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Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013

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Comments

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,398
    edited May 2014

    jmg - I'm in Houston also, and I too was treated at a different Medical Center facility than MD Anderson - my choice also.  I don't think I'd drive all the way to Houston from Killeen unless you have a very unique & weird kind of BC.  Then of course MD Anderson is the place to be.  But it's over 200 miles.  I'm told Scott & White in Temple is quite good - and that looks to be the closest.  Or you could consider Austin.  I know at least one BC sister who has done all her treatment there.  Even Dallas is only 150 miles.

    If you do come to Houston, I'd go through Temple & College Station & pick up Hwy 290 or Hwy 10.  The construction on I-45 by the Woodlands for the new Exxon campus is a real nightmare.

    Anyway - welcome in advance.  We'll look forward to your moving & settling adventures.

  • jmg58
    jmg58 Member Posts: 104
    edited May 2014
    Happy

    Thank you both for the friendly Texas welcome!  My BF actually works at Scott & White in Round Rock...so maybe Scott & White in Temple would be the best bet for me!  I will keep you posted!

    Shanitis...I hope you are feeling better now that a few days have gone by!

    Zizabella, I did not ice my fingers or toes and have not had any numbness, etc., although I fear soon some toenails may go as they've changed colors and burn a bit.  My fingernails still look perfectly normal although I hear they'll go.  Anyway, to get to my point, I play the violin....granted it's a bit different from the guitar, but I have not had any problems with mobility or strength in my fingers.  Good luck!

  • yensmiles
    yensmiles Member Posts: 211
    edited May 2014

    AM so happy for you Jmg58 (regarding the move and love of your life!)!

    curious to know.. what affects the nails? is it taxotere? or cytoxan? or herceptin? or just the combo? 

  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 607
    edited May 2014

    It is the Taxotere that can affect the nails.  It is my understanding from what I have read that nail issues are not a side effect of Cytoxan and Herceptin.

  • yensmiles
    yensmiles Member Posts: 211
    edited May 2014

    thanks melrosemelrose! :) you're a wonderful moderator/supporter for this thread! :) 

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,398
    edited May 2014

    From what I read and what I am experiencing, the Herceptin also causes brittle, splitting, sore nails.  My PCP recommended adding Zinc tablets to my diet as well as coating with Tea Tree Oil.  My dermatologist said Zinc was good, recommended Biotin for 6 months now that I'm on Herceptin only, and said Tea Tree Oil was a mild anti-inflamatory but wouldn't help w/strength.

  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 607
    edited May 2014

     MinusTwo---Thank you always for being here to help get the right info on here!!!   You are the best!!!!  I guess I have been lucky with the nails through chemo and Herceptin and didn't have any major nail issues.  I did ice only through the chemo and not during the Herceptin.  I noticed that I had indentions in my nails marking each chemo round and that as my nails grew post chemo, there was a yellow tinge to them.  I also noticed that they would chip/break more easily.  I also used Essie All In One Base as well as Essie Mademoiselle Pink.  My onco had suggested that I continue to use some kind of clear polish to help protect the nails.  As for the Biotin, I bought some and have never taken it.  I try to eat healthy since I'm not very good about taking supplements.

    Yensmiles- Just want you to know there are many gals here who are great supporters on this thread and not just me!!!  MinusTwo is one of the many who continue to contribute and help those who will be starting this chemo regimen or have just started!!!

  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 607
    edited May 2014

    Debster- Hope you are doing okay after the latest chemo round.  Yes.... hydration is good before and after chemo!!

    Wishing everyone here a wonderful and peaceful weekend and of course minimal side effects!!!

  • jmg58
    jmg58 Member Posts: 104
    edited May 2014

    Thank you for the kind words, yensmiles.   I think one of the biggest concern from the cytoxan would be bladder irritation/problems and that wouldn't affect the nails at all.  I wonder what would have happened if I iced my nails  . . .  the chemo nurses/my doctor thought I was weird for chewing on ice chips during the taxotere infusion----they never heard of that before, which sort of floors me!  I think a lot of their patients are elderly and probably don't do a lot of outside research/get advice.  If I had iced my fingers and toes, they probably would have freaked out, lol.  I just didn't do it because, I don't know, I guess it wasn't worth all the aggravation since I stayed at a hotel the night before and after....

