Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?
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Sugar77- Sounds like you will start your radiation a few weeks before me, mine will probably start the end of March. We have a big Spring Break trip planned in March and my radiation onc said it would be fine to wait to get started after we get back. He also had already planned for me to have a 3-4 week break after chemo. Will you not have a little bit of a break before you start your radiation? Right now, I will go in for the "trial run" right before we leave and then get started right when we get back from vacation. I'm so glad that we will be able to go on our trip....something to look forward to.
Did you go to the Look Good - Feel Better class? I'm debating going to one on Monday. Except for when my WBC is low, I've been wearing make-up same as usual and dont know if it would be a waste of time to go. I heard you get a lot of really cool stuff though, so maybe I'll go.
Lottie - I know what you went through with the reaction to taxotere - I've had a reaction for both of my treatments. My first treatment was much worse though.....I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Not fun, at all. I hope my onc has another plan for my next treatment - sure don't want to go through it again. They are already running the drip super slow...it takes almost 2 hours for the taxotere alone. That makes for a really long day!
Hope everyone is having a good day!
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DianeB: I have done 5 treatments of Taxotere and Cytoxan and will have my sixth and last on Jan 21, if all goes well. Treatments were 3 weeks apart. I appear to have had an easier time than you as I have not been hospitalized after treatment. My side effects have been the fatigue, some joint pain early on but less now, hair loss at treatment 3 or so, fingernails turning yellowish and having ridges, left toes tingly only after treatment 4. I have had minor weight gain; I did not drink alcohol during treatment. Hope you have an easier time with round 2. write more questions if you have them since I have just done what you are starting. Best of luck to you. tildatap
Diagnosis: 8/25/09, lobular cancer, 3.1 cm, Stage II, Grade II, 0/4 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
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Juanelle: Will radiation affect your hair growth? I sure hope not. I know you were looking forward to growing hair!
chynadollsmom: How exciting that your hair is growing!! Hip hip hooray!
bbd: You are done with round one! Congratulations!
Take care, all...
Brenda
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Brenda, no the radiation will not affect the hair growth. That is a really good thing. I don't want anything to interfere with that. I probably will not have any chest hair though. I never had much of a problem with that anyway. lol
Lottie, I hope you are feeling better and the SEs have at least calmed down.
I am still having a bad taste in my mouth. It is not metalic, just different, I am not sure what it is. I wouldn't think it would be from chemo, it has been two weeks since my tx.
I have got to go now, I have my grandson and he is tired of play PS2, so he wants me to play something with him.
Juannelle
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I finished T&C back in feb of 09,last year.I did 6 sessions and each one seemed to do something different,although i had diarrhea throughout,and no matter what they gave me it didn't help much,but i made it thru.I lost all my hair from every part of my body.Only my legs and head hurt as it fell out.I now have a head full of hair,although it's not as thick as it used to be,then again i'm on Femera and it says that can also cause hair thinning.
Wouldn't it benice if they came up with some meds that killed the cancer cells,but had no side effects?? Don't think it will happen in my lifetime.
I had a CT scan of the chest yesterday w&w/o contrast and go to see the onco next thursday.
I'm having a lot of problems with my feet,arms and hands,think it's from the meds.Some days i can barely tolerate my arms and hands and can't do the things i like to do like sew,cross stitch,garden,and somedays i can't even write.Then i tell myself,'This too shall pass"
Good luck and prayers to all still on this journey.Hope your test are what you want them to be.Stay positive!! I know,sometimes hard to do.
Kathi
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Juanelle: Give your taste buds some time. It has not been that long. Oh, and I'm glad to know that you will not grow any chest hair after rads. Not that you ever did! (So that's why I hardly have any hair under my left arm!!!)
Kathi: I am hoping that you get good news on Thursday. So sorry that you are still on chemo. Did you have a recurrence? I'll keep you in my thoughts.
Take care, all.
