Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?
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Hi all,
chrisct, I'm not sure what PFC stands for, but I have heard from friends here that the new growth starts around 3-4 weeks out. I'm sure someone will come along with answers.
Tenacious_P,I earned $80 between both work places, so I feel very proud of myself. I have a co-worker who is baking next week, and I think we will exceed our team goal. I just feel so blest to benefit from all of the research $$$ that things like the Race helps raise. I will be thinking of you and your DH as you walk. Our Race is 2 days after tx #2 for me, and I'm not sure how that will go. They have pedi-cabs if you need them, but I really hope I can make it.
Pamelajo, My heart goes out to you. I am sure she will come around. My mom was sick when I was in High School, and she died the summer between my Junior and Senior year. I was a lot like your daughter, I stayed away from home and I got in fights with her. I did come around though. And you are so right about Mother's Day!!! I think it is so cool that your daughter is going to paint your head! You need to post a picture when you have it done.
Rickirev, thanks for all of your good tips. It sounds like you are doing this right. I am taking some of your ideas. Thank you for posting, it helps to hear how people ahead of me in tx are doing.
Okay, I know I didn't cover everyone, but that's the best that my little yeast infected body can handle just now. Yep, I got totally stressed out at work this week, and now I have thrush, and a vaginal yeast infection, yewww. I am blaming the stress and not the chemo, okay probably a combo pack, but I hate that everything in my life is chemo related.
Have a good weekend,
Susan
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I think PFC means post final chemo counting the final day of treatment as day one.
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Need Help - Are any of you dealing with muscle stiffness? I've got it bad. Tired, too. Everything else is good. Alarmed at how painful and tiring it is to climb the stairs. Arms are tight, too. Have 2 tx to go. Wondering what the heck this is and if it will get worse.0
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Magob- I felt like that from day 4 through day 8 and I believe it was from the neulasta shot. I was told to take claritin for a week starting the day before neulasta to help with bone and muscle pain. I'm skipping that shot next time so I will now if its from the shot or chemo.
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Day #3 post chemo - I feel better today, nausea is manageable with crackers and ginger tea. I slept pretty good and am looking forward to a better day. I started the Claritin with the Neulsasta shot and I'll be sure to take though day 8. Still drinking lots of fluids but only non-sweet drinks (water). I hope that is the worst for now! Good luck to all my other Thurs. chemo buddies and hope you're not having a bad time.
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Hi all. My first chemo will be this Wednesday. I've been preoccupied with other things lately so it's just now dawning on me that I'm about to start what will hopefully be the last, but longest, part of this journey (trip, adventure, sentence, .... whatever, it's been a b*tch... .)
I've been to chemo training which was basically the head nurse rattling off side effects and some other information I already knew and I've read on these forums and received lots of great advice and tips. Pre-cancer, I had remicade infusions for rheumatoid arthritis so I know what it's like to sit in a chair, attached to an IV for 4 hours. I always brought reading or work with me and sometimes food, but I always ended up falling asleep for most of the time.
But, I still have a few questions - I've read different things about how much fluid to drink after the treatment to flush out the drugs and my bladder. Is 32 oz enough? I've read 64 oz, but that's nearly 2 gallons! Or, do I have this all wrong or have my measurements messed up? Also, the chemo nurse implied that fatigue and other SEs won't really kick in until after tx #2 or so. Seems like some of you experienced SEs earlier than that. Also, she didn't mention anything about Neulasta. Is that given routinely or only if blood counts warrant it?
As far as my hair, I'm ready. As soon as it starts to go my hairdresser has offered to come to the house and buzz it off. I just can't fathom the idea of a wig -- some of the ones online look nice, but, few match my color (very light grey). And, how do you size yourself for a wig purchased online? How about a sleeping cap? Are they really useful?
Thanks to all, you're all incredible!
Lottie
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HELLO MY T/C Ladies- I am so sorry but I have been posting for 45 minutes to each and everyone of you. Every bit of it got deleted !! I commented to each one of you !!
