Had first TC chemo yesterday

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boobieprized
boobieprized Member Posts: 36
edited June 2014 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

I was actually a little excited to get things started, but it took about 45 minutes to find a useable vein.  First try blew a vein.  Unfortunately, my good arm is a bad arm for veins.  ;)  Then we got one in and all went well until the Taxotere was halfway done.  Felt flushed and chest looked sunburnt.  Stopped the drip and gave me ativan and steroids.  Started the drip again after a half hour and all went well.  

I felt okay coming home, but later in the evening I started to feel yucky.  Almost like indigestion.  Took a compezine and went to bed.  Feeling better this morning, thankfully.  Am I being naive that thinking last night was the worst of it?  ;)

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  • SharonDe
    SharonDe Member Posts: 222
    edited April 2014

    Hello shanitis,

    Sounds like you had a little excitement, but made it through ok.  I also had my first TC this last week.  The only real side effect I had on Days 1 and 2 was heartburn / reflux.  You may want to check with your chemo center - mine recommended OTC Prilosec and that helped a lot.

    You may also want to check out the April 2014 Starting Chemo thread - several folks going through TC now.  And, there is also a large thread for Taxotere/Cytoxan that was started in 2013 and is still active.  Lots of good info and help in these threads.

    Ii can't say if it gets worse, since I'm only a day ahead of you.  Let's hope for the best!

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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited April 2014


    shanitis- Glad you made it through your first infusion.  I'm assuming that your chemo regimen is Cytoxan/Taxotere.  If it is Carboplatin/Taxotere, there is an on going chemo discussion thread that can also be some help to you.  As for finding a vein situation, I had the same problem.  For some reason, when my veins hear anyone saying I need a blood draw, they just seem to disappear and bury themselves!!!  For your next infusion, you may want to hydrate the day before the infusion and also drink some fluids before you go have your infusion.  The hydration helps the veins be plump and ready for chemo/IV's.  You may also want to ask your onco to add the Ativan to your pre-chemo IV cocktail.  It will may help you get through the infusion a little easier.

    With Cytoxan/Taxotere, one may feel fine the 2 days after the infusion and then the downhill slide of side effects may occur.  I used to have my infusions on Tuesdays, felt fine on Wednesday and Thursday and then Friday, I would start not to feel so great.  Saturday and Sunday I would take it easy (sleep/rest).  By Monday, I would be fine.  If you are having indigestion, make sure you clear it with your MO as to what drugs you can take to help with that.  I used to drink icy cold ginger ale to help calm my tummy down.  The other thing that you may want to do is to eat 5-6 small meals so that your tummy is never totally empty.  A fed tummy is a happy tummy.  Make sure you are hydrating and relieving yourself so that you help flush the chemo through.  As for your anti-nausea drugs, make sure you take them on schedule and with food and plenty of water since those drugs can make one nauseous on their own. 

    BTW:  here is the link to the Cytoxan/Taxotere Chemo Ladies 2013 chemo thread.... You find the info on here helpful and also find support from others.  http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/800978?page=102  Hope this helps and you have minmal side effects.. 

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