Starting Chemo June 2017
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Today I had my first Ddocetaxel, taxotere. Yesterday i cried and cried because i wad afraid of thos new drug. In the hospital again. The infusion was for one hour. I took dexamethasone 2 yesterday one this morning. One ativan and one tylenol. i came back home and now i feel good. They said some people have more side effects than the Ac other with this one. She told me the bone pain is one of them. So she gave me tylenol 3 with codeine just in case. I will keep you updated later. Tomorrow the injection for the white blood cells.
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Pink, thank you for a smile for today.
Two weeks ago I went to Walmart and a lady walked up to me. She didn't look at my hair, she didn't look at my chest she looked me directly in the eye and gently touched my arm and asked if I was feeling okay, I told her yes ....how was I doing? I told her good, really good today. She had rather short hair, a thick accent and it was like she was saying "I've been there". I hugged her for her kindness. I almost cried. Today at my group, the door wasn't unlocked yet and I walked a few feet to the cafeteria and sat a moment to rest and a lady eating lunch came over and checked on me. I feel blessed to have ladies genuinely looking out for me.
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VivianLu8. Hope things will go well for you. Some of us have found that taking Claritin for several days helps with the bone pain which actually seems to be from the Neulasta shot. For me it wasn't too bad. Happened on the evening of the third day (in other words a day after the Neulasta shot and lasted 36 hours. I just took Tylenol and used a heating pad.
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Vivian - I usually take Claritin a day before also and it helps. Send you all the best wishes hope your SE is minimum.
Hope all the ladies are doing well also
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vivían- thef irst infusion is the worse! You really don't know how your body will react. We all hear SE different for everyone! It gets better. I just finished my thrird. I have a ritual now.
My best advise is: lots of fluids today and tmrw, help this drugs get out of your system. Careful with foods, I would eat very light initially. I would really think twice about the Tylenol w codeine. At least my belly does not do well codeine and adding the other drugs...maybe too much. Claritin starting the day before you take neulasta and continue after with plain Tylenol!
Together we will make it!!
Hope this helps!!
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Leaving shortly for my first of 4 DD Taxol infusions. A bit nervous of the unknown but putting on my big girl pants and will power through. Good luck to all!
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peachy- you'll do great! Think positive thoughts. Remember, I'm the rarity with SE. I'm confident you won't be.
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So abdominal wound from Diep infected again! Back on antibiotics and delayed last AC dose! Have to see the ps tomorrow. Frustrating
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Thanks for the well wishes. Just got home. Doing ok so far. No allergic reactions. A bit drowsy from the Benedryl. If I wasn't icing my hands and feet I probably could have slept more. I did put the OPI Nail Envy on fingernails and toenails. Hope that will work.
Tpralph..sorry to hear about the delay. I'm sure it is very frustrating. We just want to get it done. Hang in there
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Tpralph - sorry to hear you are having infection, hope you get well soon! It is so frustrated when things get delay!
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Ah Tpralph, sorry you're having to go through this. Enough is enough, girl! My friend says everything happens for a reason. Hopefully your reason is a good one.
Peachy: Way to go! I talked to the nurse today about icing. They don't seem too enthusiastic about it here. My first Docetaxel is tomorrow. Still undecided about the icing. They do have an ice machine where I get the infusion. Did you stick your hands and feet right in the ice? What did you use to hold the ice with? Wasn't that cold?
My issue tomorrow will be finding a suitable vein.
Will check in and let everyone know how it goes!
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pink...I brought my own zip lock bags but the nurse said they had bags. Seemed like they were using a bag they would normally put IV meds in to transport. It was a rectangular ziplock but had a "pocket" on one side that I think is usually used to include paperwork about what is inside the zipped area.
For icing, they put ice in the zipped area and I slipped my hands/feet in the front pocket so there was no direct contact with the ice.
The barrier was only a thin layer of plastic so it was still chilly so I did wear socks on my feet, nothing on my hands, though
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Thanks Peachy I might just give it a try. Doesn't hurt to try and it could work. I guess if I took two ziplocks, one a little bigger than the one with ice in it that would work too.
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That could work. I brought quart and gallon sized bags with me to do just that. I did just lay my hands on top of the bag at times when I wanted to drink or eat some crackers needed a free hand.
I don't know if it works. I don't know if I would experience neuropathy if I didn't ice. That's the frustration in "everybody is different" side effect world we are in. I'm doing something that may not be necessary. It's a little cumbersome and yes, cold, but worth thepossible benefit of no numb, tingly feet and hands.
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Pink, I did the icing on the advice of a friend who knew people who lost nails and to avoid neuropathy. Might not be necessary but can't hurt. She used a plastic tub and put her feet in there. I used plastic booties that I got on amazon. Yes it is cold but it is bearable. And I used ziplock bags for my hands inserted in lunch bags that stood up. I wore thin socks and thin gloves. I just didn't want my skin fingers directly touching the ice. You can try it and stop if you find it totally unbearable. My friend said you should start a half hour before the infusion (wo while you are getting your premeds) and keep going for 20 - 30 minutes afterward. Good luck.
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Julia - what kind of gloves did you use? Cotton and cotton thin socks?
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Pauette/ I just used those cheap gloves you buy in drugstores in winter. they must be acrylic or something but they are thin and I usually buy black ones. I bet you have a pair lying around. And yes, thin cotton socks. The ice will melt and you have ice water. I wear some crocs to tale my still damp feet home in. I Don't get up for the bathroom but you could if you had to and thn get back on the ice.
