Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?
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Hi all, back from #5 today and getting a little tired.
ggrose, sorry to have to say welcome. But you have a good attitude!
catlover, I'm treated at TN Oncology here in M'boro. Sorry you have to drive so far, I'm only about 4 miles from the office. You'll do well on Wednesday, it's good that you found this site ahead of time to prepare, wish I had found it earlier. You probably won't have to shave legs or underarms much this summer, finally a good thing!
Julie, you'll probably be fine loading up on the sunscreen and being careful. I was scolded by a nurse today during treatment since I got burned this weekend, and she said I should wear suncscreen everywhere while on chemo. I'm very fair skinned.
I'm jealous of those of you finishing up this week! I have one more to go. But I'm very happy for you and hope you ladies don't leave us yet. I spoke with some women tonight who said their last treatment was the easiest one for them,so hopefully that's how it will be you all of you, too. One little warning that hopefully won't affect any of you is that I started losing a lot of eyebrows/eyelashes after #4.
gotta get to bed,
Michele
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Hi all. I'm doing the Relay for Life with a group of other BC survivors this weekend. Decided to dedicate a luminare for all you TC Gals. All of you are terrific and have really helped in getting so many of us through chemo. Shall look for our candle, take a picture and hopefully figure out how to post it next week.
Otter - thanks for the mouth rinse recipe. That is exactly what I was looking for.
Started rads 4 weeks after my last chemo. Have 26 more rad treatments to go.
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My weight is staying the same , legs skinnier since I've taken up walking , however my abd. fat seems larger (and I'm not a very big person. Perhaps it's just with a breast missing the is no upper body balance and I look like a mini baby budda.
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Hi all -
Have been absent from the thread for about 2 weeks. Just needed a little vacay from all the cancer crap. I am heading out today for my FINAL #4!!!!!!!!!! Hoping that s/e's will be minimal, veins will cooperate and I can put this chapter behind me before moving on to chapter 2 - radiation in July.
I think I read that one of you was having a problem with veins and redness, irritation. I have had phlebitis x2 and a chemo burn with the skin on my hand turning bright red, then purple and peeling. It has since healed and Aquaphor was wonderful for speeding the healing.
My hair has fallen out again and my faint peach fuzz has been replaced with shiny bald skin. This too shall pass. How long after treatment does it start to grow back??? Anyone? I'm planning to pick up some Nioxin and start lubing up in the shower!
Had a scare - I found another lump last week and thankfully, it turned out to be a cyst. My surgeon was able to tap it and get it out of there with little trouble. I thought that's what it was and he and my onc assured me that it would be extremely rare to develop another cancer while being treated for your first. Still, paranoia got the best of me and I couldn't wait to get it out of there! I suspect those of us with cystic breasts will have to live with this or the Tamoxifen will help?
My best to all of you who join me today in the chair - kat? And to everyone else going down this week.
Where do we go after we graduate from here????
Amy
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Hey Tigwin! Check with your onc before joining WW. I am a WW leader and was told no way to losing while still on Chemo. I can also tell you that the effects last for several months after. I am finally at the point where I can try to lose what I have gained! WW is for sure the way to go though! Hi to all the newbies! Congrats to all the graduates! I still try and read about all your triumphs and struggles, even though I am a grad! I can finally look in the mirror and see me again, and not that strange bald lady with the dark circles under her eyes!!! I even had a lady stop me and tell me how fabulous my haircut was! Ha!
Lou
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Hey guys don't know how I changed the font on my last post! I hit a key and oops!
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Day #6 after last treatment...can almost finally see the light. Nausea and tiredness and achiness still bothersome. Sick of taking meds, so will try to do without, although I did have to take an Ativan before bed last night.
Still wondering about the eyelash/eyebrow thing. It's like when I was waiting for my hair to fall out. How long does that last??
I didn't have Emend for tx #1, but had it for the rest. It was a Godsend...took it for 3 days, then took Zofran. Ativan is also an anti emetic---it was used before the other ones came out---so you can use that if you don't want to bring out the big guns.
Good luck, Amy, and all those who are "relaxing" in the chemo chair this week. All I can say is....txs #1 and 3 were the worst (#3 because I had a fever), and just knowing that #4 was the last, helped me get through the worst of it.
