Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?
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collector, I have you on the list for the week of May 19-23.
Senora, I'll add you to the current week's list. Dose-dense TC? That sounds brutal. What are some of the side effects that have been causing you the most trouble? I'm just wondering what it would take for an onco to reduce the dosage. I've had some skin problems that seem minor and transient to me, but I've only had 2 treatments. My 3rd is this Wednesday. I hope it is as uneventful as the other infusions have been.
Evie, I know Arimidex and Femara cause osteoporosis, or at least they make it worse in women who already have some bone thinning. I know almost nothing about Aromasin. It really hasn't been used much (or not much has been published) in early-stage BC, compared with the other two AI's. I was thinking it was the drug they might switch to if the non-steroidal AI's didn't work. Obviously I need to read some more.
Harley, thanks for hanging around. We really appreciate your encouragement and advice. When I was just starting this chemo regimen, I thought 12 weeks would be easy. It's odd, but now that I'm halfway through, 6 weeks seems like forever. I know it will be over soon, though.
Hugs to everyone!
otter
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Welcome Senora and collector. You will be fine and find your way as the rest of us have. While we all experience different things, it's amazing how much we all do have in common.
My best advice is drink, drink, drink to hydrate your body starting the day before chemo and keep it going to flush everything through until the se's subside. And NOT just water as you can actually become water toxic if you overdo it - alternate some juice or Gatorade (if you can stomach it) to replace electrolytes, etc.
I had constipation the first time and diarrhea the 2nd time, so #3 will be a GI crapshoot (no pun intended
) as far as I'm concerned.Let people help you, sleep when your body needs it and use the support meds your doc recommends.
Otter - I am beyond impressed at your ability for and dedication to keeping tabs on everyone! It certainly helps remind us who our partners in chemo crime are for the week!
Had a GREAT mother's day roaming NYC (30 min. drive from my house) with my dh and 2 teenage boys. It sure felt good to be out in the sun - lovely spring day! I needed it before #3 on Tues. and a week of riding the couch.
Evie - sorry your day was the pits. It will pass like all this other nasty stuff has. Any way to get written confirmation from the insurance co. that they WILL cover the meds?
I personally think the insurance crap is more frustrating than the cancer! I spent weeks and endured nonsense delays with my insurance co. over the Oncotype test and the lab basically held my test hostage until I provided financial records to insure payment if the insurance co. didn't cover it all! It was resolved, but not w/o lots of undue stress.
Good wishes to my chemo sisters this week! Let's hope 3's the charm.
Amy
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Good Luck to the Monday Ladies !!!!
anna47 (#4--done!), clcady (#1 with unusual schedule), and Senora (#3)...I pray for an uneventful day filled with love and support. We are all with you and thinking of you!!!
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Good morning all! I don't post often, but read all! Hello to all you new ladies. I finished my last treatment on Jan 24th! I have 1/4 inch of hair. For those of you who are worried about what will happen to you, it will be different for all of you. Here is what my experience was like. Definitely lost hair by day 17!, Constipation like you would not believe,small red bumps on the head, but not painful. Slight bone pain from the neupogen shots (to build white blood count), I worked a full time job and a part time (3 days per week, a couple hours) the entire time with only a few days out. Last tx was the worst. Felt the heavy legs and had the swelling for almost 3 weeks. Also got some sort of crazy rash that would come and go. My side effects were so much less that some of you ladies, but I still felt like when is this going to end, during the treatments. It does end. So be positive and just expect the unexpected!
I now have some pain inside my breast that the doctor is saying is radiation damage. I had mammosite radiation prior to chemo. This is something that is not usual with mammosite, so I am the odd ball. Always was one anyway!
Have a great day!
Lou
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Hi to All,
Otter, Please add me to your list. #2 t/c should be 5/27. Thanks for keeping the lists. Since se's happen on certain days, it helps to know who is in same tx week as we are if something new happens. With your lists, we know just who to ask.
