Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013

for all on Neulasta ....

I took the Claritin day of shot and for 6 more days. Very little bone pain. My MO said there is. no earthly reason why it should work, but his onc nurses swear by it, so he said go ahead. My BS also suggested taking it, and she said they aren't sure why it works, but it does. On the Oct chemo board, there is a knowledgable nurse, SpecialK, who said the Claritin decreases the inflammation in the bone marrow! which eases the pain. I shared that theory with my BS and she said it makes sense.

Week 2 I felt much better, but just tired. Week 3 I feel pretty "normal" each time. The first 2 rounds I really felt quite good week 2...this third round i landed in the hospital with a neutropenic fever, which is why i kind of "skipped" week 2 in my description of feeling better. As annoying as it was to be there, I really did not feel bad... just bored.

SC...Hope ll goes well with round 2 tomorrow. Who else goes this week?

Headeast, my MO ordered 4. I think that is his standard protocol. After some complications with the first tx he reduced my TC by 25%. So there is always that question in the back of my mind about whether I got "enough" although he told me it wouldn't make a lot of difference.

I met with my endocrinologist today. I have type 2 diabetes and my blood sugar has been sky high for several weeks. I thought I just needed an adjustment to my meds or maybe a little more time for the chemo to leave my body. Unfortunately my doctor thinks the chemo probably damaged my pancreas. I didn't know this was a possibility so I have been in a bit of shock since hearing it. If I do have permanent damage to my pancreas, that has a huge effect on the rest of my life. For now the doctor is increasing my meds and checking in 2 weeks to see if things get back under control. It seems there is just no end to the second guessing that comes with this disease.

Just had my first TC yesterday took 3 hours. I feel loopy, dizzy, and mouth swollen. I have had “vomit” reflex. Last night I kept waking myself up choking on the “vomit” reflux. I did sleep at 45 degree angle at one point and that kind of helped. The ONC pre scripted Promethazine, which I’m taking every 6 hours. I worried about taking that medicine, because I have asthma and apparently it causes breathing problems. I also feel like my body is on fire but I have no temperature I wonder if my body is going into Menopause so soon. I’m drinking about 130 oz of water. Today I go for the Neulasta®. How long does the “vomit” relax last?

Fairydog , call the doctor and tell them your SE, they might give you someting else.... I am getting ready for the chair at noon today

Jeri, the high blood sugar is more probably the result of the steroids -- which are known to drive glucose levels crazy even in non-diabetics. Is your endocrinologist aware of the steroids (if you are getting them along with your chemo)? He may have no idea they are being given to you. I'm a Type2 diabetic myself.

Carol

Good luck today school counselor and all of the other girls going in today

I am tired and hemorrhaging with my stupid period and will be on the couch all day, very tired, still icing the swollen arm- elbow area seeming better but hand and wrist still look and feel awful!

just bought a book= being well even when you are sick,

my friend is a neuropsychologist and I have been talking to her about the panic/anxiety with tests, chemo, possible reocurrences, not sleeping well and asking her how to get over all of that- anyhow she recommended this book the writer also has been through cancer - will let you know if helpful

Carol, it's nice to hear from a fellow diabetic. I have found it to be quite a balancing act to be treating these two diseases simultaneously. During my chemo treatments I stayed in close touch with my endo. He prescribed NPH for the days I was taking steroids and I also gave myself an injection when I was in the chair and they started running the dex. It did help but the steroids are so powerful they are hard to overcome. My disappointment is that I am now 8 weeks post final chemo and still seeing such high numbers. I'm going to do my best over these next two weeks to stick with the plan and see if these changes make a difference. I said to him jokingly, "You know you're asking me to do this over Thanksgiving?" He didn't have much sympathy. : ) I was so looking forward to a big helping of my daughter's macaroni and cheese!

jerigrace, i hope you are able to get your blood sugar levels back down to normal. That has to be really frustrating. It seems to be never-ending, doesn't it.

bondsy, I hope you are feeling better. Round 3 sent me for a loop too...I finally have felt much better this third week...just in time to be kicked to the curb again tomorrow for round 4. I wish my MO had been doing the neupogen shots, so my counts would not have fallen so low.

FDM, I hope you get some relief from the nausea. Be cautious if your mouth is actually swelling; that is a sign of an allergic reaction. The awful heartburn has been an issue for me too. Zantac somewhat helps.

Audra, I hope the monthly beast ends soon and does not make a reappearance any time soon. That is the last thing you need is to be losing more hemoglobin.

SC, I hope you are feeling OK after your chemo today. halfway done, correct? At least with the infusions........it does not feel halfway when you know side effects are coming.

i am looking forward to answers tomorrow...oncotype results...recurrence likelihood...4 or 6 treatments...neupogen or neulasta...infusion center or home...why after neupogen did my hear rate rise over 160... why the night of chemo does my heart rate drop into the 40s...I have a laundry list of questions! Hopefully MO will have some answers! I did have blood work today. most results will be in tomorrow, but my counts i got today. White count and neutrophils are finally mormal. Yay! For once, i am not anemic. i have been eating a TON of red meat! I am glad they do not check my cholesterol. I will deal with that after chemo; for now, i am just glad it helped to get my hemoglobin up.

Pat, in my case they fwll at the same time, around day 14.

Pat, my head hair would not even "pull" out of day 11. By day 13 it came out by the pinch full. I tried right after going to the bathroom and having a surprise in my panties...all pretty much came out at once down there. I had already shaved my head, so i could only pinch little pinch fulls of stubble. The stubble came out even more on days 14 and 15. I used masking tape on it too...like removing dog hair off of clothes.

Tomorrow brings a trip to PS for a fill at 0745, and then a trip across the city (if you call it a city) to meet with MO, and then onto chemo. maybe I should swing in and see my BS... I could complete the trifecta.... maybe not; the chemo chair pretty much completes it. Looking forward to a hopefully nice weekend before the side effect truck runs me over on Monday.

why are we all getting our periods??? I thought chemo stopped them!!!

My periods did not stop on AC chemo - nor did they stop on 5 years of Tamoxifen

I think heart problems are a general SE for Herceptin, sadly. I had regular Muga scans while on Herceptin to monitor my heart. Although, the effects might not be seen til years later