Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013

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  • momat927
    momat927 Member Posts: 173
    edited December 2013


    Hello everyone, I have been posting with Dec chemo but i started Taxotere Cytoxan Dec 4 so hope you don't mind my joining in here, as well. (I think I am losing track of my posts, so if I already introduced myself, sorry for duplication.) i suddenly have a purple spot, mildy elevated, only about a tenth of an inch, on my hand. I wonder if Taxotere might typically cause this kind of thing? I don't want to become hypervigilant! Thought I would check in about it. Thanks, Amy

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

    momat927- Welcome!!!!  We welcome everyone here, no matter when you started your chemo!!!

    You may want to put a call into your onco about that purple spot to check to see what it may be.  If it is bothering you or growing larger, you may want to call today.  Remember there is always an onco on call 24-7 so don't feel like you shouldn't call because it's the weekend or after hours.  Make sure you tell your doctor know when you noticed it, what hand it is on and the exact location on your hand.  You may even want to text/email a pic of that spot to the doctor.  It is always better to check to see what something new is rather than wait.  I know that if I didn't call in, I'd probably just get more anxious about the spot and start staring at it too much.  Hope you are doing well.....Again, welcome.

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  • Headeast
    Headeast Member Posts: 619
    edited December 2013


    Moma, welcome! I had something similar with all my TCs. I don't have a port and the skin got burned right where the poke was. A large burn, first red and then purple, ending with burned skin after two or three weeks.


    Like Melrose said, all your MO. I usually took pictures of them and mentioned that to the MO or person on call. They actually asked to see the pictures and text-ed them to person on call. I hope this helps.

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  • QuirkyGirl
    QuirkyGirl Member Posts: 383
    edited December 2013


    I have a general question about timing. I'm on day 8 and felt wretched days 5&6. Now that I'm feeling better, do things usually contnnue on an upswing or should I prepare myself more more/new types of yucky days as a head into nadir?

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  • Headeast
    Headeast Member Posts: 619
    edited December 2013


    QuirkyGirl, everybody is different. In my case I felt very tired on days 7-14. You might want to clean your hands more, use more Biotene mouthwash and keep drinking water to prevent mouth sores. Whatever you can think you have to be careful of doing because you might more be prompt to infections.


    Fruits and vegetables have to be thoroughly washed and disinfected. I didnt eat any raw vegetables or fruits during chemo, only cooked and I am sure I was exagerating, but gave me peace of mind.


    Try to eat red meats to bring your RBC up and Blood Builder.

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


    Quirkygirl, I tended to feel a little tired the second week, but the general yuk feeling was gone. By the third week, I felt much more like myself.

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  • Headeast
    Headeast Member Posts: 619
    edited December 2013


    QuirkyGirl, I found this article that might help


    http://foodforbreastcancer.com/articles/how-to-optimize-your-breast-cancer-diet


    It has a section of foods during chemo or radiation

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  • TeamKim
    TeamKim Member Posts: 568
    edited December 2013


    Quirky -- I found that once the yuckiness was gone, I had to be careful not to push myself too much. Second week I felt more tired, and had some muscle fatigue. Would generally try to just take it easy and be careful to avoid infections and sick people. Last 4-5 days before infusion I tended to feel pretty normal! though I did find the fatigue to be worse with each treatment. Everyone is different, though, so bear that in mind.

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

    QG, I felt yucky, achy the first 5-6 days, too. Then, I continued to feel better as far as being less achy;  although I did notice I tire more easily and sleep longer periods at a time. I have been walking when it's nice outside but don't seem to be walking as fast!:) I hope you continue to feel better!

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

    Quirkygirl-  I would have chemo on Tuesdays, felt not so great on Saturday and Sunday (Day 5 & 6 post chemo) and feeling just fine on Monday.  Yes, everyone is different.  The rest of time, I felt okay.... just a little tired and fatigued.  I had a Neulasta shot after Rounds 3-6 since I developed some high spiking fever/chills episode about two weeks after Round 2 of chemo.  I did what I could to eat well during my time in chemoland and became a little germaphobic.  I would make an effort to get out of the house on the days that I felt good which meant a trip to the grocery store, Target or mall so I could get some walking in and get out of the house. 

    Here is a link to the American Red Cross which lists food that are iron rich foods.. http://www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about-blood/health-and-wellness/iron-rich-foods and another link to the chemocare.com website http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/side-effects/low-blood-counts.aspx. 