Made it thru 1st week. Bone aches continue, fatigue is worse. Sore throat and few pimples on lips. Itchy bumps on rib area, under arms and wrists. Look like mosquito bites but are not. Hay fever is back. I get Benedryl at txs but can't take it daily. Claritin, more Biotene and bsoda, and moisturizer should handle things.
I was taking advil, but oncall doc switched me to tylenol for fever last Wedn night. Which one is better to take daily?? Neither one for very long, I know. Nausea is much better, but don't want to start bleeding issues either. Followup with Onc today, so I'll ask her.
I've been wearing sportsbra 24/7 since mast 4/1. At 4wks, ps still wanted me to wear it. Anyone know how long this lasts? They're not comfortable to sleep in. Also if/when I can sleep on my sides again. I'll ask ps today. He's few blocks from Onc's office.
Scalp getting itchy and lost a few extra hairs than usual after shampoo, but nothing major yet. From readings here, I expect that may be next weekend?? I guess I'm ready??
Good luck to all those on this week's tx list. Thanks for all your tips and support. None of us should be going thru this, but it helps to be going thru it with such a great group!!
Janice
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Senora,
Just sending you some positive vibes, and lots of hugs and prayers that your tx will go smoothly today. I'm thinking of you, and wishing I could be there with you.
They didn't allow family or friends in the treatment room at my onc center. I had to be there all ALONE, and scared!Yes, I can understand your onc wanting to treat this bc aggressively! You may get 6 tx, as I have another friend who is triple negative, and she got five, but she had such trouble tolerating it, her dr. may have just decided to stop.
Glad to see you here, and please let me know how it went!!
Either way, you are over halfway thru, after today!! YAY!!
Hugs,
Harley
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Janice,
Welcome! Are you getting Neulasta shots? My onc nurse told me to take a Claritin every day for 3 or 4 days after the Neulasta shot, to help minimize the bone pain. Let me tell you, I had terrible bone pain after my Neupogen shots, which I got after my 1st tx!! Oh, it was horrible! But, when I insisted that they give me Neulasta, it was much better!!
Hoping you have few se's!!!
Otter, I am sorry I didn't come here for support while I was getting my tx. I guess I didn't see this thread, but you know, chemo brain!
I'll be thinking of you on Wednesday! You know, I had the opposite feeling... At first, I thought 12 WEEKS, oh no, I'll never make it! But, once I started, it seemed to go by quickly!
Good Luck girls, it will go by fast, and you may see the new hair growth before you finish tx!! well, mine didn't grow much, but I always had some hair, since mine fell out in patches, all over my head. I looked like Sluggo! But, this too shall pass.
Hugs,
Harley
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Hi, everybody--
Just a quick note, since I still haven't eaten breakfast and it's almost time for lunch. (Laziness is to blame, not chemo; this is the last couple of "good" days before Wednesday's tx.)
craftygal/Janice, you are on the TC calendar. I am trying to figure out a way to post the entire calendar, not just individual weeks; but it's in a table format. Maybe I can convert it to a picture somehow. I'll work on that.
Oh, and Janice, you said this: "I was taking advil, but oncall doc switched me to tylenol for fever last Wedn night. Which one is better to take daily?? Neither one for very long, I know." Some onco's won't allow Advil, but my onco said Advil was fine to take for the aches and pains of the Taxotere and/or Neulasta. In fact, it's what she recommended, unless I needed something stronger like Percocet.
However, she and my onco nurse did not want me to take anything (not Advil, not aspirin, not even Tylenol) that would reduce or mask a fever. The reason for that is because a fever is the earliest sign of a problem with your neutrophil count (ANC). If I get a fever above 100.4, I'm supposed to call my onco immediately, because it's a sign that my counts might be too low and I might be getting an infection. The time when that is most likely to happen is generally after the first week post-tx (probably days 7 through 12 or so). By then, I'm not feeling achy anymore; so I'm through taking Advil anyway. I am kind of surprised your docs said to take something (even Tylenol) to reduce your fever. How will they know if you have an infection?
Gotta go for now--too hungry.
otter
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Hi everyone new and old...thought I was doing well after number 4, but today I have that rock feeling back in my stomach, heavy legs and a little short of breath walking up hills...can't wait to go home at 4, would leave early but Brandon and I came to town together and he doesn't get off til 4...
