Chemo May 2013

Teresa_G

Thanks for the info, crazy how much this stuff costs!

argynis

Hope everybody is doing quite well.

I am having my first DD Taxol treatment today. I did not take pre-meds at home as I will get decatron and anti-histamines via iv just before chemo. I hope that I am not allergic... Many people say that Taxol may be easier to handle than AC - let's hope the best.

lpc

Saturday was an awesome day! So good to see my son. Thankfully he will be here 3 weeks before heading to Ny for next part of his training.



Lorrie so glad to hear shower was awesome. Makes me so excited to have grand babies one day!



So I know taxol is supposed to be easier but I was hit very hard with joint and muscle pain yesterday and today! Was not expecting it and nothing I took dulled the pain. I prefer my lost weekends on ac to this pain. Hopefully it will be gone tomorrow. Muscles just seem to spasm and my hips and knees are aching. Anyone else experience this? I am doing dose dense. No neurapathy but nail beds are sore but I can live with that.



Argynnis I took steroids night before, morning of, plus more thru infusion along with benadryl. Mine was Thursday and felt really well until Sunday. I had no nausea and mouth seems boy as bad as with ac. I look forward to hearing how you react to the taxol. Hoping no pain for you!!



Lisa

Ukkate

Lisa, I had the taxol joint pain too. I am back tomorrow for more . But it was still better for me than the TCH I was on with the nausea and heartburn. I am going to ask for better pain killers I think. Glad your time with your son was so good

lpc

Kate how long did the joint pain last? I took an oxy and it didn't touch it!



Lisa

Ukkate

It was the worst on Friday. Which was 3 days post infusion. You must ask the doc for some stronger pain meds. I took an oxy Friday night but still had trouble sleeping. Saturday I was fine with tramadoll

IWKCB

Question for you ladies about AC side effects- is major shakiness a normal SE? I feel pretty rough after treatment but the worst part is this feeling of shakiness/unsteadiness when standing. I feel slightly better after I make myself eat. I'm wondering if this is from chemo, low blood sugar, or possibly due to anti nausea meds? This is happening the worst 4-5 days after treatment.



3 out of 4 AC done. Really hoping the taxol is easier on me.

ItIsWhatItIs2013

Lisa... The pain you're describing with the taxol sounds like my SE from the taxotere I get... After first treatment, oxy wouldn't help... Even double dosing!.... Now, it does seem to help a little... I took it after #3 and I got a little relief... The problem is during the day.... I can't function on pain meds at work... Lol... But in the eve it helped take the edge off during my BAD days... But I also had some help from mu hubby, so I'm not sure, now, which remedy was actually the effective one..... Probably my sweetie's.. I'm sorry about the pain... It's miserable! When I get it, I almost feel like I need a walker to help me walk... I'm only 45.. Lol

lpc

Itiswhatit is- lol I told someone yesterday I needed a wheelchair at work. Felt like my joints were jelly and wouldn't hold me up. Did make it thru work day but not sure how. Hoping for better today. Surely this cant last the whole 2 weeks between doses! Perhaps will start oxy before pain hits next time.



IWKCB I was always "off kilter" after ac. Tx was on Thursday Friday I was generally fine but Saturday and Sunday no energy shaky if upright too long and fine my Monday. Taxol is supposed to be easier but I prefer my 2 missed days on ac to the pain I feel with taxol. Hopefully I will have less pain as time goes on.



Lisa

Alibeths

Has anyone's hair started growing back on taxol??

JennaJMU

I just started Taxol on Friday but last week I shaved my head with my Venus razor to make it all smooth...and now I'm feeling some stubble! Lets hope it continues through the 12 weeks :-)

Alibeths

Really??  That is great news~~~

GoWithTheFlow

Alibeths, my hair started growing back during Taxol.  Slowly, but it was growing.

debbiema

Anyone not have the Neulasta shot?  I'm not getting it this round (due to hives from last round) but will start an antibiotic (Levaquin) which will run for 7 days!  Thanks ladies for your comments!

GoWithTheFlow

debbie, I got it for my first two AC treatments, but then they stopped it because my counts weren't going down. Never got it for the taxol.

argynis

I had my first Taxol infusion yesterday. Just before the infusion I got 20mg dexamethasone, Benadry and Pepcid via IV. The Benadry hurt like hell in my veins in the arm when it went in - wraping a warm blanket arround my arm helped. Pain went away as soon as it was in. I had no reaction to the Taxol - infusion took over 3 hours - I spent about 6 hours in the infusion center - what a day. My veins in my left arm are still holding up nicely - I am optimistic that I can do all 8 infusions without a port or picc line.

