Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013
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Cider 8 - so sorry the hair is starting to shed. It was a bit of a shock to me at first, but now I am loving my scarves, hats, and the 2 wigs I got. Would much rather wear the scarves tho. Got them in many colors and patterns and just love the look! The last Chemo infusion and the last Neulasta shot went OK.
Well the last Chemo and Neulasta shot went seemigly uneventful the last 2 days, As mentioned before, the First 2 days of my cherished Birthday Month have been the greatest! My sainted Mom is here and spoinling me as usual. So STICK A FORK IN ME, I AM DONE with the Chemo phase and headed for RADS mapping later this month. As mentioned before the first 2 days of my beloved Birthday Month has been a tremendous gift.
Thank you all Sister Warriors for all the caring, concern, love, support and many, msny days of cheering us all up! I will never forget you all.but will be trotting on over to the Rads pages inthe near future.
Peace, love and blessing to all.
Fondly,
Carolyn
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Congrats to the bell-ringers!
I have # 3 of 4 tomorrow. I have noticed in the last week or so that my leg muscles are achy and sore (no, not from over use! lol). Is this an SE that can start this far into treatment? I thought it might be low potassium so I've been drinking more gatorade. No help.
My thumbnails have a ridge starting, at the cuticle line. My pointer and middle fingernails are getting a little discolored. This I know is an SE and hope nails will recover after chemo.
I know what you mean about the hair fall-out. I'm a private person and I haven't broadcast my diagnosis, but lack of hair is pretty hard to keep private, great wig or not. (did I see that someone said you can't wear anything on your head for rads? what about one of those operating room hats, geez there has to be something!)
This has been a roller coaster ride and without you all it would have been a nightmare. The info I have received here I have used at my Dr visit and he has listened and taken me seriously (tho the first visit with onc Dr was a little iffy, I think there were some internal politics going on, I may have to sort things out with rads Dr as well when I get there, but thanks to you, I will be armed with info).
Thanks to all, thoughts and prayers for each of you.
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YOU GALS ROCK HERE!!!!! I'm so glad everyone of you is making her way through chemoland and pushing forward. I know it's hard and the tears flow so easily. The hair leaving is not an easy event to deal with. Just remember, your hair does not define who you are. No matter what, you are beautiful.
As those of you leave this thread, thanks for being here. Hope that the support and info you got here helped you keep a positive outlook on life. One day when each of you has finished with your treatment plans, you will look back and say out loud... " Wow, I did that!!!!!"
Sending many hugs to each of you and lots of positive calming and healing prayers, thoughts and energy. As always, looking for a little peace and a little calm and a lot of good conversation, laughter and smiles and moving forward........
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Patti, I know it must be tough right now, but your body still has a lot of recovering to do from chemo. I agree with Cider and she knows from experience. This can't be your new normal. It's still the same temporary misery.
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Patti - feel better Honey child. This too shall pass! Stay strong and "Fight Lik a Girl". HUGS and inproved health sooner than soon Sister Warrior! Good night all and Peace.
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TO ALL WHO HAVE LOST SOMEONE TO THIS FU**ING CANCER SHIT.
A POEM THEM (my favorite poem of all time). R.I.P. DEAR ONES and all of the countless others who have fought hard but were needed by God in a better place:
Do not stand at my grave and weep
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.Mary Elizabeth Frye0 -
Had my last tx yesterday.Felt pretty good about it all,until I was told there has been changes in my creatinine levels,which concerns me with my wimpy bladder.I have to self-cath as it is. Sooo,today instead of feeling up........I feel anxiety about the next phase........GRRRR
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Hi ladies-I am late to the game in posting but have been reading this board since I started chemo and wanted to thank everyone for the words of wisdom and support offered here. I have my last treatment next week and can't wait to have it behind me.
For the sisters just starting out, my major side effects have been heart burn/reflux, back aches, and an itchy rash. After my 2nd treatment, I noticed my vein where I had my infusion was red and hard. It was a superficial blood clot that resolved on its own in a week or so.
Peace to all.0 -
PEACE to all new Sister Warriors and Stop Those SEs already, OK? It's the weekend. I posted this Flash Mob link a while ago but it is worth another look or a FIRST LOOK. It is a great, uplifting presentation. Please CHECK IT OUT. You'll love it:
cmbernardi wrote:
Good Morning Warriors!
