Chemo starting October 2017
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Thanks ladies. No neulasta on my first three infusion. Just the last thre Docetaxel. I think I’m going to go for it. I need some mountain therapy
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That's the spirit, Sara! Seek your joy
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I start Taxol next Friday. Dense dose. My MO says no neulesta. I see so many here saying they are taking it with Taxol. I wonder why my MO says I won’t need it. I’m going to call the nurse tomorrow
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So glad to hear many of you had a great start on your Taxol. Mine was not so good. I had my 1st of 12 weekly taxol on Weds. They gave me Benydrl and Steriods to start. Weds and Thurs. we're great, Friday morning I began vomiting, could not eat or drink. Very severe gas pains. Sat. Morning MO called me into the hospital for more fluids and nursing meds. I have been in bed sinceFriday and finally feel better today, Monday. Still not much appetite.
I am so disappointed. I thought Taxol would be easier. I hate the thought of going though this every week. I have been working part time but I don't know how I can have the energy to work.
Any suggestions? MO says my blood work is good. No Neulasta shot needed unless my BC goes down.
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Eight- I start taxol tomorrow and no neulasta. I just found out I was suppose to be taking steroids today and the day after. Waiting to pick up my prescription now.
My RBC and Hemoglobin down again, 3rd blood draw in a row. Not enough for a transfusion needed but definitely feeling the anemia. I looked up symptoms for anemia and yep, that explains how I have been feeling. Making a list of foods I need to be eating for RBC.
But my WBC is good...
So sorry you are having a hard time with taxol DKK.
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Had my first of 12 weekly Taxol today.
Met with my Oncologist last Thursday. Breast tumor is shrinking and getting harder to define. Seems to be no change to the lymph node area. I'm finding myself getting easily winded. Unload a bag of groceries, rest 3 mins, unload the next bag. Walking in the mall, I need to rest on a bench for a few minutes. Onc is referring me to a cardiologist just to make sure everything is Ok.
Still Ok'd me for my first Taxol today.
Showed up at 8:30 for a port draw and labs. After anhour, chemo nurse said the lab lost one of the vials of blood and she had to re-take it.
So, she did a redraw, and started in with the infusion.
#1. Perjectin. 1.5 hour infusion.
#2. Herceptin. 1 hour infusion.
By now labs have come back - all good.
#3 Pre meds infusion. Benedryl, Steroids, Anti nausea. 20 minute infusion, then wait 20 more mins to make sure they took effect.
#4 Taxol. 1 hour 40 minute infusion.
They put me in the chemo station directly in front of the nurses station so they could monitor me and gave me a little bell to ring if I felt allergic reactions, or headache, tight chest, back pain or red face. They had the antidote meds on standby. All went well.
I am Her2 positive so those of you who are not won't have to go through this lengthy process. Plus they did a slow drip for all three because they were first time medications for me. But they are most concern about reaction to the Taxol. Like I said, all went well. Going forward, no chemo will have longer than a 1hour infusion and I only get the perjectin and Herceptin every three weeks.
Left the chemo center at 3:30 and I feel great. Going to put in a few hours of work now because I have the energy to do it. Loopy Lisa - I'm with you. The steroids you know
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I had my 1st Taxol last Wednesday. Wednesday was fine, had energy to go to ladies Euchre. Thursday was rough cause no sleep the night before. Friday, Saturday, Sunday and today were progressively better days. Aside from my hair loss, I almost felt "normal" again. My appetite is good, things taste pretty much the way that they should (although chocolate isn't tasting the same, which is a good thing!), and my energy level is good. I'm able to stay up to 10pm most nights. I'm taking Prilosec every day, so no more issues with acid reflux. I'm sleeping really well, in part because I'm over the shock of having cancer. I have to say that it's such a relief to not have those awful AC SE side effects.
And looking at my hair follicles with my 15x mirror, it appears as if hair is being produced. In other words, they're dark instead of... empty. Or maybe it's wishful thinking.
Oh, and my tumor has gone AWOL.
