For those starting TAC in March/April 2006....

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  • jpsgirl96
    jpsgirl96 Member Posts: 240
    edited July 2006
    Hi All - Well, #6 and the LAST evil Neulasta shot are showing in the rear view mirror! I'm feeling okay today; the shot usually hits on Saturday and Sunday and then I start to feel human again Monday.
    Molly - Hope #5 went well. I had to drag myself to that one!
    Paula - Love the idea of the Tshirt - Mindy, second the NO PINK!!!
    Jeannette - Marcia and I and the others will be fine if you want to live vicariously our rads experience LOL!
    Brigitte - I shaved too, in the early/middle part of TAC, and had to do it once more when they got prickly again, and then this peach fuzz appeared and it's soft so it doesn't annoy.
    When I emerge from this one, let's try to organize this T-shirt thing! Leigh
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  • baldeagle
    baldeagle Member Posts: 199
    edited July 2006
    I haven't gotten any peach fuzz! Nothing. Just baldie here.

    Leigh, I'm glad that you are done. One more to the finish line.

    Now what shall we put on our shirts?
    TAC = Totally Awesome (Awfull) Chemo?
    Jeannette
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  • mindyk
    mindyk Member Posts: 87
    edited July 2006
    Just a quick post to say CONGRATS to Leigh for finishing #6
    Everyone take care,
    Mindy
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  • JackieSue
    JackieSue Member Posts: 61
    edited July 2006
    I shaved after my hair started falling out after the first treatment. I had to shave after the third treatment. I had a sort of fat mohawk thing coming up in stubbly dark hair. It was itchy and annoying. Now I have a hair every inch or so growing up on the top of my head. The hairs are about 3/8 inch. Looks weird. Not exactly enough to shave. I'm looking forward to something softer. My daughter wants to do a henna tattoo on my scalp. We'll see. Sounds like fun.
    Jackie
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  • peejay
    peejay Member Posts: 131
    edited July 2006
    Do a tattoo that says "F Cancer" or if you're short like me "Cancer Sucks" LMAO! I wish I had thought of that before!

    Paula
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  • DATO
    DATO Member Posts: 127
    edited July 2006
    I am starting TAC on Monday the 10th. I have been rereading all of the posts from those who are now crossing the finish line. It helps to know you all made it! I was reading in the "Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book" about taking Co Q 10 to help protect the heart and liver from the adriamycin. Did anyone do that? Wish me luck ladies. I'll post again after my first TAC.
    Darlene
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  • Brigrf
    Brigrf Member Posts: 74
    edited July 2006
    Darlene, Welcome to the TAC Club. I am sorry you have to be here, but glad you found us. There is strength in numbers, girlfriend. Chemo is not fun but I've found that the support here is so uplifting and helps pull me through even my toughest days.
    I am not taking CoQ10; the only supplement I'm taking is vitamin C. Make sure to talk to your doc about your plans.
    I've been through three rounds so far and am heading to round four this coming Thursday. Something I didn't expect was the mouth sores. Bring a bottle of ice to crunch on during your treatment. I did that with rounds two and three, after reading about it here, and did not have anymore problems. Treat yourself the way you would treat someone else; we are wonderful nurturers to everyone but ourselves, normally, but now it is all about us. I am saying this as much for myself as for you, because I continue to push myself and then feel lousy the next day and wonder why. Shore up your energy when you can. Keep posting!
    Gentle Hugs, Brigitte
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  • MarciaA
    MarciaA Member Posts: 178
    edited July 2006
    Darlene, Just wanted to send best wishes your way as you start your TAC tomorrow. Just remember a few things. You are on a very tough protocol so don't get discouraged if you read how well some women do with chemo. A/C is not the same as TAC. And take it a day at a time until you handle what symptoms you may have. If you need advice there are many of us here ready to assist. And lastly, give yourself time to heal between treatments. There is a reason there are 21 days between treaments. If you get down it is ok and you are welcome to vent here or cry or complain and nobody will judge you because we have been there.
    Take care.
    Marcia
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  • jpsgirl96
    jpsgirl96 Member Posts: 240
    edited July 2006

    Hello Darlene, Just sending good thoughts and want to mention that it took a number of different drugs for me (and many of us) to manage the TAC side effects - I got four in the pre-drip (Decadron, Zofran, Benadryl and Zantac) and took Zofran, Compazine and Zantac to manage the tummy and sometimes painkillers to manage the side effects of the Neulasta shot. I started out thinking I would take supplements but changed my mind - it was hard enough to manage the rest of the stuff. All that said, I had a relatively easier time of it, was able to travel on Day 6 and work on Day 7, so I'm sending some of my vibes your way! Any questions, or just need a shoulder? We're here! Leigh

