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Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?

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Comments

  • shiramg
    shiramg Member Posts: 29
    edited November 2010

    hey all,

     i've been having a pretty easy time thus far.  i go in for cycle 3 on wed.  i've noticed though recently i'm getting very emotional (sort of like pms) but i'm not getting my periods.  is anyone else experiencing these symptpoms?  is my body tyring to have a period or are my hormones just out of whack.  this is not typical stress or sadness - its like i want to cry and i feel drained and very impatient!  

  • torigirl
    torigirl Member Posts: 748
    edited November 2010

    Shiramg-

    I know EXACTLY what you are talking about...same thing being experienced here too!  I just had my 3rd treatment on Friday..so just a little  ahead of you...

    I think things are just all kind of whacked out...hormones, etc....I"m trying to stay up on walking and moving around, hoping that these will help...

    Take care,

    Tori

    DE COLORES! 

  • Rachel1966
    Rachel1966 Member Posts: 57
    edited November 2010

    I had my 2nd treatment on friday so 3 days post. I'm feeling blah, lethargic, no energy, very tired. I'm also having stomach issues like bloating and just not quite right. No nausea or vomiting. No muscle aches or pains just not myself. In a fog. Also, I've noticed that my vision is becoming blurry, is this normal or has anyone else experienced this? I'm  near-sighted to begin with but this is just slightly worse. I've also noticed my heart racing for no reasons even just going up stairs.

    I'm hoping to start feeling better by the end of the week, I hate not feeling like myself. Oh, and not having taste buds really sucks. I can't tell what I'm eating. It's awful. I can't even detect salt!!!!

    Hope everyone is doing great and we all get healthy.  2 down - 2 to go.

  • shiramg
    shiramg Member Posts: 29
    edited November 2010

    rachel,

    try adding a bit of lemon to foods, it really helped me! 

  • Rachel1966
    Rachel1966 Member Posts: 57
    edited November 2010

    I shall try the lemon, thanks.

  • dawney
    dawney Member Posts: 136
    edited November 2010

    I am one week past  tx #3 and I have the shortness of breath and blurry vision and my legs give out real easily, but thank the Lord no stomach issues!

  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited November 2010

    I am one week away from chemo 3 so feeling good right now. This last cycle was not bad at all. I am hoping the next is as good. I had about 3 days where I was just very weak and a bit queezy. The meds helped that. I can feel minor bone aches not bad at all though. Hitting the gym hard since saturday because the onc nurse said it was ok my counts were at 18,000. 

    I think the thrush might be gone but still taking the nystatin to be sure. 

    Got a few pimples on my head using proactive on it seems to be helping. Got one on my nose but that is going away too. So maybe it is hormones.

    Not sure if that affects mood this is all pretty emotional stuff i think I would feel a little off anyway. I never noticed any mood swings with pms so not sure about now. I am a bit down but keeping my chin up. 

    I do think my vision is affected on the days i take steroids. I take ativan those days which helps. 

  • TifJ
    TifJ Member Posts: 804
    edited November 2010

    My Dr. says the steroids thicken the lenses of your eyes making your vision blurry. Mine went away after about a week or so. Dr. finally prescribed me Ativan yesterday. Since my surgery (9-15) I have not slept more than 2 hours each night. Tissue expander is laying on a nerve so I can't lay flat and just until 2 days ago couldn't lay on the left side because of port pain- have been sitting up to sleep. Last night I actually got 5 hours!!

  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited November 2010

    Tifj I have been taking ativan to sleep ever since I found out i needed chemo. It really works and it helps with the steroid se's.

  • Rachel1966
    Rachel1966 Member Posts: 57
    edited November 2010

    I'm doing the Ativan to sleep as well on days where I need to take that damn Decadron. My vision is blurry since this 2nd treatment but I'm still taking the steroids because of the hives. I'll be tapering it down starting friday.  I'm still very lethargic and no energy. Today is day 4 post 2nd tx. I'm just so tired, exhausted can't do anything tired. My tongue is all coated white again so I'm re-using Nystatin and I have heavy restless legs maybe due to the Neulasta. Not sure if this 2nd treatment is better than the first because it's different s/e.  I don't have the muscle aches I had. I don't have the hives I had. I don't have the mouth sores and issues I had. What I have is zero energy, tired, heavy legs, blurry vision, sense of depression and absolutely zero taste buds - everything tastes like metal and nothing.. Close my eyes I can't tell you what I'm eating. Hate that!.  2 down - 2 to go, then I'm soooo done - well on to 5 years of Tamoxifen.

  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited November 2010
    Rachel I am in the same boat. I find that if I exercise it gives me more energy. I got the white tongue so far both of my treatments. Not looking forward to tuesday tx 3.
  • Fighter_34
    Fighter_34 Member Posts: 496
    edited November 2010

    I am having mild aches and pains that fade in and out. Nothing extremely painful, but something I am noticing. I go for my second fusion tomorrow and I will mention it. FOUR more to go after tomorrow!!!!

