to see...hang in there, Paula
0 -
Wow, just when you think things are looking up BAM! I don't know what hit me this afternoon. I was going to take a little nap cause I felt tired, and then I could hardly lift my head up! Now, a few hours later, I can sit up, so that's an improvement.
And I was going to go shopping for a wig this evening as I just heard from my insurance that they will cover for one. Oh well, maybe tomorrow. Since I've only had one tx, I guess every day is a new day, and you just don't know what to expect. Thanks, elizrosner, for the good news that life will, indeed, get back to normal (sort of) sometime after this chemo. Trust all goes well for your rads.
0 -
BorneoMom, I used benadryl cream and hydrocortisone cream both over the counter from the drugstore, finally the onc gave extra steroid in my IV before the treatment because the reaction got worse each time. Boo hiss on your insurance company
Nadine, so sorry to hear it, and so happy you're done
Elizrosner: congrats on finishing
grey2mom: good luck, perhaps you'll be one of the lucky ones who sails through this
0 -
Thank you for all of the wonderful support on my last and final chemo. I can somewhat laugh today...had a craving for shredded wheat cereal....first night I had two bowls, next morning sure tasted good...two more bowels...I spent all day running (and I mean really running) to the bathroom yesterday. Talk about near accidents. Its one of those situations where you had to be there (maybe not wasn't to pleasant). I think my next craving won't be a cereal that is also high in fiber. I think other than the lack of sleep trotting to the bathroom all day and night and my once again severe swollen feet, ankles and hands the cereal pretty much took care of the SE's. No shredded wheat cereal this morning...this poor o'l gal wants to see something today other than the bathroom.
Sure wish my hair would grow a little faster. Had baby fine curly hair before. Now my head feels like a Brillo pad. Just checking every day for new growth. I am pretty surprised how fast it does seem to be growing. I gently rub my head all of the time so maybe that is stimulating the growth. I like the ceiling fan going and air moving across my head when I am resting, strange as it sounds its like I can feel the hair growing. I am planning a surprise once my skin gets back to normal and I am going to do the works with makeup...will shock my DH since its been so long since I wore any make-up. Put on finger nail polish on my fingernails...I shake so bad it looked terrible so took it off. Can't wait until the feet look normal (and feel normal) and going to polish the toenails also. With so much weight gain, swelling, chapping and peeling of the feet I think I will wait a while to doll them up. Just feeling tired of this chemo crap and SE's, ready to push the envelope a little for "normal".
I decided, "Watch out world~~~I got through chemo and lived to tell about it~~~and I am a SURVIVOR and there is no holding me back now. I found a new person in myself with all of this and I really like this person. I discovered what matters and what doesn't. Its going to be slow going back to some kind of normal...I am ready for the next chapter even if it does take time coming. With all of the buckets of tears, moaning, bitching I did find I could do anything...didn't like it but it helped me with the journey to the new me.
Nadine
)0 -
Keep it up Nadine; hopefully we'll all be right behind you. I just can't tell you how glad I am to have one down, 3 to go! So far, day 3, I feel fine. No nausea or other stomach complaints - I just couldn't get enough to eat yesteray. I may be kissing my Weight Watchers lifetime membership temporarily farewell! Today, I am just a little achy, but plan to hit the gym later. My stomach feels back to normal, the gaping pit seems to be gone. Hopefully, I can stick to a normal food intake today. Good luck all!
0 -
Hi Ladies - Haven't been on in a while and see some new posters. Everyone is so brave. Nadine - you go with the polish and makeup and give your DH a big hug. He sounds like a keeper.
I had 3 month post followup with my onc yesterday and all is well. The tendonitis in my wrist was confirmed by him from the chemo - I told him that back in January! I finally had a cortisone shot 2 weeks ago, wearing a brace and that is helping. Joint pain is from Arimidex but will live with that. Taking 1200mg of calcium with D everyday. My hair is growing but I'm keeping it short for now because it has a chia pet look about it. My nails are growing long and strong from all the vitamin supplements and had a pedicure which does wonders for the feminine side!
Hang in there everyone who is at the beginning, middle and end of TC - it does get better and you really start to separate the important things in life from the BS. My wonderful son is leaving in a couple of weeks to study abroad in Australia - I'm so glad he was here in the states this year and didn't have to worry about his mom from afar. He's been a love and strength along with my SO who does all the cooking and laundry. AND the new girls are lookin' pretty good - started to wear some more lowcut and attractive clothes. Still getting used to the new size but they work for this second half of my life. Hugs to all.
0 -
Hi All,
Sorry for the tardiness in getting back here, been here just had so many personal emails that I was not up to posting. I don't think I can do a lot of personal responses but know you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Nadine, Congrats on the end of chemo and the beginning of the rest of your life! Thanks for the hope and humor you have shared.
