Cytoxan and Taxotere ?

sdstarfish

Hi, Joanne and everyone:
I survived the first treatment. I brought a friend, and we watched a comedy (I guess many chemo rooms are set up with personal tv's like my hospital?)
Anyway, at first I felt a bit queasy when the benedryl and Dexadron went in. But it passed, because the anti-nausea med kicked in.
After the movie I fell asleep for awhile (benedryl I guess), and when I awoke it was almost over. The whole thing took 4 hours, and should take 3 next time.
They also want me back in tomorrow to get a shot, something that helps your bone marrow keep makinhg white cells. Good times!
No side effects at home yet, except that I slept a long time. I ate well later on. Stay tuned...
I am glad it's over with. The waiting for the unknown is the scariest part. Now if I could only get the wait for the side effects out of the way...

joanne_elizabeth

Lisa,
Glad to hear you got thru it and actually slept thru part of it. That is a loooonggg time 4 hrs. I wonder why it takes so long. Well tomorrow is my turn. I hope I get some sleep tonight.

Joanne

sdstarfish

Hi, Joanne:
How are you feeling? I hope you're ok. Do you have to get a shot tomorrrow? I got mine yesterday. Today I have mild flu symptoms.
Could be worse I guess!

joanne_elizabeth

Hi Lisa,
Thanks for asking. I am doing okay. I feel tired, but so far that is all. I do have to get a shot tomorrow. Flu feelings doens't sound like fun, I hope it doesn't last too long.
1 down!

Joanne

sdstarfish

We can do this, Joanne

joanne_elizabeth

Lisa,
Yes we can! Anybody know when the nadir is after chemo? I have heard that is often when fatigue is the worst - is it a week later? I guess Neulasta helps avoid some of this?

Joanne

ghw123

Joanne,
My onc told me the nadir was 10 days after chemo. I don't know whether or not Neulasta helps with the fatigue.
You and Lisa just hang in there, you'll be fine.
Gayle

charkleroad

Hi Everyone -
I had my first round of TC 14 days ago. The nadir for me was the 4th day. - Christine

2curvy

Hi Ladies: I just finished my 4 CT treatments. Very management, with the 4th treatment causing the most fatigue, and especially leg pain. No nail bed problems, no neuropathy (yet). Did have bad heartburn, bad headaches, and after the 3rd treatment I broke out in an awful rash. My hearing seems to be effected as well. Good luck! Its very manageable.

joanne_elizabeth

Thanks for all the answers. How do you know when the nadir is? I had my 1st 2 days ago and I am fairly fatigued, then rest, then do some more kind of thing. When do I go bald?? That of course is a big one. I am supposed to get my hair cut very short today.

Joanne

sdstarfish

Not to sound dumb...but what is nadir?
Ladies, my head feels like it is about to explode from this stupid chemo. I feel miserable.
Still have hair, though. It's Day 5 for me.

joanne_elizabeth

I think nadir is when your blood cell counts (white or neutrophils) are the lowest? I think it is what the neulasta shots help.
I have about an inch of hair left after my "beauty" parlor visit. Yikes! Between the scarlet red cheeks from the steroids and weird hair, my dog is starting not to recognize me.
btw the hairdressor just tole me, "well stage II isn't great, but at least it isn't stage IV." People need to think sometimes I guess.

sdstarfish

Hi, Joanne:
You are so brave to get your hair cut. I don't have the guts to let go any sooner than I have to. Your thing about the hairdresser made me smile. People have no clue.

Th oncology department says that my severe headaches are either a reaction to the poison (I mean chemo) or a drug withdrawl reaction from the Decadron. Nice! So they gave me 800 mg of Motrin. The pain is duller but definitely still screaming.
Are you still able to eat? I hope so.

charkleroad

Hi Ladies:
Wonder if any of you had a problem with hemorrhoids during Chemo??? I am having a hard time with them. My doctor said it is very common with Chemo treatments. He asked me to use Preperation H and Tucks Pads. I have tried and they are not going away. I can barely function. Help!

sdstarfish

Ouch. Can you eat much, Christine? Like maybe some raisin bran cereal, or oatmeal? That might help things out easier (not to be gross, we're all friends here)
Try putting pure aloe gel or arnica gel on them, or send a friend to a Health food store to see if they have anything gentle that will work. Also, gotu kola is an herb that heals you from the inside out (great for my lumpectomy surgery, haven't tried it for 'roids). You can get it in drops, and you just drink it in some water.

charkleroad

Lisa:
Thank you for your quick reply. I can eat fine and not constipated at all. I have a funny feeling that the Chemo is shrinking something down there… Just wondering if anyone else has had the same problem?

I also had chills this evening. It was 70+ F degree. I felt cold. Put a sweater on and had 2 cups of hot tea. Then, the chills were gone. – Christine

joanne_elizabeth

I am trying to eat prunes, raisins, water whenever possible. I think it helps the GI tract, at least so far. I am also making myself walk in the AM which is like dragging a log down the street.
I am fairly fatigued by this so far though. For some silly reason I didn't expect to be so dragged out. I am getting night sweats also, wake up pretty sweaty with the blankets on and the AC. Who knows?
Joanne

sdstarfish

Day 6. Still have hair. Still have screaming headache. But I ate more yesterday, and went for a short walk. My little girl is getting home from her week away at camp today. Hope I don't scare her with my zombie-ness.

joanne_elizabeth

Lisa,
How are you doing today? How old is your little girl? I hate to complain but I don't like this stuff!!
Is anybody else trying to work during this? I had planned to, but have felt so wiped out from the first TC I am starting to wonder if I can.