    Some good news today:  MY PICC LINE GOT PULLED OUT after fluids today!  Yeah!  In a day I'm going to take a half an hour long shower!  Yahoo!

    Have a great weekend, everyone, I hope you feel well and are able to go out and enjoy the holiday/good weather.

  • yensmiles
    yensmiles Member Posts: 211
    edited May 2014

    Good to know of the many supporters here Melrosemelrose!

    MinusTwo, am glad to read what you shared, I've started taking zinc supplements since my surgery for faster healing, and with this new infor, shall continue taking right through till i complete adjuvant treatment! :) and will be buying biotin too! :) and thankfully have teatree in stock at home!

    LOL! jmg58! and i had to google what's a PICC!!! now i know.

    By the way, i'm sure it's covered many times before, but why is ice-chewing so essential on taxotere? and how does icing nails help? 

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,398
    edited May 2014

    Yensmiles - it's my understanding about the ice that the extreme cold keeps the chemo poison from hitting or settling in those areas.  Melrose will know more.

  • AKJ
    AKJ Member Posts: 115
    edited May 2014

    I think Minus Two is right.  And I think it is the taxotere that affects the nails.  One of my nails is coming off but there is a new nail growing under it.  I finished chemo 3 and a half weeks ago.  And I'm still totally fatigued but I got a cold last week so that's contributing to it.  It takes awhile to get over the effects of chemo.  Jmg, congratulations on your move to Texas to be with your sweetie!  I know what you mean about some doctors not really being responsive.  My MO has a great reputation and is highly recommended but I keep having to remind him of conversations we've had previously.  I just think since he is so highly regarded that he's soooo busy and doesn't keep track of individual cases.

  • Zizabella
    Zizabella Member Posts: 4
    edited May 2014

    Here's one important question about the regimen. Is it effective since I waited 7 months post surgery? My oncologist, who presented me with all the facts said research suggests it may not. Then she said that there is some documentation that says otherwise. This was not so encouraging, considering what I see all of you ladies are going through. I have a 70% 10 year survival rate doing absolutely nothing, an 85% 10 year survival rate if I take an oral estrogen blocker, and with CT my odds go to 91% with a maybe attached to that last 6%. 

    So I'd like to know if there is anyone out there who waited, like I did. I didn't plan to wait. It was just what happened. After my mastectomy in South India, I refused their medical oncologist's treatment for a number of reasons. It's a good thing I did.

  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 607
    edited May 2014

    Zizabella- You may want to get a second opinion from a different oncologist.  Since I started my chemo within 5-6 weeks of my UMX, I don't have any personal experience with waiting.

  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 607
    edited May 2014

    Yensmiles-  I did drink icy cold water and sucked on ice during my rounds of chemo and also Iced my fingernails and toe nails during the Taxotere infusion.  I had minimal mouth issues ( mouth sores) and minimal nail damage ( just nail indentions and slight yellow discoloration and a little easier to chip).  With that being said, I can't say for sure if the icing helped but I can tell you that it made me feel like I was doing something to help myself during my time in chemoland and wasn't sitting there feeling helpless.  Yes, doing those things keep my mind off of the infusion itself and made me focus on something else.  I would think that the icing /coldness reduces the blood circulation in those areas of the body that are iced/kept cold during the infusions.  I did not do cold caps to save my head although i probably could have.  Do i think the chemo still got to those iced/cold areas..... yes because I still had mouth sores and I still had some nail damage.  As for the nails, I know some women did not ice and they did not have any significant nail damage.  Others I know, wished that they had because their nails turned dark and they lost them.  My onco did check my nails before I started chemo and said it looked like i had pretty good strong nails to begin with.  I also made efforts during chemo to take care of my nails by keeping them short, polished with clear nail polish and a light pink clear polish and wore rubber gloves when I washed dishes and cleaned with household cleaning products.  I know that I chose to do those things because I wanted to do whatever I could to minimize nail problems.  Not everyone does that though; it was just a personal choice I made after reading on these chemo threads about nail damage and ways to help oneself during chemo.