  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited November 2010

    My new thing now is weepy eyes. My eyes tear like crazy. My husband thought I was crying this morning. They are just always wet. I have a call in to my onc to see if there is anything they can do. Probably not though.

  • kathimdgd
    kathimdgd Member Posts: 84
    edited November 2010

    Carrol2

    I had the tearing eyes also,it lasted all through chemo,and even after.Went to the eye dr after chemo was done ,and he said it should go away soon.It lasted for quite awhile,then i got infections in them along with the tears,i had to pry my eyes open every morning and during the day had to clean them with warm water.They gave me this tube of stuff to use in them,and i guess it helped a little.The tearing finally went away,then lo and behold it returned this week.Hope this isn't going to be an ongoing thing.When it was at its worst i couldn't even read or get on the internet as they wouldn't stop tearing,and you can't read thru tears,at least i can't!!

    I'm 20mos post chemo.

    My onc just told me it was from the chemo and should stop soon after the chemo was done_~~~~~_NOT

    Kathi

  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited November 2010
    kathi well i called the onc nurse and she was going to ask my doctor if there is anything we can do for it. They said if it gets really bad they would have to lower my dose. Right now it comes and goes. I wake up with a very light  little crusty trail down my temples but nothing bad. It seems a little better with my contacts in strangely enough.
  • dawney
    dawney Member Posts: 136
    edited November 2010

    Carrol - my eyes are doing the same thing but it comes and goes and my vision is blurry.

  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited November 2010
    dawney yeah it's not just dripping all the time my eyes are kind of wet all the time. Do people think you are crying?
  • Rachel1966
    Rachel1966 Member Posts: 57
    edited November 2010

    my eyes are not crying yet but my vision is really blurry since this 2nd treatment.  I still have my eyelashes, maybe that's helping???

    My biggest complaint - no taste buds. I hate not being able to taste my food. I hate that even water tastes like crap. One would think that with all we're going through, all the pain, the s/e, the fears - GOD would leave us our damn taste buds to enjoy one thing!!!!!

    I can't wait for this to be over... 2 down - 2 to go.

  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited November 2010

    Rachel the only good ting about the taste buds not working is that we learn to eat when we are hungry and stop when we are full. Something I needed to learn. I ate all the time just cause it tasted good or to fill an emotional need. Yu don;t want to get in that habit.

  • beau
    beau Member Posts: 149
    edited November 2010

    Hi Carol and Dawney,

    I am sorry to hear about your eyes tearing up. You might want to check in with an eye doctor if it keeps up. I read on this thread that there is a chance that the tear ducts can plug up and they might be able to "uplug" them to keep them from getting worse. I hope that they start to feel better soon.

     So far, I have had the opposite problem - super dry eyes. I am now 10 days out and starting to feel better. My biggest problem is that the neuropathy in my left foot is really noticeable now. (also finger tips, but not as pronounced) I keep hoping that it will subside before the next treatment. If it doesn't I may talk to the onc about a dose reduction for the 4th and last one.

    Has anyone else faced this dilemma? I am torn between "tough it out" and "listen to your body" . Not yet sure how to proceed. 

  • Fighter_34
    Fighter_34 Member Posts: 496
    edited November 2010

    Had my second TC treatment yesterday and I feel pretty good. Only SE I am having is a burning sensation in my throat. It's very mild and no meds are needed because the pain goes away before I even related it to treatment. Hope all is well everyone.

    Treatment 6 rounds of Taxotere & Cytoxin
    Diagnosis: 8/30/2010, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/1 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2-

  • Lmflynn
    Lmflynn Member Posts: 273
    edited November 2010
    Fighter_34,  how are you doing after your second TX?  How are you feeling?  I'm 8 days post my first one and starting to feel much better - think you are 7 past your 2nd.  Day 4 was the worst  for me this first round --  The only day I needed a nap.... overall I would say I was OK - 80% or more of normal.  No meds needed after the infusion.  Get my bloodwork done on Monday -- really wondering about that b/c I want to spend Thanksgiving with my 3 year old nephews - who are germ magnets - and won't if they are really low.
  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited November 2010

    I am on day 4 of treatment three and today teh fatgue hit me like a truck. Yesterday was feeling a bit backed up so took dulcolax and today had the runs from it. i am just very weak no nausea though. jsut gonna rest todays job and take a shower maybe go to the post office.

  • beau
    beau Member Posts: 149
    edited November 2010

    HHi Carol- Sorry to hear that you are feeling so lousy, but sounds like you are in the right frame of mind - just take it easy and it will pass. I have my 4th and final tx this Monday. While I know that I wwill feel relief when I walk out that door, I still won't really relax until the worst of the side effects are past. If you recall, I had thrush as well, only it turned out that I had an allergic reaction to the Nystatin (go figure), so it took me an extra week to turn the corner. I am just hoping that i don't get thrush again, but we shall see.... 

