Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?
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Beccabrite - welcome to the TC thread. I was terrified of chemo so I know how you feel. It's no picnic but it's doable and you will get through it. When you are through, you'll be glad you did it so please hang in there and take things one day at a time. Try to walk if you can everyday as that will help wih the fatigue. Take care and let us know how are are doing.
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Girls - I had TC also. I had stomach and mouth sores. I found that DGL licorice helped a lot. Stops pain immediately. You can get it at Whole Foods. Also, my hair fell out in clumps about 3 weeks into chemo. BUT - it started growing back less than 4 months later
I know that seems like a long time right now. And it is. And no one can take that away from you....you have a right to express that it feels long and grueling at times. Your true friends will love you through it, and also remember the real you under it all - the one before BC is still in there!Feed your body as many healthy things as you can, and not only will your symptoms be not so severe - but you will bounce back quicker once you're done chemo. One thing I did every day whether I felt like it or not - protein smoothie. I took it like medicine. Sometimes I couldn't even taste it - but I took it anyway. Let me know if you need any help with that, ok?
You can do this
Lisa
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Hello everyone - my hair started to fall out this morning at week 3 after the first round of TC. My hair had been "buzzed" a week ago in anticipation, but it is still shock. How long does this process take? I'm worse than my dog, leaving clumps of hair everywhere!
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Hi all, hope you are all doing well through treatments!!!
I finished chemo 5/17 and the lines that develop on your nails do go away as your nail grows. I hate to say my eyelases are STILL falling out. My PS said onc chemo stopped it would take a full year for my eyelashes to get back to where they were pre-chemo. UGH.
Liz2010 I feel like once my hair started POURING out of my head (about the same time as you) it did that for about a week, the top (of course) fell out fast (I had lots of highlights in the top front part of my hair) then in about 10 days after it started coming out in clumps it was all gone. It sorta growing back in the same way, the back of my head is covered and I feel like it came in fast but still waiting for the top and sides to fill in.
Good luck to everyone having treatment this week!
Diane
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Liz2010, from the time my hair started to fall out the entire "falling out stage" was about a week for me. I remember it itched like crazy and it felt sooo good to rub on my scalp during the "shedding" phase. I have new growth, finished my last treatment July 7. I actually had to shave my legs yesterday, albeit, it was tiny baby size stubble, but neverthe less, it was stubble, never did I think I'd be happy to shave my legs. I luv what Lisa posted and how true, remember the real you under it all. I've had to remind myself of this many times.
Take care.
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Best wishes to all who are starting tx---for a smooth journey with few se's. I became a water convert during tx. Drink lots!! And tho I had very little energy during some rounds, I tried to walk around some even when feeling bad. Both things will help your digestive tract. I knew these things from past surgeries, but had to re-learn them.
I also would rub my head to get rid of the stubble. My DH saw me more without a head covering than with, so he came to prefer seeing my natural state. Now I have gone from pug hair to poodle hair in texture.
Westiemom: One of my dogs loves Westies. We have several training in obedience here. Their quick movements are soooo exciting!
Becca: Learning how your own body reacts to tx will help ease your mind. I am truly sorry about the unemployment issues you and your DH are facing.
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Hi Liz~ I too shaved my head and when it really started coming out (same time as yours) I wore a little cap over my head at home and it seemed to "shed" in the cap and I washed them every day. I still have a few hairs on my head, never got totally smoothly bald like my hubby
but i am waiting and waiting now for it to start coming back. I finished chemo June 30. Becca~ You will do just fine on TC even though it is very scary at first. I too like Sugar am glad I did it. You really have to listen to your body though throughout the process and don't overdo. Also, like RetrieverMom I because a water convert. Drink all the water you can. My onc also said I should be going to the bathroom every 2 hours at night the first 48 hours after chemo. I think it REALLY helped. Try to focus on your health even though there is so much else going on right now.
HeartnSoul~ I too had a slight bit of bleeding during chemo, now my periods have stopped completely. I am certainly not a doctor but our diagnosis seem similar and I had TCx4, I hope that makes you feel better but be sure to ask your onc all these questions when you see him/her. It's important to have a good relationship with your dr.
((( Hugs ))) to all!
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Diane,
I did 8 months of taxotere & cytoxin, one every 3 weeks. I also did 4 of adriamyacin at the same time. I had bad nose bleeds, watery eyes, exhaustion. I was also on zometa for bone mets once a month starting a week after chemo. I think this is what kept my nails strong. My nails have been actually stronger from this. I had some constipation & diarhea that was controlled w/ immodium. I did quite well and got nuelasta shots the day after my chemo each month to bring up my blood counts. Your se's may have been from this. Hope you do well on future treatments.
