Calling all TNs

SizzleStitch

Sorry I haven't posted for awhile. I have definitely had my ups and downs since my 3rd treatment. I ended up having an allergic reaction to the Taxetere call pneumonitis which mimics pneumonia. I started with fevers last Sunday but it took until I went back Thursday to find out what was wrong. They started me on pregnazone for 9 days. At least it isn't decadron, this one easier on the mind so far. And, I felt better right away after the first dose.

Anyone else here have this happen with Taxetere?

I can't take Taxetere anymore and my final spa treatment was supposed to be Tuesday but now has to be moved back...I think it may be the 21st. Good new is with what they say they are giving me, I don't have to ice my hands and feet and no neulasta shot after....I haven't heard the SE for the new cocktail yet so I am trying to think on the bright side :-)

Welcome to all the newbies..and I am so glad the news, for the most part ,is good for everyone. I hope someday, my mind will be much clearer and I will remember everyone's names and can keep up better. :-)

speechmom22

Sizzle, I also had an allergic reaction to Taxotere after my 3rd round. 7 days after treatment I woke up covered in hives and welts. When my face started to swell and lips tingle I went to ER. My blood pressure dropped dangerously low and I was treated for anaphylaxis. I was in the hospital for 5 days until the hives went away and new ones stopped coming out. The itching was unbearable. I was on prednisone, benedryl, pepcid, and atarax for 5 days. I remained on the Pepcid and prednisone for 10 days after discharge. My MO changed me to Adriamycin instead of the Taxotere for my last treatment. The only different SE I experienced this time was acne on my face. Good luck to you! I begin radiation on Monday. Continuing to plug along!

SizzleStitch

Thanks for the in info Speechmom. Sounds like you had it worse. I was just so tired and had fever spikes constantly. They say they are giving me CMF which I hope will be effective. They said it would be fine since I had three of the Taxetere and Cytoxan. I will be done after that one since I had a double with reconstruction already.

Good luck with your Radiation...I hope it goes easily for you.

t100angel

Today was a great day. I joined a BC 5k walk, Inspiring Hope, and walked the route with my GF that is a Thyroid Cancer survivor. I'm a bit tired now since I haven't been doing much walking in the last 2 months. This will be the last event I do until next year since I start chemo on the 20th. I do plan to do a daily walk (when I can) to help flush the chemo out of my system.

Any other tips for dealing with side-effects?

Tobycc

Sizzle, I had a reaction to both taxol and taxotere also: burned hands and feet from within the body. Not hand/ foot symdrome, but my hands and feet were so swollen red, peeling, horrible. MUCH worse than radition burn

CMF was a breeze compared to that. So glad you found us --- there is also a CMF thread

K

t100angel

What is hand/foot syndrome?

Meadow

Angel Im glad you had a great day! Drink tons of water to help with SEs, rest rest. take your meds if you feel nausea coming before you really need them

SizzleStitch

Tobycc, sorry to hear of your allergic reaction. I do hope it has gone away. I looked up hand/foot and yours sound much worse. I have been very fortunate to have not had too many SE. I do take it incredibly easy unless I feel really good. Sit with feet up,and basically don't do much of anything but try to heal.

I am glad the CMF won't be bad. I think I am worried most about nausea. I haven't had any with the meds they have given me so far. Regardless, I am supposed to only have one of these treatments anyway and be done... woo hoo!

It looks like you are done with your treatments. How are you feeling now? I hope great. Did you loose your hair? And , if so, is it growing back? I do hate being bald and wigs are hot here in Florida :-/

I did read a lot of the old posts but most of the time I was on decadron and now I am on Prednisone. My mind just won't keep information very well so please excuse me if you have already posted this info before.

Tobycc

Sizzle, CMF was much better for me, and only 9 more visits to radiation! I am having a wonderful Mother's Day, and life is good: Yes, I am still wearing a wig and it IS hot! My hair is coming back in steadily, but I know it will be at least September until I shed it

Happy Mothers Day to all-- this day is a holiday for everyone

K

Luvmydobies

First off I want to say Happy Mother's Day to everyone!! Hope you are all having a great day. My hubby fixed a nice breakfast from him and our dobies! Haha!!

