Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?
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Hi Samiam,
I was in a similar bind as you. Initially when I was diagnosed the cancer was in the breast, 2 small lesions grade 1 Ki-67 1% and 4% er+pr+hep-. All favorable. At surgery the doc found a node that turned out to be mostly cancer. He said he could see it. He did a axillary dissection. Took out 22 nodes with one having cancer. This changed everything. First onco said I needed TAC plus a clinical trial with avastin. I felt this was much too strong. I went to a second onco who said TC is sufficient. I then heard that Oncotype DX is available for women who are node +. My score was 11 very favorable. The second onco said he did not know what to do with me. This is all a new frontier. He suggested I still do chemo, TC but 4 rounds instead of 6. We still do not know what to do when it comes to rads. I am not sure I need it. After a BM, axillary dissection, chemo and then hormone therapy what will rads do for my survival.
I have been reading everybody's comments and I want to thank you all for the information I have learned from this site. I had my 2nd TX July 31. My worst SE is a feeling of being drugged up in the head. I feel loopy and my vision is not so clear. I also have a tinny taste in my mouth and my GI tract has really slowed down. I am rageful from the steroids so I have to apologize to everybody for my nastiness. The first time around I did not get neulasta and my wbc's really bottomed out. I got very weak and dizzy. This time I got Neulasta and had some achiness in my bones but ibuprofen helps. Each time I have had the chemo I have more severe pain and spasms in my expanders. Has anybody else experienced this? My 3rd TX is August 21. I am half way through. Wishing everybody the best. Charlotte
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Ladies, I thought I would drop in and give some words of encouragement to all of you going thru this hell. I am 4 months out from last chemo (T/C for 4 rounds) and 2 months out from rads (35). I have about 1" of hair and it came in curly - go figure. Never had a curl in my life - weird! Other than low energy I feel great!!! My first 3 month checkup went well and so will my next one and the next one and.......you get the picture.
I feel for each one of you - especially those who are just starting in on this journey that seems surreal and just not fair! But I am here to say that you will make it through and you will feel better! If I can answer any questions from anyone I would be happy to help. Email me at wrsmith@greenvillenc.gov and I will see what I can answer for you. I pray that one day no woman will have to go thru this but until that time God will get you thru. Just ask him and believe! "Time is all I have because one day I may find I have less of it than I thought."
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Hi All,
Looks like I may be skipping my last tx. As I mentioned in a prior post I gave myself a 2nd degree burn with a heating pad. I had it on my back for a back spasm, fell asleep then rolled onto my side where I severely burned myself. Since I now have an open wound that needs time to heal my onc says it would be okay to skip my last tx if the wound is not healed within the next 3 weeks.. Since wounds heal more slowly on chemo it is looking likely that I will not do tx 4! As long as my onc is good with this I am thrilled to skip my last tx! On the downside this burn is messing up my recon as part of the burn is on the side of my breast....as if I did not already have enough things to deal with!
Okay so lesson learned for all of you.....throw out your heating pads!
Wishing you all a good week!
Valerie
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Hi All,
I'm exactly 2 weeks past tx 4, the last one and have developed this wierd rash. Little pimples on my hand that are sore to the touch. I also have 3 bumps that itch horribly for days on my leg. I decided they were probably bites but who knows. Anyone out there have experience with rashes as a side effect.
Am seeing the rad onc tomorrow to do marking etc and I will ask but I thought you all might know more.
Thanks, Susan
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Thanks all for the great info on TC as a treatment. I met (my first direct visit) with my onc. yesterday and he actually recommend TC - 4tx right off the bat. That of course will be followed by hormone therapy.
Now that just leads to another question: Did most of you go with the port for 4tx of TC?
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Valerie, what a mixed blessing....ditching that last tx is great, but I'm sorry you're having so much trouble from that burn. I hope you heal well and quickly. I've fallen asleep with a heating pad many times, for various reasons...now I'll think twice!
