Taxotere/Cytoxan starting February 2012.

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  • firstcall
    firstcall Member Posts: 499
    edited March 2012

    Good Morning everyone....

    Today is infusion day.  TC #2.  I'll work this morning, and then report for treatment at noon.

    I hope everyone is doing well

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  • A_FIGHTER
    A_FIGHTER Member Posts: 109
    edited March 2012

    Hi Ladies,

    firstcall , gobucks & myleftboob: Thinkng of you! Wishing you the best today! 

    Day 4 for me of 2nd T/C...Yesterday I rested most of the day as I was feeling sluggish. I also wanted to make sure I would be okay with going to Girls on the Run. I was Laughing. By 8 last night though I had a fever of 100. I took a Tylenol PM and went to sleep. I did wake up once due to fever breaking, I believe. I was sweating! I went to bed VERY cold, but yet a fever. I had a protein shake before going to bed which made me freeze. I then took a VERY HOT shower and stood in the shower for over 10 minutes. I put on my cap, long sleeve shirt, pajama bottoms and a VERY thick robe...LOL. I went to bed that way. Even with fever breaking, in the middle of the night, I kept the robe on as I felt comfortable.

    I told myself if I had a fever this morning I wouldn't go to Boot Camp. Well, no fever so I went. I did take regular Tylenol (1 pill) before going.  Then as this morning went on I debated about going to Restorative Yoga. I did go and it was GREAT! I was able to relax this time.

    Now, this time after first infusion I went down hill with a fever and body aches. Nothing so far! 

    AnnTop: Have you tried the scrub hat yet? If so, how'd you like it?

    Life becomes precious and more special to us when we look for the little everyday miracles and get exctied about the privileges of simply being human  ~ Tim Hansel

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  • RuthieG
    RuthieG Member Posts: 34
    edited March 2012

    Had my mid-cycle MO appointment this morning... good news was 1/2 dose of Neulasta seemed to be fine for me this cycle as my WBC is still good! 

    Bad news was I've developed phlebitis from the infusion site... so now I'm on high-dose antibioitics and anti-inflammatories to try to help over the weekend.  If no improvement by Monday, they want to ultrasound it.  It's painful... ouchie!

    I get to head to a dance convention with my studio this weekend... I don't have the energy yet to take all the classes I normally would, but I'm going to do what I can.  Good luck to everyone for minimal SEs and a beautiful and peaceful weekend!

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  • AnnTop
    AnnTop Member Posts: 70
    edited March 2012

    Bonnie: The scrub is pretty cool, and since I live near the Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, it makes me blend in :-) Have to admit I'm partial to a bandanna, though.

    I'm glad there's a lot of active gals in our group -- I got to take a brisk hour-long walk on Wednesday, and it made all the difference in how I felt. Hope that's true for most of the rest of you too. Have a good weekend and mild SEs to us all!

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  • Myleftboob
    Myleftboob Member Posts: 1,469
    edited March 2012

    Hi All

    Just in from TX#2.  Uneventful thank God.  Drove myself there and back.  1/2 way done now!!!  Fingers crossed that the Clariton does it's majic and I won't have to rely on the percocet this week.  Hopefully getting my hair buzzed on Monday, can't stand the shedding any more.

    I hope everyone getting TX today is without events and minimal SE's.

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  • ColdenMom
    ColdenMom Member Posts: 114
    edited March 2012

    Bonnie - why do you think you get the fevers after treatment? Did your doctor say?



    Myleftboob, Bonnie, first call, kim48... One more down!!! Great!



    Neli and Shera, how are you both!



    Thinking of all of you daily... I look forward to checking in on each of you!



    Tonight is the night... Clipping the remainder of my hair off. Yikes! Waiting for my husband to come home from work first. I'll let you know how it goes :/

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  • firstcall
    firstcall Member Posts: 499
    edited March 2012

    Taxotere is in, next up cytoxan.  So Far so good.  I wore the cold mittens during the taxotere to try to help the nails.  I'm guessing everyone else who is being treated today is done. Hope you're all feeling well.  mlb - sounds like you did well. I'm driving myself both directions as well.  Remember to keep the fluids up. 

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  • Myleftboob
    Myleftboob Member Posts: 1,469
    edited March 2012

    firstcall

    The cytoxin will go fairly quickly.  I think I was done in 45 minutes max.  And yes I am drinking alot.  Have had almost 1.5 litres to day so far, not counting a coffee and a tea AND the saline.  Thank goodness it all tastes fine as well.

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  • ColdenMom
    ColdenMom Member Posts: 114
    edited March 2012

    Hope you're feeling well this evening firstcall!

