Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013

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  • Tobycc
    Tobycc Member Posts: 789
    edited February 2015

    I switched to CMF in December. My nails got hard and yellow also. Did not ice them though....only polish. I did lose all of them. They are growing back nicely. Lost last one this past weekend two more CMF to go..then rads

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  • TortyLass
    TortyLass Member Posts: 43
    edited February 2015

    indyhorselover and blueflowers - yes when my neutrophils dropped to 500 during round #1, my doc gave me a script of antibiotics to have here in the event I developed a fever of 100.5 or above. Thankfully all was well and I didn't need them. But they're still here just in case for rounds 3 & 4! I also noticed that my temp was higher just after eating or bathing, so was sure to be relaxed and settled when taking my temp.

    tobycc - just got back from getting my labs drawn and the nurse took a look at my nails and said "yep, you're going to lose them soon" and is asking my MO for a treatment pen to ward off infection. My question - does this hurt? Do you use band aids to help with soreness or oversensitivity?

    (this is unnerving me more than anything else so far, which makes no sense. Pretty sure I'm doing some sort of transference thing here...)


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  • cubbieblue
    cubbieblue Member Posts: 68
    edited February 2015

    Hope everyone is having a good day with minimal SEs.

    TortyLass and Tobycc, I'm curious how your nails look and  feel before they are going to fall out.  Mine feel swollen and a little tender, and they seem to have alternating areas of pink and white and are a little darker at the base.

    GoldenPawsKim, I agree that this round has been the hardest yet.  Yesterday I could barely stand at the sink to wash my hands, but it did seem to get a little better as I moved around.  It's now Day 8 so hopefully I will have more energy soon.  How is Day 6 going for you?

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  • Bikerbabe17
    Bikerbabe17 Member Posts: 116
    edited February 2015

    Revup-65, I just went to the American cancer Society and printed out a Chemotherapy side effects worksheet, another fellow posted mentioned it on another DB.  I'm going to try and keep track of the SE, after the 1st treatment at least.  I am just trying to stay focused on work right now, at least I have something to think about other than cancer.  It's more difficult when I get home.  I'm also trying to write in my journal every night.  Only 1 more day and then we can get on with it.

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  • goldenpawsKim
    goldenpawsKim Member Posts: 165
    edited February 2015

    Cubbie - all is well now. After my 3rd treatment, my SE def came sooner. I had my treatment on Thursday, Friday I felt great and this time, Saturday and Sunday were my worst days. Bouncing back. Yay!! I usually have 3 days that I'm pretty tired and then I am back to normal until my next treatment. But on March 12, I will finally say adios to chemo hopefully forever. Glad you're feeling better, Cubbie!

    Sorry to hear that some of you are having nail problems. I just had my 3rd treatment and my nails still seem to be fine. I did not ice them per my oncologist recommendation. hoping they continue to feel good. I do paint them a very dark brown during treatment and then 2 days later removed the color and put on clear Sally Hansen hard as nails. Not sure if that's working or not. Keeping my fingers crossed.

    ♡ Kim

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  • TortyLass
    TortyLass Member Posts: 43
    edited February 2015

    Here's how they looked last night... the nailbeds ae pretty sensitive and they feel that icky warm throbbing sensation a lot. I'm about to cut all the length off now to prevent snags and accidental bumping. My nurse said to expect "bubbling" next befoe they start to lift off. What a joy this ride is... I hope the sensitivity doesnt last long, it makes typing quite challenging.

    image

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  • goldenpawsKim
    goldenpawsKim Member Posts: 165
    edited February 2015

    Tory - that looks painful. I know I read on here about applying some type of oil to the nail. Maybe you could try that? yes, I also read you should keep them short. I actually still have mine longer ...... I'm hoping for the best. I feel horrible that your nails are like that. It's not like we don't have anything else to worry about, right? Hopefully they will just get red and then heal. Have you done your third treatment yet?Good luck. ♡ Kim

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited February 2015

    Torty - your instincts are good. Cut them as short as possible & keep clipping them back. I did ice but I still had two nails on each hand that were pulling back from the beds. Haven't lost them but only two have really re-attached fully. The other two still pulling back. My nails are still very sensitive if I bump them on a door or counter. 14 month post chemo. 5 months after the last Herception only.

