Starting Chemo in March 2014

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  • princessrn
    princessrn Member Posts: 370
    edited May 2014

    sandy..I am from the Feb group  I was on TCH so had taxotere.  My nails became purple and super painful.  Finger tips swollen and the neuropathy  was bad,  I had to stop.  I am a 47 and a nurse.  Watch it careful also consider icing as they are infusing.  I have Raynaud's and could not ice.  Good luck

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  • Macintx
    Macintx Member Posts: 118
    edited May 2014

    Sandydoc, I forgot to say that I have a little bit of a weird feeling in a few fingertips and toes, but no pain or sensitivity yet, so I am taking B-6 to try to prevent any further neuropathy.  My MO says he usually recommends it at the start of symptoms.

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  • Sinsin
    Sinsin Member Posts: 358
    edited May 2014

    Jmg, how are you and how is your mom? Hope the both of you are doing better!

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  • jmg58
    jmg58 Member Posts: 185
    edited May 2014

    Sinsin, so NICE of you to remember; thanks.  I had #4 on Thursday; lying around the house today....fast heartbeat and difficulty breathing, which is rather normal for me but seems to get worse each time.  I hope this really IS the last time and they don't find anything with my lung...at least this time no vomiting and nausea like last time. 

    Mom is now in a nursing home for rehab in the hopes that they can get her to stand and walk again.  Didn't get the results of the blood/urine test they were supposed to take for the carcinoid tumor yet. (?)  My sister is handling this part...I think maybe she just has not told me yet since I'm in the middle of recovering from chemo.  :-(  But mom seems in good spirits on the phone, so I am happy with that for both of us and hope it continues.  Thanks again for asking; I appreciate your kindness.

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  • Sinsin
    Sinsin Member Posts: 358
    edited May 2014

    Jmg, that sounds like great news to me! Any chemo improvement is and your mom being in good spirits is awesome! I'm relieved to hear it! Hope things continue to improve for both of you and that your mom's test results are as good as can be!

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  • TxPlanner
    TxPlanner Member Posts: 29
    edited May 2014

    Hi Everybody--

    Heroldman and Xrayalli and everyone else who commented on the foot blisters and the topic of neuropathy- thank you. It was helpful, as always, and what I love aout these discussion boards. Jmg58 glad your mom is seeming okay (relativiely okay) for now, and in good spirits. How was chemo #4?

    Sinsin- I love that Tshirt you're showing. Too funny.

    I'm on the other side of chemo #4, and the milestone is huge because I'm done with the A-C. On to taxol. Bring it! (Hope I don't regret the bravado!)

    Take care all!

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  • Sinsin
    Sinsin Member Posts: 358
    edited May 2014

    TxPlanner, grats being done with A/C! Hopefully, you'll find Taxol more agreeable! I've had 7 treatments total and have 8 Taxol doses remaining.

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  • jmg58
    jmg58 Member Posts: 185
    edited May 2014

    TxPlanner, so glad you are done with the AC!  Another milestone passed!

    I was doing pretty good after #4 until today (had it Thurs),  Racing heart and almost passed out twice.  Can't get to my hospital without a ride (an hour away) so I either have to go to local ER and suffer through all that just for blood test/fluids or wait it out and see what happens.  I have no one to drive me and am getting a bit scared so will call MO tomorrow.  Been eating a lot of protein and someone made me spinach lasagne-thought that would help as well as veggies. .I think it's too early for RBC to be low?

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  • cmp106
    cmp106 Member Posts: 48
    edited May 2014

    Hi all, 

    I'm new here and late to joining these boards, but started chemotherapy in March. Finished AC #4 at the end of April and just had my first Taxol treatment yesterday (will be getting 12 weekly treatments) after being delayed one week due to illness. I'm also getting Herceptin and Pertuzumab to target HER2 positivity. Received loading doses of those yesterday along with first Taxol treatment. Not sure what to expect with Taxol but sure hope its better than AC! Are others on this thread starting Taxol? I also saw there was a weekly Taxol group. 

    Hoping everyone is handling SE as well as can be expected. Look forward to sharing experiences!!

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  • Sinsin
    Sinsin Member Posts: 358
    edited May 2014

    Jmg, so sorry to hear that you're having a hard time! Can you call your MO now as surely they have someone on call after hours.

    Cmp, welcome! I think you'll find Taxol much more agreeable as most of us have in comparison to our other chemo treatments.