Hope all getting chemo today fared well...
Oh yea for those who have been around...I have had two short emails from my soldier which have been great. Still hear from his wife regularly, but it is nice to hear from him.
Sharon
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Hope the Monday girls are doing wonderful !!
Tuesday Girls Good Luck and a very uneventful but healing day....
revkat (#3), dellmonica (#3), algw (#3), sandym (#2), danismom (#1) Relax and be well tomorrow !!!!
Questions for all....which day is your strongest day typically. I have been trying to see my grand nephew for the past three months and either he has been sick, his mom or me so it has not worked out. Trying to stay well but I am use to seeing him every other weekend. I miss him so much so I am trying to plan a day in the future and hope we are all well. He is 3 years old so I have to be careful not to get sick. So what is the best day?? right before chemo?? in right after chemo??? when are our less then perfect counts the strongest??
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Hi Tigwin
Days 10 -14 are my very best. I have a 3, 2 and 1 year old grandsons that I make plans for on these days cuz I know I will really enjoy it.
Deb
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Tigwin, any day after day 12 is fine for me. Actually, I could start earlier, but my chemo nurse said my counts would be lowest between days 10 and 14, so I'm giving her 2 of those days. Maybe my bone marrow is depressed even when I'm not.
By day 19, I'm already stressing a little about the upcoming tx, so I go into semi-hibernation (to my dh's frustration). Today is day 20, and although I feel fine, my mind is distracted and grouchy, and this cycle I'm even a bit weepy. Don't know what that's all about.
otter
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Afternoon all,
Craftygal: Quick note; had my double mas w/reconstruction latisimus dorsi (spelling) back in September. Still having to sleep in the sportsbras. My right side has an overhang on the muscle/back shoulder blade. It has to be repaired, but they couldn't get it done prior to the chemo. Not fun, but after awhile you just deal until it can be better. I look forward to no having to wear bras. That won't be this month. Hopefully, before summer is over.
Welcome new sisters. I am now 18 days out from completing this chemo journey. I have lost all my eyebrows, lashes, fuss and everything else is pretty much thinned. Only place that seems to be with any signs of growth, near my ankles. Go figure. Today, I finally feel a bit more human. My legs are only feeling 100lb heavy. Hurt from the knees down.
Good news, the swelling is gone and that is great!My anniversary was simple and quiet. Went to the movies and dinner. Dh is such a trooper. My lower body was still swollen, and painful. We did some walking(movie at the mall), but he realized that I wasn't going to complain. When I got slow, he said we should go. Went home and goofed off, then went to dinner. It all was wonderful.
For everyone this week, be strong...You Can Do It!. Have a se-free day.
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Hi All,
My counts were very high today so Onc may skip neulasta next cycle. OK advil for few days of bone pain; not longterm. Pain should be ending soon anyway. Call them if fever returns. Since my counts were high last week, she feels my fever was start of cold. Lots of it out there and bad timing with my txs. Claritin for hay fever, itch, throat. If it fixes bone pain too, I'll quit the other stuff entirely. Also got ok to ride bike again. Another bw visit Monday.
Will go (wedding) dress shopping with friend Wedn. Should be fun and even better if sun is shining by then. First expander inflation visit is Thursday. Others will be spread along chemo calendar. Hope I can avoid sportsbra soon, and rest better at night. Should I expect more pain after inflation??
Hope all have a restful day and few se's. Enjoy the sun if you can.
Janice
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Hi all...Well, I'm back to the insurance covering the Aromasin.Yeah!
Walgreen's was calling the "Medco" comp. that discounts for American Family, and they simply said we aren't discounting this drug and it's not covered. A.F. says we're paying and don't listen to them. SOOOO....Done! What a bunch of losers!
Today my dh and I went for a walk which was a bit taxing for me but managed to make it. Had to tell him and the dog to slow down. Then I dug in the garden to get the grass and weeds out and I was so exhausted , my arms just couldn't pull them. I'm pretty weak. It really makes me mad because I could do this and then some...no problamo. Guess I've gotta wait till the battery is recharged so to speak. It's day 4 after tx 4 so I shouldn't be surprised right?
