Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013
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For those trying to get fluids down, I found that the Bigelow Lemon ginger Herbal tea with probiotics was soothing to the tummy (helps my heartburn too) -- tastes good hot in this cold weather, but also tastes good iced with some honey added. I bring it over crushed ice to drink during infusions and keep my mouth cold. So far no mouth sores (which is amazing, since I have had every other SE under the sun!)
Also, the Sobe Life Water tastes better than plain water. I second the Gatorade plus water notion too. Also Vitamin Water. And no matter what cold drinks, crushed ice and a straw helps it get down before you even taste it. Soup, watermelon, annoying with fluid content counts.0 -
Thank you to all for the good wishes. I'm feeling much better today, and just feeling grateful. I wish you all the best.0 -
Is there anyone currently active on this discussion board who has already experienced 5 or 6 rounds of taxotere/cytoxan, rather than the (seemingly) more usual TCx4 protocol? I'd love to have some idea of how the last two treatments compare to the first four, since I'm getting six treatments.
Can I throw myself a little pity party tonight? I had chemo3 on Monday. I felt okay yesterday but woke up early this morning with upper body muscle aches. This has been my chief SE so far, but much more intense this time. As long as I don't move, it's not bad, but even reaching for my thermos of tea is painful. I know I've gotta keep moving, but I just wish all my muscle cells didn't start squealing every time I get up. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen seem to do nothing. I know I can bear it -- and I keep reminding myself that this means BC cells are squealing and dying, too -- but I sure hope it doesn't get worse each time.0 -
Bluegrassharp- I'm so sorry you are having body aches...I seem to get them few days after chemo, but I've only had 2 so far...so can't tell your future tx...I hope they are NOT accumulative..
Thanks all for drinking tips..I am going to try them all today and see which is my fave...so sick of just water bottles..ewwwhhh...I am drinking coffee right now and it tastes gross but still doing it just to have some semblance of normalcy...
I had a HORRIBLE night, woke up with excruciating back and hip pain, is it the neulasta shot? I got it on Monday. Taking the Claritin since Friday, had rapid heartbeat last night after taking the Claritin, got scared at that..took an Ativan to counteract it and calm me down and it worked...feel like a druggy...took 4 advil in night for the back pain...and went back to sleep to wake up at 5am with it coming back...does this last or go after one night? I don't like that it stays in our system for 15 days...maybe if I need wbc up I will ask for the nuepogen? that is a daily shot...not liking this AT ALL...
Hope you feel better today School Counselor
Hope we all do!
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audra, do you have any Percocet? That one is for pain and helps a lot with sleeping too. I don't know about Neulasta since I didn't have any during my four TCs.
I don't know if coffee is good for you, did your MO tell you it was ok? My MO was very explicit in telling me not to have caffeine or any hard to digest foods (greasy, salty, dairies, raw vegetables, no raw food in general). I had ulcers before and maybe he said that because of the ulcers? I think my chemos were a breeze compared to many and my guess is because of the bland foods I ate, the soy free protein shakes with banana, L Glutamine and Blood Builder. My counts were always good with no Neulasta. Lots of fluids. Don't like water so I added Mio or any other flavor to the water.
Have a wonderful day ladies!0 -
Headeast-
I do NOT have Percocet, I have hydrocodone from mastectomy...I'm going to call the Dr and make sure I can take that with everything else...
I think my foods I have been eating are horrid, maybe in some way I'm rebelling. I always eat very healthy and now I'm eating drive through crap and feeling like I 'can'...and it is going right through me...
What is the soy free protein shake with blood builder? Everyone is mentioning blood builder and I think I read its beets?
I'm going to get that and NOT get this shot again...
thanks
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I bought Blood builder at Amazon. It is vegetable iron, B6 and something else and helps to get your RBC
The soy free protein shake I got at Amazon as well and add banana to it for boost my energy.
I am rebelling too, but with the M&Ms! I am getting so hungry with chemos, odd... And i read somewhere that chocolate helps prevent neuropathy, so that's my excuse, lol!0 -
Bluegrassharp, Melrose did 6 rounds. i was scheduled for 6 because MO chose that before he knew i was node negative. once we knew i was node negative and low oncotype, we reevaluated, and he said 4... otherwise I would be going for #5 tomorrow and could have given you more guidance. I can tell you the early days each round got harder each time, and it took a little longer to recover each time, but late week 2 and all week 3 has been the same all 4 rounds.
