Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013
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Chloe's mom, so sad to hear. Take care of you, even though yiur heart is aching! I did pain Meds from the shot, and the patch for nausea
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jedimom - sorry to hear about your nails. Did you ice during theTaxotere? I did ice, but nails were also damaged by Herceptin for a year. Yes, reaction can be delayed. Hair & nails can take an entire year to completely grow past the damaged stage. I belatedly found out dermatologists are the docs for hair and nails in addition to skin. My derm gave me a prescription for antibiotic drops since I had an infection under the nails. She also gave me a paint on RX to help keep from getting a fungus. I had Herceptin until October. 5 months later I still have two finger nails that continually pull back from the nail bed. I'll think I've got it licked & then within 30 days there a day of pain & they pull back again. Keep your nails very short. Some people get relief from Tea Tree Oil. A steroid ointment is another option - again an RX.
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Thanks Minus two
I did not use ice on my nails during chemo, I just learned about that. I had read about ice packs for your hair but not your nails. Thanks for letting me know about your experience. I have cut my nails short and I'm keeping them painted
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Anyone else having excessive eye tearing from the Taxotere? If so, how did you handle it, and how long did it take to stop after you finished chemo?
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jedimom, I'm starting to have nail issuers too, month and a half after my last treatment. Nails are lifting on two fingers. I hope it doesn't get worse.
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Hi ladies,
Just finished my 4th and last treatment of Cytoxan and Taxotere.I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for the good advice, suggestions and hopeful words. I don't post much, but follow all the posts. One episode of this journey is over, next is radiation.
Good luck to all of you and we will win this fight.
Thanks.
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Greetings All,
Found this forum when I also thought I would be able to avoid chemo due to early detection, but alas, it was not to be!
I was the perfect candidate for the 5 day radiation treatment except for a "teeny, tiny" (quote from my MO!) amount of rare, metaplastic BC cells found embedded within the small IDC tumor. The onco test came back at 34 too, so it was off to the races with Cytoxen and Taxotere. And the radiologist put his foot down about the targeted rads, but he did agree to go to 21 days worth of them, rather than 4-6 weeks of it! Grr...
Had my first CT on Monday, Feb 16th, and the anti-nausea cocktail is working quite well, so far anyway, thank God! The actual Neulasta shot hurt more than any other poke I have had so far! And the little nurse said, "Oh, it is a small pediatric needle". YIKES! It was in my stomach, so next time I will try my left arm. The SE of the shot has been slight so far, and the Claridin helps. One of my nurses had not heard of the Claridin trick. Slight blurry vision has bothered me some too, which frustrates me, since I love to read. But, that is a "teeny, tiny" complaint! Really, Really tired off and on too, but naps have helped that a lot! I am sure that more SE will kick in, but I am so grateful that the nausea has been held at bay so far. It was my worst fear, even more than losing my hair, since it has been thinning so much this past year anyway. I fear I may be dealing with Alopecia or something like that, so I had been gearing up for wigs anyway. Getting old has lots of disadvantages!
All of the advice that I found on here gave me a goal to go out and load up on necessary items possibly needed for all the various SE. I spent $200.00 at a Walgreens! But, it was worth it, because I came home, found cute little baskets and trays etc to hold things that I might need, and it gave me the power to know that this fight is in my hands! My nurses were very impressed with the knowledge that I have gained from all of your advice. I hope to help others with my experiences as I go through my 4 CTs, and 21 doses of rads later this summer.
STAY STRONG, and hang on to your saddle! (We have horses and love to ride, so I am giving this treatment regimen a Trail Riding theme!)
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Indyhorselover54, welcome to our community, and thank you for sharing your experiences, and providing such a lovely, motivational message! We really appreciate it!
Keep us posted on how the Trail riding proceeds!Warmly,
The Mods
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Heading off to my last CT tomorrow - odd anxiety, I don't think I will feel relief until it is really done. Did others feel the same? A little wigged out to hear others have had nail problems starting months after CT ended...
blueflowers: congratulations on finishing CT!! looks like we will be on a similar radiation timetable. I'm hoping to start the week of 3/16 but haven't had the RO consult yet.
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IndyHorse - I believe the Neulasta shot is usually much LESS painful in the stomach than the arm. One trick I was told was be sure to warm it first. Since it comes out of a fridge ready to go, I always held it & rolled it in my hands for several minutes before the injection. Hope the SEs stay to a minimum.
RatherBeCooking - Best of luck tomorrow. Ring that bell as hard as you can.
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Eyes not watering but nose drips constantly. I go through gobs of tissues just enough to wipe but not blow. My nose looks like I have a cold. Have to go but so Puffs with lotion.
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thanks minustwo - I haven't seen a bell at my center, but I will ring it in my head!
chloesmom: I feel like I should buy stock in kleenex.... my nose is constantly running also, I think it is part of my eyes watering.
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the fruit idea is very good
I stopped soda a year ago but I will try to find something less sugar . For the nails I put black nail polish and my nails is fine after two sessions my except one finger nail in my feet affected by fungus it happened before. Chemo and chemo caused it again.0 -
Chloe's mom...that is happening to me around my nail beds ...thumbs, index finger and a big toe is ingrown. I I am on taxol, but my mo said that the taxanes can cause skin thickening. It's painful, peeling, annoying, and my thumb started to bleed a bit. Keeping it clean and covered with a bandaid. Maybe some neosporin
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blueflowers - congrats on your last TC! That's reason to celebrate!!!!! Woo hoo!!
