Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013
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My onco suggested that I put on clear nail polish (Sallie Hansen Hard as Nails) to help protect my nails during my time in chemoland. I found that my nails chipped more easily too. I kept my fingernails short and with a coat of Essie Nail Polish ( Mademoisselle) and Essie Bottom/Top Coat. I originally used the Sallie Hansen polish but found it chipped off quickly which is why i switched to the Essie brand. I also wore rubber gloves when I washed dishes or used cleaning products. I also made an effort to stop using my fingernails as tools to remove staples and to open cardboard boxes. It is personal choice as to what one wants to do while in chemoland since there are no absolute rules or right or wrong ways to taking care of oneself while in chemoland. One just needs to figure out what works best for herself.
FYI: My nails did okay during the chemo. I did ice through all 6 chemo rounds during the Taxotere infusion. I did use the nail polish on my fingernails and toe nails. I also had those horizontal indentions on fingernails which seemed to coincide after each round of chemo. My nails did have a slight yellow tinge to them which i didn't notice until after I had finished chemo. That yellow tinge on my nails did grow out and my nails look as they did before I had chemo. I did notice that for several months post chemo that my nails chipped a lot easier than before. However, over time, the chipping has been less and less. If you are wondering if I would do the nail icing again, the answer is yes. I figured that it was worth a try to help prevent nail damage and possibly help minimize the neuropathy. I figured it was easier to deal with the coldness for a short period of time versus dealing with the nail damage and neuropathy for a much longer period of time. I did not use the ice caps for head hair. I just let the chemo do its thing and fortunately, my hair returned.
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I typically have acrylic nails, but it is not recommended during chemo due to possibility of infection and because of the damage that chemo can do to your nails. OPI Nail Emvy is a nail hardener, but it goes on clear. I'm using it to prevent excessive chipping and breakage.
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Thank you to all for the information - so helpful!
I will certainly get the polish thinking I will try the cold mitts/booties the first round and see how it feels. Round one (of four) scheduled for this Monday 12/8/14.
Anyone else starting on 12/8? Any other thoughts about starting round one will be appreciated!
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Melrosemelrose: you would kindly re-post the earlier instructions you mentioned in your post? thank you!
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Ratherbecooking..... Here you go...... Hope this helps. If you have any other questions about the chemo. please do not hesitate to ask. We are here to help you through chemoland.
FOR THOSE ICING NAILS : Always clear anything you want to do with your oncos. You will need to clear it with your onco about icing since not all oncos will allow icing during the infusions. The Taxotere icing time period is 1 1/2 hours ( 15 minutes before the infusion, 1 hour during the infusion and 15 minutes after the infusion. For Taxol, the icing period is 3 1/2 hours ( 15 minutes before the infusion, 3 hours during the infusion and 15 minutes after the infusion). At the suggestion of my onco, I am using clear nail polish on my nails to help keep them strong and also icing the nails to help prevent nail damage which is a side effect of Taxotere. She suggested that use Sally Hansen Strong As Nails Clear Polish but I switched to Essie polish since it doesn't chip as much as the Sally Hansen brand. Essie polish costs more but for someone like me who never used nail polish before chemo, the fewer times I have to apply polish the better. I don't mani/pedis but some do. I'd rather avoid the germ issue at nail salons and taking of a chance of getting nicked.
ICING :
- Time period for icing- You will for 1/1/2 hours in total= 15 minutes before the Taxotere infusion + 1 hour during the infusion + 15 minutes after the infusion. For Taxol, the icing period is 3 1/2 hours ( 15 minutes before the infusion, 3 hours during the infusion and 15 minutes after the infusion).
- Ice- You can use frozen peas in quart size ziploc bags marked "Do no eat!!!" and reuse those bags of peas. Some have used small reusable/refreezable ice bags you can get at the drugstore in the first aid department. I opted to use ice. I have an ice tray that makes small rounded bottom circular ice. I tried the peas and decided I liked the ice better because I thought it stayed colder longer. My infusion center has ice available for me to use if I want to use it. I always bring an extra bag of ice just in case I need it.
- Transporting ice to infusion center- I used a cooler with a freezer pack plus take extra infusion ice bags.
- What to put the ice bags in- That is a personal preference. Some just put the ice bags on their feet and wrap a blanket around them so the bags don't fall off. Some use insulated lunch bags and put the ice bags in those. My hands and feet are small so I'm using some neoprene wine cooler bags that I bought at Target for $6.99 each. I figured I could use the wine bags later on. I'm still able to hold an insulated mug so I can drink really cold water and eat ice during the infusion. I have pretty small hands/feet which explains how I am able to use those Neoprene wine bags.