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  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 634
    edited December 2013


    I had my chemo a week ago today - felt pretty tired awful til yesterday. Today I got my car inspected and did a bunch of Christmas shopping and food shopping. Now I'm even contemplating baking cookies.


    It really is fascinating how each MO advises/treats their patients. Like how we all seem to be different with when they check blood and such. My MO never told me to avoid any specific foods (though I am not eating sushi or drinking...both by my own choice).


    I feel like I "normal" person today - so I end up with one crud week and 2 good weeks.


    Like the others have said, seems as though we are all unique in our own ways :)


    Hugs to all.

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

    VirginiaNJ- You are so right about how different the MO's are!!!  Mine never put any limitations on what I could eat.  I'm the one who asked her if it was okay to eat raw veggies/fruit and she finally said that I could eat whatever I wanted but always be smart about what I ate and the source of the food and where I ate.  So I opted to the no sushi, no buffets, no food condiments in large containers and no eating out in weird places  and no alcohol and did just fine.  I was very glad that she did not put any restrictions on me since it helped my attitude through chemoland.  She did ask me if I drank wine and that it would be fine for me have some.  I got the impression that she was encouraging me to have a glass of wine to relax..... lol.  I rarely drank wine/alcohol before diagnosis and that hasn't changed.

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  • momat927
    momat927 Member Posts: 173
    edited December 2013


    melrosemelrose & head east, thanks for good advice. I called MO and nurse wants me to come in for platelet count. I finally realized they want me to call them! Thank you all for welcoming me. Amy ( momat927)

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  • Headeast
    Headeast Member Posts: 619
    edited December 2013


    You are very welcome! That is why we are all here! To support each other!

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  • audra67
    audra67 Member Posts: 521
    edited December 2013

    Welcome mom at 927!!!


    LOVED the menu Headeast...TONS of info.!


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  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 634
    edited December 2013


    Melrose - that part of it is so so fascinating to me in a crazy sort of way. I think my approach is much like yours (and it was my approach my first go round) to just try and be as normal as possible. I do have to say I have a pretty solid week of not wanting to do anything. Felt great to get out today and be productive...though I am a bit tuckered from my running around this am.


    It's great to read here what everyone is being told.......it's nice to kind of take a compilation of all the reco's.


    :)

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  • KLI
    KLI Member Posts: 52
    edited December 2013


    hi I am on the December board so recognize a few of you from there, thought I would check in here as we'll for specifics on TC. I will be having round 2 on 12/26 I had a rough 6 or 7 days after round 1. I will be trying new meds this time. Have any of you used the sancuso patch for nausea?

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

    Welcome KLI !!!!!  I've heard of a anti-nausea patch being used for chemo.  I know I had some kind of anti-seasickness/anti bausea nausea patch placed behind my right ear when I had my UMX surgery but I can't tell you the name of the patch.  Hope you have an easier time with the rest of chemo rounds and minimal side effects.

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  • QuirkyGirl
    QuirkyGirl Member Posts: 383
    edited December 2013


    thanks for the information, it's so helpful! Ended up being seen twice by my regular doc today - sore throat (not strep) and they are going to test me for c diff. My MO called to check on me since she'd been out of town last week and was concerned about the big D. Told me I did the right thing to call the after hours number over the weekend. Nice to have that validated. Apparently my heart rate is just racing along at 124. Strange.

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  • Headeast
    Headeast Member Posts: 619
    edited December 2013


    Kli, my first TC was the worst.

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  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 634
    edited December 2013


    Welcome KLI- I took Zofran after my first treatment. Had a terrible headache for days and horrible gas pains (though I don't think the gas pains were from the Zofran...not sure). Anyhow, doc gave me compazine for this time, but I didn't even need to take it....


    Headeast - my first was way worse than my second. I hope that it stays that way. Sounds like it did for you???

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  • Headeast
    Headeast Member Posts: 619
    edited December 2013


    Virginia, yes. The first one was the worse of the four. The second one came with cramps like the first, but I knew I needed to take Gasx and Motrin, so cramps were controlled almost from the beginning. The third one was a breeze, just tired, a few headaches, all controllable with over the clunter medicine my MO approved to take.


    I am day 13 of my 4TC and the last one. Today I woke up with more energy than yesterday. And the day is beautiful here, 71 degrees! I can finally wear long sleeves! Sounds funny but down here is so hot that we dont't even have that many winter clothes because we don't have enough cold days to wear them!