I'm seriously questioning the hormone tx after chemo--I DO NOT want to do Tamoxifen even though I know I'll get the cookie-cutter recommendation that I should. I'm researching about having my ovaries removed instead of, not along with, Tamoxifen. I'll be 45 in October, so I'm right on that age line where opinions vary. I feel that after having 6 tx of chemo, I want my body to be as chemical-free as possible, and I don't want to start dealing with and worrying about s/e's from Tamoxifen. When I have the other mast. done, can I not have the oophorectomy (sp?) at the same time?
Opinions, experiences, anyone? Thanks,
Terri
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I had my first TX of TC today, First order of business was a blood test. And hurray! all counts were fine and I don't need the Big "N" shot tomorrow. Another blood test next week. I don't have a port, they used a vein in my right hand. they started out with steroids and anti-nausia meds. Then taxotere, I did have a slight reaction (burning sensation down my back and hip pain) but quickly solved with more steroids. From that point on smooth sailing. I am drinking my fluids and they are doing their thing. After TX I went to lunch with my sister, then home and did some work. Feeling fine, no nausia. Off to exercies now. Hope all have an equally easy time of it with your TX's. Hope mine continues.
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Samiam--The port is usually (or maybe always?) necessary with Adriamycin because it is corrosive, but I don't think most women get it for only 4 sessions of T-C if they have good veins--and in part that's an aging issue. They debated with me, because my veins suck, but so far they've held up just fine for two T-C treatments and I hope that continues. I'm not sure I would agree to the port for only 2 more. I think I would arrange to burn myself with a heating pad (just joking, Valerie)
Maria, Glad to hear your first treatment went so well and you our feeling good. Plan to feel a little bit of a crash on Day 3 or 4, and respect that and take care of yourself, but it sounds like you're off to a great start.
Valerie, Too bad about the burn, but I have to admit I'm a bit jealous that you are now over with chemo! Good luck with your further treatment and let me know if there are any changes!
To All: I am going to be filling in for Otter with regard to posting the weekly treatment schedule, so please if you have any changes or new information to report, send me a personal message. I will try to post the new schedule every Monday. Also, if you hear of new people on T-C, please direct them to this thread.
Regards,
Sandra
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Samiam- I think our diagnosis is fairly similiar only I had no lymph node involvement. I went for my first of 4 treatments last Thursday and they had no trouble using my veins. My nurse suggested I drink even more fluids 3 days prior to my next treatment so my veins are nice and puffy (her words ). The day of treatment wasn't too bad. I was a little uncomfortable when they pushed one of the drugs through and very sleepy from the anti-nausea stuff they give you in the beginning. I'll admit the past 3 days have been rough. Fatigue and overwhelming diarrhea and cramping. And this morning I woke up with thrush on my tongue. Lovely. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that my lab work is o.k. for the next treatment because I'm an absolute phobic about injections. I.V's and blood work don't bother me, but jab a needle in my upper arm and I turn into a 2-year-old. Hope you have few side effects, and just be prepared with all the right foods and comfort items in case you do. Good luck. It sounds like we're on the same time schedule.
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I did taxotere and cytoxan too. I never really had any trouble with it, I took Neulasta shots the day after treatment so my blood counts stayed up. The Neulasta made me ache for a couple of days, but nothing a couple of ibprofen couldn't handle.The Decatron you take before the treatment makes you kind of jittery. I wanted to come home and clean!!!! My hair came out in about 10 days, so that was a bummer. Had about 30 wigs, so tried to keep one just about everywhere..It's kinf od nice to keep your hair combed all the time and just put it on when you need to, LOL. At least it always looks good! You have to keep a sense of humor or you would go crazy.!! I'm glad it's over and will just be glad for the aches and pains in my joints to go awayGood luck to to you that are just beginning. It will be over quicker than you think. Just hang in there and remember we are a large supportive club who are always here for each otherClubmember5 Stage 2A 1microscopic node out of 7, er,pr, positive, her2 neg0
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Hi, Charlotte. I experienced pain all along my mast incision and particularly under my arm and around the back where I hadn't had pain for quite some time. I think it's because the taxotere attacks growing cells and any incision site (or lymph removal site) is going to have repair work going on for months. That's my theory, anyway.