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  • TxPlanner
    TxPlanner Member Posts: 29
    edited May 2014

    Hi Everybody,

    Has anybody noticed a trend of 2 sets of side effects, one occurring right after chemo infusion and another wave of stuff happening the 2nd week? The last couple times I've had chemo, I gear up for the tough weekend right after, I stay ahead of the biggies (nausea, feeling winded, etc) and then come out of the fog on the 5th or 6th day. But then, there's a backlash of pesky symptoms that seem to start the 2nd week! The foot blisters, the mouth sores the rash on my face and arms (all of these are not as horrifying as they sound when I list them, some are only to the level that I notice them, not huge problems). I'm wondering if I'm not being as vigilant when the 2nd week rolls around, or is this cummulative-effect side effects..?

    And again if anybody has any radiation questions just let me know. I do realize there are lots of discussion groups on this board, like cmp106 mentioned (welcome, btw). I didn't know there was a weekly taxol thread, but that doesn't surprise me. I look around sometimes, but get overwhelmed at the idea of bouncing around everywhere. That's just me, but anyways, I'm staying here and will ride this train staying in the March chemo passenger car mostly!

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  • Jodi040812
    Jodi040812 Member Posts: 383
    edited May 2014

    TxPlanner- 2nd week!!! Had AC#4 last Wednesday and waiting to pass day 10.  Why?  Because day 10 is always the day the first mouth sore appears if I am going to get one.  Dose 1 and 3 I got two mouth sores and they were day 10-17!  Praying I skip this one!  Got magic mouthwash ready in case.  Also, I get tied.  I am not sure if it is because second wave, or I over do it.  But I am with you!!  Taxol never made me tired like AC.  Only thing with taxol was sore legs.  I will be starting rads in June.  I'll be back once the mapping is done and tell you all about it.  So you can explain it lol!!:)

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  • Jodi040812
    Jodi040812 Member Posts: 383
    edited May 2014

    I get tired lol.  Not tied!  Lordy sound like 50 shades ha ha;)

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  • srdc2013
    srdc2013 Member Posts: 25
    edited May 2014

    jmg58 - my MO set me up with home fluids.  They put a port access line in before I leave the chemo clinic and then I have the fluids at home when I need them.  Home health can also come in an access your port and teach you how to hook up the fluids.  It's kept me out of the hospital the past 3 times.  I resisted at first but now I really depend on it and like it! 

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  • TxPlanner
    TxPlanner Member Posts: 29
    edited May 2014

    Hi Everybody,

    Hope everyone has a nice Memorial Day weekend. 

    srdc2013, good info about the port access. Didn't know that was an option.

    Jodi040812, I'm so glad you where simply tired and not tied..  (too funny)  And I will definitely tell you anything you want to know about the radiation stuff. Mapping? We call it Treatment Planning Simulation, or just simulation or even sometimes just "sim". It's funny the terms for things.. I was so suprised my doctor accidently left a prescription for cranial prosthesis in with my paperwork. Was going to throw it away until someone told me that was for a wig! I'm in the medical field and didn't pick up on that one!

    Take care all

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  • Sandydoc
    Sandydoc Member Posts: 14
    edited May 2014

    oh, blamed the Taxol, thought it was neuropathy, for flu like body aches, severe fatigue,  couldn't  function.  I'm still tachycardic, a little weak and achy,  but just got my WBC count back day 8 post infusion, at 55,000.  So maybe I'll be able to tolerate the every 2 week dose dense, but I'll see if my MO will let me skip Neulasta.  

    Has anyone found the extremity cold packs helpful at prevention of neuropathy?

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  • Sinsin
    Sinsin Member Posts: 358
    edited May 2014

    Sandydoc, I've been icing my feet and fingers and so far so good. I had my 4th infusion this past Monday. Yesterday I had some tingling in my right thumb for a bit but it went away and haven't experienced it since. 

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  • Xrayalli
    Xrayalli Member Posts: 237
    edited May 2014

    image

    I did not ice hands and feet. My toenails got sore and tingly around weekly Taxol 8 but now they are fine, feet also fine. But my fingers are a different situation. All but one finger is painful, nails super sore fingertips tingly, thumbs, middles and forefingers are numb. Hard to grip and write, dark purple lines across my nails. The medication is helping with the severe pain I had when it started. These last 2. Taxol I held a metal bottle filled with ice, it felt good on my fingers but not sure if it actually helped anything. I only have one weekly Taxol left to go, hoping for his area, or side effect, to improve when I go to the AC porting of my chemo regimen. 