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  • A_FIGHTER
    A_FIGHTER Member Posts: 109
    edited March 2012

    Good Morning Ladies,

    RuthieG: Good luck with the Dance Convention! Sorry to hear about the phlebitis. I'm hoping the antibiotics work for you! 

    Myleftboob: Wahoo! Congrats!

    firstcall: Another one down! Yippee! 

    Coldenmom: How did it go with the hair? As for the temperaature this is what I read: A low grade fever is 99-100. A low grade fever could be from inflammation (which I guess can also be called pneumonitis) after chemo or nothing as 99 is basically normal. Last round the highest I had was 101. Thurs. night was the highest, this time, at 100. I just take one Tylenol and it helps. As for the pneumonitis, I don't think so, but perhaps this is why I was having trouble running. I will ask next time. I was also wondering though before I went in to see MO the girl checked my vitals and one thing checked was my oxygen which she said was at 100%. Perhaps this is one reason they why they check it. 

    Well, so far no down days like first time. Last time after Yoga I was in bed on Day 4 and still not up to par on Day 5. So of course, this got me thinking - OH NO,maybe the Chemo isn't working!!

    I used the Olive Oil last night Laughing  

    It is 4:14 am. I woke up about 11 the first time and then around 3. I usually get up at 4:15. However, on the weekends I TRY to stay asleep till 6. Well, didn't happen today. Perhaps due to coffee last night after dinner.

    Enjoy your weekend ladies,

    Bonnie 

    Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day ~ Author Unknown

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  • AEM47
    AEM47 Member Posts: 297
    edited March 2012

    I'm so happy it sounds like everyone's week is going fairly good ??

    No Neulasta for me  - that count was still at 22,000 before the treatment and all other counts were back to pre-treatment levels.  Feeling quite better this round than last :-)  and was able to pull off 3.5 miles on the treadmill day after.  Last time, it was a struggle to excersice 3-4 days later.  Glad I brought it up with the MO or they would never have suggested maybe I didn't need the shot.   I'll just stay in my bubble of a home...and see what happens with the counts come next thursday...

    RuthieG - I hadn't heard of 1/2 a Neulasta shot?  Seems like a smart alternative for some.

    Firstcall - Do you know if the nail problems are a given?  I hear alot about putting your fingers and toes on ice?  What goes on with the nails???  I hate surprises...lol

    A_Fighter - how did you like the olive oil?  I found it to be almost instant relief..no stinging, etc.  Is it working for you?

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  • firstcall
    firstcall Member Posts: 499
    edited March 2012

    aem47 - I don't know that the nail problems are a given, but I think its common for them to lift or even come off with chemo.  My nurse suggested it, and she said it is really just experimental at this point, but the thought is that the cold will diminish the high exposure of toxin during infusion.  I didnt bother with the toes. 

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  • lmlola59
    lmlola59 Member Posts: 146
    edited March 2012

    AEM47 I did ice my fingers during my first infusion as I have Reynalds and thought that may increase the possibility of having this SE.I also thought it would be a problem for me to do because of this but strangely I didn't go white and numb doing this at that time. I have no symptoms in my fingers but I didn't do my toes and have noticed they feel cold a lot and the top of the big toe nail is rough so I am planning to try this on the 2nd infusion.I feel it can't hurt.

    Have also never heard of 1/2 of a Nalasta shot may inquire on this

    Hope all is well for all of you that went this well

    Nell and Sheri have not heard from you for a while I hope you are doing well

     Have a great day all

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  • A_FIGHTER
    A_FIGHTER Member Posts: 109
    edited March 2012

    Good Afternoon,

    AEM47: Olive Oil worked well Laughing

    Just wondering if anyone has experienced a rash. Mine is NOT at infusion spot. I have a place on my neck which is itchy and red, resembles almost a burn. My back is also itchy, only one side, same side as the spot on my neck, right side. I did NOT expeience this the first time.  I am using Calamine Lotion. Pharmacist recommended Domeboro and they were out so she gave me Dermoplast which did not work. I tried another Pharmacy and they were out of the Domeboro as well...UUGGHH! Could this possibly be a SE I would not have had if I had taken Steroids day after Chemo? Who knows...

    Jason & I went to Art Fest today. It was so nice out! It was right by the beach. Now, it's rainy/thundering out. Glad we went early Laughing

    Hugs,

    Bonnie 

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  • AEM47
    AEM47 Member Posts: 297
    edited March 2012

    A_Fighter - had the same thing going on on the very top of the shoulders..kinda the very top just to the right and left of the neck...just itchy and alittle bumpy.  Mostly itchy.  I didn't have to use anything, but it happened on both treatments.