Dutch, glad Annabelle is doing better and that she has a guy almost as good as mine.
On day 3 post 1st tx of TC. The Decadron gave me sinus headaches and aggravated my indigestion but that is better now that I am done with the drug for now, and it was tolerable. I slept fine the past several nights, not much appetite. The first treatment was uneventful, and I felt well enough to run errands and get my haircut a bit shorter the rest of the day. I did have chills on and off through the night. Oh, and hiccups when I did manage to make myself eat a little..odd.
Yesterday, I had to go for Neupogen shot (insurance will not cover Neulasta). I took Tylenol ahead of time, never felt the shot being given. Had some queasiness afterwards on and off through the afternoon, maybe shot, maybe chemo, maybe decadron..who knows. I upsed once and took anti-nausea and felt better. Still had the sinus headache which added to queasiness. I did make myself make dinner last night and tolerated it well. Mouth felt like some sore spots were going to pop up but we'll see. It settled down this afternoon.
Still not much appetite today, went to the laundry though hubby did most of work as I am still on post-op restrictions from port surgery.
Anyway, so far, so good.
So many of you reassured me through your posts, eased my fears and made the experience so much easier to face.
Hope you all are having a good day, with mild SE's
0 -
I've been on the Chemo in June thread...but glad to see this one which is the treatment I begin next Tuesday. Got my port yesterday....still sore and can't wait to pull off the plastic tape tomorrow which is tugging my skin. My doctor has me pumped full of supplements and antioxidants, so I'm hoping to tolerate the TC without too many problems.....especially with all the anti nausea prescriptions I picked up today from the pharmacy. Yikes, the Emend is expensive, but I'm willing to pay anything to avoid being really sick. I am ready to tackle this head on! Patti in Seattle
0 -
PAP: keeping my fingers crossed for you
grey2mom: I have to say, although my onc really believes in it, I didn't understand how much keeping up with exercising was helping me during TC until I was done. It didn't keep the myopathy from almost crippling me, but, when I look now at where I am compared to where I was.....wow. It really is key. So, keep it up. Even if it was a sllllooowww 10 minutes walking I did something EVERY day during chemo, and you will reap the rewards after even if it doesn't seem like it when going through it. GOOD FOR YOU!!
0 -
Thanks for the encouragement about the exercising. It helps to keep me going. I dragged out the door at 10 PM to go for a walk with my DH, after such an exhausting day. But I'm glad I did. At least I didn't feel worse, even though I only walked half my usual route in the normal amount of time! I have been trying to make it a priority to at least get out for a walk, however short, as others say that it's good.
Maybe I'll ask my onc about more steriods next time. Thanks for the info.
0 -
BorneoMom, it really does help. Wow, 10:00 PM, that is dedication. Even if it isn't as long or as far as usual, when it takes that much effort, it will count. I did notice that how fast or how much incline on the treadmill, or how much weight, difficulty of poses in yoga etc, I could do decreased with each cycle. Strength gradually deteriorated and there was nothing I could do about that, the taxotere gave me bad myopathy and neuropathy. However, I know the deterioration would have been so much worse if I hadn't been exercising, and like I said, I bounced back faster then those who didn't exercise. It is hard to do some days but if you can keep it up, 6 months from now you will be so happy you did.
0 -
Oh, yes, to say nothing about how much it helps keep you from gaining chemo weight. (Plus, personally, yoga was the only thing that helped the taxotere muscles aches)
0 -
Hi kmmd. Does taxotere make your muscles ache? I've had a few aches today and thought it was from the neupogen. Guess it could be either, huh? I know walking at 10 PM sounds late, but here in the tropics it is far too hot during the day, and actually is a decent temp at night. I'm really going to try to make it a priority each evening. Hope all is well with you.
0 -
BorneoMom: yes, the taxotere made my muscles ache. I took neulasta which also gave me back and bone aches, but the taxotere had its own fun. You don't want to look back and see how I did with this stuff, but, I will say that I am doing well now. Don't know how long the neuropathy will last, but other then the short hair people meeting me now 4 months later have no idea I've been through chemo.
0 -
Curious about the costs of treatment..as we all know its expensive. Noticed that the Neulasta shot cost $4000. each time it was given to me. That was the cost of the shot not the nurse who dispensed it. Is this what others are also being charged?
Also anyone living in Idaho?
Sending positive thoughts to everyone,
Nadine
0 -
Nadine, I got the Neulasta shot and it was $7462.00 per shot.