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Julia - I got this thin plastic glove at home I just hate to freeze my hands and feet maybe I can freeze it when Taxol dripping so I don't have to freeze myself for that long. I just want to keep my nails
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Well I chickened out with the icing. I talked to the nurse about any benefit. She told me the more infusions you're on the more likely you'll develop neuropathy and nail issues. Since I'm only doing three infusions and I didn't have any issues with the FEC that I'd probably be okay with the Docetaxel. If I do develop any negative side effects then next infusion I can always start the ice.
Also I was suppose to be taking double my dose of steroids for the past two days but misread the directions. I guess I didn't need it because I didn't have any reactions during or after. She did top off the steroid before the infusion. No side effects so far. But it is early!
On the bright side she did manage to find one more workable vein so I didn't have to pee in the chair. She said it didn't matter the because chair is vinyl and they'd just wipe it up. Had a good laugh at that and then I said wouldn't be so good for me if I had to go home with a wet bottom.
But next time I guess they'll have to use the left side where I had the lymph nodes removed. Nurse said studies have shown that if I haven't developed lymphodema that it likely wouldn't affect it. It's either that side or they find one in the leg and then I'll wear a diaper. Ha ha. Not!
Once all these steroids where off in three days I'll be back to crying for two days. Taste buds already starting to disappear. Fun times! Only two more chemos left to get. I can do this and so can you.
No matter how bad I feel when I go there I see others worse off than me. Young kids in their twenties going through this are the worst. People so sick from side effects but still managing to find the strength to go in for that infusion.
Believe in yourself
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I bring my own rectangular plastic container, fill it with ices at the infusion center, put on gloves for my hands (I used the gloves that the nurses use when they start IV) then dip them in my container. For feet, the center have bags that they use for head contusion, so my DH fill them with ice (one for each foot) then wrap them around the foot (sock on) using Coban tape (tape that nurses use to wrap the IV site when they took the IV out). I iced fingers/feet few minutes prior and after Taxotere. It's cold but tolerable for 1 hr; I did take hands out out the ice and flexed fingers for few seconds at 30 minutes point. Each of us will have different experience. My nails have some discolorations but so far are still strong and growing.
Hope everyone will have a good, restful weekend. My last/final round chemo was yesterday, Hallelujah!
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My oncologist said it was not necessary icing my feet so i didn't. I bought the opi nail I hope it works. Third day and no side effects yet. I feel pretty good.
2 more chemos and this will be over.
Good luck for everyone. !
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Klt and Vivian
WOOT WOOT! Way to go. Happy for you.
Thanks HapB. Fingers and toes crossed for no side effects or at least manageable.
Now for some cake!
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Vivian- what chemo drugs are you using?
Pink - hang in there , I can see you at the finished Line soon. Why didn't you have a port? I missed some of your old threads.
Kit - thank you for the info. I'm getting taxol after AC it might be a little different on the SE.
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Paulette the chemo drugs that i am using are 3 cycles of fluorouracil, EPIrubicin, cyclophosphamide, and 3 of DOCEtaxel every 3 weeks. 2 more to go.
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Vivian- only 2 more to go ! Nice you will be at the finish line soon! 💪
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Congratulations everyone on getting through another week of treatment and SEs. We can do this!
Anyone have plans to watch Monday's solar eclipse? I purposely scheduled my chemo in the afternoon and plan to watch the eclipse (with correct glasses) in a nearby park with my 9 year old.
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Paulette I'm not sure they do ports here. I overheard one of the nurses yesterday talking to a patient about a pic line but it has never been offered to me. Probably because I'm only getting six rounds of infusions total. Not sure really. I did ask the nurse one time but they basically said they prefer to use veins and they're pretty good and finding them. But with only two more to go I'm sure they can find a couple good veins left somewhere. They only thing is that those veins are pretty sore and will take at least three to six months to repair. The vein from my second infusion has some cording in it. The very first vein they used has now started to heal and that's from mid June. It just takes time.
Vivian, where are you from. Sounds like Canada?
T-Sue, would like to but with all the smoke coming in from Washington and BC it might be too smoky to see the sun. And I don't think we get the full effect here. I heard we only get 65% of the eclipse. It is exciting to see though. I've seen some before. (Yes, I'm that old!) With all the smoke lately I have to stay inside because it's reeking havoc on my eyes and nose.
Where's Kim????
Tiny bit of tingling in my feet last night for about an hour but has disappeared today. Can't believe how fast this has gone. Seems like yesterday was my first treatment.
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Pink you are right i live in Toronto. That is why we have the same regimen i guess is what they use here. How many chemos are left for you?
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Vivian: Two more Docetaxel then I'm done with chemo and on to radiation and hormone therapy. Docetaxel wasn't too bad. No reactions during infusion. Mostly feeling okay. A few hiccups now and again but I think that's from the Dexamethasone. A bit run down but that's to be expected. Gave myself the Nuelasta shot last night before bed but think next time I'll do it during the day. Being active seems to alleviate the muscle and bone pain, but it was manageable during the night.
Hang tough girl, it'll all be over before you know it. Then we'll be wondering what to do with ourselves.
I lived in and around Toronto for many years. Don't miss the humidity that's for sure.
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Had the DD Taxol on Thursday. Had some tingling in fingernails day after but better now. Experiencing fatigue and aches yesterday and this morning. Was in a bit of an overall funk yesterday. I just took an Advil for the aches since the nurse said I could. Will try to get out for a good walk to see if that helps. Feels like my hips need oil. I'm stiff.
Hot flashes are no fun. Mostly experiencing the temperature roller coaster when trying to sleep. Covers on, covers off...
Thankful if this is the worst of it.
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