Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013
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bgh, good to hear from you and that you have finished chemo! I should be starting rads in a few wks also. I'll be anxious to hear how yours goes.
WW, hope your TX goes well today!
carren, good luck in the chair on Thursday!
mguera, I took Zantac at my Dr's recommendation. It worked for me, but my heartburn wasn't too bad. Eat small meals, no acidic or spicey foods and make sure you don't lay down right after eating. Def let your MO know.
I hope the rest of you are doing well!
We are strong! We've got this!!!
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msguera- I used to eat small meals 5-6 times a day while in chemoland. I would usually eat mac n cheese, mashed potatoes or baked potatoes, baked chicken or baked fish for the first few days following chemo.. I called those my "white meals" ; those meals seemed to work okay for me. For breakfast, I ate oatmeal with bananas, blueberries and Kellogs All Bran cereal sprinkled on top plus a litle milk. For lunch, I may eat a half a turkey sandwhich and some fruit. I drank plenty of water with an orange slice, ginger ale, decaff tea or ate watermelon, popsicles, grapes, jello to help keep my fluid intake up. I know the taste buds do go on vacation and things that look good don't taste the way they used to. Just remember, you are eating for sake of body fuel and nutrition. If you have favorite foods, try not to eat those comforting favorite foods while your taste buds are on vacation , especially if you want those favorite foods to remain your favorite foods once you finish chemo. Fortunately, my taste buds usually returned the week before chemo which meant I could eat anything I wanted. One of my funny chemo side effects were the enormous and loud burps that seemed to come out of nowhere, any time and any place. Yes, I used to have burping contests with my teenage son; and we would laugh so hard. I also had the okay from my onco to take Zantac but I never took it since my heartburn was never bad enough to take it. Hang in there!!!!
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has anyone else found that TC makes their bodily fluids smell awful? I feel like a toxic chemical plant vent. I'm 10 days out from my last infusion and still smell that awful smell.
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QG, had that also, but usually only lasted the first few days. YUCK!
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Bluegrass! Yay for you!
Map- I had the rash on my hands and hips after first Taxotere then nothing the next two and the last (fourth) one I got the lovely and rare - hand and foot syndrome...which made my feet beet red and swollen and then they blistered...I just cut the blistered skin off a few days ago as it wasn't leaving...and I am 6 weeks post chemo...under the blisters is bright red new skin...and I am careful what shoes I am wearing...all this to say that it wasn't worse each chemo- rash wise but obviously does do things to your skin...
I got heartburn the 3rd infusion and they gave me Prilosec which really helped until the 4th infusion and then it just eventually went away. After about a month PFC...
on a funny side, I am going back to events and school things and out in public again and everyone comments on my beautiful skin and how I don't look like I ever had chemo! One girl said I looked 20 years younger??!!! They are all just being really nice or maybe the chemo does something 'good' for the skin? Is that possible?
I am taking the Tamoxifen and have had no real side effects...wondering on how to fly without blood clots on this as I see that's a potential side effect and I need to fly a couple of times upcoming..I do NOT want blood clot!
SC- hoping your lymphedema lady works wonders! I have been seeing one the last month and I am WAY better! She said sometimes it just takes awhile for your lymph system to reroute after surgery and it will go away? ! HOPING she is right! Mine was in back, armpit and foob area now just a tiny in foob area. I am going 3x/week.
I see the light at the end of the tunnel finally and have had a great last week and energy to go all day and a walk...haven't started really working out yet but will start next week.
I had a friend come visit last weekend and stay with us and it was just wonderful! You girls are lucky that have family / friends close by...It really cheered me and was a great positive boost !
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Audra - I went to see my dermatologist for my bi-annual full body exam just 30 days after the last chemo. She said my skin had never looked so good. And all the pre-cancerous leisions that she usually has to freeze off every 6 months were absent this time. We laughed about an extreme derm treatment. So your friends are probably really seeing lovely skin.
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Melrose - Funny - Mac& Cheese is something I rarely eat under normal circumstances but it's a staple in my chemo diet.
Quirky - On occasion I think I smell funny. My husband claims I smell fine. I'm not sure what that is.
SS - I'm confused about the genetic tests. After testing BRCA negative my genetic counselor ran the tests for the other BC related genes and I am waiting for the results. Is this the same test? It takes several months to get the results which would delay chemo for too long.
