Taxotere/Cytoxan starting July 2011

Frances - I would go with the Dr's inclination, and take the sixth TC round.  Just to be sure.

You are a trooper Peachy!

Everyone - have a great, SE-minimal weekend!

well I slept pretty well last night.   Feeling a little jittery and shaky this morning,  so I am eating some scrambled eggs and sausage before I take my BP pills,  and my Claritan and Aleve.    So far i've been lucky,  no nausea and since I had my Neulasta shot at 4:45pm yesterday no bone pain yet.   My jaw feels a little funky at times,  and been having a very slight headache,  but other then that,  so far so good.   Supposed to get fitted for my wigs today,  hope I can get out to make that appt. then come home to relax for the rest of the weekend before I return to work on Monday.  I hope all of you beautiful ladies have a great SE minimal weekend too!    (((Hugs))) to each and every one of you!   

Today is day three and holding. I received kytril,decadron, amd dexamethasome,and hydration yesterday A little bit of nausea  a slight headache but 100 percent better than last time.Two more of the a/c then weekly rounds of Taxotare for 12 weeks. Is this this one of the drugs you ladies are taking. My last infusion is oct.26th and then I asked if I could take the holidays off. They said I could but they would rather I keep going. Is taxotare easier than A/C being its weekly?

Thanks Rossileo18. Onco basically leftbthe decision to me. He said in US it's normal for 4TC but here he practices 6TC. I have been on 2 weeks cycle and not three weeks and he told me two week cycle is shown to be more effective than three week. Whatever decision I take, I know I cannot Look back and said I should have done it differently.

Thank you Ladyboss!     I got home from getting my new hair and took a 3 hr nap.   I guess you could say I feel really hung over today.   Been very lucky with no nausea,  and no bone pain.  The Claritan and Aleve really do work!   Great advice!     Going to rest as much as possible to gear up for Monday.    I have a feeling I may have to re-arrange my work schedule with my boss when I get back.   I think I am definitely going to need the Fridays and the weekends after my treatments off.    I want to avoid Disibility if I can.   Looking forward to Tuesday!   

I've been lucky with no vomiting,  even though I felt a little queasy when I got up this morning.   I held off taking the nausea pills.    I ate some crackers and some fried eggs,  along with 2 bottles of water and took my meds.   I feel weak, shaky and light headed.   Also jaw is still achy, I feel zoned out,  and my mouth is very dry and food has started to taste awful.   Not like metal or rust like i've been told,  but very bland and icky.   I took a 2 hr nap,  but sitting here I still feel really crappy.    Hope I have enough energy in me to go back to work tomorrow.   This stuff really zaps the life out of you doesn't it?  

Thank you Ladyboss,  will definitely follow your advice. 

Had what sounds like the same thing happen to me 6 days after the 3rd round on the 1st. Got steroids and use benidryl to calm the itching.

Snoopy: I had the same reaction 8 days after #3. I put on Hydrocortizone cream, took a benadryl, and took one of my steroid pills. It was gone within hours.

Peachy: how are you today?

#4 on Thursday! Yea! Will be glad to finally get this part of the journey over.

PhillyBird - I would use caution warning women to avoid soy products just yet. There is no conclusive evidence that soy based foods and drinks behave the same as estrogen. Yes, they're a plant-based estrogen, but that's very different from our own estrogen & other animal-based hormones. Some research suggests that phytoestrogens, or estrogen found in soy products, may act similar to Tamoxifen - binding with the estrogen receptor in cancer cells & thereby blocking our naturally occurring estrogen to prevent cancer growth. 

In fact, countries whose diets include mostly soy-based foods - like Japan - have the LOWEST incidents of breast cancer. However, when Japanese women move to America, their chances increase to same levels as American-born women.

So... why is that? Is it the soy diet that prevents cancer? Is it the toxins in our environment and food? Questions that need answers, for sure!!

Still feeling very tired and groggy today.   Tried to go to work,  but ended up coming right back home.    My Blood pressure has been low all weekend,  so I have a call into my cardilolgist to see if I need to lower my BP meds.    Other then feeling light headed, weak and tired I am Ok.   Neulasta shot never really bothered me at all I am happy to report!   I took my Claritan today,  but no Aleves and I am good.    No nausea today ether!   Just wish I could get this loopy feeling to go away now,  then i'd be perfect.  

Hi Rossileo, my blood counts and tumor markers came back ok, within range and I have decided to stop chemo 6. Onco is ok with my decision. I feel that chemo is wrecking havoc to my immune system and I have decided that I would rather concentrate of lifestyle and diet change and my traditional Chinese medicine than allow my immune system to be compromised further. I feel so liberated now and I am now waiting to see radiation oncologist for my radiation treatment. Hoping to start radiation by this Friday.

Thanks Rossileo and all the ladies here supporting me and giving me strength to get through this period. Losing dad was the hardest and with my well meaning siblings keeping the full truth of dad away from me and not allowing me to see him, I have guilty pangs about not spending time with him during his last days. I am focussing hard on my road to recovery now and yes to new hair:). Radiation onco was so reassuring and after reviewing my case, he told me confidently that I have 70% chance of surviving 10 years and more. I just need to keep to my healthy lifestyle and diet. All the best to your last too on 21st. We can all do the happy dance!

Hang in there Theater!  Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks for the well wishes, Rossileo - can't wait for the afternoon.  Got lots to do this morning before going over to my final chemo treatment.  Yeah!!!

Frances - You have been through a lot and you are wise to focus on the people you love and the things you love to do.  Life is short even without the personal strife we deal with.  Once something like BC comes into your life, you really wake up to the fact that you have to focus on what is truly important to you.  I know it has totally changed my mindset and made me more determined to do what I really want to be doing from now on.

Peachy - glad to hear you are handling it all pretty well.  I find that a lot of it is mind over matter; if you don't stress the small stuff, you can handle a bit of discomfort, knowing that it will get better very soon.  Like LadyBoss says - lemon in water (also keep it chilled), lots of small frequent meals and protein for energy.

Shevawn - sure, the studies on phytoestrogens are certainly not all in accord, but there is enough research to suggest that a super high soy diet is not for me.  Since my vegetarian focused dining at home was rather heavy on the tofu, I found it easy enough to swap to healthy and environmentally safer fish to get my protein.  It is really all about moderation in everything.

Theatercat and Peachy pie - sorry to hear about your SEs. When they hit me, I always told myself tomorrow is a better day. They will go away soon and it's amazing one day you can be feeling horrible and the next day, side effets seem to go away after a good night's sleep.