Starting Chemo July 2012

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  • _Ann_
    _Ann_ Member Posts: 769
    edited September 2012

    Well here goes, I have AC #4 today.  I wish there was a big bell to ring as soon as I finish.   I actually don't remember much about the first several days after my AC, including the drive to get my Neulasta.  I had to ask the hubby what I did last time.

    My MO warned me about the neuropathy in fingers and toes from the upcoming Taxol, and since she only warned me about the really inevitable SE's from AC (hair loss, nausea) it makes me worry that it's really common.   I asked about using B6 and B12, she said there were no studies on it, but I got some anyway.

    Good luck to everyone with the next infusion. 

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  • roadwarrior28
    roadwarrior28 Member Posts: 301
    edited September 2012

    Ann - funny you say that! My chemo center actually has a big bell for people to ring!

    I'm also doing 100 of B6 and 250 of B12 - my onc said it can't hurt. There is actually a small study that showed that people taking B6 and B12 faired a lot better on Taxol - I reviewed it with my oncologist. She said that if I start getting neuropathy, Glutamine also helps - but not to use it as a preventative measure.  

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  • _Ann_
    _Ann_ Member Posts: 769
    edited September 2012

    Hi roadwarrior, I got 100 B6 and 1000 "timed release" B12.  I'll keep that in mind about the glutamine.  I think I must've read somebody here mentioning a chemo room bell, it's a great idea.

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  • roadwarrior28
    roadwarrior28 Member Posts: 301
    edited September 2012

    My onc said not to go above 200 for B6 because it can be toxic at high levels - so looks like we're good at 100 :)

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  • _Ann_
    _Ann_ Member Posts: 769
    edited September 2012

    Thanks for the tip, I didn't know there were any cautions with B vitamins.

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  • roadwarrior28
    roadwarrior28 Member Posts: 301
    edited September 2012

    Here's a good article from Dana Farber: http://www.dana-farber.org/Health-Library/Alleviating-peripheral-neuropathy-symptoms.aspx

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  • _Ann_
    _Ann_ Member Posts: 769
    edited September 2012

    I'm done with AC!!! w00t!   Now nothing but the Nuelasta and the days of staggering from bed to kitchen to bathroom and trying to remember the various pills.

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  • Lifeonitsside
    Lifeonitsside Member Posts: 250
    edited September 2012

    Ann - Yay! Except for the staggering...

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  • emilybrooke
    emilybrooke Member Posts: 98
    edited September 2012
    Yay Ann! Happy to hear the AC is over. Now it's time for you to rest =)
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  • PaEaglesFan
    PaEaglesFan Member Posts: 277
    edited September 2012

    🔔 ding ding ding 🔔

    Yay Ann!!

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  • roadwarrior28
    roadwarrior28 Member Posts: 301
    edited September 2012

    Just had my first Taxol treatment and fingers crossed, it went very well. Granted I was there for nearly 8 hours but tolerated pre meds well and slept through most of the Taxol. Feel totally fine now but understand side effects can take a couple days to set in....

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  • Moonwillow1010
    Moonwillow1010 Member Posts: 25
    edited September 2012

    I am not almost 6 hours PFC! Woohoo...trying to happy dance but still feeling the effects of the Benadryl. So tired but it went as planned. I did have to Diane who has been there with me from the start get told she couldn't do chemo today because her WBC was low. My heart took a leap for her. Praising God that he allowed me to get through this on schedule. My oncologist was excited for me as well, but I still have to have more blood work in 3 weeks and then radiation. 

    I hope many of you in this thread are coming to the end and are or will soon be PFC too! My thoughts and prayers are with you often and I am grateful to all of you for telling your stories and offering advice. Although I did not post very often, I was here most every day connecting with you and I thank you.

    Have a great weekend all and hope each of us have minimal side affects from this crazy crazy treatment.

    God bless! 

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  • teeballmom
    teeballmom Member Posts: 322
    edited September 2012

    Congratulations to Ann and Moonwillow! Doing the happy dance for you both!

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  • Maddie57
    Maddie57 Member Posts: 296
    edited September 2012

    Hi Stride- I did tell you about the vaseline on the inside of your nose for your runny nose and eyes, if the cause is an allergy to air borne allergens. I happened to pick up some other threads, and learnt some other facts. Runny eyes are an SE of Taxotere - look on Taxotere side effects thread they have some useful tips if your eyes get really sore. Are you on Herceptin? If so - this was the single most common effect of Herceptin. One lady asked everyone on our website to list their side effects from Herceptin and when they kicked in.You guessed it - the runny nose was common with nearly all of them!!