Audra - I continue to workout through chemo and my strength is measurably weakened. It is most notable at the gym when I need to drop weight and reduce resistance. The bottom line is we need to keep moving in any ways we're able.
MinusTwo - YAY for no precancerous lesions!
TC #3 down and one more to go!
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15 days PFC; I am feeling incredibly tired today..UGH! I thought I was on the upswing, but maybe I'm just getting impatient. On a positive note, I am able to sleep at night without the help of Ambien and I think my other SE's have subsided. Waiting to see signs of hair on my mangey little head:).
Audra, good to hear of your progress; it's something I am looking forward to!
I hope the rest of you are able to manage your SE's. Have a great week!
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keepthefaith - you're not alone! I'm 12 days PFC and needed two naps today. I was getting all jazzed that I was getting better but fatigue hammered me today. I'm selfishly reassured to know its not just me... But our energy will return!
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Sas-schatzi, my heart goes out to you -- to have had a horrid treatment experience that could have been avoided if more sophisticated testing were more readily available is just miserable. I often think of the brave and frightened women of the past who were given toxic cocktails of drugs in the hopes of defeating BC, only to find out that sometimes the cure was worse than the disease. Your experience shows that there is still much more to learn! Thanks for sharing this information with those it might help in the future. I hope whatever your new treatment plan turns out to be, it will beat up on your BC big time, while treating your body and spirits more kindly!
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Blood workup okay so all up to snuff for the infusions tomorrow. NP opted on the side of caution with SE's and I will be having the Nuelasta day after chemo. I asked about the Claritin but she had not heard of using it before for Neulasta and of course I had no answer on to WHY; so if you could clarify with me why it works with the Nuelasta. I will get the Benedryl IV as well to cut back on the reaction to the Taxotere I had last time. This will be the 3rd of 4 treatment so happy for that. I haveacid reflux tonight so it is either the dexamethasone or the poutine! LOL Thanks for all your advice and well wishes everyone. Back in a couple of days.
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Carron: This is for you.
FOR THOSE GETTING A NEULASTA SHOT AFTER YOUR ROUND OF CHEMO: You may want to try taking regular 24 hour Claritin to help with the bone pain that may accompany the Neulasta shot. There is an ongoing clinical trial evaluating Claritin to prevent the bone pain. Here is the link: (clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NC...)
According to the clinical trial, one takes the Claritin (10 mg) once a day for 7 days beginning the day of the Neulasta treatment.
I had my first Neulasta shot with my 3rd round of Cytoxan/Taxotere and took the Claritin. I took the Claritin for 8 days. I did not experience any bone pain from the Neulasta but that doesn't mean that I didn't still experience some muscle aches/joint pain from the chemo itself.. The Claritin doesn't help everyone but it is worth a try since from my understanding the bone pain may be intense. Just remember to ask your onco about trying the Claritin before you take it.
HEARTBURN- I experienced some minor heartburn after my first round of chemo but never felt bad/uncomfortable enough to take any kind of medications to help it. I talked to my onco about it and she said it would be fine if I took some Zantac. I know that some have been told to take some other anti- acids (over the counter/prescription) like TUMS, Prilosec. Pepcid, etc. I did start drinking ginger ale the days following chemo. The other side effect from my chemo was the burping. I used to burp like a drunken sailor.... loud and frequently and often when I didn't expect a burp.
Good luck with the next round of chemo!!!
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The Claritin saved me from bone pain but I took it for 12 days. When I stopped after 7, I woke that night with the worst pain shooting down my back. I went back on the Claritin and I was fine. Just got my shot again today.
I take Pepcid for heartburn and have some fast acting stuff the pharmacist recommended in the event of a painful emergency. Pepcid takes about 45 minutes to kick in.
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Hello Everyone! Hello Newbies! I am sorry you have to be here, but it is the best place to be for support and wisdom.
I am 17 days PFC. I am still deeply deeply fatigued and surprised as I expected to have regained more strength. This final chemo was the hardest, though. A grand finale. I notice other PFC ladies are also feeling fatigue. One day , I may have energy; the next I cannot move. I am seeing an eye doctor tomorrow as my eye twitches constantly since chemo. Emotionally, I am very thin-skinned and cry at the drop of a hat. I decided to just patiently let myself get through this & be gentle with self. I think after chemo, there is a whole other set of post-trauma effects hard to admit in face of gratitude for just being alive. Does that make sense?
