Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013
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beatcancer4, I have nearly similar dx as you and I've been questioning 4 vs 6. When I asked my onc she just said look that's what's recommended as if to say take your own risks. I just finished #4 on Wednesday and cannot fathom another 2 rounds of this. The se's I have I suppose are manageable, praying neuropathy is not permanent. SEs do get worse and last longer with each treatment it's jus that I have the gnawing feeling that this stuff is just way to toxic on me overall, on every cell regardless of side effects. I'm gonna have to sit her down on a day I don't have treatment and we talk. I really just don't feel right about it. I'm willing to do one more- I guess but 2 more feels like it would rot me from inside out. Again- I don't think I have the worst se's. Onc says I'm tolerating very well, blood counts have been great. It's just a gut feeling I have. Still have a year of herceptin and 6 weeks radiation.
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Thank you so much for posting about the 4 vs 6 rounds of CT. With 3 down, I am also feeling very scared about ending chemo and if 4 was enough. My liver enzymes and glucose are now out of range. Did you all find this? Should I be watching my sugar intake? The PA said my bloodwork was fine so I am not overly worried. (I guess the spots on my liver worry me a little). Just looking for reassurance!
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Marksgirl... I did 4 rounds and finished on Feb 5th. I too worried about the regimen that I had chosen, and whether 4 was enough. 4 th round was a long lasting side effect round for me . Three weeks until I felt better. Was glad I was not doing another round after that. All my blood work results all along were within range with the exception of the glucose. It ranged from 98, 116, 98, and so on. I just had my 2 month followup and had blood work done and my glucose was at 142. Oncologist was not concerned since I had eaten that morning and blood work was done in the morning after I had eaten. So it was not as though I had fasted. I still am concerned since all my other blood tests were done the morning of chemo and I had eaten those mornings as well. How high was your glucose. I am really nervous since mine seems to be really high. Plus I had cut almost all sugar out of my diet and lost 26 pounds since my surgery. Seems weird that the glucose could be that high. Now worried about diabetes. Anyone else on TC regimen that had problem with glucose levels?
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I asked my dr several times, you won't add any more treatments since I'm doing so well? She told me no. And I have to trust that with the progress made over the years, 4 rounds is good enough to do the job, and I trust her. With radiation and hormone drugs still to come, I am more then ready to leave this chemo behind. I'm still expecting the next few weeks, maybe more, to be unpleasant, but I'll get thru it. We will all get thru it and be stronger women because of it. Stay positiveeveryone. It's a beautiful day today and and I feel strong enought to go for a ride on my motorcycle 😊
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ThinkingPositive: Sometimes, the steroid Decadron can cause the glucose to increase which may be the reason for yours to be high. Talk to your onco about your concern.
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It is so good to connect with people that are walking a similar path! Thinkingpositive, my glucose was 141. I know the steroids elevate it but like you, I was on them the other times too. And they should be long out of your system by now since you are done with CT. I think the MDs don't worry till it is over 200 and glucose regulation does involve the liver, pancreas, kidneys etc. So I guess while I know it is not really really significant, I want to see all the numbers back where they belong! I am also glad to hear other people say they are red on CT. I look like I have been to the beach! Never looked so healthy! LOL0 -
I finished the last of 4rounds of TC on March12, 2015. At 6 weeks post chemo I lost the middle section of my eyelashes on one side. At 7 weeks I started to have nail problems , with the nails pulling away from the nail bed. Now this week I have nearly lost half of each eyebrow. Has anyone else had this late start to side effects? I spoke with the nurses and they said its not "normal" but it does happen. The first 2 doses weren't too bad, but the last 2 built upon the others and were hard to get through. So far, radiation is much easier.