    Hi Roadwarrior - I am thrilled your first Taxotere treatment went well. My worst SE's started day 5/6 and I met a lady today who said her worst SE's also started on day 5. I am due for my third chemo treatment Monday . Unfortunately the neutrophil count was too low, so they are not sure if I can have it. I will have another blood test on Monday just before I start to recheck it, as the Onc says they often come up again. Here's hoping!!

    I am thrilled for those of you who have finished your Taxotere regime!! I am only half way through!!! 

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  • SusanHG123
    SusanHG123 Member Posts: 414
    edited September 2012

    Good morning.

    Back from the second MRI. Met with surgeon. Wish I had better news-but could be worse. And the official reading was not back--my surgeon talked about what she saw--but will await the official.

    Mega Mass has shrunk. But remains an aggressive cancer. After 4 dose-dense ACs she was hoping for MM to look more of a raisin instead seeing a dandelion. Will start dose dense taxotere Thursday with Herceptin weekly. Third MRI after 3rd taxotere.  She said it will not be a raisin, but if it is same or smaller she will consider removal just to get it out. With the clear understanding mastectomy will follow at some point as the #%^ fronds of the dandelion may remain. Mets---shrunk but no raisins. Then will have the 4th taxotere/herceptin followed by herceptin every 3 weeks. Then something for a couple years. 33 radiation.

    I am so disappointed. When my medical oncologist talked lumpectomy after an exam that was all i heard. I knew better as a nurse. i believe in science. There is no science to feel.

    Off to my office.  

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  • Lifeonitsside
    Lifeonitsside Member Posts: 250
    edited September 2012

    Soltantio - I hear you with the heat. I'm in Burbank so probably 10 degrees hotter. So tired of running my air! And don't want to see my power bill. Stay cool!

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  • stride
    stride Member Posts: 470
    edited September 2012

    SusanHG, I agree with you, feelings are not necessary rational, but they're still real. I'm sorry you had that disappointment. But VERY glad to hear the chemo shrunk the tumor as much as it did. If you had other little cells floating around your system, maybe it killed those, too. Where are the mets? 

    Maddie57, no Herceptin for me. So it's probably a taxotere SE. 

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  • mamabr
    mamabr Member Posts: 83
    edited September 2012

    Ann - so great that you are finished with AC and neulasta. Have a restful weekend.

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  • teeballmom
    teeballmom Member Posts: 322
    edited September 2012

    Soltantio and Lifeonitsside:  Hear you about the heat.  I'm in the Central Valley and we're expecting 102 today. 

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  • Maddie57
    Maddie57 Member Posts: 296
    edited September 2012

    Hi Susan- you must be so disappointed- I am sorry. Hopefully the Taxotere will have a better result. The lady I see when I go for my bloods has had 3 Taxotere treatments.  The chemo has nearly killed her- she has been in hospital everytime, but the fabulous news is her tumour has shrunk by half, so hang in there!!

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  • _Ann_
    _Ann_ Member Posts: 769
    edited September 2012

    Susan, I hope you get better results with the next round.  

    I just got through my amazing post-AC sleep-a-thon.  I'm not even sure I'm up for the day yet.  Slept all through Th, Fri, Sat.  Always amazes me I don't get back pain while sleeping off chemo like I normally do from oversleeping.  Probably going to try to lounge and watch movies. 

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  • mssunshine71
    mssunshine71 Member Posts: 162
    edited September 2012

    I've been hearing runny eyes and nose is a SE from Taxotere and Herceptin but I've had 3 rounds of AC and one more to go this thurs and my eyes are quite swollen and running like a tap along with my nose.  Has anyone else had this on AC?  

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  • stride
    stride Member Posts: 470
    edited September 2012
    mssunshine: OK, so, I'm on TAC, so I have no way to sort out which of those is causing the runny nose/eye symptoms. People seem to connect it with taxotere. But I think it adriamycin might cause it, also. This site http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000614/ lists "itchy, red, watery, or irritated eyes" as a side effect. 
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  • mssunshine71
    mssunshine71 Member Posts: 162
    edited September 2012

    Thank you stride.  i checked it out and it eased my worries. :)

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  • mamabr
    mamabr Member Posts: 83
    edited September 2012

    Ahhh - the post AC sleep-a-thon - and you are right, there is no grogieness from the sleep. It's like the body just goes into powersave mode. I'm on 2nd week of Taxol and what I see is that I am really tired Sat. night, 3rd day, and Sunday. I also have some of those strange bone pains, not painful, just strange. Hopefully tomorrow start getting the energy level back up. I guess with the Taxol I don't get the low-low of AC, but I wouldn't say it is a walk in the park. I also don't drink the crazy volume of fluids as I did with the AC. 

