Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?
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Jeanoho47- Im sorry to hear you are having some bad SE effects from the infusion, i heard that some woman do get some bad reactions to the taxotere, i know that i would certainly talk to my onc about this, a few threads i read that there onc either changed there chemo to another one that may be more tolerable or waited a week or so till you felt better and your stats were normal. im only having 4 but every one is different, sorry i couldnt be much help, i will be thinking about you tomorrow, (((((((hugsssss))))))
debbie
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Hi All - I am on the TC x4 plus H trial through my ONC office...1st tx on July 29th, the next one is on the 19th. Tolerated first tx very well with only mild sinus pressure and hick-up's immediately after, and constipation for 5 DAYS!! They plan on slowing Cytoxan down next time to minimize sinus pressure, I am taking more proactive measures for constipation. Wish I had known about the cold caps...I will be so bummed if I don't lose most of my hair...cut it too short now to even want to try to keep it
It is a little scary to hear that so many tolerated the TCH well the first few times and then had reactions...but I feel better knowing it is a possibility (I hate being blind sided, better to know what could be then be surprised out of the blue).
Thank you to all who have gone before and have shared their stories and wishing no SE's to those in the thick of it or getting ready to start.
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I had my 3rd treatment yesterdayTaxotere and Cytoxan. 3 more to go~yippeee
I should have known it was going to be bad as my Dr. prescribed me oxycotin to be taken twice a day everyday, along with my percocets for my bone pain. She confirmed that the pain I feel on my head when my hair grows in in patches is normal but the hair is not here to stay so I just keep shaving it. After about 20 min. of Taxotere, my head began to swim, I felt nauseous, then my chest got tight. I politely asked the nurse when she was done with the patient next to me to check me when she was done. She asked if my chest was tightening and in record time flew to my side saying your face is bright red we have to stop the tax. So for the next hour I had a saline drip, they started the tax. on a slower drip and I was fine the rest of the TX. I am starving but afraid to eat. I have incredible heart burn from what I don't know. My vision is so bad, I am not sure if it is a side effect or just time for glasses.
Came home took my meds, finally fell asleep about 2am, woke up at about 4am with shoulder pain, and wanna puke. WTF both other TX's I at least had 2-3 days before pain woke me up. I have been very lucky with not feeling really sick.
I was also told I am stage 3a not 2b after she reviewed my lymph node involvement more carefully. Sometimes I think the Drs tell you just a little bit less so you don't Freak the Fusk out. Cancer $ucks, I was being watched "closely" after spotting 2 "cysts in August.
The state of NJ screwed up my paperwork for my disability so I won't have any money coming in for minimum of the next 2 weeks. My refrigerator broke last week and hubby hasn't brought the one in from garage into the house (I don't want it in the house anyway, I WANT A NEW ONE!). Pretty sure my ex husband lost his job as child support has stopped.
I finally started looking at my PET scan results. I have a 4.3 cm "cyst" on my right overary. And my thyroid has something cause for concern.
My mojo is all screwed up. I think my kitty is just broken because she just won't purr like she used to. I feel so bad for my husband, he thinks it is him.
I felt soooo good all weekend and had a great time with family and friends. Sunday night I got so scared of the bone pain coming back I bought a pack of cigarettes. I have been quit since before the surgery. Now I am smoking again! That NEEDS to stop now (as I sit and suck on one now).
Water tastes like crap. All I want is lemonade, which is loaded with sugar!
So sorry to totally vent, but I just needed to release it somewhere.
Bless you all, I hope everyone has a better day than I did.
