Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013
Comments
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Ring that bell today, Headeast and ring it loud so we can all hear it when you finish that last round today!!! I'll be doing the Happy Dance in your honor!!!
Wishing for easy times in the Big Girl Chair for today and everyone up this week and minimal side effects for all!!! Keep pushing forward.......
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In your pockets today Headeast!:)
You're on the downhill slide. HOORAY!!!0 -
pre meds in me now. Waiting for all and then TC...0 -
Yahooooooooo headeast!!! I am happy for you!0 -
Hi, got a question for all you veterans. Saw my MO before tx2, and the answer to many of side effects was "drink more fluids." Thanks to my Ativan, I wasn't sharp enough to ask how much. How much do you think is advisable during regular weeks, and how much to flush it out days 1 and 2. In addition to my iv drip I drank 60 oz while in the chair. I don't want to get water intoxication, but I want this poison out of me! I'm thinking 8 ounces an hour while awake? Not enough? Ugh, help.0 -
KBeee, I am so happy it is over! I just have to deal with SE. How are you doing with yours?
Pat, from what I read is: your weight in lbs / 2= number of oz a day.
For example if 140lbs/2= 70ounces a day. I bought a 24ox bpa free tumbler and use that one to count how much in fluids I drink. Fluids includes all, not just water.
Good luck!0 -
Pat, remember that is fluids, not necessarily all water -- soup, Gatorade, Vitamin water, Sobe Lifewater! juice -- all count. I was told about 1.5-2.0 liters per day.0 -
Headeast, I am feeling much better this week. The neulasta did the same thing to me last week that the neupogen did round 3...it made me nauseas (chemo never has) and I could not eat more than about a tablespoon at a time for about 10 days. i ran a temp most of the first week, but that seems to happen each round. I can eat and drink a bit more now, so I am feeling much better. I can feel I am still anemic, but I am still walking 3 or 4 miles per day, working a few hours each day, and generally living life. I am just a bit tired in the evenings. I do feel better and better each day, and I hope that you do too. I am so glad that you are done. I am working a few real shifts (on the ambulance...rather than in the office) at the end of the month, so I am looking forward to that.
pat, 2 liters is probably a good figure. I drank as much as I could, but the point to vary the fluids is a good one.
Wrenn, how are you feeling?
Hoping for a day of minimal side effects for all.0 -
Thanks Headeast, Kbeee & TeamKim about the quantity. I'm well over that by now & H is heating me some soup. Thanks TK for the private advice too! The burning urine is a large part of why I'm trying to dilute this garbage!0 -
Congratulations HEADEAST! WOOOHOOOO for you! You must feel GREAT!
PatAlameda I am following you tomorrow, I only drank maybe 2 water bottles last time the first few days as I felt so weird and queasy...I will force myself to drink more this time...thank goodness you asked that question! Now the last week or so I have been eating and drinking normal amounts ...I had no idea!
Kbee - so happy for you!0 -
TC sisters -- I am about to just be a C (or a C and some other TBA letter) -- can I still hang out here?
Just when you think you have it figured out, this BC s**# throws you another curve.... I saw the MO today for blood checks and follow-up from 3rd tx. I took my little album of photos of my hives over thanksgiving weekend. He says I am officially VERY allergic to Taxotere, and I will not be getting it again because he feels it would be too dangerous. So, new plan: my blood counts are high, so we will go ahead with Cytoxan next week on my scheduled infusion day. No Neulasta shot after. Then the following Wednesday I am to come back for an infusion of another drug to replace the Taxotere (possibly Taxol or another one that I can't remember -- he is thinking about it and deciding what would be best). If blood counts are low when I come back for that infusion, then I will get a few days of Neupogen. If WBC is good, then I will be DONE after that infusion!!! And on to rads in about a month. Glad to see the last of that Taxotere -- I have a touch of neuropathy in my toes, and the hives were nasty.0 -
PatAlameda- I used two 32 ounce Nalgene bottles to help keep track of how much water I drank every day. Besides the liquids that were mentioned already ( water, gatorade, tea, soup, etc), there are other things that count as liquids-- popsicles, jello, grapes, watermelon. The infusion nurses told me to watch the amount of water I drank so I wouldn't drink too much and get water intoxification. If the urine is burning..... use a squirt water bottle to help clean off and use those cottonelle wipes. Diaper rash cream also helps.
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TeamKim--- You better not leave here!!!! Glad that your onco has figured out that you are allergic to the Taxotere. You may be getting Abraxene which is given only after it is shown that one cannot tolerate the Taxotere. Hope this week before the next chemo is a good one for you and that you feel well. HUGS!!!!
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wrenn, any hairs lost? You have to show that to your daughter! I think she is adorable! Lol! For drink try decaf ginger peach, is really good.
TeamKim, I am so glad they are changing your chemo treatment. Only one to go for you, or .5!0 -
Team KIm-
When did you get the hives immediately or days later?0 -
Started taking the steroids today in preparation for my last chemo tomorrow. Everyone keeps telling me that I should be happy it's my last chemo, but I'm actually more apprehensive than the previous ones because chemo 3 was so bad and I know chemo 4 will just be worse since it's all cumulative. But I'm hoping I'll be able to get through the side effects easier since I'll know in the back of my mind that it's the last time. I do the neutrogen shots at home starting Sunday for 5 days, and I'm planning to do a big time 5-4-3-2-1 countdown. Can't wait for that to be over!! The port comes out on Dec. 20th, and I'll be able to sleep scrunched up on my side or stomach again! Yes! There is some light at the end of the tunnel.