Brenda
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Brenda,
I'm not still doing chemo,thank the Good Lord,you must have misread my post.I finished chemo last Feb,2008.What part of SD are you in??? I'm up in Oceanside.Gotta go dh just called me for dinner.TTYL
Kathi
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AL1841,
My oncotype DX was 31 so there was no question about chemo - especially with my age (35), grade 3, etc... I did get a second opinion from MD Anderson and they recommended Taxol x12 weekly and then FAC x4 or 6 (I can't remember - I think the chemo brain is kicking in). After a lot of reading and soul searching, I went with the TC x6. My oncologist is having the tumor tested to see if it over expresses topoisomerase. If so, then may consider adding in the A. I hope it does not and I will feel a lot more confident in my treatment decision.
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kathi, I hate to hear that you are having trouble with your feet and hands. I have some neuropathy in my hands and feet and am hoping that it will all go away. It is not as bad as it could be I am sure, but my toes just tingle all the time. The Med Onc, said it may never go away, and there wasn't anything that she could do for it. I hope your doctor visit is OK next week. Sounds like you have been through enough.
Brenda, I know each day will be better and better. One day in the near future I will be back to normal. Or can I say my "New Normal", what ever that will be. I heard somewhere, that hair doesn't grown where you have had radiation. I don't remember where I read it. I guess most of us will find out whether it is true or not.
Hope everyone is having a relaxing weekend.
Juannelle
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hi ladies, i took alpha lipoic acid throughout the chemo and i only would have a little tingling sensation. when chemo ended, so did the tingling. i still take the alpha lipoic acid, the vitamin C i take has it in it. no permanent neuropathy. lottie and juannelle and others who have recently finished, thats awesome. and for those going through it, it will be a distant memory soon.
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Juannelle - sorry to hear about your neuropathy. Can you tell me when it started, i.e., after which treatment? I haven't had any tingling yet but have only completed two rounds. I was curious if your's started after treatment #2.
Dogsaver - what is alpha lipoic acid? I wonder if it's available on it's own. My onc doesn't want me taking any vitamin C supplements while going through the chemo. There are a few other supplements he doesn't want me taking but I can take a multi vitamin and vitamin D. I have some really good vitamins and supplements I used to take from Whole Foods. However, when I showed them at the hospital I was told they had too many antioxidants to be taken during chemo. I was also told not to drink green tea, which I really miss these days.
Mommaof2 - my last chemo should be around Feb. 8th and they want to start radiation a month from that date (approx. March 8th). I'm going to see if they would start a week after that because my husband is a teacher and is off the w/o March 8th for spring break and my daughter will be home from school, too, that week. It would be wonderful if we could do something for a few days as a family...maybe go to Niagara Falls for a few days or to see my mom in Sarnia. I'm going to see about that.
Goodnight ladies.
Sherri
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make sure its vitamin D3, the liquid type is best 5000iu. the alpha lipoic acid can be taken separately. 200mg is what i was told. there are big debates about vitamin C so talk to your onc and a holistic onc too if you planning on doing supplements. my medical onc says D3 is a miracle supplement and she takes it herself and tells her patients to take it.
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My onc put me on 50mg of B-6 to fight neuropathy and through my treatment (TC x4) I never had more than occasional tingling in my fingertips and toes. I'm going to keep taking it until this stuff is out of my system in 4-6 months. I don't know if it would help when it has already set in, but it might be worth asking about.
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Kathi, sorry I misunderstood. For some reason, I thought Femara was a type of chemo. I'm in the Kearny Mesa area. My son walks to Kearny High School. You and I are only 20 minutes away from each other!
Juannelle: My med. onc. said that neuropathy will go away after chemo. Kathi's problems with her feet and hands may be due to the Femara. It's funny how doctors have different ideas about neuropathy. I HOPE it goes away after chemo. I, too have the tingling, and sometimes, the aching that accompanies this condition.
Happy weekend, ladies!!
Brenda
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My onc reccomends taking L-Carnitine to help with the neuopathy. I sometimes notice a little tingling in my fingers and toes....but maybe it's just in my head?