Gotta go eat supper, even though I'm not too hungry. I'll check in later.
Evie
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Greetings gang, (a variation on hey all
) I am so happy for those of you who are done, and welcome to those just starting out.Tx 3 is tomorrow so I have stocked up on limeade, fig newtons, sweet potatoes, and smart water. This is getting old really fast, although I feel a bit wimpy complaining since I only have to have 4 treatments. Gave the pre-chemo blood this afternoon, am charging up the portable DVD player. Hope everything goes well for the Tuesday treatment folks.
kat
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good luck kat, I'm in the chair tomorrow too. hmmmm, limeade sounds REALLY good, I may try that - can you taste it? Got the fig newtons and I crave animal crackers like crazy! I only have 4 tx's too, but we still suffer....kinda.
just came back from Look Good Feel Better. It was ok, lots of good, free make-up, but the leaders were a little....um... bossy. Some people brought friends for support, but the leaders forced them to sit on the other side of the room and said, "no talking, chit-chatting to your friends please". I get that they have a program to present , but geez! I thought that was pretty mean. The poor girl beside me was in the middle of losing her hair and was in tears half the time and couldn't have her friend's support. Since I'm already a veteran make-up gal and didn't really need the tutorial, I helped her and tried to do what her friends would have done. One of the leaders shushed me (!) , but I ignored her.
I guess these things are all a little different depending on who they get to do it.
Evie - yea! for your insurance!
Thinking good thoughts for all us Tues. gals and others this week!
Amy
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Animal crackers sound good, I may have to grab some of those too. The limeade thing is funny, but someone gave us a bottle of Trader Joe's French Market Limeade with a meal during my first round and it was the only thing that tasted right. I made my dh go out and get a bunch more! Even a bit of it in water or other juices seems to help cut the "sewer mouth" taste. It's probably an individual thing, but my current motto is "no chemo without limeade!". And the sweet potatoes/yams someone else suggested and I did find they went down easily, tasted mostly like they should, and I figure they have lots of fiber and vitamims.
Here's to a low se week for all.
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Otter: you can include me in for 5/29 tx#2. So far so good. Am I out of the woods yet? Had the first tx last Thursday.
When am I to expect my hair to come off? Just feeling a little tired. Did take an extra dose of steroids by mistake and maybe that helped with the symptoms. My tongue feels different and have been taking Biotene. Did get med. for constipation and drank lots of water. So far I am doing well.
Let's see wat tomorrow brings....
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Hey Rosario - You could be out of the woods, but I thought I was and then had the nausea on day 6. Thought that would come earlier - but easily controlled with the meds and if you are lucky you will not get it. Keep thinking positive thoughts. If your tongues gets to feeling too different, make sure it's not white. I got thrush and didn't realize it so kept that taste for days. There is a great magic mouth wash that takes care of thrush. My hair started coming out on day 11 and then fell out in bunches for the next 4 or 5 days until I shaved it. I still have hair growing in sporadic places on my head. It has not bothered me as much as I thought and people have been really supportive about it. Your good weeks are coming up. My counts were great and I felt good for the two weeks after!
Revkat - have to try to limeade thing because nothing tasted good to me last time - just forced lots of water.
Evie - so glad the insurance thing is straightened out. You don't need the stress!
Otter and beachmom - Would you like to run away with me before tomorrow? Possibly Hawaii? Do you think they would come looking for us? Just an idea.
Have a great day.
Karen0 -
Hi all,
I think I'm most of the way out of my fog (day 6 past treatment) and am back to work today. The rain of the northeast finally left (it's been SO dark and rainy and depressing!!!) and the sun is finally out. That should pick up my mood considerably.
revkat & amy - go get 'em today!!!
CHJ
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Rosario - my hair started coming out on Day 14 and was pretty much gone by day 16. The wisps that were left then just looked to strange so dh shaved it. I still get tired quickly, so I have to do things in small bits and rest some. That's really getting on my nerves since I'm used to getting up, getting started and quitting shortly before I go to bed.