I went in to my kindergarten classroom today for a quick visit for the first time since September and brought the students little holiday gift bags. It was great to see them, as they barely know me since I left after only two weeks of school. They saw my scarf on my head, and I was able to explain that I'll be wearing a scarf every day for a while, and that I couldn't give them any hugs since I need to be careful not to get sick. They were adorable, and now I'm actually really looking forward to January 6th when I go back to work.
I'm wishing you all a nice holiday time with minimal side effects!0 -
test0 -
bondsy! Yay for you being the last one!!!
. Wishing u the fewest SE's possible!! And lovely you got to visit your "kids." 0 -
Thank you VirginiaNJ!0 -
Teamkim, You need to stick around!!! Let us know what they decide about te last treatment. I am glad they recognize the allergic reaction and will no longer give you Taxotere.
Bondsy, I hope the last infusion goes well with few side effects. I am happy that you got to see your kids; what fun! January should be such a great new start!
Headeast, I hope you ar having few effects from your last treatment.
Audra, How'd it go?
Wrenn, Feeling any better?
Wishing minimal and manageable side effects for all!0 -
Audra -- I got the rash each time starting about day 4 or 5. It usually lasted a week or 10 days. 2nd tx rash was was worse than 1st tx, and lasted longer. When the rash started on 5th day after 3rd tx, I called and got Prednisone. Even with that on board, though, it kept getting worse everyday and on day 7 it turned into hives. Continued to be pretty bad until day 10, when it finally started to subside, then disappeared totally by day 12.
Bondsy -- so great you got to see your kids. I know you missed them. As long as you have the stamina to get through the day, when you go back to work it will be such a happy time to see those cuties each day!0 -
Thank you all for the hydration guidance. With enough fluid in me, water bottle to squirt, wet wipes to clean, vagisil to soothe, and triple butt cream to protect all in place from the get-go, I'm finding treatment number two less "irritating" than number one. Where would we be without each other? My MO and ON aren't exactly founts of practical wisdom. What do women who haven't found this board do?0 -
Pat, I have often thought the same thing...what would I do without the practical advice from everyone here?!?! I am very happy to hear that this round is a bit less irritating. Hoping you feel better and better each day.0 -
Hi all.
Just checking in. Going to get blood drawn today for Monday chemo. A little peeved that they moved it from Thursday to Monday because the doctor is out on Thursday. It means I lose a couple of "good days".
Excited that I start the LIVESTRONG exercise program in January. I have to get on track with my fitness again. The only question I had for her, was" is it okay if I workout bald". Scarves on my head and sweating is not something I want to do.
I'm throwing a birthday party for my daughter tomorrow. So I have to run out and get stuff today, lots to do it should be fun. I should get moving.
Enjoy ladies. So glad to be somewhere where we get it!0 -
I think the hydration was key for me in minimizing my SE's. I saw my MO yesterday for my first blood work post chemo (and prior to Mondays chemo---SC I go too!!). I never had any blood work after my first chemo. MO said my numbers are actually BETTER than they were PRE chemo! Lolllll. She gave me a new script for a diff anti nausea as I had terrible gas pains last time....also an anti spasm to help with the cramps (hopefully I don't get them this time!)
My sis shaved my head last night - poor thing was crying (I wasn't). My nieces were cutting my hair - we had a good giggle fest over it - then watched the Sound of Music. Was nice to be with family.
SC - yay you for getting back to the gym!!!! I am envious and sooooooooooo desperately miss my gym
Hope everyone gas a great day/weekend!!!0 -
Chemo #2 went well yesterday, I absolutely LOVED the port! No arm pain or swelling to live with for the next 2 weeks hooray! If I can just get NO period, I will be thrilled! Trying to not take the Zofran but using Phenergan and Ativan.. will see if that works!
Glad to have snow here so all of us home and movie time- makes me feel OK to relax or rest if I need to...
Am planning to try to drink, drink, drink as I have read all of your posts saying that helps!
Happy weekend!0 -
Audra, Glad the port worked well.
SC, Sorry you lose a few good days, but if you can get the 4th on a Monday, that means you reach the finish line 3 days faster! Glad you are able to workout again. I do think it helps so much!
I braved the 14 degree weather and walked 4 miles yesterday. It is 3 right now, and the windchill is about 10 below, so I think that's where I draw the line. I may have to hit the treadmill or elliptical at the FD today. Glad to have a free place to work out. Hope everyone has a good weekend with minimal side effects.0 -
I’m waiting for my MO to call to see if I can have my 2nd chemo next week. My liver is high after my 1st chemo. So send positive thoughts or whatever I need for the Ok. I can’t believe I”m NOT wanting to delay treatments. Our whole state is closed due to the snow. I hope everyone is going well.0 -
KBeee you are a better woman than I am walking in that cold!!!! I am decorating my tree today as it is poring rain here in NJ - i will take that over snow!!!
FDM - sending all good vibes to you!!!!!!!!0 -
Hi all:
Does anyone here have experience with Compazine(prochlorperazine)? How about the patch for nausea? Trying to figure out ahead of time for my 1st treatment Monday what works for nausea? Any other suggestions are welcome!
Joan0