Tap that inner strength....and know that we're all pulling for you.
peace,
Lisa
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Yes, I'm joining Amy in the chair today. I also joined you this week with a cyst scare! In my case I saw the onco for a follow up to the fever I had run and she always does a breast exam when she sees patients. When she said "what's this" I had a major adrenaline surge, but then realized it was exactly where the surgeon had aspirated a cyst (lots of green fluid, how special) prior to surgery, so we are fairly sure it is just starting to fill again. I was a bit surprised how freaked out I got; I guess I have been sort of disassociating from my breasts as I just try to get through the treatments day by day. For me, next stop is radiation. Then after that tamoxifen (at least for a while until we figure out if the chemo has put me into menopause or if some kind of ovarian ablation is a good idea. I don't think I can make those kinds of decisions right now, the chemo has stripped me of my ability to think aggressively about anything.)
The steroids really have me wired this time, so I didn't get much sleep last night. Maybe I'll just drowse through the whole thing this afternoon.
May everyone's day be less than horrible!
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Going to try it without Emend, since my onc. says I won't need it. I have Zofran and Compazine, and the nurse says I should just take them as needed when I get home--I'd rather head things off before any queasiness starts, so I think for a few days I'll just take one every 6-8 hours whether I feel urpy or not.
My onc. also stressed heavily to Stay Out Of The Sun, for all you sun-worshippers here! This Wed. will be my first treatment, and the nurse I talked to there insists I'll feel fine, so I choose to believe her! My husband is planning on staying with me the whole time, although I told him he's going to get awfully bored--I don't think he can find the newspaper entertaining for the 3 hours or so it's supposed to take. I suspect he'll be sneaking over to the Krispy Kreme across the street to see if the "Hot" light is on.... If we just didn't live so far from the office, he wouldn't be stuck there.
It does stink about actually gaining weight from this...I had heard that before but hoped it wasn't inevitable. I already have 10 lbs. I'd rather not have. Minor stuff...cancer-free and chubby sure beats the alternative.
I'll be thinking about all of you tomorrow, and so appreciate all the good advice around here!
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Catlover - my dh always goes with me. I say he's my entertainment. We take a deck of cards and play for most of the time. He beat the first tx, but I'm positive the benadryl was affecting me. I've beat since then. If I want to nap, he takes a walk outside. There's a pond/lake right outside the infusion room's window.
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Finally! I've updated the TC calendar, and split it into "active" vs. "graduate" members.
Here's the active calendar--as usual, let me know of errors, changes, or updates for next week.
Here's a list of our recent "graduates":
[Edited 10 years later to apologize: my Photobucket account is obsolete, so Photobucket will no longer show these images. Sorry!]
You are not drunk (well, how would I know?), and you don't have nystagmus. My printer is printing crooked and the scanner didn't correct it. Oh, well...
I'll post some chatty stuff in a little while.
otter
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Had my first treatment today. Nurse had no problem finding a vein on my hand, which was great. I am limited to the left hand due to lymphedema concerns on the right. Hoping that I will not have any burning sensations or problems and make it through to #4 w/o a port.
Was given Aloxi, Benadryl and more Decadron in my IV prior to infusion. Taxotere was fine, but the Cytoxan gave me a bit of a congested feeling when administered. Was feeling slightly nauseous too despite the meds so I was given a Prevacid. Will take more before I go to bed. Was also told to start the Zofran at 6pm. I will also take a stool softener and more steroids. FUN!
I am a little nervous about the nausea. I hope this is not a sign of things to come. I will definitely ask for some Emend if it keeps up. I have some leftover Ativan from my mastectomy surgery, so I might try that too.
Hope everyone is doing well. I'm just happy that I've started as it brings me closer to the end. Hey, I'm already 25% there! That's good news.
Otter-the chart is great. Yes, my first tx was today, 6/3. Next one is 6/24, then 7/15, then 8/5. Thanks!
Dawn
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I guess the lesson learned today is "don't count your chemo before it's done." I was all set for the final round, but my liver enzymes evidently thought otherwise (my ALT went from 15 to 107!). So I have been sent home to rest and try again next week. Which really messes up my work schedule and the graduation festivities planned for next week for d2. I never thought I'd be bummed not to get poison pumped into me!
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OK I'm back.
Yeah, Michele, I'm really looking forward to losing my eyebrows and eyelashes after I'm done with chemo! (#4--at last!--is tomorrow.) Where's the justice in that? Get some sleep and feel better.
