Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?
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wonderful ladies, just got done with final chemo. did 4 rounds of taxotere cytoxan. Definately was manageable. i would take a few days off for treatment and days after and then would work rest of time. zofran worked first 2 treatments, but didnt do its job the third treatment. with the 4th tx we did Emend and Aloxi and so far so good. ill be on emend next couple days as well as lorazapam. for those who havent started TC yet, or contemplating chemo, i can say that i am glad i chose it and i was the last one who i thought would say it. i didnt want to do it but then i couldnt wait to start and get it done. days 3 and 4 following chemo were the hardest but i was still functional just some nausea and fatigue and fuzziness. dry eyes were cured with systalane as recommended on this site. i had on and off tingling in fingers and toes but the alpha lipoic acid seems to help and it happens less and less. thank you all for the ongoing support. I will always be here to support you who have gone through it, are going through it and about to go through it. losing the hair was rough at first, i was depressed for several days but now im used to it and even contemplating venturing out bald eagle. next few days are going to be my downer daze, oh joy! anyways i agree with the previous posts to tell your doctors about any pain or nausea or sleep issues. i also asked for a copy of my full blood report. all looks good except sugar level in the high zone. thanks again for the support and please keep updating this site with how you are all doing and side effects.
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Welcome Wanda and Brenda, we are glad you found this site. This is a great group of women and will help you with whatever you need.
good morning, dogsaver,congrats on finishing your tx.
I am am 5 days post 2 tx. I have hardly had any SES this time. I am tired, but am managing. I just don't do much. I had some pain from Neulasta yesterday, but took my pills and that all went away. I haven't lost my taste this time and I have been eating everything I can. I just don't eat as much. My indigestion has as been bad, but a pill will usually take care of that also. Oh, I am living in a Chemical World. Thank goodness.
I hope everyone has as good a time has I have had this week. This makes it all doable.
Juannelle
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I just got off the phone with my oncologist. Taxotere and Cytoxan are my new cocktail. I had something the first time (forgot exactly what) but my FISH result wasn't confirmed at that time so this is a change.
She said something about taking a medication for 3 days in advance of my treatment. Is that the steroids? If not, are any of you familiar with taking an oral medication for 3 days before chemo?
I am already overweight so the steroid thing frightens me. She said she will give me the minimum dose.
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Good news! I just had my LAST chemo of T/C on Monday. I had asked the onc if I could move it up a few days in hopes of feeling well enough to go visit my family in Miss. for Thanksgiving. It went really well and day #3 I'm feeling pretty good. No nausea, just the steroid buzz and feeling tired. I wish everyone a speedy recovery and hope you will breeze through. I see my radiation oncologist on Monday to start planning for rads (33 tx). I am ready to get this started so I can feel "normal?" again.
I can tell all the newbies that it was hard but not nearly as much as I thought. There are lots of meds and OTC drugs to use for the side-effects but the most surprising one, looking back, was that losing my hair was the least of my worries once I took the plunge and buzzed it off. We are all very strong women and I am so proud of all of you for helping me on this thread. Good luck to everyone!!!
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dogsaver and Torona -- congratulations on completing your treatment! I can't wait to join your club after #6 on Jan. 6
My 4th tx is Wednesday next week. This time around I had almost no fatigue or nausea but broke out in about 2 or 3 different skin rashes -- one was actually the chemo attacking pre-cancerous sun damage on my arms, hands and chest ... an added benefit, I guess.
Hope everyone is having a great week.
Lottie
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Hello everyone. I am two weeks post TC, and finally feeling good!
Revricki- Same here, this last one kicked my butt. SE seemed to last forever, I even went back a week after the treatment to see if they could do anything, and wondering why on earth I felt so darn bad. I ended up with thrush for the first time. Terrible bone aches that I still am getting from time to time. Who knows. I just treat the symptoms. Any how, I'm better now- and on to the radiation. I start that on Sunday and will have 33 treatments. I went Tuesday for the tattoos and mold, it was no biggy. After Chemo I feel I can do anything with little trouble!!!
To everyone just starting- You can do it! They had to force me into it, but now that it is over, I am glad I did it. It was really hard, but hang in there. Hair loss has been hard on and off, some days it bugs me a lot, other days it doesn't even phase me. And here I am just 2 weeks after my last treatment and I already have quite a bit of fuzzy hair coming in.
I hope everyone is doing well and getting through this crazy journey. Congrats to everyone who is just finishing up and good luck with whatever treatment is next in line! We are strong and capable! Hang in there!!!
Jen
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Hi everyone! Looks like I've joined your club. I just got back from the onc's office. She said everything looked fine except my oncotype which was high. I know she said the number but I sure as heck can't remember. So on December 1 I start the first of four TC treatments. Looks like I'll lose my hair just in time for Christmas. Oh goody.