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Blueflowers! So awesome you're done. Congrats!! Three down, one to go for me. Sooo can't wait for it to be OVER. enjoy the weekend ♡ Kim
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blue, happy dance!!!,
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last chemo done yesterday! woo hoo!
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Ratherbecooking - awesome, one part of this nightmare is over.
Today is day 4 for me from my last chemo, and I have severe body aches, taking claritin and naps with the heating pad.
Take care all of you.
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Two weeks since I had my final TC treatment. Started to experience some upper back/shoulder aches and aches starting just above my knees up to my thighs.. also the legs feel real tired when I get up after sitting. Not sure if the back/neck/shoulder pain can have anything to do with sitting at the computer for such long periods of time, I recently returned to work after 3 months of being out or from my last fill of tissue expander. the aches and pains are on the same side. . Wondering if anyone else has experienced this kind of pain / soreness/ achiness...
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ThinkingPositive, congrats on finishing your TC treatments! I finished TC #3 on Tuesday. Each round I have also experienced the achiness in my legs starting above the knees that you describe. My legs, particularly the inner thighs, feel so weak when I get up from sitting, it feels like I have jelly legs. I also have a lot of achiness in my jaw and ankles. It's pretty accurate to say I hurt from my teeth to my toes on days 4-8. Only one more to go!
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Cubbies - I just finished my third TC treatment also on Thursday. I'm starting to feel the same thing with my legs. Once I get moving though it's not so bad. I'm only into day three but I seem to be more whipped this time around then the other treatments. Just can't wait for this to be over. ... 3 down, one to go
yay for us!!! ♡ KIM 0 -
Hi all,I posted here a couple months back but recently started reading of the posts I must that exactly 4 weeks after my last TC treatment I too feel the aches in my knees and back. I thought it was just me going thru it and was getting a bit concerned. I hope it eases up on us all soon.
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Great to see so many of you finishing. One more step of the journey done. I'm starting this Thursday, trying to keep my anxiety at a reasonable level. I want to get started, so I can be finished, but the fear is creeping ever so closer, I know it the fear of the unknown, but I really do not want to go to oncology this week. I still don't understand why this is happening to me. Im ready to get off this roller coaster of emotions
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Bikerbabe, I had the same anxieties but found out that my thoughts of chemo was much worse than it really was. It was challenging at times but its nothing you can't overcome. Just try to prep the best you can before each round of chemo, it will be much easier. My prayers are with you. You will be fine!
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fingertips are better now that I put lemon balm drops on them. It's a brown liquid that you apply with and eye dropper.. Only downside is it stains and makes my nails look dirty
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Bikerbabe, it seems to be so normal to be very anxious and fearful prior to that first treatment, I know I was. The one thing I have come to find, is that everyone has such different experiences from their treatments, even with the use of the same drugs. I think that is weird! Just take that bull by the horns, and face this head on! My professionals really focus on helping with the nausea aspect of the SEs, and so far (day 8, post 1st treatment), I have been fine in that regard. For that, I am profoundly grateful! The main thing for me has been the fatigue, which has been overwhelming. It has helped that I finally gave in and now crawl into bed for naps whenever I feel like it..NEVER have been a napper, but now I love them! Been running a very low grade temp since Thursday night, due to the wbc counts going down, and cannot take anything that will mask the fever, so I've been a tad grouchy! And the bone pain is interesting! Again, weird! I will take that over the nausea, though! All in all, I am very happy and feel blessed that my SEs have been what they are....so far! Not looking forward to the hair loss or the cumulative SEs that probably will occur, but, just gotta power through all that! Good Luck with your 1st treatment! BE STRONG!
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my MO kept me on so much anti nausea stuff the first 3-4 days it didn't have a chance to show itself. Sat in the recliner with pillows under my arms so when I dosed off I was comfortable for first 5 days as mostly tired. Had less appetite so ate yogurt, turkey breast and light things.
They put warm packs on my arm and I covered it with a towel so i didn't have to see the chemo part during the infusion as it scared me &@;/:less but it was ok.- round 2 tomorrow for me. Get out if the way cancer - Susan is coming to get you
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You go Susan, kick that cancer in the ass...
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Hey ladies! I've been hanging out more on the Facebook page, but wanted to share my tips on here as well, since I received so much help from those brave women who preceded me. Done with my 4 TCs as of Jan 15th....had my port removed last week....will have rads in mid March so I've been lurking on those boards now.
I had horrible taxo- tears...which led to runny nose, etc. I later read that it's our eyes reacting to being dried out, believe it or not....and that using eyes drops like Replense helps.
I'm most distressed now because nail issues are happening....lifting half way down on several fingers, and especially the big toes. I did not ice, but did keep polish on my fingers...not toes.
Legs and arms felt like led for a good 4 weeks post last chemo....even resorted to using a wheel chair to attend a show at a casino, as I'd have a racing heart and out of breath just walking across a room. However, now each day is a bit better than the previous....so thankful to see progress there, and hoping rads don't set me back in the fatigue dept too much.
Chemo is doable....the first is the scariest by far. Prayers and hugs for each one of you! Ginny
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