My three month checkup is tomorrow with my Onc. Will you guys please say a prayer? It's always nerve wracking for me. I'm also having some painful urination and abdominal pain, which some of you may remember I've been dealing with this off and on for a long time. I will ask for a urinalysis and culture. I've had countless urine tests come back negative and a culture a few months ago that was negative. But I still fear a UTI because I am scared of antibiotics because of my C Diff history. That stuff scared me worse than cancer!! So please pray for me!!!

Welcome to all the newbies! Although I hate that anyone has to be here. I'm still shocked sometimes that I even have see an Oncologist at my age, but we all know cancer does not discriminate. It's still not fair to any of us though!!! SUCKS!!!

Meadow

Thank you Luvie and Toby, and the same to you. Happy Mother's Day to all

slv58

Luv, saying a prayer for you.

Happy healthy wonderful Mothers a Day ladies

Luvmydobies

Thanks Shari!

slv58

Positive thoughts!

Luvmydobies

So my Onc took a urine sample and sent it for analysis and a culture. I'll get the urinalysis results today but the culture will take a couple of days. I just pray it's not an infection!! Aside from that he said everything else was good! He said we can now start going four months between checkups. that makes me a bit nervous BUT it is good news!!!

slv58

Luv, I remembered reading on one of the threads that someone was having bladder issues with Cytoxan so I looked it up and a lesser known side effect can be blood in the urine or painful urination. Is it possible this is just a SE from Cytoxan? Did your MO mention this? Did you have this since chemo? I hate all these latent SE we are left with but I guess to rid ourselves of disease we have to

Luvmydobies

Shari, he told me that since I seem to be in peri menopause from chemo that it could be part of the issue. He did not mention that it could be a long term effect of chemo. It started around this time last year and I finished chemo in August 2013. Actually finished A/C in May of that year. I have an appointment with a Gynocologist who is a pain specialist in two weeks so hopefully she will have some answers. He said the small fibroid could be contributing depending on the location of it. He mentioned a urologist if my urine comes back clean and everything checks out with the gyno. So now it's a waiting game. Ugh.I sure hope and pray it's not an infection. But I'm getting tired of the burning and off and on pelvic pains.

slv58

I really hope you get answers soon, I know how tiring and stressful it can be. Hopefully it's not too uncomfortable and you can rest pain free. Let us know how your doing, hugs

Luvmydobies

My urinalysis came through to my patient portal online finally. It showed bacteria-rare and mucus-rare. Everything else looked normal. I've had results like this before and never was told anything. I guess I'll have to see what the culture shows! Ugh!!! I just wish they would figure it out soon. I'm tired of it but I know I shouldn't complain because there's others on here facing way worse things. So I do apologize. Praying for everyone here! XOXO!!

Edit: culture showed no growth

shorfi

Luvmydobies...Great news!

Teka

I've now had 5 yearly mammograms, post last TNBC treatment. NED

treelilac

Congratulations for NED, Teka (keep up the good work)!!!

StefLove

congrats Teka!!!

greenae

YAYA!!!!! Teka!!!!!

Great News!!!

SizzleStitch

Thanks for letting us know your news, Teka. I think we all need more like it :-). Congrats!

Luvmydobies

WooHoo Teka!!!!! Great news!!

I think my culture was just the preliminary results because I think they grow cultures for at least 48 hours! I went ahead and made an appointment with my PCP for this Thursday and I'm going to ask her for a referral to a Urologist. This stuff has been going on for too long and I'm tired of the burning and off and on pain. It may just be an effect from chemo peri menopause but I'm scared.

Tobycc

Thanks for sharing Teka!!! Yes, Luv, you should go

Luvmydobies

I know ya'll aren't doctor's, but I'm really scared! Surely this stuff I'm having isn't cancer??!!!

Teka

Thank You!!

Luv, never a mistake to see a specialist.

t100angel

Question for those who have completed chemo:

My MO is having me do accelerated AC of every 2 weeks, then 12 weeks of weekly Taxol. Who has done this schedule? Were you able to work during the second round of chemo? If so, how much of an impact did it have on your ability to work, and attendance?

I'm concerned about going back to work while on chemo since I drive 45 minutes to/from work and don't have the option to work from home.

If I don't go back to work it's looking like 6 months off work between chemo and surgery/recovery.

Any input/advices/information is greatly appreciated.

t100angel