Joanne

Charlie451

Hi all,
I'm glad to find this TC thread as that's what I'm taking, too. I've had one tx, the next will be friday (7-6). The first week was the most uncomfortable but really not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. My nadir has been from about day 7-10, I think. No Nuelasta shot. I'm trying to keep the fruit and veggies diet going, with protein, too. Still have my hair. I have been feeling "normal" for days now. I am hoping my onc will go for 4 tx though he had originally said 4-6 depending on tolerance.
I am 60, had 2.1cm IDC, node neg, stage 2, er-,pr-,her2-.
Any one lost hair, yet?? My onc's PA said it will happen. I've got wigs, scarves, etc. I was expecting it to go by day 14.
Linda

charkleroad

Joanne:
I felt much better after 5 days of my first TC treatment.-Christine

sdstarfish

Hi, Joanne:
Please, don't worry about complaining. This is better than a support group - especially since we can't go very far these days.

I am managing, but I'm with you. I hate this stuff
I don't feel like myslef at all, and it really messes with my quality of life. I never want to have to go through chemo again. My daughter is 8 years old. She had a great time at camp, but I think she is worried about me. I walk slow because my bones are aching, and I find that I have a short temper due to the banging headache.

What's it been like for you? What kind of side effects do you have?

sdstarfish

Hi, Charlie:
My onc said that you lose the hair by day 17. Who knows?
You are being smart with the diet. I was juicing before chemo, but now most veggies taste like metal to me. So I bought veggie greens powder to mix into my smoothies. If I mix it with berries and a frozen banana, I don't taste it much.

Did you ask to have no Nuelasta shot? Or did they just not give you one?

shrink

Day 14 - lost most of my hair. Went to the beauty shop for a buzz cut which doesn't look too bad actually. When my hair grows in, I may wear it that way. However, I did cry a lot. In a day or two, I'll have no hair but I'm prepared with hats and scarves and wigs. Felt fine 5 days after my first AC treatment. Due for #2 on Thursday. I hope it will be as manageable.

Charlie451

Lisa,
Well, if your onc is right about day 17, I lose my hair tomorrow. There's no use stressing about it. When it goes, it goes. I am a believer in juicing, too. The frozen banana and berries sounds great. My daughter has introduced me to a juice she makes with pineapple, orange, and grapefruit juices plus a minced parsely for the greens. She adds more stuff but I modified it to the above. Sometimes it's just orange juice and minced parsley.
On one of these threads I read about taking a zinc supplement to erase the metallic taste from chemo. I tried it and it worked. It only took one tablet to do it for me. My onc's PA is holding off a Neulasta shot for me until absolutely necessary. ( I hear they are also very costly). My neutrophils are very low but she expects it to come up this week. I hope so.
Shrink,
I know what you mean about the short hair. I had a really, really short cut and kinda like it, too.
Charlie/Linda

joanne_elizabeth

Hi everyone,
I got the neulasta automatically day 2. Today is day 5 and I am not as completely exhausted as yesterday, but still tired.
I would say the main side effect is fatigue, I am borderline not wanting to eat, I get headaches and achey pains I think from Neulasta. I am hoping it gets a bit better each day.
Do these generally get worse? Is the 3rd treatment that much tougher than the 1st?
For some reason I didn't think this TC would be too bad since there is no adriamycin, but it isnt' a cake walk for sure.
Trying to get ready to be bald in ? a week.

Joanne

ghw123

Concerning Neulasta:
I took 2 extra-strength acetaminophen tablets before I left home to get the shot, and every 4 hours after for that day and the next. The only time I had bone pain was after my first shot, and I didn't start the acetaminophen regimen until after the shot. I don't know if that had anything to do with it or not.
Good luck to all of you, I know what you're going thru, but you can do it.
Gayle

joanne_elizabeth

Lisa,
How are you doing today? How are the side effects?

sdstarfish

Hi, Everyone So glad to hear that some of you are feeling less terrible.
Today is my first not-bad day. I am so excited. It cracks me up, because if this had been a year ago I would have said, "What a rough day - non-stop headache!" Now I'm saying, "What a great day! Headache is not as lethal anymore, and my stomach actually growled for food!!!"
My back and jaw bones still hurt, but not as much.

Guess what? I got acupuncture today (but no needles in the lymph node arm, of course). A nurse/bc survivor who teaches yoga at my hospital reccommended it. She said it lessened her side effects a lot. It wasn't terrible. I barely felt most of them. I am going twice a week until Treatment # 2. They are focusing on the headaches above all.

joanne_elizabeth

Lisa,
Glad to hear things are going better! I was starting to wonder if they overdosed me on Taxotere this past week!
Today is day 7 for me and I have more nrg first thing in the AM. That is a good sign.
I am the same way, I said to my DH I am so happy to feel quasi normal for a bit, what a difference from before chemo and BC!
That is great the acupunture helps. I should look into that cause different days my head felt as if it would explode. I actually walked a 1/2 hour today.
I still can't drag myself into work, but maybe Thurs.
Joanne