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

baldeagle

About the Neulasta shots.
I get a series of 10 daily shots starting 3 days after treatment. I shoot myself (what a trip!). I get a kit with syriges, vials of neupogen, etc. for 10 days. The onc. nurses gave a demo on how to shoot myself.

I wondered why many of you got a single shot and talked with my onc about it. Turns out there are 2 forms of neulasta/neupogen made by the same company. One os a single shot of 6 ml. the other is a sequence of 10 at 1 ml. The single lagre shot is easier but the larger dose can give more aches and pains.
I had only one evening of some sharp pains in my pelvis after about day 8 of the shots.
So that is probably why some of you have the bone pains. But the trade off is shooting yourself for 10 days. I don't know which is worse.
Anyway, it is still a goood week for me. That will change Tues. when I have CLEANS 2. Am off to the mountains for a couple of days - to enjoy while I can.
Be well.
Jeannette

peejay

Molly- the water retention is from not enough decadron, they give it to you to prevent that. The Taxotere causes it. When I came down off my high dose of decadron the onc told me to watch for water retention, so, of course, I was paranoid about it. Probably the emotions are just the whole damn thing all together. It all came crashing down on me after my last treatment (#3) and I just cried a lot, even on here lol. I feel lots better now, but it took me like 10 days to get myself back together, even after I was feeling fine. hang in there!

Paula

MollyK

Paula, thanks for the clarification...i'm still learning what all the side effects from each drug do to me.. With so many, it's hard to keep track. All I know is that I get so emotional around Chemo time...cry about everything. Chemo itself went good today, but now I'm home and very tired and have heartburn and am doing the burping thing again. My doc had me chewing ice during treatment and said it would help to prevent the horrible mouth sores I got last time. Hopefully that will work. All I know is that #2 is done and I'm 1/3 of the way through. Wahoo!
Thanks for your words of encouragement.

Molly

peejay

Welcome to the burping club LOL! There is a mouthwash that I saw recommended on here, and that my nurse finally made me get for mouth soreness. It's called Biotene, and you can get it at walgreens or cvs or any drugstore. Tastes like peppermint and it REALLY makes your mouth feel better!

Paula

MollyK

I'll have to pick up some biotene 'just in case'. Today I get my neulasta shot. Last round, I only noticed some aches and pain in my back but also noticed them across my chest. Anyone have pains there from the neulasta shot? Worried me for a bit about my heart but my doctor said I could maybe feel the neaulasta pain across my sternum. Interesting.

Hope you all are getting the rest you need and taking care of yourself.

Molly

gsg

hi, all. started chemo 4/21. had my second treatment yesterday. i'm feeling okay. my only side effects seem to be constipation and some fatigue on 3rd & 4th days...a little queeziness, which is quickly remedied by major overeating. i woke up in the middle of the night in a sweat, but that passed. lost my hair wednesday, 5/3. husband shaved my head thursday morning. we really laughed because he called into work saying he'd be late cuz he had to shave his wife's head. what an excuse! didn't bother me losing my hair. when i looked in the mirror, i thought, "man, i look like a pinhead," and then i was over it. have a couple wigs for work...weekends i may do scarves & hats. at home i'm going commando...no head cover.

a general surgeon put my port in ON THE WRONG SIDE!!!! Right over my tumor and right next to where I had had node surgery 8 days prior. Talk about a pinhead. Port is usable, but I had a blood clot right after she put it in and I'm now on coumadin and have to give myself two shots a day in the stomach of lovenox. It has altered my treatment course. Now i'll have all chemo upfront, (8 weeks dose dense A/C, 12 weeks weekly taxol) then lumpectomy and they'll remove the port, and then 6 weeks of rads.

I'm back to work now and haven't been able to get on the board much. I've missed everybody.

Big hugs to all.

gsg

gsg

i think i posted this in wrong thread. A/C is different than TAC.

