Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?
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thanks for the great info!! yes I'm getting the Neulasta shot, I will definitely try the Claritin. That will be great if that helps prevent the bone pain. I am also going to try to stay ahead potential constipation, another unpleasant SE.
I can't thank you enough. I feel so much more prepared, emotionally too, just knowing everyone is here for support!
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I did try the Claritin, it helped with the eye-watering but never did faze the joint/bone pain...had to take presciption pain med for it....which led right back to needing the fiber!! And Sugar is so right, ice chips during infusion did help reduce the metal-mouth taste, I didn't try the ice for fingernails, but never did have any trouble with them either. I have four little white half-circles on each nail, a reminder of four chemo treatments. Keep tissues on hand....nose hairs go, too and nose-running was about as bad as the eye-watering!!
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Horsedoc - I absolutely swear by that old standby Milk of Magnesia for constipation. I took it after every infusion and it never failed me. Don't wait for problem to start - just take it. Good luck.
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I just read an interesting suggestion on a website called BreastCancerDoc.com regarding what to do if you have a painful mouth that may be preventing you from eating. Here is a portion of the recommendation:
Rinses to numb the mouth. I generally ask patients to use these before they eat so they can eat enough calories for energy needs and drink enough liquids to prevent dehydration.
KAOPECTATE mixed with liquid BENADRYL: Take 2 teaspoons and swish and spit as needed or swish and swallow every 4 hours. Only swallow if you have soreness lower down in your esophagus
XYLOCAINE, MAALOX, and BENYLIN--"Xyloxilin" The xylocaine will numb the mouth. The maalox will soothe and coat any ulcerated areas. The benylin will also numb the mouth
Now, I don't know what Xylocaine or Benylin is or if you can get them without prescription, but I know you can get Kaopectate and Liquid Benadryl. I may have to try that one!
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Adnerb, is that a local study re: eyelashes or multicenter? Name of the study, I'd sure the heck love to get in on it.
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I saw the study on tv this morning - here is the website: www.eyelashgrowthstudy.com It's out of Philadelphia. At least that's the one showing on our tv. Hope it helps.
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kmmd:; It's called Study 192024-038 "For Eyelash Growth" by Allergan. I'm in San Diego, but I bet they have it everywhere. I believe the people who control the study are from New Jersey.
Brenda
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Hey Girls! Hope everyone is hanging in there with little SE... Today treatment 2... DID NOT GO WELL! Had reaction again to taxotere...Blood pressure 186/102.. Pulse 92.... The works. Had to stop,give me something to stop my heart from racing , Benadrly and then restart. I got it done it took forever... Now I have burning pain in stomach, diarrhea, and all the good stuff.. Dex flush....
2 more to go...
Donna
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Donna - love and hugs to you. We've all been there but that doesn't make it easier - just understandable. Water, water, water and all the drugs they give you.. Check in tomorrow.
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Hi all! Finished chemo on Tues. Took donuts to staff. Had been having cumlative knee pain so doc gave me neurontin. Now just waiting on these yucky few days post chemo to pass. Appt to set up simulation for rads on 4/1. Good luck and God bless to all going thru this.
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Congrats on finishing chemo bossyrenee!
Just like you did, I took pastries (croissants) to the staff at the cancer center. The nurses were all so very nice.
I hope you're feeling good. Good luck for the next yucky few days.
hugs.
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Lottie, I had a fungal infection so they could not use steroids on me at all after the CT treatment. i onlyhad one CT chemo and it was stopped due to a delayed allergic reaction to the Tax. I am six weeks out and still so ill. I have the same muscle complaints as you do and truly it is so painful that I cannot stand or walk for any period of time. Forget trying to get off the floor. The Se's from TAX have been profound and life changing for me. Like in a really bad way! i spent the first four weeks in the ER x3 a week at least from vomiting and pain. i truly thought i was dying. I had and still have the worst "chemo brain" and this is after just one treatment. My new ONC says i was on four drugs that prevented mybody from metabolizing TAX; 2) I was allergic to it and 3) my liver is so bad, it cannot process the chemical out of me. My skin is like beef jerky and my fingernails are now falling out AND myteeth are now loose to boot. This is after six weeks. My docs now saythat i cannot use chemicals at all and I am now looking at a double mastectomy. All of this happened so quickly and now I am so ill that I feel I cannot make appropriate decision for my health care or my nutritional needs. I walk into a grocery store and just stand there-overwhelmed. Truly, i don't know what to tell people except that this is the worst thing that has ever happened to me-eclipsing the cancer even!! ((((BIG HUGS))) SV
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SV, so are you saying they didn't overdose you? I may be confusing you with another poster, so forgive me if I've mixed that up!