Please CLICK the link below or cut and paste this link into your web browser to see an amazing Flash Mob supporting our cause! Scroll down a bit when the page opens and watch the video. Please share as well. Have a Blessed and Happy Day!
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Good Post on Another Thread
I walked across an open field at winter's break as the sun danced on the last few drifts. I imagined my fears would melt one by one as I learned to love myself.
I love the thought for the day!!!!0 -
LAKEGIRL - Yep all the standard side Effects (SEs) for you. Normal but annoying. YOU wrote these things and I suggest talking to your MO about some pharmaceutical support unless U have it already.
For the sisters just starting out, my major side effects have been heart burn/reflux,(TRY TUMS FIRST OR A SCRIPT FOR NEXIUM. TAKE EVERY MORNING OR AS NEEDED FOR HEARTBURN RELIEF - I MEAN GONE!) back aches (HEATING PAD, SCRIPT FOR FLEXARIL OR FIORICET OR DILAUDED FOR INTENSE PAIN AND BONE PAIN FROM WBC SHOTS), and an itchy rash (BENEDRYL AT NIGHT AND A OTC HYDROCORTISONE CREAM ON THE AREAS THAT HAVE RASH). After my 2nd treatment, I noticed my veins where I had my infusion was red and hard. It was a superficial blood clot that resolved on its own in a week or so. (MY VEIN IN MY RIGHT HARD GOT BURNED AFTER TX #2 AND IT TURNED INTO LOOKING LIKE A SUN BURN UP THE VEIN BUT RESOLVED ITSELF; ALOE GEL AND/OR EUCERIN CREAM WILL WORK THO.
MY MO is wonderful and had me on Ginger Capsules (get at Walmart for cost-savings). Use 3 days before and 3 days after CHEMO; Claritan 1 day before and 7 days after the Neulasta or Nuepogen shot to build WBC - helps with bone pain reliet. I buy the generic - Loratidine in Walmart too. D-3 1000 I.U. daily - Gummy form from Walmart and 2 Gummy multiviamins with any meal. A long list I know and there is still more: Zofran or Pheregan for nausea, Marinol for bad Nausea and loss of appetite (Pot in a pill form - yes it is legal), generic stool softeners (Docusate Sodium) and Walmart generic Mirilax for constipation from pain meds, Xanax for anxiety. - NO I AM NOT A PHARMACIST - but I play one on TV!
Best and keep asking questions in this forum. I just finished Chemo (4/4 TC stints and 4 shots) this past week. I just have all this stuff in my arsenal. Oh and LOTS of ginger ale, Ginger snaps, ginger tea, crystallized ginger candy to nibble on, apple sauce, Activia vanilla Yogurt, jello, and TONS OF Fluids of your choice. Try Kefir - a drink in the Milk Section of many stores for lots of good probiotics for the gut. Tasty and very mild with lots of great flavors. And last but not least there is something called Magic Mouthwash or some call it Miracal Mouthwash for sensative mouth or sore throat. Wow - I better go now and study the rest of my lines!
Nuff Said, right.
Peace!
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cmbernardi, I should have mentioned that I have had support from my MO's office for all of these things but you gave me some new ideas for the back aches. Interestingly enough, I am on Claritan daily for the rash - its doing double duty! Also, for the blood clot, I thought maybe my vein was hardening but had an ultrasound to confirm the blood clot. They did not prescribe anything but warm compresses and it did go away.
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Wishing everyone the best this week--- easy times in the BGC ( aka the Big Girl Chair) and minimal side effects!!!!
For those who have finished--- The recovery from all of the chemo takes time and will happen for each of you. You may feel some aches and pains post chemo. I know I did; but I just kept moving. If the eyebrows and eyelashes start falling out, try not to fret. It is just their time to go on vacation. As for the head hair, hopefully each of you will start to feel that fuzz soon. Sometimes that fuzz comes in white/grey. Try not to get too upset of the lack of color. Again, give your body some time to get in sync again. As for hair growth, two months after being PFC, I went out to a formal black tie gala without any head covering, hat or wig. It was my coming out to the world and I just held my head high.
If you are taking Tamox post chemo- Remember to check out the BCO section on Tamoxifen and what drugs you should not take with Tamoxifen. Here is the link: http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/hormonal/serms/tamoxifen . Benedryl is a no no while on Tamoxifen. I use Zyrtec instead which seems to work just fine. I"ve been on the Tamox for about 7 months now and doing fine. Yes, I get those "not so hot" hot flashes but they are doable.