Please, I think of each of you and pray for you everyday. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
The warmest hugs to all,
Toni
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Hi Lottie,
I just finished my 6th and LAST t/c infusion this week, so I hope that I can answer some of your questions.
Regarding water--I didn't really measure it. I carry a container around and drink when I think of it.
Night cap--useful when you start losing hair--it keeps it from falling all over your pillow. I found that my hair stayed in tight for about 10 days after my first infusion. Then, one evening, I felt like a shaggy dog--there was hair on my clothing and in my shower. I used the sleep cap for a couple of nights until I could get my head shaved.
I have asthma and tend to get bronchial infections, so my doc gave me Neulasta right away. My friend, who goes to the same onc, waited until her wbc counts dropped for the first time, then went on the shots as a routine. Be sure to take the Claritin the day before the shot, and the day of the shot, if you get them.
I didn't buy my wig on-line, as my hospital has a wonderful service where you can buy wigs at cost. In the beginning, I never left the house without a wig or a "halo" and hat. After six months, and living in the Southern CA heat, I have lost my fear about going out with just a scarf. I run around town in a cotton scarf, and put my wig on for social occasions. Everyone says that my wig looks better than my own hair!
Another word of advice--switch to nonscented laundry detergent before your first chemo. It doesn't happen to everyone, but my sense of smell became sensitized and my sheets and clothes absolutely REEKED of detergent smell. This usually dies down after the first week.
Guess that is all I can think of for now. Best of luck to you and everyone else who are starting out, in the midst of their treatments, or finishing up!
Now--on to rads in one month!
Jo Anne
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chelev, I remember your other photo!! Wow, your hair looks great! It looks lighter than before...is it, or is it just the picture? Is it curlier? I'm 4 weeks out from chemo and have white fuzz all over my head. Can't wait to see how it all comes back! I'm beginning to feel a little more encouraged, with hair growing and energy almost back to normal. Thank you for your encouraging words.
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MAGOB -- I am 4 weeks past my last chemo and I have muscle stiffness big time! Don't know why, it would come and go during chemo but now seems worse. BUT...I excercise more (walking up hills, for example) so that is contributing to it. I'm just more active overall so that's got to be part of it. Hang in there!!! It'll get better.
Peggy
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I don't know if it is relevant, but I do not get the neulasta shot and I still had bone pain, excrutiating bone pain. The claritin cleared it right up. I've taken it day 3 thru 10 and today is my first day without it, so far so good.
The chemo training is a joke. Everyone is different. The nurse told me all this stuff about the SE's and what to do for them, and NEVER mentioned claritin. I also take Astragalus root, two capsules a day. It is an herb that boosts white blood cell count. You can find it at www.mountainroseherbs.com I believe in it completely. Since my previous hodgkins, my immune system has been compromised and since starting the astragulus root caps, I don't get colds or flu or the dreaded yearly pneumonia like I used to. I was only taking it during cold and flu season, but I reordered when I started chemo.
My hair hasn't started shedding yet on day 11. I'm not really babying it or doing anything different. I've noticed it looks dry though.
Lottie: good luck hon. 64 oz is a quart, I think.......damn chemo brain. I quit drinking all water and switched to smartwater with electrolytes and Powerade after I got diarrhea. Just drink, whatever tastes good to you, and drink lots. Your bladder will thank you. I'm still drinking gallons on day 11. I feel so thirsty, my mouth hurts, and if I don't, my pee looks dark yellow and burns.
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Magob: I had a lot of trouble with muscle stiffness. I also had myopathy which caused different symptoms. I found a lot of stretching and yoga helped the best with the stiffness, but it took several weeks after chemo stopped for things to improve. Good luck, hope you start feeling better.
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Lottie - I didn't get Neulasta either. My blood counts were fine the whole way through, luckily. Keep your fingers crossed ladies - my exchange surgery is Friday morning. I can't wait to get this expander out of my chest!
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Ladies - PFC means . . . Post Frickin' Chemo!! We count each day past the last treatment of chemo and call it PFC.