I'm not looking forward to this. First it was "the radiologist wants more images of the right side" then the ultrasound, the biopsy, etc etc ending with a double mastectomy last month. Well it didn't end there because 2 weeks later I was back in the hospital with a staph infection. They removed one implant (after 48 hours of IV antibiotics I was in worse shape) and now I'm seriously asymmetrical with one implant in and the other gone (temporarily). So I finally met with the onc expecting good news since I was node negative, but no. Lousy oncotype.
I'm sorry ... I'm seriously whining here but I'm upset and frustrated and scared and not a lot of people I can talk to. I'm so glad this website is here.
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sherri, I take a steroid the day before, day of and day after. If I didn't take it orally then they would give it to me as part of my tx through the port. I think it is mainly to fight inflammation, but I could be wrong.
torona, congrats on finishing chemo. I am 1/2 way there. My last be be at Christmas. I am ready to get the rest of this on with.
lottie,I asked my Onco before my first tx if this chemo would help fight precancer cells on my face and hands. She said no, but like you I have had several places on my hands that have become sores and then healed nicely. I think it does help, because it is just going after fast growing cells. I was really trying to look at the glass 1/2 full before chemo.
Welcome, cka, it is OK to whine here, we all do that occasionally. I am doing chemo, because my Oncotype DX was 25. It is very doable and we will help you get through it. There are many things you can do to make things easier on you after tx.
Hope everyone has a great day.
Juannelle
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Juannelle, thanks for the encouragement. I decided that doing this in the winter is easier - when big sweaters and hats are typical
. Sherri, I recall the steriod was used to lessen some negative or allergic reactions to the drugs.
Good wishes to all for today.
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Hi Ladies:
Went in for my first 4 month check up yesterday and left shaking my head. I have some questions...how often should we have a mammogram? What tests should be done on the side where my modified mastectomy took place? Anyone continuing after 4 months to have unexplained weight gain, and excessive tiredness? I have a lump on my neck that everyone can feel but my doctor. I am making an appointment today with my family doctor and will just act like we are starting over. As you can imagine I am worried sick, what if this lump is cancer again. When I had swine flu and pneumonia the end of October other clinic doctors could feel this lump...my DH who is about as medical as my big toe can feel it easily also. My depression medicine was increased. Well gee who wouldn't be depressed. I am not a bit happy with this doctor, I think the last few visits his brains left him or something...IF we find out this lump is cancer he will be tossed to the curb and I will for sure get a new cancer doc.
Nadine
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Juanelle,
can you remind me what you take when you get Neulasta shot to help with bone pain. I remember something about Claretin, when do you take it and is there also something else to take?
I had 2nd tx yesterday and go for this shot tonight (I didn't have it 1st time)
thanks, Jean
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jean, I did take Claretin about 2 hours before and then took it for a couple more days and I had not pain from the Nuelasta shot. When I had my first tx, it was 3 days before I got my Neulasta and my WBC dropped so low that I had to have 2 Neutprogen shots and that was when the pain hit, I took hydrocodoyne for that. It worked.
Hope that helps.
Juannelle
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Is there a way, besides blood draw, that you can tell if your white blood count is down?
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sherri, I have no idea about that. Blood draw is probably the only way. I don't feel any different, so I don't think that is an indicator. I am just afraid of any thing that could get infected at this point, because my body just couldn't fight it off. I bought some cheap ear rings and it caused one of my ears to hurt, so I stopped wearing them because if my ear got infected from cheap ear rings, that would just be terrible. If it is not one thing it is another that we have to worry about.
I think we just have to stop and try to think one step ahead of everything. We need to be careful for so many reasons, I just wish it was easier.
Best wishes for a great weekend.
Juannelle
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Hello Girls: Was wondering if anyone has any information regarding the original question? They found a second primary last month and the doctor wants to treat it only with Taxotere. The first time I I also had a seizure with the cytoxin so he does not want to use it again and he told me that the Adramyacin(sp) can only be used once. Just wondering how effective it will be.
1.3cm, Stage 1, Grade 3, 0/4 nodes
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I have a constant craving for steak! What is that all about?
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brenda, I have no information on your question. I am sorry I can't help you, but I am sure someone will know the answer.
adberb, I am from Texas, where we are always ready for a side of beef, there is nothing wrong with that. In fact that sounds really good.
Juannelle
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Hi Brenda, I bet if you google or use adjuvant!one they can tell u the latest on taxatere alone - I know it has some really good press. It is such a scry thing to have to trust stuff we know so little about. You could also get a second opinion, that might help ease some worries.