hugs
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Hi Deb
My heart goes out to you.....I know how much you are hurting but you are in the right place to vent. We have all been or are going through alot of your pain and you're not alone. I know that water tastes awful and some gals have had luck with flavored seltzer or water. And you must flush that chemo out - it will help with everything else. Make sure you have something for constipation as the meds will bind you up and that's not where you want to go at all. As for your kittie
) - there is a great board on here called "I want my mojo back". Check it out for great advice and support. It goes with the territory of chemo but there are solutions. Sorry about the fridge and money woes. Lots of prayers your way, Bobbi0 -
Deborah, sorry to hear you are having such a difficult time. We know exactly how you feel. The TC also affected my vision but I expected it as the same thing happened 4 years ago when I was on CEF. Actually my vision improved and my glasses/contacts didn't work well and that's what is happening now for me. Last time, after a few months, my vision went back to the way it was so my experience was that the change was temporary. I also understand the issue of the water taste. For the last month or two I was drinking a lot of iced tea....I brewed it myself and kept a pot in the refrigerator (oops - you need a new one) .... I poured it over lots of ice and used Splenda instead of sugar. I was drinking a lot of that. Good luck
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Hi ladies, having some trouble with my postings going through. regarding hair loss, there were some products i was enlightened about after i was told about a cold cap that actually can help to prevent hairloss, One is the penguin cold cap system www.msc-worldwide.com/ordering/html and the other is a cranial ice therapy helmet. I ordered two of these at www.icewraps.net just wanted to share. Im supposed to start 5 day brachy within the next two weeks and then the TC. Reading these posts have been so helpful. hope everyone is having an easy week. I just started back at work today after being gone for 2 weeks for presurgery, surgery and post surgical appts. im glad to be back but i know there will be sporadic absences in the future. Helps having supportive coworkers. Thanks again for all the posts on here!
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dogsaver--I read your post and Iam a little concerned about the cranial wraps that you ordered. I used the penguin cold caps. Those I know for sure work from my own experience and tallking with many othe ladies. There are imposters out there so be careful what you order. The cold caps have to be a certain temp and have to be changed every half hour before during and after chemo for them to be effective. Just be careful you only have one chance to do it right if you want to save your hair. You can PM me if you like--Geri
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hi,dianne. I started the taxotere and cytoxan about a week ago. It wasn't so bad but I think they started me on a pretty low amount. Not only do I weigh 117,I also have an inherited alpha one gene so they weren't so sure how I would tolerate it. I'm thinking next time will be harder anyway, because the body has to recoup each time. The nurse at the onc. office ask me if I wanted to put my fingers in cold water to offset the black fingernails issue. I actually turned them down because I was so freaked out about all of it anyway. But will from now on if it's not too late. Hopefully it will get better for you. They have so many drugs for all issues. I ended up getting a hemroid which I find out is common from these post. Never delt with that before. Also have oral thrush and got a script for liquid nystatin instead of the pill dyflucan. I figured my liver was taxed enough. I found fennel tea was helpful in the nausea,peppermint tea is also. I'm trying something on the internet I found for hair loss prevention,I'm pretty sure it won't work but figured I'd give it a shot. It's called thymuskin,I think made in Germany. I read that with taxotere it all falls out at once and with cytoxin it keeps getting thinner and thinner. So one way or the other I will most likely be bald in a couple weeks. Will keep you posted. We just have to keep on keepin' on. It's good to have support so gather your friends around you. It's amazing where they come from, A post like this is a blessing. We know we aren't alone in the battle. I was just wondering if anyone has any information on taking antioxadents while on chemo. Most oncs. say no. Would like to find more information. Or if anyone has taken them. Later.
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thx Lori and Geri! i have emailed the penguin cold caps company and eager to hear back. thx ladies!!
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PS i just read about a drug called dexamthazone that is sometimes suggested before starting TC combo? has anyone been recommended or taken this?
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dogsaver - Dexamethasone is a prescription steroid. Annabelle had to take it twice a day on the day before, the day of and the day after infusion. It is apparently necessary for the chemotherapy agents to work properly. The nurse was always quite insistent in questioning her before infusion as to whether she had taken it.
PS- We currently have three (3) dogs rescued from the Animal Control Shelter, and about eight (8) feral cats and their offspring we're feeding and neutering.
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Thanks Dutch, I had never heard of dexamethasone before. I imagine i will be starting my TC rounds late august, after brachy radiation. Thx for the heads up! and Wonderful for you for getting your animals from a shelter and taking care of the feral babies! i have found animals to be truly healing all my life! hope you and annabelle are doing great and thanks for the helpful posts
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Morning Dogsaver! I started my TC last Friday and had to take the dexamethasone the day before and after, and I got it IV before the chemo too. The biggest side effects that I noticed was that I was flushed and that I broke out like a teenager. Some people have problems sleeping while on it but I was already so stressed that I took an ambien the night before chemo. Prior to hanging the tax, the nurse gave me IV benadryl, ativan and dex. I was asleep before the ativan was finished.