MarciaA

Hi Paula! Thanks for the Cheering on! You must have been a cheerleader! I made it through #4 and I hate to jinx myself but so far it has been the easiest treatment. Maybe because I finally figured out what meds to take and to listen to my body to let it tell me what to do and to anticipate things. I had my neulasta shot yesterday morning so it hasn't fully kicked in but I am ready with my vicodin if it gets beyond the tylenol. I hope your #4 goes as good as mine is going.
Leigh, Hope you are doing well also.
I will keep you all updated on how my #4 finishes out..usually I am down and out 6 to 8 days but this one seems so much better. My doc reduced my taxotere by 15 percent and increased my neurontin to 300mg twice a day and my tingling and numbness is much better.
Take care TAC sisters and keep posting so we can see how we are doing....got to finish this journey together!
MarciaA.

jpsgirl96

Hi Marcia, Paula, Molly and all...This is my 'shaky' day, post-Neulasta. Aches are a bit milder than the first time (I think due to the timing of the shot, late in the day the first time, earlier these last two) but definitely not good for much but going from bed to shower to sofa! Marcia I really hope the d&o is MUCH shorter. I have 'effects' for 6 to 8 days also, but am able to travel on day 6 and work on day 7, so I feel lucky. Still only have that numbness behind the lips, and I do notice the weight on the chest, probably from the Taxotere, about 24 hours after. The Adriamycin seems to go through my system really fast, not to give TMI! Thinking good thoughts for us all. Leigh
PS to gsg - you are welcome here, of course, but there are some differences getting the taxane WITH the a/c vs. later, it looks like from reading the 'monthly' chemo threads.

MollyK

Leigh, that is simply amazing to me that you are able to work after day 6/7. You must be an incredibly strong person. I have 4 boys still at home and I can't imagine doing anything else. I'm a wimp. Although before my last treatment friday, this past week has been wonderful, feeling better, and able to feel a bit of life again (being a wife and mom). Really makes me excited to have treatment over.

Molly

jpsgirl96

I do think it's pretty weird - I actually stopped in to see the onc nurse to say - are you SURE you're giving me the right stuff? She pointed out that I lost my hair, so...
Seriously, with four boys to take care of going through this, I think YOU are amazing. I can just lie down whenever, whine, pull the covers over my head, and you have four kids depending on you. That is real courage, going through this and raising your kids.
I did give in on the Neulasta aftermath and take a (leftover from surgery) painkiller, so it's a bit better. And I do get tired more easily, and expect that to get cumulatively worse through the remaining three. Leigh

shirleyjean

Hi, I have never posted before,have a question about the port,How long does the port have to stay in after the last chemo treatment?I have my last chemo treatment this Wednesday...the 10th.(6 treatments)

JulieMcKeehan

Hey All:

Sorry I've been missing for the last week. I had a ton of backlogged work that I had to catch up on. By the time I finished that I usually tumbled into bed.
So here I sit beginning of week 3 of 2nd chemo (1 week before #3) and I notice the repeat of two things:

(1) My head is insanely itchy for a few days. I anticipate it going away in about two more, but I was wondering if anyone else had this problem.

(2) The week right after chemo I would have the drenching sweat episodes. They started right after chemo and lasted a little more than a week. Several times a day and night I could just be standing around and suddenly I'm covered in sweat. Anybody else have this?

Glad to be back,
Julie

jpsgirl96

gardenlady - I think the port removal varies. Are you going to need radiation?
Julie - My head was itching like crazy, worse when I wore the wig. It subsided somewhat, though I still have 'stubble' so anything pressing on that is a bit irritating. No hot flashes yet, but onc said I could expect them with chemo-pause. Drenched in sweat is the way some women experience menopause related hot flashes.
Leigh

peejay

Julie - Starting the very first chemo I would wake up completely soaked a couple of nights. It still happens, but mostly I just get really really hot in the face, then my whole head, and it spreads all over until I throw off all the blankets. Some night it drives my hubby crazy. I haven't gotten a period since I started chemo either, so I wonder if this is going to be menopause for me... I'm only 38, but it's possible the onc said.

MollyK

Julie. I talked to my onc about the very same thing friday. Covered with sweat. my period was due and he said i may get 'sweats' during the time i would normally have my period. i was sweating for a couple of days. last week was my first missed period. whether i go into menopause or not i guess they won't know until chemo is all over with. My doc said my period may stop during chemo and then come back. Or even have light spotting during. I guess everyone is so different. I'm 39.

Molly

svans

Just letting you all know that I am keeping you all in my thoughts and in my prayers and I know that we are so much stronger because of all this stuff.

