Taxotere/Cytoxan starting February 2012.

I also have hives.  I am day 8 of TC #3.  My white count went way up to 27 after the first Neulasta shot, but my onc has been continuing them, so it's good to hear that might be the reason why.  In addition to hives on my head and arms I have a big fat lip like someone socked me.  It all started today, Saturday.  So I'm a bit stuck until Monday unless it gets really bad and I end up at the ER. Glad to have found your post tho!  Sure hope we get some relief soon. 

My jaw/teeth have also been bothering me on and off.  After the first treatment it was very severe a couple of times after eating cold food and after the second treatment, not as severe...but it's definitely there.  My Nurse practintioner had never heard of this either and wondered if I should see a dentist.  If you google this SE, it comes up that chemo can affect the pulp in the teeth.  I've never had dental problems, only had 3 cavities in my life - so it has to be from chemo.  But it seems that the SE's I get..i.e. headaches, toothpain, eye issues, etc...I get the standard qustion of "are you prone to headaches, toothpain, eye issues, etc.?"  I'm surprised they haven't asked me if I've randomly gone bald before.  

Hi Ladies,

woodburns: Let me know what your MO says about teeth/jaw (nerve) pain. I didn't need pain meds. today just two Advil this morning. I could actually chew on the teeth without any problems, but today two back molars where actually a little sore to the bite. It has subsided along with the intense nerve pain.

shera: The chemo is not triggering my periods. I'm pretty regular when it comes to starting 28/30 days. However, ever since surgery I've had the WORST ones ever! I've had severe cramping and very heavy, let me repeat, very heavy. This carried on for two cycles. Now, this month there was no cramping and very light, ahh relief!! Yes, the nerve pain was crazy intense. It reminded me of being on a plane with sinus issues and the ears closing, uugghh! Even that wasn't as bad as this though! It was extreme pressure squeezing intensly! I had to switch to a soft toothbrush (was using Sonicare Electric) during first round as bottom gums were sensitive. I also had to switch to Sensodyne toothpaste. I am continuing using both.

Mom is doing better and better everyday! She is out of ICU. She has been up and walking with her PT. Her chest tubes were removed yesterday. Today the catherter was removed. Tomorrow the pace maker tubes will be removed (the tubes were there for just in case purposes). She was able to take a shower today!! My dear friend, who usually goes with me to infusion, will be visiting Mom tomorrow while I am getting Round #3. So sweet of her! I'll have Jason and another friend with me tomorrow  The plan is for Mom to stay with Jason & I when she is released.  

I'm not feeling tired, perhaps due to steroids. Tomorrow is the first day Boot Camp 3. I'll be going, of course, then coming home to get ready for appt. at 10:45 am. 

Just curious as to what your options have been regarding Endocrine Therapy after Chemo. I was told Tamoxifen for 5 years (pretty standard). 

I hope SE's are subsiding!

Hugs,

Bonnie 

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

 

Bonnie best of luck today on #3. Seems like after the first time TC drags waiting but time speeds up on the next treatments to me anyway.Wonderful to hear your mom is doing so well,1 tough cookie just like her daughter.Hope she gets home soon I am sure she wants to.I was wondering if she had anyone to care for her when she is getting released good to hear you will have room for her,better than stressing and running back and forth.

I was told tamoxifen to start at least a year because still premenapause and then switching over after.But I have been looking at some of the post on this and it looks could be  just as awful with SE's and such as the chemo.The younger woman at my wig shop is a 4 year survivor and been on this and actually discussing with her MO whether to continue on with it as she has been having so many problems.MO can't guarantee her she will not get a recurrence on this as appose to getting off because it hasen't been around long enough,research is encouraging but not complete I believe.Also not sure if down the road she will have other problems from being on it or not.I just started looking at it as I have been consumed with Chemo info,now I am looking into my next treatments Rads then Endocrine Therapy.

Morning Ladies,  

ColdenMom & lmlola59: Thank you!

In case some of you may be interested I've included some information I've been reading. I have even more information/articles if you would like some more. 

I was looking at the ZIPP Trial ( Zoladex In Premenopausal Patients): it's a four-arm randomized controlled trial comparing no endocrine therapy with two years of goserelin, tamoxifen, or both drugs in 2,710 women. From what I've found so far is that the two drugs had similar benefits but that combining them did not lead to significantlly better outcome. One thing noted, however, was many women stop Tamoxifen before the five years are up, so the two-year comparison may be relevant to them.

