Taxotere/Cytoxan starting July 2011

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  • ladyboss1997
    ladyboss1997 Member Posts: 202
    edited October 2011

    Phillybird: yep, my eyebrows are sneaking away too. My rad onc told me to expect this. According to her, new eyebrows are trying to grow and they are pushing out the old eyebrows. I, too, have pepped up the workout at the gym and begun watching the diet better. I am looking a little fluffy.   

    Peachy: please take care. Just keep your docs informed.

    I am starting day 1 of rads today. The earliest morning appt I could get was 7:30a. that is not early enough for me, so I took the 3:45p appt. I will go after work, then go home and rest.  

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  • rossileo18
    rossileo18 Member Posts: 245
    edited October 2011

    Peachy, Please keep us posted on the heart racing problem. Hope it's nothing serious.



    Ladyboss, hope all goes smoothly with the rads. No eyebrow loss for me yet, though I am dropping some of my survivor hairs.



    In Arizona now soaking Up some sunshine and visiting my mom who is still in nursing facility. Hoping to get here home, but she's still working on getting her strength back. I start radiation next Wednesday. Couldn't get a really early appointment, so I don't get mine until 8:30. Still not sure if I will try to work a full day or just take a sick hour' everyday.

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  • ladyboss1997
    ladyboss1997 Member Posts: 202
    edited October 2011

    Luckily my bosses are going to allow me to work 7a - 3p/no lunch for an 8 hour day. They have been great through this whole thing. I have not had to take much sick leave at all. But I always have that option if rads start to kick my butt. Just did not want to take advantage of that option unless really needed.  

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  • peachy-pie
    peachy-pie Member Posts: 201
    edited October 2011

    Had lab work done at the hospital last night, they came back good.   Went back to Urgent care this afternoon for a follow up on my stats,  better today then yesterday.    They talked to my Onc.  and both agree it is because of the steroids and glad that I went to have it checked so they can lower the dosage the next time.    Apparently Steroids can cause you to have heart palpatations and rapid heartbeat.    Hoping to start feeling better now......

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  • FrancesC
    FrancesC Member Posts: 346
    edited October 2011

    Hi lady boss and Rossileo, I find that I am tired after my rad and need a nap once I am home. After the power nap I feel refreshed.

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  • ladyboss1997
    ladyboss1997 Member Posts: 202
    edited October 2011

    Peachy: glad they know what the problem is. Here's hoping you will now sail through your last 2

    FrancesC: I guess it is a God thing that I got my rad time in the afternoon. I can come home and rest. I will get home an hour before my husband does. When did the fatigue hit you - #6, #7 . . . ?

    Had rad #1 yesterday. Was in and out in 30 minutes. My drive over to the hospital is going to be the worse part of having rads. Nothing but construction between my office and the hospital.

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  • FrancesC
    FrancesC Member Posts: 346
    edited October 2011

    The tiredness hit me after a week, so you are right about #6 onwards. However best part about rad is I can sleep much better now compared to when I was going through chemo high:)

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  • Snoopy73
    Snoopy73 Member Posts: 287
    edited October 2011

    Hi ladies; hope everyone is doing well:-) I am sorry for MIA, i dont get to the internet much these days because of my crazy hectic schedule, between working full time until 3pm then rush out to get to my rads at 4.30pm then go get the kids then home preparing dinner, bath & bed time.. by the time the kids go to bed, all i want is to lay down and do nothing:-)

    Well, like Frances, I am currently doing Radiation.. 7 down 23 more to go!! So far, no skin irritation. I have bad muscle aches on my legs, thighs and arms... this started after my last TC chemo which is 5 weeks ago!! the aches with my crazy schedule makes me soooo tired by the end of the day!! I also am experienceing hot flashes! Met with my MEd Onco yday and the feedback is that the muscle aches is from Taxotere:-( and will stop eventually.. i can take aleve/advil to help with the pain. The hot flashes is from the zoladex shot i am getting, ti'll stop after my last shot whcih is end of this month, BUT will probably ahppen again once i start taxing Tamoxifen!! 

    Other than that, i think I am doing Okay:-)

    Sending you all positive vibes and negative SEs.

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  • peachy-pie
    peachy-pie Member Posts: 201
    edited October 2011

    Day 8 after 2nd chemo, and heart palps & racing is gone,  but now dealing with queasiness and not wanting to eat.       Does this get worse with each treatment?  

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2011

    Hi everyone!

    Peachy -  Glad they figured out it was the steroids.  If you're feeling slightly nauseated, nibble on crackers.  It is important to eat and get some calories in you.  So, make a peanut butter snack with those crackers.  As I have mentioned before - I love Trader Joe's organic tomato and red pepper soup - it is low-salt and comes in a box that you store in the fridge after opening.  Heat some in a bowl in the microwave and add a spoonful of yogurt (that will cool it down a bit so as not to irritate your mouth.  Great taste and mouthfeel.  I find that whichever SEs you get, do tend to get a bit worse (more intense) and come on sooner and last longer with each cycle.

