Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013

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  • SchoolCounselor
    SchoolCounselor Member Posts: 452
    edited December 2013


    love the quotes, fairy. Thanks.


    Yeah keepTF!!! Keep drinking to get that stuff flushed out of uou!!!!

  • Bluegrassharp
    Bluegrassharp Member Posts: 96
    edited December 2013


    Keepthefaith -- hurrah for a good start! I second the advice to drink, drink, drink...and add: eat careful small meals for the next 10 days or so until your GI tract decides how it's going to handle the new situation. Keep us posted on your progress, smooth or bumpy. I have found that the women on these discussion boards love a success story; and will offer excellent advice and emotional support to help you get through whatever BC throws at you over the next months.

  • Headeast
    Headeast Member Posts: 619
    edited December 2013


    keepthefaith, one less to go! You will find that all the sudden it will be done.


    Today I have my last one and am thrilled! Lots of pain from my expansion from yesterday. With two Percocets and getting ready to leave my house.


    Yay!

  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited December 2013

    Ring that bell today, Headeast and ring it loud so we can all hear it when you finish that last round today!!!  I'll be doing the Happy Dance in your honor!!! 

    Wishing for easy times in the Big Girl Chair for today and everyone up this week and minimal side effects for all!!!  Keep pushing forward....... 

  • keepthefaith
    keepthefaith Member Posts: 2,156
    edited December 2013

    In your pockets today Headeast!:) HappyYou're on the downhill slide. HOORAY!!!

  • Headeast
    Headeast Member Posts: 619
    edited December 2013


    pre meds in me now. Waiting for all and then TC...

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited December 2013


    Yahooooooooo headeast!!! I am happy for you!

  • Palameda
    Palameda Member Posts: 259
    edited December 2013


    Hi, got a question for all you veterans. Saw my MO before tx2, and the answer to many of side effects was "drink more fluids." Thanks to my Ativan, I wasn't sharp enough to ask how much. How much do you think is advisable during regular weeks, and how much to flush it out days 1 and 2. In addition to my iv drip I drank 60 oz while in the chair. I don't want to get water intoxication, but I want this poison out of me! I'm thinking 8 ounces an hour while awake? Not enough? Ugh, help.

  • Headeast
    Headeast Member Posts: 619
    edited December 2013


    KBeee, I am so happy it is over! I just have to deal with SE. How are you doing with yours?


    Pat, from what I read is: your weight in lbs / 2= number of oz a day.


    For example if 140lbs/2= 70ounces a day. I bought a 24ox bpa free tumbler and use that one to count how much in fluids I drink. Fluids includes all, not just water.


    Good luck!

  • TeamKim
    TeamKim Member Posts: 568
    edited December 2013


    Pat, remember that is fluids, not necessarily all water -- soup, Gatorade, Vitamin water, Sobe Lifewater! juice -- all count. I was told about 1.5-2.0 liters per day.

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited December 2013


    Headeast, I am feeling much better this week. The neulasta did the same thing to me last week that the neupogen did round 3...it made me nauseas (chemo never has) and I could not eat more than about a tablespoon at a time for about 10 days. i ran a temp most of the first week, but that seems to happen each round. I can eat and drink a bit more now, so I am feeling much better. I can feel I am still anemic, but I am still walking 3 or 4 miles per day, working a few hours each day, and generally living life. I am just a bit tired in the evenings. I do feel better and better each day, and I hope that you do too. I am so glad that you are done. I am working a few real shifts (on the ambulance...rather than in the office) at the end of the month, so I am looking forward to that.


    pat, 2 liters is probably a good figure. I drank as much as I could, but the point to vary the fluids is a good one.


    Wrenn, how are you feeling?


    Hoping for a day of minimal side effects for all.

  • Palameda
    Palameda Member Posts: 259
    edited December 2013


    Thanks Headeast, Kbeee & TeamKim about the quantity. I'm well over that by now & H is heating me some soup. Thanks TK for the private advice too! The burning urine is a large part of why I'm trying to dilute this garbage!

  • audra67
    audra67 Member Posts: 521
    edited December 2013


    Congratulations HEADEAST! WOOOHOOOO for you! You must feel GREAT!


    PatAlameda I am following you tomorrow, I only drank maybe 2 water bottles last time the first few days as I felt so weird and queasy...I will force myself to drink more this time...thank goodness you asked that question! Now the last week or so I have been eating and drinking normal amounts ...I had no idea!


    Kbee - so happy for you!

  • TeamKim
    TeamKim Member Posts: 568
    edited December 2013


    TC sisters -- I am about to just be a C (or a C and some other TBA letter) -- can I still hang out here?


    Just when you think you have it figured out, this BC s**# throws you another curve.... I saw the MO today for blood checks and follow-up from 3rd tx. I took my little album of photos of my hives over thanksgiving weekend. He says I am officially VERY allergic to Taxotere, and I will not be getting it again because he feels it would be too dangerous. So, new plan: my blood counts are high, so we will go ahead with Cytoxan next week on my scheduled infusion day. No Neulasta shot after. Then the following Wednesday I am to come back for an infusion of another drug to replace the Taxotere (possibly Taxol or another one that I can't remember -- he is thinking about it and deciding what would be best). If blood counts are low when I come back for that infusion, then I will get a few days of Neupogen. If WBC is good, then I will be DONE after that infusion!!! And on to rads in about a month. Glad to see the last of that Taxotere -- I have a touch of neuropathy in my toes, and the hives were nasty.