The worst SE's I have had, has been stomach pain, gas and diarrhea. I got a neulasta inj on Monday and had bone pain in my hips and legs last nite but it is much better this morning.
My husband and I are animal savers too. We have 2 dogs and 2 cats off "death row". I would have more if I could!
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dogsaver, yes I also took the dexamethasone - the day before chemo, the day of and the day after. I believe it's standard protocol for the TC. I was told it helps with allergic reactions as well as nausea. Several years ago when I was on the CEF, I also took it but started the day of chemo instead of the day before.0
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dogsaver - Annabelle said the ferals were her guadian angels. 10 of them showed up just about the time she was diagnosed. A few have moved on and three of them had litters in our yard. Each litter was another "squad" of guardians, as far as Annabelle was/is concerned.
When she was feeling bad from the chemo, she would often look out the bedroom window to be sure that the cats were all still around.If they were not to be seen, it was my duty to go outside and call them. One by one they would each appear from different partsof the yard - almost like during the overture to the Broadway show "Cats". Pretty neat.
They are all pretty much tame to us now, and our enclosed garage has been the nursery for two of the litters after we found them in the bushes. The mama guardian angels allow us to pick them up, pet them and carry them around. They've sure helped to carry Annabelle though this journey called Chemo and Radiation Therapy.
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Dutch - My 19 year old cat Inga was feeling very poorly when I went for surgery last August. The morning after I came home from the hospital she crawled up onto my chest and just lay quietly for about 2 hours. She has NEVER done this. Then she got up, walked across the room, lay down and slipped from this world. I am crying just writing this.... Two weeks later a friend called me and said she had found a little yellow male stray that needed a home. It felt too soon, but Andy became my second guardian angel cat after Inga and he is now the joy of our home along with his older sister Maq. I know I am a crazy cat lady but I need my cats and they bring so much love and healing. I'm glad your wife has found comfort in the kitties
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so does the nuelasta cause the bone pain and hip pain? when i see that drug named in posts, it seems to be associated with bone pain? and for the fellow animal lovers out there, we all know the healing power of animals. I had a friend whose dog was acting really wierd and nudging her in the breast area. she did a self exam and found something. they know and they know when youre sad and healing too. i got the call that i start multi catheter 5 day brachy next thursday. more poking and prodding but at this point im over the shyness and the dull pain gets duller. On a humorous note if i may share, since i need to find some humor in this, well, lets just say my tumor was in an unfortunate location, the nipple. so with much debate and opinions, we had that area removed. chose not to remove the whole breast since tumor was small and im not ready. my surgeon is awesome he says i have a barbie boob now breast still has same shape was even originally bigger than the other but there is a scar there that is already almost healed. anyways when i went to my PCP office, there was a new PA and he came in and saw me and said "wow what happened? without even thinking i said SHARK ATTACK and he was like No sh@@? and i told him he should wear a wet suit whenever he goes diving. seriously though i look the same in clothing and after chemo i will have a new nipple reconstructed, a better stronger one, maybe bionic. okay sorry if that was personal but i wanted to share a funny story
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Dogsaver, love that story! I am planning a trip back to Miami Beach after reconstruction is finished and it's a beach where topless is OK. I'd love to have the guts to do it, mastectomy and reconstructin scars be damned, and tell a story like that! Maybe I could say I was attacked by lions while on safari! And I totally am with you guys about the animals. My dog, Molly - she's the one i'm a greytmom to - was so patient after my surgery. She never cried to go out or go for walks. She went out when I was up or someone else was here to let her out. Best dog ever!
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Dogsaver, I have not gotten the shot (and hopefully wont need it) my bone pain is just from the chemo, probably the steriods I am on. First tx started in my hips, then worked down my legs. Second tx started in my hips then my shoulders, then my legs. This, 3rd tx hips and shoulders same time. All over my body I feel every bone going into day 4. I am on oxycotin round the clock and percocets when I need more.
I like the idea of telling tales of shark attacks. Lynn I hope you get up the gusto to do it. Then tell us how it went. I call my scars my badge of honor or horror.
I hope everyone is feeling as good as possible. I'm gonna try to not puke and get some sleep.
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dogsaver - Yes, the Neulasta does cause bone pain in most folks. They'll give you that heads up before they give it to you.