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  • Kim48
    Kim48 Member Posts: 73
    edited March 2012

    Hi Ladies,



    Nails, I was good about icing my nails the first time and not so good the 2nd and 3rd. My nails are weak. I broke one this week. Should have kept with the ice!





    Neulasta -,my WBC was 16 + the first time. My MO cut my dose in half for the second round Neulasta shot. I tested normal from that. So got half again this time. Today is my bad bone day each time. It's just starting in my legs now. The first two times were bad all day on Sat. I'll see.

    AEM, glad you don't need it!



    ColdenMom, hope you're adjusting to hair. *hug*



    I'm concerned about those we haven't heard from. Hope you're all ok. Thinking positive thoughts for all in our lovely group.



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  • Ulightup
    Ulightup Member Posts: 57
    edited March 2012

    Hi everyone



    Afighter - yes I had a rash sound my neck. I ended up scratching and irritating it so they put me on steroids. It helped calm the area down. I also started putting cortisone 10 with aloe Vera and washed only with cetaphil.

    2nd round of chemo better... No rashes, mild bone pain/ aches , but definitely still experiencing fatigue. 1st time it only lasted 3 days so hopefully back to work outs by Tuesday. The clariten D helped with the pain along with staying on top of regular pain med schedule.



    Have a good weekend everyone...at least try, that's what I'm doing!

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  • ColdenMom
    ColdenMom Member Posts: 114
    edited March 2012

    Hi ladies!



    Just returned home from a very long day of swimming championships with my two oldest kids. They did awesome! I had to leave the house with them at 5:30am! Imagine waking a 11 and 8 year old on a Saturday morning for that?!? They were very proud to show of my new do today! They didn't want me to wear a hat or scarf today (I did because it was 22 degrees today and windy!!! Burr...



    It went great last night... I actually felt good about taking control and shaving it before it fell out on it's own. It helped having a couple of hysterically funny friends over to help out. I think we laughed the entire time. I even let me kids help out ;) I feel good about it! My one friend is a photographer and took great candid pictures the whole time. She posted them on Facebook last night. Friend me if you'd like - Kelly O'Connell Kinderman my Facebook is private so you would not be able to see them without friending me.



    Today in the mail I received my chemo beanie too (perfect timing!) I love it!!!



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  • ColdenMom
    ColdenMom Member Posts: 114
    edited March 2012

    Whoops... I'm using the iPad and I pressed submit before I was done writing....



    Bonnie - I had a rash day 1-4 on my neck last time... It was very red but went away on it's own. Thanks for giving me the info on the fever.



    I had a fill yesterday too... Typically they don't bother me but this time it did. I'm very tight through my chest, Tylenol helped.



    Glad to hear everyone is doing relatively well!



    Kelly

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  • shera
    shera Member Posts: 184
    edited March 2012
    Hi everyone... I've been away from the boards for a few days and am trying to get caught up on where you all are. I'm on day 11, and this is the first day that I've felt almost myself again. From the evening of day 2 through day 10, I was dealing with pain that side-lined me from just about everything but the basics. Personally think this is more than Neulasta for me, as Taxane has a similiar bone pain side-effect. Today, I only took half a percocet for pain -- down from the 4 needed to get through yesterday.

    I was in the hospital on Tuesday... because my period, which came on time, was not typical -- was very heavy, so much that docs weren't sure there wasn't blood in my urine, a rare but known side-effect of Cytoxen. It was all uterus and no bladder... phew!

    Now I'm getting through the low immunity days and, if pain continues to subside in a day or two, can contemplate returning to work part-time.

    Hair is hanging on... though scalp is a little itchy and feels a bit scaley tonight :/
    Taking notes regarding olive oil. Hope to read more... very interested in reading more about the Neulasta shot being given when not needed. I have no idea what my blood counts were..they just stuck me with that needle! I questioned every other step of my treatment...and the one thing I don't question.... wth!

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  • silviazara
    silviazara Member Posts: 111
    edited March 2012

    Kelly - I am glad you like the beanie! I LOVE them too! If you want more colors, try the link I put in in my previous post. I have like 8 of them already. Sometimes I also use scarf and I tie it in a bun just like I did with my hair. But the beanies stay on you don't have to worry that they will slip down or anything. And I think they fit me too. Better than wigs. If I knew how to attach pictures here I would post some ;-)

    So my 3rd chemo is in few days. I have to admit I am scared. Both previous times I felt like dying for couple days.

