Starting chemo Oct. 21, 09

nels032

Just wanting to talk to someone who has been through TCx4 for triple negative IDC.  How sick did the Chemo make you?  And how soon did you lose your hair?

Sido

Thank you for starting this topic!  I'm in the same boat as you (TC x4, TN IDC), but I start chemo on Friday.

skigrl

I started  chemo dec 08, ACx4 andTaxolx4, the ac made me quite week and nausea, it felt like someone poured lead into my body, i had a hard time getting up. If i were to have to do it all over again, i would drink drink drink fluids way before the symptoms started. I ended up getting dehydrated and didnt take my nausuea meds soon enough. I finally was able to get a really good protein shake into me that really helped with my energy. The symptoms did not hit until 3 days after the chemo. Also every new session of chemo was a little harder for me, but i know some that did not experience it as bad as i did...so stay hydrated even if you dont feel like drinking. And take your meds first thing, even before you start feeling yucky. I started losing my hair right after the second dose of chemo which was every 2 weeks. It started plopping out while i was in the shower, i had my friend come over and buzz it off.

Good luck to you, take any help that is offered to you, and dont over do it.

concernedsis

Sis was not triple negative but did 4 dose dense A/C's every 2 weeks follwoed by 12 weekly Taxol. Its really individual some people did ok she had a rough time with A/C needed hydration twice. If she had to do it over her advice would be:

1) Buzz your hair - it started shedding between treatment 2 and 3 and eventually fell out in clumps - much better when we finally just buzzed it off - you will cry no matter how strong you are - its tough - she still has a ziplock of hair in the drawer. Buy your wig while you have hair - she used a monofiliment top one whcih breathed - get a script from the doc - insurance may pay.

2)  Hydrate b4 the treatments to help your veins pop and also to help when you may not wanna drink so much

3) Clean yourself out bowel wise prior to treatment - the nausea meds are sooo constipating.

4) PREVENT if possible the nausea - once it hits its a beast.

5) Dont eat heavy after chemo even if you feel well - it  may come back to haunt you later 

6) If you are getting Neulasta ask your doc about Claritan to prevent bone pain.

7) Get a med box, lay the meds out very clearly so when you dont feel well you dont have to think about it.

8) Dont eat your favorite food during chemo - you may make associations that make you not want it ever again.

Best of luck

jeanl151

Hi Girls,  I am triple negative and meeting oncologist for first time on Thursday. I have heard the doctor explains the medicines that can be used.

 My question is how do you make the decision on which chemo drugs to use. I feel like it is just a guess I would be making. I want the medicines to work!!    Has anyone read what is thought to be the most effective? What was recommended to you?  was there anything anyone chose not to do?

    I feel like the TN part of this makes it extra scary. I don't want to make the wrong choice.

Jean

carolinachick

I had TC (taxotere and cytoxan), which my onc says is very effective.  I wasn't really given an option of which drugs to use, but I trust him and went with what he recommended.

jenn3

The only choice I was given was whether or not to join the Avastin trial.  I trusted my onc and was given (and still on) AC/T Adriamycian/Cytoxan/Taxol and I did join the trial.

yogamommy

I was not really given a choice - except neoadjuvant (4 oncologists recommended) or not. I had 4 rounds of dose dense (every 2 weeks) AC and then 12 weekly doses of Taxol (my 12th one next Monday). I just told my onc to be aggressive and have even thought about additional chemo after surgery.

My onc said hair would fall out between days 12 and 14 of 1st treatment, and it did on Day 13. I had almost all my hair cut off before so I can make something out of it and so loss would not be extra stressful. Taxol is kicking my butt! I am on round the clock painkillers due to bone pain. Also, my nails are disgusting, but that's cosmetic. And I am sooooo bloated and swollen.

Good luck.

Vickie

vbabey

Hi All TN's. Hope you all have a good day today. I am on day 16 and my family is shaving my head tonite. It is all over the place!  Had 2 rounds of chemo, I can definitely feel second one a little more. Had a terrible time with contstiptation, but making sure I take senna s now two in morning and two at night...working like a charm. I am taking the A/C first then Taxol with Gemzar (?) Had hoped to get into a clinical trail replacing Gemzar with a PARP inhibitor that I fit into, but it was full already...very bummed about that. So I will just move forward and hope for the best!  

Vickie, heard about nail problems, what happens to the nails?

Skigrl and Jenn, notice you are in my stage, did your tumor come about fast and furious like mine?   

jeanl151

Hi girls,  I saw onc this week. I will start Oct 28th with tx 6 doses of TC once every 3 weeks. He never mentioned any trial meds and felt we could do without the A.  I know a lot of people have ports but he never mentioned one.

skigrl

Vbabey,

Yes my tumor appeared 2 months after my mammogram came back just fine!!!!

I was in the shower and mindng my own business, just rubbing the soap off my left boob and felt a bump....hmm. I thought it couldnt be anything since i just had a mamm. and it was fine, plus my breast are lumpy, bumpy anyway. So i went the whole summer thinking it is just a cyst and will have it checked when the kids head back to school. I didnt want to go to the Dr. during the summer fun. Oct2nd they said it was CANCER! WTF!!!

What a crazy year it has been.

Good luck with your treatment. STAY HYDRATED!!!!

jenn3

Vbabey - Yes, my tumor came out of nowhere and moved quickly.  I found a small lump in my breast which was painful and two months later it was dx stage IIIa.  I had just had an annual exam a few months prior, regular mammograms and did regular exams on myself.  I had large breast and thought it was a cyst, especially because it hurt.  Cancer doesn't hurt right???

I'm on Taxol #3 and my nails are starting to look funny too.  They have discoloration and ridges in them - yuck!  I also noticed that my thinned eyebrows and eyelashes from AC are falling out even more now that I'm on Taxol. 

I'll give the same advice as above - stay hydrated during treatment and good luck!

vbabey

THank you ladies for sharing your symptoms...I was so freaked out about how this all came about...I will definitely keep drinking alot...I am completely avoiding sugar to starve my tumor, I researched that somewhere, hope it works. Have a good week ahead all

123Donna

I just finished 4 rounds of TX on September 24th.  Everyone's side effects will differ.  Mine were manageable, mostly tired and achy.  I did experience a little neuropathy and rash/itch mostly on my hands and feet after the 3rd treatment.  The chemo nurses should give you lots of prechemo meds to help with the nausea.  I began losing my hair on day 15 after the first chemo treatment.  My dh shaved my head to about 3/8" and then most of it fell out within the next few days to a week.