Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013
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Headeast - Yes, we are just a couple days apart for our final TC! I'll be thinking of you on 12/4. I'll still have radiation to do for 5 weeks after the chemo, but that shouldn't be as hard as this.0 -
Hello to everyone on this thread. I found this wonderful site sometime before my first TC treatment in late October; and have been searching it for answers to my specific questions ever since. And then I decided the thread was so wonderful that I should read all 1,637 posts, which brings me to today.
I was diagnosed in late August after my PC doctor found a small thickening at the far left margin of my left breast. It didn't show up on the mammogram -- too close to the edge of the breast -- but ultrasound confirmed its reality. After several overly optimistic predictions about its nature, the pathology reports and PET scan proved it to be Stage IIIC IDC E+/P+/HER2- with 11/13+ nodes. The most scary part of my story is that even after I knew exactly where the 2.6 cm lump was, I could barely feel it myself. I thank God every day for my PC doctor's expert fingers -- without her skill, things would be so much worse.
Given my age (66) and diagnosis, I was eligible for the phase 3 clinical trial comparing standard AC/T treatments with 6xTC. As a retired college biology professor, research is up my alley -- and aren't we all profoundly grateful for every brave clinical trial participant of the past?? -- so here I am on day 7 of my second of six TC treatments.
My SEs -- so far -- have been mainly muscle ache/fatigue from day 3, peaking at about day 7, and (after chemo #1) slowly getting better and better. It's about the intensity you'd expect after raking leaves all day yesterday and everyday, but without the satisfaction of a nice neat lawn. Some nausea, which I can control (so far) by eating smaller meals and taking an occasional compazine or ativan. And of course hair loss, the outward sign of illness for most of us. But by and large, I think I've gotten off pretty easy so far!
This post is already too long, so I'll just end with a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you -- you have already made this unexpected journey easier for me and my husband.
Fondly, Sue0 -
wrenn- I have an apt at the BCCA tomorrow aft, what time is your TX???? Will be thinking of you!0 -
Wrenn - my apt is 2:15 pm , I will probably be there earlier . With my first TX , It took app.6 hrs . After each infusion, you are being monitored between 30 - 60 mi for possible reaction to the drugs.
In the lobby across from the reception desk, there is a box where you can find hats that volunteers have made or donated.
If you leave a note at the CHEMO nurse station for me, I will try to locate you to say hello.0 -
Welcome sue!! Cancer can take us on a wild ride, can't it. It sounds like you are in great hands!!!
Wrenn, good luck today!!!! Take the anti anxiety if you need it. I do!!!
Audra, in the beginning I had the scariest dreams. I just kept praying them away, asking for sweet sleep. This is tough stuff.
I'm on day 4 post TC. Could not get out of bed to see the kids off. Throat hurts. Slight body aches. This too shall pass.
Tinuke0 -
I've got a couple questions: 1) I recurrently smell something that is similar to burnt hair. Either it's me, or I've REALLY got to get the dogs washed. Anyone else get smells? 2) I'm nearing the end of week 2. I have no nausea, but my appetite is really bad. Yesterday I only ate 2 meals, no snacks at all, and merely picked at my food. Even the food that tasted good. I'm reading about people GAINING weight, and here I've lost 4 in the last week. Sure, I've been sick with an infection, but...Anyone else?0 -
BlueGrassHarp, welcome to the thread! Yes, this is a great group of women that share all information we have to help the others with the SEs.
I would say it is much better than the information we receive from the doctors and nurses and have helped me with questions to ask my MO.
Wrenn, good luck!0 -
Pat: Smells did bother me. I had a problem w/them lingering in the house after cooking. I ate very little on Taxotere/Carboplatin. By the end of the 6 tx, most everything tasted like it came from the bottom of the garbage disposal. I ended up losing 50 lbs & I wasn't really overweight to start. Things don't taste as bad with Andriamycin/Cytoxan but I still have to force myself to eat.0 -
Day 5 of tx 3 -- feeling nausea for the first time -- first 2 chemo txs were quesy-free. Not liking this yucky feeling at all -- took an Ativan! maybe I can just go to sleep for awhile.... Sigh....0 -
I have no taste buds...everything tastes the same- disgusring- This is going to be some Thanksgiving......0 -
Patalameda! OMG! We are washing the dogs beds as we speak as they had awful smell to me! Tired of all food and nothing sounds good. I did have a hamburger and fries the other day thinking that sounded good and then diarrhea in the night, because of the hamburger and fries...so NOT a good idea...I have lost weight too and 115 to start with so getting smaller..shrinking.....probably not good. I had a little more energy today again. Woke up after 6 hours sleep..that is good for me...but still feel tired. I had a friend pray with me over the phone and she helped put the mental things in perspective, hoping to get rid of those awful thoughts and dreams and worries! I have HOPE!!!