Regardless, please accept my warm virtual hugs because it breaks my heart to hear what has happened to you.
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SV, your side effects from one treatment are unbelievable! What other medicines were you taking? I am only asking because I am not sure if my continued (and worsening) muscle pain is due to the chemo or the Fosamax that I have been prescribed for osteopenia. I just read about it and muscle pain is a major side effect.
I'm hoping that one of your doctors will find a way to help you. Big hugs back to you.
Brenda
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Morning Girls!!!! Yesterday was not great... Just didn't feel myself.. I guess what ever my body went thought on Thursday treatment really kicked the s--t out of me... Got my Nuelasta shot... Took my Clairtian...And managed to do 4 loads of laundry haven't had the energy to put it away yet..
Today I am hungry from the dec I guess. I have been drinking enough water to fill up a pool... The only thing I am not doing this time is walking like I did the last time... Don't have the mind or energy... But maybe today....Tomorrow is Sunday, and the last time the Sunday after my Thursday treatment was the flu like symptoms ... Not looking forward to that...
Stillveriticle-I hope that you are doing better.... Why haven't they started your treatment back up? Maybe with different meds... I had a double mastectomy and I would rather have 20 more then go through this chemo sh-t.....That's just my opinion.. The DM was nothing.. Had TE and I will have my exchange after my Chemo is done... The only thing I hated about the the DM was the drains had my for almost 3 weeks. They were always filling up....
I am very happy with my new Boobs. Had great surgeons...That what makes it all worht it...
Listen if there is anything that you need ... We are here for you... Feel well Stay in touch.
{{{HUGS}}}
Donna
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Donna, you and I are going through similar stuff, except you are a little behind me. Just got done with chemo and still doing fills, but my last one should be coming up soon.
Hang in there!
Brenda
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Morning! Any suggestions on eye twitching and jaw pain?????
Today just feel foggy headed...... Hopee everyone enjoys the day with little or NO SE.....
{{{HUGS}}}
Donna
P.S. Brenda--- how many treatments have you had of T/C??? Did you have reactions like I did?
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Donna - I had jaw pain, too. I thought it was just my TMJ flaring up. Perhaps it had somethng to do with the TC. For the eye twitching...I made sure I faithfully put in the Systane Ultra eye drops, which helped. Other than that, time will hopefully take care of it when the TC is out of your system. For the sore jaw, I took Advil and made sure I wore my night guard. I thought mine was caused from me clenching my jaw. I had 4 TC treatments and finished six weeks ago. I start rads tomorrrow.
Sherri
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Sugar77- Thanks so much for your help. Every suggestion you made I have been taken... Thanks so much. Just feel real blah today... That's great you finished your 4 TC treatments..... I do wish you good luck with your Rads tomorrow.. Is that everyday for you? Keep in touch... I'll be praying you you..
{{{HUGS}}}
Donna
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Donna, I had 6 rounds of TC. It's been more than a month. I remember hating the diarrhea and the flu like symptoms the most. Oh, and I was not a fan of the white tongue either. So glad that's over. Now I have muscle aches that make me feel like a very old woman. ONC says it's all temporary. I sure hope so! Take care...
Brenda
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Benda, I so agree about feeling like an old woman. This stuff does a job on our bodies but in doing so I hope it killed the HECK out out the disease. My onc just prescribed neurontin to help me with some of the issues. Sure hope it works soon. I'm just glad to be done with chemo.
Hugs and good wishes to all going through this
Wanda
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I'm 11 days out from my 2nd tx and like BossyRenee, I'm feeling more like an old woman this time around - just didn't bounce back as quickly as the first round. I learned my lesson about getting in plenty of fluids and while I still struggled with constipation, didn't have near the problems with burning and severe acne breakout as the first time. Dulcolax seemed to help out some - but I may try the Milk of Magnesia next time.
Does anyone else just feel like you're coming down with the flu - but not running a fever? Just don't feel 100%?
I am on the 6 tx @ 3 weeks apart schedule. Hugs to everyone.
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cbranner - I swear by the milk of magnesia!! Good luck and drink lots of fluids.
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when do you start taking the milk of magnesia? the day of treatment?