Madge - yes, my hair is slightly lighter in this new photo - I am waiting (impatiently) for color on Wednesday - so its been about 6 weeks since color and since I'm in sunny Florida, it tends to oxidize. I am getting my normal dark chocolate color back on and feel like a little half-gray old lady until I get it done!
We have found out that the medical community really doesn't understand or recommend Claritan for bone pain with Neulasta and chemo - we don't know why it works, but for some crazy reason it does! When we mention it to our oncs, they sort of get this glazed look and say, "oh, really? okay" and move on. If it works, do it!!!
And, Madge and kmmd are right - even if you feel like crap and can hardly move, get up and walk. Baby steps. down the driveway and back, further if you can muster it. It really does help. I remember my husband walking me down the street on teh worst day of se's after each tx, and he had to hold my arm like a little old lady. I was shuffling along and didn't want to do it, but I did and it helped. The further out from your last tx, the more you should be moving around, and yoga stretching too - you've been spending so many hours laying on exam tables, sitting for infusions, laying down or sitting after tx, you will start to cramp and get achy. First time I tried riding my bike (my DH bought me a pink cruiser while in the middle of chemo and inscribed some sweet words on it), I could barely get to the end of the block. My hips and back screamed. but after a while, it got better and I was doing 2 miles, 4 miles, now that my energy is 100% back and I feel terrific, I'm walking / jogging these same miles. Keep on, ladies, you are all doing great!!!
If your pee burns right after chemo, get some baby wipes or wipes where they have toilet paper - it is the chemo burning you and you can get a little raw or a little infection there if you don't keep it well cleaned. Yes, speaking from experience here.
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I had four rounds of taxotere and cytoxan about two years ago exactly. I would have actually been around my second dose now. I did not get sick at first. I seemed to tolerate it ok. I also had other meds at the same time though. I am not sure but I guess all Oncologist give you steroids to go with it. I know I also took benadryl and some times Ativan at the same time. As far as nails, I went in with the worst nails. I always had them covered with acrylic because they always split and were fragile. I never lost one during treatment. They did not seem to get any worse. I am trying to eat jello everyday and I take large amounts of calcium because I currently take Arimidex. Don't worry about your hair. I have more hair on the top of my head than I currenly want. I have had a lot of haircuts in the last year and my hair is at shoulder length. It will all come back and be a distant memory one day. Good luck and I will hope that it gets better for you.
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grits - bless your heart. Thank you for the encouraging words. Its nice to have an "old-comer" pop in and tell us all how they did and are doing !!
((HUGS))
Toni
P.S. Ladies its to hard for me to post on all these wonderful sites. Want to tell you thanks for welcoming me in the beginning and I will cherish all the posts, comments, tips and support I received. God Bless each and everyone of you and I will think of you always.
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Thanks to all for the tips and encouragement. I worked out yesterday in the pool, and it felt AWESOME. It does seem to give the old body and spirits a good boost. I am going to try to work out every day between now and the next chemo on the 29th. Feeling better. Lynn - Said a good prayer for you. Will be thinking about you this week. Let us know how you're doing. Gosh, you have really gone the distance and the rewards are going to be great.
Give it all you've got, ladies. This week is going to be a good one. XO, Mary
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Hello everyone!
Just wanted to pop in and check on everyone.
Magob- after reading several posts on different threads, I decided I should start exercising. I walked almost 3 miles this morning, and your right, it does seem to give me a little boost. I think I'll try to keep it up, too. My next treatment is Tuesday tho- so I won't probably get to do too much this week.
GmaToni- You are such a wonderful lady- I hope all goes well for you. God Bless.
Chelev- Thank you for all your words of wisdom and encouragement. I am going to try the Clariten for sure this time. I feel like I could just cry just thinking about the bone pain I had last time. And I LOVE your hair. I can't wait til I grow mine back!
P.S. So, we had a super busy weekend, and I had to wear my wig a lot. It was ok, I had a bunch of compliments, but it was really uncomfortable. I am doing well with it, but it was a little emotional. But I got thru it, it should be easier from now on.