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  • Brigrf
    Brigrf Member Posts: 74
    edited July 2006
    Darlene,
    There are plenty of drugs available to make you comfortable. I'm on some of the same ones that Leigh mentions. I'm thinking about switching from compazine to a different anti nausea med called Torecan.
    Has anyone tried Torecan and do you prefer it to compazine? The Compazine made me very jittery last time and seemed to take forever to kick in ...
    I have not been able to work as much as I thought. Round One, I was working by day 9, round two, same, and round three has been much tougher. But everyone is different! YOu can do this!
    Brigitte
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  • baldeagle
    baldeagle Member Posts: 199
    edited July 2006
    Darlene,
    I'm glad that you found us. the support here has been great - and so have the suggestions.
    My onc has me rinsing with soda water several times a day to prevent the moth sores (really a fungus called thrush that can take hold when your imune system is down. Also, days 7 to 14 is the time period when you are most likely to pick up an infection.
    One thinh I am learning - lots of sleep and naps. I resisted it for quite a while but the nauseau is worse when I am tired.
    Am on to TAC 5 on Tuesday - so the end is in sight. And it happens faster than you think.
    Meanwhile on this summer Sunday afternoon it is thunder where the mountains meet the prairies. I can see the lightening from 10 to 20 miles away - and the grey clouds rushing by. I would rather be watching ocean waves than waves of blowing grass. But this is still awesome at times.
    No barbeque today.
    Jeannette
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  • mindyk
    mindyk Member Posts: 87
    edited July 2006
    Darlene- Good Luck with treatment today! We are here for you!
    Jeannette, Brigitte, Leigh, Jackie, Karen, Karen in Denver,
    Paula, Marcia, Molly, and TerryJill, How is everyone doing!
    Feeling pretty good here. I went back to my hometown over the weekend for the town village fair. I got to visit with my family. Came home to our central air not working right. So I guess I will be calling this morning for someone to come out and see what is going on with it. Since my hot flashes have increased, I need it! I am counting down the days till I am at the finish line of TAC! Everyone take care and please post when you can so we know how everyone is doing!

    Mindy
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  • MarciaA
    MarciaA Member Posts: 178
    edited July 2006
    Hi TAC Sisters! I hope everyone is doing well.

    Mindy- I can relate to the hot flashes. I have about 4 or 5 a nite. I guess I will have to ask my doc for different meds.

    Darlene - hang in there today and know we are all thinking of you.

    Jeannette- I wish you well for #5 tomorrow, We will be rejoicing with you in 3 more weeks.

    Brigitte, I wish you well for round 4 later this week.

    Leigh, How are you doing? I hope you are getting better every day. Isn't it so nice not to have to go in for chemo.

    Paula, you doing ok now? Enjoying the summer with your daughter?

    Karen (Kburns) Please check in. You will be glad to know that I have started losing the belly from the taxotere. I am almost 4 weeks out and my swelling and the weight I gained is just now starting to go down.

    Hugs to everyone else. Like Mindy said, I would love to hear from everyone else.

    For me the journey continues...I go in for herceptin IV tomorrow (July 11). I get benedryl and tylenol premed. Then I go to radiation for remarking and orientation and scheduling. Then Wednesday (July 12) I start radiation for the next 33 days (M-F). I will be on these boards cheering each one of you crossing the finish line. You all have been so helpful to me. Thanks to all!

    Marcia
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  • MollyK
    MollyK Member Posts: 70
    edited July 2006
    Hi all,
    I am emerging from my bedroom from TAC 5 last Friday and now it's the big countdown... ONE MORE TAC only 18 days away. I can't wait.

    Kburns, glad to hear the news about the belly. That is one thing I am looking forward for myself. (and of course, growing my hair back!)

    Jeannette, good luck tomorrow. I will be thinking about ya.

    Darlene, let us know how TAC number 1 goes for you. There is a lot of support here for you. Please check in.

    Marcia, Paula, Leigh, etc...I'll be interested to hear all the stuff that goes on with radiation. Let us know all the details.

    Have a great day.

    Molly
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  • kburns
    kburns Member Posts: 37
    edited July 2006
    Hi everyone. I hope you are all doing well as you move forward on this journey.

    It took a full 2 weeks plus for me to recover from chemo #5. I woke up Friday and said, "I think I am starting to come back". Just in time for chemo #6 on Wed. Not sure if she will give my the taxotere because of this persistent cough, but my preference is to go ahead and get it all in this last one.

