Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013

SchoolCounselor

Yes. You should. Better safe. Let's know what they say. 

audra67

HI guys-

I had the redness in my Iv hand the 1st infusion with a rash that came about a week later to both hands...The IV site was infected and went up my arm as well but the rash went away eventually.  My MO said it was from the chemo...duh...One of my friends that had bc  a few years ago used told me to use this lotion on the rash and it helped...vanicream lotion..  Also the first round I got rash on bilat. hips...weird...and this time I had just gotten port put in and covered it with a tegaderm to shower and got a huge stain almost / not bumps rash but almost burnt skin in the area where I put the bandage to cover port...that is still there almost 3 weeks later...I think these just take MORE time to heal or go away than normally would...

Then I didn't get it this last round...

Virginia NJ- I am SOOO happy for you and jealous as well that you are NOT having such a hard time with this!  What are you eating/doing to have it go so well??? tips??

School Counselor-  I am also freaking out more with little things and have become almost overprotective of our youngest (15) which she does not like, but I do NOT feel I'm up to handling stressors at this point...I think we are under tremendous stress going through this and not feeling well, and not ourselves, that is perfectly normal that your body can't take that HUGE (what used to be normal) event...praying for you!

momat927

Hello Everyone & Hello Newbies,

Team Kim, you are inspirational and strong & keep marching on!   

SC, I am positive that chemo does much to our brains.  I am sure it changes neurotransmitter levels & have started to read, a bit, about it. & I also notice that I sometimes have difficulty nurturing myself as much as I might my students/families.  (on leave since Oct.)  Now, we are vulnerable and  more afraid.  It just seems natural to feel these intense emotional responses. 

So my next round of chemo is this Friday and already I notice I am getting increasingly irritable and angry and withdrawn from my family.  Instead of reaching out, I tend to go into myself and I guess prepare.  I am not sure why.  

Yesterday though, I went to an art museum and I swear it was as if I had traveled to another country, out of the land of cancer.  I think you are right though.  I feel like there is a magnetic pull toward others who have been through cancer.  A kind of subtle pull and even smiles of recognition.   

Good luck to everyone this week.  Amy

QuirkyGirl

I'm so sorry SC. .  Cancer is a huge stressor.  I'm sure it's just temporary.

Virginia, no port just a freaky rash. Sorry to hear you're having troubles, too. Glad you are calling.

wrenn

So sorry you guys are having a rough time. The hand rashes sound awful. I hope you can get hold of MO today and get something for it. 

SC sorry about your student dying. I can see why that would put you over the edge at this time of year. I think we are all hanging on by a thread. I am still feeling some side effects from my one and only chemo a month ago so I can't imagine how bad it is for all of you. I am going to join an integrative health program and start working on exercise, nutrition and emotional stuff to see if I can get a little healthier. I hesitated doing it because it is just for cancer people and I kind of wanted to move away from it for a while and hope that I am done with it but because of the triple neg thing I want to work on diminishing the odds of it coming back.

I hope you can all get through Christmas. I think having the added expectations of the season might make it worse. After Christmas you can just focus on the treatment angle and not worry as much about what you should be doing around Christmas stuff. xoxo

TeamKim

Quirky -- I had the itchy rash on the backs of my hands (and in the webs between my fingers) after my 1st and 2nd tx.  I had it on both hands, and I didn't have a port, but infusions were in my arm on the non-BC side, and I never had any reaction around the infusion site.  Try Cortisone cream or mix cortisone cream with Benedryl gel and apply that.  Oral Benedryl also gives some relief from the itch.  If you are taking Claritin for Neulasta shots, when you stop taking that! the itchy stuff might get worse -- I found I needed the oral Benedryl then.  

By all means call your MO for advice as well -- I learned that any rash on the palms of your hand if it gets around that side, indicates a more serious allergic reaction and may need oral steroids.