#3 on the 15th but hey Im 1/3 done

Sylvie

karen1956

Hi all,

Well I have survived chemo #3. It was not quite as bad as #2, but still awful. My oncologist gave me a different anti-nausea med - "BDR" suppositories and they seem to help. They gave me the jitters the first day, but I think its because the "D" is decadron and I take decadron the day before and day of chemo. One thing for sure, I am much more exhausted this time, napping much more. My onc had me go for IV hydration for 3 days after chemo (chemo #3 was on 5/4 thursday) so I went friday, saturday and today. by this evening my appetite is returning - pretty much the same as after the second one. My onc is worried about my weight as I am still loosing weight - he said that anytime that I am not eating he wants me in for IV hydration. He wants me to drink atleast one and up to 3 boost or ensure a day. I think they are gross, so i will skip them, but will try and make smoothies and find some protein powder to put in them. My next appointment with him is 40 min instead of 20 min. didn't ask why as I didn't know till i checked out. well, i am now half way done chemo. Leigh and marcia hope you are doing well.
karen

jpsgirl96

Hey Karen - Is that a Happy Birthday icon? Is the milesonte b-day today???
Glad to hear they are still trying to improve your se's - #3 was harder for me than #2, mostly the aches from the shot and this time some slightly more intense stomach discomfort - but I'm feeling pretty well today. Seeing the FL oncologist for the first time since before chemo (in fact, since before axillary node dissection!) Have a few questions :-)
Talk with you all later. Leigh

MarciaA

Happy 50th Birthday Karen1956. I hope you have a great one. I was diagnosed with bc on my 51st birthday this past January so needless to say it wasn't a good birthday!

Kburns are you gettin ready for the next round? I hope your scalp is better. Mine was about like yours for the first two treatments then it calmed down.

Molly, I know you have your hands full with 4 boys..all that testosterone. I had two and they kept me busy but now they are in college and are a godsend.

Leigh, you must have a very special metabolism. I am so amazed that you are able to go back to work. You should be nicknamed wonderwoman!

Paula, If you are er/pr+ the doc could give you tamoxifen to halt the hot flashes. I am negative so he prescribed neruontin and vitamin E and B6. The hot flashes are subsiding some. With your age being so young you will probably start your periods again after chemo. My oncologists told me that I could too since I was premenopausal at 51.

To update my TAC sisters, I am on day 5 post #4. I have noticed extreme fatigue this time, could only sleep the past two days. I have some numbness but the neruontin is helping keep it tolerable but still noticable. I hope everyone is doing ok.
Everyone take care!
MarciaA.

StefS

Just wanted to offer all you gals encouragement. Last month I marked my 2 year anniversary of my last TAC!

Each of mine was different. And I experienced different "tastes" each time. I was very lucky with few side effects and did work through treatment. (Of course, I'm self-employed, work at home and the first week took afternoon naps. And then the following two weeks would occasionally take them. LOL.) I've just recently lost some of the weight I gained during chemo. The hot flashes do decrease with time. Don't know if I'm the only one, but I noticed I had the smoothest skin while undergoing chemo. That was one of the nice side effects.

So even though you may not see it yet, the end of the tunnel is there. and you all will be on the other side very soon.

Good luck with the rest of your treatment.

Healing hugs.

baldeagle

Hi everyone,
I went for my pre-chemo check-up. The bloods came back fine. The neupogen is working just fine!

Paula, I am thinking of you as they have decreased the decadron in half. Now I'll have to wait and see if that is enough to keep the ugly side effects away.

Interesting, with this clinical trial I am on they do a physical before each chemo! Anyone else getting this? I don't mind, it's beter care, but I was surprised.

Gor the colace - will probably need it - and learned something that I wish I had known 3 weeks ago. Turns out the Metamucil (psylium) is constipating if you are getting TAC! And here I was chugging it down to prevent the constipation. HOpfully this time it won't be so bad.
I'll check in again after I get cleansed tomorrow.
Jeannette

peejay

Wow, glad I didnt' try metamucil! I don't get a physical before each treatment, it must be something for the trial. I just see the doc the week before and get my blood counts, and discuss if we are going to change anything.

This time I am going to take 1 decadron morning and night the day before, and see if I dont' develope the nasty pain I did last time. I'll know for sure tomorrow, since I see the doc in the morning.

Paula

baldeagle

Well, here I am after TAC#2 and seem to be holding my own. The decadrom blush is back, but right now I just look like I used too much blush all over my face - not like stepping out of the lobster pot.

Now I will have to see if the chemo fog comes back tomorrow.
Guess I really have no major complaints. So we are all so different in how we experience the same protocol. Amazing isn't it?
jeannette

kburns

Hi everyone. I am having TAC#3 tomorrow and can't sleep due to decadron. Even the Ambien did not work! Still having leg pains. Happy to say that the folliculitis is starting to get better. THANK GOD! I just hope and pray it does not come back.

