Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?
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Hi All,
I am popping in from the Sept thread. I know a number of you are close to the finish line, so good luck with your last and final! I finished my last TC right before Thanksgiving and it feels great to know that I am done with chemo.
I am here to see if anyone else has nagging neuropathy/feet swelling and if so, how they deal with it. I was able to walk 3-4 miles by the 3rd week of each TC, but this last one made my neuropathy worse, especially in the feet. Now, when I walk, the soles of my feet turn bright red and seem swollen. They are definitely more painful.
Today, when it was 14 degrees outside in NE, I decided to forego the walk and just do some yoga. Since I didn't walk, my feet are not as red or as painful, so now I am trying to decide if I should take a break from my walks (which I hate the thought of since it is my "therapy"). I am taking the B6 pills after my first TC and I know that they are helping.
Anyone else dealing with this? I welcome ideas/suggestions.
I wish you all a s/e free day! Best Beau
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Beau,
When you say NE, do you mean Nebraska???
Tori
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I have a question to ask.. I feel stupid asking but I need to ask anyway. What exactly does fluid retention look like on a body or feel like?
I'm asking because it feels like my skin is too thick and it actually hurts. It feels like I have a layer of skin too much on my back, my chest, under my armspits.. It just doesn't feel right. My scars never caved in or had a feeling of "swelling" and now they do. It also hurts to touch the skin. Across my shoulders, between my shoulder blades and all around my rib cage, it feels like my skin has an extra layer, it hurts to touch or even lie down on my back. Is it the Decadron? My regimen of Decadron is a tapering dose of 2 weeks which ended with 1/2 tablet on tuesday - we're now friday. I just don't know if this is a side effect or if it's because I've been coughing so much I'm pulling muscles. At the hospital today, the doctor did touch my skin but didn't say anything and I didn't say anything either because I thought I was imagining things but I swear it feels weird.
So, how do I know if this is water retention? Has anyone else experienced this? God, I hate what chemo is doing to my body and my mind......
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Hi I am usually on the Dec 2010 thread, started chemo 12/2/ 1st T/C, of 4. Did ok with side effects, except sleep, now on ativan. I was wondering if any of you had any advice for avoiding the neuropothy. I did put ice on my hands and feet during treatment, don't feel any numbness/tingles yet, but is this cummulative? Also, chewed the ice and sofa, 8 days post, no issues with mouth sores/dryness...eating just fine. I hear some take l-glutamine day after chemo or B6, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Next chemo is 12/23 (lovely timing) and I'm hoping to stay ahead of anything new that could pop up. Anyone have any "tricks" for foods/things to do to keep white blood count up? I was told there isn't anything you can really eat to do this. Thanks for any help/advice.
JoAnn
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Rachel not sure what you are feeling. I get slightly sensitive by my scars in the beginning of chemo then it fades. But as my surgery healed i did get more sensation and less numbness and that felt odd for a while. But my mind got used to it.
JoAnn i was told there was nothing you could eat to affect blood counts, but eating high protein can give a little more energy. I did not use ice in my tx at all and i did not get neuropathy so can't help you there. I get thrush every time, i take the meds for it, nystatin mouthwash and it gradually goes away as my chemo cycle ends. I did not get any mouth sores. I do take a multi vitamin, D, and a B complex every day.
It is day 4 of my final chemo. Husband has a sinus infection he started antibiotics last night. This morning my throat feels sore which make me nervous especailly with a weekend coming and i did not get neulasta this time.
but it's the final chemo and it will pass and then it will be over,
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Hi,
Can anyone tell me about neulasta, what it is for and why you take it and when?
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Carrol2 -- It seems or what it feels like and looks like in the mirror to me is truncal lymphedema. Why it is happening now, 3 months post bilateral mastectomy when I had no issues and day 14 post 3rd TC treatment, I'm not sure but it's very uncomfortable. I called the oncologist's office and they said no doctor until Tuesday and we'll see you then.. Cut down on your drinking and if you are short of breath - ER.
I swear I'm so done with chemo. I don't even want to do #4.. I just want to start healing and feeling better already. Will it really make a difference having 3 or 4 treatment?
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It's 2:15 am and can't sleep. Was doing fairly well until started having rash and swelling on both hands. They seem to think that my body is still trying to get the toxins out of it. They itch, burn, hurt, throb and sore to touch. Steroid cream and Benadryl. Still drinkin 100 oz + of water daily. Other SE were tolerable. I can't stand the hand thing and i have 3 more rounds with the next Dec. 22. At least we are doing Christmas Dinners early and late as this is not going to good as it hit me on Saturday the last time.