- Hand & Feet Protection- I wear thin sports socks on my feet when I ice the toes. The socks keep the rest of my feet warm during the icing. On my hands, I wear a pair of knitted wristlets/fingerless gloves to keep the rest of my hands warm. If you don't have knitted wristlets, you can make some from men's socks by cutting holes in the toe area. Some people take their feet/hands out of the ice periodically; however, I don't do that.
- Process- I let the infusion nurse know that i'm icing so we can coordinate when I should start the icing. Once I know when I'm going to start the infusion, I put the ice bags in the bottom of the Neoprene bags. I put the ones on my feet first and adjust the ice bags so my toes nails are covered. I then put the ones on my hands on and adjust the ice to cover my fingernails. My husband helped me with this process.
Tips to Help Take Care of Your Nails
- Keep them short
- Use a polish with strengthener ( clear if your onco does a nail check at your appointments)
- Learn to not use your fingernails as tools----- No more opening cardboard boxes/cartons with your thumbnail
- Do not use your fingernails as staple pullers
- Use garden gloves if working in the yard
- Use rubber gloves when washing dishes or using cleaning products around the house
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wow! great responses - thank you!
thanks for the detail, Melrosemelrose - can i ask you if you are at greater risk for CIPN than other women generally are on taxotere, or have you simply heard about the risks and just want to do all you can to prevent it?
i read somewhere above that tea tree oil is good to rub on your nails during chemo for it's antifungal properties. i will be using raw organic coconut oil on my body and i'm considering trying this recipe for my nails
• 1 tablespoon jojoba oil
• 1 tablespoon avocado oil
• 10 drops tea tree essential oil
• 10 drops lavender essential oilyou combine the avocado and jojoba oils in a preferably brown glass container (to keep the oils fresh) and add the drops of essential oil, then shake, shake, shake, then massage in to the nails and cuticles.
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I was lucky with my nails during TAC... 6 rounds...afterwards my nails had a black line running up them for a couple of months...I started taking biotin after radiation and my nails are super hard now! I think it works! Rosie
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I finished 6 rounds of CT about 4 weeks ago, and I have one piece of advice - get all the exercise you can manage! I used to be reasonably fit, but I took it easy during treatment. Now I have no strength at all! Keep those muscles working as you go along.
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Leftyloo- Prior to my starting chemo, I did a little research on this chemo regimen and possible side effects ie CIPN (chemo induced Peripheral Neuropathy) and tried to figure out what I could do help myself through chemoland. For me, the icing was one way for me to help myself and give myself an emotional boost since I felt that I was being proactive and doing something to help me get through treatment. I was willing to go through the icing even though I knew that the icing may not do anything for me. I do know of gals who did not ice during this part of chemo---- some had/have nail damage and some did not have any damage ----- some have CIPN and are still dealing with it today and some did not have CIPN. As you have probably read in many places here, everyone's body reacts differently to chemo. You know your body better than anyone else and if something isn't right, call your MO asap. Don't wait to ride a side effect thinking that it will go away on its own or that you don't want to trouble your MO because his/her office isn't open or you think the side effect is minor. It is the MO's job to help you get through chemo and can do so only if he/she knows what you are experiencing.
If you are wondering if I did anything else for my hands and feet, the answer is yes. I put Cetaphil cream on my hands and feet to help them from drying out from the chemo. I wore socks and rarely went barefoot. I stopped massaging my hands and feet since I thought I could be exerting too much pressure on them when massaging. I also made an effort to wiggle my fingers and toes more often and to rub my feet on the carpet to keep those nerve endings stimulated. I tried every day to get a short walk in and just keep moving. I don't know if there is any scientific proof that the things I did prevented the CIPN or prevented nail damage; however, a very essential part of getting through chemo and treatment is having a positive attitude and to continue to move and push forward. I had my good times and not so good times during chemo but no matter what, I knew I wanted to see myself through to the other side and was willing and still willing to do what it takes to get healthy and feel good.
I wish each of you the best as you continue through chemoland.
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Hi ladies, I just wanted to check in; I found this thread last year when I was starting chemo; actually, one year ago tomorrow! I remember the fear of not knowing, etc. I hope you all have few and manageable SE's. My MO told me I was her poster child for chemo, when I was done! Whew, glad it's over, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Everyone is different, but some things work for all of us: rest when you need to, let others pamper you, hydrate, take walks when you can and BREATHE! You can do it!!!