I am finding my self gaining weigt (depressing) and totally exhausted. Seems like I can only do a few hours of tasks per day and then I am beat!!! I can go to lunch with a friend a do a couple of load of laundry and that's it. I can work for a couple of hours and maybe an hour of crafts and I am done for the day. Shopping at the mall to buy my daughter a bathing suit for 3 hours killed me.

Does the energy thing get better or worse? I am trying to exercise a little (walking) but I get so out of breath. It is hard to know how much to push myself and how much to give in.

I do think I am anemic. The blood work was under 12 this time, but she did not give me the shot. Will see how low it goes.

Good luck to all of you. I read the posts everyday and send a prayer to you. Take care Karen

Hopka

Thanks to the forum! I am on FEC treatment, 2nd chemo done and am experiencing many of the same symptoms. The fatigue is the big one and this time relux/heartburn are causing me pain. Experienced no nausea, but the fatigue is beyond description. Spending full days lieing around is difficult. However, today, 7 days past the treatment, I managed to get out shopping and even made some supper. I'm hoping the next 2 weeks will be fine to prepare for #3 and half-way there. Hang in there everyone, this too shall pass.

MollyK

Well, I am 5 days post TAC #2. I've been in bed since. Not way sick, just way tired this time. Karen, sorry to hear you aren't sleeping. At least the Decadron is only taken for a few days. I am also gaining weight and find it depressing. I know this is a silly question but i wonder if anyone does Weight Watchers during Chemo. I just don't want to gain and find myself having more ugly days than I care too and am anxious for the hair to grow back.

Side effects are pretty similiar to my first with the exception that I have a lot more back/shoulder/neck pain. I guess this is the result of the Neulasta shot?

Anyone have young children or children at home while going through this treatment? I was wondering how this is all effecting them.

Let me know how you guys are all feeling.... Molly

jpsgirl96

Hi Molly, The WW thing isn't silly. I was determined not to GAIN weight - I will already have a lot to lose when I finish tx - so I restarted using WW online, with the tracking tools and message boards, not really totally "OP" as they say, but just trying to be aware and manage it when it's not managing me (ie after day 8 or 9!) I think it's costing me $15 a month but I just can't manage meetings even when I'm NOT battling bc LOL. I think because I'm not drinking alcohol and eating more fruits and vegetables (probably out of pure fear, but whatever works!) I've lost some weight and the WW online kind of reinforces me.
I have very specific lower back pain this time; saw onc Monday and she thinks that's the Neulasta. Leigh
PS No kids at home; the grown ones (stepdaughters) are both very supportive, though I think it scares them both some, and they are in their 20's. They act it out differently, one is very tender and caretaking, the other wants to be around but not to talk about it much.

MollyK

leigh- i'm not a ww meeting person myself, but i have done the 'online' thing before. i don't know if i'm eating more because i'm depressed about the whole bc or because i'm bored when i can't leave the house when i'm not feeling well or what? but i just know i NEED to do something before i gain anymore. (10 lbs.) i thought with chemo, i'd lose weight. no such luck for me. that is encouraging to me that it is helping you and you found it to be effective. i just want to feel healthy again. Plus, I have the fear of reoccurance and I figure if I'm healthy, there will be less of a chance. i do crave a lot of fruits and vegies but junk food too. food tastes bad for about 3 or 4 days after treatment...but that is about it. I feel fortunate that my side effects are not too bad. Inconvenient but manageable.

I had to take a left over hydrocodone from my surgery to combat the neulasta back pain. it kinda took me off guard. more than i imagined. no pain in your neck or shoulders?

Molly

jpsgirl96

No, the Neulasta pain is all over aching and exhaustion; I gave in and took some of my leftovers (also Hydrocodone) and the onc thought that was good and asked if I needed more. Today's problem is burning in my lower back, across both sides; my husband made me call and so now they are consulting to see what I should do. The worry is that it's kidney related from the Cytoxan but I don't have fever or chills (yet??).
I have the same pattern - NOTHING tastes good for several days, today is probably the first day (Day 7 if tx is Day 1) that I'm getting some normal taste back. It's interesting because I don't really want meat, so I've been able to add more fruits and veggies - after the first week. And I do yoga and some walking, but only in weeks 2 and 3. I was at my max ever weight, so losing the initial 15 or 20 is the easy part...I'm like you, I want every advantage so reducing those fat cells will be very high on my list. I'm also not a joiner; that's why the online thing works for me. Leigh