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Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?

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Comments

  • arubajan05
    arubajan05 Member Posts: 44
    edited April 2010

    Hey all,

    Round 1 went better than I expected, not too many SE's yet... I hit the bed like a lead balloon  last night and other than some nausea and sleeplessness which the meds took care of I felt okay.  Today felt like a bad hangover, but I thought it would be worse.  Mouth is very dry and getting worse during the day, but the dizziness is getting better. I even went for a brief ride with my hubby in our convertible with a BIG hat and shades... (otherwise I would have appeared pretty scary I am afraid...LOL) Also, as far as the nail issues, my nurse yesterday recommended applying tee tree oil daily to the cuticle... I am going to try it! 

    We'll see what tomorrow brings....

  • Sherri_V
    Sherri_V Member Posts: 35
    edited April 2010

    Had my FINAL chemotherapy last Wednesday, April 21st!  I'm now past the "bad" weekend that follows and am looking forward to being finished with the whole darn thing!  I haven't been letting myself think past cancer at all, until this morning :)

    I have a follow-up appt. with my oncologist next Tuesday.  I guess that is when I'll find out about my radiation schedule, etc.  For those of you who are ahead of me in the schedule, exactly what all happens between chemo and radiation?  I feel weird not knowing what the next step is....

    Thanks!

  • Psalm121
    Psalm121 Member Posts: 179
    edited April 2010

    Hi Sherri:

    I didn't have radiation, but I wanted to say YAY for finishing chemo!! I was so happy with my last one I cried all the way home and my poor DH kept saying don't cry!  It was happy tears!!

    I'm so glad you're done with chemo!! Praying for you, for future appts/procedures and for when you start rads as well.

  • sugar77
    sugar77 Member Posts: 1,328
    edited April 2010

    Sherri_V - I had six weeks between chemo and radiation.  After 4 weeks I went and had the CT scan for plannng and then started the radiation about 2 weeks later.  I used the time in between to recoup, relax and get my strength up so I was ready for rads.  Good luck to you!

    Sherri (Sugar77)

  • retrievermom
    retrievermom Member Posts: 321
    edited April 2010
    Sherri:  My onc gave me 3 weeks between my last tx and my appt with the rad onc this Thurs.  I've spent the time getting some strength and normalcy back.  Still experiencing fatigue and hot flashes (keeping me awake at night), but I'm working and exercising and doing most of my normal activities. 
  • Adnerb
    Adnerb Member Posts: 727
    edited April 2010

    Bev, my feet also swelled about a month after last chemo.  I was worried, but was assured that it was another side effect steroids and chemo.  The swelling eventually went away!  It has been about 10 weeks from final chemo, and I feel so much better!!!  You will, too...eventually.

    Brenda 

  • Everett78
    Everett78 Member Posts: 45
    edited April 2010

    Sherri congrats on finishing! 

    Great news, I had the axilaary node dissection last week, last night the surgeon called at 9 pm to tell me that everything was benign!   Now I can't wait to get the drain out!  Ouch! 

    I'll start rads in the next couple weeks.

    Deb

  • sugar77
    sugar77 Member Posts: 1,328
    edited April 2010

    Deb - wonderful news...congrats!

    Brenda - so glad to hear you're feeling better. How's the Latisse working?

    Sherri 

  • Adnerb
    Adnerb Member Posts: 727
    edited April 2010

    Sherri, I started applying the solution last Friday.  I was told that I really would not see results until a month later.  I asked the technician how I would be able to tell if it was the solution or just natural eyelash growth.  She said I would know.  I am already noticing a marked growth from last week.  Maybe it is just my imagination, or natural growth.  I am also noticing that the growing lashes are straight, not curly like my original lashes.  Maybe they are still too short to tell.  Anyway, thanks for asking.  I am pretty excited about it.

    Brenda 

  • teemee
    teemee Member Posts: 18
    edited April 2010

    Hi all,

    Have any of you had your infusions just in your veins? I'm asking because I'm 10 days out of #2, and both times around day 6 I developed a rash on the site. I didn't think it was worth mentioning to anyone, but this time, my vein is very swollen, the whole area is red, and this morning I woke up and it was like part of that skin was burned off. You know how when you get a burn it looks wet? (the new skin underneath). It's right where the needle was. I'm going to see if it gets any bigger tomorrow, just wondering if anyone else experienced this?