So, a much better experience so far. Of course, it's just 1 of 12, so I hope I don't eat my words! I have to remember to drink more water, though, cause dryness is a problem.
DKK, so sorry about your rough start with Taxol. Wishing you a much better time with round #2.
Jennifer, good luck tomorrow! Hope it all goes well.
Simbobby, what a long day for you! How does a lab lose a vial of blood? Yikes!
eightoutof, I don't think Neulasta is prescribed if they believe your body will have enough time to recover on its own.
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Hi ladies! Been doing more reading than writing on this thread over past weeks, but wanted to thank Sara for sharing her journal pages!! I am one week past TC #3 out of 6 (this one hit me a lot harder and feeling a bit down about it) and I think starting a similar gratitude journal is what I need-- fancy pens included!! Thank you for the inspiration Sara, and thank you ladies for being so open and supportive of yours and each other's journeys! ☺️
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Hello everyone- just had my last AC yesterday. So happy that it is over and feel ok today. No nausea yet keeping my fingers crossed that it won't be that bad but of course I feel it typically when the steroids wear off. Thank you DDK, Simbobby, and Lisa for the updates on your Taxol experiences. It is so helpful to get an idea of what may happen. This is why I love this site. I start Taxol on Dec. 18 and I actually feel happy that I am on the next phase. Closer to being finished I guess. Good luck to everyone this week! 🙏
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EightOutOf8 - good luck on Friday's DD Taxol. It's great that you don't need Neulasta - hopefully you're WBC's will allow you to skip it entirely.
DKK - I'm sorry the Taxol is rough on you. Hopefully it will ease up in the following rounds. I wish I had some suggestions for you. All my Taxol SE's seem to really be the Neulasta. Are you getting it once a week, or every 2 or 3 weeks? Maybe they can change your schedule to alleviate some of the SE's.
Jennifer - Good luck with your first Taxol! Hope it is gentle on you.
Simbobby - Yay on the shrinking tumor! As a fellow big tumor girl I am especially happy for you. It's so great that you feel well enough to go to work after chemo.
LisaRx - Congrats to you, too, on a disappearing tumor. That's why we're going through all this!
MamaFelice - You're half way done! I'm sorry you're feeling a bit down. There are so many emotional changes to go through in this process. Hope you start feeling better soon.
TriLady7 - Congrats on finishing up A/C! Isn't it nice to know you don't have to face those big red needles anymore?
I'm curled up in bed today. The Neulasta the bone ache has been "enhanced" with DD Taxol. Not fun. I have dinner plans with my niece tonight and I really don't want to cancel. I'll have to see how it goes throughout the day. It's so hard to plan ahead...
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Low neuts. Chemo might not be a go on Thursday. Starting neulasta early. 😟 I just want to stay on schedule
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Back from Taxol # 1 (I am DD every 3 weeks). It took 4 hours.
Nurse pushed pre meds first. Steroids, Benadryl, and anti nausea. Still having to push them since shortage on bags. I find the pushing harder. I get woozy and tinglely. Nurse said Benadryl will probably put me to sleep.
Started Taxol slow for 15 mins to see if any reaction. And I didn't have any, so turned up to normal speed. Then I fell asleep for an hour. I have never slept through infusion before. Then husband ran to Wendy's to grab some chicken nuggets for me to munch on.
Nurse said no nuelasta since every 3 weeks. Another MO who does every 2 weeks does do nuelasta with taxol. I did get warned though even taxol without nuelasta causes bone pain in most people.
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Sara - My understanding is that Nuelasta isn't common on Taxol. I'm not getting it with my Taxol. I just got it with my AC. But it sounds like with your neutrophils low, you needed it! I hope things stay on schedule for you.
DKK - I'm so sorry your Taxol started badly. I hope you are feeling better.
Jennifer - I'm going out to buy steak tonight to help with anemia. I was off in counts in a lot of things this week. My neutrophils are still ok though, so that's what they seem to care about the most.
Lisa - Great news on your front!!!
