Taxotere is a nightmare

n3ypb - Glad you are feeling better!  Your avatar made me chuckle!!  Pills, pills, pills.

Survivorwoman-

I work in transfusion services (Blood Bank) in the hospital where I had my BMX.  If you have not already gone for your transfusion yet I had a couple of thoughts.  If you and your onc do not know your CMV (Cytomegalovirus) status please have them order CMV Neg blood for you.  CMV is a common virus, like a cold, and half the population is positive which just indicates previous exposure.  If your status is unknown you NEED CMV Neg so you are not exposed to something you are ill-equipped to combat.  I personally would also request irradiated blood.  Every Blood Bank has a full supply of this type of blood and it is specifically for auto-immune compromised patients.  But, your physician has to specifically order both of these modifiers when your blood order is placed.

Don't be nervous, I am sure you will do fine and you will feel much better after you are done!

Absolutely!  I am glad that my professional knowledge can be of use.  Many physicians don't order the CMV analysis prior to transfusion so CMV Neg is a better safe then sorry deal.  Most oncology/hemotology docs order CMV Neg/IRR products as a rule, some don't so it is always better to be armed with knowledge so you can self-advocate.  Unfortunately don't we ALL know how important that is!

Often when folks require a blood transfusion during chemo it is an ongoing problem with chronically low red counts (anemia) throughout their chemo, or sometimes it is a pre-existing chronic low count exacerbated by the cell destruction from chemo.  When I used to donate I was successful only about half the time because I am borderline.  In my 1st post tx blood draw last week I am on the edge of low, but that is kind of normal for me.  The reason I point this out is that if multiple blood transfusions are required throughout chemo, or multiple units transfused during one day (very common) you are receiving from more than 1 donor.  For myself I would ask for irradiated units because irradiation prevents "graft vs host" problems, which are kind of like rejection is in an organ transplant.  It is like $25 champagne vs $100 champagne, they are both great but that $100 bottle is just a little better!

I am always happy to help if anyone has blood product related questions.

Tracie, I am BRCA2+ as well.  I know the onc wants me to have a hysterectomy, oomph and my other breast removed after chemo.  I am envious of your walking!  I am determined to join you soon!

Yesterday, I posted that I was having a really bad day and I want to say thank you for all of the pick me ups.  You girls are really great for that.  I haven't found many other threads that are as supportive as ya'll are.  Knowing I was having a bad day, I thought ya'll would enjoy my lunch story.  An older gentleman approached my table and asked if I have cancer.  I wear a scarf instead of a wig so I might as well have cancer tatooed on my forehead.  He said his wife of 50 years had breast cancer too.  He lost her just over a year after she was diagnosed.  There were three of us at my table and it was so uncomfortable for all of us.  On a good day, I probably would have laughed it off but yesterday it just made the day worse.  Why do people always want to share the bad stuff?  UGH!!!

Susan

Hey ladies!

I am 26 days post tx and the main side effects I am still having is sore muscles, hair loss (of course), and nail loss. Other than that I feel pretty good every so often I deal with the 'what if' factor. 

Tis life though.

Survivorwoman-

Also, it is important to note that you will require a Type & Crossmatch prior to your transfusion.  This is the process of ascertaining your blood type and checking for any antibodies in your blood.  If you have never had a transfusion before it is unlikely that you have any antibodies, unless you have recently received rhogam because you are rh neg, O-, A-, B- or AB- (given during/after childbirth or miscarriage) or have an unusual hematologic situation.  This can take about an hour in a large hospital.  It adds time to the transfusion process and I didn't want you to get more nervous in waiting for the transfusion to begin and wondering if something is wrong.  Some centers have you come in and give your sample the day before, or early in the morning and then come back to get the actual transfusion so you are not hanging around.

I hope they can get you set up soon.

Wow, SpecialK, I'm glad I received my treatment at Dana-Farber in Boston and they knew all of this stuff 'cuze I didn't!

I needed two units the week after I finished TCH in 2007. I had been a part of a Phase II research for this combo. ...I was at the point of feeling half dead and when I realized how much blood I needed, that only confirmed that I was (half dead)!

Excellent awareness info that you shared. Gals who are in treatment need to be their own advocates...especially when they are being treated at a hospital that is not a specialized cancer facility.

Blessings,

Kathy

Hey Tracie,

Thanks so much for checking on me. I appreciate the thought. I'm ok, still kind of have the blues but I'm sure they'll go away soon. It could also be I'm just exhausted. I'm a preschool teacher and last week my director combined the two Pre-K classes. I went from teaching 14 four and five year olds to teaching 28! I normally work with a teaching partner and now with the 28 kids there are 3 of us teaching but wow!! The little critters are LOUD and they wear me completely out!! I am so ready to feel good again and have my energy back. Will we ever really be back to our old selves?? 

Tracie- nobody called about the transfusion. I have two other appointments today at the hospital, so I am going to sit it out there if I have to. I have to get a transfusion today, I am not too well. Getting slower and having more palpitations. DH is acting up again, too. Probably worried but shows it the wrong way that stresses me out even more that he is very rough with me. I am worn out. Please think about me today and send postitive thoughts so I get this transfusion done today. Love you all for thinking of me.

Survivorwoman - Good luck today, I hope you get the transfusion pronto!

Survivorwoman good luck today. The transfusion should make you feel so much better.

TonLee I found on chemo my skin healed very slowly/not at all. Now that I've been off chemo for 6 weeks I'm amazed at how much faster my scars from BMX are healing. The drain sites are starting to disappear. It could take a bit for that area to heal. Maybe try some Vitamin E oil down there.

My Ophthalmologist wants to do eye stint surgery next week on me under General Anesthesia.  Says 50% of women get perm. scarring and suffer Taxo-tears the rest of their life without an invasive surgery to remove the scar tissue...

I talk about  it here...http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/765652?page=1#idx_1

I'd appreciate any feedback....

TonLee - I agree with Omaz...I would get a second opinion.  My taxotears were driving me crazy and now like someone flipped a switch they have started to clear up.  My last tax infusion was Feb 2.

survivorwoman i hope all went well, I think i might be in the border line as well they said my red blood cells are at 92 and should be 120....so we will see i also get the palpitations not all the time but still there....so i guess i will have to wait and see if i too need transfusion i got two more to go