A couple articles: Goserelin Matches Tamoxifen Over Long Term, Goserelin as Effective as Tamoxifen Improves Long-Term Survival in Early Breast Cancer, Interaction Between Goserelin and Tamoxifen in a Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial of Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy in PRemenopausal Breast Cancer. I also found a from clinicaloptions.com/oncology POwerpoint Tretment Options for Premenopuasal Women

There is anopther study with Zoledronic Acid (Zometa) for premenopausal women but limited to estrogen Postive and/or Progesterene positive receiving the ovarian function suppressant Goserelin, along with antiestrogens. This trial is SOFT (Suppression of Ovarian Function Trial) which is supposedly showing that ovarian function suppression plus endocrine therapy is more effective than tamoxifen alone in this population. Also, showed it to be more effective in women over 40. 

Article: New Standard of Care for Some Premenopausla Breast Cancer But Not Treatemnt of Choice.  

XOXO,

Bonnie

Our lives is a series of defining moments, strung together by passing time. Surrender fully to this moment, becuase it is not the moment itself that defines us, but how we choose to live in it ~ Jill Pendley    

lmlola59: Here are some other articles 

Zometa for Early-Stage Breast Cancer: Hormones May Matter (from Latest Breast Cancer Blog)

Zometa - Chemotherapy Drug (chemocare.com)  

Mixed Results for Zometa as a Breast Cancer Treatment (Web Exclusives by Melissa Weber)

Zoledronic Acid Shows Long-Term Benefit in Survivorship for Premenopausal ER-Positive Breast Cancer (San Antonio Breast Cancer symposium Dec 2011) 

Today - Overall went very well. MO is doing a check on Liver Enzymes as they were high and results should take about two days. Most likely from Chemo. My counts were fine. As for Radiation, she mentioned if the tumor is of a certain size, margins, & lymphnodes (3 or more) then she recommends.

I received no Benadryl this time. I did get the Saline and anti-nausea before the Chemo. The Cytoxan was given slower again, 90 minutes rather than an hour to alleviate allergy like symptoms.

As for the teeth nerve pain, if it persists she recommends seeing dentist in Week 3.

I got done just after 4:00.

Hugs,

Bonnie 

Whenever a negative thought concerning your personal power comes to moind, deliberately voice a positive thought to cancel it out ~ Norman Vincent Peale 

Thanks Bonnie going to check some of these out today just one question is this one  below on this site. I went to the march here at Community.breatscancer .org  blog and did not see it so I am not sure I am in the right place

lmlola, that cracks me up!  Thanks for sharing...

I did round 3 last Thursday... Felt great Friday. Sat & Sunday had lots of fatigue and pretty much slept, and then the bone pain hit me Sunday night.  Monday I could hardly sit up, but much better today.  This with only a half dose of the Neulasta, too.  Hoping to get back into the gym tomorrow morning, because I am expected to teach dance tomorrow night!  Kind of a funny thought considering I'm walking like I'm 90 right now!

One more... and hopefully I'll be meeting with the RO soon to get that scheduled.  You know, every once in a while I have to chuckle at this... was told on diagnosis that "we caught this really early, it will be a simple treatment and you'll be back to yourself"... and that has led to two surgeries, 6 months of poison and burning and then 5 more years of meds...

Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful that it was caught early.  The timing was completely God's timing... but the early reassurances of how "easy" this would be were definitely off!

It's a beautiful day here... hope everyone is enjoying the spring as best you can with few SE's!

Hi Ladies,

I'm new to this thread.  I started TC yesterday (1st of 4).  Today I feel great, so I'm enjoying it while I can.  I noticed some of the comments on Tamoxifen, which I will be taking after chemo, and thought you might want one pertinent journal article from a clinical trial (abstract below).  It is free in the NCBI database.  

Cheers,

Sue 

Adjuvant tamoxifen, given after chemotherapy to premenopausal women with EBC, improved 5-year DFS. Poor compliance may have reduced treatment efficacy. 

Welcome Sue so sorry you have had to join the club but hope we can be of some support.Hope you have limited SE,s.Very interesting report you have posted if I am reading it right the findings are not all that positive. And this line really caught my eye,is this referring to ER+ which I thought was the group that was suppose to benefit the most on this awful drug.I am interpreting this wrong?