I am completely hyper now from the steroids but also tired as hell at the same time. My head can just not stop thinking - I took a Benadryl during the night because I could not sleep at all. That helped a little. I wonder how long it takes till the steroids wear off. I have no other complaints so far. I think I read that bone and muscle pain may hit at day 3-5 - right? Let's hope the best. I also read that a side effect of dexamethasone (steroids) is increased hair growth...

MichelleRN78

Jenna- I am nervous to shave my head that close.  It looks terrible the way it is, maybe I should just do it.  My hair has grown since I shaved it, not a lot but some.

Chemo is tomorrow (depending on blood counts) and I really want to hide and not show up.  I will go but I am tired of feeling like this.  

Teresa_G

IWKCB-try eating every 2-3 hours, preferrably protein.  Greek yogurt, peanut butter....anything with protein will help.

Debbiema-I haven't had to have the neulasta shot so far.  I am having treatment 3 of 4 Friday and hope I once again won't need it.

GoWithTheFlow

argynnis, the steroids kept me up two nights.  By the 3rd night I was fine.  You can ask your MO for something to help you sleep if you need it.

kobrien

Hi all...

My MO is giving me the Nuelasta shot after every chemo- she's not even checking my counts. Said she wants to make sure I don't get an infection.  The first time I got it- the bone pain hit on day 4 and was the most debilitating pain. I couldn't even walk. The second time- again, pain hit on day 4 but wasn't as bad, although still very uncomfortable. She also gave me a script for a stronger pain med. The claratin didn't seem to help me at all.

I have also been getting terrible joint and muscle pain from the taxotere. My MO said that for some reason, it seems to effect " younger women" more than " older women" as far as the joint and muscle pain ( I am 41). It seems to last at least 15 days post chemo. Its usually confined to my low back and legs.

My husband buzzed my hair on day 17 post chemo # 1 after it was coming out in handfuls. It is now not currently falling out anymore. I have about 1/4 inch of hair all over my head with some areas that have bald patches. My scalp intermittantly tingles and burns- but I am not completely bald Leg hair/ pub hair/under arm hair barely there.  Dont know if it will start to fall out again- I am currently on day 10 post chemo # 2.

I have not had nausea, but terrible heartburn.Much worse after # 1 than # 2. I am on nexium 20 mg once a day.

I have gotten thrush after both chemo infusions- starting almost immediately. I have Diflucan which works very well- but I have no taste and fuzzy mouth for one whole week post chemo.

Hot flashes and insomia are hell... My nails are good so far- actually growing nicely. I have kept them polished with a dark polish.

Also getting terrible sinus headaches around the second week that seem to last for about a week. NOTHING helps the pain..

I also am feeling quite shaky and off balance at times- very forgetful ( I walk into a room and forget why I went in there). I have limited concentration- I love to read but cannot even pay attention to the book.

My energy level is better so far after # 2 than it was after #1- but I as well have slowed down quite a bit. Folding laundry makes me tired. I have been trying to do a little bit at a time and take a break in between..Im going crazy just sitting around the house and watching bad TV.

I have been able to keep up with fluids-even when I have the fuzzy mouth.

I am so glad to see that some of you ladies have been able to work,have parties, get out and do things..You all inspire me every day! I have my nephew's wedding to attend just one week after #3. Its 4 hours away and there will be at least 300 people at this wedding. We have a hotel room booked just 5 mins from the place and I am hoping that I will be able to go and enjoy myself. My whole family will be there and I haven't seen some of my brothers & sisters in a long time.

Hoping you all have a great week with minimal side effects!

Kerri

Worrywart9390

kobrien, I have felt most of what you felt,      try and go to the wedding, i would suggest doing the driving the day before so that the day of you are not tired from the ride, or do the driving early enough on day of wedding that you get to rest beforehand in hotel room.   Good luck to you.

kobrien

Worrywart-

Great idea...I have the hotel booked for the night of the wedding, but my sister may let me stay at her house the night before...The hotel is an hour from my sisters house. So if I drive to her house the day before ( that is a 3 hour ride) I would only have an hour ride the day of the wedding. Will talk to her and my husband about that!

Thanks!!

Worrywart9390

I hope you have a great time and enjoy your family and friends!!

Ukkate

So Taxol # 2 is done.  I love my Onco - he's so responsive and quick to give me what I ask for.  On the other hand, I hate him, because he dismisses all the SE I have!  When I asked him for Diflucan he said it was "So rare to get esophegial thrush from chemo" - but he wrote me the script and it helped right away.  I read online that 20% of chemo patients will get thrush - that's not "extremely rare".  And this time I told him about my bone pain and he said 'Are you sure, Taxol doesn't cause bone pain"  Would I make it up?  Plus, I have read loads of different things that says that Taxol does!  I don't know what to make of him most of the time.

Also, I'm not getting steriods with my Taxol or Neulasta.  They gave me the print out of my labs and my white blood count is low - I'm not sure why I wouldn't get neulasta anymore.  None of this makes much sense does it - it's all different for all of us.