Terri
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Julia2, I was diagnosed with both IDC and ILC in the same breast, had bilateral mastectomy and just did reconstruction in Dec. 2009. My regimen was to be 4 rounds of TC. However, at the first treatment they did the steroids and Benadryl then started the taxotere and walked out of the room. Within seconds, my throat started closing, my face started tingling and my lips went numb. My dh went running for the nurse, she ran in and shut it off. Called the dr and he said oh, it's an allergic reaction, just give the cytoxan this round!!! I had to call three times before they would tell me what the plan was for round 2.....he went with CMF for 8 rounds. I completed them with no serious SE...didn't even lose my hair! Had several neulasta shots to get through them. I SO wish he had done the premeds the day before, day of, and day after the TC like everything I've read since then indicates is the best way to go. It might have been doable! Even the cytoxan caused a wicked sinus headache beginning during infusions and getting worse before abating early the next morning. I even mentioned it to my infusion nurse and she acted like nothing could be done. When I mentioned it to my onc nurse, she said "Well for heaven's sake, tell them to slow it down!!!". I did and guess what....no more headache for 12 hours after chemo!!! I was major disappointed to go from expecting 4 rounds of chemo to upped to 8.....but it was an "easier" chemo...I just pray nightly that it was as effective!!!! Didn't have the choice with this dr. and didn't know enough about it to ask about slowing down, premeds, etc. Good luck to you! Hope all is going well. Are you still on TC or did you switch to CMF?
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kdgteach, my experience with TC #2 was similar to your with TC #1. I'm sorry, it really burns my butt that oncology nurses treat patients this way! It is wholly unacceptable! These drugs are KNOWN to cause reactions, which start almost immediately and can include SUDDEN DEATH! It's not like onc nurses have that tough of a job in the big scheme of things, start a few IVs and monitor the patients, except some seem to have narrowed it down to just the start the IVs part. I am still on TC, I fired onc #1, told him I was afraid his nurses were going to kill me so I had to leave. Went to onc #2 and had an entirely different experience, more pre-meds, slow drip, no reaction whatsoever. I almost quit TC because of incompetent nurses who frightened me so badly, that should never be the reason to change regimens. Oh, and one tip onc #2 gave me, which was brilliant, if you start to react, and there isn't a nurse right there, pinch the IV tube to stop the drugs! Duh!
Julia
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Has anyone had a fever on TC? This is day 9 and last night I ran a fever. Wasn't really high, but I felt crappy.
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Susgul,
Yes, but i get it starting 24 hours post infusion and it lasts around 4 days. Supposedly your WBC is lowest around day 10 so keep an eye on your temp and maybe call your onc since it's the weekend the next 2 days.
Julia
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Hi susgul,
I ran a fever on day 8, turned out that the flu is going around and I caught it at the worst time. My oncologist wanted me to call if a fever went over 102. You may want to give the office a call. I agree with Julia2 that it is not good that your fever corresponds to the day of your lowest count. I ended up in bed for a couple of days, now feeling better but have a cough.
Liz
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Julia & Liz: Thanks so much for your responses. If temp gets to 100.9, I'm supposed to call the after hours/weekend number at the U. The highest it got was 100.3. On Mon., though, I'm going to let my doc know.
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Hi ladies, just popping in to say you can do this!! I am 3 months post TC x 6 and almost done with rads and I feel great, hair is starting to get thick, but still wearing wig, it is more comfortable for me. Looking back, perhaps I was crazy, but I managed to work and never missed any of my children's activities. My onc had asked me after the final treatment if I felt like I was performing at 50%, 60%, 70% etc., and I said 90%, and she laughed! She said "just wait, you may have gone through the motions and maintained a 'normal' routine, but I promise you when you get back to 100% you will know just how drained you really are!" She was so right! My energy level, is amazing now, no "fog", and I feel like a new person. So hang in their ladies, you will truly get through this and feel 'normal' again!!
Stay hydrated and stay active, even if it is a short walk during the day, it helps clear out some of the fog! Be well!!
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Thanks, leta!
That was just what I needed to hear right now. So glad to hear your advice - sounds like by you staying so active and involved it kept you physically and mentally "on your game", and helped you bounce right back, so I am going to try to copy what you did.