Jisman, we get our very own luminare--that is so thoughtful of you! I got a card in the mail last week from the hospital where one of my friends works. Turns out, she donated some money in my name to the breast health center at that hospital. I didn't know she was thinking of me. Now, if she would just call once in awhile...
Robin, I hear ya on the flat chest/round belly thing. I think it's accentuated because they scraped every last bit of fat off my chest on the mast side, which means even if I wasn't round, the skin would stick out farther once it gets below my last rib on that side. Weird.
Amy and revkat, you are a day ahead of me as always. I actually thought I felt a teeny little bump at the base of my right breast (my only breast) last week. Sheeet! It was down there where I used to have a ridge of fibrocystic tissue which has since disappeared/gone soft. Now I can't find the bump anymore. My first post-surgery mammogram is coming up in August, along with re-checks with my surgeon and medical onco. I'm hoping it's a cyst if it's anything at all. For anyone who asks, this is the main reason why I opted for a mast on the left side, instead of just removing the tumor and leaving the rest of the "benign" marbles. That, plus the fact that I hate hate hate mammograms on these small, flat breasts (oh, there's only one left--that's just half the pain!). I've tried to explain to people--imagine attempting to do a mammogram on a fried egg (over easy) without scraping it off the frying pan.
Lisa, there must have been several of us with fevers during round #3. I still don't feel quite "right", even though my fever is long gone and my sinus thing is improving. You're right--rounds #1 and 3 were my worst. I'm hoping #4 is easier just because I know it's the last.
catlover, for most of us the infusions are a non-event. (Who was it who said it was like jumping off a really tall building--you look around those first few seconds and think, "Hey, this isn't so bad!"...) And, don't assume you'll gain weight. I've actually lost 6 pounds during chemo. Yeah, I know, you're not supposed to lose weight during chemo. I couldn't help it--I just had no appetite for much of the time. I ate smaller portions, cut out many of the carb-loaded snacks, ate lots of soft-cooked veggies, switched from ice cream to sherbet for dessert, etc. I wish I could say it was from exercise, but it wasn't.
Lee/beachmom and Kfalls, you're up tomorrow too, right? Wow, it's a busy week.
Hugs to all...
otter
[Note added in edit: Oh, revkat! I just saw your post about your liver enzymes. How awful! I know exactly what you mean about wanting to get chemo--if my dh and I drive all that way tomorrow (2 hrs each way), only to find out my whats-its are too high or too low, I will be seriously bummed too.]
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Hi all,
-Welcome to the new girls. Congratulations to the graduates:)
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- -I have been either busy or feeling crappy and haven't written for a while. Will have Tx# 4 on Friday. 2 more after that. I'll be glad when this is all over!
-I felt weak, tired, and my heart was racing over the weekend. Felt great at work on Monday though. I don't think I was drinking enough- a reminder to all of you to drink extra.
-TN-Michele- you lost your eyebrows and eyelashes after Tx # 4? I'm dreading that. Did you wear eyelashes? I tried them, they feel funny to me.
-Anyone have any tips for lashes or brows??
-Catlover44- It's better to gain than lose or we would really look sick! I haven't had any nausea at all. I get IV Aloxi with chemo and have Compazine on hand just in case.
-Beachmom13- That pond/ lake sounds heavenly. You're lucky to have such a view.
-Collector- I have a sore throat at times, no mouth sores.
-I have a tip. Use flushable wipes each time after voiding and bm's to prevent skin irritation, etc. These chemo's are very irritating to the peri-areas.
Minimal side effects to all you gals!
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Otter- Impressive chart. Thank you so much for all your time and effort! You can put my last treatment in for 7/18 because we cancelled our vacation to Myrtle Beach. We decided to stay closer to home- Ocean City, MD. And...I won't have to delay the last chemo treatment- want to "gitrdone." Plus, my hair will come back 2 weeks sooner:)
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Otter,
Thanks so much for the chart. It fells good to know someone is keeping track of all of us. I get to go in every week because I am also getting Herceptin.
I am feeling so good 14 days out from Tx1, but can't wait to get the next Tx June 11th. It is interesting waiting for my hair to fall out.
I went to Look Good - Feel Better last night and didn't realize it would be a class in how to put on makeup. I do appreciate some the many fine cosmetics I received.
I have had dry skin for the first time in my life. I found pure lanolin at Wal-Mart (in the baby section for nipple care for nursing mothers!) It is the best thing I have found to help my dry face. I think I will also use it for radiation.
