Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013
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ChloesMom I am so sad your legs are tight and swollen. I am wracking my brain for any help. Have you thought about renting a compression unit for lymph edema? I have a LE (lower body) patient who had tremendous benefit, nothing else worked. There are even some on Amazon ($400 range). You might contact a lymph edema practice to see if they have recommendations or a medical supply near you. Please take care and hugs to you!
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Hi Everyone,
I finished 4 rounds of chemo on Nov 25, 2014. My body has been slow to return to a more normal state, but I'm getting there. The taxo-tears cleared up; I never lost any nails. My nails are fragile around the white arcs left on my nails by each chemo infusion, but they are nearly grown out now. My eyelashes and brows fell out after my last chemo infusion. The lashes are slowly growing back, but my brows are good. I have lots of curly hair all over my head, no bald spots, but it grew in a darker color.
I am praying for you and have confidence you will make it through! My goal wasn't to make it through gracefully, but just to make it through. So, I succeeded!
Melrose is a blessing, a wealth of support and wisdom! Love you, Melrose!
Poppy
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Thanks Marksgirl. Just keeping rhe legs elevated. Hoping it's just a temporary SE. If not I'm going to go to a LANA certified PT next week
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My first chemo was 10:45 am yesterday and I was heading for home at 4 pm (mind you there was a sale in the hospital gift store so I went shopping first!) No problem with my veins, the benedryl was a little painful going in, but only for the last few minutes, everything else was fine. No nausea yet (thank goodness) but I have a headache, feel a little lightheaded and my mouth is dry. None is too bad though, definitely manageable. They gave me ice mitts to wear during the taxetere infusion, I guess my toe nails have to fend for themselves :-) Nurses were great, lunch was served so I ended up bring home most of what I'd taken. My biggest complaint now was having to get up to go to the bathroom a million times in the night (okay, maybe a slight exaggeration) but felt like it. Think I'll have to stop drinking water a little earlier today.
One of the hints I got off this board was Ice Breakers Peppermint for icky mouth, and they work great. I also like the Ice Breakers Orangeade and plan to try the Lemonade ones too.
Neulasta this afternoon (2:30 pm), so we'll see how that goes. Every day is an adventure!
Thanks for all your support... be well all!!
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Thinking of you CatsRUs. Take it easy for the next few days. I kept myself loaded up on antinausea meds to stay ahead of it and was ok. Did they tell you about Claritin for the Neulasta
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I've got an Rx to take if I start to feel queasy, but I haven't needed them....yet... I am still on the Emend though. I know about Claritin but I'm doing my own study and trying it without for this first time and see how it goes, I'm banking on the fact that I tend to have a high tolerance for most medication, although I have a feeling this regime may kick my butt. :-). Trying to stay positive.
Thanks.
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CatRUs - don't slack off on the liquids. I always felt pretty good the first couple of days. You don't know yet if you'll have either vomiting or diarrhea and you sure don't want to get dehydrated. Also I wanted to keep those poison meds moving along through my system. Good luck w/the Neulasta. Let us know how it goes.
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thanks MinusTwo, wasn't planning on drinking less, just hoped to have downed them earlier than this...oh well, I can just about make it to the loo in my sleep now. Mind you after the Neulasta shot...maybe not ;-). And believe me, I have everything close to hand....including the barf bowl next to the bed, just in case! I'm not in total denial, everyday is an adventure
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My nausea started on day 3 after infusion. If you start to feel queasy, take the meds to stay ahead of it. Hope it goes smoothly for you!
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- Hi fighters,
- I finished chemo on 19 March ( yaaaaay) I traveled out of us to recover with my family. I am better but I have a problem with my urethra or bladder I don't know it started with pain in clitoris the dr gave me steroid cream it didn't work then I felt pressure on gentile area and urine burning it is contestant and annoying I went to the dr he gave me antibiotic even the culture is negative and lyrica with antibiotic lyrica and I bruphin also careful diet I am better anyone developed this problem ?? The dr said may be IC. Can cytoxan cause this ??? Is it curable ?? I am also using coconut oil and estrogen cream on the area ??