Tomorrow morning I go in for TC #2, and once again, I'm all anxious about it. I thought I would be over that, since I know what to expect. But now I'm anticipating different reactions because I feel like I have a cold or something coming on. Seems like everyday brings something new, and not usually something really, really great!
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Does anyone else have swollen feet/ankles about 7-10 days after treatments? I have done 5 TC's (only 1 more - next week!) and about a week after the last couple of treatments, have the swollen feet. I try to drink lots of water, but still happens. Other than that, side effects haven't been too bad...once I get past the Neulasta aches and pains. Watery eyes drive me crazy but allergy meds seem to help that a little.
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Fiver:
I had swollen feet after 5 TC's. Of course that eventually went away. The watery eyes are less frequent, thank goodness. There are times when I still think that my middle toes are numb. The pain associated with TC is now all gone. I am 6 months PFC.
It gets better.
Brenda
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Thanks Brenda, my toes are somewhat numb also - it's a weird feeling! Luckily my hands & fingers haven't been numb - that would be a bigger problem. Congratulations on being 6 months out of chemo, I can't wait til I can say that!
Teri
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I had my first of four taxotere//cytoxan on June 23rd, I still have a head of hair, almost 8 weeks later. It has thinned in some spots on the top, but no bald spots. Has anyone also experienced this. I am new here and someone suggested this post. However, I've been hours reading through this. Learning a lot.
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I never got totally bald, not even bald spots. It just thinned very much. Now it looks funny, as my "old hair" (i.e. the one that didn't fall) is about 3/4 cm longer than the "new hair" (the one that just started growing). I look like a duckling.
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I too never got completely bald but thinned so much that I had to shave my head. I do feel like there are some bald patches but it could be peach fuzz. It seems I have the most hair on the very top of my head but nothing is growing. I hope it begins to grow back soon
I just finished my last taxotere/cytoxan treatment on the 9th of Aug. Yippee!! It was not easy but it was doable. I had some rough stomach issues that were tweaked by the third treatment. It made the fourth treatment a bit easier dare I say? The Neulasta shot with each treatment caused a significant amount of bone pain and was relieved with Advil somewhat. I did take glutamine the first 5 days after treatment to help with the numbness, tingling, bone pain and abdominal pain in addition to B Complex. All by the way okayed by the MD. I think it did help along with walking whenever I had enough energy. I'm gradually feeling the fog lift after this round and intend to get back on the track walking daily. I'm truly looking forward to getting my energy back.The anxiety was awful each time. It's not easy when you are anticipating these crumby side effects each time. I took a Xanex the day before. The day of it was put in my IV along with Decadron, Benadryl, Pepcid I can't remember what else (chemo brain). I found it difficult to leave the house in fear of picking up an illness and it delaying the next treatment. This is a crazy story...Our 17 year old cat attacked me one evening while getting ready for bed - causing a puncture wound to my lower leg and eventually cellulitis!! I guess he sensed something off (5th day post chemo, 3rd TX) not to mention that I looked like an alien. I nearly ended up in the hospital if it hadn't been for my family doctor who tended to me every day and had me on 2 different antibiotics! So I don't leave the house but become a victim in my own house! Lousy, huh? Now I'm afraid of the darn cat and have to figure out what to do with him while he is confined to the basement!
I give you all so much credit for working during this treatment. There was no way I would have been able to do it. The fatigue has been and is still tremendous. In fact, I will not be starting back this school year until I feel well. I have no strength probably because the RBC's are still low. I work so closely with children that I'm afraid I'll end up missing most days due to catching illness.
I did do the icing of the fingers and toes but missed the 1st treatment; therefore I do have one blackened toe nail. I swear it helps! Yep, I kept a light color polish on my fingers but I had to cover that ugly toe.
I'm starting radiation treatment by the end of the month 34 rounds with 7 boosts. Can anyone tell me for sure if I'm understanding correctly, that boosts are not a bigger dose but a more direct focus to the tumor site? Thanks for listening. I hope your S.E. are easy for you. It's so great to have this part over. You'll get there too!
