Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013
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Hi to all and prayers to those who are needing them. What is going go with me the last 3 days? I wake up in pain; fingers, elbows, feet, legs, hips. Should this not be over by now??? I took last chemo and shot on May 1 & 2. Woke up at 4:39am really hurting. Forced at this point to take a Dilaudid as the pain is bad. Guess it is best to call them MO in a few hours and see if this is just more residual SEs from that last chemo, I guess. Feel like I need a total body massage and then some. Suggestions/thoughts Sisters? Ouch, ouch, ouch!
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Dear ladies, wide awake and starting first round of chemo today. I was nervous as heck but REALLY appreciate all your posts. I feel better but nervous still. Question? Is the fist session indicative if all the rounds or does it get progressively worse each time. I am also really nervous about caring for my daughter who is 9. I am Alone and concerned that ill be so out of it that I can't care for her. I am planning to have extra help tonight tomorrow and over the weekend just in case...
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Anniegirl- good luck today! Hopefully your side effects will be tolerable and call your MOs office for help/meds as needed. Based on what I have read on these boards, some people experience the same SE the same days in their chemo cycle, so it helps to take daily notes on how you are feeling. Also keeping hydrated and walking if you can helped me to feel better. If you are having the neulasta shot, make sure you have claritan on hand, after asking your MO.
During chemo, I also asked to have the full bag of saline dripped in. They did not do that after my first treatment and I felt really out of it - they said it was all of the drugs in my system. I felt better the next day but they gave me the full saline drip next time and I made sure to get it at each treatment.
As for cumulative effects, I found that to be true for fatigue. I actually felt worse after my 3rd treatment than my 4th. After the first round or two, hopefully all of your SE will be managed and there are no new suprises.
Hoping you have an uneventful infusion day!0 -
Hi Anniegirl,
I am on round 3 of 4. I've found the side effects to be similar & predictable for the most part. Some were worse the very first time, but then I was able to treat them properly for subsquent cycles once I knew what to expect. The fatigue has gotten progressively worse, and for me I've found the "bad" days to lengthen by one day before & after -- so the first round, day 4 was the worst. Second, days 3-5 were worst. Third, days 2-6 were the worst. So I'm expecting the 4th round to feel worst right away and through day 7. And the other thing that has happened for me is round 2 was really complicated by other stuff. I ended up having an extremely heavy (and LONG) menstrual period and was given meds to control the bleeding and then a week into take the meds (while I was still bleeding!) I had an allergic reaction to them that lasted a week. That probably won't happen any other round, but meant for that round I had a lot more dr's appts & ER visits and only felt good for about 2 days that whole cycle. So what I'm saying is, expect some predictability in how you react but allow for exceptions.
I've been able to take care of my 4 year old, but I do have my husband home nights/weekends, and lots of visits/playdates during the day, and a freezer full of frozen dinners so I can spend my limited energy wisely. It's good to line up help like you have already and you'll probably want to do that for each cycle once you know hwo you respond & when your worst days are. You probably won't ever be too out of it to care for her but your life will be much less stressful & you can get the rest you need if you accept any help you can get.
Good luck today, you can do this!
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cmbernardi I am still experiencing significant pain in my legs and my last shot was on 4/24. The weird thing is it didn't show up until a couple weeks after treatment.
Anniegirl hope today goes well for you and you have minimal SE's
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melody 46 - SAME 4 me and it is freaking me out!
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indenial, I had mentioned this previously in a couple older posts, but my MO prescribed Metanx for me. It's a prescription form of B-complex vitamins that as I understand it, is as readily absorbed as the injection. It was expensive, so I rationed it and used it only for the first week after each infusion and used over-the-counter B6 & B12 the rest of the time. I am still taking the otc supplements.
I was very proactive in trying to prevent neuropathy. I tried everything that my MO either approved or recommended. I took L-Glutamine in a powdered form - 1 TBSP dissolved in juice or lemonade twice a day for the first week after each infusion.
My MO recommended Alpha-Lipoic acid, an over-the-counter antioxidant supplement and I am still taking that - 200 mg twice a day. There is some evidence that it also may help prevent recurrence of bc.
I also wore the frozen gel mitts on my hands and slippers on my feet during each Taxotere infusion. My treatment center had these available for me to use. That was pretty miserable, but I think it helped.
I had miserable neuralgia after my first infusion, but not in my hands and feet and I never had it again after I started the above mentioned supplements.
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Annie-please share with that terrific grandaughter of yours that we're feeling alot of joy knowing she's on the mend.....i think about her frequently!
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Thanks Patti! Have you started radiation? I start on Monday.
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one week PFC. Appt set with RO for Tuesday for mapping etc. Still feeling some effects of chemo. Glad to see I'm not the only one.
At each infusion one or both of the pharmacists (mixologoists) would stop in to see us. They said that younger women and those that were premeno had more side effects than those of us that were post meno.
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btdemo
I am peri-meno and I had some of the WORST SEs of anyone. just did my mapping and start RADS on June 5. Best of luck to U and ALL. Keep comments and questions coming so we all stay up to speed. Peace y'all!