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Roby, During my treatment, I thought I had a bladder infection or cystitis. The cultures were negative for me, too. It turned out, I was just irritated by all of the drugs. I drank more fluids (even though I didn't think I could do so) and emptied my bladder more frequently... even at night. I also used coconut oil.
I did NOT use estrogen cream because my cancer is ER+. Even when used on our lady parts, some of the estrogen is absorbed into the bloodstream. After all I went through to get rid of the cancer, I didn't want to feed it.
I hope this helps. But most importantly, you get relief!
Hugs,
Poppy
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Day 2 post infusion over. No pain...yet... from Neulasta (no Claritin taken). Still no nausea but pills and barf bowl still by my bed. Not a bad day in all though I did have a lie down twice. I am still taking pills which I don't have to hand for their names (Emend - done now; and two others - one done and the other I take for a couple more days) so I'm not sure what is causing the fatigue. I went out for breakfast with friends and I walked this afternoon... not a long way but still.
Night all.
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Hello All, I follow this board but don't write much. I had my last chemo treatment on April 7. I wasn't able to get the Taxotere due to a severe allergic reaction after the third round so I got Adriamycin and Cytoxan instead for the last round. I completed one week of radiation so far. My question is about hair growth. I would have thought that by now I would see something happening on my head but NOTHING! It's very discouraging. I didn't shave all the way down to my scalp because it was so sensitive so I am left with some little stubble here and there but no new growth yet. I'm getting very nervous about how I will look when I'm through treatments. I had an emotional weekend with a lot of crying over this. I know that I should just feel grateful that I am done with the hardest part (chemo) and that I am getting through radiation fairly well. It could be a lot worse but I just am feeling sad all of a sudden. I just want to look in the mirror and be happy again. It doesn't help that I gained about 15 pounds since chemo started and went up a clothing size. That's depressing in and of itself! I keep telling myself that this is temporary and will get better. Just not feeling it today....
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Speechmom. I could have written your post! Last chemo was also 4/7. I have white fuzz on my head that looks like an old lady's face and have a few stray hairs like weeds The fuzz is thicker on the back and side like a bald guy Freaking that I wont get hair on the top
Also gained 15 lbs and have love handles yuk!
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I gained weight this past year (since my diagnosis), too. Pooh!
I finished chemo before Thanksgiving and it took a while for the hair to regrow. I think because the hair regrows from way down in the root, it takes time to see the results. I finally started going around without a scarf or hat at the end of March/beginning of April. So that would be 4 months after chemo ended.
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Off to my RO this morning, not nervous about this treatment like I was the chemo. Cat rus, I had very little pain from the neulasta, hope the same for you. Keep walking, I do really feel that helped me, I walked everyday, but then that was my normal routine. I think it helped wifi th the weight gain, but I know I gain weight. Have a wonderful day everyone
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Speechmom, I finished chemo on February 20. Did you have 4 or 6 rounds of TC? I had 4. It has been 3 months since then and my head is covered with grey SHORT hair...as in I wouldn't go out with it this short. Hopefully in a month or two I will throw out the hats. It is growing, but took 8-10 weeks before I saw anything. Don't fret! It will start.
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Some of you dealing with hair issues might enjoy the Hair, Hair, Hair thread - link below.
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I am now 8 days post 1st round TC and, apart from a cold sore on my lip and dry lips and mouth, I think I'm doing pretty good. Still have a bit of a heavy feeling in my head but nothing that is keeping me down. My scalp is itchy and my hair looks crappy - dry and nasty, regardless of what I do - but not the end of the world. I had a couple of twinges that could have been Neulasta, but as I am prone to lower back pain anyway, I'm not entirely sure. Again, nothing awful, just made me wonder. I did have bad heartburn and stomach pain days 3 and 4 which I believe were associated with the Decadron I was taking. My MO gave me an Rx for Pantoprazole which eased the problem. I'll be sure to take them before, during and after Decadron next time round.
Cheers all, hope you have wonderful weekends.
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CatsRus...glad to hear you didn't have such a bad time with your 1st TC round. Have a great holiday weekend.