  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited December 2013

    PatAlameda- I used two 32 ounce Nalgene bottles to help keep track of how much water I drank every day.  Besides the liquids that were mentioned already ( water, gatorade, tea, soup, etc), there are other things that count as liquids-- popsicles, jello, grapes, watermelon.  The infusion nurses told me to watch the amount of water I drank so I wouldn't drink too much and get water intoxification.  If the urine is burning..... use a squirt water bottle to help clean off and use those cottonelle wipes.  Diaper rash cream also helps.

  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited December 2013

    TeamKim--- You better not leave here!!!!  Glad that your onco has figured out that you are allergic to the Taxotere.  You may be getting Abraxene which is given only after it is shown that one cannot tolerate the Taxotere.  Hope this week before the next chemo is a good one for you and that you feel well.  HUGS!!!!

  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited December 2013


    teamkim. I'm glad they finally have an answer for the hives. I am sure they will come up with something comparable. You really can't count on things going smoothly on this ride. You are very resilient though so will come out well. What a battle. Xo

  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited December 2013


    kbeee glad you are feeling a bit better. I am still gagging back small amounts of food and really find it hard to drink anything but ginger tea, beef broth and chocolate milk. I have lost about 50 lbs since this all started but am still overweight so i am sure my old appetite will be back.


    Hope everyone else is ok.

  • Headeast
    Headeast Member Posts: 619
    edited December 2013


    wrenn, any hairs lost? You have to show that to your daughter! I think she is adorable! Lol! For drink try decaf ginger peach, is really good.


    TeamKim, I am so glad they are changing your chemo treatment. Only one to go for you, or .5!

  • audra67
    audra67 Member Posts: 521
    edited December 2013


    Team KIm-


    When did you get the hives immediately or days later?

  • bondsy
    bondsy Member Posts: 94
    edited December 2013


    Started taking the steroids today in preparation for my last chemo tomorrow. Everyone keeps telling me that I should be happy it's my last chemo, but I'm actually more apprehensive than the previous ones because chemo 3 was so bad and I know chemo 4 will just be worse since it's all cumulative. But I'm hoping I'll be able to get through the side effects easier since I'll know in the back of my mind that it's the last time. I do the neutrogen shots at home starting Sunday for 5 days, and I'm planning to do a big time 5-4-3-2-1 countdown. Can't wait for that to be over!! The port comes out on Dec. 20th, and I'll be able to sleep scrunched up on my side or stomach again! Yes! There is some light at the end of the tunnel.


    I went in to my kindergarten classroom today for a quick visit for the first time since September and brought the students little holiday gift bags. It was great to see them, as they barely know me since I left after only two weeks of school. They saw my scarf on my head, and I was able to explain that I'll be wearing a scarf every day for a while, and that I couldn't give them any hugs since I need to be careful not to get sick. They were adorable, and now I'm actually really looking forward to January 6th when I go back to work.


    I'm wishing you all a nice holiday time with minimal side effects!

  • bondsy
    bondsy Member Posts: 94
    edited December 2013
  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 634
    edited December 2013


    bondsy! Yay for you being the last one!!! :). Wishing u the fewest SE's possible!! And lovely you got to visit your "kids." :)

  • bondsy
    bondsy Member Posts: 94
    edited December 2013


    Thank you VirginiaNJ!

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited December 2013


    Teamkim, You need to stick around!!! Let us know what they decide about te last treatment. I am glad they recognize the allergic reaction and will no longer give you Taxotere.


    Bondsy, I hope the last infusion goes well with few side effects. I am happy that you got to see your kids; what fun! January should be such a great new start!


    Headeast, I hope you ar having few effects from your last treatment.


    Audra, How'd it go?


    Wrenn, Feeling any better?


    Wishing minimal and manageable side effects for all!

  • TeamKim
    TeamKim Member Posts: 568
    edited December 2013


    Audra -- I got the rash each time starting about day 4 or 5. It usually lasted a week or 10 days. 2nd tx rash was was worse than 1st tx, and lasted longer. When the rash started on 5th day after 3rd tx, I called and got Prednisone. Even with that on board, though, it kept getting worse everyday and on day 7 it turned into hives. Continued to be pretty bad until day 10, when it finally started to subside, then disappeared totally by day 12.


    Bondsy -- so great you got to see your kids. I know you missed them. As long as you have the stamina to get through the day, when you go back to work it will be such a happy time to see those cuties each day!

  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited December 2013


    hi everyone. I am reading every day but fatigue has me too stupid to reply. Hope that goes away soon. I think about you guys all day and hope everyone is doing ok. You are the only thing in my world that makes sense these days. Xo

  • Palameda
    Palameda Member Posts: 259
    edited December 2013


    Thank you all for the hydration guidance. With enough fluid in me, water bottle to squirt, wet wipes to clean, vagisil to soothe, and triple butt cream to protect all in place from the get-go, I'm finding treatment number two less "irritating" than number one. Where would we be without each other? My MO and ON aren't exactly founts of practical wisdom. What do women who haven't found this board do?

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited December 2013


    Pat, I have often thought the same thing...what would I do without the practical advice from everyone here?!?! I am very happy to hear that this round is a bit less irritating. Hoping you feel better and better each day.

  • SchoolCounselor
    SchoolCounselor Member Posts: 452
    edited December 2013


    Hi all.


    Just checking in. Going to get blood drawn today for Monday chemo. A little peeved that they moved it from Thursday to Monday because the doctor is out on Thursday. It means I lose a couple of "good days".


    Excited that I start the LIVESTRONG exercise program in January. I have to get on track with my fitness again. The only question I had for her, was" is it okay if I workout bald". Scarves on my head and sweating is not something I want to do.


    I'm throwing a birthday party for my daughter tomorrow. So I have to run out and get stuff today, lots to do it should be fun. I should get moving.


    Enjoy ladies. So glad to be somewhere where we get it!

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