Taxotere/Cytoxan starting February 2012.

Thanks Joan - I have been taking the Claritin since for past6-7 day - My bone pain is a little less today - had to get some Dalaudid from doc which helped a little (along with acetaminaphin and Advil, warm baths, etc).  Still has been the worst pain I think I have ever had - I see my doc tomorrow - don't know if I could stand another round of Neulasta.

Thanks again, Joan.  My WBC counts were good and my doc is going to reduce the neulasta dose by half on next round.  I am crossing my fingers that the worst of the pain was the first round.

Eleanor! - I finished my 4 treatments of T/C in October and just finished 22 radiation treatments.  You are right - you just have to take it one day at a time.  Everyone may be a little different with their reactions.  Some of the pains I normally had before disappeared - my body just trying to cope with SE?  Don't hesitate to ask your oncologist for medications to help you sleep/cope with those SE.  You may need more meds through this process - I know I sure did.  And, look for tips from sites like these - I used a lot of those, too.  I highly recommend Magic Mouthwash to help with oral issues (it is a prescription combination of benadryl, maalox and lidocaine).  Good luck to you - I will be thinking of you!

Eleanor - sleep for me was the same on chemo as before...up until after the third to fourth treatment and then I didn't sleep well...woke up through the nite...but it took till the third treatment for my ovaries to shut down, so lack of estrogen may have played a part. I did up my Ativan intake..lol. It took about 4 weeks post treatment to get back to sleeping thru the nite. Slept like a baby thru rads - until about 2 weeks before the end - I think I was waking up when I moved because of the pain. Tamoxifen sent me into insomnia land from the first night and is just starting to get back to normal. I dont take anything anymore to sleep.



It sucks going thru the holidays with this diagnosis - most of us here were diagnosed right around the holiday season last year :-( I know I will never really look at Thanksgiving and xmas the same again. You'll get thru this and the ladies/men on these boards are lifesavers.

When did your doctor tell you take the steroids? I take 8 mg in the morning the day before, 8mg at night the day before. I don't take any the day of chemo, then I take 4mg (one pill) for 2 days after chemo. I used to take 2 pills each of the days after, but I was having trouble with horrible reflux and my mo cut the dose back. I know there are a lot of different ways doctors tell their patients to take steroids. I take the morning pills at about 6am and the night dose by 6 pm to give me about 4 hrs to have it in my system before bedtime. I haven't had trouble sleeping so far.

For me, the actual infusion day has not been bad at all. During my first one the nurse explained everything she was doing and was right by my side. If you feel "funny" at all ask about it - itchiness, numb lips, etc. Your nurse will be happy to answer your questions. Also, she (or he, my nurse at my 2nd infusion was male  ) can slow things down if you are having issues.

I make sure I have a smoothie and ice to suck during the Taxotere infusion. After my first infusion I had some mouth soreness, but after my 2nd I didn't have hardly any. I think it was because the 1st time I wasn't diligent about keeping ice in my mouth.

Some ladies take Ativan prior to chemo - have you asked your doctor about taking something, especially with your history of panic attacks?

Wishing you well, I know it is scary not knowing what will happen - hang in there!