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

mindyk

The onc said that it is from the steriods and unfortunately it is one of the side effects. My onc is out of town but I have an appt with her next week. The nurse said that maybe they could give me a different steroid or decrease it. I don't want to deal with this every time. I can feel them on my head also, but still have my hair for now. Go to get it shaved on Tuesday of next week.

Take Care,

Mindy

svans

whew! Well at least it is part of the side effects, i thought maybe something was wrong.

Thank you so much for sharing
Sylvie

peejay

It couldn't have been something too wrong with all of us having the same thing. THe second time around I didn't hardly have any of them at all.

Paula

MollyK

Thurday I had my port put in (definitely not as bad as I thought it would be), yesterday morning was my first Tac infusion. I was feeling a little heartburn-ish with a little burping last night and a bit of nausea but not bad. I took an adivan which really help me to sleep and a compazin early early this morning. I am taking the emend along with it and I go in for my neaulasta shot this morning. I'm a bit nervous about the side effects of the neulasta from what i've listened of you(this forum) talking about it. Is is mostly just joint pain? Anyway, I'm sure the fun side effects are yet to come, I am just relieved to not have an immediate allergic reacation, etc...plus it is really a mental battle ground in anticipation. At least now I know what to expect. My hopital was really nice. They gave me a massage to help me relax through the first one. It really made a difference for me.

peejay

Congrats on your first one over!! That's 1 down now. You got a massage? I'm jealous. hehehe The burpring got better for me the second time, it's just annoying, but I did wind up taking zantac for heartburn, and it worked great for me. The neulasta shot for me, causes a little pain in my back, but mostly the top of my legs and knees. It's not so bad, and you can always take a pain med if you got any with your port insertion. But tylenol has been fine for me. The Emend is like super live saver drug for me. You might find that the third day you will be super tired. Sounds like you had a good time to me though! If you were going react allergically it would have been right away I have heard, so don't worry.

I just had my port put in after my second infusion, so I haven't had a chemo with it yet, and I am nervous about that! Next time up for me is the 25th.

have a great weekend!

Paula

kburns

Hi Everyone. Just an update. I thought this week I would have so much more energy (3rd week after TAC #1) and it is just not the case! I pushed myself to work some and do a bit of gardening and I have just been exhausted! Been craving steak and have had bloody mucus (nose blowing) and am wondering if I am anemic!? Next chemo is Wednesday. Should I go in tomorrow to get checked? Can they do anything to improve red blood cell count that fast? If it is low on Wed, will they still give me chemo? Guess I need to call tomorrow and talk to Onc office, but just curious. They give us the Neulasta shot for the white blood cells (mine were GREAT after the shot) but nothing for red blood cells or platlettes...have you all experienced this?

The board seems to be quiet the last few days...has everyone been busy with Easter preparations? We are going to mother-in-laws so I am lucky I do not have to cook.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Karen

jpsgirl96

Hi Karen - Had TAC #2 on Friday and Neulasta Saturday so today is my achy/flu day, just like last time. SE's from chemo even less than last time - so I feel guilty posting. My mom and sis are cooking Easter dinner and bringing it here so I'm looking forward to that. Couldn't manage a walk with my husband today - phooey, it's gorgeous here - but I really can't complain. Re: red blood cells, onc nurse told me that there are meds (name is escaping me at the moment) for that so I'd think about finding out if they need a boost so you can get chemo on time. Don't know how fast it works - it took until middle of week two for the Neulasta to show up in the WBC for me, but the anti-anemia stuff might be faster??? Happy Easter and don't overdo! Leigh

jpsgirl96

Paula, Chemo with the port is great! I watched out of the corner of my eye someone without the port and boy am I glad to have it.
Ask the onc nurse to make it cold for you before she injects - I had it with (the first tx) and without (the second) and it wasn't bad (and very quick) without but it was zero pain when she made it cold first. Hope you're having a good holiday! Leigh

mindyk

Hi everyone! Day 13 for me. (chemo on 4/4)Next one is on 4/2. I have been feeling pretty good. Only had a few days of nausea, but not bad at all. Very tired for the 1st week after chemo. Hair is starting to come out today. Debating on whether to call my hairdresser and have it shaved tonight or wait till tomorrow!! I just don't want to wake up and have hair everywhere. Has anyone had any problems with ankle swelling? My ankles are swollen, especially my left one! Not sure what is causing it. Maybe on my feet to much the last few days! Hope everyone is getting along ok!!!

Take Care,

Mindy

peejay

My nose hasn't bled really badly, but today I blew out a little red. I take an iron pill everyday, so I'm not that worried about it, but it did happen to me the first chemo and I freaked out! Now it's happened again, at about the same time in the cycle, so I guess it's just that. I use a humidifier in the bedroom, no matter what it's like outside, and it seems to help it from being sore. So far all my blood counts have been really close to "normal" with the one a little low (the red one I forget what it is) that's why he told me to take iron.