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Firstborn1- Take a few deep calming breaths...... you are ok. The eyebrows and eyelashes are on a different growth cycle than your head hair. This means that they fall out and grow in at a different rate. From my reading on these boards, it is not unusual to lose the eyebrows and eyelashes several times during the first year after one finishes chemo. I had 6 rounds of chemo and began to lose my eyebrows and eyelashes after my 4th round of chemo. By the time I completed the 6th round, my eyebrows and bottom lashes were gone. My top eyelashes never fell out for some unknown reason. As for the nail situation, I iced my fingernails and toe nails during my chemo rounds and never experienced what you are experiencing.with your nails. Meanwhile, you may want to keep the nails short and protect those nails as best you can. You may want to wear rubber gloves when washing dishes or cleaning the house. Hopefully someone who has experienced that kind of nail situation will respond here.
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nail help....ice during treatment and I used Sally Hansen extreme hard as nails. That was posted many pages ago. It worked for me. I am on a different treatment now. The taxotere combo gave me fluid around my heart and lungs. That was very difficult. Went away when I stopped .
Good luck ladies....that one wasn't my fav...but made it through..hang in ther
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Firstborn - it took me a year to finally figure out that the dermatologist is the doc for skin, hair & nails. I've been going to one for 15 years but never knew about the hair & nails part. She gave me some drops for the nails and a polish to stop fungus if the nails are really separating from the beds.
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My nails turned a yellowish color and looked as though they had black specs in them. None of the nails fell off, except one two toe nails - part of the nail fell off. My last TC was Feb 5th and my nails still look horrible. Some of my eyelashes fell out after treatment ended as did my eyebrows. Eyebrows are already growing back but eyelashes are taking longer. Hair on my head is coming in but it just looks like its covering my whole head, no length yet.
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Glad I found this thread, I begin TC this coming Thursday, May 14. Anxiety is increasing but your comments and advice is very helpful. I do have a question, what do I use to ice my fingers and toes during treatment.... I have visions of me balance ice cubes
Thanks all.
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CatsRus- As you have probably read here, chemo is doable. Just remember that everyone's body reacts differently to chemo and hopefully you will have minimal side and very manageable side effects. Wishing you the best on Thursday. As you have probBelow is a repost of info I posted May 2014 for icing.... Hope it helps. If you have questions, please ask. We are here to support and help you.
With the okay of your onco, one can ice their fingernails/ toe nails to help prevent nail damage and possibly help with neuorpathy. It is fairly simple. Attached below is info that I posted previously . I found out about the icing on the Chemo Discussion threads and asked my onco if I could do it. She said it would be fine and but said she didn't know if it would help or not. I did ice and fortunately have had minimal nail damage and neuorpathy. I know some gals don't ice and are just fine while others who didn't ice wished that they had. The first minutes of icing are not comfortable but one gets used to the coldness after a while. I usually wore the same outfit to every chemo--- leggings, a men's undershirt, a pullover hoodie sweater, socks and boots. When it was time to ice, I would put on some fleece running pants over my leggings, wear a fleece jacket and get a warm blanket for the infusion center warmer.
Here are some tips to help you with icing.
( Sorry everyone--- this icing is a repost of info )
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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I am having nail problems, but they didn't start until 6 weeks after I finished my last treatment. Finger and toe nails separating from the nail bed. I keep my nails really short so that they don't get caught on anything. I also use a neutral color polish so that people can't tell. Toe nails got thick. Hoping they grow out quickly so I can wear sandals this summer
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Hi everyone....I will be having my 3rd out of 4 TCtreatments on Wednesday. The last 3 to 4 days my eyes have been watering terribly. I see my Oncologist on Tuesday. Is there something I can do in the meantime to help this constant watering? Thanks!!
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Yogis - my ophthalmologist recommended Systane drops.
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Thanks...I just went and bought some, hopefully them will help
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My eyes kept tearing for about a month after my last TC treatment. I was constantly wiping my eyes that it made them chapped and irritated. I did not ask my MO for anything...thought based on what I had read it was a side effect that was going to happen no matter what I used.
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thanks for the info Melrose.. And in such detail! Great. may give it a go.
