Taxotere/Cytoxan starting February 2012.

I'm so happy, just finished my LAST chemo #4 !!!  Now to just get past the SEs, usually better by day 7.  Since I'm moving in 2 weeks, definitely looking for lighter SEs this time.  MO reduced the Taxotere and gave me more steroids to combat the fatigue, hot feet/hands and bone pain from Neulasta.  I'm taking Claritin which does seem to help. Steroid keep me up at night, darn.  Also take Benedryl for the hot feet/hands.

 I will start my RADs in about 6 weeks after I get my ins switched over and doctors set up.  Ins wants a new referall for their area (darn them).  OH well.  

 Loe to all and hope for light SEs for you all, Kathy

Congrats to everyone who just finished their final TX!

I'm 6 weeks PFC today. SEs for my 4th were not that bad, but what surprised me was the fatigue in my legs, especially if I had to squat or climb stairs. My MO said that it usually takes 4-6 months to fully recover from chemo. But I'm glad to say that my legs are now much better, almost normal. I also noticed that the Taxotere left me wth slightly darkened finger nails, but I can see healthy nails growing out -- glad to have no lifting or nail loss. (And I didn't ice during treatment.) Also glad that I kept most of my eyelashes and had only thinning brows. I'm using Latisse now, mostly out of vanity. My hair is slower coming back than I'd like, but now I can see that it is indeed coming in -- I can now tell my scalp from my skin and look like a baby bird, in that I kept about 10% of my hair (which had been buzzed) during treatment. I so look forward to hair!

I started Tamoxifen 3 weeks ago and can't tell that I'm having any SEs from it, praise the Lord. Altho post-menopausal, I'm doing Tamox rather than an AI because I have osteopenia.

Had my last TE fill a week ago, and this one hurt afterward more than the others -- I guess I'm maxed out at a real B/C cup, while I used to be a light B. I'm scheduled for exchange on June 6 (D-Day). PS says I'll have no drains and should be able to go back to work in less than a week. Hope that's true!

Wishing everyone no SEs and a quick recovery.

Happy day.... 

Today is day 5 past my 4th and LAST treatment.  

I didn't need the Neulasta shot this time -- I assume because the immunity-boosting supplements I was taking, worked. As a result, I haven't been in bone pain, haven't needed any percocet.  

This has been the easiest round for me -- at least partially due to no Neulasta shot.

The food aversions are toning down some, the bones don't hurt, the sun is shining -- and it occurred to me today that the worst part of chemo-hell is behind me. And... I can't stop crying.

I think they are tears of relief, gratefulness, and 'holy shit I'm really done' all wrapped together.

I didn't expect it to be so emotional. 

hi all- i will be starting T/C on may 18--have read a few pages and will come back to read more of your journeys....

my question is about icing nails--who did it? what did you use?

i've seen suggestions of ice and bags of veggies- did  you take a dishpan for your feet? my cancer ctr does not have ice on premises so i have to take my own--my MO seems to downplay nails....

Lumpy - I did thursdays..and I've got to say even tho I didn't actually go into work monday (took 3 months off), it was a MUCH better day than the first 3 days.

Lumpyne I used 2 small storage bags for each hand.Smaller than the gallon but bigger tha a baggy.Plus they are a bit sturdier so easier to keep in place. I bought one of the cloth ice bags from the drug store (largest they carried) that you fill with ice and bent my legs and put one bag over toes on both feet.This worked well for me.I thought about the frozen veggies but I am not sure how long they would take to defrost and didn't want to guess how many I would need.Though I was going to get rid of the soybeans i will no longer be eating this way.My place had ice but you can easily bring a small cooler with a bag.It didn't seem to matter if I took my hands out now and then to eat or whatever but I did do it through both the C and T drips,though I hear it is the T that effects them. It worked 100% for me my nails they are perfect even grow out whiter than before.I didn't do my toes the first TX and I got tough ridged nail on the big toe but iced after that and never got any worse. So in my opinion it worked and I would would definitely give it a shot.

Hard to say for you what day you should go as everyone is different.For me I have been laid off so diidn't have to work but I went on Tuesdays and I could have worked wed-Fri as I felt OK just a bit spacey due to the steroids .For me my bad days would be Sat and Sun or Sun and Mon.

thx gals!

btw-i finally got the job offer today so--start working monday-have been off since december 1st....

Congrats, Lumpynme -- another step toward your "new normal"!

I am one hour 45 minutes PFC!

Hi, I am starting t/c and neulasta next week. Do I take the 12 or 24 hr dose. I would like any other support with this combination. Thank you in advance.

Terry

Thanks Kim. I wish everyone well on this journey.

Terry

Hi, I am new to this forum, but have had two rounds of Taxotere & Cytoxan.  I am halfway through!  4 scheduled treatments total.  My side effects have been mild compared to others that I have read.  Hair loss was the hardest for me.  It occurred on day 16.  I think most of the other side effects that I have had are due to the Neulasta (bone pain & lowgrade fever).  When trying to describe it to non-chemo people, I've compared it to the flu.  I have my treatments on Fridays & work from home on Mondays ( I have an awesome boss).  So far, I've been able to go back to work on Tuesday. 

I've just started noticing some numbness/tingling in my fingers.  Is this normal & how long has it lasted in others?  Any suggestions?

Shera, I'm taking the Tamoxifen, and I have not had any trouble with it.  I think that the people who have side effects tend to post more than those who don't and I have a lot of patients who take it and when I ask how its going they just say fine, and move onto something else. 

I begin my first treatment today - it is currently 4:30 a.m as the steroid is causing sleeplessness and headache. Nervous about reactions as I already have terrible reflux disease and began having severe gastritis attacks in 2008 after taking some tainted Tylenol - visits to ER every couple of months for Zofran & Dalaudid IV.  Have been managing that with Zofran and Levsin prn but still had 3 attacks over last 6-7 months.  I will get Compazine with the tx and have compazine pills for home - plan to keep working (work in hospital doing bone density tests 3 days week in Mammography area - very, very supportive coworkers & boss).  Happened on to this site by surfing net - lots of good tips, I am making a list for my visit with my doctor today! My treatment is just 4 times and just as a precaution as I had a rare type - metaplastic, squamous but with some DCIS - they were going to to an oncotype test to see if I needed chemo but because of the DCIS, the outside company said it wouldn't be accurate so chemo is just a precaution - will get Neulasta injection next day. After tx I will have 22 radiation sessions and go on Tamoxifin (probably).  Crossing my fingers for all the drugs and remedies to help as family is quite nervous - more than me, I think.  Will post my reactions.  Thanks for this site!

Third day after Neulasta and really, really painful bones.  Hope this stops soon.