Easter was exhausting, and all I had to do was ride in the car. And answer questions, a million questions... And listen to "how strong you are". I actually feel like crying right now!! hehe I think I am going to take ashower and do that. Not because I'm depressed or anything, it was just a lot today. Overload. People I haven't seen in years, and all that. Then, you can only take so much of the strong bit, before you want to yell out I'm not!! 'Cause I feel like such a wimp sometimes. Fatigue sucks. I ate too much too heheh but it was soooo good.

Paula

mindyk

Hi everyone, I went this evening and had my hair buzzed. Only about 1/8th of an inch left. My head was starting to hurt. It actually feels alot better with it gone. As soon as I got to my hairdressers shop, I cried, but my husband reassured me that everything was going to ok. My 7 year old cut my hair first. She thought that cutting my hair was fun. Then my hairdresser finished it off with the clippers. I wanted to make it easier for my daughter so I thought cutting my hair would help. She even kept a lock of it and we tied a pink ribbon around it. I thought that it would be really hard for me to look in the mirror, but I am ok with it. I go tomorrow to have my wig fitted and trimmed. I hop eeveryone is getting along ok. Will post later!

Take Care,

Mindy

JulieMcKeehan

Mindy:

When I was in the hospital the nurses told me alot about the ankle swelling thing. If you get swelling it is an indication that you are retaining water from the chemo. I did a bit and they gave me a pill that rebalanced me quite quickly (translation: I had to pee alot for 24 hours!!). They said it is quite a common reaction to chemo. I'd mention it to your doc and they should be able to give you something. Regards, Julie

susanmcm

Hi TAC Sisters,
I am surprised to see so many of you. I did this treatment a year ago. Finished 6/1/05. It was pretty hard for me so they ended up giving me only 4 treatments instead of 6. My WBC would drop very low after treatment.

How great that you have your own thread to help each other through this. I agree with those who think this protocol must be more difficult than those taking AC.

The good news is that chemo will eventually end and a few months later you will have forgotten about all these horrible side effects.

God bless you all. If I can do anything, let me know.

Susan (class of '05)

baldeagle

Well, I finally got started with TAC 1 today. Yesterday nothing seemed to go quite right - from going for lab work - that wasn't needed, to not finding out what study group I was assigned to until late in the day - and on and on. I get TAC every 3 wks for six sessions.
So after a longish wait I finally got in and found the chemo nurses to be great. No bad effects yet - but I 'm told to see how things are after six hours or so (the nausea).

Thge decadron for nausea kept me up most of last nite - and I have two more days of it. I shall be a zombie!

I get to give myself the neulasta shots daily for 10 days starting day 3 after chemo. Has anyone else run into this routine?

So that's my update.
Jeannette

MarciaA

Hello fellow TAC sisters!
Susan, Thanks for your words of encouragement. I hope the reduced number of treatments will be enough to fend off the cancer.
I finished #3 TAC on Thursday. Here it is Tuesday and I am fatigued and mildly nauseated. I find my 4 thru 6th day post chemo the worst for me. I have a lot of tingling in my toes and tongue. I am half way finished with TAC, sometimes I wonder if I will be strong enough to make it through all 6.

Jeannette you must be taking neupogen shots daily. Neulasta shots kick my butt after 3 days. But so far the shots have kept my wbc counts up.

I hope everyone is doing ok , It is hard to keep up with everyone when we are in our own chemo fog....Take care ladies and lets hear how everyone is doing?
Take care
MarciaA.

peejay

Hi Marcia, glad you are doing better with the TAC than your first time around! I go for my 3rd treatment on the 25th. I saw my onc today, and had blood drawn and the usual check-up. Since I had way too much decadron last time, he told me not to take the pills this time, they are just going to give me the 20mg in the drip on that day. Since I have tolerated the taxotere so well, I'm so glad I don't have to take the pills! Wish me luck! If I get water retention from it, he will just give me a pill for that. I'm relieved I won't be so jittery.

The chemo fog is settling in on me too! I try not to drive, but I walk a lot. My mom is in for the week, so I will totally have my mind off of next Tuesday!

I did find out why I have back pain. It's like on the right side, kind of below the shoulder blade, but above the waist. Onc said it can be a side effect of the treatment, and it might go away during, but after for sure. I can use my heating pad on it.

Still haven't lost any eyebrows, or eyelashes, but the hair is history... everywhere LOL

I guess that's my update. Can't wait to get number 3 out of the way! It will be my first one with the port. Oh yeah, the onc showed me exactly where the place was, and explained how it would work, so I'm not as nervous anymore.