    Sorry I haven't been writing much. I check in every day to see how everyone's doing, but I am just getting frustrated with the hair loss, fatigue, etc. and hate to just keep whining about it. My eyebrows are almost gone, I have some lashes left, the weight keeps going up, and I think I am in a fog most of the time! Trying not to get depressed, but some days are harder than others.

    Marica, I am so glad to hear that the swelling and weight gain are starting to reverse. I have chemo #6 on July 12 and expander swap surgery on Aug 30. I so hope to get back into an exercise and weight loss program sometime soon. I was just reading a tamoxifen thread though, and it seems like most of those women are still struggling with the weight issue as well as other side effects. I am guessing my onc will start me on tamoxifen pretty soon and hope it does not interfere with weight loss. I think I have to take it for 5 years! Good luck on the Herceptin and radiation.

    I know a lot of you have radiation to face, but how many will be going on tamoxofin?


    Take care everyone. Karen
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  • MollyK
    MollyK Member Posts: 70
    edited July 2006
    oops, kburns, I meant marcia, with regard to the tummy weight. chemo brain. 2 more days until #6. That is way exciting.

    i will be starting tamoxifen as well. although reading up on the other boards with regards to the side effects makes me a bit nervous.

    molly
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  • Brigrf
    Brigrf Member Posts: 74
    edited July 2006
    It has been over two weeks since round three for me and I still spent today in bed. The fatigue was just overwhelming. I'm praying my blood counts are okay to get round four on Thursday. So darn frustrating when the mind is willing and the body is blah ...
    Brigitte
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  • MollyK
    MollyK Member Posts: 70
    edited July 2006

    brigitte, sorry to hear it's been so overwhelming. My 3rd round was the toughest for me. I was so much more exhausted than any of the other rounds. It seemed like I never got a 'good day' between 3 and 4. Round 4, I bounced back much quicker. Don't understand why...but hopefully you'll do better this next round. good luck.

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  • Brigrf
    Brigrf Member Posts: 74
    edited July 2006

    gosh I hope that's what will happen to me too, molly! This one has been a real downer! Thanks for the encouraging words!

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  • kburns
    kburns Member Posts: 37
    edited July 2006

    Brigitte, #3 was my worst also. It was so bad that I ended up in the ER with a fever of 103....so for #4 they reduced my dosage. #4 was pretty easy, but then #5 took over two weeks to recover from the fatigue and I ended up with a really bad cough. I have no idea what #6 will bring on Wed. Good luck! Karen

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  • Brigrf
    Brigrf Member Posts: 74
    edited July 2006
    Karen, good luck on Wednesday .. congratulations on finishing your TAC! I'm sorry you ended up in the hospital and that round five was so rough. This is just no fun, anyway you slice it. The online support works wonders for me mentally; otherwise I would feel totally alone in this.
    Brigitte
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  • mindyk
    mindyk Member Posts: 87
    edited July 2006
    It is nice to hear how all of you are doing!
    Marcia, It seems like we are on the same treatment. First TAC, then radiation, herceptin and tamoxifen. It looks like we can still compare notes and continue our journey together!

    Karen, Good luck with #6, I am only 7 days behind you with my #6 on the 18th. It is ok to come here to vent, whine or whatever you want to call it! WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!
    You can always send me a PM if you would like. You are almost there!

    Molly, Good luck with #6. I will be thinking about you!

    Brigitte, Hope you get to feeling better soon!

    For those that we haven't heard from yet, please keep us up to date!

    Take care,
    Mindy
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  • baldeagle
    baldeagle Member Posts: 199
    edited July 2006
    Mindy, Marcia, Paula, and all the others who may be in line for rads next, you may be counting me in. I saw my onc. today and she has referred me to the radiation people for them to decide if rads are the next stop. Sigh, I thought it was here straight to tamoxifen. Not so fast. I won't find out till mid August after my last TAC.

    Meanwhile my counts are good - except for RBC - a bit low. Am upping the iron pills in the hope of avoiding more meds.
    On to #5 tomorrow and I will be done with the last one on Aug 1. Can hardly wait. Am getting tired of this chemo business. Guess that hits us sooner or latter.
    J.
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  • JackieSue
    JackieSue Member Posts: 61
    edited July 2006
    Greetings to everybody. I've been dragging this time. Once again my white blood cell count is too low. I told the nurse that I had a dream that someone was always chasing me around trying to give me a shot. Scary.