     I talked to my MO and asked him why am I getting 4 rounds versus 6 even though we are not sure about my lymph nodes. He said the latest statistics don't show added benefit from two more rounds, but " if you WANT, you can get 6 rounds... or 8 as we try to please our patients" (haha very funny). He also told me I absolutely have to undergo radiation since my recurrence puts me at high risk of relapse. I am super afraid of radiation since I had a reconstruction and radiation causes scarring to get firmer ... I just don't want any more surgeries please! Like FLAP surgery - did anybody here have that???

    Ok, so I left the doctors office in tears. It just hit me hard to hear those words of high relapse risk. And we are not talking a local recurrence, but distant. This cancer sucks so much! I will never be at peace anymore.

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  • Kim48
    Kim48 Member Posts: 73
    edited March 2012

    Silvia, So sorry to hear you had a tough appointment. Cancer gives us so much to deal with and changes our lives. I know what you mean about not feeling at peace. Keep the faith. You are getting good care. You have low Oncotype score, too. Remember the positive. *hug*. Thank you for starting this thread for all of us.



    I have tissue expanders. They are the weirdest thing. I'm getting my exchange surgery on June 6 so I can go back to finish the school year after spring break. How many of you have them?



    Kelly, thanks for sharing your Facebook. You look amazing and you have a beautiful family! Mine is Kim Wartluft Osburn. Others, please Feel free to "friend" me as well. It is nice to share in other ways.

    Kelly, love the sayings on your page. They would be good here, too! :)



    Shera, glad you are starting to improve. Hopes for no pain pills needed for awhile!



    Bonnie, thanks for your always upbeat comments! Glad you are doing so well.



    I'm on Day 5, planning to walk in a little while with my sweet husband. Glad to see the sunshine today.



    Try to enjoy your Sunday my friends.





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  • firstcall
    firstcall Member Posts: 499
    edited March 2012

    Today is Sunday, so I spent some time reading from the Bible
    and attending church. 

    I thought back to the story of David and Goliath.  Do you ever feel like you are facing Goliath?  Goliath was huge, and formidable.  Everyone feared him.  Interestingly when the two approached each other we read that ‘the Philistine looked about and saw David'.   Did you ever wonder why Goliath had to look about to see someone who was standing in front of him?  Medical historians speculate that Goliath had a pituitary adenoma, which is a tumor which sets the stage for
    giganticism.  It also puts pressure on the optic nerve and these giants develop tunnel vision.  Therefore, this giant with his tunnel vision had to ‘look about' to see David.  And David took advantage of this visual defect and slew the giant.  As you think about this evil giant which we
    face, remember it too has a weakness. The chemicals we subject ourselves to kill rapidly growing cells.  Yes we have to heal and regenerate, which we can do.  But the tumor has a weak point,
    it cannot heal and regenerate like normal cells can.   Let us stand up to this beast and take advantage of its weaknesses.   As I experience the difficulties of this, I visualize my healthy cells rising from the dust, without the cancer cells.  May each of you be given the strength you need
    to face each new day and challenge we have.  We are fortunate to live when we do.

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  • A_FIGHTER
    A_FIGHTER Member Posts: 109
    edited March 2012

    Hi Ladies,

    Ditto Kim48: Thinking about those who have not posted in awhile,. I hope all is well and would love to

    Kim48, AEM47, & ColdenMom: Thanks for letting me know about your rash.  My rash is NOT getting any better and I'm such a scratcher!! I was going to call the service, but I decided not to. I want them to see it before prescribing me anything to take. 

    ColdenMom: Congrats. to your older children! Glad you felt in control with shaving your head. It's great to make it upbeat and full of laughter with funny friends! That's how it was for me as well.  Laughing

    Shera: Sorry to hear you were in the hospital. Yeah, ALL Uterus and no bladder! GREAT news!

    firstcall: Thank you for your story of David & Goliath & sharing the comparison with what we are facing.

    I slept like a log last night! I was actually able to sleep right through till 7. I only woke up because I heard Jason get up. Now, VERY rarely does he EVER make it out of bed before me...LOL 

    Today was beautiful out this morning! I ran three miles at the beach this morning with my girlfriend and felt somewhat slow/sluggish. Then Jason and I did about a three mile walk on the Palm Beach Trail along the intracoastal. We had a little bit of a sun shower on some of the walk back. It was refreshing! It is now down pouring/cloudy out. Perfect for a nap! Smile

    Enjoy the rest of your day & hope SE's are subsiding,

    Bonnie 

    Just for today, no matter where I am going, or what I am doing, or who I am doing it with, it is my intention to focus on the positive  ~ Lucy MacDonald

     

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  • AEM47
    AEM47 Member Posts: 297
    edited March 2012
    Firstcall - very nice post - thank you Smile
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  • Kim48
    Kim48 Member Posts: 73
    edited March 2012