  • yensmiles
    yensmiles Member Posts: 211
    edited May 2014

    Thanks for the explanation MinusTwo and Melrosemelrose! :)

  • Palameda
    Palameda Member Posts: 91
    edited May 2014

    Zizabella, I wasn't delayed by 7 months, but I had to wait from July 26 to November 15 due to a rampaging post-surgical infection. I was a bit worried by the delay, but just plowed ahead. I'd have frank talk with my onco as to what he/she thinks and recommends. If it looks like the benefits from chemo are actually very iffy, then I think I'd skip it with what I know now of the lingering SE.

  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 607
    edited May 2014

    Just checking on those who are currently having chemo.. Hope all of you are feeling okay and have minimal side effects.  I think about you often and look back where I was 2 years ago.  I was where you are now.... getting chemo and sometimes feeling good and other times not feeling so good.  You will get through chemoland.  It's like a marathon with water stations and resting places along the way to the end of the race.  One stops to catch her breath and for a quick rest and some nourishment.  Then one keeps going and notcing that one is a little more tired and a little more fatigued at each rest stop.  Hang in there..... you will make it through and complete this marathon.

  • Debster
    Debster Member Posts: 42
    edited May 2014

    Thank you Melrosemelrose for your post!! I am up for a  breath right now and getting ready to dive back into it again in a few days. Have to say to finally be able to breath for just a minute has made a difference for me this day. you are absolutely right a little more tired a little more fatigued but I will prevail just need a little rest first.... Thanks again you made me smile!

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,398
    edited May 2014

    Anyone have thoughts or suggestions about anemia way after chemo & rads are done?  I posted this on another thread but I think it was the Cytoxan or the Andriamycin that caused this - not the Taxotere.

    Yes, it is me w/anemia - but supposedly not iron deficiency anemia.
    It's called "Anemia of Chronic Disease". Seems like the chemo or rads
    or both messed up my system. Don't know if the problem is in the
    kidney, bone marrow, or elsewhere - but my red blood cells are not
    standard or up to par. I refused the Aransep injections since they
    cause tumors in cancer patients (WTH) and serious problems w/heart
    attacks & strokes (more WTH). 3 weeks ago my hemoglobin went down
    to 8.3 (they do transfusions below 8). Last week it was up to 9.0. so
    I'm putting up w/feeling tired & playing a waiting game.  If things continue to be sub-standard, I'll go to a hematologist but MO
    said not necessary yet.

  • Rosiesride
    Rosiesride Member Posts: 197
    edited May 2014

    good luck...my MO is also hematologist..I was anemic before bc diagnosis and I am currently waiting for bloodwork to see if I need iron infusion today...but I never heard of what you are going through!! Good luck cause feeling this exhausted sucks big time!!

  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 607
    edited May 2014

    MinusTwo- Sorry to hear about the low RBC.  I know that for me, the recovery of my RBC has been slow but continues to get better.  I know that during the time I was receiving Herceptin only, the counts barely moved up to the very low normal range.  I do not take supplements and asked my oncologist several times about taking iron supplements.  She and the research coordinator told me to keep eating well and said that in time, the counts would get better.  On the other hand, my internist has told me to take Slow FE iron supplements. So after telling my onco what the internist has said, she said just eat healthy and keep getting out and exercising/walking.  .  I know I don't heal as fast as I used to but yet I don't feel fatigued or tired.  The research coordinator also said that this could be my new ":normal" and my body has gotten adjusted to what the new normal is.  Hope you start feeling better soon.  Hang in there!!!    . 