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I always took it the minute I got home from treatment. I felt immediately better the next morning and for 2 treatments took it for two days in a row. There are so many drugs they give us that cause constipation and that is a discomfort we just don't need. Just drink lots of water and there really isn't any danger to two doses. I did clear this with my onc and he actually laughed because this is such an old fashioned constipation reliever but it really does work without side effects.
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thanks I will try it. I have heard a few people on here swear by it working, and I know it's safe and "gentle" so sounds good to me. I am defintely going to drink a lot of water and Propel before and after treatment.
I've got the Claritin ready too!
Do you guys use gum or candy or anything to help with the metallic taste? I'm not too big on eating ice but might have to try it.
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Bobcat - I laughed when I read about your "old fashioned" constipation reliever. I used glycerin suppositories and they worked great. My onc had told me about some new fangled constipation relieve medication but I chose to stick with something I was familiar with. It worked great!
Horsedoc - yes, I sucked on Werther's Original candies on my yucky mouth days. On my very last treatment, I accidentally discovered that adding lemon to water helps a great deal. I was trying to use up some lemons in my fruit bowl so I added to my water rather than throw them out...and voila it took away the yucky taste. Wish I had of known that during my earlier treatments.
Good luck!
Sherri
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Eating Ice chips as I type... The metallic mouth and alway hungry for something in my mouth helps..... I am one of the ones that gains weight....5 days after second treatment and still feel foggy headed... Head (HAIR) is a fuzz zone and very itchy...
Drink lots of water..... It works...
Feel good with little or NO SE...
Donna0 -
I also accidently discovered that lemon or lemon juice in the water helps get through metallic mouth. I also drink cranberry juice cut with water. Probably not the best for us because of the sugar, but I had lot of burning when urinating after the first tx and I did NOT want a repeat of that!
I caved and didn't get the Milk of Magnesia - I went for Dulcolax which has always worked for me in the past. I start taking it the day of tx and for a several days afterwards. I also started eating Activia in the mornings, we'll see if all this digestive stuff will keep things moving.
My head is also sparsely fuzzed and very itchy. I'm constantly trying to scratch through my wig while at work and hoping I don't accidently pull it sideways!
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cbranner:
I had a TERRIBLE acne breakout after my 1st treatment...I was convinced I had caused it and was so worried about the 2nd treatment doing the same. I started using a gentle exfoliating face wash to prevent another breakout. I also noticed my skin would bleed very easily. I just recently learned from a co-worker whose son has just started Accutane for acne, that Accutane is actually a milder chemo-type medicine and will cause the person to have a major acne breakout, bringing all acne to surface before it starts to clear up. That is why they monitor patients taking Accutane and warn against pregnancy, I guess. I did not have a breakout after the 2nd treatment and my skin is clearer than it has been in years. (I'm 45 yrs old and had occaisonal adult acne) I am still being careful with my skin and using gentle cleansers and keeping my hands away from my face and hoping I never, ever, have to worry about acne again! Never would have imagined that benefit from chemo.
I still have problems with neuropathy in my hands and feet. Feet had been worse, especially at night. I had something called Biofreeze (from chiropractor visit for sore back) in my cabinet, so I tried rubbing that on the soles of my feet for the past two nights and last night was the first nite I was able to sleep without my feet bothering me all night. It's a gel-like consistencyy in a tube, and it doesn't burn or smell strong. Some people don't have the neuropathy side-effect, so maybe you won't either, but I noticed after each treatment that I would have mild tingling in my finger-tips and toes and then by the 4th treatment, my feet were way worse.
I sure do wish you and BossyRenee, Donna, HorseDoc and anyone else having chemo, the mildest of side-effects (or NONE)! Everyone here is very considerate and helpful, don't know what I would have done without them.
Oh, and dill Pickles help with that nasty taste, too. I was constantly putting food in my mouth to try and drive the taste away....pickles actually did that for me. I was staying nauseated just from the bad taste. And I think the Claritin may have helped me with bone/joint pain after all.....I had a sinus infection last week and was taking antibiotics and an OTC sinus/pain reliever so I discontinued the claritin for a few days and boy it was just like right after chemo!! I was shuffling around and sore hips and ankles and everything. Supposedly Tamoxifen (which I started on Feb 3rd) can cause bone/joint pain too! So I won't be skippig the Claritin again!
Sorry you had to join us, ladies, but I know you're as thankful as I am to have everyone here to rely on for encouragement and advice.
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