0 -
Hi Ladies,
I had my third tc treatment last monday and I can't wait for this all to be over! I have one more left and I can't imagine having to go through more than that. I think I have tolerated it well and have had minimal se's but it's not fun! At my third treatment I had another reaction. I reacted to the taxotere the first round (really, really bad - anaphylatic shock), the second one I didn't and this last one I did again. I now have an rx for decadron to take the day before I go. Anyone else react? Anyone else take decadron the day before? and if so what are the se's? I assuming I won't be able to sleep that night and my be hyper? I was soooo wipe out this week. The fatigue is overwhelming. We had a church fair yesterday and I was called to help serve food! Yes, this person knows I'm doing chemo. My Mom said it's because I don't make enough of my situation so that people think I'm fine. I don't want to go around saying poor me but really! Needless to say, there was no way I was going to be able to stand for hours serving food. One more question on an se. I had bad constipation at first then diarreah. The diarreah burned me so badly, that and my urine that now I think I have an infection (itchyness, like a yeast infection). I don't think I drank enough water this round to flush out the toxins and that's why it's burning me? Wow, I have a lot of questions today. Anyone have answers?
0 -
Firni: I thought $4000 was high...all I can say is Holy S##t. Wasn't until recently that I started looking at the statements, hubby was keeping track of everything...he figured last thing I needed was the stress of the bills. When a shot costs this much there really is something wrong with this.
0 -
Nadine, I got 6 of those shots, and each one was over $7,000 also. The cost of the taxotere and cytoxin, plus all the other junk added in the mix were horrible also.
Just caught up on things here, and I wanted to tell you congrats on making it through the chemo!!!!! I remember those melt downs and really wondered if I could ever again get up from the toilet. I had one melt down in the shower and thought I would never catch my breath!
My hungries came back with a vengence and all I wanted was hot dogs! I felt like a pregnant woman with the cravings!!!!! All through chemo, I lived on cream of wheat cereal and Carnation Instant Breakfast drinks.
0 -
Sukiann - I take decadron the day before and day of treatment and get more in my IV. Slept like crap for 2 nights, but apparently it gets you through the worst of everything. My fatigue hit on Friday (treatment on Wednesday) after the steroids wore off. And I was STARVING! I ate 5 meals on Friday!
0 -
Sukiann, it's true --- we don't make enough of our situation, and then people think we are fine. And if we DO explain it how it really is, then we sound like we are whining babies. No one understands!
Yes, the diahhrea was terrible and did burn. So did the pee! In fact, I have underwear that has burn holes in them (I didn't always make it in time!!!!) Make sure you drink as much as you can. Get it out of you fast.
All of you ----- you are bringing back memories to me, but please know that it is doable! I felt like road kill through all 6 treatments, but I somehow survived to tell about it!
0 -
I know, there does seem to be something wrong with the cost of all of this. My chemo and shots, (6 rounds) totaled just over $95,000.00. That doesn't include the onc visits each time. By the way, insurance and financial assistance paid all but $400 of that total.
0 -
Sukiann, a lot of women keep a bottle of water in the bathroom to rinse off afterwards so even tho there may be burning while you "go" you can wash it off when you're done. That might help keep that burning and itching feeling away. And yes, drink, drink, drink. Sometimes I really had to force myself, but it was worth it in the end. (no pun intended). See a dr. to find out if you do have an infection. That can be pretty serious while on chemo.
You are right nelia, no one understand unless they've been thru it. I've been pretty honest with DH about my emotional and physical feelings and he witnessed all of it and he never really did grasp it. He tried tho.
0 -
Firni, I forgot that I kept a spray bottle, too, and used it often. Also, I had a bin of baby wipes handy. I added extra water to the bin to make them extra moist. They have ones with Aloe Vera in them, and that really helped. I also learned, after a few accidents, to keep pads in my pants!
It's all this stuff that outsiders just don't understand. During chemo, when you are feeling so down and at the end of your rope, just peeing your pants can send you over the edge. I remember just sitting on the toilet crying my eyes out because of it! You would have thought it was the end of the world!
0 -
You know, it's just that kind of stuff that you don't bring up in polite conversation. That's why people think we're ok. Half the stuff we go thru we really don't want to discuss outside these forums. I wish I could just whip up my top to show those people who say "At least you got a free boob job out of it", what those new boobs really look like. Not quite like an augmentation.
0 -
This is the only place in the world where we can talk about and learn about issues in the netheregions of our bodies. Thanks to all of you for being so forthright. It helps to know I'm not alone.
I'm in Canada .... drugs administered outside a hospital setting are not covered by our medical system. Good thing to have insurance to cover drug costs. So chemo is covered but Neulasta is not .. Neulasta costs over $2,600 (CDN) per shot in Ontario.
0 -
Hi Everyone:
Got my port yesterday in preparation for Friday's TC chem treatment...my first one. So, it is getting closer. Just ready to get started so that I can have it all over. I know that you understand.
The port implant went very well...not in much pain, of course the drugs are helping to keep that under control.
Thak you all for your comments and suggestions. I am going in there on Friday with my bag full of tricks to keep me comfortable. I will let you know how it goes for me.
0