Kfalls - I'll be on the plane with you to Hawaii or any other place so long as it's warm. The weather here has been awful since Friday and I'm dreading Wednesday more each day. It seem so many had more problems after tx 2.
Good luck to all with tx today. Hope the se are slight.
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Hi, TC gang!
[Edited 10 years later: So sorry -- I had to delete the calendar because it wasn't there anymore. Photobucket isn't hosting it.] I am posting a TC calendar. This is an experiment--I scanned the table I created with Word, so I may have to tinker with it to make sure it's legible. Also, now that it's scanned (into jpeg format), I'll have to go back to the original Word file to make changes. But, please let me know if I've made any mistakes. The dates with question marks (?) or parentheses (...) are dates I've estimated based on other dates you've mentioned. For most of us, I haven't filled in the dates for treatments beyond this week. If your treatment day changes from what it has been, or if you aren't on a 3-week cycle, let me know so I can put in the correct date.
Yes, Rosario, I'll add your next tx date in the next edition. And, watch out for that weird tongue--mine was very tender and swollen for about 3 or 4 days. I never did get mouth sores, but I swished a lot with salt/soda water and I brushed my teeth at least 3 x each day with an extra-soft toothbrush.
Kfalls, when does that plane leave for Hawaii? I told my dh I was not going to my next tx, and he said that was fine with him. (He wasn't too sure this chemo thing was a good idea in the first place, if it would only give me a 5% improvement on risk of recurrence.) I was just kidding, of course; but it seems harder for me to gear up for this upcoming tx than it was last time. This 3rd tx must be some sort of psychological "hump" I have to get over. No one will come looking for us, at least not from my chemo camp. My dh might, though--he's been wanting to go to Hawaii for a long time. Either there, or back to Alaska again; but it's still cold up there.
Here's the table [Edit: updated on 5/21/08]: [Edited again 10 years later -- Photobucket isn't hosting anymore]
otter
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Wow otter, thanks for the table. You are so helpful all over these boards! Perhaps you know the answer to a question someone else asked somewhere -- if the chemo is supposed to kill all the loose cells, why do we need radiation afterwords if it is also supposed to kill stray cells?
I've dragged my feet every step of the way into this chemo thing and I have a suspicion that in 10 years it will be a lot more focused and a lot less "poison them all!" But until then I am definitely up for an escape to Hawaii. My treatment isn't until 1 PDT, so I can still make it to the airport!
Not really. I'm going. My oldest d (20) was crying yesterday. She had just read about someone with what was supposed to be a treatable little cancer who had ended up with mets. There is that small % where it just goes bad. So, today I'm going for her. We have to do what we know to do with the knowledge we have now and let tomorrow take care of itself.
Bon Voyage!
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Thanks Otter: It takes a great deal of time and effort to compile that information.
As for my treatment details: TC x4 every 3 weeks, next one 5/22
Robink
ps...it's snowing here today
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Otter, you are so good, thanks for the calander, you are so smart and such an encourgement for others. I will be out of town for the next few days so, everyone with their chemo good luck and hopefully minimum s/e, it is very sunny here in Richmond, Va today. Take care ladies.
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Raining here today. Gloomy. Count me in for Hawaii. Never been. I won't even pack....
Had to go to the onc dr again this morning. Still having serious leg/now calf pain. Walking is not fun. They took blood. Said that I had a reaction to the lasix. Great....this morning when I showered, the only hair remaining is a few eyelashes, nothing else-Anywhere.
So guess the new crop will be ready to start coming in soon. I plan on getting the nioxin that everyone seems to be talking about. It there a better price from one place to the next?
"Fantasy Island" here we all come. Met you all on the plane. Swirl margaritas for everyone and bright umbrellas in each. Don't forget the sunblock.
Otter: Kudos! You Rock!!!