    TxPlanner-that's good that your prescription says the correct terminology so your insurance might pay for a wig! I got my new "cranial prosthesis" a couple of days ago, I bought it out of pocket because my insurance has a second tier coverage for wigs and I haven't met that deductible and don't plan too. I have bought 2 cheap but comfortable wigs on wowwigs.com through their clearance section, both under $40.  The one pictured above is called the HS Lollipop, lol. 

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  • Sinsin
    Sinsin Member Posts: 358
    edited May 2014

    Alli, you look great in the wig!! It's a good color for you!

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  • Sinsin
    Sinsin Member Posts: 358
    edited May 2014

    Ladies, be sure to check your treatment centers and hospitals too for free prosthesis, wigs, bras, etc. My hospital does it and granted they're used items, but so worth it! I got my wig, a bra, and a cushion type fake boob all for free at mine. I need to call and make another appt to see if they have any of the nice breast prosthesis in my size in yet. But search around because there are lost of places out there to help us!

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  • Xrayalli
    Xrayalli Member Posts: 237
    edited May 2014

    Thanks Sinsin! Trying to think of a name for her....

    Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend remember our veterans who gave all.

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  • jmg58
    jmg58 Member Posts: 185
    edited May 2014

    I agree; you look great; nice to see you!  I hope everyone has a good and restful holiday weekend!

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  • maryland
    maryland Member Posts: 1,298
    edited May 2014

    I have been icing my hands and feet with each Taxotere tx with frozen peas since my second tx (had #4, 8 days ago) and have had no neuropathy. I put 2 bags on each foot and my DH wraps them with ace bandages, and I just squish my fingers into a bag. $1 a bag, so far so good, then bring em' home and put em' back in the freezer till next time. My folliculitis did not come back this round, my only thing is that my fatigue gets worse and worse. I used to get my energy back after day 10 or 11 but now I'm tired all the time. I get mine every 3 wks, with 2 to go. Learning to pace myself, do some things, rest, do some more. I'm working 3 days/wk but have cut back to no more than 7 hrs/days. I'll be glad when this part is done.

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  • Jenwith4kids
    Jenwith4kids Member Posts: 635
    edited May 2014

    so, I finished AC on 5/1 and I have had two taxol treatments.   I still have my eyebrows and lashes. .. might I keep them? Does anyone know?  Can anyone further along chime in?

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  • megomendy
    megomendy Member Posts: 141
    edited May 2014

    Jenn, I just finished my 4th taxol and sorry to say, in the past week or so, almost all of my top eyelashes are gone. I have a few on the edges. I do still have my bottom lashes though. Not sure why. My eyebrows were always light, so they seem about the same.

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  • Sinsin
    Sinsin Member Posts: 358
    edited May 2014

    Jen, I go in tomorrow for my 5th Taxol infusion and I've recently noticed thinning of my eyelashes. I didn't have much on the bottom to begin with but my top lashes and brows still look ok. But it does look like they're thinning out some. I'm just hoping I don't lose them all. I didn't lose all of my hair. So crossing fingers.

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  • maryland
    maryland Member Posts: 1,298
    edited May 2014

    I have had 4 Cytoxan/Taxotere tx's and still have some peach fuzz on my head, my eyebrows and eyelashes have thinned but never fell out all the way. I can still put mascara on and it looks OK. I never lost the hair on my arms, and I still have some hair on my legs. It seemed to all stop falling out before my 3rd tx.

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  • Sinsin
    Sinsin Member Posts: 358
    edited May 2014

    image

    Someone posted this on my FB Timeline and I had to share it with all of you! LOL

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  • jmg58
    jmg58 Member Posts: 185
    edited May 2014

    Snsin, thanks for the laugh; I needed that.  Tomorrow I go to MO, find out what  scans I need (they found a nodule on my lung after first infusion when I couldn't breathe) and get script for Arimidex.  I am so scared about the lung thing; I cannot sleep, been on internet all night.  I needed the laugh; I am really down.

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  • Sinsin
    Sinsin Member Posts: 358
    edited May 2014

    I hear you Jmg! I'm doing another bone scan tomorrow and am scared shitless I have gastric cancer with mets to bone. I've done lots of tests and they can't seem to find anything yet I have lots of symptoms that just seem to get worse and the type of gastric cancer I fear I have is really hard to diagnose. So I empathize. Hang in there and I wish you good scan results!! Keep us in the loop, ok?

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