Sugar77 - I hope your onc will let you have an extra week off. My radiation onc starts counting the 3- 4 week break from the end of the last treatment. It's interesting how treatments are different in other locations. I think I heard that in Canada, you don'thave the six weeks of radiation with the extra boost the last week? Is it five weeks for you?
Have a great day - it's beautiful here in Colorado today!
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Mommaof2 - I have heard that, too, in Canada. However, they told me they won't know exactly how many I'll be having until I go through the CT scan to map it out. I think it can vary between 15 and 25 sessions ?? In addition to the number of standard ones they determine I need, I was told I would be getting five additional boosts due to my young age (I guess they consider 45 young!). Now off to fight the crowds at Wal-Mart Superstore for groceries!!
Sherri
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I too have taken 200mg of Alpha Lipolic acid all through chemo. Also Glutamine. I plan to keep this up for a few months now that I'm done chemo. I never had more than an occassional tingle in fingers and toes, and also some numbness. I skipped both of those supplements the day prior and for 2 days after each chemo session.
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I'm 13 days post round 4, and I have 2 more rounds to go.
I feel unusually fatigued. Is this from the cumulative effect of chemo? Anyone else having this problem?
Brenda
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Magob you r so right- I never bounced bak from #4 tx so I cried meeting w/ my onc on #5 feeling like I was all done and he reduced tax and increased neurontin for nerve pain. The second day was AWFUL and then #3 - someone/something/life intervened and now I am much better and feel like I am going to make it-YAY! Thanks for the encouragement!
Lottie - gotta say it again - CONGRATULATIONS! I hope your skin is behaving itself- this is probably stupid but when my child had a huge reaction to poison ivy that Aveeno oatmeal bath/soak was very soothing.
Love to all- Valerie
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Yes, I had my first on Jan. 5th, and am having a very rough go. Needing some Hugs and support...I guess everyone is different?
I'm from Washington DC...and since I'm new to this, I can only say " I understand..." Many Blessings, Traci
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Squidwitch42 - so sorry to hear you're having trouble. I got a lot of good advice for minimizing side effects from the ladies on this thread, which helped a lot. Maybe we can offer some suggestions to you for next round. Do you mind me asking what side effects have been troubling you? Let us know as we're here for you.
Sherri
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Hi, yes it is cumulative so each treatment will more challenging. I asked for an extra week before the last one. I tried tamoxifen and it was not well tolerated but I'm getting the ovaries out due to fam hx of OC and it will lower estrogen level.amy else nit able to tolerate tamox?
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Thank you both for your help. A few hours ago, I was unable to walk due to back pain, but two percocet later, I am better. the neck/back/hip pain hit me out of the blue yesterday....in waves, pulsing, heat did help, worse when leaning over *starts the wave pattern.) I did put a call in to my Onc to ask if I can use an NSAID (they will call me back.)
My symptoms set in at 0200 the night after chemo, lots of aching/crying/hot flashing ( I had a total hysterectomy in 2002 for endometriosis.) craving fat foods (good grief,) These and more were worse after three days of steroids over. I'm wondering if we can extend the steroids/cut back the dosing? I really wanted to give up, and thank God my sister was here to push me.
I also had extreme pain in my breasts (have expanders) and will NOT expand prior to next chemo...I had several complications after my bi-lat mastectomy, cellulitis and hospitalization.
just a quick overview...I am triple negative, (Boo) No Nodes (total blessing) 4 cm grade 3 (Boo) left breast only, 5 nodes removed.
I'll take all help and pushing to go through what seems very counter-intuitive.
Traci
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Traci - I'm triple negative, too. Did you by chance get the Neulasta shot 24 hours after the treatment? If so, maybe it's bone pain you're experiencing. Taking Claritin is supposed to help with the bone pain that can be associated with this shot. I've taken it both times and it seems to have helped.I know Taxotere can cause a person to feel achey but I'm not sure to what extent. I know I came crashing off the steroids badly this last round and am going to talk to my onc to see if he can give me a half dose or something for an additional day. I go for round #3 next Monday so I'm going to ask about it.
Hang in there and do talk to your onc because surely there is something they can do to alleviate these symptoms for you.