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I was premeno and had mild SE's compared to alot of people
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Annie, Well,we're rad buddies! I had my first one last friday,so we're basically together. i am on the accelerated program.........41/2 weeks. It's a very short visit,that's for sure.I'm 65,will meet with MO middle of June. i have documented osteoporosis,and now I'm wondering(worrying) which med i'll be on for hormone therapy! Good luck Monday,I'll be thinking about you. I bought miaderm,and my therapist gave me some healing salve to lube up with. peace.....
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Pattithenurse and AnnieLane, et al,
Looks like we are moving on to RADS together. I went for my second visit for mapping last week and have red and black X's of Sharpie marker in several spots (on stickers). Also, I am participating in a research study in my Center and I start on June 5, 2103. Praise the Lord, I was selected for the Canadian version of RADS which only lasts 3 weeks with simultaneous boosts as opposed to the American version which runs 4-6 weeks with boosts thereafter. I will report in often and I hope you both will to so we can compare notes. All the best to you on this new and unwanted journey. Have a blessed week and Peace!
CB
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Yep, it's good to be together again, or still! I've been reading and posting on the thread "Summer 2013 Rads." I get my medi-port out on Friday - I'll be so glad to get rid of that thing, but it served me well while I needed it.
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Cmbernardi-That's soo interesting what you typed. I'm in the Canadian study and I thought I was getting simultaneous boosts daily as well,but I think I'm doing 4 1/2 weeks,and then 6-7 days of boosts. Hmmm,now I'm wondering? I'll have to clear that up on Tuesday when I see the RO. Well,we're off to the races girls..........stay in touch.....peace.....
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pattithenurse
Hmmmmmmmmmmm........... ???????????
AnnieLane - say bye bye to the port. I did not get one and had some trouble with burned skin on my hands. Oh well, on to RADS now gals!
CB
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I have appt w/ RO tomorrow and am really nervous about rads. I would have thought the chemo would be more nerve-racking. Not sure why I'm feeling this way. Anyone else have this kind of anxiety?
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btdemo, on the Summer 2013 Rads thread a few other gals have expressed similar anxiety. I am just so glad to be through with chemo, that I'm really not worried about rads. It probably helps that it's my right breast, so I'm not worried about my heart. I understand the recently published studies about heart damage are citing twenty year old data and old methods of rads delivery, though.
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Thanks AnnieLane, I will ask my RO. I am left sided but I have heard they have techniques to "bend" the rads away from heart/lungs/spine.
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btdemo and AnnieLane
I start RADS tomorrow and up until today have been OK with it. I woke up this morning with a huge amount of anxiety over starting RADS tho and I am shaking in my boots. I feel like a kid who knows her Mom is taking her to the Doctor - stomach ache and shaking inside! I will try to b strong but I have the same concerns as my BC is left-sided. I will have a long talk with the RO tomorrow and perhaps seek some counseling too. WHY is this so flipping HARD everyday? If anyone wants to talk it out by telephone, PM me and we can have a good cry together. Gotta go now as the tears are makingit hard for me to see the keyboard. Peace and Blessings to U Sisters and all the BEST!
CB
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cmbernardi- So sorry you are having a time right now. All I can do is send you many many virutal HUGS and let you know that you are not alone going through this. If you need some anti-anxiety meds, get some to help you through this tough spot. If it's counseling you want, get it. You need to get into a comfort zone with your treatment. I can tell you that life does get better and you will discover that. Until you do, we are here for you. Just remember you have been mapped and have had a test run before the first day of Rads. There is a science behind RADS and how and where they are administered which have involved engineers, physicists as well as the doctors. I know what I'm telling you won't take away your fears but hang in there. Thinking of you and sending many positive calming and healing prayers, thoughts and energy!!!
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Melrose - thanks so much for your kind words. And a fellow Texan too. I ma a transplant but got a driver's license and changed the tags on my car. I will be in Houston in a few months for my professional association's annual convention, The American Dietetic Assoc. Yes, I am an unemployed Registered Dietitian but the CEU requirements do not go away. Perhaps we can meet for coffee or a cocktail sometime. I will keep U posted on the dates. Guess I should go to the ADA website and pay for my registration and find a hotel, huh? I hope to be able to scrape up enough $$ to do so. Again, thanks for your kindness and support. I am going to distract myself soon by going out for lunch with 2 friends here. I am going to introduce them to Pho at the Grapevine Mills mall. Yum, Yum! Peace and blessing to you Sister.
CB
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CB- would love to meet up. Just let me know when you are heading this way..... Be easy on yourself. You are doing great!!!!
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Melrose - just checked and the conference is in October. Housing on the ADA website does not open up until June 14. I will ask your advice soon about the logistics of Houston and where to stay. Thanks. Hope to C U soon.
CB
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CB- I see that the convention will be downtown at the George R. Brown Convention Center. You will be easy for me to find.
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Melrose,
Cool!
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Had my appt with RO today. It went well, got mapped and marked. Asked all kinds of questions and they were answered thoroughly. Not sure why they made the RO appt for day 11 after chemo infusion, I believe that is the low nadir (?). I did take an Atavan before the appt, which helped my anxiety. Got home and slept for 4 hours!
Thanks for all the info, help, tips, and comfort. It REALLY does make a huge difference when confronting these crazy bc issues.
Good vibrations to all!
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Having my mediport out in four hours - doing the happy dance!! This makes me feel like I'm officially through with chemo
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Congratulations annie lane!!!
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