Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?
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Whitney maybe you should get a second opinion. You should be able to feel comfortable with your onc, after all, it's your life. I had 4 rounds of TC every 2 weeks. I know the spacing varies also, weekly, bi-weekly, 3 weeks. I think I remember my surgeon telling me they offer it in 4, 6, or 8 rounds.
Tori - I didn't know your chemo regime was TC!
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theresap60 how is it going on a 2 week schehdule? i get TCX4 but every 3 weeks. I envy you though you will be finished so much sooner than me. Did your hair fall out?0
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Hi.. I had my first TC treatment on Friday October 15th. I felt great during the infusion and felt great that night. I got my Neulasta Shot on Saturday and Sunday, wow, the mack truck hit me.
I have side effects of burning tongue, burning lips, funny feeling in the mouth, burning mouth, tongue feeling thick, no taste buds at all. Brain fog and a lot of muscle pain but I think those are from the Neulasta Injections.
Today I noticed some red bumps on my shoulders, chest, throat. Not itchy but red. My scalp is itchy though. I was constipated and needed to take the meds. No nausea or vomiting though. I am tired. Today is day 3 after chemo.
Does it get better or worse as you go?
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so sorry
mine got worse
but everyone is different
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theresap60 how is it going on a 2 week schehdule? i get TCX4 but every 3 weeks. I envy you though you will be finished so much sooner than me. Did your hair fall out?0
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rachel1966-
Like Claire said, everyone is different. I just had my second T/C on Friday and I seem to be having the same SEs I did first treatment....not worse yet, just the same. My onc said that more than likely they may just last longer, not necessarily get worse. But, then again, I'm only on day 3 of 2nd treatment. I'm hoping it doesn't get worse...
I do not get the Nuelasta shot automatically though...my onc lets me come in for labs on day 10 and see how I am. I didn't need it first round or this one...so I'm hoping it all stays pretty steady...
Take care,
Tori
DE COLORES!
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My SE's lasted about 5 days longer after my second tx, not really worse, except for diarhhea.
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I am covered with welts and hives today. I can't feel my skin it is so painful. This must be a reaction to the Neulasta and not the TC. I have no clue. I'm waiting on a call from my PDN to see if I can take Benadryl. I'm so miserable. I don't think I'll be doing the Neulasta shot again. I don't want to go through this pain.
My mouth is still an issue. It still burns and feels thick. It feels like I have too many teeth to sit comfortably in my mouth. My lips burn too and they are cracked. I just feel very weird and can't explain how. I don't know if I can go through this.
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71 since the surgery, Day 15 of chemo cycle one of four. Still got my hair but any day now. At least I feel good and slept good. My next treatment is in a week. My nurse said the side effects are usually the same each time but the fatigue increases.Rachel 1966 I am sorry you are having such a tough time. I had some itchiness for a few days no hives though. Are you breathing ok? I took benadryl for that and it worked. Stay on top of getting that call back. If you can try to see if you can reach the doctor directly. As far as you mouth goes is your tongue white? I had thrush and it kind of burns but they can call in meds for that and it goes right away.Hang tight be sure to get through to someone at your onco office to help you. Keep on calling them if they don't call you back. Day 71 since my surgery, Day 15 of chemo cycle one of four. Still got my hair but any day now. I least I feel good and slept good.0
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Carrol - I finished treatment in May. I think I'm *still* recovering from chemo. I was able to tolerate the 2-week cycle and continued to work part-time. The Neulasta shot was the toughest, for me. I bet you *are* ready for it to end!! But you haven't lost your hair yet... maybe you won't!
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has anyone had a hypersensitive reaction the the Taxotere? i had treatments and both times, within seconds of the T i got super hot, my face turns red, and chest tightness. they stop it for 15 min and then start it again slowly and i am okay.
anyone else in this boat?
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Shiramg,
Hi! I had Taxotere/Cytoxan/Herceptin, four rounds, a year ago. I was fine with the taxotere, but the gentleman across from me in the chemo center had the exact reaction that you've experienced. The nurses did the same thing for him--slower drip and close observation. He finished all of his chemo, and he has been cancer-free since January 2010 when he had surgery. You will beat this!! I was exhausted during chemo, but through the winter and spring, I began to feel like myself again. Now, except for "chemo curls," I would not know that I ever had treatment!