Sherri
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Hi Brenda I just finished my 6th and last TC treatment on 1/6. What you feel is definitely the cummulative effects of your treatments. I really didn't have much trouble with fatigue until after treatment #4. Try to be nice to yourself if you can, get plenty of rest and take things as they come. You'll feel better as you get closer to the end of your 3 week cycle. After treatment #5, the fatigue felt like I was constantly wading against a current --- bone tired. But, you'll bounce back. Hang in there.
Lottie
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Valerie - thanks for the congratulations. wow, I know exactly what you describe when you say that you were crying at the oncologist's office prior to your treatment. I went to my 6th treatment as though I was going to my execution, I swear, I dreaded it soooo much. And, of course, I had the bad luck to have an insanely scary allergic reaction. Anyway ... it's day 5 post chemo and my skin is fine. I'm "cautiously optimistic" -- maybe I'll actually dodge the bullet with the skin rashes this time. And, since they stopped the cytoxan less than halfway through, I haven't had any nausea at all. Thanks for the tip about Aveeno ... I've been using it since my second treatment. It does make a big difference. Also soaked in baking soda during an especially bad episode and it really helped.
Anyway, hang in there girl. You're almost done!
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Sorry to post three times in a row ladies ... I should have collected all of my thoughts and responses first, ... oh well.
I wanted to point out that, at least in my experience, I think that lots of my fatigue, the depression I felt, crazy appetite, sleep problems and other irritating things were more related to steroids than the actual chemo itself. This is just my opinion though. I found that I'd crash on day 3, pretty hard, just about when the pre-treatment steroids wore off. And, since I was then taking steroids to treat the skin reactions caused by taxotere, I'd have another fatigue-ridden, hard crash at the end of that as well. Since tx # 3 or 4, I'd break out in nasty rashes on approximately day 7 after tx. Then I'd do a course of steroids for 6 days and then I'd feel like I was hit by a truck for the next two or three days. After my final chemo, just as I walked out the door, they gave me a big shot of steroids in my IV because I'd just had a bad reaction. Sure enough, about 48 hours later I was on my a$$, depressed, sore and exhausted. I wouldn't advise not taking the steroids, I'm just saying that we should bear in mind that they're pretty nasty drugs and if possible, keep them at a minimum.
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Hi Sherri,
Yes, I did have the Neulesta the next day. The Onc also feels this is what's contributing to my pain right now. Very interesting about the Clariton...once a day dosing, starting with the day of your shot? They ( my MD) shot down my request for Ibuprofen etc....
I know the importance of the chemo b/c I am triple negative, but I wonder where am I going to get the strength to go thru this? How do you all get the strength?
Traci
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Traci - I take the Claritin about two hours before I get the shot and then I take it for four more days. I take the 24 hour one. I also take extra strength Tylenol and start it when I get the shot to stay ahead of any pain. I would stay away from Ibuprofen because it's hard of the stomach. I asked my Onc about taking Claritin it and he didn't have an issue. If you Google "Neulasta + Claritin" you'll see a lot of stuff about it.
You'll get through this...we'll all help you!
Sherri
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sherri, I can't remember when it started exactly. It is not so bad that it is uncomfortable, but I know it is there.
sido, I have been taking B-6 for a while now. I know my neuropathy is not as bad as some describe theirs, so maybe I am doing all the right things.
Brenda, I am keeping my fingers crossed that my neuropathy will go away. My feet and fingers do not ache, just tingle. My fingers are not bad, but I mostly feel it in my feet when I am bare footed. I was very fatigued after treatment #3. I was not over it when I had tx #4, so I though I was in for a rough time with #4, but it wan't bad at all. I did get a sleep aid to help me sleep, so that may have made a big difference.
lottie, congrats on finishing. It is such a good feeling to be through with that part. Also, glad the SEs are gong easier on you. Wishing you no skin rahses this time.
traci, what SEs are you suffering from? If you let us know, we might not be able to relieve them this tx, but next one, we could probably help you out. I had very mild SEs, but I had to work at it.
Hugs to everyone.
Juannelle
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