I was very nauseous Sunday and Monday. I was kind of miserable, but I wasn't as miserable as the poor gal who threw up in the waiting room yesterday and no one there to help her. :-( So, I should be thankful for that. My counts are out of whack, but my neutrophils are still in the ok range, so they aren't worried yet. We'll see what next week brings.
I forget who it was that suggested white peppermint M&Ms. THANK YOU! I have some peppermint and lemon oil I've been using when I'm nauseous, but I bought a bag of these M&Ms too this weekend and they are nice to grab one every once in a while.
Gotta go pick up my son from school and go get some red meat to boost that RBC! Have a good night!
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Hi everyone,
Just found this thread. I had my first of 12 weekly Taxol and Herceptin 10/26/17. No issues with the exception of being bald....again. I did have elevated liver function levels last week, redid labs today. Hope it was the 2 extra strength Tylenol I took last week for a headache. A bunch of these posts say you have no appetite...why the heck do I have a man sized hunger 🙁
Wishing us all uneventful treatment. Kim
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Neulasta is really an optional medicine before it is deemed necessary. I finished TC #3 last week and have yet to take a Neulasta shot. After around day 11 of each treatment my WBC/neutrophils plummet and I am neutropenic, but I stay home, limit exposure to people and germs, but wear mask and wash hands incessantly if I do, and wait about 5 days for them to come back up on their own-- which so far they have. For both #1 & #2, WBC measured 0.6 at day 12, but by day 20 was 7.2 again. Of course, I am def fatigued during those low days, but can feel the energy return, and this may not keep up for 3 more treatments and Neulasta will join in. I also have the ability to be home, but if I had to be working thosei days rather than be home resting, Neulasta would have probably been included in my regime from the start.
Best wishes to all in navigating all of this! And with flu season upon us, we all have to be vigilant in our health safety! 💪🏼💪🏼
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Good morning everyone. I had my first Taxol yesterday and like Jennifer's experience everything went well. I was surprised about the anxiety I was feeling the night before, just worry about something new, even though I knew everyone and my OC said this one would be easier... so glad to have the first one done, so it is a known and not a mystery!!! much relief from that. My Taxol is DD every two weeks. My OC did say I had slight anemia, so I will be working on upping my iron level with healthy greens. I did ask him about the Neulasta too and he said that if he sees signs that I need it, we can add, but normally with Taxol it is not needed. I think that Taxol combined with the Neulasta could enhance the chance of bone pain too, so I am glad to not need it at the point. My Taxol went well, I had no reactions, but like Jennifer said they had to push the first series of stuff by needle because of shortage of bags (must be a thing on the east coast???) and it was uncomfortable, so totally agree with Jennifer. I slept too or sort of dozed but half alert during most of it. Mine started about 10:30 and ended at 1:30 so it was a long process. And as discussed with Lisa, I was over the drowsiness by the time I left and was totally alert to drive. I did take my son with me just in case, because I DID not need another worry... and he was happy to go with me.. he is 23 and just sleeps in the car for most of the time.. So far I feel great, and sleeping was not sound because of steroids, woke up totally alert and ready to start the day at 5:30, because of steroids.. but glad to have energy. Will work some today at the office and then plan walking or the treadmill, I think the weather is cold today and windy. Oh, I did learn something new at Chemo room yesterday. The nurse was telling a patient that because Zofran is the anti-nausea drug in the infusion, that if they are feeling any nausea at home for the first 4 days, do not take Zofran because your body is already saturated with this drug, to use the other one (which I do not remember the name, I have it upstairs by the bed!!!) But I had not ever heard that before, but makes since. So if I feel nausea, I will use the other one for the first few days... thought I would pass that along.
Hope everyone has a good day!!!
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HikerVA, I think the anti-nausea medication that you're referring to is prochlorperazine, commonly known as compazine. I actually took it for the first time last Thursday, the day after my first Taxol. Never needed it for AC, probably because I was hopped up on steroids for 3 days after. Not sure if what I was experiencing was nausea from the chemo or just light-headedness from the lack of sleep, but I figured I should be safe rather than sorry and took one. Whatever it was passed, though I have to say that I was a slug most of the day.