    I have an extra week between my last treatment (#4) and the next (#5). On the 22nd my daughter is getting married so they've given me a week off for good behavior. Planning a wedding while doing chemo is not the optimum way to spend a summer. Fortunatly, we've had an army of people volunteer to help out.

    My next treatment is the 25th.

    Jackie
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  • JackieSue
    JackieSue Member Posts: 61
    edited July 2006
    Yep, so far the plan is rads and then the tamoxifen.
    Jackie
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  • baldeagle
    baldeagle Member Posts: 199
    edited July 2006
    Damn those blood counts. Jackie, are you getting a neulata shot after each treatment? That's supposed to help the white blood count.

    Meanwhile, a break from chemo will be good. Hope that the wedding is a smashing good day for everyone - especially the mother of the bride. And hope that with the extra time off you can really enjoy yourself.
    Jeannette
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  • peejay
    peejay Member Posts: 131
    edited July 2006
    Hey all, I'm writing from my mom's house!

    I, too, am glad to ehar that the "tummy" weight will come off after a while. I have a hard time zipping my shorts!

    I've been going in the pool here for a bit longer each day. My arms (shoulders) really hurt after the first day in. Becuase I'm not used to using those muscles! It's amazing how I'm going to have to build back up. Good thing there is almost 2 months until bowling starts again! It's been really hot down here too.

    Tomorrow we will be inside all day... at the casino! hehehe It's about an hour drive to the Indiana Kentucky border, then I can sit down and pull the handle all day! Don't worry, I'll be sure to use each arm LOL

    My daughter is sleeping over at her cousins house tonight and tomorrow night, so she is having a blast! I don't know how my sister is though lol. She has 3 kids already, so what's 1 more for 2 days? hehehe

    Anyway, hope everyone is doing good. I tire easy, but at least my spirits are good!

    Paula
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  • JackieSue
    JackieSue Member Posts: 61
    edited July 2006
    I'm actually getting 3 neupagen shots each time. I've gotten them the three days after the treatment and then the next week if my blood count is still down. I'm feeling like a pincushion. Fortunatly, I'm not getting too much discomfort from them.

    Paula, I hadn't considered putting words on my head. I was figuring on leaves or some such design. The words could be fun. Maybe do a sentence a couple of words at a time. Kind of like the old Burma Shave signs (which I do NOT remember personally!) "Watch this space!"

    I WENT OUT tonight. I had a manicure, and dinner and then I went shopping and bought a couple of dresses! I felt like a normal person. I'd forgotten what that was like. I even drove myself. Woo Hoo!

    Jackie
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  • jpsgirl96
    jpsgirl96 Member Posts: 240
    edited July 2006
    Jackie - I actually am crazy enough to think that planning a wedding in the midst of chemo is a great thing - very life affirming, always good for us even when we're exhausted! I'm sure it will be just beautiful.
    I learned a little something this time around. I stopped taking the Effexor for a few days (afraid of any added tummy effects during the first few days post chemo) and boy did the nighttime hot flashes surge! So, I wasn't sure it was really working, and now I am - restarted Monday morning.
    Can you believe it - I had an abnormal mammogram on Thursday? I felt like I was being sent back to the start line. Two calcifications (not micro); radiologist and breast surgeon both have the gut feeling it's not cancer, but I have to have a stereotactice needle biopsy tomorrow. Benign vibes, prayers, incantations very welcome...as Gilda says, "It's ALWAYS something"...Leigh
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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited July 2006
    Hi ladies,
    Today is day 5 post chemo #6 and I need some cheese to go with my whine!!!! I should be thrilled to be done chemo, but instead, I'm tired of feeling lousy. Well, yes, I am glad to be done chemo and I pray that I never have to venture done this chemo road again. Still somewhat nauseated and my tummy HURTS. I take 40mg Nexiuum daily and have been drinking lots of mylanta, taking acetomenaphin and through yesterday anti-nausea meds. My onc says if my stomach still bothers me once done with chemo he will rec that I have an endoscopy. Funny thing is, I didn't have stomach problems till this wonderful TAC chemo!! After #5 it took me about 2 weeks to feel decent, so I figure I have a little bit to go till I feel better again. I see the rad onc on the 18th for mapping etc and will find out my start date. I'm guessing it will be the end of the month. Will keep everyone posted. To the gals doing rads - are any of you doing reconstruction? My ps surgeon and his nurse have been talking silicone gel implants, but at my last appt the nurse said because of rads I would probably have to do saline (something about the gel "sinking" ?). Need to ask the ps about this at my next visit on the 20th. Still have time to figure this out as replacement surgery is not till late december at the earliest. Well thanks for listening. You are the greatest.
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