Audra, that sounds like neulasta pain, though Taxotere gave me severe labor like pains even in the rounds I did not have Neulasta...actually, it was worse than labor. blood builder works for red blood cells, but not white blood cells.
Bondsy, Glad you are feeling a bit better.
SC, I hope you feel better soon.0 -
sorry to those feeling crummy--- I had my Neulasta shot yesterday - one day late bc of the snow but they told me so long as it was within 72 hours I was ok. Did a little bit of Xmas shopping yesterday but tired out super fast. A bit achy today - but I forced myself out of the house again first thing to try and do some more shopping... Only lasted a couple of hours.
Have not had to take any anti nausea meds this round...but still got the headache. Yesterday I got the aching teeth some of you have mentioned. Oh and the lovely metal mouth...hate that..... Just feel generally run down and exhausted.
Sending warm thoughts to everyone!!!!!!!!0 -
Audra, I did the Neupogen (generic Neulasta) shots at home. They are spread out over 5 days, starting on day 3, and I think because the dose is smaller it's not as big a shock to the system. It's also a good option for those who are fighting the snow and having trouble getting in. Sometimes my husband gave me the shots and sometimes I did it. But there still were some body pains associated with it.
Today was my last shot, and I broke down crying in an emotional mess just at the thought of being done. Mostly happy tears, but also sad tears - I think I was crying for all the people who have to go through this awful disease. It surprised me that I got so emotional.0 -
bondsy-
You are so sweet! It is AWFUL and we all HATE it !!! But praise God you are done!!!
I am rethinking the shot at all, my count was 4 when I went in and I had the shot 2 days before, so nurse thought it couldn't have done anything yet, so maybe I didn't even NEED IT??
I'm having weird flutters in area right under my sternum, like muscle spasms...that's the latest...just weird..and yesterday I felt so good...
I don't even want to Christmas shop out with people and germs, I have bought a ton online, and it's fun to get packages daily...
I had a boutique before I got this in town and closed it as just too much to deal with and I wasn't sure how this would go...anyhow I miss getting things on order and opening them so this has been nice.
I have a website still and people are ordering and I haven't even went to see if I have the items in stock, so not into it...
These side effects are consuming my life! I want them to STOP!!!
Wearing my cat burglar cap in house today as it's so cold out still. Our snow/ice hasn't melted and is still all over yard and roads- it is crazy!
Thanks for sweet comments all on our dog and our sweet daughter...she is amazing...we are very blessed....even with this...at least I wasn't ran over by a train right? Even though I feel that way sometimes
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Bluegrassharp- I did the 6 rounds but knew going into chemo that I would have 6 rounds plus the Herceptin B-47 clinical trial I participated in had a 6 round Cytoxan/Taxotere chemo protocal. My onco met with the tumor board to determine the number of chemo rounds several times so according to the oncos, pathologist, radiology oncologist, etc..... 6 rounds was the way for me to go. I was node negative ( 5 nodes removed) but the pathology of my bc was that it was very aggressive and also that it is rare form of bc ( 1% of all breast cancers) since it was found in a cystic structure. As for the side effects, I can tell you that I was more fatigued and tired and moved a lot slower and became easily winded. Sure, I had some aches and pains from the chemo but never to the point that I needed to take any meds.... pain killers or Motrin/Tylenol/Advil. I did my best to keep watch over what I ate, when I ate, what I did in general. I drank plenty of fluids, made sure I walked a little everyday, ate regularly, slept/rested whenever I was tired, etc. I did try to get out of the house everyday... whether it was to just go walk around Target, to the grocery store, to the drug store, to go shopping.....) That is what helped me push through my time in chemoland. I just tried to live my life the way I had before I was diagnosed as best I could. I have to say that I was very very fortunate that my side effects were minimal and easily handled. One thing I also did and continue to do everyday is meditate and give spiritual thanks for having another day and having peace and calm in my life no matter what adventure I am on. Yes, having a positive attitude does a lot for me and helped me get through those teary moments when things seem not so good. Hoping that you try to relax about having 6 rounds and find that your path is an easy one.