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jhay, day & mari - thanks for the input with your hair and TC. My onc told me mine would just thin, and it has, but my son swore that the shedding would slow down. It appears he may be right about that, but it looks like I've collected enough hair to make 2 wigs! Maybe I can donate it somewhere....In the meantime, when I go out, I just wear a scarf to cover the top of my head and let the longer hair show. It looks like I intentionally styled my hair that way - little do they know. I'll see how it goes, but my hope is to take the new growth and layer my longer hair around it. I don't think the bald look would rock on me, so I'm hoping this idea works out. My onc is the one who started it all, got me off track as far as preparing to go bald - so then I was freaking out when my hair started falling out so much after my 2nd TC. But now, I'm starting to relax a little about it again. It ought to be interesting when it grows back looking completely different than it does now, and that will just be another thing to deal with when it happens. A different day, a different dilemma!
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Okay, here's the dilemma for today. Has anybody developed an itchy rash on their back? I have giant splotches of itchy red spots and don't know whether or not I should put anything on it.
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New to this thread. Initially diagnosed with BC in 2007 (triple negative) had lumpectomy and 6 rounds of FEC plus radiotherapy. Cancer returned Feb this year. Had mastectomy in March then suposed to have 6 x Taxotere. Stopped the treatment after 4 as SE too horrendous. Shaved head - hair is very slow to grow back (compared to last time). About 8 weeks since last chemo and pain in hands and feet is awful. Numb and hurt, difficult to do buttons up. Nails very discoloured but did not fall off. Read some worrying posts aout permanent hair loss, but hoping that because some is coming through it will continue to grow. Nice to communicate with others who know what I am going through.
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I did get itchy red spots on my neck and chest. They were not giant but they did spread. I totally thought it was related to the taxotere and treated myself with benadryl (which was also great to sleep). I had them about 5-10 days after the infusion. It was hard to make the connection with all the meds that are taken post infusion but I felt strongly that the taxotere was responsible. It did come back 2 more times but to a lesser degree. I mentioned it to the NP and they noted it but perhaps were not so concerned because the marks and itch had just about dissappeared before the next infusion. Heartnsoul76 - get in touch with your Onco. He may want to give you something stronger than benadryl. I tried topical cortisone and benadryl and it did not help. Icing did help with temporary relief of the itch.
chocolatemamabear60 - sorry to hear about this recurrence and your difficulty with SE.'s.......they are pretty horrendous! It took until the 3rd treatment and a lot of tweaking to figure out what medications would help with my SE's. I have 1 toe nail that turned black but I didn't ice the 1st time. I also had/have some numbness and tingling in my hands and feet which I think were helped by the glutamine, B-complex and exercise. The numbness and tingling are intermittent and I hope it will continue to lessen as time passes. It's been 15 days post chemo treatment and still NO hair growth but I'm trying to be patient :-/ ....Hang in there! Hopefully you will get some good advice about what to do with your present symptoms. Perhaps some P.T. for your hands??? Can you speak to your Onco about this?
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Hi DianeB!!!!!! Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry to hear of your seizures and low sodium levels. What is the explanation you received from the MD'S and your Onco? I believe the achiness and weakness or fatigue is common. I remember feeling the same way you do right now. I wanted to bail but I am determined to beat this!! It will get better! One fine woman on this site told me her chant was that this is "temporary" and that your are "moving forward" and that too became my chant. Another woman has said, "You don't have to be brave, you just have to show up." Communication with your doctors and nurses will help you get through this as will the very grand ladies on these threads!! You will take the information you need and apply it to your specific needs. I started to feel better by week #2 and enjoyed that week before the next treatment started. I know you are frightened especially with what you have been through. Hang in there and do stay positive!!0
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mari-12 - thanks so much for your reply! I've been waiting to hear back from my onco, so I was hesitant to put hydrocortisone cream on it (the nurse said she may want me to come in), but couldn't take it any more. Took a benadryl, too. You're right - they're not helping! Hope they call something else in. Even though I haven't had an allergic reaction before to the taxotere, it's probably been building up to this humongous reaction!
I wanted to add that I think the ice pack is going to be the biggest help to relieve this crazy itch! Thanks for that suggestion!
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chocolatema, your situation sounds much like mine. Had 6 cycles of FEC plus rads following lumpectomy. Recovered fine. Second bc - mx ... taxotere and cytoxan x 4 ..... and rads again. Found second time more difficult both physically and emotionally. First time hair grew back quickly but second time - a different story. It's not good. Hopefully you'll be ok.0
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Hi all. I have just been diagnosis'd. IDC 2 cm ,Stage 1, Grade 1, Triple negative ,Surgery - bilateral mastectomy next week. Regardless if nodes + or - 4 weeks postop I will start TC regimen w/ high dose steroids. Cant take Adriamycin due to cardiac history. What can I expect as side effects from T-C regimen?
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