Starting my chemotherapy on with Taxotere&Cytoxan.

Welcome.... please join the Cytoxan/Taxotere February/March 2013 chemo thread which is still active even though one would think that those gals there should already be finished chemo.  This thread is open to anyone no matter when they start this chemo regimen.  There are some who just finished this chemo regimen and some who are still receiving chemo.  Here is the link: http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/800978?page=93#idx_2767.  You can also join a chemo thread for the month that you begin chemo.

I had 6 rounds of Cytoxan/ Taxotere chemo regimen plus received Herceptin through a clinical trial.  I had my chemo on Tuesdays and felt fine on Wednesday and Thursday.  Friday was the day that I would start to feel the downward slide.  i would rest/stay in bed on Saturday and Sunday and was feeling fine on Monday.  With the approval of my oncologist, I  iced my fingernails and toe nails to help prevent nail damage and also used clear nail polish to help keep the nails strong.

As for the hair situation, yes.... I lost most of my hair.  I had waist length hair at diagnosis, then cut it to short bob when I had my UMX and then right before my 2nd round of chemo, I cut my hair into a very very short boy hair cut.  Since I wanted to see exactly what the chemo would do to my hair, I did not shave or buzz my head.  In fact, the last time I had a hair cut was May 2012 and fortunately it has grown back evenly and looks like a layered haircut.  There is no right way or wrong way to handle the hair situation; you just need to do what is comfortable for you.  I wore bandanas, woolly hats, baseball caps and other hats I got at Marshall's, TJMaxx, Target, Ross.  I had a free wig through the American Cancer Society Look Good Feel Good program that I opted not to wear.  I had chemo during the summer months and the idea of putting something on my head wasn't for me.  Yes, I did lose my eyebrows and my bottom eyelashes by the end of 6 rounds of chemo but those returned rapidly.  The eyebrows and eyelashes are on a different growth cycle than the head hair.  I know that when hair leaves, it is an outward indication to the rest of the world that you are probably being treated with chemotherapy.  Always try to remember that no matter what, you are still beautiful.  Just hold that head up high and know that you are doing your best to get healthy.

If you have questions, please post or private message me.  Just remember you are not alone here and you can get through chemoland with others.