So glad some of you are done or at least close to the last. The light is at the end of the tunnel.
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Racehl i don't know anything about lymphodema but i do know it can happen even years later after the surgery so you ahve to watch it carefully that is why no giving blood or even blood pressure on that side and you ahve to get a special sleeve to wear on that arm if you fly. I don't know how they figure out how many treatments we get. I know some get 4 of TC some get 6. My mass of cancer was 7cm my onc was talking 8 tretments then, but the pathology showed the actual focal point fo the cancer was only 1.2 cm in 3 or 4 very small tumors in one quadrant spread out into 7cm. So then they said only 4 treatments. It may also ahve something to do with the oncotype score too mine was 31. High but still considered intermediate until 45.
patty that rash sound s pretty annoying. But like all the SEs it will pass. Keep telling yourself that. All of this is temporary. Your smart to drink a lot of fluid. Flush this stuff out asap.
whisper2010 you can get a lot of info about neulasta on their website but basically this is a shot that is given to protect your immunity from chemo. It raises your blood counts so that you don't get what is called neutropenia which can happen if your counts go very low you can get a bad fever and end up in the hospital. So the neulasta protects the counts so that does not happen. Some doctors also use neuprogen. After my last chemo tuesday they said my counts were so high they wanted to skip the neulasta this time. not sure if it's related but i got a sore throat this time. I get a blood test on monday and if they find my counts dropped they will give me neuprogen.
so far it's just a really annoying scratchy throat, no fever, could be thrush i don't know.
It's over for me all but the final side effects then recon. Soon all of this will be a distant memory to all of us. The annoying side effects will all seem worth killing any cancer.
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Rachel: It sounds like you are experiencing fluid retention. Your skin will feel tight... it will feel funny to walk if your feet are swollen, like the skin is tight. Your ankles will probably be swollen. Your legs might also. If you take your finger or thumb and push on the skin you "think" is holding water, it will leave an indent if it really is. Similar to the memory foam. Push on the skin for a moment, and release. Is your thumb print still there? Then you're holding water. Nurses use this procedure to tell approximately how much water you're holding. You may also notice your eyelids are puffy. In extreme situations, I've seen eyelids become so fluid filled, they become almost transparent. It may indeed appear to look like lymphodema in whatever area you're holding the water. You need to call the doc and let them know. They may put you on Lasix or the generic form. Sometimes, when a person holds water, it will release through the pores of the skin. So if you notice your clothes becoming damp or wet, it's from the fluid. It may not have anything to do with chemo. It could have something to do with your heart, or even a blood clot, or could be kidney related. I lot of things can cause this, but if it's getting progressively worse, it needs to be dealt with BEFORE Tuesday.
I'm getting ready to post about my week... and it's long... but I had to answer this before.
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Well it's been a LONG week for me! Monday... 7 days out post chemo.. developed fever 100.4, went up to 100.9, by morning it was 99.9. Called onc office and left message with a real person about fever at 8 a.m. No call back by 11 a.m., called, left another message. By 2 p.m. Tuesday, temp was a whopping 102.2! Now I'm a little scared. Called probably more than a dozen times before reaching a real person at onc office and demanded to speak to someone. Went to onc office for cbc at 4:30. White count plummeted to 800 or .8!!! Gave neupogen and off to hospital.. only stopping for Aleve and Claritan. I was only supposed to be there 24 hours. I just got out yesterday afternoon...
While there, standard procedure I guess is to place a heart monitor on. Never had one and my heart tends to beat a bit faster, sometimes in the upper 90's, occassionally in the 120's, and if I'm highly aggitated or a major issue has just happened, it can go to 140. So I had one, and heart was racing. While laying in bed, it was around 120's. I had test after test for the white count... chest x ray, blood cultures, urine cultures. It slowly rose from .8 to 1.3 in 24 hours, then to 2.2 by 48 hours. The onc was going to release me, but the heart was still of concern. After walking in the hall, it went to 157, so a cardiologist was called in. I then underwent an EKG, CT with contrast, and Echocardiogram, as well as thyroid blood check. In the meantime, I was extremely frustrated and irritated with the whole thing! My heart is normally high, not quite like this, so what changed? It was high on arrival they said, so what happened? Neupogen happened. I came here and searched for neupogen and found it has done this to others... tachycardia. It's rare, but it's even on their website as a side effect. None of the docs had heard of this, and I don't think they still believe the chemo or neupogen has something to do with it. But I've read it here too. Anyway, long story short, I came home.