    Thanks, T

  • retrievermom
    retrievermom Member Posts: 321
    edited April 2010
    T:  I had my infusions thru my veins, but no rash, and I have very sensitive skin.  I had a huge bruise from the last one, but no redness.  Do talk to your nurse or onc.  Sounds like you're allergic to something.
  • Ezscriiibe
    Ezscriiibe Member Posts: 139
    edited April 2010
    teemee: PLEASE address this immediately. The chemicals are very toxic and can really damage surrounding tissue if there is a leak or weakness in the vein. The health care staff giving the infusions really need to know symptoms like that, even if it's only a "rash."
  • Adnerb
    Adnerb Member Posts: 727
    edited April 2010

    T:  I had infusions through my veins all the time (10 times in all).  I did not bruise after the AC, but bruised during TC when they could not find the right vein.  I agree with retrievermom.  Talk to your oncologist or nurse.

    Brenda 

  • Everett78
    Everett78 Member Posts: 45
    edited April 2010

    teemee, I developed a weird rash where needle went in my vein that was about 2 inches long.  It showed up about 5 days after my 2nd TC, the skin peeled away and I still have a mark (it's fading.)  My 2nd TC is also when I had a reaction and they had to slow things down (for my 1st TC they did things slowlt because I was new, my 2nd they started out fast and I had the reaction.)  This did not happen after my 3rd & 4th. 

    You need to show the doc's.  Deb

  • teemee
    teemee Member Posts: 18
    edited April 2010

    Thank you everyone for your quick responses, I will call tomorrow. I'm pretty sure nothing leaked because it took 5 days to show up in the first place. And I am also one of the lucky ones who has a Taxotere sensitivity, so in addition to oral steroids last time I had 3 add'l shots of solumedrol, plus 3 of benadryl. eesh.

    T

  • catori
    catori Member Posts: 38
    edited April 2010

    teemee~ I had all my TC tx through a port in my chest...however, after my 2nd tx i developed a very big "burn"on my hand between my thumb and first finger about the size of a silver dollar...I showed the cheno nurses and they said it was a toxic burn from the chemo but was told to just put some lotion on it. I thought that was a weird response but they did not seem worried about it so I didn;t worry either. I still see on my hand where it was and this was like 3 months ago.

    A couple of weeks ago I was treating mself to a relaxing night and applied a facial mask and drank a glass of wine while it was drying and then when I went to wash it off, my face had turned bright red and was one big welt...I assumed it was something in the mask I must of became allergic too...I took some benedryl and it seemed to work.

    Last friday I decided after work to hve a glass of wine... 3 sips into it I could feel heat on my face...sure enough , my entire face turned bright red, spreading down my neck and chest, again I took benedryl. I told my sureon about it and she said to be sure and tell my Onc ( I see him tomorrow ) and shesaid she thinks I have developed an allergy to sulfa whch is in many meds and also in wine. *sighs* Probably another lovely parting gift of chemo. I will check with my Onc tomorrow and see what he thinks.

    I am having my exchange surgery weds. 5/5 ,will be glad to be one step closer to bing done.

    Hope all of ou are doing well with no SE's

    Stay Strong!

    Catori

  • kathimdgd
    kathimdgd Member Posts: 84
    edited April 2010

    I also had a port in  for the chemo,in fact i still have it and i finished chemo feb of 2009.Onc said he'll leave it there for awhile,as there is a lump under my arm that they are watching,and so far so good ,it hasn't changed any and i pray it doesn't.Will get another scan in July.The port doesn't bother me at all,just have to go get it flushed out everymonth.

    kathi

  • ariesrottie
    ariesrottie Member Posts: 43
    edited April 2010

    MY SISTERS! I wish you all well, you are in my  thoughts and prayers... I am on Dex right now preparing for my last treatment tomorrow at 9 am ...... I guess I won't be sleeping tonight .. :((((

    I have so many questions tomorrow to ask so I will bring my list... I will be there for about 5 hours because of the reaction I get from Taxotere.... But hey its the last..I wish who ever is going through chemo this week... I wish you NO side effects. Who ever is off this week  speedy recovery....

    I will touch base with you girls tomorrow... I am going to take what ever I have in this house to help me sleep... I hope it work cause I am a little wired...

    HUGS,

    Donna

  • Leah58
    Leah58 Member Posts: 62
    edited April 2010

    Yeah for your last treatments.  I had my last TC yesterday and all went well.  I hope that you have a quiet last treatment too.  We've come a long way with more "places" to travel on our bc journey but we're doing it with each other's help.   Thanks all of you wonderful ladies! 

  • sugar77
    sugar77 Member Posts: 1,328
    edited April 2010

    Congrats Leah and Donna on finishing up TC! What a great feeling. I'm 11 weeks out now and have just finished radiation. 

    Sherri 

  • NewBride
    NewBride Member Posts: 126
    edited April 2010

    ariesrottie,   Here's wishing you smooth sailing On your LAST TX!  Decadron kept me up the night before my TX#2.  I asked my OC if I could take 50mg of Benadryl along with my Decadron so I would be able to get some sleep.  He said that would be fine. 

