April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

vballmom- So wonderful to hear that you are up and around and driving yourself to work!!!!!  Makes my day!!!!!

Fighting - a "friend" sent me Somer's book and another piece of crap book when I was first diagnosed.  When I got to the part where she said mammo's cause bc to spread by smashing the tumor and advised against them, I let out a few cuss words and practically threw the book against the wall.  I firmly believe my mammo saved my life.  She is full of cr*p IMO.  This same "friend" sent me an urgent email after I started chemo and shared some of my SE's on my CB page.  Instead of supporting me, he urged me "can't you get a second opinion?"  "I've never heard of chemo for 'prevention'", and "Carboplatin is a carcinogen."  OMG.  I let loose on him in like you wouldn't believe with a scathing email back.  He apologized and certainly got the message.  I told him his email was insulting and that he knew I was educated and fully had explored multiple opinions before proceeding with chemo, so his email was like kicking me when I was down.  I was furious...he received the wrath of my anger against bc combined with steroid rage.  LOL! 

My crash seemed to not happen yesterday, which made me happy because of my out-of-town friend being here.  However, I started feeling really out of it last night.  I woke up this morning, and the crash is here...a day later than I expected.  The problem is:  That overlaps the day that my legs and back hurt the most.  So, here I sit at work, hurting like all get-out, but too tired and disoriented to feel like I can safely take a pain pill.  *sigh*

I'm happy I felt good for most of the weekend, but today blows.  I think I'll leave around noon, go home, medicate, and have a good cry.  I know that it is part crash, part steroids, part cancer, and part knowing my friend is leaving.  Crying sounds like the right medicine for me today.  I decided that, if I let myself have today's pity party, I'll feel better tomorrow.  Thank goodness the majority of my crash is just a one-day thing.

Vballmom - so glad you are doing better, yay!  I love the quote.  Rachel - hope the crash is over for you after today.  Melrose - thanks for all the words of encouragement.  It never, ever, is too much! 

I have got to learn more patience.  I feel the least bit better, think I'm over the hurdle, and then half an hour later after I've run up and down to my basement, the aches and fatigue get worse again.    Still, I don't feel as bad as I did yesterday, so I'm determined to have turned the corner this time.

They just hooked Sharon up for Taxol #4. It's the last chemo! :-)



So far, Taxol has been a "not much" in the SE department....weak legs and muscle twitches for a few hours, plus the two day steroid buzz.



Eric

Eric!  Such fabulous news!  Such a milestone!

I start Taxol tomorrow, so I love hearing that SEs were "not much".

Stacie, mine is Taxotere, and I haven't had any Neulasta or Neupogen.  I've had pains in my arms, legs, ribs, lower back - feels like bone pain to me, although my thigh muscles have hurt too.  It also seems that something that was already hurting before I had the chemo is now a little is now more intensified.  Even my port hurts off and on, although it looks fine.  I'm still bummed that I had the worst SEs so far on Taxotere, which is usually easier for most people than A/C...

I sure hope the tingling isn't neuropathy, but I know they tell us to report it.  I'm so glad you are almost PFC!!! 

Stacie & IndigoMont- On Taxotere and get the Neulasta shot and take Claritin for 9 days beginning the morning of my afternoon Neulasta shot.  I did feel some minor leg pain in foot/ankle joint, an occasional zinger in my knees and some minor bone pain in the rib cage.  I just assumed it is the bone marrow trying to make more cells, old age and/or minor flare up of my plantar fasciitis in my left foot.  The bone pain is what I would say is similar to what kids experience when they are in a growth spurt.  It just plain old hurts for the bone marrow to start producing cells and to get the cell structure right.   I didn't take anything since the pain wasn't enough for me to take a tylenol or motrin which my onco says I can take for post chemo pain.  As for neuropathy, I have some but not much.  The worst that it ever gets is that a finger or toe will cramp up for a moment or two.  I just straighten/flex whatever has cramped until it stops cramping.  I'm not one for taking Tylenol/Advil if I can help it.   Although I had a list of supplements to take for Neuropathy and cold sores approved my onco to take and purchased those supplements, they sit unopened and untaken on my desk.  I decided to try to eat my way with food to get some of what is in those supplements rather than take a supplement that I don't know how my body will react to. As for my port, periodically itch although the surtures healed long ago.  Occasionally, I can feel the port in my chest if I move a weird way.   Hang in there, my friends!!!

Info from chemcare.com about Taxol side effects:

http://www.chemocare.com/bio/taxol.asp

Taxol Side Effects:

Important things to remember about Taxol side effects include:

• Most people do not experience all of the Taxol side effects listed.
• Taxol side effects are often predictable in terms of their onset and duration.
• Taxol side effects are almost always reversible and will go away after treatment is complete.
• There are many options to help minimize or prevent Taxol side effects.
• There is no relationship between the presence or severity of Taxol side effects and the effectiveness of the medication.
• The Taxol side effects and their severity vary depending on how much of the drug is given, and/or the schedule in which it is given.

