March 2010 Chemo Start

Hi Ladies, Gald to see everyone is hanging in there.

Julia - I am happy that you seem to be coming out of the dark place that you found yourself in.  I wish you strength and courage in this difficult journey.

Taty - Thanks for sending the information about your clinical trial,  I will check it out.

Kell - I felt foggy and disoriented from day 3 to day 8 after my round 1.  Then on day 9 it was a miraculous 180 degree turn and my mind cleared.  The change was so swift that I couldnt believe it.  I then enjoyed the remaning 5 days till round 2.  Hopefully your fogginess will clear away too.

Ladies, I sipped Gatorade the whole day yesterday, almost had 2 litres and maybe that helped with my energy level.  Just thought of passing along the tip.

Hope everyone has tolerable SEs.  My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

Hello all, checking in two days after my Tx #2 of weekly 12. After reading about all the SEs that most of you on TC regimens are experiencing, I feel guilty having to report that I've felt fine so far! I'd heard that weekly Taxol is considered an "easy" chemo (as such things go!) but took it with more than a grain of salt... and yet... so far so good. I'm also totally aware that I've only had two infusions and that SEs can and probably will kick in at any point and at any level. So I'm not complacent by any means --although I am grateful for my luck thus far!

The only SE I had after #2 was a slight dizziness while standing in one spot for a couple of minutes on the way out of the onc's office to make my next appts at the desk, and maybe a half dozen fleeting aches in my legs and arms over the next couple of hours whichn were relieved by 2 Tylenol. No Decadron jitters or insomnia but again, with my regimen I only get the 20 min IV infusion of it. The Aloxi has prevented ANY nausea so far, with the one IV dose. I asked how come all oncs don't just use that instead of messing around with Zofran, Emend, etc... the nurse said she wasn't sure, perhaps it's a cost thing but their office uses Aloxi ONLY, simply because it works so well and usually eliminates the need for many patients to take any other meds at home.

They also confirmed that my shakiness SE last week was definitely because I drank way too much water those 2 days. Between 3 and 4 quarts of liquid those days are fine but that large an amount cannot be entirely from water, or else all the electrolytes will be flushed away and problems arise, exactly as happened to me. So the extra quart or two has to be from juice, soup, Pedialyte, Gatorade, popsicles... anything BUT plain water. Lesson learned!

My pre-chemo blood work showed my WBC back to within normal limits (4.7, up from 3.8 last time after being on 3 qts of water/day, though not back  up to my normal pre-extra-water level of 5.3). Neutrophils have held steady at normal levels of 3.1 and 65%, and as long as that continues I will be able to avoid Neulasta.

No Benadryl for me this time, and had a "compromise" Herceptin drip time of 45 min; nurse wanted to push to 30 mins from the original "test" 90 mins, I wanted a 60 min drip just to be safer, so we split the difference at 45 mins. Next week will be 30 mins and if I tolerate that, that will be the drip speed for the next 9 infusions. Taxol was 90 mins this time, so next week they'll push it to 60 in order to get the entire TX down to 2 hours.

My main SE so far (other than the one-time Benadryl drama and my self-induced overhydration!) has been my blood pressure reading going into the chemo. It's been astronomically high for me, even though I didn't think I'd been consciously that panicked about the chemo. I was (I thought) far more panicky about the biopsies, tests, and surgery than this. My normal BP has always been somewhere between 112 and 120 over 75 or 80. Even at the hospital waiting for surgery, when I was pretty much terrified, it was 135 over 85. That was "high" for me but understandable. When the onc's office took it prior to my first TX, it was 140 over 85 but as I said to the gal who took it, "This isn't my normal but I'm super nervous right now". Having got the first tx over with I expected this week to be calmer, and I thought that I was... but while waiting in the outer room another patient came in, a woman in a wheelchair who was clearly in a bad way... something that was so incredibly sad and upsetting to see and hear. She was out there for about 10 mins and I could feel myself getting more and more stressed out because there was no "escape" from it, having to wait my turn to be called. When I go in they take my temp and BP and blood immediately, and it was through the roof -- 169 over 90! I knew it was partly from apprehension (would I have a reaction again? Would they not agree to slow down the drip if I wanted them to?) but also from my time in the waiting room. So she took my blood and then retook the BP again afterwards; it was down to 155 over 85 which was still high but way above normal. I'm hoping that next week I can do better, although I have to be honest, my only "ride" next week is a friend who means well but it's always somewhat stressful to be around her because all she does is talk about how awful her own chemo experience was. But she's my only option for transportation next week; nobody else can drive me, and I'm not yet ready to try to drive myself there and back (35+ mins each way). I do have a "co-pilot" lined up for the following two weeks, as a test to see if I will be okay to drive myself home in the future, but next week it has to be with her. Oh well!