    Did my radiation filming today.  Real rads start Monday at 7 AM.  I now have 7 or possibly 8 tiny tattoos.  Washed most of the marker off.  It is going to be 6 weeks of tank tops and lightweight blouses for me.  Feeling slightly overwhelmed with all the responsibility on the job, the commute, needing to get up at the crack of dawn, wanting to make sure to get to the gym more regularly, eat right, cook all those veggies I keep buying at the farmers' markets, etc. . . .

    I envy Frances being able take a nap after rads - I will have to drive directly to work.

    Wishing all a great and relaxing weekend.

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  • FrancesC
    FrancesC Member Posts: 346
    edited October 2011

    Phillybird thank you. If the rad gets you down please rest, take off and rest. Rad onco told me yesterday that it's normal to feel tired as rad progresses and this also depends on where they rad you. I have been told the angle they are getting me hits my lungs a little too. No wonder I get breathless easily. With cancer I have told myself what's important is ME first, ME time....the rest can wait.

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  • peachy-pie
    peachy-pie Member Posts: 201
    edited October 2011

    2 more to get through,  guess I am going to have to learn to deal with all of this.    Nov 17th can't get here fast enough.  :)

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  • FrancesC
    FrancesC Member Posts: 346
    edited October 2011

    Peachy it will soon pass. We did it you can too!!!

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  • ladyboss1997
    ladyboss1997 Member Posts: 202
    edited October 2011

    Well, 3 rads down - 30 to go.

    Peachy: Phillybird is giving you good advice. Munch on little stuff all the time. It will all be over before you know it.

    FrancesC: you are right. ME first. We have spent our whole lives taking care of others. Now we have to take care of ourselves. I am getting rads while on my stomach. Onc says this avoids the lung. If you have a breathing machine from your surgery, use it every day.

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  • peachy-pie
    peachy-pie Member Posts: 201
    edited October 2011
    Feeling a little better today.   Actually got down some chicken & broccoli last night!  and it even tasted good!      Drank some chocolate milk for breakfast and so far so good.  Still not 100%,  but getting there.Smile     
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  • mommarch
    mommarch Member Posts: 584
    edited October 2011

    Peachy,  Glad it is going fairly well.  I had my 5th Taxol last Thursday, have felt a little worse this time then the others.  Take good care of your self

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  • rossileo18
    rossileo18 Member Posts: 245
    edited October 2011

    Back from vacation, where my 21 year old nephew told me that he thought I would look good bald. Not sure if I'm ready to take advice from somebody who did his hair in a Mohawk a couple of years ago. I think I'll stick to hats.

    Radiation starts Wednesday -- actually the dry run with the real stuff starting the next day. Still a bit achy from the chemo, but I'm ready to get started on this next stage.

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  • ladyboss1997
    ladyboss1997 Member Posts: 202
    edited October 2011

    Peachy: How ya feeling?  You haven't been posting. Everything OK?

    I did #6 rad today. Still no problems. I meet with onc tomorrow to lay out my screening schedule, and find out when my port comes out.  

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  • rossileo18
    rossileo18 Member Posts: 245
    edited October 2011

    Had my first rad today and was surprised how fast it was. Don't feel any different. I think it takes a while for the cumulative effect to kick in.

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  • peachy-pie
    peachy-pie Member Posts: 201
    edited October 2011

    Hello,  sorry I haven't been on here in a few days.   I am doing better with each day that goes by.  Had another strange heart palp yesterday and my cardiologist is going to hook me up to a 24 hr monitor on Monday to see what is going on.   Hopefully it's nothing,  but want to be sure before my 3rd treatment on Thursday.     I can't believe i'll only have 1 more to get through after next week!   Seems like I just started and it's almost over already!    That really makes me Happy!!! :)

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  • FrancesC
    FrancesC Member Posts: 346
    edited October 2011

    Yeah Peachy all will be over soon. Had done 19 rads and so far still ok. Skin is getting darker and arm more stiff. I use aloe Vera gel every night to cool skin down. 14 more to go, so fast and am happy.

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  • ladyboss1997
    ladyboss1997 Member Posts: 202
    edited October 2011

    Peachy: Yeah for you!  Hope the heart thing won't be a problem. Once you get #3 down you will feel like it is over. #4 was nothing for me, since I was so excited about beindone.

    FrancesC: I am so glad to hear your rads are going good with minmal problems. I will be doing #8 rad today. Still no problems.