Now I have three specialists to follow up with: Oncologist (for BC), Pulmonologist (for lung nodules believed to be histoplasmosis), Cardiologist (for poss tachycardia)
2010 cannot end soon enough! I'm really thankful I've had so many people praying and thinking of me, but being on that oncology unit in the hospital was like being on death row. One person even died while I was there right who was right in my same area!
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Carrol- How are you feeling? How is day 5 treating you?
Angelisa- So sorry you are having to endure so much. My mid-treatment CBC after tx 1 fell to 1 then .3. I had to go to the cancer center everyday for a week for antibiotic infusion, Thankfully my white counts came up on their own. I did not have Nuelasta first time. I did tx 2 and my mid tx CBC was 17.9! I had tx3 two days ago and got Nuelasta again. I can't remember evryone's tx status-how many have you had?? I sure hope you get over this quickly! Take care!
Lago- Yeah for your hubby!!! How are you doing?
Elaine- how was the look better feel better class?
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Rachel - my last chemo was on 10/22 and I still have pitting edema from the Taxotere. I really didn't have any issues with it until the last 2 treatments. The nurse practitioner wrote me a script for lasix but I haven't taken it yet. I want to monitor the edema myself and know if it has begun to resolve itself. I do sleep with my feet propped up which greatly helps with the swelling. I do have lymphedema (truncal and in my left arm) that I have been treated for and wear a compression garment on my arm and hand. I am not worried about the edema in my legs because I know it is a side effect that should go away as time goes on. My vital signs are good and I know it isn't related to heart function. I am a Registered Nurse. If you experience redness or your legs become warm to the touch you definitely need to go to the ER as these are signs of a possible DVT (blood clot). I received 6 treatments of TC and have really gotten my energy back! I am day 20 of 33 radiation treatments on the only side effects from that is a really red armpit! Best wishes to you!
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CC4n and Shady - thank you so much for the information. I don't have the edema in my legs at all. All of the swelling, finger indentation, pain is all back of head, neck, shoulders, back, sides, collarbone and chest. From the hips down, I'm fine. My hands are fine. My arms feel heavy up to my elbow. Elbows down I'm fine. My pain is mostly in the back.
I've had 3 cycles and my last one is on friday. I don't know if it's the surgery, the chemo accumulation or the fact that I use that damn Decadron (steroid) for 2 weeks and a bit instead of the 3 days.
The only red part is the nape of my neck and across the shoulders. Other parts of me are not red or hot just tight and that I know it feels different.
Thank you again for the information.
Oh, cc4 - I also have sinus tachycardia and I've noticed that with the Taxotere and Decadron it has made it worse. I also get the Neulasta Shot but I haven't noticed an increased in heart rate after the shot. By the way, I was assessed for cardiac disease prior to starting chemo and I was given an A okay - no heart disease.
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cc4n what an awful experience i am so sorry that happened to you. But glad you are home and all is well. I worry so much about hearing abut death through this i worry for all my sisters.
Tifj I am feeling a lot more energy today but my throat is really scratchy still. I have been rinsing with salt water almost every hour and it seems to irritate it but that is what the nurse said to do. In addition to nystatin for thrush 4x a day. Hopefully as my body gets back to normal my throat will heal. So far still hurts no change really in it but i can swallow and eat so it's tolerable.
Ok i did def notice for fatigue how important eating is. I find that if i eat something asap after i get up in the morning i feel much better. guess it's fuel that keeps you going. Suppose that is true even pre chemo but so noticable now.
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Quick report here... my pulse seems to have been 100 at the highest today. I told them it was the Neupogen! Now that it's dissipating, I can pretty much guarantee it was that. I've had only my first treatment so far. An oncology nurse at the hospital told me my onc may lower the dosage as well as give the Neulasta. I'm going to ask about that. Today is day 12 post, and so far my hair is still here. I hadn't dyed it in over a month, and decided to do that today, even though I know it will begin falling out soon with all likliehood. I use henna though, so there's no chemicals involved... just coffee and plant... pretty much anyway. I've felt good today, so I believe I'm past SE's for this round.
Rachel: I hope that edema goes away soon. It could very well be the Decadron. That's a fairly common side effect I think. Just keep an eye on it.
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how long does the decadron usually stay in your body? I took my last pill on tuesday (5 days ago).
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cc4npg, hello,
Just wanted to mention that I too developed tachycardia (mine's actually called "inappropriate sinus tachycardia"
) from the neupogen. Did the heart monitor thing a couple of times, dopplers, what-have you, and they put me on a simple drug that controls it. They thought it might go away of it's own accord, but I'm 10 years out and still need a small dose of the meds and an annual visit with the cardio. Aside from that it's no problem at all. It gets better, honest!