((HUGS))
Melrose, thanks for starting this thread...it was a life saver for me when I needed it most! Bless you~
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KiLin, I felt the same way after TX. It will come back in a few weeks. Very annoying!!! Lead legs!
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keepthefaith- Thank you for your very kind words. This thread was started because someone heading into Cytoxan/Taxotere chemoland asked me to start this thread. And so I did so it would be a little easier for those having this chemo regimen to find pertinent information/tips and support rather than searching through the past chemo threads. I am so very glad that this thread has stayed active.
Leftyloo- I just thought of another possible means of keeping the ice bags on your fingers and toes if you opt not to use the frozen mitts and booties. You can get some pocketed pot holders that you can slip your hand and feet in with the ice bags at the end of the pot holder pocket. I know that you can purchase these at Ross, Target, etc. In short, try them on at the store to see if your hands will fit in them. Again, perhaps a cheap alternative to the mitts/booties and can be used again once you finish chemo. I know that this will work because I sent a friend of mine going through chemo some pot holders made of terry cloth material that I found at Ross. She put those zip loc bags of ice in the pocket and just slid her hands and feet. Again, if you have any further questions, please post.
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Hi - I am starting on Taxotere and Cytoxan Dec 17,I have read on these posts to drink a lot of water before during and after the chemo, but my oncologist said he is going to give a saline IV with the chemo to flush it out of my bladder and also to drink two gatorades after, and not to drink too much water, just normal what I drink. Will that be ok - I am really scared of not being able to flush it out .
Any other suggestions regarding this chemo is welcome.
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Welcome blueflowers!! Glad you found this thread. Hope you find support and help here. I think the reason that your MO said not to drink too much water is because it is possible to get water intoxication from drinking too much water. My infusion nurses told me to drink other things besides water and to watch my water intake. I got fluids in by eating watermelon, grapes, popsicles, slushies, grapes, soup, broth and drank other things like ginger ale, decaff tea.etc. I know I consumed about 64 ounces of fluids per day which is probably what one should drink on a normal basis. The reason one may want to hydrate the day before chemo is so that one's veins are plump and ready to go for chemo day. I did receive a saline IV with my chemo and usually drank icy cold water during the chemo. Yes, one can go to the restroom while having chemo. Just ask the infusion nurse to unplug your IV pole apparatus from the wall plug and you can take your pole and equipment with you to the restroom.
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blueflowers, I gues it depends on what a normal amount of water is for you. I rarely drink water, but I really try to drink at least 6 glasses a day now. If you normally drink that much, then you're all set. Also, my nurse said that any liquid counts, so coffe, tea, juice, soda, etc. are good to drink too. I get the Saline before chemo too, but I try to hydrate in the days prior to the treatment to plump up the veins.
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blueflowers: We will be one week apart on this - I am wishing you a very easy journey!
Forum: Thank you all for the great advise! Round one starting on Monday 12/8/14 so the questions in my head are multiplying. I went for wig consultation yesterday - quite scary but the woman was kind and gentle and it went much better than I thought it would. She had some suggestions and I would appreciate any and all thoughts from the forum:
- When did your hair start to fall out after round one of CT, and was it all at once?
- She strongly suggested a synthetic wig over a natural hair wig, saying it was much easier to care for and that natural hair would require daily styling, pointing out that would be one more thing to do before going to work and I may not have the energy. Obviously synthetic is also much less expensive. Because of my work setting, I need to keep the hair loss "invisible" so I need to transition smoothly to the wig, and have the wig be believable as my natural hair, just a new "style". Thoughts on synthetic vs. natural wig?
- She suggested buzzing my hair before it falls out and wearing the wig then, I just don't know how to know when that should be.
- All of the wigs I tried on itched. I was able to figure out that it was the band around the wig (not the top part of the cap). She said I could have an additional smooth liner put in the cap, but not the band. Have any of you solved that dilemma?
Many thanks!!
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ratherbecooking ... my hair started pulling out easily right at day 14 post TC and was very sore. I had cut it short prior to my first round which madeit a little less dramatic, but I honestly couldn't stand seeing it comeout in clumps and although the average person wouldn't have known any different, I decided to shave it before it got to that pont. Fed up w/the falling out (esp. in the shower) and the pain at the base of the follicles. My husbandshaved it on Day 17. I feel so much better!!!
Re: wig choice ... synthetic will be easier to care for and less expensive (depending on your insurance) but I don't think it will be quite as close to your natural hair now. There are some that look great and from a distance I'm sure no one would know the difference but natural hair will most likely get you the best results, especially if you're going to basically live in it. I'm not sure of this either, but natural hair wigs may hold up longer/better (??) and you might want to consider getting two to ensure the hild up for you. That said, I've got a synthetic one on order but I don't intend to wear it much
I don't have much advice on the itching ... though I heard the thin layer below it can help (but might also make it hotter).
