Beginning Second Cycle of Chemo

nanclee

Today I completed my first cycle of four treatments of AC, and will be beginning my second cycle of four of Taxol....is there anything I should expect?  Any weird side effects?  I got through the first cycle wonderfully thanks to really expensive anti-nausea drugs and a positive atitude. I am 46. My dr. told me I should sail through with little to no side effects. Any comments?

lmb1104

Hi Nancy...I had the same cycle of AC/Taxol x 16 wks total.  I did fine with the AC thanks to Nuelasta.  The worst part of the 2nd part...Taxol; was bone aches.  It felt like I had a really bad flu or cold.  It sometimes felt like I had needles going through my bones and joints.  All in all though it is bearable and simple gets you closer to the most important...Last treatment!  I took OTC pain killers but hit the Hydocodone when needed as well.  My last Chemo treatment was July 29th and as of today I have 5 more radiation treatments left...Best of luck to you!!!

Lisa

GoodMommy

Hi Nancy,

 I didn't have that protocol--I had 6 treatments of TAC.  I did well with my treatments and I would guess that your doctor is correct.  You will probably do well with the Taxol.  You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

God bless,

Chris

nanclee

Lisa, Thanks for your feedback.  I will be starting 6.5 wks of radiation after my 4 Taxol treatments..probably just after Christmas.  I'd like to know how radiation is going for you so I have some idea of what to expect.  It seems like every day I'm just waiting for the unknown to happen..it helps to hear from others. God Bless You & thanks for responding!!

karenbarrows

HI NANCY,

I AM STARTING MY CHEMO MONDAY OCT 20TH. I AM ALSO TRIPLE NEG.0/4 LN. I AM ONLY GETTING AC FOR MY TREATMENT. DID THEY EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY YOU WERE ALSO GETTING THE TAXOL. I AM GOING TO DANA FARBER IN BOSTON BUT I HOPE I'M NOT MISSING SOMETHING I SHOULD BE GETTING. IF IT'S ALRIGHT I'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE OF YOUR TREATMENT SIDE EFFECTS ETC BECAUSE WE WILL BE GOING THROUGH IT ABOUT THE SAME TIME. I AM VERY NERVOUS ABOUT MONDAY AND CAN'T SLEEP AS IT IS WITH MY WORRY. HOW ARE YOU SLEEPING NOW? DOES IT MAKE YOU MORE TIRED SO YOU ARE FORCED TO SLEEP. KEEP IN TOUCH.

KARE

peachespm

Nancy,

Glad to see  your question. I have the same questions. I am getting ready to go into 4 tx of taxol. I have one more tx with AC. So far the only thing I have really felt with the AC is the extreme tiredness. My third day out I wake up a little puny, but take either zofron or ativan and then take my "magic pill"(the three day pill) and I am good to go. Last week my head ached a little but that was because my hair was ready to come out. I ended up shaving it on Wednesday a week ago. So liberating. I like you would love to hear about some experiences on toxol, my nurse said because I am doing so well, it just might make me more tired. I take neulasta on Monday mornings since my chemo is on friday and  someone hinted to me to take advil before during and after so I don't have the aches.

I wish you luck and take care... HUGS!!!

karenbarrows

HI NANCY,

THANKS FOR WRITING BACK. DID YOU HAVE A HEADACHE BEFORE YOUR HAIR FELL OUT OR WAS YOUR SCALP BOTHERING YOU? DOES IT GET SENSITIVE BEFORE IT FALLS OUT. I WAS WONDERING THOUGH WHY I'M NOT GETTING THE TAXOL. WE SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME DX. DID THEY EXPLAIN THAT TO YOU? SO I HAVE ALREADY BEGUN DRINKING ATLEAST 3 LITERS OF WATER PER DAY, STARTED MY MIRALAX(LAX AND SOFTENER) BOUGHT TYLENOL, BIOTENE MOUTHWASH AND TOOTHPASTE, BLEACHING MY BATHROOMS TODAY. ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD DO. I SURE AM ANTSY JUST WAITING FOR MONDAY. I TOOK TUESDAY OFF. I'LL BE GETTING MY NEULASTA THAT DAY AND THEN I WAS PLANNING TO WORK WEDNESDAY. NO WORK NO PAY. I'M OUT OF SICK TIME DUE TO APPTS, SURGERY ETC SO I REALLY WANT TO GET BACK. YOU SAID YOUR THIRD DAY WAS JUST A BIT BAD. WHAT EXACTLY DID YOU TAKE THAT DAY WITH THE ATIVAN? ALSO, DID YOU TRY THE CLARITIN AS I'VE READ IN OTHER POSTS? SORRY TO ASK SO MANY QUESTIONS. THANKS KAREN

debk55

Hi All,

I am going to be starting my chemo 10-31 4 x AC then T x 12 with Avastin I am in a clincial trail.