Greytmom_7 - Good luck Friday!
Take care, all!
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Hi ladies. I'm on TCx4 and today is day 19 post my first treatment. Out of the blue I had a lot of nausea today. So unexpected considering I haven't had more than a minute of it here and there. I have Zofran, Compazine and Ativan on hand. I have been using Ativan to help me sleep. Today I tried Zofran for the nausea and it barely helped. Has anyone tried Compazine? Does it work? Does it make you sleepy? Thanks for any advise. I don't know what I would do without this website.0
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Hey rickirev, I took Compazine for the first couple of days post treatment, (I am on day 10 now). It made my vision so blurry that I didn't feel safe driving, so I haven't taken it since. I hope all goes well with you. I really enjoy your posts, and you have helped me a lot with the hair issue.
Feel better!
Susan
PS I am glad to have the official definition of PFC. I can hardly wait.
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I have been alternating zofran and phenergan and I take liquid ginger too. Doctor also gave me some lorazapam for nasea and anxiety and I use ambien to sleep. I heard emend is great but my doc says they don't usually give emend for TC. For sure use the liquid ginger. The zofran I hace is the kind that dissolves under the tongue. Luv u ladies. I am on day 11, still have the hair and minimum SEs.
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Just a note about exercise... Some of us get anemia, sometimes severe, from the TC infusions. I'm one of them. The oncs don't recommend shots for red blood cell count, just white. My onc said that if my anemia was bad enough, I'd get an infusion.
That said--I can hardly make it around the block when my rbc count is low, and I don't push it. One day I walked in to the grocery store just a few days after chemo. I picked up a couple of items, felt woozy, and went into a "near faint." The paramedics were called in and I was checked out at the local ER. What was it? Just pushing myself too hard by going to the grocery store.
So, though working out may be wise advice for most, it's not for me and others who get post-chemo anemia. I've learned to stay in bed or on the couch for the week after chemo. I don't leave the house at all, because of the risk of passing out.
Of course, now that chemo is over and done with I look forward to working my way back to good health!
Jo Anne
6 days PFC
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Jo Anne -- I think you are absolutely right about pushing yourself. Everyone knows their limits and now is the time to baby yourself. I walked when I could and did not push myself. Now that I'm done with chemo I just feel so much better and have so much more energy, it's incredible.
Chelev - I like the lighter color, it looks very pretty, but I'm sure your colorist will get you fixed up how you like it. It was pretty darker, too, actually.
Mary -- Sounds like you are doing everything just right!
Have a great week.
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Jaelsne- 5 days after my first treatment I thought I would be ok to go to the store with my family. I really felt like I needed to get out of the house. But, by the time I walked through the store, I felt very dizzy and almost faint also. I couldn't even stand in the check out lane. I ended up sitting in the car until my hubby got through the line, and I didn't faint, but it was really scary. I progressively felt better day after day tho- and now, day 21 I feel completely "normal".But, I agree, this is the time to baby yourself and only do what you feel you can do, and not push it.
Congrats to you, Joanne and also Madge24 for being done with the TC. I can't wait!
Anyhow, tomorrow is my 2nd treatment. I am pretty nervous, just because I feel so good now, and I know what's coming. I have read different things, some say SEs get better, some say worse, and I know everyone is different. At least the hair thing is over and done with! One less "unknown" to deal with.
Revricki- Is your next treatment this week, also? If so, I'll be thinking of you - Good luck. And, sorry to read about the nausea thing. I hope that gets better soon.
Take care everyone- -------
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Hello Ladies
I didn't post this weekend because I was so busy feeling normal. I feel great. Sat. was day 8 and normal here I come. Went walking on Sat. and jogging on Sun. Today I go to the LGFW workshop. Can't wait for all the freebies.
Thank you to all the post chemo ladies for sharing. It is nice to hear what it is like when all this stuff is over.
Welcome Lottie. Hopefully this site will help you like it has helped me.
Greymom- Good luck with surgery. Mine won't be until the middle of December and I can't wait.