     II hope that everyone else is feeling better tonight and I wish you a s/e free day tomorrow! Best, Beau

  • cc4npg
    cc4npg Member Posts: 438
    edited November 2010

    I'm getting ready to start TC x 4 sometime next week.  43, triple negative, BRCA2+.  Get this, my tumor has been determined to be 3 mm!  So I'm a really gray area and it's my choice to do or not to do chemo.  I'm concerned about how I may feel... the SE's... and recently read about blurred vision.  I wanted to get input on these things.  Is your vision constantly blurry or does it get better between treatments?  I had Lasik done a few years ago, so I really like my clearer vision.  Just this year, I had to get reading glasses though.  My onc is saying the benefit still outweighs the SE, using my age, BRCA status, and hormone receptor negative status as reasons.  I was also wondering... do you have to take the compazine and decadron that they prescribe, or is it "as needed"?  Both of those can cause blurred vision, as well as a host of other things.  Wonder if Zofran alone will work for nausea. 

  • TifJ
    TifJ Member Posts: 804
    edited November 2010

    Angelisa- my vision returned to normal after first TX. (i just don't remember when). I only took compazine once. Only took Decadron as prescribed the day before tx amd the day after. I was prescribed an Emend patch to wear behind my ear from the day before tx for 3 days. Then I received Aloxi and Emend in my pre-meds the day of treatment. I only felt mildy queezy on day 4. I am on day 3 of tx 2 and feeling okay-just waiting for the day 4 yuckies to begin

    Have a good weekend!

  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited November 2010

    beau i get the thrush every time it kicks in full gear by day 4. Luckily the nystatin is ok for me although tastes awful. But at the end of each treatment the thrush is almost gone. good to hear you are almost done with this. I have one more TC after this (Dec 7th) and I am done too. Then on to reconstruction so not really done. I was prescribed TC x 4 and I am on day 5 of tx 3 now.

    cc4npg making the chemo decision is tough. I was braca neg,  and my oncotype score was 31, and my lymph nodes were clear, yet my doctor two other opinions said to do it. My mass total was 1.2cm. But i had a clear mammogram only 6 months earlier which alarmed me. Plus I am 45. As  much as chemo sucks I do feel like I had no choice but to do all i could. My vision was not really affected much. I had a week where my eyes were tearing constatnly but that went away. I did not have a lot of tummy trouble. They give you the compazine to take as you need it. The SE to chemo suck and there is now way to know for sure what yours will be. Your doctor will prescribe the normal protocol for the drugs for you and adjsut it if needed.

    Some people breeze right thru it with very little interuption to their life, an others have more trouble. I was told most people handle my cocktail well. But it is an interuption to your life. You will have some SE and there is a lot of emotion tied into hair loss.

    As far as the benefit outweighing the SE . . . if it's keeping the cancer away or even a chance of keeping the cancer way . . . hell yes. 

  • cc4npg
    cc4npg Member Posts: 438
    edited November 2010

    Emotions... wow, I can't even begin to touch that area, but you all know what that's like!  I can be in a wonderful, on top of the world mood, very upbeat, and then within a few hours crash to the lowest pits of depression.  And I haven't even started chemo yet!  Most of the time, I'm ok.  I try to describe how I feel to my family, and I realize there's no way they can understand how alone I sometimes feel.  Much of it is because I've always been very independent... the person to call in an emergency.. self sufficient.  Not any more, and that terrifies me!  Then I give myself a pep talk, pull myself up by the scruff, and tell myself this too shall pass and I'm ok again for a while.  Talk about a roller coaster!  I used to LIKE roller coasters, but this one sucks!

    If it wasn't for this forum, and all the people discussing everything, I would have probably been on mild antidepressants by now. Everyone here has been a blessing to me during this process, from the first abnormal mammo finding to now.

    So I'll temporarily be a fairly heavy poster to this thread really soon.  And hopefully one day I'll just come along to give others some much needed hope, like I've seen other survivors do.  

  • Lmflynn
    Lmflynn Member Posts: 273
    edited November 2010

    Hi ladies,

    Did any of you experience racing heart beats while going through TC * 4?  It's only happened once fyesterday (chemo post 11 days) or about 5 minutes (probably less but felt that way) and then it was over?  Hasn't happened again?  I haven't had many bad side effects from the chemo -- little here and there and tired, but this scared me -- I also had nose bleed in the AM ....

  • Rachel1966
    Rachel1966 Member Posts: 57
    edited November 2010

    Lmflynn - I had the racing heart, getting out of breath doing nothing,  the nose bleeds, the blurry vision, the mouth sores and the thrush as s/e to I believe the TC.  I'm having #3 on friday and not looking forward to it.  I breezed through my 1st treatment. My 2nd treatment, well let's just say today is day 18 and I'm still not back to feeling ok...

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