Not sure if that was much help ... good luck. :
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ratherbecooking- Dealing with the hair is a very personal choice. There is no right way or wrong way as to whether you buzz/shave your head or not...... wig or no wig. You will find discover that whatever you opt to do will be the way that works the best for you.
Here is my hair story...... I had waist length hair at diagnosis Feb. 2012, then a short bob when I had my UMX in March 2012. In May 2012, about 14 days after my first round of chemo, my hair started to leave. At first, the hair came out just a little more than it normally did pre-chemo and it seemed as thought the loss hair was more in handfuls. My scalp was a little sore and my hair began to feel very dry. A week before my 2nd round, I became very frustrated with my hair since it was falling out everywhere and it was everywhere....on me, my pillow, my clothes... wherever I was, so was some fallen hair. I used a lint roller to get that hair off of me. I made a bunch of little pony tails and cut those off with scissors. I had my husband to clean up my short short boy hair cut that I had given myself and have not cut my hair since then. I opted to let this hair thing be my personal science experiment since I wanted to see what my hair would do. By the end of chemo, I had a very sparse veil of hair on my head. It has been a little over 2 years since I had my final chemo. I was fortunate in that my hair grew back evenly and is now a few inches below my shoulders. If you are wondering if you will wake up one morning and find your pillow covered with hair and no hair on your head, the answer is no. The fall out is gradual and then seems to accelerate.
I did receive a free wig from the American Cancer Society's Look Good Feel Good program. You may want to check out this program where you live. They also have a free makeup session where you will receive a small tote bag filled with free makeup. I opted not to wear the wig since it just wasn't me and also because it was the summer time when I was having chemo. I wore knitted caps, baseball caps, bandanas and inexpensive hats from Target, Ross, Marshalls, etc. If you do get a synthetic wig, make sure you do not get too close to an open oven, The oven heat can cause some damage to the wig hair.
As for the itching from the wig, you can purchase a cotton wig liner. That may also help. As you will discover, chemo can dry out your skin which includes your scalp. I used Aveeno Baby Conditioning Shampoo on my head/scalp which seemed to help. BTW--- make sure you keep the rest of your skin moisturized with a good body cream/lotion.
Wishing you the best......
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rather be
Rather be....agree with Melrose. Like you, I chose not to disclose to my team at work except for a couple board members and my ex. Assistant
And I only told her because she kept going into shock each time she saw me with "new" cut
I warned averyone I was going for a new look. Honestly no one knew, or knows now. I went to a stylist who cut my wig to suit me
It is synthetic, and I use the cotton cap under it. I have had it for about 2 months I guess At first I could not wait to take it off and while I still do when I get home, I can work up till 12 hours and it does not bother me
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Ratherbe - I agree, it is a very personal choice. I have two wigs, one close to my normal grey short wavy hair and one that is dark with very little grey in it and looks like a long shag. I wear both of them to work, change into my hat when I leave for radiation and when I get back to work, sometimes I change back and sometimes I don't. Whatever mood I'm in, dictates the look. I very rarely wear them on the weekend. Yes, mine do itch sometimes, but I use lotion on my head and that calms the itch down. My hair started falling out about day 14 and I could pull clumps out by day 17. When I woke up with a mouthful and pillow full of hair, I knew it was time to have it shaved.0 -
Thank you to all for your hair/wig advise - so helpful! I am going to a second wig place in the morning, then will make my choice with the assistance of your great ideas.
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i'm right along with you, BLUEFOWERS! my instructions with 4 rounds of TC are to drink 8-10 glasses of clear liquids and i was also given the saline flushes though the IV, but i think i will try to drink 2 litres/day as long as i can, and also give my liver a little help with a few cups of milkthistle tea, and i might drink marshmallow tea for the lining of my mucous membranes as well as it's pretty dry winter air over here, and i won't be drinking alcohol or putting much salt into my belly either, sadly... i am finding that in a crisis like this, if i have a plan i can get with, i'm way less of an emotional wreck!
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Ratherbecoo, leftyloo, Melrosemelr, Sjacobs146 -Thanks to you all for the advice and suggestions.
I am also looking forward to get over this crisis, and hopefully look back at these days like a bad dream.
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Here I am in the wee hours worrying about chemo day, work, and my 15 yo son whose life I am ruining by not letting him take the same drivers Ed class as his friends. Damn steroids keeping me awake and giving me heartburn.