Sandra, thanks for taking over the schedule, and Otter, thanks so much for all you have contributed to this thread. You are a gold mine (not that you ever wanted to be an expert in chemo, I'm sure). Valerie, sorry for your burn. I hope it heals more quickly as you recover from chemo. Take care!
Terri, I haven't heard of that alternative to tamoxifen. I would ask some oncologists, if your insurance covers a second opinion. I'm menopausal and still take tamoxifen. I've been told that in addition to your ovaries your adrenal glands make estrogen, plus we get some in our diets (esp. soy), so I'm not sure that you would get as much coverage from an oophorectomy -- but I haven't done the research. Good luck in your decision.
-Lani
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Sandra, Thanks for the advice about day 3 and 4. I had heard those could be the worse and I am prepared for that. By that Time I will be back in my own home (staying with my sister now) and I have food prepared in my freezer that can just be popped into the microwave and a slew of DVD's ready to watch. So far day two and no complaints. No nausea and no constipation. When I first spoke with my onc we discussed the constipation and he said I should do alright because of my Mediterranean diet. And If I do develop constipation I will use the old world remedy of two spoonfuls of Olive Oil followed by warm water. Don't want to fill my system with lots of meds.
Sandra Thank you also for taking over the scheduling list. Nice of you to step up to the plate.
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I am at 10 weeks post TC as of tomorrow. For the most part, I think I am back to normal. I am still having the neuropathy in my hands and feet, what a pain in the keester. My hair is coming back in full force, I'm thinking its platinum. Sounds better than gray or white! And I finished my radiation on Monday of this week. I am completely finished with the treatment phase and will have followups on 8/21 and 9/2. So far, so good.
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Kwoodson,
LOL at "absolutely phobic about injections" because boy, is that me!!! I thought I would mention that I have been getting the Neulasta injections in my tummy because someone had mentioned how much they hurt in the arm. It sounds terrible, but really doesn't hurt at all in the tummy. She kind of pinches the skin up and you barely feel it. You might consider this. I'm not sure if this is an option for the morbidly obese, but I think most people can take the shot there just fine.
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Hi All,
I have a kinda gross question. Did anyone who's just on TC suffer from debilitating diarrhea after any of their treatments? I'm at the point where I'm afraid to leave the house. I have no fever and my oncologist sent me a prescription but it isn't helping. Clear liquid diet also isn't helping. Needless-to-say I'm frustrated and in a fair amount of pain. If anyone had this could they give me some hints to deal with it? I'd be much obliged.
Kathy
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Kathy - I had diarrhea like that for about a week (the first 2-3 days were the worst), but it was after 2 different antibiotics I was put on because of a fever I had. This was day 15 of Tx1 and I was put on the antibiotics on day 12. Prior to that I was constipated (beleive it or not, that was worse). I took Immodium quite a bit, followed the BRAT diet(banana, rice, applesauce, toast) and it settled down reasonably quickly. But I was on Immodium for about 6 days. They were worried that the antibiotics led to C. Difficile infection for me, so I took in a stool sample for testing. I never heard back, so assume it's okay.
I think that T has diarrhea as a side effect, especially starting day 3 or so (after the constipating anti-nauseas and steroids are done). At least lots of ladies mentioned it here. For most it seemed to only last a couple of days.
Gina_M.
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Hi Ladies,
I am also on the TC regimen. I had my 1st in June and my 3rd treatment is tomorrow. I also take Dexamethasone the day before, during and after treatment. The day following chemo, I receive a Neulasta injection. I get about 3-4 days of bone, muscle and joint pains from the Neulasta and take 600mg of Ibruprofen to take the edge off. I am starting to experience weak muscles in my thighs. I am guessing that is from the taxotere. I am very thankful that I have not experienced any nausea.