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Hi Rachel,
I had Taxotere/Cytoxan/Herceptin, four rounds, last year this time. I think the "mack truck" effect happens when the pre/post chemo steroids wear off, and the effects of the drugs emerge. Do you take decadron for a day before and after each chemo treatment? I did, and I could tell you the hour my decadron wore off. That's the mack truck effect. I had infusion on Mondays, felt fine; Neulasta on Tuesdays, felt fine; Wednesday, felt fine until 3 pm. Wednesday night--tired. Thursday--Mack Truck. Friday--felt 80% better, appetite back, etc. Five days. You will make it! You will beat this and feel completely like yourself in a matter of months!! It is completely worth it because this stuff works!
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Gatsbydog,
Love to hear that kind of encouragement! Thanks so much! Just off my 2nd treatment of T/C, so I am always looking for such posts like yours!
Peace,
Tori
DE COLORES!
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Shiramg - I've read on other threads about that type of reaction to taxotere. My onc gave me an IV of Benadryl before administering taxotere, very slowly, and the nurses kept a close eye on me. Apparently that's pretty common, but I didn't have that type of reaction.
Gatsbydog - I have chemo curls too!! I wonder if they'll stay or go away after my first haircut.
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yea they said its "normal" since my vitals were fine, but it was very sacery and was worse on round 2 so i'm already scared for round 3. i don't mind being hot, but i'm 26 years old and and was very freaked out by the feeling of an elephant on my chest.
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Today is day 8 after my 1st treatment and I have to say I feel great. My worse days were day 3 to 5 and that's because I had a huge hive reaction. Once those were in control, all my muscle aches and everything else went away. I have had no nausea, no vomiting, no fatigue.
Doctor put me on an antihistamine regimen of Aerius in the am and the Decadron for a week with a tampering dose. My only issue are mouth sores, i.e. canker sores and very fragile cheek lining. I'm using Nystatin and Sulcrate rinses. Seems to be helping some. The only other complaint is the no taste buds. I can't taste anything! I do the salt water rinse too, but I still don't have my taste buds. Everything tastes pretty much the same and bland.
I'm hoping my 2nd infusion which is November 5th goes just as smoothly now that we know how to control the hives.
All in all, I suffered for 3 days and now I'm doing well. I know this is my no immunity period so I plan to stay at home and take it easy.
Oh I have noticed that my nose seem drier and although I don't have a nosebleed per se, I do have blood in my nose when blowing it and if using a kleenex to dab at it, I can see all the blood on the tissue and inside my nose lining.. Anyone else?
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Rachel i had the dried blood in my nose and my nurse said not to worry but if it bothers me to get oceans nose spray .It's just dry i think. It eventually went away i never got the nose spray.
I am on day 19 of my first treatment my next one is tuesday. I would say the worst for me was the steroids, i was very tense from it i could not sit still for about 2 or 3 days, but now i'd say losing my hair really tops that.
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rachel, glad to hear you're having an ok time. advice for food tasting bland - add lemon. lemon has helped me a lot. i even enjoy water more with lemon in it!
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Hi to all,
I haven't been on the website for quite awhile so thought I would check in. I finished chemo in November of 2008 and had 6 rounds of Cytoxen.and Taxatoree. If there is any lymph node involvement, you absolutely need 6 rounds. I had 4 and aterial fibrulation and wondered if I should stop. My doctor said, " We can fix your heart but you need 6 rounds for coverage of stage 2. I would go to another doctor who stopped me at 4 and insist I got 6 rounds. You want to knock a home run on this one. I have had no side effects from the treatments and I am 73. I read on a another site that glutten can cause joint aches etc. I got glutten free bread and it could be something else but no aches anywhere. So look ahead to a bright future, research is making so much advancement and survival is so much better now. Hope it all works out. Love Meadowlark
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Hello Rachel1966,
I had hives on my neck and chest 4 to 5 days post infusion number 1. It was much like poison ivy or oak, dried up and went away on about day 10. Benadryl/Claritin helped as did topical anti-histamine creams. My onc nurse thought it was an allergic reaction to taxotere. It is posted on their website as a possible side effect. On treatments 2 through 4 they extended the steroids, giving half doses for several days post infustion rather than just stopping. That helped prevent the rash on subsequent treatmenst. I did have a very slight rash on on treatment 3, but very manageable.
Good luck,
Liz
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Hello everyone,
I just completed 4 rounds of TC, 3 weeks apart, 6 weeks ago. The last round was the most difficult with side effects lasting the longest. Although most side effects have now faded, I started having body/joint aches after this last treatment and they actually seem to be getting worse. Has anyone else experienced this? I don't think it is just because I've pumpled up my activity level in the last 3 weeks. My oncologist says it takes at least 8 weeks to clear the drugs from your system, so I am almost there. Could it be new muscle cell growth?