I did not drink enough water this week. I forgot that I was supposed to visit my doctors office to get the pre chemo blood work done in advance until my chemo nurse called to remind me. I was supposed to go on Wednesday, but ended up there yesterday instead. Hopefully it gets there in time.
On the positive side, my appointment is at 11 instead of 9, so we'll miss the morning traffic. Will probably hit some traffic in the after noon though. Hopefully by having the blood work in early we can get started sooner rather than later. Wishin good luck to everyone else going for a treatment today
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Ratherbecooking.... Lots of good advice on these boards, but the single best one is to super-hyradrate the day of chemo, and 2 more days after....100 oz of water/juices/herbal teas......flushes the toxins out quicker and lessens side effects. I also take ginger capsules, B6, D3, magneseum....no neuropathy signs yet and nails are good (2nd chemo was 12/4).
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Ratherbecooking.... Lots of good advice on these boards, but the single best one is to super-hyradrate the day of chemo, and 2 more days after....100 oz of water/juices/herbal teas......flushes the toxins out quicker and lessens side effects. I also take ginger capsules, B6, D3, magneseum....no neuropathy signs yet and nails are good (2nd chemo was 12/4).
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lefty loo and others in chemo land...I ended my TAC , 6 rounds on June 2nd. I tried to get 100 oz of fluids in me and tracked it...at least a few days before treatment and a few days after and then tracked my intake for at least 64 oz a day...it really helped! And yes, I also found having a plan during this crisis and treating it like my " job" ( I took a medical leave from teaching kinders) helped me too...I need a plan!!
I am now looking back at this past year as a bad dream....still saying, "REALLY??? Cancer????".... And reliving the weeks of waiting for results, keeping results hidden from coworkers, friends and family until we knew the plan of action, etc....my cancerversary ( sounds too celebratory...) is December 17... A day after my birthday . Now this happy season is tinged with sadness...but I am sure once this year is over , emotional issues will pass!
Keep the faith, stay positive and you will get through! Rosie
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Ratherbecooking: I didn't ice my hands or feet, but I did put on some nice nail polish.(I know from past experience that it takes one year for the polish to grow off my big toes - it was an experiment. LOL) I let my nails grow - looked so nice - for awhile - then they started to flick off like acrylics that grow out. No pain, rather interesting experience. All that happened well after chemo for me - maybe even after rads. I have since kept nails short - including toes. The one big toe is really purple under the nail - cuticle up - but suspect it is unrelated to the chemo/rads. My nails are no longer falling off - but tend to have vertical ridges on them from the cuticle out. I haven't research the 'why' yet but will let you know. Does anyone else have this? Like Melrose - I, too, would wear gloves for doing dishes and stopped using them as staple removers, slicing the plastic off the tops of dressing bottles, box cutters and the bonus is - I do not bite them anymore nor clean them with my teeth (TMI?) haha
Enjoy the journey, expect the unexpect, laugh a lot - helps to get through 'those days' and R-E-S-T. Just when you think you never want be horizontal again - go have a snooze. Your body will thank you. ALSO, just found out (one year later) that WE should all be eating MORE PROTEIN - to help the body heal from surgeries, chemo and rads. SO EVERYONE - up your protein. Find a good protein drink or powder to use (I use Isagenix-Berry Harvest with 1/2c blueberries); beans, lentils, lean meats, eggs, hemp seeds and so forth. Protein helps the muscles to repair faster and you need it for your brain! It was explained to me (by my homecare nurse) that all the protein I was eating right now was going to repair my wound and nothing was probably going to my brain - I thought to myself "well, THAT explains a lot" - and I doubt that it was chemo related! LOL So I have increased protein & veggies/fruit, decreased carbs/fats/sodium - it is making a difference.
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to all....nail ? Mine a bit yellow.....but weirder is the tip, .....top of nail above bed....usually white has gone down almost to the cuticle. Halfway on most fingers does that make sense?
Using tea tree still, hard as nails. They don't feel "loose" but I don't test them a lot
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rosieride .. your words touched me this a.m. Well said and thank you. I can't wait to be able to look back a yr from now and think of it all as a dream ... all stages of this crazy, worrisome, full of unknowns- journey! It is unfortunate this season will be tinged for so many of us, but i guess we could also use it as a reminder, in the spirit, of how strong us ladies are and the *gift* we are giving ourselves and our families by fighting the fight and not allowing cancer to dictate our lives. I hope you will be celebrating however you see fit on the 17th!!
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