Getting ready for the hair to come out this week...I pulled some today to see and still tight in there! Probably will happen Thanksgiving...:) Happy day!0 -
SC, This is the one Thanksgiving I could use to put on a few pounds, and like you, I will be able to taste nothing. Maybe I will make up for it by overdosing on Christmas cookies on days when my taste buds return.
Teamkim, I hope your nausea eases.
Wrenn, How'd it go?
Sue, Welcome, I am sorry you have to be here, but you will find incredible support from these ladies. My MO was going to put me on that trial, but my tumor was a bit too small, and I had no node involvement. He put me on 6TC anyway, but when my oncotype came back low, he stopped at 4. I do plan to keep tabs on that trial. I am very interested in the results. I am kind of a research nerd anyway. I am in a different clinical trial now, so hopefully this rotten situation will contribute to science somehow.
Paralameda, Round 1 I ate just applesauce for several days. Round 2 it was yougurt. Today I ate ramen noodles. yuk. I hate Ramen noodles, but I made a trip to the store for them because I seriously could not stomach anything else. I have not noticed odd smells, but I know a few people on my September board noted that issue. I have lost a few pounds, but not too many. I try to eat a lot on days I feel good because I cannot afford to lose weight.
I am running a temp again this round, and am really frustrated by that because i was at the mo's office for a clinical trial vaccine and the nurse wanted them to see me. Theyndecided my fever was not quite high enough. I do not want to land back in the hospital again, but I feel like my doctors are not being proactive to be sure that does not happen. I am upset by this. I also am in a lot of pain. Because of my temp, I cannot take Tylenol, Advil or anything else for the taxotere pain or the neulasta pain. Sorry if I am a bit grouchy and crabby tonight. Hopefully the temp will come down tomorrow. Thankfully, I know that it is the last round, so even if I do land in the hospital, it will be for the last time. they wanted me to call tonight and go to the ER when my temp rose just a tiny bit, but if they could not bother to see me when I was there, they can wait until tomorrow. I know that is a rotten attitude. Can you tell I am frustrated?0 -
Kbee-
I hope your temp goes down...maybe eat some popsicles or cold things? I have trouble with my thermometers, I thought I had temp the other day and the digital read 100.5 then 99 then 100 then got another one old looking but not mercury...anyhow that one never went above 99...so I figured it was O.K. but how to know exactly when they don't work?? I'll be in trouble if I get one...Praying you won't need to go to hospital again!
Wrenn- hope you are doing ok, remember to drink...0 -
Awww Hugs KBeee - dang you are not grouchy at all - you sound actually quite reasonable!!! I hope the temp goes down!!
Wrenn - I was concerned when I had my most recent surgery and they were checking the nodes on my left side (non cancer side) and RE-checking my previous and new cancer side (right again)....I said to my surgeon "so now I can't have blood drawn or bp on EITHER arm???" She said that no using the node arm was "old school" but she did specify that it could only be used if it was the sentinel node biopsy done. She told me that if I ended up with an axillary node dissection on my prev cancer side the I couldn't use that arm....... Not that it means any more or less thus was my surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC --- hope this explanation made sense and wasn't too ramble-y0 -
I was told that 'old school' too but since the surgery not one single place will use my 'sentinel' node side!!! It is annoying! My left arm is infected and sore and tired of getting poked! They need to all make that clear to phlebotomists/nurses as my surgeon and plastic surgeon said it but no one will do it! annoying!0 -
frustrating for sure Audra I can't imagine. They have no choice with me bc nodes were taken from both sides - tho more from the right (6 total) compared to 2 for the chemo infusion side.....
Did you get a port yet? Or will you still try for veins? (Sorry if thus is an asked/answered question-- I swear I have instant chemo brain)0 -
Annoying was when I went to the hospital Thursday night and the MD said they'd hospitalize me for iv antibiotics and use my port. Then the nurse came in and said she was doing an iv in the arm with the raging cellulitis that landed me there in the first place. I pointed out that the MD said they'd use my port, "no" she said, "too much likelihood for infection." So I got an iv in my arm one inch away from the inflamed tissue. The next morning the MD on rounds asked me why my iv wasn't in my port, and said if there was any reason to fuss with it, he'd have it changed to my port. ARGHHHH!!! Like sleeping would have been so much easier without anything in my sore arm.0 -
Wren, I am so hapoy you feel fine. Yes, the wait is worse than the actual infusion! It was also great you got to meet Nicole! Remember to drink lots of fluids to wash chemo off.
As for the veins, mine are hard to find too. The nurses are supposed to be skilled enough to find them. Plenty of veins in one arm, they can do it. Do not jeopardize the other arm. It is not worth it. They have done one of my infusion from my handm because it was hard to find the other ones. The third one, they did it from my wrist.