Toni- Thanks for all posting. Good luck and I will kept you in my prayers.
Jaelsne- Good luck tomorrow! Think positive
revricki- My dr. told me compazine is stronger then the Zofran so maybe it might help.
Pamelajo- You sound like a fantastic mom. I am sure with alittle time and distance you daughter will come around. She is scared of losing you but in time she will see you are not going anywhere
Torona- Glad to hear you are feeling better
hrf- I took the claritan but still had the bone pain. I have narcotics at home for the next time. I will be taking neupogen instead so maybe there will be less or no pain.
jen- I can feel your happiness. I am so glad the bald thing went good. Bald is beautiful!!
I'm sure I missed someone. Sorry--
THINK POSITIVE
chat with you soon
Catheirne
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Jenw- yes my 2nd tx is wednesday and even though I think I know what to expect, I'm feeling anxious. We are changing it a bit this time. Gonna get Emend (in IV and two days after) instead of Aloxi and skipping Neulasta, check blood in a week and if wbc is low then i will get neupegen. So hopefully I won't get the excruciating bone pain and headaches.
I know everyone says "this too shall pass" but, holyshit, I am feeling every moment of it. I can't wait to put 2009 behind me...leave it in the dust where it belongs!!!! Ugh! Okay, I'm venting. thx
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Such good advice here. Glad to be able to talk with all of you. True about being careful to know when to push yourself and when to rest. I'll try to be careful. It would be just like me to conk out somewhere akward. At least I don't have to worry about some hot paramedic finding me with hairy armpits or unshaved legs - got that covered! If I can just remember to wear clean underwear. (Kidding!) GMAToni - all the best to you. If you feel like it, hop in and let us know how you're doing every now and then. I predict you will do fameously. Revricki - Sorry about the nausea. My onc prescribes Emend, standard prectice for her. You take one an hour or so before tx, then one the next two days. It has worked well for me. But your nausea hit so far out - what in the world? Might it be a flu bug? Silly though - chemo is probably the culprit. Have you ever made fresh ginger tea? Cut fresh ginger into pieces and boil it for a few minutes. It may be hard to get down, the taste may not agree with you during chemo. It is also hot as in spicy, not temperature. But once it gets to the stomach, it can help. Works before you get on a boat if you are prone to seasickness, too. Can add honey, lemon, or both if that appeals. Feel better soon. Dogsaver - you're doing well! Go, girl. JenW - we're right there with you tomorrow. Here's to smooth sailing.
Predicament du jour: My onc wants to give me a flu shot this week. I get achy and feverish every time, and that was without chemo. Don't want to do it. Are any of you getting flu shots?
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chrisct -- There is no such thing as a dumb question! I had a million questions when I began this odyssey.
Tenacious_p -- you won't regret cutting the hair. I too didn't know what to do but after reading these threads, it sounded like it made sense. As for the 4 T/C -- you can do it.
jenw -- the first few treatments are harder emotionally -- as you say, you don't know quite what to expect. But it got easier for me all around. Just take care of yourself. I napped pretty much every day during chemo and that helped me. I excercised when I could. Anyway, you will be okay! Find the routine that works for you. And for heaven's sake, get take-out and skip most of the house cleaning! It can wait!
Peggy
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Hi all,
For those of you just starting out--I know it's a scary time. I wanted to let you know that what my onc said was true for me--if you tolerate the drugs well for infusions #1 and #2, you'll be fine for the rest of the cycle. The drugs are cumulative, and the "usual" SE's get a bit more severe, but generally people don't develop new side effects during the course of treatment.
He also warned me that #5 and #6 infusions would be more of a trial than the earlier ones, and he was right on that account as well. The last one (YAY!) gave me a great deal more fatigue than the previous ones. It's been a week, and I still don't think I could walk around the block. But it was all very bearable and doable.
Now I look forward to getting my eyebrows and lashes back! I miss them more than hair, because I can make up for the hair with wigs. (I didn't lose brows and lashes until after #5).
Jo Anne
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Jenw- good luck tmrw!
And to anyone else having chemo this week!
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