Next week, the results of a Cat Scan and genetic testing come in. If all negative,I will briefly do happy dance on a table.
Thank you for "listening". I have spent my life as a therapist listening to others, but am frankly self-absorbed since cancer. I look forward to being more generousagain one day. Xoxo momat927
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My final chemo was 1/2 and I am still fatigued. I am short of breath and just done. Today for the first time in a long time. I lost it in the car. I went for my zometa infusion and then sawy MO. He recommended I see a Pulmonologist and then wanted to do a chest ct with contrast. Ladies i found myself going to a dark dark place. ct scan is on Tuesday.
Also, my lymphedema is really showing itself and I had to wrap my arm today. I also had a bone density done.
Tomorrow is my Lexi stress test and I am just tired. Funnily enough the TE they had to remove is not even getting to me and I don't even wear the prosthetic.
Momat. I could not work during this. Listening to teenagers moan about teenage stuff would put me over my compassionate limit.
This is not an easy road ladies, but we are so up to it..., we have no choice. Stay strong- which includes crying whenever needed.
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RunningfromcancerHow does your MO check things?I mean with any special method or machine?or just a close look and touching?I always wanted to know now that I did a mastectomy how they will monitor the rest of my breast tissue?0 -
SC,shortness of breath seems so common, but I dont know for how long after final chemo. SC, that dark place will pull you in if you let it, if all of us let it. Depression/anxiety can make it hard to do what you actually need to do to climb out of it, just like addiction. The disease starts to talk, not the person Cry all you need to here and please reach out for help. The more I read, the clearer I am that there is a kind of post- traumatic stress that can come with this. Please treat yourself with kindness. momat
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Hi All,
I had posted this in another place but thought it might be better to put in here.
I started with the TC protocol. I have stage IIB
breast cancer hormone positive, her2neu negative. The tumor was 4.5 cm.
and they removed 17 lymph nodes, 3 were positive. I had a single
mastectomy a month ago. My oncologist gave me options of 2 regimens;
Dose dense AC and Taxol or the TC every 3 weeks for 4 cycles. I didn't
want to do the AC because it sounded horrible. I chose the TC and he
seemed ok with that. I went for a second opinion on Monday with Seattle
Cancer Care Alliance and the oncologist I talked to said that she would
have recommended the AC protocol but that the TC would probably be ok.
However, she suggested that they extend the TC to six cycles for a
better outcome. So I still started the TC and will talk to
my own oncologist about extending it for 6 cycles. Any thoughts on
that? Does anyone have any information about the benefits of this? I'm
apparently on the border of deciding if AC or TC would be better. She
said that AC is better for 4 lymph nodes positive and I only had 3. But
my tumor was big.0 -
SC- so sorry about the shortness of breath. My ct with contrast came back clear, I'm betting yours will, too. I'm still on beta blockers to deal with the rapid heart rate and related shortness of breath. Not sure how long PFC it will take to improve.
Welcome AKJ- I can't help you but hopefully one of the ladies can!
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Thanks quirky and momat. Momat I have a therapist and he has been my lifeline. It helps that we know each other well because I have been seeing him for about 4 years.
Welcome aKJ. The MO saying "probably be okay" would not sit well with me. Truth is all chemo is horrible and we all experience different SE.
I chose what would be best for my prognosis in the long run. I hope someone can come along and help you more.
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Claritin: I started taking it the day of chemo - so one day before the shot - and continued for 7 days. It was a life saver.
School: Sorry to hear things are still upside down for you. I'm betting you'll do fine with the CT. I still have shortness of breath PFC 10 weeks and will see a pulmonologist after I finish radiation. Hoping radiation won't make LE worse, but no guarantees.
AKJ: I agree w/School. There are no firm answers, but I'd like definitive reasons from my MO. I did 6 doses every 3 weeks of Taxotere, Carboplatin, Herceptin & Perjeta but did not have a pCR (tumors did not completely disappear). So after more surgery, I had to go back and do 4 doses of Adriamycin & Cytoxan every 3 weeks. Now I'm back to Herceptin for a year - and radiation. I'm assuming you will be taking hormonals you're ER/PR positive? I'm not hormone positive & I know that makes a difference. Do go ahead & fill in your "stats" on your record when you get a chance.