Gentle hugs,
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Binney: What med did they put you on... just curious? Mine seems to be going down now, but man, the fact that my doc had never encountered this and didn't even consider neupogen as a culprit really bothers me. Granted, it's a rare thing to develop, but it's right on their website and even when I told them this, they acted like the neupogen wasn't to blame! And on the website it says to give antihistimines, epinephrine, or steroids to make it dissipate... I told them this and they again said that would do nothing, that it didn't make sense because those things would cause the heart to beat faster. I found ONE nurse who completely agreed with what I was saying... ONE... and she was only there training an LPN that I had that day!!0
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cc4npg - I'm also using a medication for my sinus tachycardia and it's been wonderful. I was started on Atenolol then switched to Verapamil (Isoptin) Sr 240mg. It works well.
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Cool... I'll run this by my onc. But I really think it's coming back down now... neupogen did this. Hopefully neulasta won't.
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I jsut got my bloodcounts done. usually i get neulasta but this time my doc opted not to give it to me because my counts were very high. So i hope i don;t need neuprogen sounds awful.
My throat issues the nurse thinks are just from bacteria from my immunity being low plus thrush. she thinks it will start to go away as my counts go up.
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Been home 2 days from hospital. Last night I had a very lowgrade fever again, this morning it was 99.2 and now nothing. I picked up copies of all my tests while in there today, and the ct scan showed something in the lower right lung... they labeled it question of pneumonia! So while they found no real evidence of infection, they did note "except for ? of pneumonia". I also learned today that since I had a reaction to Neupogen, the pharmacist at Neupogen said to let my onc know because Neulasta is similar. Great. I have to keep my white count up! I suspect there is one more drug used to do this, mentioned by the nurse at my PS office today. Will see onc Wednesday and will discuss this.
Anyone else have anything similar?
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Angelisa i am waiting for my blood test results today. I did not get the neulasta this time because my nutrafils were too high but if the counts are low today my doc will want me to come in for neuprogen.
Day 7 of final chemo Throat still hurts kept me up coughing a bit last night. I am still in that low immunity time until the monday. Salt water rinses every hour, biotene mouthwash after meals, nystatin mouthwash 4x a day for the thrush. Could not find the oasis throat spray at cvs. Hopefully this will go away by the end of the week. Other than that not too bad. My eye are tearing a bit on and off. That may be the dry heat.
My only task out of the house today will be the post office. If my internet wont work i might go hang out at starbucks.0 -
Rachel,
I think I can safely say the decadron is out of your system by now. I usually feel like myself in about 2 days or so.
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Angelisa, good lord you have been through a lot! I hope they figure out what's best for you soon! I too am curious what your onc had to say regarding your BRCA status. I meet with the genetic onc. tomorrow. Better late than never I guess. How long before you found out your status? I'm a little nervous thinking about possible additional surgery and my daughter. She's only five, but she will need to know someday!
Carrol-hope your throat clears up soon! I have had a cough for the last several weeks-my onc. told me to take a Claritin everyday and it has helped.When your eyes tear up does it burn a little bit? Bundle up good if your going out today!! I can't believe how cold it is- I feel like I have completely missed Fall!
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Carrol2
I had the sore throat issues this chemo treatment as well. I went and got the magic mouthwash and in about three days or so the sore throat feeling went away.
Gentle hugs and well wishes...
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Saw my oncologist today and she said I don't have truncal lymphedema - what I have is the normal, common what everyone gets fluid retention from the Decadron and Taxotere. She said it will resolve itself after a while. She also said I"m good to go with my last treatment this friday.
I can't believe I'm already here. October 15th with my 1st treatment, I never thought I would get to #4 and here I am... Friday I get to ring that bell and say Adios Chemo!
I'm feeling better as well. The antibiotics did me some good. My cough is almost all gone, the chest pressure, the phlegm - all gone!
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3rd TC today and only one more to go -Yay! I am finally beginning to see an end to this.
Tifj: I have also had a cough for several weeks, accompanied by post nasal drip and hypersalivation enough to fill a spitoon! Today my onclogist also suggested that I take claritin!
I had my hair buzzed 4 weeks ago. The short stubble is still falling out, but I am not a "mr clean" look alike yet. So far so good with the lashes and brows. (altough maybe they are thinner?) If I do lose them, when does that normally occur?
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Rachel- so happy your feeling better! Your so close! My "Adios Day" is the 30th. I sure hope #4 goes better for you!
Tiffany
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