I'm assuming the spike in BP is entirely due to anxiety (rather than a SE of anything I'm being given) but am going to ask the nurse to check it during next week's tx by taking it while I'm in the chair midway through. Logically it should be down to somewhere around normal levels even if it is high "going in" before I start. 

Although my normal tx day is Wednesdays, next week I have to go on Tuesday because they are already double-booked for the 31st and couldn't fit me in. So I will be getting it one day "early" but then after that I'll be back to every Wednesday again. My doctor is normally there on Weds and Fridays but next week she is off entirely, so it really doesn't matter that I'll be there on a different day. She has a partner onc (who I've never met) so it's not like there is nobody on site. 

I may get my hair buzzed a second time because it really has grown since my pre-first-TX buzz-off, and the Taxol has not kicked in yet at all. Supposedly on the weekly regimen it may not do so until #3 or #4. By that time I'll easily have 1/2" of new hair which is not where I wanted to be at when it starts coming out, so I may decide to go back before tx #3 and get rid of it. Another reason why I'm not assuming this is going to remain the easy, I-feel-normal ride that it has been for these first 2 weeks... it may be just waiting around till #3, #4, or later to suddenly rise up and kick my butt!

Taxotere is the "brand name" for docetaxel; Taxol is the "brand name" for paclitaxel. I agree it would be much less confusing if the oncology world did not use "T" for both drugs, and instead used D and P ... but it's way too late for that now, I suspect!

Taxol and Taxotere (a/k/a "Taxol's Evil Twin") are 'sister' drugs...both taxanes. 

And to add to the confusion, the "C" in TC regimens can stand for either Carboplatin or Cytoxan.....which are also two different drugs and not even "related" as Taxol and Taxotere are. Carboplatin is platinum-based, while Cytoxan is a mustard-gas derivative. "Apples vs orange" for sure!

Hi all, two down four to go.  Today was uneventful.  Had a great onc nurse, got IV in one stick and took BP manually, in fact said she prefers to do it that way.  Arrived at 8:30 for bloodwork and I was walking out by 1:00.  Drove myself today (1/2 hour drive) as tx was moved up from Tues 3/30 and DH has to work Fridays but it was OK.  Next tx back on schedule Tues 4/13. 

Hope everyone feels OK this weekend and that SE's are not too bad.  {{hugs}}

p.s. TC is taxotere and cytoxan.  No rads for me but onc says tamoxifen is in my future.

Hi all!

I had my first TC treatment today, finished up about 4 1/2 hours ago.  Luckily I had no reactions.  I did not get a port because I'm only having 4 treatments and they thought I could do without.  Well I hate getting catheters put it.  The first nurse had trouble, even after soaking my arm in hot water.  The second nurse got it right away.  I am still worried about the next 3 though; I don't have a lot of available veins, but the nurse was optimistic that it will be fine so I will trust her.  I still feel fine, just bloated and a little tired, but I have to take another dose of Decadron now so that will probably keep me up all night.  So I guess it's somewhat normal to feel ok at first?  Sounds like most people feel crappy after coming off the decadron.

I go in tomorrow afternoon for my Neulasta shot.  I started taking Claritin a couple days ago and will continue for a few more days at least.  

Dublin---how did your treatments go???  And anyone else that just started, you doing ok?

Hi all!! I had my first chemo treatment on Thursday 25th. I just have a light head and heartburn. decadron makes me anxious. But other than that I'm good to go. I have my nulasta shot tomorrow. and tonight was the last decadron. we'll see what happens then. Just osaat, Sweet Dreams.

Good morning ladies!  II'm glad you made out ok, too, Dublin!

I had my first treatment (and lots of Decadron yesterday) but luckily enough I was able to get 6 hours of sleep.  I did have to get up every 2 hours to pee. I tried to sleep longer but just couldn't.  I still feel ok though, just a little restless.

I do now have a horrible taste in my mouth.  Last night it was just a weird smell and I kept asking my aunt if she smelled something funny , haha!  Then I figured it was just that metallic taste starting.

Barb, have you started on Prilosec?  (omeprazole)  That will likely help you a lot with the heartburn.  I have had issues in the past and used it, then the steroids really made it worse, and the Prilosec knocks it out.  It may take 2 or 3 days for it to kick in if you haven't been on it lately, but it's worth a try.  If the heartburn goes away after this treatment, you might want to consider starting it 2 or 3 days before your next treatment.  I'm also getting my Neulasta shot today; already took my Claritin to help with any SE.  Hope it works.