Again, have a wonderful week!!! Thinking of all of you!!!
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Thanks as always, Melrose. I'm headed back to the BGC on Thursday.
My granddaughter, who is such a trooper, went back to school on Friday under strict orders not to carry her backpack. She is taking one of her AP exams tomorrow and one on Friday. We're all still a little on edge until her path report from her 2nd lumpectomy comes back.
Those of you who are moving on, wishing you all the best! Check in with us here now & then and tell us how rads is going for you and give us your best pre-rads tips!
Those of you who are finished with chemo and have a port, how long before your port comes out?
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LET EVERYONE WHO HAS A WIFE/GIRLFRIEND/ DAUGHTER KNOW PLEASE!
PLEASE SHARE..
Bottled water in your car is very dangerous!
On the Ellen show, Sheryl Crow said that this is what caused her
breast cancer. It has been identified as the most common cause
of the high levels of dioxin in breast cancer tissue..
Sheryl Crow’s oncologist told her: women should not drink bottled
water that has been left in a car. The heat reacts with the chemicals
in the plastic of the bottle which releases dioxin into the water.
Dioxin is a toxin increasingly found in breast cancer tissue. So please
be careful and do not drink bottled water that has been left in a car.
Pass this on to all the women in your life. This information is the kind
we need to know that just might save us! Use a stainless steel canteen
or a glass bottle instead of plastic!
This information is also being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical
Center … No plastic containers in microwaves. No plastic water
bottles in freezers. No plastic wrap in microwaves.
Dioxin chemical causes cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins are highly poisonous to cells in our bodies. Don’t freeze plastic bottles with water
in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. Recently the Wellness
Program Manager at Castle Hospital , was on a TV program to explain
this health hazard.
He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we
should not be heating food in the microwave using plastic containers…..
This especially applies to foods that contain fat.
He said that the combination of fat, high heat and plastic releases dioxin
into the food.
Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Pyrex or ceramiccontainers
for heating food… You get the same result, but without the dioxin.. So,
such things as TV dinners, instant soups, etc., should be removed from
their containers and heated in something else.
Paper isn’t bad but you don’t know what is in the paper. It’s safer to
use tempered glass, such as Pyrex, etc.
He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants
moved away from the styrene foam containers to paper. The dioxin
problem is one of the reasons….
Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Cling film, is just as
dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave.
As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually
melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with
a paper towel instead.
This is an article that should be share to anyone important in your life! These facts have been known for a great amount of time and ignored or denyed, JUST like THE IDIOTS THAT IGNORE GLOBAL WARMING!0 -
AnnieLane- I just had my port removed two weeks ago. My onco told me I could have it removed after I finished Herceptin. Three weeks after my final Herceptin, I had day surgery to have it removed by my breast surgeon. He is the one who installed it. That port was placed March 2012 so it had been in there over a year (which explains the reason for the day surgery). Your onco is the one who will tell you when you can have it removed. When I talked to the breast surgeon's assistant, she told me that some women don't want it removed. However, she said it was better to get it out as soon as I could since one can get infections in the port plus one also has to have it flushed regularly if the chemo is finished and one is not receiving Herceptin. I know most of you are not receiving; Herceptin infusions start with chemo and continue for one year. As for having day surgery, I was knocked out when the port was removed and glad I was. If you are wondering what happens to that removed port; it is incinerated. I know some gals ask for it but not me. Glad I had it and glad it has been removed.
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I can't imagine keeping my port! But I get it. Sort of. I can only imagine where one keeps their old port. In the top dresser drawer with the kiddos baby teeth? Oh, wait. I kept my teeth that were pulled for my braces. And my husband had me keep the kids umbilical cord nub. I got my port taken out three months after chemo, when I had a breast recon revision. I wanted my PS to take it out so I could have a better looking scar. No port this time.
I had my husband shave my head Saturday. It was getting gross, all that hair coming out. It hurts to have hair fall out! I have lots of little irritated bumps on my scalp. Can't wait for those to go away.0 -
cider8-Hope that head pain from the hair fall out ends very very soon!!! As for those bumps, I remember having those. Definitely no fun. I used some Neutrogena T-Gel shampoo for a while to help with the bumps. As soon as the bumps went away, I went back to using Aveeno Baby Conditioning Shampoo. Hope you are feeling okay.... hugs.