My oncologist is suggesting 4 TC treatments followed hormone therapy (tamoxifin?) for 5 years. I hear of so many others getting 6 treatments and/or radiation.
I don't ever want this cancer to revisit me (as I'm sure everyone else has the same sentiments) so I am praying that the 4 treatments are enough to kill off any cancer cells that may be existing in my body. Does anyone know why some people get 4 and others get 6 treatments. Someone had commented that it may be because I had 0 nodes positive, but my histo grade was a 9, which I thought meant the cancer was very aggressive.
I'm praying for everyone's good health, positive thoughts and many years of survivorship!
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Kathy--YES! After both of my tx so far, I have gone from constipation (through day 4 or so) to diarrhea, and after tx 1 it lasted until about day 14-15! (I'm on day 7 after tx 2) The nurses at my onc's office told me it might be a problem, and if so to call and they'd call in an order for Lomotil. I had some leftover from having salmonella (a while back) and so I'm taking those when it gets bad and they've really helped--especially with the cramping. Wouldn't waste time with the Immodium--call in the big guns!
Sherri
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FYI My wierd rash was diagnosed as SHINGLES..... due to compromised immune system from chemo...who would have thunk it. Anyway it is not really bad except for the antiviral meds I need to take 3x/day for 7 days. cost!!!!!!!$241.00
Hang in there...... Susan
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SherriM and GinaM thanks for the info. I tend to imagine the worst of the worst. And I have to admit this is the most painful case of trots I've ever experienced. Did it just happen to you guys after your first tx, or was it with each tx. Because there is no way I could work right now if i had to ( I work in a school and start back the date of my next tx. ). I guess I just want to give my boss a heads' up if I'm going to miss more than the 2 days I was anticipating. Got to go.... because I've got to go!
Kathy
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Kathy--I'm on day 7 of tx 2, and the diarrhea started again on day 5 just like tx 1. I think the Aloxi they give before TC and the Zofran I take after for a few days is constipating and keeps it at bay for the first few days. Having to go back to work was really why I started taking the lomotil...I couldn't get ready for work in the morning for the cramping and trips to the bathroom. So I take it at night and I'm fine in the AM. I'm sorry you're having to go through this....the cramping is the pits!!
Sherri
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Charlene 216- I took 6 treatments of T/C because I am triple negative and won't be able to take any oral chemo meds afterwards.
I am 6 days post 6th treatment and hospitalization from a blood clot in my leg. I still have neuropathy in my toes, fatigue and back pain. Hope these will lessen soon. Treatment # 6 hit me the worst. Waiting for hair to grow:)
Radiation starts Monday, 5 days a week for 33 treatments.
Today is the best I have felt for some time:)
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I had 4 TC treatments, 3 weeks apart. Initially I had horrible constipation and on about day 5-6, the diarrhea started. I had it with all 4 treatments and it generally lasted for up to 2 weeks, sorry for that news. And yes, it was painful and you hate leaving the house cause you don't know when it will hit you. For me though the constipation was worse than anything else. I am now 10 weeks out of chemo and just finished my radiation this past monday. I have hair, honest to goodness hair coming in!
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Hi, everybody!
Kathy, I finished my Taxotere & Cytoxan chemo (4th tx) on June 4, '08. I had diarrhea from day 4 through day 8 or 9 of the first tx, and from day 4 through day 7 or so of the 2nd and 3rd tx's. It was the same each time-- (TMI alert!) --very fluid. I tried switching to a "BRAT" diet, but that didn't seem to make any difference. So, I just drank lots of fluids, including Gatorade, and kept eating small meals. I did end up taking Imodium on the last day or two of diarrhea during the 1st and 2nd tx's, but I wasn't too worried because I knew by tx 2 that it would end on its own. I did start using baby wipes during tx 2 so I would not get the "scald" I developed from the diarrhea during tx 1.