Just wondering did any of you work thru chemo. I do have 15 wks of disability but this is my DH's very slow time of year with his business. And I just started this job 3 months ago. I work in a family practice office 10 hours a day. Any info would be great.  Sounds like you all are doing as good as it gets with cards we were dealt:)    HAd port put in thurs that was not fun. Feeling a little better today!

Blessing to all of you and HUGS also.  Debk:)

majjers

Hey Debk55,

I have almost the same stats as you, dx last year.  I had 4 rounds of AC and then 4 rounds of Taxol.  I worked pretty much the whole time.  I was blessed that I could call in and stay home, work a little from home, work 1/2 day or whatever I felt like.  That was very good for me so I could stay active and not disrupt my entire life.  My disability was good for a year whether I took it all at once or hours at a time.  So when treatments were done and I still had appointments to go to, I still had disability time to use and didn't have to eat up my sick or vacation time for the new year.  Its all up to you though and how you feel.  Take one day at a time and let yourself rest when you need to, do things when you feel good and just go with the flow.  It makes it alot easier.

 Best of wishes to you,

Traci

nanclee

Karen, You said in your post that you were starting AC yesterday so I am checking to see how you are feeling.  I had few side effects after my first round of AC...it seems to build up in your system so each one gets a bit harder. I have worked the entire time during chemo, but find that the 2-4 days following each treatment are the worst days.  I experienced more fatigue, bone/body aches and just generally feeling "shitty" those days but it goes away soon after, but it is managable. My hair began to fall out 12 days after my first AC, and was practically completely gone 5 days later (That was by far my most emotional week!) My scalp was a little sensitive for a few days.  Let me know how things are going...I'm hoping you will get through it with little discomfort!  Nancy

nanclee

Peaches,  My doc says that since I handled my AC x 4 so well, the Taxol x 4 will have little side effects so I'm really hoping he is right. He has taken me off the Neulasta shot following my new chemo cycle w/ Taxol only..and has decreased my anti-nausea meds to just Zofran.  I have my first Taxol on 10/28 so I'll keep you updated on how I feel afterward.  I have continued to work throughout (I am a server at a really busy restaurant and am on my feet for hours at a time) so I have been pretty lucky so far.  Please keep me updated on how you are doing!  Nancy

karenbarrows

NANCY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REMEMBERING ME AND WRITING BACK. I WAS SO SO SICK YESTERDAY. NAUSEA HEARTBURN, DIZZY, WHOOZY, HEADACHE. I CALLED MY DOC AND SHE RECOMMENDED PRILOSEC OTC DAILY FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY CHEMO TREATMENT. SHE ALSO SAID TO TAKE ANOTHER ATIVAN AND REST. I WAS ABLE TO DRINK A FULL 2 LITER BOTTLE OF GINGERALE FOR WHICH I WAS GRATEFUL. DID YOU ACTUALLY WORK THE DAY AFTER YOUR TREATMENT? I FEEL LIKE SUCH AN IDIOT THAT I'VE MISSED SO MUCH WORK AS IT IS. I AM MUCH BETTER TODAY WHICH IS DAY TWO AFTER TX AND PLAN TO BE IN WORK TOMORROW.

THANK YOU AGAIN NANCY FOR THINKING OF ME

KAREN 

nanclee

Karen, Everyone reacts totally different to the chemo drugs they give you so don't ever feel bad for feeling sick and/or not being able to work!  I was just lucky I guess to handle the drugs as well as I did. What anti-nausea medicine are you getting?  The headache will go away after a day or two.  I found that you just have to go with the fatigue..if you feel like a nap...take it, even a 1/2 hr will help.  The "off" week of chemo will be the better of the two, so try to plan your errands/laundry/etc. that week if possible. Please let me know how you are doing.  For me, I am starting my second cycle of chemo on 10/29..taxol x 4 so I'll keep you posted as well.