VirginiaNJ

had to call the doctors office back as no return call...very annoying.  On call doc doesn't think I need to come in since there is no swelling.  Said to soak the hand in warm water every 6 hours and if it's not better in 2 days to call back...  I go Thursday for bloodwork anyway.....

Audra- I so wish I had some magic secret to share......  I feel crummy for about a week, but then have 2 weeks of feeling pretty good (except for a higher level of fatigue).  I do drink tons and tons of water.  I have not really changed my diet at all.......

KBeee

SC, I am so sorry to hear about your student.  Right now, your physical ability to cope is compromised because of these poisons, and hormonally, your body is in upheaval. Not only will you recover, but I imagine in a couple months, you will be able to relate to kids and families in crisis in a way few others can.

Quirky and Virginia, I hope those rashes heal quickly.  Itching is the worst!

Wrenn, Great article!

Headeast

SchoolC, I understand completely how you felt. We ran out of energy, every little thing is huge to us now. And the news you received took away all the energy you had left. We also feel dead is close to us, way too close during chemo and its SE. 

Today I am on day 19 of my last chemo, and for the past days I have felt I have more energy, not all yet, but I know you will understand how I feel and you will have your energy back like I am, to shine with what you do at work. I am telling you, I am glad I was not working during chemo. I know I wouldn't be able to handle it.

Changing the topic a little, Today I had my last visit with my PS to add more saline into my TE. He will call me to schedule my surgery around the end of January and beginning of February.  One step more to the finishing line! He didn't want to stretch my skin anymore. He said he can do more during surgery, but didn't want to risk my skin and open it. I am at 340cc only. He and OS removed a lot of skin because one of my cancers was too close to skin. My guess is he will bring skin from another part of the body. He will tell me later.

VirginiaNJ

TY KBeee - I am hoping it clears up.  For me it's just redness - no pain, swelling, or itchiness....

Headeast - my PS stopped me at 480cc as my skin was getting too thin.  I haven't even talked to him yet about the size of the final implant.....I don't ask enough questions for sure.  Do you know what kind of implant you will go for (and forgive me if I have already asked you this...my chemo brain is raging...). I am going to go for the cohesive gel (gummy bear) I think......  I haven't made my appt for the exchange yet....it has to be at least 8 weeks from my final chemo...that should put me around the middle to end of March.

Headeast

Virginia, I will go with the one my MS suggested which is the high profile. He told me he will put more than 340cc but not too much more. I do a lot of sports, mainly outdoors and don't want for them to get on the way, and he agrees. They will be larger than before anyways, I was an A. I guess I now will be a small C or large B. I am leaving it up to him. I have seen his work and he is a very known PS so I am in good hands. I am so looking forward to finalizing with all this!

KBeee

Headeast, i went to PS today too.  He said last time was my final fill and then he filled me again today so he'd have plenty of space!  I am feeling like I could explode.  I was an A before, but now am like a large C.  I would like to end up a large B or small C.  My PS does not stick around long for questions, but I know from everyone that has used him, he does good work...and he was great in the first round.  I also have a friend who is a surgical nurse for him, and am hoping she will be working that day!!!  My surgery is January 23.   My MO told me to stop taking tamoxifen 4 days before surgery and stay off 4 days after.  PS said I need to stop Tamoxifen 2 weeks before and 4 days agter!  That is a big discrepancy.  I do not want trouble with clots or healing, so I will go with 2 weeks, but it would be nice if these docs were on the same page!!!!!

Headeast

kbeee, do they work at the same hospital? Mine do, and they reach one another frequestly, lime when  i started chemo. My MO called my PS to make sure the fillings were a day before each chemo...

VirginiaNJ

I'm the opposite lol - was a DD before my weight loss (50 lbs) and went down to a D.  Not sure what I will be with implants, but certainly significantly smaller which will take a bit getting used to, but it sure is nice to not have to wear a bra!!!!  . Anyhow, I had big old saggy boobs before so I am ok with being smaller.......at least I keep telling myself I will be.

