3 more days until 1st treatment

MrsLce

Hi there!! Hoping to get some info from anyone who has experience with the TAC regimen with neulasta shot...I have my 1st treatment on Monday and am finding that the closer I get the more anxiety I have...just wondering what all to expect and approx when and any limitations regarding day to day life with house, husband, kids, dogs, cats, etc...Lol!! I know everyone's treatment is very individualized so there are no guaranteed answers until I experience it for myself but I thought it might be helpful to hear from others who've had the same treatment...Thanks so much :-)

melmcbee

I did taxotere, Adriamycin and Cytoxan. I think I suffered more with bone pain from the neulesta shot and I took claritan which did help. I had diarrhea but I am prone to that anyway so I took meds for that. I believe it was day 17 when my hair started falling out. I would ice my hands and feet totry and not lose my nails and I ate ice during the infusion of taxotere and Adriamycin. I did not lose my nails. I also painted clear polish on my nails. I did end up getting thrush like symptoms in my mouth. I belonged to a chemo group on here and followed that thread. You should look and see what the latest chemo thread is. That way you have many people to go thru it with and trade ideas that could help. I am right at 2 years post dx and I don't remember chemo being that hard because I took lots of meds to battle the side effects. Ask for whatever you need. Xanax for anxiety, pain pills, Phenergan, zophran, whatever you need. I remember the bone pain was the worst for me and I suffered from it way after chemo was over.  Chemo today is definitely doable. Just don't wait to ask for whatever you need. And good luck. By the way I thought I was sexy bald headed lady and I hardly ever wore scarves or wigs. lol   Healing hugs to you

mjm1

Hi, good luck with your treatment. Mum has the Neulasta shot, and read that lots of people seem to get less bone pain from it if they take Claratin/Loratadine (an over the counter antihistimine) so she's been doing this since the first treatment. Makes it hard to know if it's helped her, but you might want to consider it.

MrsLce

Thank you melmcbee and mjm1!! I really appreciate all of the info I can get...had my port placement yesterday and will start my 1st treatment (taxotere, adrymiacin and cytoxan) on Monday morning. I have purchased some Claritin just in case and I will definitely keep the clear coat on my nails as well as the ice trick...I can't say I'm terribly excited about the neulasta but just like chemo I'm looking at it as just another necessary evil on the road back to good health...Thank you also for the advice on following a chemo thread...oddly that actually didn't even cross my mind...weird lol!! I have a couple of scarves and hats and am hoping to get a wig on Monday for the sheer simple fact that I'm a bridesmaid in a close friends wedding in July and thought I might feel better having some kind of hair for their pictures lol! We'll see how that actually works out!! Thanks to both of you again and I hope you two have an amazing weekend!! 

mazie73

Make sure to take the Claritin the day of your shot and for a few days after. A friend of mine did the wait-and-see thing and could barely walk the day after her first shot. I had very little bone pain, and anything I did experience was managed with Tylenol. It really wasn't bad at all. They might give you the option of getting the shot in your stomach or arm. The nurse told me that I'd have muscle soreness in my arm, so I opted for my stomach (you just pinch a little fat and they inject it there). I had no issues with the injection area. 

I also strongly recommend Glutamine and Vitamin B. Both help with neuropathy. Biotene mouthwash with a little hydrogen peroxide (maybe a teaspoon) does wonders for mouth sores. I rinsed my mouth with that mixture twice a day.

Good luck! 

Maureen1

(((MrsLce))) good luck with your first chemo…you will find a wealth of information and great tips in the chemo threads so hope you've connected with the other folks starting chemo this month:) I had 4 cycles of Adriamycin and Cytoxan in a 2 week "dose dense" regime then had 4 cycles of Taxol. My MO gave me a lot of great meds to prevent side effects and I took them just as recommended, I did not wait for the symptoms to start. I also had the Neulasta shots and it caused some aches in my bones but nothing too uncomfortable. I took Vit B and held frozen water bottles in my hands to prevent the neuropathy especially with the Taxol. My nails did darken but I didn't lose them.I had to change my "healthy" diet because I couldn't eat the raw veggies and salads I liked, I had to eat more processed foods that were easier to digest. About a month after my first chemo I did start losing my hair so I had it buzzed off and put on a wig which worked well for me because it looked so much like my "real" hairstyle…some people never knew I lost my hair. I was tired but I was able to work thru chemo - I'm a nurse but I could take off the day after chemo and work 8 hour shifts so that helped. I wish you the best in your journey…hang in there, take the meds to prevent the side effects and rest...the hair grows back and the body does all it can to recover:) (((Hugs))) Maureen

Vikingqueen

How are you MrsLce?? I hope you are having a good day. My Onco dx test came back 32.I am recommended standard of care wich is 6 rounds of Taxatere and Cytoxan. I am scared to death since I watched a girlfiend at 44 die when she caught some kind of bug after a fundraiser was held for her in our small town. She had Acute onset Luekemia wich I understand is a whole nother beast! she left behind five kids! Why must we suffer ? I am all healed from surgery and feel like I could go on with my life now. I need some CONVICTION in myself that I am doing the right thing.(not to mention still rads and drugs to come!)