For those starting TAC in March/April 2006....

karen1956

I started TAC on 3/22. Last one will be 7/6. I would be happy to be part of a seperate thread. Any help to get through this is appreciated.

peejay

I thought I would try to give everyone a laugh by posting my bald head pic. I hope it works!

kburns

Hi everyone. First TAC was yesterday and so far so good. The worst part is the heartburn and burping! Not much nasusea, just a little stomach fluttering. And I am tired. Neulasta shot this afternoon...will see how that goes.

Not sure about when to take the anti-nausea drugs. They gave me iv drugs that are supposed to last 5 days. Still taking the decadron 2x day and avitan for sleep. I have two other prescriptions if I get nauseas--but waiting to see. I know some folks swear by taking all their meds even if they don't feel bad. I am just not sure since I sill have few in there. Any advice on this??

Drinking LOTS of fluids, but the water is not tasting too great. Ginger ale seems to do well.

Will give everyone another update tomorrw.

Peejay-- you look TOO CUTE!!!!! thanks for posting your pic.

Karen

redrose

Take something for the heartburn for sure. I have been told to go ahead with the meds even though I had something IV for nausea. If you wonder, call them. I had an episode of vomiting after my first chemo. When I saw them the next day for the neulasta they kept me to give me some IV hydration and more IV drugs. I had called the night before and gotten something for the nausea but I had only tried tums for the indigestion. I think that and not eating as light as I should have contributed. Good luck.

karen1956

you look gorgeous - how many days after starting chemo did you loose your hair? Karen

MarciaA

Peejay, great pic, the best part of it all is the smile on your face.

MarciaA.

midoubi

Karen,

I would say take those anti-nausea meds anyway even you feel good. The first day is usually not the worst day. For me, I would feel bad for about 7 days. 3rd and 4th days are usually the worst. Take care!

Peejay, you are CUTE!! Thanks for sharing the pic.

svans

Thanks for sharing your pic Peejay!! I agree your smile says it all!! Well I got the call today that they rescheduled my first chemo on Monday April 3/06 and my cold is almost gone, so its probably safe to say it will be a go. Im nervous about how I am going to fell, that scares me the most because I dont know what to expect??!! Anyways please keep me in your thoughts for Monday morning at 9am

I will try to post afterwards to let you know how it went.
Sylvie

Irene4105

I started TAC last week 3/23. I would love to join this thread. So far my experience has been day 1 felt very sick, day 2 I went back for the shot (can't remember what it's called)then i felt good the rest of the day. Day 3 was feeling a little fluish then on day 4 it hit me hard like a really bad flu with lots of aches in my joints, Day 5 I felt really tired but day 6 is when it kicked my in the butt- i was in alot of pain and had a fever for about 24 hours. Today I feel a lot better but still have many aches. tomorrow I go back for a check up. also have really bad headaches
Is anyone else having the same symptoms?

peejay

Sylvie, I missed my chemo today because I had the flu. Now I'm scared to go on Monday which is when I'm rescheduled for. I was up at like 4am this morning throwing up twice, I felt a little better after that, but was running a really small fever. SO i called the nurse and she said not to come in today, chemo would only make it worse. But she also said it was the flu, since my last chemo was 22 days ago. Now when I go Monday it will have been 25 days, but she said that's no problem. I just hated feeling sick all day today, and tired. Will probably go to sleep very soon. Been able to drink ginger ale finally.

My hair started falling out on day 17, and my sisters shaved me. Was a blast! Now the stubble is starting to fall out, and it itches and gets stuck in my clothes grrrr.

I forgot who asked about the decadron but for me I felt crappy for about 3-5 days i think. Headache, jitters, hard to sleep.

Paula

jpsgirl96

So Day 1 was fine; only symptom a major steroid buzz; took a Tylenol pm along with a Compazine to sleep. Day 2 fine, took Zofran morning and night, Zantac 1/2 hr before bfast and dinner. Tummy fluttering and preferring to be processing small quantities of food. Day 3 I was on my tush - exhausted and achy. Continued Zofran and Zantac. Day 4 and 5 better, took Zofran once more and continued Zantac on and off (have concluded it's better to keep taking it) Day 6 flew from FL to DC, got in some yoga and 20 minutes on exercise bike. Day 7 and 8 I worked for the first time; pretty beat by 4 pm. Some weird tastes, water is still okay. Tummy still prefers NOT to be empty; Zantac still helps with acid. Nausea was essentially zero.
Isn't it WEIRD how variable this is from person to person??? Leigh

MarciaA

Irene1405 Your symptoms are same as mine. In fact I had to make sure I didn't post the message. I had my second TAC on 3/23. Mostly the same symptoms some better some worse. This second round took me another 2 days to feel like I was going to survive it. (First time 6 days, second TAC almost 8 days.) But I understand that the treatment gets worse as it goes along. But what alternative do we have...take a lesser protocol? Not take one at all? All I can say is that at least we have others to help us find what will work to help us get through all this. Thank you for your post. You are not the only one struggling to get through them. Just tell yourself..one more down, one third, one half...hopefully by summer life will be better for us all.
Take care
MarciaA.

svans

Well I decided that I would have a shaving party about 2 weeks after my first chemo, Im going to decide when it goes not these darn drugs!!