Still no sign of hair coming back! But, I am generally feeling much better.
Thanks,
Liz
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Liz, I had 4 rounds of TC, 2 weeks apart that ended in May. Maybe it's the tamoxifen also, but I've had achy joints/bones/muscles until recently. Some days are better than others. My onc said it would be a year before I felt myself again... but like I said, I'm on tamox so it could be a few more years.
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Hi Liz,
Like you I finished 4 rounds of TC 3 weeks apart. I just finished 7 weeks ago. I have been feeling exausted & I also had joint aches until 3 days ago. I am finally feeling more like myself. Give it a little more time. I also was weined off of the steroid rather than stoped abruptly. Good Luck!
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I will be starting TC treatment Tues 11/2. I am very nervous, but can only think: Bring it On!
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Rachel: Why did your onc put you on antihystamine and more Decadron? Were you having trouble with water retention, or was it something else. I'd really like to know, because my water retention is bad, but I've taken less than usual doses of Decadron (dexamethasone), because of what it does to my moods, but now I'm wondering if I should take it anyway. Thanks.
Whitney
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Also wanted to mention, for those who are getting rashes, you need to be on the lookout for Shingles. When your immune system is compromised, you can get them very easily. Shingles are from the same virus as the chicken pox. It's a Herpes Zoster virus, which causes chicken pox. If you got the chicken pox when you were a child, you still carry the herpes zoster virus in your system. It just lies dormant as long as your immune system is functioning normally. People get the Shingles from it when, whether it's due to stress or a bad cold or infection or chemo -- anything that lowers your immune function causes it to become active again. If you've never had the chicken pox, you can't get shingles, but you can catch the chicken pox if you're around someone who has it, and chicken pox are much more dangerous to adults than they are to children, so stay away from anyone who's got the chicken pox.
Anyway, if you have a rash, especially if it's raised, and especially if it looks like it's forming little blisters, PLEASE get ahold of your onc right away. It's a virus, so it can't be cured, but it can often be controlled, or even kept from developing into full blown shingles if you are put on an anti-viral medication like Valtrex. The sooner you get it looked at, and the sooner you go on Valtrex, the better your chances are for avoiding shingles, which can be VERY painful.
Just my two cents. I got shingles with my first treatment when my counts dropped, and it was no fun, believe me.
Whitney
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Wherria,
I've been suffering from chronic hives for 10 years now and I've been on a daily dose of antihistamine which helps. Unfortunately, one of the nurses at the cancer clinic thought my antihistamine was a contraindication for chemo and told me to stop taking it, which I did against my better judgement. So 3 days after my chemo treatment, I had a flare of my hives. As soon as I was put back on my antihistamine regimen, the hives went away and have stayed away. I use the Decadron the day before, the day of and the day after chemo as prescribed. The doctor added an extra week at a tapering dose because of my flare. I have no water retention issues. So now with my next chemo session, since I'll be on my regular antihistamine, I won't have that extra week of Decadron but the regular protocol. The Decadron makes me really hyper even at a tapering dose. Doctor gave me Ativan to help me sleep while on it.
My rash were my usual hives only in a flare. No shingles.
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Rachel, I'm glad to hear that you're not dealing with shingles. Not that hives are any fun!
Still, thought I'd post the info about shingles for anyone's benefit. If anyone thinks they have the first signs of shingles, go in right away and ask about Valtrex.
I had to go to the onc (actually nurse practitioner) yesterday because I was so swollen, and in so much pain. She said I have something viral, and that there's nothing they wanted to do about it at this time except symptom management. She was very nice and compassionate though, and told me my onc is on call this weekend, so if anything changes or if I just feel like something's really not right, to feel free to call him.
Sending warm wishes and hugs to everyone. May it be a SE easy weekend!
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Hello everyone,
I wanted to weigh in on the 4 vs. 6 T/C. The treatment guidelines are for 4, all the published research and statistics are based on 4 treatments. My oncologist gave me a choice since I was tolerating T/C fairly well. She said that some medical centers are going with 6 because they think that it might be better. Their thinking is based on some (un-named) related data with other regimens. However, they also don't know the long term SE of a longer treatment. Infusion 4 of T/C was rough for me, the side effects are cummulative. I decided not to move forward with additonal doses.
Hopefully 6 regimens will be covered by your insurance, they seem to be common, at least on this discussion thread. When my oncologist gave me the choice, I assumed they would be covered but I didn't check.
Have a restful weeekend!
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