    GoldenPaws - my PCP recommended TeaTree Oil. I bought but didn't try since I got an infection under the nails & had to use antibiotic drops.

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  • ThinkingPositive
    ThinkingPositive Member Posts: 834
    edited February 2015

    You mean this nail thing can happen many months down the road after final chemo? How about the aches and pains, how long is that expected to last. My back and shoulders are killing me.

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  • brandyrose
    brandyrose Member Posts: 29
    edited February 2015

    Hi Everyone,

    So I did 3 treatments of Docetaxel that were each 3 weeks apart. My last treatment was over 5 weeks ago,and I still have muscle pains in my back, legs and arms. I also had really bad burns all over the sides of my feet that have started to peel. And I have numbness still in my fingertips although I haven't had any nail changes.

    I'm just wondering how long it's lasted for everyone else. I have pretty low energy but I'm trying to go for walks and am going to start yoga again. I'm just getting really tired of feeling this way and it feels like forever. Before the Docetaxel I did 3 different chemo treatments. I start radiation this week too so I know I'll be tired from that before long.

    Thanks!

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  • Chloesmom
    Chloesmom Member Posts: 1,053
    edited February 2015

    MO told me today the average is a month after the 12 week cycle ( getting TC x4 in 3 week intervals) that people start to get their energy back and not having all the SEs but eyebrows and lashes can fall out at the very end of this. Takes a while to get out of your system. I cut my nails as short as possible and clip them constantly if there is any edge showing so they take no force. Wearing gloves to do dishes. Wearing cloth gloves and lotion to bed. Putting lemon balm drops on raw skin on finger tops and tea tree oil on cuticlles and Sally Hansen on nails.

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  • Tobycc
    Tobycc Member Posts: 789
    edited February 2015

    I wish I had taken a pic. Did not hurt at all, truly just lifted off. Mine were hard, yellow, with taxol "rings"

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited February 2015

    BrandyRose - below is a link to an article about hand & foot syndrome from ChemoCare.com. I didn't have the problem with Taxotere & Carboplatin, but I did with Cytoxan & Adriamycin.

    http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/side-effects/han...

    Not to discourage all of you, but for example - it took more than 6 months from my last chemo for my taste buds to start working right again. So don't give up.

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  • joanne17
    joanne17 Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2015

    i am at a crossroads. This is the third time i have a diagnosis of breast cancer. This time I had a mastectomy. the oncotype is 28 and my doc recommends cytoxin and taxotere. in 2001 ihad cytoxan and adriomyicin. in 2005 I had xyloda and herceotin. now this . I really am not sure whether to do anything


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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited February 2015

    joanne - Sorry you have to join us. How many lymph nodes were removed in 2005? What stage & grade did they determine after the January 2015 surgery? Are you ER/PR positive? Are you still HER2+ ? You have a hard decision to make. My choices were partly based on my age and my life circumstances in addition to the test data..

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  • Sjacobs146
    Sjacobs146 Member Posts: 770
    edited February 2015

    joanne17, I am so sad that you are going through this again. I am finishing up rads now following chemo, and I don't know what I would do if a doctor told me that I needed chemo a second time. No advice, but sending you hugs and prayers as you consider your options

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  • Bikerbabe17
    Bikerbabe17 Member Posts: 116
    edited February 2015

    Those of you who have mentioned taking Claritin, after the neulasta shot, is this just the over the counter pills or liquid you use? How soon after the shot did you take it?  Also, do any of you have to give yourself the neulasta shot?  It is easy enough to do?

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  • TortyLass
    TortyLass Member Posts: 43
    edited February 2015

    Bikerbabe - My onc told me to use the regular 24-hr capsules (little blue ones), once a day. I am on Neupogen (my insurance wont pay for Neulasta) so I take 1 shot/day for 7 days. I start the Claritin the morning after chemo and then do my shots in the evening. My hubby gives them to me. Every once in a while it stings a bit, but it is NOT bad. The needle may look long, but it is very tiny, and I am a WUSS about shots too. :)

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited February 2015

    BikerBabe - regular over the counter Clairitin. Not the kind with "D". Take one the day before the Neulasta shot (so chemo morning) and continue for several days after. I took one for 5 days. I think it did help the ache & pain SEs. As I noted before somewhere, be sure you warm the Neulasta shot by holding or rolling in your hands first.