    I watched a few movies on demand, too much hassle going to video store. Arbitrage, good, What to Expect When Expecting.....a couple of funny parts, but generally not in my frame of mind right now, probably funnier if you are closer to that time in your life. The Ladies on the 6th Floor, really good. Going to watch the 49er's tonight!!

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  • emilybrooke
    emilybrooke Member Posts: 98
    edited September 2012

    Susan, I'm sorry you didn't get the news you wanted to hear. I'm sending a {{{HUHG}}} to you.

    Mssunshine, I started experiencing the runny nose and icky eyes after the last round of AC.

    Well I've got my lunch put together, my bag packed, and just finished putting on a second coat of Orly Nail Defense - I'm as ready as I can be for my first round of Taxol tomorrow. I'll be back to report on it soon. Until then, get lots of rest and minimal side effects to all.

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  • _Ann_
    _Ann_ Member Posts: 769
    edited September 2012

    Took a short walk today and went with the hubby for groceries.  Heck, I even re-heated dinner.  But I think it's bed time again already, considering it's nearly 8:30 :-)

    Trying not to get ahead of myself worrying about Taxol.   I'm having an MRI before that to get re-staged, but it's not going to change my treatment plan.  My MO said she just likes to know.  Given that, I was surprised it went through Ok with insurance pre-auth, but it did.

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  • boobzilla
    boobzilla Member Posts: 58
    edited September 2012

    Hi Stride,

    I am trying to stay as rational as possible, and strong for myself, and my loved ones. But they all understanding when I come undone once in a while. I am on 'intermittent' disability. When I was first diagnosed (6/19), I filed the paperwork once my Onc told me what regimen I'd be on (TAC), and how often, and what my side effects would be, etc. I decided to try to be out of work the day of my treatment (Thurday) and the day of my Neulasta shot (Friday), and then the whole following work week and weekend. Then I would return to work through the next Wednesday, until the fun started all over again. My side effects have been dragging a bit, meaning initially (1st treatment), I was hit HARD with fatigue and mental fog, etc for about 4-5 days, but could return to work on Monday with a good recuperation time in between. Now (treatment # 3 and going into # 4 this week), my side effects are cumulative, as my Onc, Nurse Practioner and Breast Surgeon cautioned me of. So by Saturday and Sunday before work, I am a bit draggy. However, work and the 3rd party company have my schedule, and I call the day before I go out, and the day before I go back in, just to confirm we're on track. It has worked well so far, and I have remained mentally sharp because of it. In addition, I also subscribe to lumosity.com-a site that lets you practice mental sharpness, memory, etc. In my own personal way, it was my way of counteracting  some of the things that were happening to my brain. Like many,I have a lot of responsibility at work, and a lot of other projects going on in my personal life. So though I can't be sure what the future holds with lasting effects of all of this, I still do all I can to stay me, as much as me. Haha, on the Tennis,  I was one Scholar Athlete of the year, so since my confidence has been somewhat annihilated throughout all of this, I decided I was going to 'show my wife who's boss' in one arena, where I used to undoubtedly excel-a silly little mental game I was playing with myself to boost my self-esteem and make me smile. These small things and pockets of laughter are getting us both through some hard days....but they are also reminders, that life existss outside of 'this'.

    Speaking of weird things happening at the end of the cycle (and beginning of next)....I have really bad allergies (indoor and outdoor), and before this thing happened, I was getting monthly allergy shots. As part of the chemo, I take Allegra to counteract the bone pain. Perhaps my fall allergies are kicking up, but I feel like I belong in a 'dry eyes' commercial. LMAO-I think tonight I will attempt to put some drops in my peepers....

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  • Madelyn
    Madelyn Member Posts: 93
    edited September 2012
    Emilybrooke-I hope you find the Taxol as bearable as I do.  There is no "down" day.  The steroids WILL keep you up tonight.  You might wrestle with sleep the next 2 days but the steroids will give you energy.  When they wear off, just sleep.  Maybe you will experience some restless leg, but it is sooooo much better than AC.  You will be "watched" for an allergic reaction during the treatment, so the first time is a little longer.  Also, you will need someone to drive you home since the Benadryl will make you groggy....let us know how it goes  HUG.
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  • roadwarrior28
    roadwarrior28 Member Posts: 301
    edited September 2012

    Madelyn - I agree with your comments. Besides my usual Neulasta achiness, I have not had any side effects from Taxol.

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