Paula

MarciaA

Hi Paula, Glad to hear you are getting rid of that DEVIL Pill (Decadron) I was told by my doc I could cut back on it but I am reluctant to do it. It is great that you are not having the effects of the taxotere. I hate this numbness! My doc said as long as it doesn't keep me from dropping stuff that I should continue the dosage.
Well next treatment we can celebrate your half way mark with TAC. There are times like this week when I think I can't do it anymore but by some miracle I get stronger and mad at the cancer and I go one more round...
You will like the port...makes it easier.
And what is with that back pain? Some kind of neuropathy?
Take Care, thanks for checkin in!
MarciaA.

MarciaA

Hi Leigh, How are you handling your last TAC? Are you having any numbness anywhere? Let us know how you are doing...
MarciaA.

MarciaA

Hi Susan, thank you for posting on the TAC thread. I was curious to know if they offered you neulasta or not? I sometimes wonder myself If I will be able to make it through all 6 treatments. After 3 I am worn out. I am glad to hear you are feeling good. I wish you all the best.
MarciaA.

svans

Hey Ladies, well I have felt normal for about 4 days now, my energy level is back to normal and Ive made some serious decisions regarding chemo. I dont know if making the decisions has lifted the weight off my shoulders or what but I havent felt this "normal" since my diagnosis in December.

I hope that you are all ok and I will be thinking of all of you and keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers.

Sylvie

MollyK

help...day 6 after my first tac...i'm feeling better but have mouth sores...any advise? i tried the doctors salt/baking powder formula and it isn't helping.

MarciaA

MollyK, call your doctor and ask for a prescription for nystatin (magic mouthwash) You swish it in your mouth and it heals mouth sores. Good Luck
MarciaA.

jpsgirl96

Hello Marcia and everyone, I'm doing better today. Felt pretty lousy (unhappy tummy, achy) after traveling yesterday, partly because the chemo was almost a day later and I didn't change the travel. No new effects otherwise; the Neulasta effect seemed to last longer this time, so I'll probably have to factor in some accumulation of that. I worked until from 830 til about 3 today then left for my CBC and a little grocery shopping. Still just the slight numbness behind the lips. Oh - and I'm now totally bald. I had the 'baby chimpanzee' look that someone else described so JP shaved it with a razor.
Is anyone losing or gaining weight??? I'm so glad for this TAC thread (thanks Karen)
Sylvie - what decisions, did I miss a post or are you not ready to share?
Leigh

jpsgirl96

Molly - Your doc should be able to help but my dentist also mentioned a couple of things he could do if I developed problems (with onc okay, of course)

mindyk

Mollyk,
I had a very sore mouth also. My onc prescribed a pill that is also used to treat yeast infections. It is only one pill but it cleared mine up quickly. It is called Diflucan. Hope this helps.

Take Care,

Mindy

P.S. My last post I had a typo, TAC #2 coming up on Tuesday, 4/25. Hope I do well!!!

peejay

Hey Mindy my TAC #3 is coming up on 4/25 also. I finally have someone else on the same day as me again! I'm sure we will do fine, just have to remember to drink drink drink.. and pee pee pee lol

For my sore mouth I would crush ice in my smoothie maker, and add just a touch of ginger ale or juice, or something to flavor it, like a really icy slushie, and it helped me tremendously with hurting.

Paula

mindyk

Paula, Thanks for the info. I will have to try that if my mouth gets sore next round. Where exactly are you at in Illinois? I live in Lafayette, IN. I was wondering how close we are! Take Care!

Mindy

svans

Hi Leigh, I had posted on a different link I guess, I thought it was here but I look back and cannot find it. Anyways I was questioning if chemo was the right route for me. I looked over all my notes from every appointment that I have had since December and the side effects seriously outway the benefits for me. I am also working with a naturopath doctor about natural remedies for all the side effects that I have been having and trust me....it seems that I have had everything!!! Anyways the bottom line is that I need to make my final decision by tomorrow when I see my oncologist. I support everyone for making their decisions and would never ever tell anyone not to follow their gutt. But I just seem to be moving away from the chemo route.

Round 1 was sooooooooo hard on me, it took me 6 days to literally get out of bed and I just cannot see myself down this path for 5 months!!

Anyways that about sums up what is going on in my head these days.

Praying for all of you

Sylvie

PS thanks for letting me talk

peejay

I'm in Wheaton, which is about 25 miles straight west of Chicago, so it's not really too far. I think.. lol My mom lives in southern Indiana in Seymour, but she's up visiting me this week. We are getting things together ffor my next treatment, so I won't have to do anything next week. Yay!

Paula

jpsgirl96

Sylvie, Each one of us has to make decisions we never thought we'd face. Though I have cancer in both breasts (Invasive Lobular right, DCIS and micro invasion left) and cancer in 6 of 16 nodes, I chose lumpectomy over mastectomy. I've been relatively lucky with the chemo - after 2 rounds, side effects are minimal so far. If it were threatening to my health and wellbeing I would think I think it's really key that you keep being proactive in making decisions about your care. Let us know how the onc visit goes tomorrow. Leigh