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,398
    edited May 2014

    Melrose - thanks for sharing.  I really don't feel bad, just no energy & really tired sometimes.  I have small SEs from the Herceptin - minor headaches & achy joints in my knees for a couple of days - but I can live with those.  Interesting since my PCP said to take SloFe and my MO said not. If I can get up to the bottom of the normal range, I'll be happy.  2.5 points to go.

    Of course I panicked when the Houston morning paper had a review about Robin Roberts' new book (Good Morning America) talking about her myelodysplastic syndrome caused by the chemo & rads.  Sounded just like what my bone marrow & my RBCs are doing.  I have tried to put those thoughts away and will just wait for new blood tests every 3 weeks w/Herceptin.  Hard to do.

  • yensmiles
    yensmiles Member Posts: 211
    edited June 2014

    Hi MinusTwo, hope you wake up stronger and better each day, and that the side-effects disappear soon! Can't say much since i've yet to start chemo, though while asking doctors, one of the things that an oncologist mentioned regarding TCH (as compared to an FEC-TH regime) is: "more chance of myelosuppression during chemo....  Myelosuppression is low white blood count,  platelet, anaemia, which may reguire GCSF, blood transfusion etc." 

  • Rosiesride
    Rosiesride Member Posts: 197
    edited June 2014

    hi girls...so I am on TAC..taxotere , andriomycin (sp?) and cytoxan...seems like a lot of you do cytoxan , taxotere together...then taxol separate... I know this board is for the 2 drugs, but I don't see andriamycin  in a whole lot of signatures, here or on other boards ....just wondering if the 3 together is an "old time" recipe...are taxol and taxotere in the same family of drugs???  Also, does taxotere cause neuropathy ?  Thanks for any insight! Rosie

  • yensmiles
    yensmiles Member Posts: 211
    edited June 2014

    Hi Rosiesride,

    Taxotere (Docetaxel) and Taxol (Paclitaxel) are from the same group of chemo drugs known as Taxanes. It's usually one or the other that's used, from what I understand. And taxanes do cause neuropathy.

    TAC is one of the standard breast cancer regimes. Do ask your oncologist why you're put on that regime, I'm sure it's decided based on what's best for you. Adriamycin (the A in TAC) is a very 'effective' chemo, though it affects the heart, and hence not suitable for all patients. I have been recommended a treatment similar to TAC, called FEC-T, where the  (E, for epirubicin, is from the same Anthracycline family as Adriamycin, though safer on the heart).

  • Rosiesride
    Rosiesride Member Posts: 197
    edited June 2014

    well, my last chemo is tomorrow...woopwoop!  I know both my surgeon and MO said I will "get the book thrown at me" as I had positive lymph nodes and I was young , 54, and healthy...so I guess it's a little more aggressive treatment with 3 at one time???

    I just started experiencing more tingly, kind of numbness at bottom of foot under my toes and stiffness in my fingers...I will mention it to doc and maybe he can tweak or eliminate the last TAXOTERE as I am afraid of long term neuropathy...but I do trust his expertise and will go with what he says...sometimes we may think our symptoms are just part of the treatment and to grin and bear it...I have called him on things like rashes and he has tweaked dosing...even the watery eyes and cough that I would always get about a week after chemo...I go through tissues like crazy...

    Thanks yensmiles for your input!  I learn so much from this site!! Rosie

  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 607
    edited June 2014

    Rosiesride-  Yippee!!!  Congrats on the last round of chemo tomorrow!!!  Sounds like you may have some neuropathy in those feet and hands.  Hope that subsides soon.  

  • nancybel
    nancybel Member Posts: 39
    edited June 2014

    Congratulations  Rosiesride!  I hope your last treatment has very minimal SE  

  • Rosiesride
    Rosiesride Member Posts: 197
    edited June 2014

    thanks melrosemelrose...you are always a wealth of information on this board!  Sooo happy to be at ONE AND DONE!

    Thanks nancybel!!  Hope it's not too rough these next few weeks!  Positive thinking!! ....always remain hopeful!!

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