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Nails separating 1/4 way from tips 5 weeks post final chemo. Rubbing tea tree oil in them keeps them from being sore. Clipped them really short
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CatsRus- You definitely can get through chemoland!!! I know your anxiety level may be a little high right now because you aren't sure what is going to happen. Just remember to keep breathing and that you are not alone during the chemo infusion process. The infusion nurses will be watching you carefully during all infusions. I hope you will have someone with you during the infusion. Having a spouse, family and a friend with you will give you that extra support and also help pass the time. Just remember that that day is your chemo day and infusion centers procedures may take more time than you anticipate. Remaining calm and patient will help you in many ways. If you are wondering what to do the day before chemo, make sure you hydrate the day before chemo , while you are receiving chemo and the days following chemo. This helps the veins stay plump and flush the chemo through the body. The day of chemo, make sure you eat before you go to the infusion center. You may receive a pre-chemo IV cocktail containing anti- nausea meds which can on their own cause nausea if administered on an empty stomach. If your infusion goes into the lunch hour, make sure you get some lunch. You can bring a sandwich, fruit, and other snacks with you. While you are receiving your chemo, keep drinking water. You may want to have some ice to suck on during the infusion which may help minimize the mouth sores. Hopefully, your side effects will be minimal. Keep us posted!!! Wishing you an easy time in the Big Girl Chair on Thursday!!!
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yogismo ...my onc said I could get stints put in. What happens is your sinuses constrict and the fluid has nowhere to exit but through your eyes and nose. I have been on a different chemo now for 4 months...tearing and runny nose still happenening. Maybe permanent??
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Yogismom- Taxotere is sometimes known as "Taxo-tears" as you are discovering. It is one of the chemo side effects. I was also told the same as susan3 about having stints put in. I opted to wait and see and fortunately, the excessive tearing did decrease over time after I finished all of my rounds of chemo. You may also notice that your nose may be running more than it did before you started chemo. As you have read and probably have experienced, the loss of hair can be one of the side effects of chemo. One tends to think about loss of head hair but the body hair in other places also leaves ( for example eye brows, eyelashes, nasal hair, the hair i one's ears, etc.) I hope this helps and the rest of chemo rounds go well.
Wishing peace and calm to all and minimal side effects.
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Eyes finally stopped tearing 5 weeks PFC Nose is still drippy but only hourly instead of every 10 min. Yay
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thanks Melrose. My DH will be with me, as he has been every step of the way. I had a great visit with my RO today for an opinion on rads...his opinion was an emphatic 'not necessary'. He was the most positive doctor I have encountered, about my whole prognosis, and exactly what I needed right now. A real boost to the spirits. I can do this.
Thanks for your support and I wish wellness to you all. I'll let you know how I'm doing as I continue the journey....
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CatsRus...my RO said not necessary for Radiation for me too. I have almost same as you ..except Grade 3...
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Iove your name, ThinkingPositive. Definitely something we should all do, though sometimes it's hard. I recorded my meeting with the RO yesterday and he was so positive that I'm glad I did, I intend to play it back to myself whenever I need a boost. I am so anxious to get started with chemo now, so I can get it over with. I'm drinking water like crazy and I've bought just about everything I could possibly need... Though I'm sure there'll be something else.... two days to go.... the countdown is on.
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CatsRus= Sounds like you are definitely ready to go!!! I know you are heading into chemoland with anticipation, fear of the somewhat unknown and some anxiety. That happens anytime one goes on a new adventure. Hang in there!!! Be kind and easy on yourself. Keep yourself busy during the next few days and continue to eat and rest. I know you are thinking and saying to yourself that " I can do this!!! In a few days, you can say out loud " I am doing this!!!! Sending you peace and many positive calming thoughts and energy.
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The leg muscles seem tighter than ever 5 weeks post final chemo. Takes 2 hands on railing to pull myself up the steps. DH is now helping me in putting on my stockings which is an adventure as my ankles are swelling so much it's a tug of war since they are compression hose!
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CatsRus - you will do fine!! Hoping you have minimal side effects like I did. I made it through feeling pretty good until # 4. But even that wasn't too bad. Best of luck to you!
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