And, more of my hair is falling out with Taxol -not growing back.  I'm losing my eye brows and lashes MAJOR

I am feeling more tired but I'm planning a solo drive to Chattanooga next weekend to pick up my kids.  They are leaving tomorrow to spend 10 days with their cousins.  My husband is driving and meeting my sister in law half way.  And my plan is to drive the whole way to pick them up and spend a night in TN.  I hope I'm able to do it...But I just don't want to let this cancer keep stopping me from doing everything I want to do...It's hard isn't it...

Goldie1431

Kobrien,



I get IV hydration for 2 days after each infusion and that really helps with my fogginess and concentration. I still drink as much as I can but there was a remarkable difference for me.



I also have trouble sleeping and was initially prescribed Ativan whvi helped me to get to sleep but only for about 4 hours. So I just got a new prescription for restoril but just 15 mg. I am going to try that and see if it helps.



I got thrush on my first infusion and my MO prescribed magic mouthwash which is compounded and that really worked fast. After my first treatment I chewed ice chips

during the taxotere infusion and did not even get it. Really worked for me.



I try to get my chores done in the morning when my energy is better. Then in the afternoon I do nothing until I have to! Then I get to the point that I start regaining some of my energy back I start doing just a little at a time.



Sorry that you are having so many issues to deal with. How many treatments are you having? Hope things get more manageable for you. Hang in there!

lpc

Good evening all



Kate my papers on taxol says it can cause bone pain and I can certainly attest to that. It is subsiding today some.



I get neulasta after taxol because I am doing dose dense. MO said he would not give it if weekly infusion of taxol.



Looking forward to hair growing on taxol. I figured I would be losing more. Guess there is hope.



Lisa

kobrien

Goldie-

I am getting a total of 4 treatments...So I am half way there.

I have the magic mouthwash- it helps ease the discomfort some, but the diflucan kills the thrush. Ive done the ice chips both times and has not seemed to make a difference. My MO told me I probably will get thrush after every treatment. So they gave me the diflucan with a few refills so I just refill it when I feel it coming on.

I have Ativan for sleep as well- but I can say that I haven't been taking it. I probably should. I either wake up to go to the bathroom or because I am drenched in sweat.

My husband is great about taking care of everything. But he is a firefighter and works 2 24 hour shifts each week- so there are times there are things I need to take care of. I don't mind because I am getting so bored and restless being home. I have been out of work since my diagnosis. I am an ER nurse and cannot take the chance of being exposed to all of the things that walk in those ER doors.  This round has bar far been easier than the first one. I had ZERO energy the first time. Now I am able to do some things. I just would love to be able to build back my stamina- looking forward to getting back in shape. I have lost my muslce tone over the last 5 months and tire easily.. I just hope # 3 goes like # 2 so I can feel somewhat decent for the wedding.

Thanks!

Kerri

KSil

Oh my gosh, Jenna, that is great news and very encouraging for me. I get my second AC treatment tomorrow morning and still have not cut my hair. I'm not prepared at all for it, though I am picking up my wig on Friday. I've been following a lo of posts to see what to expect with AC x 4 and Taxol x 12. I like to read the positives. I did read about your acne and I actually was getting a breakout at my temple area, which I blasted with hand sanitizer. It worked. No more breakouts, for now anyway.

Karen

ItIsWhatItIs2013

So, WTF! I only have a few auburn stubbles left on my head but the rest of my WHITE dome looks and feels a little fuzzy still...... So i started looking really close....My gray hair hasn't come out!!! Too funny!

Jenna.... I'm scared to shave shave my head... No nicks?



Day 12 & really dragging still from #3, but no more pain... YAY!!

So exhausted, though.... I never feel rested.... Droopy eyes.... Want to nap all day but can't....



I wish I was like some and only getting 4 TCs... Instead of 6...My next one would be my last... Ah, well!



Hang in there ladies!



Lorrie

Ukkate

Lorie - I shaved my head about a month ago but I was scared to shave the back because of nicks so my husband said I looked like a tibetan monk!  Most of the back stubbles have fallen out now anyway.  My head just looks really weird

Lisa - thanks for the clarification of the bone pain!  I don't know why my doctor would say that.  I'm tempted to find it online, copy and paste it to him but he probably would say "Oh that's just with dose dense and you're getting weekly..."

I've been back at work mostly for the past 3 weeks and I"m exhausted at the end of the day.  Yesterday I had to take my daughter to the mall after work and I told her that we needed to be quick but it was a real effort to drag myself around...

I'm getting WICKED hot flashes and having a hard time sleeping too because of it.  Does anyone have a good solution for that?  My aunt said there are certain pillows you can buy to keep your head cool.  I'm assuming it's "chemopause" kicking in...