    Firstcall, Thank you for sharing. :)

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  • woodburns
    woodburns Member Posts: 56
    edited March 2012

    I have read the posts here on and off this past week.  Today I decided to read all  the posts here. I started reading 12:00 PM.  It is 8:15 PM and just finished reading the last post.  Thank you each and everyone.  Tuesday the 13th (poetic isn't it, luckily I am not superstitious) I will start my first round of TC.  I have to have 4 rounds, 1 every 3 weeks.  All your posts have been been a God send.  I had the chemo class last week.  I have been fine until they took me down and showed me where I would be getting my treaments.  That is when the tears began to flow. Just silient tears.  Guess I needed that since I have not cried once all this time.  I start taking the steroids tomorrow.  Will definately take the evening ones at 5:00.  Thank you for that tip.  I was told by the nurse that I should use tea tree oil for my nails and keep them cut short.  Anyone else use this?  My daughter and I went shopping yesterday and I bought a few scarfs and a lint brush (another good tip I got from scanning these posts this week). 

    I am fortunate in that next week is Spring Break and I will be off the week of my first treatment.  

    Thanks again

     

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  • lmlola59
    lmlola59 Member Posts: 146
    edited March 2012

    Bonnie I also had a Itchy rash started about day 7 and started to clear up on its own day 10 same day as my appointment with MO.Was on my lower neck and upper chest also spread some under my armpits.Other than that random patches on both arms.MO didn't think it was related to any of the drugs were it started so late after infusion she was saying something about the hair follicles but I don't really remember what. She gave me an antibiotic for the face acne and that may have also helped the rash not sure.

    Coldenmom sounds like you really took control of the hair,and feel good about it.I am on day 13 and can finally see the hair shed picking up.I should be completely prepared for this but still am not.

    firstcall love the story  

    Shera so glad you are on the mend 

    woodburns welcome,good luck on Tuesday  and hope you have limited SE's 

    Slvia  sorry you had such a traumatic MO appointment,though we all try to keep strong and positive  I agree we are never at peace with this.

    Good day to all 

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  • A_FIGHTER
    A_FIGHTER Member Posts: 109
    edited March 2012

    Morning Ladies,

    woodburns: Welcome! Glad you found us Laughing Thank you for the info about the Tea Tree Oil. I have some and will start using today Wink

    lmlolaa59: Thank you for telling me about your rash. I saw my infusion nurse at Boot Camp this morning and she said I will need to come in to see MO. She didn't like the way the neck looked.

    shera: I read your latest blog on your SE's. Just wanted to let you know my throat was sore as well, not bad. I also had mouth sores and very sore bottom gums. I was given the prescription for the "Magic" mouthwash & it worked wonders! What I thought was a sore throat may have actually been sores in my esophagus as well. This is why the mouthwash must be swallowed! The mouthwash worked in less then a day and a half relieving sysmptoms and progressed until all was gone! I haven't had to use it this time, as of yet. I was told by infusion nurse ONLY use when problems start to arise as the body can build up a resistance to it. I also experienced the nose bleeds which is due to the Cytoxan drying everything up. I had allergie type SE's. For my 2nd infusion they ran the Cytoxan slower (an hour and a half rather than an hour) to help alleviate the allergy type SE. This has worked so far. I haven't had the dryness in the nose therefore no nose bleeds and such.

    silviazara: Sending you MUCH love and hugs!!! 

    Neli: How are you? Would love to hear from you? Were you able to go today? 

    Hair - So the little stubbles of brown hair will just pull out. If I look in the mirror I can see some grey hairs that are longer than the brown and will NOT pull out easily...LOL! Go figure! I was telling my girlfriend, "Uh oh, is my hair going to come back ALL grey". Luckily, last night I started to see if grey would pull out easily now...Sure enough it did! Wheww! LOL 

    Just saw on the news - Miss Alaska (Debbe Ebben) shaved her head for the St. Baldrick's Foundation (helps to fund research to find cures for childhood cancers). She says and I agree, "Bald is Beautiful". She will also compete in the upcoming pageant bald!

    There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. ~ Albert Einstein 

    XOXO,

    Bonnie 

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  • lmlola59
    lmlola59 Member Posts: 146
    edited March 2012
    Shera and Bonnie good to know the sore throat is a possible SE I started with a bit of one yesterday and today more of the running nose and a bity of bleeding there.My son had either a cold or allergy's this weekend and I was starting to think cold and I picked it up which I don't need right now.I think I recall reading about the magic mouthwash this is a perscription right?Will keep it in mind.
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