Claritin (either branded or generic) has minimized the ache/pain for lots of folks when nothing else would. Start with one tab the morning you're getting the shot. Then evening and morning for 4-5 days until the discomfort subsides.
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to jeanohio47 - please talk to your doctor before you make a decision based on the low blood pressure. Normal BP for me is 89/58. During surgery and chemo TC round one, I have had the dystolic drop down to as low as 44 for hours at a time with no panic from anyone. I don't know if there is a concern becuase of the relative amount of the drop for you, but this is why I urge you to ask your doctor. I just want to reassure you that from an absolute numbers standpoint, your numbers do not look alarming to me since I live at a much lower BP all the time. When I had my treatment they monitored my BP constantly while the taxotere was going into my body.
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Hey dogsaver! The neulasta causes bone pain . All blood cells are produced in the bone marrow. Neulasta stimultes the production of blood cells. You have the most bone marrow in the longest biggest bones, so that is usually what hurts the most. I got the shot on day four and day five was the worst. It has gotten a little better every day, mostly bothering me after I have been sitting. LOVE the shark bite story..with me I always like shock value!
Has anyone had problems with fungus? I have mild thrush already and a crazy bad yeast infection. Dr is calling in Diflucan and a topical cream . I am also having painful gas anytime I eat or drink anything along with diarrhea. I've decided I'm tired of this already!! LOL Any suggestions to prevent this next time are welcome
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Hi Ladies,
Deborah..soooo sorry about all you are dealing with right now.
I will have my 4th and last TC next Thursday. I was a lot more tired after #3 on the 23rd, really just felt normal again a couple of days ago. After #4 I am going out of state to visit a friend for a few days (air travel via ugh ATL). She wants me to come recuperate there as we haven't seen each other for close to a year now. I needed to time the visit around classes.
Can I get some info from those of you who have completed 4th round as to any differences if any to the prior treatments? So far I have been extremely lucky, though I know a lot of that comes from being proactive thanks to those who went before us, with only hiccups eating dinner on TX day, mild queasiness and fatigue which seemed to increase each TX. My hubby says I have been a little crankier each time also.
Again thank you to all who share their experience! Minimal SEs to all this week.
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Beach2Read,
I had #4 a week ago. I had the same SE's as normal for about the same duration. Biggest change was fatigue. I posted how I went to run a couple of errands on day 4, thinking I felt up to it. I ended up going to the ER because I almost fainted in a grocery store. By day 6 (Monday) I felt pretty much back to normal, which is my usual schedule.
In sum, I had the same SE's, same number of days, but I felt a bit worse and was certainly more tired. I feel great now after a week, but I am watching myself carefully for fatigue and I make sure to sit down and have something to drink periodically. I REALLY don't want to wind up in ER again!
I'm going to Santa Barbara, CA for two weeks this Saturday. Looking forward to my vacation, too.
Jo Anne
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Hi all, i just got a call from the oncology nurse and they want to start TC on Aug 27th which is just 6 days after my multi catheter brachy radiation ends. This seems soon but she sounded confident. The brachy radiation therapist said it could be a couple weeks after. Any ideas? dont want to put my self at any risk by starting chemo too early. Is anyone regretting doing the TC? Is there a milder chemo that anyone would have done instead or are most people happy with their TC choice? thx so much
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Has anyone tried the oral combination versus IV? what is the minimal dose of each you can ask for? thx and sorry for all the PSs
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From my experience they like to do the treatments as close together as possible in order to get the greatest impact. I was happy to get the strongest treatment possible as I don't want a reoccurence so I never asked about decreasing dosage. The first time I did chemo it was FEC (this time was TC) and because I was having such difficult SEs, the onc did lower the dosage a little bit after a few cycles. However, this time I was able to get through without lowering the dosage. So, I was looking for as strong a treatment as possible.
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Dogsaver- Check with the Dr giving your radiation about that timeline. I had the same type of rads and the doc said it had to be a minimum of 21 days before I could start chemo. That was good. It gave me time to get a port and heal up from that .
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Thanks Jo Anne. I'm leaving 2 weeks after my tx so I figured I'd be fine but thought I'd ask.
Enjoy your trip to Santa Barbara. It is beautiful there!
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Dear Beach2Read and Jo Anne, I will be starting TC this coming Tuesday. I see that both of you are done or almost done. Did you have a problem with neuropathy at all?
Shay
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