taxotere cyclophosphamide chemo - how long?

katiekabooom

I can't seem to find a straight answer on how long i'll be attached to the drip for this treatment.  I assume you experienced and wise ladies know?  some people have told me 2 hours, other 6 hours.

Melrosemelrose

I am assuming that you are talking about Taxotere/Cytoxan chemo regimen.  The Cytoxan takes at least 30 minutes to infuse and the Taxotere takes at least an hour.  The time frame may be altered because of how quickly the infusion drip is.  If you are wondering why it may take longer, it may be due to the preliminary things that you may have to do on infusion day before you are actually infused.  I always planned for a long day and never rushed through everything.  My infusion day started with being weighed, temperature, blood pressure and pulse taken.  Then I would have my port flushed and blood drawn for labs.  I would also see my oncologist that day also.  Then once the blood work came back and the oncologist saw the results, the pharmacy orders were submitted.  I would have to wait sometimes an hour for the drugs to arrive.  I first received pre-chemo IV drugs- Decadron, Benedryl and Ativan.  I would have to wait for at least 30 minutes or longer before the chemo infusion would begin.  I received the Taxotere first.  15 minutes before that infusion, I would begin to ice my finger and toe nails and continue to ice throughout the Taxotere infusion and for 15 additional minutes after the Taxotere infusion had been completed.  Then I would run to the restroom since I also drank lots of cold water and sucked on ice chips during the Taxotere.  This was to help prevent mouth sores.  Then the Cytoxan infusion would begin.  Since I received Herceptin under a clinical trial, I had an additional hour of infusion time.  My husband would get me lunch so I wouldn't starve during the infusion.  Again, I never rushed or got agitated about the length of time my infusions took since I had decided that this was my day to have chemo and I just wasn't going to schedule anything else that day.  It does help to look at infusion day that way so one doesn't set oneself for disappointment and upset because the infusion process took a little longer.  Going with the flow may make things a little easier.  Wishing you the best..... if you have questions, you can always private message me.

katiekabooom

TY so much for the information.

i am doing the taxotere/cyclophosphamide combo.  just googled and it seems Cytoxa = cyclophosphamide so your feedback was perfect. thank you

TwoHobbies

Katiekaboom - I am doing TC and was there yesterday from 9:45 to 12:45.  At 9:45 I do labs and IV.  At 10:15 I see the doctor.  Infusions started a little after 10:30 with fluids, anti-nausea, steroids.  Then taxotere about an hour and cytoxan about a half hour, then they flush with saline. 

Your first one may be longer as they like to run it a little slower.  I take magazines, i-phone, books, water, snack if you need it.

katiekabooom

awesome, TYSM for the detailed info.  that is what i wanted to know.... the drip time. i understand there's all kinda weirdness with the hospital schedules but i couldn't figure out how long i'd be in the chair

auntienance

I was there for 4 to 6 hours, depending on how busy the place was. Actual time in the chair was approximately 3 hours. Probably longer for me because of the saline drip. Taxotere was pretty tough on my veins. I didn't have a port.