PeeJay - hope you feel better soon, I will be thinking about you.
I will post on Monday if I can

sylvie

peejay

I got bumped to Tuesday for round 2. My nurse called today to see how I was doing, and she told me a lot of people have come down with the flu. So she wants me to rest up and get fluids back in me so I won't associate this throwing up with chemo. I love my new onc and nurse! So it's sleep and fluids this weekend for me.

Paula

kburns

Hi everyone. Day 4 after round 1 and so far feeling pretty good today. Slept 11 hours last night and I really think that helped. Still plan to take it easy. Drinking lots! Eating small meals every 3 or 4 hours. Avitan at night to sleep. Taking Decadron for one more day. Only took my other nausea meds once yesterday. Need to keep an eye on that because the IV drugs will probably wear off tomorrow. The neulasta shot caused a lot of achyness yesterday--so far only some back pain today. Biggest problem has bee heartburn (taking zantac) and general fatigue. I am bored but too tired to do anything but sit on the couch and watch tv.

It is just so nice having the sun out today. I will try a little walk later this afternoon.

Paula-feel better! So sorry you had to get the flu! Will be thinking about you Tuesday.
Leigh--glad things are going well. I still can't think about work yet!
Irene and Marsha--interesting how it really hit you after a few days out. I am so curious how things will go over the next few days.
Sylvie-we will be thinking about you Monday! Good luck!

Take care everyon! Karen

mindyk

Karen,
Glad you are feeling pretty good! First chemo coming up on Tuesday. Starting to get really nervous about it. I am hoping that my side effects are minimal, but I will just have to wait and see! Take care!

Hugs and prayers,

Mindy

MarciaA

Hi Karen, glad you are feeling better.
It has been 10 days post 2nd tac and I am feeling more human. My wbc count is doing well thanks to neulasta.When I got my bloodwork checked I talked to the chemo nurses about my continuous burbing and heartburn even with zantac. They told me zantac was an older drug and they gave me samples of aciphex. I tried one today and can already tell a difference. As for other symptoms. I have watery eyes and my nasal passages and mouth are burning. I use eye drops and saline nose spray to help keep them from hurting. The nurse told me that my mouth, nose and eyes were gonna burn like that with tac. TAC was a tough protocol she said. I still don't sleep too well but I was thinking if I was more active during the day that maybe I would sleep more at night. I just hate having to cover up to go out in the sunshine. I have been reading on the threads about A/C. T/C and dense dosing. The thing I keep telling myself about TAC is that it has 6 chances of catching cancer cells in their various stages of growth. I just hope I can keep on schedule as I go farther into the treatments.
I will be wishing good things to those of you who are starting their treatments or are about to get another one. Good luck and I will be interested in reading of your progress.
Take Care
MarciaA.

baldeagle

Hi all,

I will be joining all of you as of 4/11. Don't know yet what frequency of treatment since I will be part of a clinical protocol and will be randomly assigned to either every 3 weeks (x6) or every 2 weeks (x4 plus another group x4). All involve TAC. The onc. says that it's a bit heavy for what I would normally get but I just want to knock the suckers out once and for all.
Like Sylvie, I get to go to chemo 101 (intro class) on Monday for what to expect. Interestingly sylvie and I are getting chemo at the same place but different days. We will have to compare.
Right now I am still waiting and will be glad to move along to that it will eventually be behind me.
Being connected here will be good.
Jeannette

svans

Hey Jeannette, did you call me???? Anyways I am glad that everyone who started is feeling somewhat normal. I am getting over a bad cold which is why they postponed my first treatment but Monday will be my first and guess what /????? my second chemo is on the 24th of April---my Birthday!!!! Doesnt that stink??!! Oh well out with the stinky cell that may have gotten away and in with the the new healthy ones.

I will keep you all in my prayers and hope that we all have as minimal side effects as possible!!

Sylvie

baldeagle

Sylvie,

I have called several times. Perhaps I don't have the right no. I will be at TB to sign up and go to chemo 101 on MOn. afternoon.

Any reason you decided not to do the clinical trial?

J.

svans

Hi Jeannette, well Im the silly one because I did get a message from a "Jeannette" and I must have been having a moment because I was saying to my husband that I did not know a Jeannette. It just clicked in yesterday that hey it could of been you!!! I cant even blame chemo yet because I havent started. he he

Sorry about not returning your call!! I am there on Monday at 9am and they said that I would be there for about 4-5 hours, if Im felling up to it maybe I will stop in upstairs and come say Hi!!