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Audra--I had fever and leg/foot pain with Neulasta, but with Neupogen I had killer heartburn that hurt all the way through to my back. I took Claritin with both. With Neulasta, MO said to alternate Tylenol and Motrin every 4 hours for the fever and it helped the leg and foot pain too. With the Neupogen, I used a combination of Motrin and Pepcid that worked pretty well. In both cases I still took Ativan before bed and I slept on the recliner with the Neupogen because of the heartburn -- felt better if I didn't lay down flat. Check with your MO for sure -- they should be able to give you some combination that helps.0 -
Melrose, thanks for the detailed post about your experience with TCx6. I'm in a clinical trial, too, and know I'm getting 6 treatments, not 4. I just freaked out yesterday because my muscle ache SEs were so much more intense this time (chemo3) than in the first two rounds. But my acute pain seems to have eased off this evening -- I noticed I was feeling better about the same time I read your post! I think you have a magic touch!
From your description, I get the impression that your SEs did not snowball downhill over the last treatments as I feared. Is this correct? If so, that's hopeful!
I can honestly say that reading everyone's posts on this site has been an inspiration to me to keep doing all the right things -- hydration, good eating habits, hygiene, sensible drug and non-drug solutions to reduce SEs, exercise, reaching out for support from family and friends, etc! As crappy as I felt today, my DH was able to get me outside to walk because I knew It was the right thing to do -- and it helped that the weather was lovely here and the dogs were eager to go, too!0 -
Bluegrass: I had 6 tx of Taxotere w/Carboplatin, Herceptin & Perceta. It was NOT fun. My doc said Aleve for the muscle aches but it didn't help much. Now - due to the size of the tumor at axillary node dissection and the positive node (after the first 6 tx) - I am doing 4 tx of Adriamycin & Cytoxan. Interesting that most of you are getting Cytoxan instead of Carboplatin w/the taxo. I find this Adrimycin & Cytoxan a breeze compared to the Taxo & Carbo. I'm not even getting the horrible bone pain from Neulasta this time. So I'm interpreting that the main problem for me was the Taxotere. I got through the Taxotere set but had diarrhea for at least 2 weeks of the 3 every time. Food tasted like it was scraped out of the bottom of the garbage disposal and I couldn't eat much. Worst SE for me was & continues to be neuropathy from the Taxotere. I did insist on running all of the drugs REAL SLOWLY. Also I insisted on 2 litters of saline/glucose with every tx - and am keeping that up. This too shall pass.0 -
minustwo
Question. How did you find your reoccurrence? I am wondering after mastectomy they don't do mammograms....do you get mris every few months or did you feel a lump or what???
So sorry you are having to do this AGAIN!! that sucks!
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Audra - I had a swelling below my collarbone when I went in for a 2 yr NED check-up w/my MO. He wanted an MRI but I pushed for a ULS, and of course they immediately biopsied what they saw. I gather I'll have at least yearly MRIs but not sure at this point.0 -
Minus two-
WOW, so how did that happen or what did they say? It was in your lymph node by collarbone? This is all AFTER chemotherapy right?
Why didn't chemotherapy kill it? Did you not get mri or ct scans after chemotherapy?
That is scary!
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Audra: No - recurrence was before chemo. I originally had DCIS w/large tumors. BMX in 2011 had clear margins & SNB showed no node involvement. I had no further treatment at that time. All my docs were amazed at the recurrence - especially since it is on the side that had the smallest tumor. Obviously there must have been a micro-met that escaped before the original surgery. This time around I had neo-adjuvent chemo (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin & perjeta) & more scans. The chemo didn't produce a pathologic complete response (tumors did not disappear). Second surgery was axillary node dissection & removed remaining tumor & found a positive node. So now I'm on another round of chemo (adriamycin & cytoxan) to make sure there are no more micro-mets hiding and will have radiation when this is done.
Much of my treatment is because of the size of the tumors, how fast they grew from 2011, and because I am ER/PR negative so no hormonal treatment is available. Also I am HER2 positive, which is considered very aggressive. Just the 'perfect storm' I guess.0 -
MinusTwo, I was reading your explanation to Audra. Do you think if they would have done chemo when you had DCIS would have prevented you from having a tumor this time? What did the doctors say?
I guess this time they do want to kill whatever is in there!
I just came back from a charity luncheon I am part of and it is for cancer research. Every lady there has had somebody, even themselves with some type of cancer. You can hear the most wonderful stories about cases like mine or like yours or other types of cancer. They all survived, even decades ago when it was very different!