KBeee, my surgeon sounds like yours.  He always answers all of my questions, but he definitely doesn't stick around for me to think of any questions lol.  He did make me laugh with my last fill when I was asking about silicone gel implants and he led off his response with "well I have over a 1000 patients who have silicone...." and all I could think was, "well, seriously dude, you've had plenty of practice so I guess I'll be fine...."  Lolllll. I think that's maybe why I don't ask too many questions...figure he will just make me look as good as possible......

Bluegrassharp

I've been catching up on everyone's posts over the weekend. I hope each of you felt a little lift in your mood this evening as I read your posts and sent warm thoughts your way! 

I have a small question, at least it's a question about a small, but annoying SE. The skin on my fingertips, especially my thumbs, has thickened after each of my 3 (of 6) TC infusions -- it feels like I have dried paint coating the top of each thumb. The dead top layer of skin on both thumbs peeled back from the nail bed about 1/2 inch down after chemo2; and my right thumb peeled back again yesterday and is now quite tender. The rest of my fingertips are also affected, but not so severely. Weird. Anyone else have anything like this happen to them?

My other SEs have not been nearly as bad as many of you are experiencing -- just pretty constant upper body muscle aches that leave me physically exhausted by the end of the day -- but nothing unmanageable (so far).

I hope you all have a respite from whatever SEs are affecting you this week -- wouldn't that be a wonderful holiday gift?!

QuirkyGirl

thanks for the hand rash advice and support!  I'm sorry to hear I'm not the only one dealing with this.  

Headeast

Bluegh, I had something similar but not as bad as you describe. My hands are dry, extremely dry and peeling. 

audra67

Bluegrass-

Yep, my hands are doing the same, peeling at tips by nail...and dry as a bone also my heels are like cement and they are usually soft...I am using lotion like crazy but they seem to want to continue anyway...

HAS to be our lovely concoctions! 

Wishing you all  Merry Christmas- hoping to enjoy today and tomorrow without side effects or weariness, hOPING...and then the chair Thursday....wahhhh...

KLI

bluegrass my MO mentioned that as an SE of the taxotere. I have been icing my fingers and toes during the taxotere portion of the chemo to possibly prevent it.

Ask your MO what to do to keep it from getting worse mine said it could get very sore and uncomfortable.

keepthefaith

I think I may be feeling some of the numb thumb feeling too. Feels kind of like I had burned the end of my thumb and now it is healing; no peeling right now...could that be neuropathy?

audra, I will be in the BGC on Thursday, too. I hope yours goes well! You are one ahead of me.

Right now, I have sprigs of hair left on my head. Wondering how long it will last!

I hope you all have a safe and very Merry Christmas!

 

momat927

hi all. I am slowly reading everyone's posts. I am sorry I have kind of faded out & withdrawn for awhile. Wishing all of you a lovely Christmas.  Here we have the Chinese dinner and movie family ritual.  Love, Amy

MinusTwo

My experience w/Taxotere was icing for all 6 tx to prevent damage to fingernails, and for the most part it worked.  Sounds like that's the nail problem Bluegrass is describing.  I never had any problems w/the extra dry skin w/taxotere.

 Now that I'm on Cytoxan my fingers are sore & cracking & splitting open no matter how much I lube them.  Several times I've had to resort to Neosporin & bandaids for a day or two.

KeeptheFaith - The numbness might be neuropathy.  My fingers often feel like trying to cure frostbite when they're not numb.  Neuropathy wouldn't cause peeling or chapped skin.

Oops - meant to say Happy Holidays to all of you.

wrenn

Merry Christmas to all those here who celebrate and Happy holidays to all.  Thank you for coming into my life. You have made such a huge difference and given me hope for the future. xo

Bluegrassharp

Quirkygirl and others with dry hands -- my MO recommended any kind of hand cream that has urea (!) as one of the first 2-3 ingredients. I've been using Eucerin Professional Repair but there are other brands. It hasn't really helped the thickened peeling skin problem I'm having on my thumbs, but it has helped a lot with the dry peeling areas on the rest of my hands.

audra67

Keep the faith-

Hoping no side effects for you today and for me too, hoping we breeze right through this! 