May I join your group?  I have been lurking here for weeks, not posting because it makes things more concrete and real.  I was diagnosed 2/15 and had my first treatment on 3/11 of Taxotere, Carboplatin, & Herceptin (Tax & Carb will be for 6 treatments, Herceptin for a year).  I haven't had my surgery yet, we decided to do genetic testing before surgery so we decided chemo first while waiting on genetic test results.  (My mom died of ovarian CA 15 years ago, my brother got prostate CA at age 41.)  I got the results a couple of weeks ago, BRCA 1 & 2 negative, yay!  So I will be having a lumpectomy then radiation once chemo is done.  Treatment #2 is this Thursday, April 1 and I am eager to do it so I can hurry up and get them all done.  The SE I had with the first one was MAJOR CONSTIPATION, but I had the port installed the day before so I know the anesthesia from that also contributed.  Hopefully I can stay on top of that this time.  Plus I had a mouth sore and my tongue and mouth were numb for about a week or so, drove me bananas.

I have a copy of my report from my biopsy but I haven't been able to bring myself to look at it, although the surgeon went over it with me.  I do know I am estrogen positive, and the tumor is 2 1/2 cm (stage II).  One of these days I will be able to look at it.  This is still so new for me. 

My hair is starting to come out, which is so hard.  I have a son who is 8 year old, he has autism, my hair is his security object, always has been, I know this will be so hard for him.  He doesn't understand what is going on.   I bought a long pretty wig and I hope that will be okay for him.  I've worn it for him a little and I think he likes it. 

Anyway, that is me.  Still working at accepting the reality of it all, but I will get there.  Lurking here has helped.   God has given me such great peace. 

Melanie

Just started first chemo treatment Tuesday .. human again on Saturday.

Marigunn - I love your name for us - "the Marchers"!   We really are marching through these treatments, marching through the SE's (even though it might not seem like it at times) and marching towards our cure!   We are all so strong together!   Keep on marching!

I just wanted to let everyone know about a couple sellers on eBay that I just bought some head covers and bandanas from. 

One of them is called EnglishTraditions, I ordered a soft knit hat for wearing at night and/or under the other covers, and I also got two cotton head covers with prints.  (One with horses, the other dark with grey leaves.)They have a little padding at the forehead so they look really good.  Free, fast shipping, super nice lady.

The others I just ordered today so I haven't seen them yet. That one is called VagbondJoes.  It's actually a biker type shop but they sell women's stuff too.  I got a cool-max ventialted one to wear under my riding helmet, a regular bandana for bumming around, a plain cotton and another print one. (If anyone care, haha)   Very reasonable prices, including reasonable shipping. Click on the "Visit my store" then you can search.

Sorry I tried to make the link open in a new window but it's not working! So you'll have to back page to get back to bc.org

Ladies, My nephew put me on to a site called buffs. It is headware for bikers, hikers etc. but alot of cancer patients are wearing them and it can be worn several different ways. I ordered a couple for me. They can be seen on a video. Just type in buffs headwear.

horesdoc: yes the doc called it in for me yesterday, He wanted me on nexium but ins would not pay for it. The ins made me change my celebrex to mobic. I guess they think they are having to spend to much on me.

Hello my friends...while 1st chemo was Friday morning and is is Sunday morning and so far so good.  I have been drinking lots of liquids and walked about 5 miles yesterday.  Not sleeping great because i am up going to the bathroom.  Felt a little off Friday night, the spacey thing.  But so far so good.  I don't want to jinx myself and I know that I will get tired in the next few days.  I go for blood work on Thursday to see how things are doing.  Waiting to see what the week holds.

Stay strong and remember TEMPORARY is the word!!!!

Hang in there sarikasd! I am a few days ahead of you! I washed my inch long hair today (mostly only on top-- sides had fallen out on my pillowcase) and the majority of it came out in the shower.  Traumatic is the word.  I have cried over these strands so many times over the last few days and it was not all that great to begin with but at least it was mine and it was there! Everyone told me to buzz it but I just couldn't do it. The wig feels better though now that most of the hair is gone.  I still want to cry,

Hang in there and know you aren't the only one going through this

Hugs, Charley

I did cry, yesterday in the hair salon, as the bob I'd had since the Locks of Love ponytail donation was clipped to an inch.  It had been coming out in the shower for a couple of days then just floating off my head like dandelion fluff and sticking to all my shirts, annoying!  So now I look like Jay North, the kid who played Dennis the Menace on the TV show, cowlick and everything.

It's still coming out but seems at a slower pace, maybe just 'cuz the hairs are shorter and less noticeable.

Did nothing yesterday but read and sleep and watch Marley & Me.  Cute movie.  Today I have more ambition, doing laundry, made some real mashed potatoes for lunch *yum* and just got back from a walk.  Hope this finds everyone doing OK today.  {{hugs}}