A friend told me her mother passed during chemo 20 years ago. At that time she had diarrhea for three weeks, and doctors didn't give her fluids in IV, Motrin or any other anti diarrhea medicine. Years ago it was like that. She died in her third treatment because at that time the side effects were not controlled like they are now. Today, 20 years after, we don't hear these cases anymore. Everybody gets the side effects controlled with all kind of pre meds and all. She told me there were no steroid pills given to her mom, just the chemo and to wait. She actually didn't die from cancer, but from dehydration!
This is another era for medicine, and I am happy for all of us who are here that share how we do and how we kill that cancer and survive it! We will get there!0 -
Good story, Headeast, to point out how lucky we are to have these treatments. My dad passed away in the 1970's from colon cancer. They did a colostomy and that was it. There was no chemo, and no radiation. A couple days before he died, they asked my mom if they could try an experimental drug which they said would either kill his faster or might give him a little time. It killed him faster, but that was a chemo drug.
Fast forward to now, and I am so thankful that early detection saved my life and these treatments will keep the dreaded BC at bay so I can enjoy life longer. I am the same age, 58, that my dad was when he passed.0 -
Team Kim: There was no indication that I needed any further treatment the first time around. I don't blame any of my docs for the recommended treatment. The clear margins on both excised breasts were well defined. Two serial nodes on each side were negative for any invasive disease. As you all may have been reading, many docs are no longer even consider DCIS to be cancer. I just got caught by another one of the twists that this tricky bugger can take.0 -
MinusTwo- I am a recurrence too. My cancer was treated with the full arsenal (chemo and a year of Herceptin)... They have no way of knowing if my current cancer was rogue cells left over from the first cancer or a new emerging cancer (though I think they are leaning towards the latter).
All any of us can do is go at it with both barrels and hope for the best. This cancer thing sure is scary and definitely keeps u on your toes..........0 -
Minus Two-
Just read your posts, you are my hero, that was the perfect storm and how awful and annoying! You have been going through this awhile and doing so many chemo treatments! How do you stay strong mentally? AND physically, I've only had 2 treatments and I'm ready to be done!
I have had a hard day feeling awful with body aches , headache, fatigue, now my tongue was bleeding when I brushed my teeth and it looks like a sore on the side....I have been feeling mad about this all day- why?? How do I know how to keep it from coming back? what do I eat/drink/do to keep it from reoccurring? I am mad at people that don't have it in my neighborhood, school, anyone I know right now- why??? Just feeling angry and sooooo soooo tired of the illness from the chemo or the neulasta shot, not sure which... I feel like such a wienie... you are just amazing..
Headeast- Sounds like you had great day! What a wonderful experience, and encouraging! I would benefit so much from hearing all of the women or seeing a bunch that have survived...!!
I am thinking of seeing a psychologist or counselor or something...I really would like to get the worries and be able to not be so filled with anxiety at the thought of AFTER chemo, when I should be happy and normal again am I going to worry daily about reoccurrence? How do you not? I have faith and I know God is in control but I also seem to have control issues and anxiety that I've never known before until I got this. I really HATE how this has made me feel, so worried and not myself...
I have read and seen on tv that stress and emotions cause disease...so that makes the concern grow, If I'm not dealing with this anxiety or any other issues in my life, is disease coming again>>????
Am I a freak or do any of you all feel that way at times??
And this seems to be just when I am feeling awful and horrid, when I'm on the 3rd week before next treatment I am positive, no worries, feel great and like my old self...
Is it all part of these awful drugs? Or just being so tired and not able to do things normally do and depressing?
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Audra ((((((hugs))))). We are going through done tough stuff and all your feelings are normal. I see a therapist so I value that immensely!!! I have not as of yet taken any medications, but talk to your MO if you are having feelings of sadness or depression. Does you cancer center have a psychologist/ social worker on staff? That may be a good start. I'm trying to get through one day at a time. This round is kicking my butt and I am wiped. I will take Xanax as needed and Ativan for sleep. My goal is to get through treatment and then begin the difficult task of piecing my life back together. Not sure how, the fear of reoccurrence will always be with me, but we have options open to is that never existed.