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Schoolcounselor- Sorry about the persisting health problems. Hope you start feeling better soon. As for the tears and emotions, they don't stop just because the ride in chemoland is over. We all know here how our treatments have affected us. I know you are doing your best to get through all of this. Hugs.....
AKJ- I had 6 rounds of TC and I knew that it was going to be 6 rounds and not 4 at my first onco appointment which was a weel after my lumpectomy and before I had my UMX. After the UMX pathology and SNL, the number of rounds that I would have stayed the same---6. I have asked my onco a few times about why were the deciding factors in determining what kind of chemo regimen I was having and number of rounds. She said the recommendation was based on several factors--- tumor pathology, node involvement, medical history, etc.
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Thanks everyone. The second opinion Dr. definitely said that she would be more comfortable if I were to do the two extra sessions of the TC. She explained some studies that could point to that concept but they weren't conclusive. I'll see what my own oncologist says. I read something online yesterday that indicated that 6 is more toxic than 4 and the outcome doesn't seem to be significant. So I'm a little confused.
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AKJ, Initially, my MO wanted me to do the dose dense ACT for a number of reasons,including family history and a need for more aggressive protocol, but my tumor was somewhat smaller than your's (3 cm) and no lymph nodes so agreed to the TC4. I went to Penn for a second opinion and they said that for Stage II A, TC is generally their protocol. Were the tumor larger or had there been positive lymph nodes, my MO told me he would have insisted I go for the AC + T. or at the very least TC 6. This is a very difficult decision. I know the A sounds awful, but I have learned that Taxotere and Cytoxan are no picnic, to say the least. If you go with AC +T, I am sure they will do a MUGA to have a baseline on your heart. I wish you the best. Bottom line is wanting to do everything you can to fight the cancer, within your comfort level. momat
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Setizand, My first 3-month check-up will be at the end of March. (I am almost 4 months post chemo, and 3 months past axillary lymph node dissection). But so far, at all my visits, my MO always does a physical exam around my mx site, does a breast exam of my other breast and checks all my lymph nodes. He hasn't yet mentioned any scans, but I will ask him about that at my appointment.
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Momat 927, Well I've already started the TC today. I'll probably push for the extra rounds of TC. When I first went in and they offered me the Dose Dense AC and the TC the stats only showed a 4% less chance of recurrence with the AC. That didn't seem worth it to me for the toxicity of it, heart damage, long term neuropathy. Now I'm wondering if I messed up with that decision.
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AKJ - "in for a penny"... Don't 2nd guess yourself at this point. Just move forward. Taxotere is a big culprit for neuropathy, but you're right about the potential heart problems with Adrimycin. Each drug has it's own problems. Docs should do more tests when you finish 6 rounds so don't borrow trouble ahead of time. Hope you have minimal SEs after this first round.
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Thanks for talking some sense into me MinusTwo. My partner is basically saying the same thing. I'm worrying over this issue too much. I just emailed my oncologist about all of this and asked his opinion. I'll be seeing him the next round and by that time he should have a report from the second opinion.
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Hi everyone,
I am now almost three months post chemo, and am just now starting to lose all my fingernails. I thought I was done with most of the bad side effects of chemo, but this really threw me for a loop. (It's the gift that keeps on giving . . .) My eyebrows and eyelashes were intact throughout chemo, then I lost all of those very quickly about one month post chemo. But luckily they all grew back right away. So maybe the fingernails will come back soon, too. Still have foot neuropathy, too.
On a positive note, my skin is all recovered from radiation after about three weeks post rads. And I'm not having any side effects so far from the Arimidex after about three weeks on it, other than minor hot flashes. Just looking forward to a day when all of this is behind me and I feel "normal" again!
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AKJ, I do agree with MinusTwo. You have begun & each drug absolutely does have its challenges. I heard differing opinions from doctors I trusted which made my head spin at times too.
AKJ, nagging questions are so common. After starting TC4, I spent a few weeks worried becuase I did not agree to the AC I asked my MO twice if I am doing the right thing. It was hard to be out of control, to not be certain, at least for me. In the end, that part of my anxiety quieted down. I think second guessing comes with the terroritory. After all, we want to never deal with this again, if at all possible, and we are making huge decisions while trusting the doctors. Tough stuff! In any case, learning to self-advocate and trusting the doctor simultaneously was not easy. I will add that the chemo was hard for me, but truthfully, the side effects were not always as hard as expected. I didn't need many of the meds I was given. Good luck, momat
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