Good luck, Valerie
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brenda, they dont want to do a lumpectomy? yes second opinions are great. PS i am 4 days PFC (post friggen chemo) and i am so impatient this time. i know once i start to feel better then road to healing starts. the emend was great for the nausea but boy has it been playing with my emotions and anxiousness. ready to be out of the chemo sludge! hope you all have a mellow sunday
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My next chemo treatment is Wednesday. I had something different last time because my FISH test result wasn't in yet. Now that they've determined that to be negative, I am going on Taxotere and Cytoxan. I've read several posts about how terrible Taxotere is and now I'm getting nervous. What should I expect?!
Thanks
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SLV, i just finished the protocol and i didnt have an awful time with the taxotere. from what i hear, the really hard chemo drug is adriamycin. i was functional throughout most of treatment, just took about 4 days off for the chemo effects. some people have bad reactions right away which is why its important to have them start slow. youll find alot of good info on the past pages of this thread and there are people who are in the beginning, middle and end of this regime to help.
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sherri, I am doing Taxotere and Cytoxin, and I am having no problems to speak of. I had my 2nd tx on 11/13 and I have had a pretty easy time. After the first tx, I was so fatigued that I slept lots, was constipated, had flu symptoms, nothing tasted good, was sensitive to sugar and salt, all this lasted for about 6 days and then I started getting better.
After 2nd tx, I worked on the constipation and so was never constipated. Did not lose my taste, still sensitive to sugar, just don't want anything sweet. No flu symptoms this time, but fatigued still. I just have no stamina to do anything for very long without resting. In general, I have felt really good considering that I just had a treatment. My body tolerates the drugs very well, I have no other health problems and no allergies and I think that makes lots of difference in how you tolerate the drugs.
I also keep my finger nails painted a dark color, black normally. Now I read somewhere that if you only have 4 tx then your nails may not be a problem, but I am just doing it as a precaution.
I eat ice chips the whole time I am getting my chemo. I have had no mouth sores, I also rinse with Biotene each time I go to the bathroom for several days after chemo and use the toothpaste. I keep myself really clean my rinsing my bottom with water and use wipes and have had no problems with rashes on my bottom. I drink lots of water or any other drink that tastes good. Remember that you need to go to the bathroom about every two hours to get the drugs out of your system. If you drink lots of water then you need to drink something to refresh you electrolytes.
This may be TMI, but you did ask what to expect. PM me if you want more details on anything specific.
Juannelle
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Hey 1L How come you paint your nails? Valerie0
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Hi Ladies,
I'm with you Lottie & will be getting my TX a couple of days early this time on Weds, due to the holiday. It will be my last one though. The 3rd one kicked my but bad with extreme fatigue & nausea, I was very weak & had to take a week off of work. My WBC's were lower than ever (I refused the Neulesta shot-now finding out it was a mistake-it won't help me much just getting it once for my last tx I'm told). The first 2 for me were not near as bad. Now all of a sudden, I can't stop eating either....is this some sort of delayed reaction from the steroids?? I've gained nearly 6lbs in less than a week....not good. Have a great day & Happy Thanksgiving Ladies! I'm so glad I found you all!
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Hello everyone. I have come to this site time and time again over the last few months. I will have my final TC on December 2nd and am glad that I will finally be through and ready to start the radiation. Not really looking forward to the radiation. I'm pretty fair skinned and am afraid I'll burn, but at least I won't feel so bad all over. Everyone on this site has been wonderful. I was never surprised by any of my symptoms, because I had read about them before they happened.
adberb - I had to laugh when you said about the cravings, though. I don't know about you, but I've told my family chemo tends to be a little like pregnancy. I keep getting cravings. Different ones, different days (hey and at least some are healthy). But for me I've found if I don't eat what I'm craving, my food will lay very heavily. I haven't had much actual nausea, but my stomache's been very iffy. So I've gotten to the point that I listen to the cravings if at all possible. So eat steak!!
Right now I'm dealing with a raw nose. That's been one of the more difficult side effects. The inside of my nose becomes raw and cracked. Twice a day I use saline solution and neosporin to protect it as best I can.
Sherri - OneL gave you very good information. I will have my chemo on Wednesday. I arrange my schdule for no one to really expect much out of me until at least the following Tuesday. Mostly fatigue, trembling, and lack of appetite. I can eat. Not nauseaous exactly, but not much appetite either, and when I do it it sometimes sits heavy for an hour or so. But I can visit with friends, and on several of the days I can even get some light housework done. I've found the side effects, for the most part, to be very manageable. Just don't push yourself. If you're fatigued--rest! And drink, drink, drink. You want to keep your insides cleaned out as much as possible. After my first round my white count did drop to basically nothing, so they gave me the Neulasta shots from then on. I take a darvocet on and off until the bone aches stop. For me it was like the aches you get with a flu. But if I didn't take something the pain in my back would start escalating. But one pain reliever and the pain would drop right down.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone. And thank you all for sharing your struggles. It's a lifeline to everyone who finds themselves on the same unexpected journey.