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Otter - you rock! Hang in there for #3 - you are nearing the end of the chemo road. You are always such a positive support to everyone - bundle some of that up for you and keep looking to the end result - kicking bc in the butt!
revkat - why we need rads after chemo - I was told that chemo takes care of any of those little buggers that want to set up camp someplace else in our bodies and rads takes care of any left at the site of the cancer. Hope your daughter is better today. I have 2 daughers. It is so very scary for them to watch their moms struggle and deal with fears. It is very easy for all of us to go to the dark place of mets and the future. But I think that is why we are all on this chemo board - we are doing everything we can to kick this beast. Take it one day at a time. I pray these days will soon be a distant memory!
Deb
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Oh, Margaritas... thanks for reminding me!
All that talk earlier in this thread about how great limeade tasted, had me thinking I needed to find some limeade ... somewhere. Last night (while still trying to figure out where to buy limeade), I remembered that we had a bottle of Margarita mix in the fridge, only I drank the last of it during chemo round #1. I don't especially like Margaritas, but I love just plain, "artificial" Margarita mix and a few ice cubes. So, I'm thinking it must be the lime flavor that cuts through that awful chemo tastebud thing.
That got me to remembering cherry limeade, which my dh introduced to me at Sonic. And, from there, my mind took me back to a drink that was a special, after-school treat at the soda fountain across the street from where my dad worked: a "Green River." I googled "Green River" just now, and learned that it was a commercial soft drink, produced by a bottling company in Chicago during Prohibition. I guess the one made by the soda fountain where I lived was a homemade version.
Now I need to go to the store and get some Margarita mix, since I don't know where I can buy bottled limeade. Or, do you make it yourself? Can I count it as a medical expense?
otter
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Otter, thanks so much for the table. Actually my 1st tx was 4/10, my second was 4/24, and my third was 5/12. The third was delayed a few days because my urinalysis indicated a possible infection, but after the culture was done, it was determined I had no infection. If all goes on schedule my fourth will be 5/29. We had to delay that a few days because I will be going to my only nephew's high school graduation. I told my oncologist I wouldn't miss that for anything!!Yesterday went fairly well except with problems accessing my port. They say I have a very positional port, so sometimes it takes getting me into a special position before everything will flow correctly and yesterday was one of those days. I actually had to lay all the way back in the recliner before everything worked properly, but thankfully it did and we got started. Today, I actually don't feel too bad. Just very tired thanks to the drenching hot flashes which I had all last night!!! Just love those wonderful steriods!! I am off to the cancer center in about hour to get my Neulasta shot. My oncologist believes very strongly that I need this each time to keep up my counts. Since I am a teacher I am thankful that he does this since I am around all of those germs!!! With the first shot I had terrible bone pain and I even had to take my darvocet. With the second it was much better and advil was able to cover it, so hopefully this third one will be even better. Thus far, I have a few stomach issues, but my Emmend (that expensive little pill!!) has seemed to take care of that. It just seems like my side effects seem to kick in three to four days after treatment. For example, three days after the second treatment, I developed the hand and foot syndrome which was a reaction to the taxotere. The bottoms of my feet turned bright red and were swollen. They were actually hot to touch and I felt like I was walking on broken glass. Thankfully that lasted only about four days and then it moved to my hands which lasted about two. With the first treatment, about four days after treatment I developed such severe diarrhea that I ended up in our cancer center twice in two days on IV fluids because I was so dehydrated. So, hopefully, this round proves much less eventful. For those ladies who have asked about hair loss, by day 11 after my first treatment my hair started coming out and by two days after my second treatment it was coming out so bad that I decided to shave my head. It just made things so much easier. I was tired of hair being everywhere! I have three wigs which I trade off and on. They are very similiar in style and color. When at home, I just wear bandanas which I have purchased at Walmart for less than a dollar. You can get them in a wide variety of colors and styles and they are very comfortable. I just want to thank all of you who have responded to my comments with their thoughts and support. It definitely makes this journey much easier. You see, this is the second time for me to do this. Fifteen years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer on the right side and now I have been diagnosed on the left side. I can't say that the second time is any easier, but it has definitely helped knowing that I can come to this site and ask questions and get such postive comments. Thank you very much.
Senora
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