I will feel fortunate if I don't have any delays due to liver enzymes, infection, or whatever else may pop up.
Boo307
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Karen and Otter and anyone else,
Didn't mean to startle you with the eyelash/eyebrow loss thing. I haven't lost them completely; they've just thinned considerably. I'm only having to fill in one eyebrow with a eyebrow pencil right smack dab in the middle of the brow.
I stopped wearing mascara before chemo hoping that would help to not lose the lashes, thinking that if I didn't "pull" at the lashes when removing the mascara the loss might not be as bad. Don't know if it really helped or not since I don't have many lashes left. But they're not all gone. I'm just wondering if Tx's 5 & 6 will make me lose the rest...
Michele
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Wow, Otter....you are incredibly organized. I feel like you're the Earth Mother for all of us (not indicative of age...just nurturing & caring)! Love the chart, it makes us all feel like part of a (dysfunctional?) family. One down tomorrow, 5 more to go. I am so with you on the mammo issue--I've had a mast. on the funky side, and am having the other done after this poisoning is over. No more mammograms for me! Those A-cups are not fun to get in the squeeze. The mammo didn't find my tumor anyway, even though it was 2.8 cm. Interesting. As for the weight gain, I am a carb-lover but am going to try just to not have stuff like BBQ chips in the house...my daughter loves fruit because I always gave her stuff like that to snack on, as for me, being a child of the 60-70's, I ate all the salty, fat-laden junk and have quite a taste for it. (I'm a vegetarian, so no more of those vienna sausages, hot dogs & Spam [ick], but still crave the salt.)
Beachmom, I am jealous of your pond view....we are stuck smack in downtown Nashville with nothing but a bunch of buildings. As I said before, the Krispy Kreme right across the street will always be a lure for my hubby (no coincidence it's right across from the hospital's cardiac unit). I will take the deck of cards though--that's a great idea. We are always so busy at home, this may a good thing that we have to just sit still and BE for a while. By the way...stupid question: I know "dh" means your hubbies, but what does that stand for?? I've come up with several entertaining answers.
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dh can stand for dear husband, or damn husband. It all depends on context
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Gotcha. Those were my top two choices.
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Otter do you mind giving the mouth rinse again? The post is so long it is hard to find and today my mouth has been so sore I could hardly eat.
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Hi All. Hope everyone is feeling well, or as well as can be expected. Yes, otter, I am on for tomorrow, or at least that's the plan. I've been in a really crappy mood for at least the past week, but I don't feel bad, just irritated about everything. I haven't been sleeping and that's never been a problem ( I tell my dh that I have a very clear conscience). Last time I was able to get the tx, but the onoc said my wbc wasn't as high as he would like. I've worried about that. Dh has had a cold and been banished to sleep on the recliner or couch (yes, I played the cancer card and said I get the bed). I've been worried I would catch that. Maybe I'm not sleeping because he's not in the bed. We've only been together 5years and except for when he went to CA to suprise his dd for her 30th last year, we haven't been apart. Although I did sleep great then. I really haven't had bad side effects other than achy for a few nights, and an awful taste in my mouth and nothing tastes good. I'm afraid all of them will hit me this time. My mother is being negative about everything (except me, and now's she's trying to appease me all the time. That's a first). The weather is great, we went sailing this afternoon, and I spent it worrying about getting sunburnt. I've never burned before. (yes, I used sunscreen). I'm tired of using my dh's pc. I loaned my laptop to my mother when her computer broke and I want it back. I'm tired of having to bang on keys. I'm just over all of this. I want it to go away. But I'm not the only one who feels this way. All of you do. I'm so sorry for dumping, but I just can't be nice right now.
Otter, as always, you do a great job on the chart. Are you sticking around when you finish tomorrow? What will we do without you.
Lee
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Ding Ding****ringing the final bell for you Otter! Here's to a good nights sleep, a safe drive, and no abnormal labs to delay your last dip in the chemo pool. And a prayer for minimals SE.
Robin
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Hello Revcat and Loopey,
I gained 10 lbs in the first three treatments and I believe most of it was from making bad choices to make myself feel better. I lost some weight last year and then just stop doing it. My goal for the next three tx's is just make better choices and not gain any more. If I do not lose until after chemo I am fine with that I just cannot gain anymore. I also want to be in the best condition for my surgery in August so I guess I am doing it more to get strong. Thanks for your input. I actually feel like I eat more food when on ww but better choices. My onc knows this is an area I can control when the rest of the world is out of control. It keeps me sane !!!
algw, revcat and otter...that is crazy scary that you found lumps glad it was nothing. Sorry for the scare.