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  • goldenpawsKim
    goldenpawsKim Member Posts: 165
    edited February 2015

    Hi Bikerbabe - yes, regular claritin. I take the 24 hr one that dissolves in your mouth. It definitely helps w aches. Take the first one morning of injection and then for the next 4 days until your aches are gone. I get my injection at my local hospital since my infusion center is an hour away. Just make sure to take the Claritin... it works!!

    ♡Kim

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  • TortyLass
    TortyLass Member Posts: 43
    edited February 2015

    Follow up on the nails: had a visit with my MO today. She said it's a naturally occurring fungus in the nails, that for whatever reason, Taxotere sometimes makes grow at an crazy fast rate and lifting can result. She gave me a script for Penlac, which is applied daily like nail polish. She said it won't reverse the damage doneso far, but will hopefully stop the progression and I may keep my nails afterall. We'll see! :)

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  • Ratherbecooking
    Ratherbecooking Member Posts: 42
    edited February 2015

    nail question: has anyone used tea tree oil to prevent the fungus and lifting from starting? I iced during chemo and have been using the Hard as Nails, but would like to do anything else you have tried to prevent the fungus and lifting. Does the fungus cause the lifting? thanks

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  • Chloesmom
    Chloesmom Member Posts: 1,053
    edited February 2015

    The chemo nurse told me to use tea tree oil. Not sure why but I've been doing this as she said it helps protect nails

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  • TortyLass
    TortyLass Member Posts: 43
    edited February 2015

    Tea tree oil is sometimes used to treat nail fungus so probably is doing the same thing as the Penlac I got from my doc. The Penlac is expensive, so hopefully that's a better option :)

    Ratherbecooking - my MO said the fungus causes the lifting. It's in our nails all the time, but the Taxotere sometimes makes it grow like crazy.

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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited February 2015

    I never used Tea Tree Oil on my nails while in chemoland. However, I did ice them ( fingers & toes) and used Essie Top Coat as a clear polish on my nails. I kept my finger nails short and made efforts to take care of my nails as best i could. I always wore shoes/ sneakers with socks ( no sandals/ flip flops). As for my hands, I wore rubber gloves when washing dishes or using cleaning products and learned to quit using my fingernails as tools for opening cardboard boxes and to remove staples. If I did any gardening, I wore garden gloves. Again, I was fortunate that I had minimal nail damage from the chemo. My nails had a yellowish tinge to them and my finger nails had horizontal indentions ( like tree rings) which appeared a week or two after the chemo round. For the first year after I finished chemo, I noticed that my nails would tear or chip more easily. I always keep a small manicure set in my car since the chips always seem to happen when I wasn't at home. My nails have gotten better and don't chip as much as before. I don't take any kind of supplements to help with post chemo hair growth or nail growth such as Biotin.

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  • revup-65
    revup-65 Member Posts: 94
    edited March 2015

    Hello Ladies, well had my chemo Thursday, the infusion wasn't bad but around 2 I got extreme intestinal cramps, like food poisoning but worse. It lasted 6 hours on and off. I got it again Sat night worse for about 4 hrs. I am waiting to see what happens tonight. Anyone experience this. I am really tired, was planning on going back to work tomorrow, not sure now. Any help would be appreciated.

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  • Chloesmom
    Chloesmom Member Posts: 1,053
    edited March 2015

    if you can take it easy and not work that would be a plan. Had my infusion tues and was taking heavy duty anti nausea meds for 4 days. Still taking Compazine and just want to sleep. Last infusion the first 5 days were spent asleep but not nauseous

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  • Sjacobs146
    Sjacobs146 Member Posts: 770
    edited March 2015

    revup, I had severe intestinal cramps and diarrhea following my first treatment. I took Immodium, and started on bland diet and that helped quite a bit. Rest of the treatments, I took Immodium at first sign of diarrhea and ate bland right from the start and it was better

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  • MIMomma1
    MIMomma1 Member Posts: 60
    edited March 2015

    You might want to ask your mo about taking a daily probiotic as well to help keep the intestines full of the good bacteria.

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  • Cher22
    Cher22 Member Posts: 18
    edited March 2015

    I had my first infusion last week and had same stomach issues. Immodium and brat diet worked

    Anyone else have a bad acne breakout ? I'm one week post first treatment and look like in 14 all broken out. Oh my face

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