Yesterday was odd. On Monday, I felt like a million bucks, so I figured that Tuesday should be as good. It started out okay, and I felt well enough to head out in the cold for a 2 mile walk. But I started feeling very fatigued around 3pm and took an hour nap. Then I fell asleep at 8pm and slept til 6am. My temp was slightly elevated (99.4) but other than feeling a sense of malaise, I was not feeling terrible. Now I'm wondering if I'm anemic or something. I've been trying to eat more salads lately, but not sure if I should be adding more meat to my diet. I'll know soon enough because I'm headed off for Taxol #2 in 20 minutes!
Off to pack my cooler with ice packs!
Good luck today, ladies.
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hi sisters hope you are all doing ok. I am in my good week last chemo for me next week. But im suffering daily with indigestion/heartburn i think.. But my family doctor wonders if its allergic reactions. I took zantac and made it worse. But got better abiut hour later.
Next attack took benadryl and made it better..
I am allergic to chemo and i take benadryl 2 days after treatment 3rd day had the worse antacid (heat n pressure bottom f throat) not much gut involment other then few burps. Anyway i gad chemo nov 22 and still getting this attack... I dont know wht it is. Frustraited. Maybe chemo destroyed my guts... Never ever had heartburn or antacid issues or allergies before.
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I woke up with heartburn this morning too after my first taxol yesterday. I don't usually have that issue. My husband said maybe I ate too much last night, but all I had was 2 homemade tacos and 3 fig newtons later in the evening.
I just had lunch and it has seemed to pass for now. I don't know if it's the steroids or anemia, but I am starving hungry today!
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LisaRX: Thank you for the reply.... I hope your second Taxol goes well today. It has helped me that you are a week ahead of me and can relay information. I really appreciate that. Yes, what you experienced could be the anemia, which after my OC said that, it made me feel better, that my "being tired" so much was not just in my head. I asked him if there was anything I could do, but he said the chemo just causes anemia. I am adding more iron rich greens to my diet daily, including kale, spinach etc... which actually have more iron than steak. I eat mostly vegetarian and up until starting my chemo, had been vegan, but those crazing cravings just took over and I eat what I crave now, which was cheese the first round of chemo (then I got sick of cheese) but now I will have tuna salad, and chicken tenders if I want them.. oh and I did eat a little turkey at Thanksgiving.
Jennifer: Hope your stomach/heartburn issues resolve themselves soon. I have had trouble since chemo with taco/burrito stuff, but it is not consistent... and could have just been the meal combined with all the stuff from your infusion yesterday.
I went in to work at 8:30 and worked until just now, and did great... the steroids are still working. Good to get stuff done while I have the energy.. and because I woke up so early this morning, I even did a Pilates workout before work... felt great.. have not done that since starting Chemo! I will still try and do a walk, because I feel like when the Steroids wear off tomorrow, I will crash and have no energy... so do it while I can.
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Ladies, I've never had recurrent heartburn before chemo, either. It was one of my worst SEs with AC, and for some reason, I just suffered through it. Then when I read that it was one of the SEs of Taxol, I asked my MO what I could do. She said that I should either take a daily dose of Prilosec or Pepcid. I chose the former because I already had a ton of it on hand (Costco has great price on it!). It's been like a miracle drug. Please give it a try if your MO approves. If Zantac doesn't work, maybe one of the others will. There's no reason we should be suffering like this!
Had my 2nd Taxol today. Since I didn't have to meet with my MO, it was the quickest round of chemo to day: 2 hours 15 minutes from beginning to end. I was afraid that my scores would be down, but they were "fine" according to my oncology nurse. However, there were quite a few that were marked as "low" on the sheet, so I'm not sure what to make of that. And my glucose was really high. I guess I need to pay better attention to my sugar intake. It's hard to avoid because it's in everything!
I noticed that I only got 2 steroid pills today, which is one less than last week. Hoping that since I took it so early I'll be able to sleep tonight. We're heading out to dinner here in a bit and I'm hoping that a nice meal will help. I'm so sick of my own cooking!