The clinical trial was just too iffy for me. Not knowing what group you would be put into and the side effects were way too much for me. I react very quickly and easily to drugs so I did not want to push the envelope with not knowing what group I would be in, the difference in the drugs was not to my liking either. I just want the best treatment for me and I want what is best for me, not to be a part of passing some drugs that are not FDA approved.

To each their own but it was not for me. I wish you the best in your treatment!! I still want to meet for coffee!! Hey by the way I shaved my head today!!! I just got the urge and my husband and kids helped cut my hair and then my husband shaved it!!

Sylvie

jpsgirl96

Sylvie - That does stink about your birthday - for what it's worth treatment day (#1) I could have gone dancing!
I'm at Day 11 and feeling fine - no real residual effects except maybe I get a bit more tired toward the end of the day. Hair will probably go this week but I had it nearly buzzed before my axillary node surgery, 2 wks before chemo. Thinking good thoughts for you tomorrow. Leigh

kburns

Hi everyone. Day 7 chemo update--feel like I've been hit with a ton of bricks! Was doing SOOOO well, but today sore throat, back pain and overall just exhausted. This is such a strange ride.

Marcia--thanks for the info on the aciphex..I will definitly need to try it. Heartburn was really bad and zantac did not touch it.

Sylvie, Mindy, Paula, Did you guys start this week? How's it going?

Welcome Irene, Karen and Jeanette...

I will be curious to see what my WBC does this week since I feel so awful today. Feeling guilty about not working, but don't think I could concentrate.

We do have sun today in NC and that helps. Let us know how everyone is doing! Karen

svans

Good morning ladies!! Well day one was pure hell for me. I started getting sick around three in the afternoon and it didnt stop until 9pm when I used the suppository! My stomach has settled but Im hot then cold then back to hot and Im felling like I have a bad case of the flu!!

Oh well 1 of 6 is done!! I will surely take different measures for the next one, more anti nausea stuff and maybe bring the suppository with me. I was pale as a ghost all night and now my face is really red, no temperature just felling really really yucky!!

Its sunny here too in Calgary Alberta Canada, spring is officially here.

Sylvie

baldeagle

Well, I am scheduled to start on the 11th. - if my tummy is healed from the reconstructive surgery. Won't knoww that till the 10th. Meanwhile hoping for a date to get the port in - I my body is weary of needles.

Sylvie, I'm sorry to hear that day 1was so rough. Maybe things will settle down now. I will remember to take all the anti-nausea stuff ahead of time. No taking chances.

I went to the intro chemo class yesterday. I didn't learn anything. In looking back, did you find it helpful - now that you have had your first chemo session?
J.

MarciaA

Hi SherriG, It is encouraging to know that there is life after TAC. How long after you finished your last treatment did it take for all the side effects to go away?
What tests did you or do you take now to determine the effectiveness of TAC?
MarciaA.

mindyk

Hi all, Just an update. I had 1st treatment today. So far feeling pretty good but it has only been 3 hrs. Keepin gpositive that I am going keep feeling good.

Karen, How are you doing?

Take care all!

Hugs

Mindy

karen1956

Mindy - I went back to work yesterday and it is exhausting. Came home and slept yesterday and today. Yesterday was day 12 post TAC chemo one and my hair started to come out last night - ugh!! I have dreaded this. I still have hair among my bald spots. I started to wear my wig to work - mostly for the kids - and they all want to know what I did to my hair (it was half gray, dark and wavy and long) and my wig is chin length, lighter brown and no gray!. HOpe you keep feeling good post chemo. My emotions are what are getting me. I am on the count down to my next chemo - 9 days!!! KAren in Denver

MarciaA

Karen, It must be hard to keep it all together in front of children. Working is hard enough and as you have read on other threads most TAC women aren't working full time throughout their treatments. My second TAC wasn't quite as bad as the first because I found better meds/remedies to get through the 2nd one. If you did ok with the nausea/GI/pain/headache effects then you are doing great. Then tell yourself in 9 days that you are 1/3 the way through, that is what I kept saying to myself. Then the next will be half way, etc.! You are putting on a brave face for the kids but you gotta know you don't need to be that way here...We are all crying as well as cheering here with you on these boards! Besides maybe one of those children will grow up to cure cancer one day and how will they know to do that if they don't know how it affects people.
Good Luck!
MarciaA.

mindyk

Karen, I am not going to be working during my chemo, maybe during radiation but not sure yet. I work in an factory that makes automobiles, (Subaru) so it is a very strenuous and fast paced job so that leaves me out. Are you taking anything to help with the side effects of the decadron? It is kicking my butt, a few hot flashes, jitters big time and anxiety! I am feeling a little under the weather now compared to last post but nothing that I cannot tolerate. Take care and please keep me posted and I will do the same. This board has been a lifesaver!

Talk to you guys soon!

Hugs:)

Mindy