Taxotere is a nightmare

marjie

Wow rads is so different from the whole chemo thing.....not used to being in and out of the cancer clinic in less than half an hour.  The techs are like "hi there!"  zap...zap.... "see you tomorrow!"  They probably laugh at the newbies and the confused looks on our faces, lol.

lago

I wish  herceptin was like that. It's still a 2 hour process even though the infusion is only 1/2 hour. If I need to see the onc, even longer.

marjie

Iago - why is it a two hour process?  My last one (which was the first herceptin on it's own) was 1/2 hr drip then I had to wait 1/2 hr to make sure I had no reaction. Nurses said from now on 1/2 hour only.  When I see my onc/bloodwork always happens the day before.  Hopefully that's the case because there's days where I have rads/herceptin booked within an hour of each other!

lago

First there is a slight wait to get my port access, vitals and they take blood to check my hormones. Then at  least an hour wait to mix up the herceptin. Then 1/2 hour to get the herceptin. That's an easy 2 hours. It's very busy there. I think the best I can expect is a 1.5 hour process.

TonLee

Ugh.

#5 (got it Tues) is kicking my butt this round.  I actually had to take a nap today between running around doing the kid's activities.  I think part of it is I've been going non-stop since Tuesday and forgot to take my 3rd day of steroids.  WHOA!  I guess those little suckers are helpful.

Also forgot the Aleve, so now I'm feeling the bone pain with nothing but Tylenol.

Oh well.

One more.

bdavis

Just had tx #3 today... half way through... yeah!!!

And found out today that my potential recon surgery is covered IN Network at NOLA... so almost free... a good day.

Omaz

TonLee - Don't forget the claritin or zyrtec for the nuelasta!

bdavis -  Yay for half-way!!

Drink drink drink you guys!!

Anniemomofthree

Yeah Bdavis!!!!!!!!!  Halfway done...what a feeling that is!!!!

marjie

Oh I hope mine goes as planned.  I know my centre schedules things to a "t" so I will keep my fingers crossed.  I know that any doc appts or bloodwork are always the day before so even tho that's an extra trip, we don't have to wait for our drugs because they are ordered the day before too.

Survivorwoman

Dear Ladies - I don't even know where to start telling you what had happened. First of all, thank you all for thinking of me. OK, my story begins with crawling into the hospital Wednesday morning at 10AM b/c no one called me all day on Tuesday. I was in such a bad shape that they took a look at me and decided to keep me overnight. It took about five hours to be admitted. As soon as I was transferred upstairs I also had a major panic attack. (An old lady in the next bed - it was truly so sad and so surreal--kept asking aloud when she could die.) I ran out of the room and collapsed in the hall crying. Thankfully, they took pity on me and I was immediately transferred to another room.

Then it took the doctors about another three to four hours to decide that I really needed those two bags of blood. Blood work, chest x-ray, echo sound of the heart, inserting the IV, etc, you all know the drill. It was insane. I received my first bag of blood at around 10 PM and the second in the middle of the night. It took the total of six hours to pump those two bags in me. But I tell you, I do feel a lot better today -- Marjie was right---and I am sure my red blood count went up b/c I was able to breathe without having shortness of breath or palpitations. Wow, what a difference blood count makes in terms of getting oxygen to the internal organs. I am feeling so much better and a lot more energetic. I also started eating like a horse at the hospital - I have not done that in a long time--and on the way home we stopped in at an Indian restaurant, too.

Thank you all for thinking of me. I knew you were going to be worried. I am OK right now.

TifJ

Survivorwoman- How scary that must have been! I am so happy to hear you are feeling better. Definitely eat, eat, eat to get your strength back. Hope you have a restful evening!!

Survivorwoman

Bdavis and TonLee - Yay! keep on going and fight hard!

And don't forget to eat red meat and anything that keeps up the red blood count. Lago has a great beef stew recipe. I should have eaten a lot more red meat during chemo. Now I regret it. I could have avoided this transfusion. I bet Marjie, Coni, and I, we all tend to eat more chicken and fish, not so much red meat, right?

lago

OMG what an ordeal I'm so happy that you are finally getting the care you needed and feeling better… and a little bit jealous of the Indian Food thing.

"An old lady in the next bed - it was truly so sad and so surreal--kept asking aloud when she could die."

No wonder you had a panic attack!

Omaz

survivorwoman - (((hugs)))  Glad you finally got that blood!!!

Survivorwoman

Thanks TifJ. I am eating some Godiva chocolates to treat myself to something pleasant. What a hurdle this one was!

Survivorwoman

Thank you Lago and Omaz - I feel relaxed a bit.

lago

Now you're eating chocolate. First Indian now chocolate.
I think I'm going to hate you for a second

Seriously enjoy. You deserve it.

Survivorwoman

Lago --I really love your sense of humor. You are truly funny. I needed to smile.

Survivorwoman

Lago --  

tracie23

YEAH !!!!!  Survivorwoman !!!! You are home I was so worried about you.  See your username is so appropriate... you are a survivor. I am sorry the hospital was so scary .... I am glad you are eating ... I have eaten so much through chemo nothing fits... my jeans are so tight I can't wear them unless I am going to be standing all day if i sit it's all over !!! I am the epitome of the muffin top  Glad your home

paintedlady

Hi Lago

Just looked at the picture of your finger. I hope it is quickly resolving. Some of my nails have turned a dark grayish color, but nothing like what has happened to you.