The following Taxol side effects are common (occurring in greater than 30%) for patients taking Taxol:

• Low blood counts.  Your white and red blood cells and platelets may temporarily decrease.  This can put you at increased risk for infection, anemia and/or bleeding.
• Hair loss
• Arthralgias and myalgias, pain in the joints and muscles. Usually temporary occurring 2 to 3 days after Taxol, and resolve within a few days.  
• Peripheral neuropathy (numbness and tingling of the hands and feet)
• Nausea and vomiting (usually mild)
• Diarrhea
• Mouth sores
• Hypersensitivity reaction - fever, facial flushing, chills, shortness of breath, or hives after Taxol is given.  The majority of these reactions occur within the first 10 minutes of an infusion.  Notify your healthcare provider immediately (premedication regimen has significantly decreased the incidence of this reaction). 

The following are less common side effects (occurring in 10-29%) for patients receiving Taxol:

• Swelling of the feet or ankles (edema).
• Increases in blood tests measuring liver function.  These return to normal once treatment is discontinued. (see liver problems).
• Low blood pressure (occurring during the first 3 hours of infusion).
• Darkening of the skin where previous radiation treatment has been given (radiation recall - see skin reactions).
• Nail changes (discoloration of nail beds - rare) (see skin reactions).

Nadir:  15-21 days

This list includes common and less common side effects for individuals taking Taxol.  Side effects that are very rare, occurring in less than 10% of patients, are not listed here.  However, you should always inform your health care provider if you experience any unusual symptoms.

Info about Taxotere from chemocare.com

http://www.chemocare.com/bio/taxotere.asp

Taxotere Side Effects:

Important things to remember about Taxotere side effects:

• Most people do not experience all of the Taxotere side effects listed
• Taxotere side effects are often predictable in terms of their onset and duration
• Taxotere side effects are almost always reversible and will go away after treatment is complete
• There are many options to help minimize or prevent Taxotere side effects
• There is no relationship between the presence or severity of Taxotere side effects and the effectiveness of Taxotere.
• Taxotere side effects and their severity depend on how much Taxotere is given.  In other words, high doses of Taxotere may produce more severe side effects).

The following Taxotere side effects are common (occurring in greater than 30%) for patients taking Taxotere:

• Low white blood cell count (this can increase your risk for infection)
• Low red blood cell count (anemia)

Nadir: Meaning low point, nadir is the point in time between chemotherapy cycles in which you experience low blood counts.

Onset: 4-7 days
Nadir: 5-9 days
Recovery: 21 days

• Fluid retention with weight gain, swelling of the ankles or abdominal area.
• Peripheral neuropathy (numbness in your fingers and toes) may occur with repeated doses. This should be reported to your healthcare provider.
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Mouth sores
• Hair loss
• Fatigue and weakness
• Infection
• Nail changes (color changes to your fingernails or toenails may occur while taking Taxotere. In extreme, but rare, cases nails may fall off. After you have finished Taxotere treatments, your nails will generally grow back.)

These Taxotere side effects are less common, meaning they occur in 10-29 percent of patients receiving Taxotere:

• Vomiting
• Muscle/bone/joint pain (myalgias and arthralgias)
• Low platelet count (This can increase your risk of bleeding)
• Increases in blood tests measuring liver function.  These return to normal once treatment is discontinued. (see liver problems)

Infusion-related Taxotere side effects (symptoms which may occur during the actual treatment) include:

• Allergic reactions (rash, flushing, fever, lowered blood pressure).  Happens rarely, usually occurs in the first or second infusion.  Frequency is reduced by premedication with corticosteroid starting one day before infusion.  You will be monitored closely during the infusion for any signs of allergic reaction.
• Infusion site reactions (uncommon and generally mild, consist of darkening of the vein, inflammation, redness or dryness of the skin, or swelling of the vein).

Not all Taxotere side effects are listed above, some that are rare (occurring in less than 10% of patients) are not listed here.  However, you should always inform your health care provider if you experience any unusual symptoms.

I am on taxol. I have bone pain in my left knee, feet, shins & some femur pain. I ache more than the bone pain. My aches are in my lower back, spine & rib cage. I also have numbness at the tips of my fingers & bottoms of my feet. The numbness get the worst about a week after infusion & then lessens. My face @ my mouth/chin is slightly numb as well, but that gets better w time too. I have had a slight head ache since my 2nd infusion.

Vicki--feel better soon.  

For some reason this thread was kicked off as one of my favorites.  It's happened with a couple of other threads too.  I just caught up from 7/9!  

Wishing everyone minimal S/E's.

I am 2 1/2 weeks PFC. Yeah!  I had no S/E's from the neulasta as far as joint or bone pain.  I consider myself very fortunate.  Took the claritan from the day of the shot and 10 days later.  Don't know if it was that or I was just lucky.  Just glad I am done with the chemo.   

Thanks for the info, Melrose. I'm noticing that I tend to focus on one or two se's that I forget or ignore the others. My liver enzymes were way up last week; from your list, now wondering if it's not the chemo. I'm taking a week off from painkillers to see if maybe it was that that's increasing the enzymes. Really hoping my numbers will be down this week.



Feel better, Vicki. What an awful feeling.

I'm so sorry vicki - this has really been a rough round for you. :-(((  <hugs>

Vicki, so sorry you are having such a rough time! Wishing you better days!!!

Heading out for #5 treatment !!!! Yahooo--- so ready for this next round!!! 

wishing everyone a great day and minimal side effects!!!  Check you gals, later on the other side!!!!!

Hang tough, Stacie.  I hope things look up and you continue to get the rest you need.