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Adnerb and Chyna, yes, yes, yes! Those cravings.....I eat a corn dog once a year at the rodeo. During chemo I had hot dog cravings and insisted on eating one every day with a chocolate milkshake. It was the only thing that really tasted good to me. When chemo was over and my taste-buds came back and I lost the yucky aquarium taste in my mouth, I haven't eaten a single one nor have I had any cravings whatsoever.
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I read that some people lose their nails. One solution was to paint their nails black, so that is why I paint my nails. It was a simple solution to a problem that I didn't want to face, losing my hair was enough.
Juannelle
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I am am member of several threads and now I don't remember which one we discussed the free scarf from franceluxe.com. However, I did order one and I am going to copy their reply to me. They want to connect to women who need a scarf, so if you haven't been in contact with them, please do so, because they are offering you a gift. If you live in another country please contact them, I don't think they will turn you down, it doesn't say they are country specific.
Dear Juannelle,
I would be very happy to provide you with the It's a Wrap you've chosen. We will get it made for you and send you an email when it ships - presently our delivery time is about 4 weeks. Also, I would love to know where you learned about our program J.
Please feel free to spread the word of our Good Wishes Scarves program. I have copied a posting I put on the TNBC foundation website. It will give you some background as to how the program started and really got its wings.
Have a terrific day!
Laurie
Hello,
I'm very new to the TNBC foundation and am thrilled to have found this resource. As a tech challenged person, it took me awhile to figure out how to even post a message. My name is Laurie Erickson and I am the CEO of a fashion accessory company located in Washington State. A few years ago I launched a program called Good Wishes scarves - a program where my company makes one, free of charge, silk scarf or headwrap for women experiencing hair loss. This program was borne as a result of an email I received from a loyal customer, Hillary, who bought hair accessories from my company. She wrote to our customer care address and asked if we had any products for women who are losing or have lost their hair. I replied no at the time, but offered to make her a scarf at no charge, in a color of her choosing. When her scarf was completed, we had a staff meeting and had a moment for this terrific woman, silently sending her Good Wishes. After receiving her scarf, we communicated from time to time and I told Hillary that should she meet anyone along her journey, who might enjoy a Good Wishes scarf to please let me know and I would happily have our factory make one for her - she told me that her Good Wishes scarf had brought her comfort during her chemo sessions. At a subsequent Chemotherapy session, Hillary met a woman who learned of our fledgling program and requested a scarf - we were so happy to know that our desire to give was becoming a reality.
I have really struggled to connect, to give, to share our scarves with women. It seems so odd to have the ability to give and KNOW the need is out there, but struggle to find the bridge to get that done. Fortunately, I spoke with Malaak Compton Rock earlier this week and she told me about TNBC - I was so happy when we spoke and I said "you're my Bridge!" - she was as always just lovely and helpful and I am absolutely optimistic. My head has been spinning with ideas and so I write to you here to help me spread the word. It's very simple. My company works with hundreds of different silks and cottons. I will give as much as I possibly can to the community of women who are undergoing or experiencing an event where she is losing her hair. I have two options at this time; a scarf (which can be a bit cumbersome for some) or a headwrap called "It's a Wrap". I will send you one at no charge. We don't have these all up on our website yet at http://www.franceluxe.com/, but I can send you swatches or a scan of the available fabrics at this time.
If you or someone you know would enjoy either a scarf or an It's a Wrap - please email me at laurie@franceluxe.com and me and my staff will work to get it done for you.
In closing, I've worked in the fashion accessories industry for over 20 years. It is an honor and a pleasure to put smiles on faces through sharing our work - I believe in the power of sending good wishes.
Thank you and I look forward to working together with you to perhaps send some comfort to women from women.
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Thanks Valerie and dogsaver for your responses...
I did have a mastectomy 3 weeks ago and because of the issues I had the first time I went through this 3 years ago, is why they can only treat it with Taxotere alone.. They are going to increase the dose... so I am a little anxious about it after reading the post... I was going to try and work this time around, but not sure if I will be able to.
Now my next anxious moment is that I am a grade 3... that scares me.
Thanks Girls..
brenda
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Hi Brenda, grade 3 is scary but knowledge is good b/c it will keep you vigilant and is easier to see on scans b/c the cells r more mutated and differentiated. The tumor was small and no node involvement but as u know things can slip by nodes so vigilance and enjoying life is the key!Best wishes to you and you can have support anytime you need it! Valerie0