Algw...CONGRATS ON BEING DONE !!!
delmonica, algw, swk and otter ....good luck tomorrow...pain and se freeeeeeeee
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Hi Revcat, I gained 10 lbs in the first three treatments and I believe most of it was from making bad choices to make myself feel better. I lost some weight last year and then just stop doing it. My goal for the next three tx's is just make better choices and not gain any more. If I do not lose until after chemo I am fine with that I just cannot gain anymore. I also want to be in the best condition for my surgery in August so I guess I am doing it more to get strong. Thanks for your input. I actually feel like I eat more food when on ww but better choices. My onc knows this is an area I can control when the rest of the world is out of control. It keeps me sane !!!
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Hello all,
Otter, thanks again. You have my entry on the chart correct. TX #3 was today. It is a comfort to know as someone stated, I'm part of this club as unwilling as I might be.
The infusion took forever. The onco ran late and then it took 6 sticks to get blood and the iv started. My first 2 tx were no problem. The little bit of blood she was able to get the first time clotted so then stick #6. I have to say the onco nurses were wonderful. They split the effort among three of them and seemed to feel worse about it than I did. Tx #4 is still in question. My scleritis (eye inflammation) is in both eyes and could be related to the chemo. At least I got #3 so I won't feel as cheated as I would have with only 2 tx. I saw another eye specialist (uveitis) and find it very interesting that cytoxin is one of the drugs used for these eye conditions although in much higher doses than I receive in chemo.
I'm distressed to hear of all the gals who found tx 3 to be the worst. I have to get to my grandchildrens' prek -4 graduation on 6/11 which is MA, 2 1/2 hours away. Has anyone had a easy recuperation after #3? They also are having a birthday pool party 6/18. Thanks for all the sunburn warnings. I have 475 cc's on each side in my tissue expanders now so at least that part of me will look better in a bathing suit than I ever have before. I can't say much for the rest of me.
Lenny, I missed Otter's mouthwash recipe but my nurses recommend boiling a quart of water, add 1 tsp each of salt and baking soda, cool and rinse after brushing and flossing (if allowed) every tiem you eat. Make a new solution every 2 days. It really helps. I also use Biotene mouthwash.
I also found Butt Paste for diaper rash to help with the peri area. It was in the bathroom for the grandbaby so I put some on. I think I'll try using it this time before it's sore. The wipes are another great idea. Have those too.
Have a good se free night.
Sandy
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Thanks for the great list Otter.
Bad day for me. Started out seeing more hair then usual come out while blow drying. Tonight my scalp hurts so I guess tomorrow will be the day it really starts to shed.
Yesterday after work I noticed the skin around my incisions on both breasts was red. Called the PS today and the nurse said I could not wait until my appointment tomorrow I must be seen today. Dr was in surgery but met me in the office as soon as he was done. He is perplexed and isn't sure what is happening. He put me on two antibiotics and has me seeing the oncologist tomorrow morning. He said no work this week - he wants me literally doing nothing (but said I could go to daughter's high school graduation tonight if I was careful). If they can't stop this from spreading I could loose my implants. UGH
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Ok Tigwin, just stay healthy. I know what you mean about making bad choices. When nothing tastes good I keep trying new things to see if they will be better, then when I finally can taste again I find myself eating non-stop. When I went in today to try to get tx4 (see above) I was about 8lbs up from my original weight. But I do blame a bit of it on being so well hydrated!
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Hi everyone. My prayers go out for everyone to have a peaceful day with minimal SE's and no set backs.
Thanks Otto for adding me to the list. I'll have 4 TX's in all then off to rads -- at least that is the current plan! Sure hope it doesn't change.
I have been preoccupied with my hair lately. This is day 13 after my first treatment so I know that I'll have to shave it either today or tomorrow. The weird thing is that I've never really liked my hair -- too straight, too thin. I have a great wig so what's the problem? Sorry to make such a big deal about this -- it's really minor compared to everything else.
Debbiem425 -- hope that you enjoyed the graduation. My DD#2 graduated from 8th grade last night. Rest and let those antibotics work their magic! You and I have to be ready for our TX #2 next week!
Rose
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