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  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 634
    edited December 2013


    Headeast - lolllllllllllll 71 cold??????? That made me belly laugh out loud :):):). I love it!! Here when it's 71 we wear shorts and flip flops :). It is snowing here in NJ today. Yesterday I purchased some baking supplies so I hope to bake more cookies. My Amazon orders also showed up yesterday so at least I can wrap.


    Thanks for the info on how ur SE's were with each treatment. I had HORRIBLE gas the first time. My onc gave me a prescription and my bro got me some Gasx (he works for Novartis) - so of course I didn't have the pains!!!!! Lol. My biggest battle has been fatigue but I can totally work around that :)


    Hope everyone rise is hanging in there!!!!

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  • audra67
    audra67 Member Posts: 521
    edited December 2013

    Guys-

    I am on same schedule as you Virginia and I am feeling better physically today too...Praise God!

    Headeast-  That must be amazing to be done with your last one!!!!  hoorrrrayyy for you! 

    I used a scopolamine patch behind my ear on mastectomy that they put on without me knowing, and it made me dizzy.. didn't like it...

    Zofran gave me super bad headaches too and used it after #1 and didn't on #2 used phenergen just in case and also my first was worse, although that nuelasta competed pretty hard to the ill/ flu type feeling with #1...

    Did you all use nuelasta?  I think I'm going to boycott that one unless I HAVE to do it with low wbc....

    It is in high 60s here and I might even try a walk around outside! 

    Hoping good ultrasound results at 3 - will let you know...although they won't tell me right away will they, probably have to wait til tomorrow...ugggg...

    Changing profile photo to headwrap...look like little baby bald eagle in cartoons or the ones that get blown up and are smoking with a little hairs left on head, so the wrap is much better....:)



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  • Palameda
    Palameda Member Posts: 259
    edited December 2013


    Hey All, got a question. I'm at the end of week 5, and nose issues have begun. Lovely bloody boogers and light bleeding, not a "bloody nose" per se, and constant running. I'm putting gel inside to soothe, but I don't think it stays in long enough to do any good. Anyone know if we can try decongestants? I know I can call my MO office, but the nurse there seems to have "never heard" of my symptoms when I ask, so I thought I'd try you guys. Maybe Claritin since I know we can take that?

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited December 2013


    Pat: I continually applied a coating of Aquafor inside my nostrils. I didn't use decongestants or antihistamines but I'm sure others will chime in.

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

    Pat:  I used Ocean saline solution spray and a little vaseline inside my nose.  The running nose is unfortunately one of those annoying side effects of this chemo regimen.  I was able to take either Benedryl, Claratin and Zyrtec while I was on chemo.  I can't say if any of them really helped with that drippy nose.  As for the bloody nose, if it starts to escalate, you may want to call your MO.  If you work, you may want to have an extra blouse/shirt handy in the event that your nose starts to bleed before you are able to find a tissue.  BTW:  if you spit on that blood spot on your clothing, the enzymes in your salvia will help breakdown the stain.  Oh the joys of chemo side effects....

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  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 634
    edited December 2013


    Audra- so glad you are feeling better :). Sending all the best karma to you for your US. I am SURE you are fine but yay for having "for real" confirmation. You look so beautiful in the head wraps......you really do!!! And I totally understand how you feel about the Neulasta. I feel like I have more SE's from that than the chemo. I don't remember that from my first time (but I could be blocking it out- like they say women who have babies do with labor??). Please do check in and let us know how the US goes.


    Pat- I have the same issues with the dry/sometimes runny nose. I was blaming it on being on my house so much with forced air heat...... I have some Aquafor left over from my rads so I will try that....

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  • KLI
    KLI Member Posts: 52
    edited December 2013


    hi everyone thanks for the input I too am hoping round 2 is easier. I had compazine round 1 it controlled nausea but I hated how it made me feel dizzy foggy. I did not have neulasta first round but my counts are too low so will be getting it next time. I have the same vaguely bloody dry nose issue have been sleeping with a vaporizer.


    It was -5 here this morning going to a high of 16. I did my walk on the treadmill....

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  • momat927
    momat927 Member Posts: 173
    edited December 2013


    PatA- i just bought a vaporizer. My onc nurse recommended & I use Simply Saline. Nurse does want to check platelets tomorrow cause of nose bleeds, which are now just what you described. Benadryl dried my nose out too much. Good luck. Your symptoms sound exactly like mine. Amy

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