karenbarrows

HI NANCY,

I GOT MY SECOND TX OF AC LAST MONDAY 11/3. DOC ARRANGED FOR IV FLUIDS ON MORE DECADRON AND ATIVAN IV WITH IT. THE THIRD MED THEY GIVE ME IS A ZOFRAN TYPE THAT WORKS FOR THREE DAYS POST TX. I FORGET THE NAME. I WAS VERY SICK AGAIN THOUGH. REFLUX AND HEADACHE MOSTLY. REALLY GETTING THE LIQUIDS IN NOW THOUGH. AND I KNOW THAT IS KEY. HAIR STARTED FALLING OUT LAST SUNDAY. TODAY IS FRIDAY AND I HAVE AN APPT TODAY AT DANA FARBER TO SHAVE MY HEAD AND THEY WILL ADJUST MY WIG. STILL COULDN'T MAKE IT TO WORK THIS WEEK. DID YOU SAY YOU ARE ABLE TO WORK? ARE YOU BY ANY CHANCE GAINING ANY WEIGHT. I JUST CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY I AM EATING AT ALL. BUT I'VE GAINED TEN POUNDS. AND I'M ALREADY 40 OVER. AS LONG AS I'M FEELING OK THOUGH IT SHOULD BE ENOUGH. NOW YOU HAD YOUR SECOND TREATMENT A FEW DAYS BEFORE MINE. HOW ARE YOU DOING? DO YOU HAVE ANYONE TO HELP YOU? TALK TO? CRY TO? LAUGH WITH? LET ME KNOW. THANKS FOR WRITING BACK TO ME. I JUST FOUND IT TODAY. IT TRULY MADE ME FEEL GOOD.

LOVE KAREN

nanclee

Karen, I just saw your reply..Sorry it took so long to post.  I was VERY lucky and managed AC x 4 relatively well..I did experience sinus headaches, insomnia, body aches, etc and did gain about 5 lbs...my doc says that is associated w/ menopause (chemo-induced). My biggest complaint is the hot flashes, especially at night. I asked about taking something for them but my doc says I just need to deal with them...not what I wanted to hear!  I am now on my second cycle of chemo (Taxol x 4) which ends 12/10/08... followed by 6 &1/2 wks of radiation as my New Year's present.  I have a 12 yr old son who is basically freaked out & going through puberty at the same time.  My husband has been very supportive in his own way but I would be lost without my girlfriends. They have been with me from day 1...attending every doc appt, test, chemo, etc..women don't freak out about this shit, ya know??  What about you...do you have anyone there for ya?  I want to know how things are going..please let me know. Love, Nancy

E-mail: n.jaks@yahoo.com 

karenbarrows

Hi Nancy,

I have been thinking my headaches were allergy related because it is definitely my sinuses. So I guess that is normal for others. My Doc told me I would have little to no side effects and got discouraged when so much hit. I keep second guessing myself as that tough old broad who usually does either sail through or can atleast make it look like I am. So my life...I am living with a boyfriend in a a relationship I was ending when I got diagnosed. I figured it was easier to stay while going through treatment than to start the whole fear of being alone, ending relationship issues etc for now. I am however rethinking this and may move in with my daughter instead. She is 25 years old and hates my being here and feels isolated/disconnected to me because of this relationship and I have truly seen how mature and frightened she is by this whole bc thing. I have some great girlfriends. Today in fact three are meeting me for lunch at Isaacs in Plymouth and they are calling it a "mandatory crazy hat" day. I told one friend how annoying the wig is and how I'd just prefer hats...she called the others and now we will all four be wearing hats. I love stuff like that about them. My family is great. Mom and Dad are in Canton and I will stay there again after my next tx for a few days. Mom is a psychologist and has and incredible gift to love her children no matter how old we are and still getting into insane relationships. Dad is now saying "I love you" and initiating it. He is with all five of his kids since this thing started in August. We all realize how precious we are to eachother when something like this hits. My cousin, his niece was dx with ovarian cancer last year and going through her second round of chemo(seems much much worse than ours.) Then her husband was dx was a tonsil type of cancer two weeks ago. This has all hit not just him but our family pretty hard. Where is all this damn cancer coming from. They have young kids like yourself. Surprisingly, my friends at work are what surprised me the most. I am a Medical Assistant for a family practice in Bourne. I haven't been able to work like I thought I would. I now have my second uri and have been to sick to work. Anyway that was the toughest. It took me a while to realize that they are work friends and not hang aroung in your old sweater kind of friends. At first it hurt to not hear from them but had to understand that they have to be at work each day and make sure patients are cared for whether I'm there or not. But that took some reflection mixed with tears to realize it is not personal. I may be home feeling sick and alone but everyone's life does continue...so I stopped that pity party and love them and know that when I get back to work we will continue to be friends. I have a feeling though that I will be much more aware of what others may be going through during times of personal crisis and reach out more than I have in the past. I guess we can't go through this without growing inwardly in many ways. So for today I thanked God for the sun coming up, crazy friends, and new friends such as you. I have met so many wonderful people I've lost count. I even thanked God for chemo today so I know I  am starting to get my brain around the truly big picture here. I don't know if we can put phone numbers on this site but I'd love to talk sometime. Let me know if it is allowed and I will post in in my next message. Hug your husband and son tight.

Love Karen