    Does anybody have a quick remedy for heartburn?  I just looked at my Prilosec and found that I have to take it for 14 days before I realize any benefit.

    Here's my latest tip.  For bruising resulting from IV placement:  This time I applied arnica gel to the site as soon as I got home and then a coulple of times a day after that.  Guess what?  No bruising.

  • ariesrottie
    ariesrottie Member Posts: 43
    edited April 2010

    NewBride- Maybe try pepcid AC I think that work right away you can take both from what I understand for Prilosec does work right away.  I remember after my 2 tx I had the gas bloat period. felt like my inside were going to come out of my va JJ( like Oprah would say.... I hope things gp better for you....But try that it will work. I did sleep last night not well but I slept.

    SHERRI- Congrats on finishing radiation... Now where does this lead you... ?? I have a bunch of questions today for my onco....They love when I ask....

    Hope everything goes smooth with everyone...

    I will check in with everyone later.Happy and Nervous all at the dame time.

    {{{HUGS}}},

    Donna

  • sugar77
    sugar77 Member Posts: 1,328
    edited April 2010

    Donna - there's nothing else for me by way of treatment because I'm triple negative....so no tamoxifen or anything like that because it won't help.  Now all I can do is continue to eat healthy and exercise and hope and pray it never returns. How about you?  Will you have rads and/or tamoxifen?

    Sherri 

  • Everett78
    Everett78 Member Posts: 45
    edited April 2010

    Leah, Donna and Sherri congrats on finishing!

    NEWBRIDE..I had heartburn all through treatment, nothing worked to prevent it.  I kept a bottle of Maalox in the fridge and would take a swig as needed.  That worked better then anything.

    Deb

  • Everett78
    Everett78 Member Posts: 45
    edited April 2010

    Sherri, I'm doing my rads planning next week and then starting rads the next week.  I've ordered the miaderm and hope it works.  I'm a freckled redhead, so I'm a little worried about rads.  

    I'm so happy to see fuzz on my bald head...maybe the hair growing will keep me motivated through rads!

  • teemee
    teemee Member Posts: 18
    edited April 2010

    Deb & Catori (& all),

    The doc's office said the same to me, some toxic aftereffect of taxotere...it just keeps giving, doesn't it? I expect my right hand will be darker than my left when this is done, because I still have a dark splotch from #1 and this big red swollen burn thing is shaping up to be a good one too. Maybe I can make art from it later ;)

    Sherri, congrats to finishing all!! How do you feel? I know there's a lot of studies that say being done can be harder than being in treatment, but I hope that's not true for you.

    Big congrats to Leah and Donna too, wow. It's weird how time crawls and speeds by at the same time. I remember when you started, Donna. Not that long ago.

    I go to #3 next week. I'm also a lucky reactive one to the Tax so it takes 5-6 hours, a couple oxygen breaks, etc. But the day I go, I will consider myself truly halfway done, so I'm excited about that.

    Hugs to all,

    Toni

  • ariesrottie
    ariesrottie Member Posts: 43
    edited April 2010

    Hi everyone! I'm Done!!! Very tired... It went fine. I guess 2 out of 4 ain't bad...I ask alot of questions. But won't know where I go after this chemo treatment until I have my consultation and blood work on the 10th of May. Doctor wasn't in today she wasn't feeling well she is 4 months pregnant. So I will rest and take care of myself. Tomorrow Nuelasta shot and hope for little SE.

    Happy for those who finished chemo also.

    Sherri- hope you are feeling good.

    I really don't know where I would be with out you girls, you helped me so much along the way... I thank you so much.

    Good luck to the girls who are having chemo, Tomorrow or next week.

    I will keep in touch . DD is home from college to check on me. I gave to go feed her dinner.

    {{{HUGS}}} with courage and strength.

    Donna

  • retrievermom
    retrievermom Member Posts: 321
    edited April 2010
    Donna  I'm so glad to hear you're done and that it went well.  Have a good time with DD.  Let her feed you!  Hope the neulasta effects are minimal.
  • sugar77
    sugar77 Member Posts: 1,328
    edited April 2010

    Donna - glad to hear you're done.  Please do keep in touch...we're all in this together!

    Sherri 

  • ariesrottie
    ariesrottie Member Posts: 43
    edited April 2010

    Hey Sherri! How are you? I know that you are doing any other treatment because you told me you were triple negative... But because you are so knowledgeable would you know where I can look to see what options are available for us other girls? My oncologist said something at the beginning of treatment about a clinical trail but I would rather not go on a ct for I have done everything in my power to fight this disease. I do not want to be the one who gets the placebo pill.

    Any suggestions?

    I hope everyone is feeling okay today... I got my Nuelasta shot  and hoping for the best... But I am sure that the Bone Pain will visit tomorrow.

    Courage and strength with lots of HUGS,

    Donna

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