Wishing you the best

lago

Survivorwoman Glad I could make you laugh. You've had such a rough time. Especially this week. Granted I'm still craving chocolate.

paintedlady what happened to my finger and toe nail beds can  happen on taxotere but it is rare. The issue is not really that they lift, smell, bleed or any of the aesthetic crap. They really hurt for some time. They are still a little tender but soooo much better.This is a more recent photo from 2.21.11. Maybe I'll update tomorrow. As you can see the swollen one is no longer swollen. Of course now it's all dark from the blood underneath. Guess that's part of the cycle.

How fun. Most people are taking photos of their hair coming in. I'm taking photos of my nails. Guess my priorities are screwed up.

The hairs is coming in though. My husband thinks I'll be able to go scarf-less in 2 weeks. I think it's going to be a little longer than that.

pejkug3

Oh, dear - what an ordeal Survivorwoman!!  SO glad you're feeling better.

To answer the questions above - I don't have CBC until 3/10 (one week before TCH #2).  I see the onc that day as well - not really sure what to expect at that appt. - just questions about SE?  Discussing labs?

I've had a 3 day headache but Tylenol brings it under control.  I haven't called the office about anything.  I'm not taking nausea meds at all.  I took a Compazine on the night of chemo and the next night, but nothing since.  I didn't really need them at all.  I took them "just in case".  The headache could be chemo-related.  I'm prone to migraines and tummy distress and those are the only things I've been dealing with since chemo.  Hard to say if it is the chemo or just my normal life. 

Indian Food - I'm going to try that some day.  Nothing like that in my small town.

SAMayoFL

Survivor, hooray for getting your blood and for recovering so well at home.  I hope that is the last bad bout for you!

Bdavis, I am soooo enviuos that NOLA is in network for you.  They told me on the phone that they are not in network for hardly anyone.  NOLA was definitely my first choice because of the closer distance to my home.  Keep us posted on when you are scheduled!

Tracie, I feel your pain with the jeans.  I have gained 17 flipping pounds on Taxoterrible.  This extra padding must go!

Pejkug, I have headaches from chemo too.  Really, I think I have had a headache for pretty much the entire time I have been on Taxotere.

Lago, woohoo on the hair!!  About how long is your hair now?  Mine is still only maybe 1/4 of an inch but it is filling in more and more.  My hair is exactly how you have described in other posts.  Coming in in the back and side much faster and thicker than on the top and upper sides.  I male pattern baldness look, for sure.

Susan

lago

My husband said about 3/8 of an inch on Sunday. On top it shorter except for some of the strands I never cut off. I never did to a buzz or shave.

SpecialK

Yay Survivorwoman! - So glad the blood worked. It is a happy ending for this little blood banker!  So sad about your hospital roommate - I would have hightailed it out of there too!  Def not what you needed exposure to, but poor lady nonetheless.

mrsnjband

SpecialK,

I had neulasta shots when I was on A/C dd.  My chemo doc said it was easier to get a blood transfusion that to meet the requirement of "insurance" in order to get the to pay for the neulasta.  I did really well on those shots. No aches or pain, I tolerated them very well.  It just gets annoying to me anemic & neutrapenic (sp) all the time.  I am so tired and have no nergy, dizzy, etc.

 I did have a bone marrow biopsy that said my iron, B5, B12, folic acids levels are all fine, but I just don't make enough red & white blood cells.  It said I had a "non-specific" bone marrow injury.  Which means they have no clue.  I take vitamins, I don't know what more to do.  NJ

SpecialK

mrsnjband, 

My father-in-law has pancytopenia, low white and red cell production as well as platelets - he is 85 and his problems are more a function of age, but I believe that he is on some ongoing marrow stimulants.  I will have to ask him what he takes.  I know he has CBC's done regularly to track his counts.  Folks with pancytopenia have regular transfusions of both platelets and blood but he has not required this yet.  He is otherwise very healthy.  Sorry to ask this if you have already answered it, how long since your last chemo?  Have you had this problem ever since or did it develop some time afterward?

When you mentioned the non-specific bone marrow injury I googled around for a while (I'm sure you have done the same!) trying to find some link between chemo and a permanent issue with this but I found mostly generic stuff.  I am going to have a CBC tomorrow and my onc office is right next to my blood bank so if my boss is there I will pick her brain and let you know what she says.

TonLee

Glad you're home and feeling better SW!

Thanks for the reminder Omaz about the Claritin...I've been so busy I forgot to put it on my nightstand...so I wouldn't have taken it!!

You'd think at the 5th treatment I'd have all this down....maybe it's spring in the air, the longer days, I dunno, but I had major brain farts this treatment.  I can't even tell my Onc I forgot a day of steroids because he lectured me good and hard when I started TCH about taking them....

I will never complain about steroids again.  lol

Lago, I'm so happy to read you are healing and recovering so well.  I will miss getting information from you about radiation....but I'm very glad you get to skip it.

slousha

Dear Taxotere ladies,

I'm coming from a little state in Middle Europe and my first onco-radiologist at Core Needle Biopsy said: If you decided for healing, you will get the same proceeding as the patient in USA, England but Germany.

I was found triple positive after my lumpectomy, accepted the complete medical treatment, (6x chemo with Docetaxel (Taxotere), 30 rads, one year on Herceptin),  I'm on Femara (Letrozole) for 5 years now.

I'm so sorry to read about SE you have. Didn't you get premedication before starting the chemo?  I was pretreated with corticosteroids (Medrol) to prevent SE‘s (one day prior to the treatment and three days after. During all cycles of chemo I was rinsing my mouth with aseptics (or sage tee). 

I read a lot about medicines on web sides, you can find something about Taxotere on http://www.answers.com/ under docetaxel.

Chemo is a killing matter, but it has been reported BC patients treated wit Docetaxel have higher survival!

My best wishes to all! Usha