Today, I wore my wig for 20 minutes. I took it off and my entire head was sweating, even though it's only 67 in the house. I honestly don't think I'll be able to wear it to the wedding at the end of the month. I'm going to have to start looking for lovely scarves. Anyone know of a good place to buy them? I've tried a few places online and can't find any that strike my fancy.
Wishing you all a good evening!
Oh, and as of today's treatment, I am officially half way done (in terms of weeks) through chemo. Now that's worth celebrating!
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My glucose is creeping up too. I don't know to blame foods I am eating or chemo. I have never read high before. But last draw was 150-something and before was 130-something. I know 110 is max or normal and I am usually in the 80's.
Another reason to pay more attention to what I am eating.0 -
Lisa - Not to sound like a broken record, but I would find a wig shop or a cancer center gift shop nearby and look at scarves and head coverings and stuff there. I found it really made a difference to try them on. I bought a few from Hello Courage, two from Amazon (Soho slouchy beret that I get lots of compliments on), maybe one from Headcovers.com, and I think the rest were either gifts or bought at a local place. My hair stylist loved this pink floral one and bought it for me. I have no clue where to wear that since I'm not working right now and I don't wear pink...but it would have been perfect for a wedding. I'll see if I can find the name of it on a tag or something. My favorite one before I lost my hair - The Abbey Cap (lots of colors/textures online) - is not my favorite now. Since my head is flat, the elastic on the back easily gets pushed up on the back of my head and it feels weird. I wear a lot of "cut t-shirt" style ones now. They are comfy and easy....though not wedding material.
I'm off to try Restorative Yoga with a friend! Good thoughts for everyone!
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Hi Petey, thanks for the recommendations. I have quite a few chemo caps, including the Abbey Cap, which is still favor. The Soho ones are fancy enough to wear to a wedding, but they're way too big for my head!
Soo, I was mulling over my test results and from the hematocrit (27.9) and hemoglobin (9.4) numbers, it does appear that I'm slightly anemia. Sigh. I had greek yogurt for breakfast and fish and veggies tonight, and I plan to start cooking more in my iron skillet, so hopefully that'll help. I really wish I liked kale but blech!
After reading up more on glucose levels, I'm actually normal, even though the printout indicate high. That's because they're using a "normal" range of 70 - 100 mg/dL, which is what the normal is when you've fasted. Tests taken within two hours after meals should be less than 140 mg/dl. Since I eat breakfast at 7am and they usually take my blood around 8:15am., my reading of 121 is okay. Shwew!
Man, you could spend hours poring over this data! I'm so glad that my anion gap is good!
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mrs Winnie and Jennifer, I had bad gnawing pain at the top of my stomach, almost no reflux and no burning. The last 2 days even water going down hurt and it was waking me up. Dr said it was gastritis and put me on nexium 40 mg daily. About 1 1/2 days later no more problems. So talk to your dr, it wasn't pleasant and so easily treated
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Hi Ladies,
I hope everyone has been well. Just so I didn't confuse - I changed my "name" from NewNormal44 to Neanie44. I feel as though a part of me is starting to be somewhat normal, if we can ever say that - and Neanie was a nickname my little sister loves to call me. I may be crazy, but I think it is part of my emotional cleansing.
And Thank you to LisaRxCincinnati for the encouragement to walk. Got to wait though - leg swelling, so gotta get that checked. :-(
Take Care all -0 -
Neuts went from .8 to 1.7. Chemo was a go. I’m half way!! Now I start counting down
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FEC #3 is in the books. Half way. Neulasta timorrrow. Worried about that. But if you would have told me two months ago I would be ok half way I never would have believed you. I’m grateful.
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I'm halfway through, too, Sara, and I'm as happy as a clam.
Day #1 after Taxol is going okay. I felt really good this morning, but now I'm dragging because I got little sleep last night due to steroids. So now I'm coming down off steroids and super tired. Hoping for a great night's sleep!
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The steroid keeps me up for two nights and gives me man sized hunger. Decadron did not keep me up last time around. Tough going to work the day after tx which is tomorrow. 7th Taxol done...5 more to go. Woo hoo.
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