I am also joining every clinical trial I qualify for, in an effort to be part of the cure. I have bad days and not so bad days. This sucks, my body hurts, I'm exhausted, bald and my stomach is distended. I am also in this to win it. We all must fight as hard as we can and when I can't... I come here, call my therapist. Etc.
this is not easy, but we are doing this and we can do this. For me- he who has started a good work on me will see it yo completion..... Please hang in there.0 -
Audra, Because you tend to feel like yourself that third week, I would say it is the drugs, coupled with their side effects...pain, feeling cruddy, lack of sleep, messed with hormones, etc that are making you feel the way you do. Talking with someone would probably be a great idea. You are doing this, and you are past the 13.1 point in the marathon.
I do have that fear of recurrence too, and will do everything I can to prevent it. If it happens, I will do the same thing as now...fight the beast and win. I do not let that fear consume me, too much else to do. Because I face "fear-inducing" situations at work regularly, I have tried to fight this cancer the way I fight fires at work. I have a philosophy that has 5 phrases I live by there... 1. Assemble your team; 2. Trust your team; 3. Fight hard; 4.Fight without fear; 5. Adapt when necessary. That really is the only way I know how to fight scary situations, so it is what I did naturally, and it has helped me a lot. You all are a crucial part of my team. My biggest challenge has been trusting my MO. I know i need to, so I do need to work on that...and maybe I need to communicate things to him more clearly. The "adapting"part is the hardest during chemo when all of the nasty surprises and curveballs are thrown in our path.0 -
Audra, you look great,I love your scarf!!! you put it on in a very nice way!,and congrats on being done.0 -
Audra- You are heading in the right direction and fortunately, you know yourself so well. If you think you need counseling, get it and do not think twice about it. Yes, it is so very easy to fall into what my other bc survivor gal pals call the "fear hole". I know there are some days that you just can't seem to help but fall in and can't seem to get yourself out. Do what you have to do to keep moving forward. I'm on the other side of chemo and active treatment so I do know where you are at this point in time. Each of us has her own coping abilities and mechanisms and never a good idea to compare ourselves to each other. What is important is you and how you are feeling emotionally and physically and what you do to handle things in your own way and on your own terms and in your own time. You have continued to be very open about how you are doing here which is a good thing. There may be other gals here who read what you have written and are saying to themselves that they feel the same way but can't find the words to express how they are feeling. I thank you for continually sharing. I have read enough of your posts to see that you are person of strong faith. Continue having faith in yourself and faith that you have been preparing for this time and just didn't know it at the time. All of life's events and adventures that you have experienced before now have prepared you to handle this time. Sometimes, you just have to believe a little in yourself. I'm sending you many many hugs and positive calming healing prayers, thoughts and energy.
Wishing all a wonderful weekend with minimal side effects. Please remember to keep breathing,,,,,
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yes, Audra. My pont in posting this was that now we hear more about people going through cancer treatments and living many years after.
Time has changed in our favor.
I am a positive thinker, I always have been. I do believe I won't get it again. I don't know why or how I know it, but I do. A lady i the luncheon today asked me that question and I answered firmly. Then she told me she thought the same way and she never had it. It has been over 20 years for her. It is all in our minds. Believe it. You are going through this and sucks. But there is light at the end of the tunnel amd you will see it very soon. Just have patience and take care of your body. If you feel any side effect, as small as you think, call the MO. When you feel better physically you will feel mentally too.
I am huge in charities and maybe that would be a good idea for you. The people you meet want to give back and will do everything to make you feel good. They were there, in our shoes before us and know how we feel. They join because they want to give back for something they had or a family member had.0 -
Thanks, MinusTwo, for taking the time to describe your experience with 6x taxotere for me. I haven't had your GI SEs -- no diarrhea, taste issues, nausea, etc. My main SE has been muscle aches, mostly upper body, which really intensified after chemo3 on Monday. I'm feeling better today, thank goodness, but Wed and Thu were really rough. If it hadn't let up today, I'm sure I'd have been on the phone bawling to my MO. I have a tiny amount of numbness and tingling in my fingertips, but I also have some weird sensations in my nail beds so it's hard to know if this is beginning neuropathy or not. Keeping a eye on that! I will ask my MO about slowing the infusion rate.
I am so sorry to hear that you are dealing with a recurrence -- so #%^* unfair! But I'm glad to know there is a good treatment option for you -- please keep us posted on your progress!
Anyhow, thanks again for taking the time to reassure me that I can get through this -- you and the other women on this discussion board are the BEST!0