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Hi all,
I got my first round of TC last Friday. I have been doing ok, tired, but minimal nausea, and food still tastes good. But, ugh, how my body aches. I have muscle and joint pain from head to toe, even my teeth hurt. I did not get a nuelesta shot. I didn't see much talk of aches and pains from others. Did anyone experience this effect?0 -
kaybee13- Those muscle aches/pains and joint pain are just those side effects from our chemo regimen. You may want to call your onco and see if you can take an OTC med like Tylenol or Advil. Don't be afraid to call to get some help from your onco; he/she want to help you.
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I'm sure this has been addressed somewhere in this thread at some point but of course now I can't find it... Did anyone else have menstrual issues during treatment? I am on day 9 of my period, spent a night in the ER over the weekend because it was so heavy... It's slowed down (with the help of meds) but I can't help but think I am just going to bleed forever & ever & it will never stop!! It's not like a normal period at all & it's all fresh blood STILL. Anyone else have this experience??? What can I expect now???
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indenial- Not sure I can help you with the period issue. Sorry. I had one period a few days after my first round of chemo and none since then. I'm in my late 50's and was having regular periods when I was diagnosed in 2012. I went into chemopause and now in menopause. As for you, you might to call your onco today to address this issue. Keep us posted.
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I had the horrible aches! I took ibuprofen but wanted to take Percocet. Next round I'm asking ahead of time if I can take the Percocet.
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Kaybee13, my MO told me that Taxotere can cause severe bone pain. I'm just fortunate that I haven't experienced much of that. Sorry you're going through it.
Indenial, my experience with my menstrual cycle was much like Melrose's. At 57, I've been late to experience menopause. I had a period between my first and second infusions and none since, but it hasn't been that long.
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Kaybee13- Here is a link to the chemocare.com website that lists the side effects for Cytoxan and Taxotere. Hope it helps explain a little better the side effects. http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/default.aspx . Of course, you can also go to the BCO.org main website to find more info about our chemo regimen. Wishing you the best.
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I had my period 3 times during my first 6 weeks of treatment. The 2nd time was my heaviest period ever but that only lasted a day. The 3rd period was pretty light. My MO told me my period will probably come back after chemo. I am 45 and my period has been every 28 days like clockwork for the last few years.
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I'm only 30. I will be (reluctantly) happy if I can keep my period as it might give me hope of having more kids... but I'm kind of worried about bleeding to death in the meantime! It has actually lightened up a lot but is still bright red which concerns me. Sorry for the TMI. Couldn't get a hold of my MO today...
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indenial- the Taxotere/Cytoxan can suppress your all of your blood component counts: this includes- white blood cells that prevent infection (more common) , and less commonly- red blood cells that carry oxygen (why you get pale, fatigued and short of breath, although the drugs can make you feel that way even if your red blood cells aren't low) and the platelets that clot blood. This starts happening on day 2 after chemo and counts are their lowest in the nadir (a word that means lowest point) 7-10 days after treatment. Our bodies get to work replacing those cells quickly so that's why are blood counts are back to normal in 3 weeks just in time for another chemo tx, but why also you MO checks your blood work before OK'ing your next treatment. Chemo works by killing the fast growing cells in your body- that includes the cancer cells, but the side effects are that other fast growing cells in your body get harmed as well (like the cells in your mouth and gut, hair and blood cells as examples) You were very right to seek medical attention for a prolonged bright red flow. Your MO needs to know if you are having severe symptoms of any kind so he/she can treat it.
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Indenial: I started my period 1 week after my first treatment and it lasted for 19 days. It was really heavy the first 11 days or so. Extremely heavy but then tapered off by day 19. That was the last time I had it. I'm on my way to treatment 5 soon. I haven't missed it at all! I hope you get to enjoy the greatest perk from having chemo.
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TMM -- I didn't think about nadir & clotting, that makes sense... maybe that's why it got so much worse after getting the last round, right around 2 days after actually.
LW -- I am SOOO glad I'm not the only one, I was getting worried! I hope this is just the 'last hurrah' or something. It looks like it may be slowing down, tonight is the first that I haven't had to take meds for it, though I have them on standby if the bleeding picks up again. The ER doc mentioned I should talk to my MO about Lupron but maybe it won't be necessary. (Also I thought Lupron shuts down the ovaries? And I'm almost positive I did not ovulate this cycle but still have the worst period ever so I'm not sure how Lupron would help in this case...)
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