There was no evidence of greater benefit for the receptor-positive subgroup. Compliance with treatment was suboptimal in both arms, with 103 (31%) women on  

Here is another link to a larger study that showed a positive effect of Tamoxifen in ER+ women, but not ER- women:

http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/24/9/1332.full.pdf

I haven't read the whole article yet, but it is clear that Tamoxifen given after chemo makes a difference in node-positive women who are ER+.  With all these studies, though, the devil is in the details.  So if you feel you trust your MO, who should know all the data and all the pros/cons of the studies, following their advice makes sense.  I personally have a bad habit of reading all the articles because I am a scientist, and I like looking at the data. However, I often drive myself crazy that way and sometimes its better just to trust the experts.

Hi Ladies,

Kim48: Wishing you the best today! Wahoo, #4 will be done! So HAPPY for you!

Ulightup: Today #3, right! Thinking of you! 

lmlola59: If you copy and paste the link of the article name in the URL address line and do a search it should pop up. I tried it and it worked. For me, it was the first article. Let me know if it doesn't work I can always email it to you. Thanks for sharing your feel GOOD & EMBARASSING moment, too funny!

RuthieG: Were you able to get back into the Gym?

slak: Welcome! Number One is officially under your belt! Glad you are feeling GREAT!

As for the Compliance with the Tamoxifen, in another study I read, ZIPP trial, they mention for some it would be better in taking the Zoladex and the Tamoxifen because some women find they can't/won't stay on Tamoxifen for five years. Perhaps some have terrible SE's. For them,this may work better - good idea as to have the "extra insurance coverage" rather than nothing at all. 

Long day yesterday, Mom had to go in for another cardiac cath. She was having the same sysmptoms of pain as she did when entering the ER. They found that one by-pass didn't work and they can not do any more surgery. The plan is to handle it through meds. Sometimes re-wiring can occur with the nerves. She has a strong heart and good nerves. So we hope this will take. 

Enjoy your day...

XOXO,

Bonnie

I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutley, miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing ~ Agatha Christie   

Thanks for the link to the Tamoxifen info. I am leery of taking it as I am only 1% estrogen positive, however my MO says that 'technically' that means I am positive so I would be a candidate for it. I read on Dr. Susan Love's site that if wrongly assigned (based on tumour type) it causes secondary cancers. Also, tidbit: the parent company of Tamoxifen is the original sponsor for Breast Cancer Month Awareness. I am probably a bit cynical when it comes to some pharma initiatives, but I truly believe that when dealing with side effects that impact quality of life/well-being then I really want to know the data on risk vs. advantage of taking a drug for years. I am also curious about conflict of interest when it comes to BC sponsor groups...when I did a Run for the Cure for a friend years ago, I was really surprised to see so many of the sponsors, they were actually car companies and processed foods and cosmetics companies. I sometimes get all bent about it.

Afighter -you have a great memory for remembering my chemo . It is very thoughtful of you. This is 3 out of 6. I will also receive radiation about 4-6 weeks after last chemo.

I did pretty good after chemo #2 , but definitely had more fatigue and shortness of breath. I had to cut my workouts by 40% especially the intensity of my cardio. Oh well at least I'm half way done.

Sorry to hear about your mom. Im glad you are able to help her despite your own health issues. I remember when I took care of my mom during hospitizations for stage 4 lymphoma. She passed away

Last October and I still cherish those memories.



Coldenmom - I also developed the skin irritation , like a burn after my 1st chemo, but the 2 and 3 chemo went well since she went to another site and went slower with infusion. Now I have a scar which is kind of big. My MO says it is due to preservativesin the drugs. Anyway I'm just applying vitamin E oil

, aloe Vera and skin lightening cream. Have you discovered anything that might be helpful?



I hope everyone else is doing well. Seems like there are a lot of new participants on this site. This has helped me tremendously and hope you will find comfort and know that you are not alone.











Hope everyone else is doing well.

Hi Kelly,

It's hard to get a reading on everyone's percentages (ER & PR) as the diagnosis format for this site is: check either positive or negative. I would be very interested in talking with others with similar %s as we might be able to pool our research. Questions like: if I have very weak PR and only 1%ER, am I essentially triple negative? How do slight differences effect treatment choices?

If you have any ideas how to find others with similar diagnosis, I'm in!

Catherine