    I met with my onc yesterday for follow up schedule: 1) start Tamoxifen two weeks after radiation 2)another chest and bone scan the first of December 3)mammogram and meet with onc again in March

    Onc gave me a pretty good lecture on the side effects of Tamoxifen (hot flashes and weight gain). She suggested a change my diet now to get ahead of the weight gain.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2011

    Hi all -

    Been so busy with work and getting to rads early in the morning.

    Yeah Frances!  Yeah Rossileo!

    For me it is 4 down, 26 to go.  There was a snafu so I didn't start on Monday.  Now I have the routine down, it should be easier next week with getting up early and all.

    Peachy - hope the third time in the CHAIR was kind to you.

    LadyBoss - you are only slightly ahead of me.  The skin is supposed to start looking a bit red by about 10 days.  Let me know.  They gave me a cream I will use after each zapping.

    Have a great weekend!

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  • FrancesC
    FrancesC Member Posts: 346
    edited October 2011

    Oh yes tamoxifen- I took that for 5 years and weight just went up and up despite exercise and cutting down on carbs. Weight gain is especially so on the hips and waist. I didn't go on strictly low fat diet though. I was playing badminton once every week and I walk up to 3 x a week. I suppose that wasn't enough :( funny thing is I lost 3 kg on diagnosis of 2nd cancer, the stress did my weight some good. Steroids was adding a bit more during chemo and Now I hope I can stay on current weight for a long time to come.

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  • theatercat
    theatercat Member Posts: 58
    edited October 2011

    Hey everyone been very depressed latelty. I asked for an echocardiagram being I am doing the adriamycin and cytoxan. I was so sick after 3rd treatment. I was literally down for 10 days. Is it possibly its the neulasta shot.? I was going to ask if I could jump right in to Taxol, since I hear its every week and not as bad as what I am doing now. Does anyone know if you need neulasta with Taxol? My heart tells me I cannot survive another adriamycin. I am getting so much steroids, on treatment day and the day after.

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  • rossileo18
    rossileo18 Member Posts: 245
    edited October 2011

    Francis, glad to hear everything is going OK. I've just started rads and it seems like it will go on forever, but I think it will be like chemo -- just take it day and day and hopefully the weeks will just sail by.



    Peachy, enjoy this last week. The third one does feel good knowing that it's only one more. Hope everything checks out ok tomorrow.



    Theatercat, so sorry you haven't been doing well. I noticed you hadn't posted in a while and was wondering how you were doing. Sorry can't help you with your questions since I had taxotere, not taxol. Seems that quite a few women in the other july group are on it and are finding it tolerable. I could never figure out which if my SE were from the TC and which from the



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  • ladyboss1997
    ladyboss1997 Member Posts: 202
    edited October 2011

    The weight gain with Tamoxifen does concern me. I am starting a pretty strict diet tomorrow. Hubby is going on it with me. I have a friend that has been on Tamoxifen for 3 years and has had no side effects.  

    Phillybird: I have 8 down - 25 to go. I have not had any side effects. I put my cream on twice a day. I have an olive complexion, so it may take a little longer for me to get red.

    Theatercat: please don't get depressed. Vent to us, and let us cheer you on. I know the adriamycin is tough on the heart, and I am blessed that I did not hae to do it. But talk to your docs and find out what you can do to negate the effects of the adriamycin. I know nothing about Taxol and Neulasta - sorry.        

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  • peachy-pie
    peachy-pie Member Posts: 201
    edited October 2011

    Had a wonderful Day trip to Lancaster PA yesterday with my family.   Then this morning I went to see my cardiologist to have a heart monitor put on.  Have to wear it for 24 hrs to see if they can catch the palpitations I am having.    Also waiting to hear from my Onc.   Possible blood clot in my left leg.  May have to go for an ultrasound.  :(     I've also been depressed lately.......trying to snap out of it.  

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  • theatercat
    theatercat Member Posts: 58
    edited October 2011

    I had an echo cardiogram, last week. Nurse called said it was ok, but want to read report myself. I have palpitations all the time. Theay have gotten worse with all the steroids. Still waiting to hear from dr. as to why I was so sick with last chemo.I cannot be a fixture on the couch for another 10 days. It was an effort to walk from livingroom to bathroom! Maybe if I skip the neulasta shot, I will be better. I want to jump right into Taxol and skip the last adriamycin and cytoxan. I had a holter monitor once, and I did not get a palpitation until my 24 hrs. was over,go figure!

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  • rossileo18
    rossileo18 Member Posts: 245
    edited October 2011

    Peachy, glad you were able to enjoy time with your family. Keep focused on the good things, although I know it's tough when you're worried about all the bad things that chemo does to your system. As ladyboss says, feel free to vent here. We're all cheering for you to get through this.



    Theatercat, so sorry you're having such a rough time. Have you talked to your onc about skipping the last infusion of AC? what would it mean for the efficacy of your treatment. Sorry I don't had any advice can only send my hugs and hopes that you will get through this ok.

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