Kbeee, you are not grouchy at all. Please keep checking your temperature. What about Percocet, can you use that one for your pain?0 -
Wrenn -- glad it went well and you got a hug from Nicole!!! Remember to drink lots of fluids (doesn't have to all be water) and take your meds if you feel a need. Prayers for a cozy and comfortable evening!0 -
KBeee -- I hope you've gotten the temp under control. Mine spiked a bit this afternoon, but. Am lucky that MO has given me the OK to alternate Motrin and Tylenol. I know first hand how the fever makes you feel even crummier -- the last thing you need when you are DONE!!!! I don't blame you for feeling a bit cranky about it -- (((hugs)))
Thinking of all of you who are in the path of the big Thanksgiving storm headed across the country. Stay warm, stay safe, and may the taste buds return in time to taste some yummy Thanksgiving goodies. We decided not to have TG since I am the one who loves all that turkey with trimmings! and I won't be able to taste it. Oh well, the point of this is to enjoy many more TGs on into the future, right?0 -
I go to see my oncologist this Tuesday. First time since my first chemo last Wednesday. I can not sleep. I get maybe 2 hours a night of sleep. Is this a side effect? The main reason is the bone pain and my joints are hurting so much I can not lay down. I am either in tears or I’m having charlie horses. I usually get up and walk around the house. Anyone else can’t sleep?0 -
FGM -- Definitely an SE. Did you have Neulasta? Neulasta causes the bone and joint pain. But chemo does too, so be sure to talk to your MO about it. Since you are getting so little sleep, ask for treatments to help. Don't feel like you need to tough it out -- it is their job to help you manage the pain. Call tonight if you cannot sleep, rather than waiting for tomorrow.
On Neulasta, I get a lot of feet and ankle pain during the night -- walking around helps, so does a warm soak in the tub before bed and some massage. I am taking Claritin, and alternating Motrin & Tylenol, but have the intermittent pain anyway. Took Ativan last night, which helped me sleep longer (or maybe I was just so tired I didn't wake up). Let me know if you find the magic cure -- I have little things that work, but no magic bullet for this one.0 -
FDM - I would definitely ask your MO for a prescription for Ativan. When the steroids are raging and my heart is crazy pounding, I take one of those and it lulls me right to sleep.
Another SE I haven't seen on this board much - anyone experiencing the hand/foot syndrome? I learned from other boards that this is a common SE for Taxotere.
I also got the strangest SE this last time after my 4th TC. I literally could not walk. My knee was so painful. It was wierd. Went away in two days.
Anyway, hope all can enjoy their Thanksgiving!0 -
Another side effect of our chemo regimen is joint and muscle aches/pains so all of the aches and pains you may be experiencing/feeling may not be just from the Neulasta shot. You may want to visit with your onco to find out what kind of OTC meds or prescription meds you can take to help ease the pain.
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Last night I could my right toes locked up. Today my knee was killing me I couldn’t walk either. I will talk to MO tomorrow. I have the Neulasta shot, but these pains start the first day of chemo and each day since have gotten worst. I take Clartin daily for the shot. I’m allergic to most pain meds. I was going to see if I could take a supplement. Thank you for the advice. I just want to be able to get more than 2 hours of sleep.0 -
patalameda=
That is AWFUL!!! You poor thing! I totally know how you feel! I started crying when they drew blood about an inch above my sore infected arm last week! Then of course they missed and had to stick me again!
Virginia...haven't gotten port yet...(waiting til last minute_) not really, they want to check my blood this wed. again and if levels are back up or up enough then they are scheduling it for first week of Dec. before my 2nd chemo treatment.
I still don't WANT one, but with this awful arm / hand pain -that still is sore - I guess I have no choice.0 -
Thanks to all for your warm welcome.
TeamKim, I hope the Ativan and sleep tamed the nausea.
KBee, I wish your MO team were more attuned to your emotional needs. It's so much easier to face new physical challenges if someone takes your concerns seriously, especially given your evil experience after chemo3!
Wren, I too hope all went as expected with your chemo1; and that you are home again and comfortable.0 -
Audra, thanks for seconding that it was nuts for the nurse to insist on putting an iv in my arm next to the infection. Getting a port is a pain in the neck for a couple days, then it settles down. It really is a pleasure when they access it and leave your poor arm alone! As my husband says, next time we will ask for the MD to come back in, since she had ordered access through the port. We women, especially, are too used to doing what we are told and being polite. It doesn't really get us where we want to be...0 -
Do any of you have a resurgence of pain/discomfort in your surgical sites after chemo? My lumpectomy, node dissection and port implant sites were pretty much pain free before chemo1. By day3, all the sites were aching, including my jaw where I'd had a cracked tooth extracted a month before my lumpectomy. Things got better in the week right before chemo2, but here I am on chemo2/day8, with an achy boob and port site again, which makes it hard for me to find a comfortable sleep position. Acetaminophen/ibuprofen don't seem to help much.0 -
Bluegrassharp: yes! My lumpectomy site aches on and off. Comes as a surprise!0