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Hi Cats, It sounds like you are doing pretty good! I used Biotene rinse to help with my dry mouth. It seems to have helped quite a bit; I just had my first dental check up since chemo and my teeth and gums are still in great shape. I had to take Prilosec for reflux and it made a huge difference. My scalp was tender and felt odd shortly before my hair started shedding. I kept a calendar of my side effects and my MO reviewed it with each infusion. It helped her adjust my meds and helped me anticipate SE and plan my days.
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Hi, everyone. I'm through 3 of 4 TCs, then on to radiation after that. Side effects so far are manageable.
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Poppy... I finally found Biotene...guess I wasn't looking in the right place! I went nuts and spent a fortune...lol... I bought toothpaste, mouthwash, mouth spray and oral balance gel. Only been using for an afternoon but getting some relief already. Yeah for Biotene.
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Hi poppy k ,
Thanks for your reply I am really depressed. How long your symptoms last ??? My clitoris area Is sore my urthera is the source of discomfort I drink more than 2 litters a day but when I stoped lyrica. The discomfort is back also frequency and urgency to urinate:( I hope I got relief. Soon thanks. Again.
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roby7- Just wondering if you have you been referred to a urologist to get checked out? Hope you are feeling better soon!!!!
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Roby7 - I agree with Melrose. Sure sounds like a UTI to me.
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I haven't posted but have been reading everyone comments. I started chemo in April, taxotere and cytoxan and had quite a few side effects so my MO decided to break up the taxotere into 3 doses. First week cytoxan and 1/3 taxotere, next 2 weeks 1/3 doses of taxotere. Anyone else on a plan like that? Today I finished part 3 of second round. I will go right into 3rd round without a week off which I thought I was getting so I'm a little down this afternoon but I will get past it and I'll end up with an extra 5th round. Side effects have been better overall except for fatigue. I feel like almost before I get through the 3-5 day SE's it's time for another round. I have several autoimmune issues that were why she felt like SE were so extreme (Joint pain, mouth sores, skin on hands peeling off, etc).Just curious if anyone else has had this schedule?
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two weeks since my 1st infusion. Feeling pretty good but my hair started falling on Tuesday and was worse yesterday so I called my hairdresser of 15+ years and she shaved my head....think she was more upset than me! I see it as another hurdle crossed. I am going to enjoy my week until the next infusion. I'm keeping my eyes on the finish line, which is still a ways in the distance but getting closer day by day
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Hi ladies.
I'm through 3 of 4 TC infusions as well.
After the first treatment, I ended up in the ER with a high fever on day 3. Then was admitted for few days. No infection was ever found. Came out and that night fever spiked again. I remembered that when I was admittted ER nurse said I was very dehydrated as she couldn't even get any blood from my port. So I drank tall glass of water and took temp little later and it had dropped.
So the lesson I learned then was hydration was important not just day of and day after treatment, but all the time.
Second treatment I had fever in the 100.0 - 100.3 range, but as long as I remembered to hydrate, it always came down.
This third time around, one night when we had stormy weather and a tornado in the area it actually got above 100.5 but I was not going to the ER because of the weather. I continued to hydrate and in the morning it was below the threshold, BUT it stayed in that 100.0-100.3 range for days 3-6. I had no appetite and no energy. I kept on hydrating though. Day 7 yesterday was like a cloud lifted and I felt much better, no fever, and I even went out to see a movie and had frozen yogurt (which was so comforting on my mouth!).
So it seems for me, the impacts are cumulative. I'm also getting worse more sores, nail tenderness, eye twitching this time around. But luckily no major nausea or diarrhea. So all in all I made out okay.
I need to get prepared for last round in two weeks on June 12 because my son is planning to propose one week later and have us be part of a post proposal party in a town two hours away. I need to make that party!
Just wanted to share my experience. Good luck everyone!
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Allicat: Talk to your doc about getting an extra liter of fluid while you're at the infusion center getting your chemo. I also went back to the infusion center around day 7 and got an additional liter of fluid. That and the Neulasta shots made a big difference for me.
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