There is a severe type of diarrhea that can develop during Taxotere treatment. It occurs when Clostridium difficile takes over because of antibiotic therapy or, in our case, because our immune system and GI tract are messed up. That type of diarrhea is very serious, and needs to be treated.
My worst SE was probably the severe acid indigestion/gastric reflux I got during tx 1. It took a double-dose of OTC Prilosec (omeprazole, 2 x 20 mg per day) to slow that down. There were other problems, too, of course, but the indigestion made me miserable for the first 10 days of that first round of TC.
I'm 9 weeks out from my last tx, and except for continued loss of eyelashes and eyebrows (they're almost all gone now) and some discomfort in my arm and chest wall on the mast/SNB side, I think I'm headed back to normalcy. I don't have any "real" hair yet--it's just very fine, colorless fuzz . . . but it does seem to be growing. At this point, anything would be an improvement.
Hugs to all...
otter
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RNKaren,
Thanks for your reply. I guess so many variables come into play when our oncologist make their suggestions for our chemo plan.
I'm really sorry to hear about all your side effects and glad to hear that you are feeling better today
If you don't mind I'm sending some prayers your way. YYeeaaa!! Congrats on finishing your chemo .... you're almost to the finish line. Hang in there!0 -
Thanks, Kathy and Sherri, for posting about the diarrhea, after 13 or 14 days of it I needed that. Didn't know there was anything better than Immodium. It may have lasted so long because I was on antibiotics, but it was definitely time to put an end to it! Fingers crossed, because my next tx is Monday.
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Sandra - Thanks for keeping up with the schedule. I was actually scheduled today but will not be having my tx#3 until Monday the 11th. This was my choice. My dh bought Rod Stewart tickets right after I was diagnosed figuring I'd be all done with all this mess by now and it would be a good way to celebrate. I decided I wanted to feel my best and be able to taste my dinner and a beer at the concert. My onc had no problem with waiting 3 days which also puts my 4th and last the day after Labor Day, so this worked out good. Now I have to remember how to act at a concert, I'm 48 and haven't been to a concert since ..................?
Susan - Sorry to hear about the shingles. My dh had them a few years ago, they can be quite painful. Talk about adding insult to injury. Hope you have a mild case. Good Luck.
All - the trots suck!!!! and have a great weekend!!
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terridwo,
Have a great time at the concert. Act the same way you did years ago when you went to a concert. Rod Stewart, taking me back down memory lane. I went to see him in the late 60's early 70's. It was in a small theater in NJ right outside of NYC and my friends dad owned it. We were back stage with him and when it was time for him to go on he gave me the rest of his beer. I finished the beer but kept that bottle for the longest time until it got broke by accident.
Enjoy the day, Karin
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Terri, enjoy the concert! Doing fine on day 5 after my first TC treatment. No SE to speak of. Was a bit tired yesterday, but still was able to put in a full day of work without pushing it. Going shopping today, then a walk along the beach. All enjoy your weekends.
M
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Can I do a little survey? Of those of you who've had 4 treatments, what was the dosage you received each time? I am getting 1026 mg Cytoxan and 128mg Taxotere. And did any of you have anything in the nodes? I've finished #4 and just got an EOB saying insurance wasn't paying for any more Neulasta shots (including the last one I had and the one I just had this week, meaning about $10,000+ they think we should pay). ARRGGHH! I'll deal with them Monday, but in the meantime, I'm considering making 4 treatments it and skipping the last 2. I had "footprints" in a tail node and one lymph node, but that was it. Clear margins all around with the mastectomy and a clean PETscan. If there isn't a huge difference between 4 & 6 treatments and we're going to have to pay thousands of dollars, I'll take a pass! (Of course who would mind giving up two treatments?) Thanks for the input~~
And Terri, I have always wanted to see Rod Stewart! You'll remember exactly what to do. Have a great time!
Terri
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