I am DREADING it and had trouble sleeping ...

PatAlameda, Virginia, Paulette, I know you are on same day too, thinking of you all...

I wish I could be with all of you in the same infusion room- one of those that some of you have that are private or pretty or nice feeling...

I hate mine, and the OLDOLDOLD people in there freak me out -- I LOVE when a younger than 60 person is actually in there with me, have never had a breast cancer person...weird..

Praying for us all and thank God for you all!

Happy day!

momat927

audra67,  I dread my treatment room too. I am an "Oldie" - 65 - but don't feel old or sickly. I can imagine you wanting to meet peers your own age though.  Locally, i believe Gilda's Club has support for young people.  Do you have that there?  What scares me the most is that the other patients seem to be very defeated & bleak.  My friend who had chemo at an urban teaching hospital met people she became close to. At my local center,that hasn't   happened yet, but tomorrow my be different.   

I am afraid too, but this second time, feel more prepared to meet the enemy. 

Thank you all, Amy

SchoolCounselor

Hi ladies,

I hope you had a great Christmas to all those that celebrate. Mine was fine and the kids and hubby were happy. 

Keep the faith I hope it went well today. 

In the last week I have developed back pain. I am having difficulty walking. I went to see my MO and he ordered an MRI. He also gave me Vicodin for the pain because Motrin and Tylenol did not work. I only take it at night because it knocks me out. 

So..,. My MRI is Saturday and I am afraid it might be bone mets..... The chances are so slim but my chance of getting BC at 44 was 1.82%. 

I need to be talked off the ledge......

momat927

SchoolCounselor, waiting for test results is hell & so easy to think the worst. Trust me, i would too.  SC , my back pain was so horrible, I could only compare it to labor.  Nothing helped but screaming.   Remind me , are you getting Neulasta shots?   Between that & Taxotere, my MO said he has seen this often.  Keep posting. We are here. 

SchoolCounselor

Hi mom. 

I am getting the neulasta shot and did get some leg pain previously, but my last shot was December 10th, would the pain appear so late and last this long? The worrying is quite awful. 

audra67

momat- Please forgive me the 60 cutoff , no offense meant at all, we have a lot of old men that choke and cough and I mainly meant them...so sorry.  I just appreciated having 2 actual breast cancer girls today with no hair like me...that was intent of what I wrote...

School counselor-  Get off the ledge!  Lots of back pain, chest pain, all over pain...I was discussing it today with my MO, telling him I didn't want nuelasta as I had chest pain and thought heart attack the whole week, and I had spasms under my sternum and head pain leg pain everywhere...He said that is all normal - par for the course...and to be expected...

Do not worry about metastasis and try to use your energy in a positive way....when I had the 'new lump' last week I freaked out and lost all rational thought and all it did was drain my body of energy to heal.  Plus made me feel horribly guilty for my disbelief in God and HIs being in control.  Also got a sore throat and now uti....I just made my resistance lower...

You had small tumors with no lymph node involvement...the chances are slim to none it did not spread.

My best advice was from our plastic surgeon friend and he said 'do not waste your energy on worry, use it to heal'...

My counselor advises the same and praying....

God is the ultimate healer....read the bible, tons of healing verses...pray with your husband for your complete healing....learn some visualization to use when getting your MRI done so you don't flip out....and take your meds...do you have Ativan? or something calming...?

Matthew 6:28,--look up Dodie Osteen cancer verses...I also bought her book....she has written all of the verses from bible and used them daily to help her stage IV liver cancer be cured...she says them and proclaims them daily...and I have the last few days as well..

We all have worry and can take it too far...what is it going to solve?  Try to get a grip. Pray. Give it to God...He loves you and wants to heal you.!