AC+T SEs

SupperNannyMom - so sorry to hear about the clot! Looks like a Lovenox shot - yes?

Supernannymom - I never had any nausea at all. While on A/C I did 'religiously' take all the anti- nausea meds. 1/2 way through Taxol I decided not to take any more anti-nausea meds and never had any issues with nausea at all. Talked with Dr and several RNs and they said that what experienced with pregnancy could indicate how bad Chemo nausea might be. I had had NO morning sickness with either Son and no Chemo nausea at all - so there may be a correlation?

I wanted to further explain why I chose DD T for those readers that are still considering it. My MO, who has two board certifications told me the DD T was the most effective for my cancer (but the other two were still good options). Since I tolerated DD AC very well and T was usually easier, I was happy to try DD T. (I'm a champagne over Bud lite girl). And, the severe bone pain may be attributed to the Neulasta shot. It had caused the worst SE during AC and I thought changing from Claritin to Zyrtec was the answer. We will never know.

Bottom line is everyone reacts differently, and you might breeze though a treatment that I could not tolerate.

Best wishes to all on this difficult journey.

Hi All!

Hi Kicks! I didn't have much morning sickness either (I have 4 kids) - but I get very motion sick as well as sick from anethesia, and my MO suspected I would have nausea issues because of that.

Allison - what dosage taxol do you get? Weekly?

I love reading about the taxol...my MO told me yesterday because I didn't have any issues with the Neulasta (my only ache that I noticed was a slighly sore back one morning) that DD Taxol may work just fine for me. My biggest issue and the one still facing me is the extreme nausea. They have decided to fill me with more IV meds during chemo and extra fluid (Thanks Bek!), and they are bringing me back in the next day for more IV meds and fluids.

I am so fearful since my experience was so terrible, its hard to not get really stressed out. I lost about 9 pounds over the course of 8 days - I mean I am not a skinny girl so it certainly won't be a problem, but they way I lost it was miserable!!! I am back in the chair tomorrow- and will be so drugged up I probably won't be online for a few days. As soon as I am able I will check back in with my lovelies!!!

Hi Supernannymom, I had DD AC/T and finished 11/25. I struggled with the side effects the first round of AC, but I had it fairly under control after the first week. I was working 42 hours a week so I had to be able to do my job. I carried a lunch bag full of meds and OTC to fix any side effect that appeared. When I switched to DD Taxol I had Neulasta and the pain was horrible. The Claritin did not work and I switched to Tylenol #3 with Codeine. I had 3 Neulasta injections and refused the last full does. I only took half the dose to stop the pain. Since it was the last Taxol I didn't care, and I figured the blood counts would come up on their own.

I was not given any other options for chemo. I had a large tumor, and the MO wanted to go with guns blazing. But I am left with a lot of side effects. I also have permanent heart damage from the Adriamycin. It is a uncommon side effect, but for me it is permanent. I have also packed on about 20 pounds from all of the meds, so I am reducing the meds now. I want to only take the heart meds, and nothing more.

Hi Beach and Night- thank you for the insight! They changed my infusion med to a drug called Aloxi, and then they brought me in the next day for reglan and more hydration. I had my infusion on Thursday- and it kept the nausea under control until Sunday. On Sunday I was back on zofran and ativan. This was much better than the first round when I threw up for 5 hours and then had 9-10 days of nausea. I still have nausea but the zofran and ativan really help - which then leaves the lovely constipation. I don't really feel good until day 10 after infusion, and then on day 14 back to the infusion chair. Seriously the thought of infusion or a blood draw makes me nauseous...my MO said that it is really a "thing". I forget what she called it but when people have severe nausea, even the thought of chemo can insight nausea.

I am fortunate, my MO had me go out on disability- which is good. I am a college professor - I can't imagine what I would tell students in my chemo induced fog!

The neulasta hasn't bothered me too much - yesterday and today I have had an achy back -but that could change when I get to the taxol.

Did those of you who have taxol - did you have it every week or every 2/3 weeks?

Hi, I had AC dose-dense in 2011. I had to switch meds to promethezine to combat nausea. It was a drug I received for an unrelated surgery, and post-surgery I was super nauseated. Zofran did not work, neither did compazine or the others they typically give for chemo. I tried a left-over promethezine and it worked, and my MO wrote me a script for it. So you might give that a shot.

Leigh.....haha hahaha young and heAlthy! I think we must have the same MO. I feel like I'm a hundred after chemo. And I have the same issues with the SE meds. No idea what to do about it though, just wanted to say you are not alone!

Leigh...we will get through this...let's not think about the next round-and keep our nausea at bay (as I suck on a dissovable zofran!)

hi all. I've been posting on Feb chemo group and thought I'd chime in here. I'm on the dose dense regiment. Just finished a/c on April 7. had first dd taxol yesterday. I too hated a/c but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Believe me it wasn't easy but it was great to mark it off the calendar and now all that phase is behind me. It really does go by fast . Taxol so far I feel better. I can eat and not feel nausea. Before just certain smells of food would trigger nausea. I still Need to do neulasta shot today so will see how I handle that with taxol And pray for no neurothopy or bone pain. Anyway im glad to be done with a/c . soon taxol will be done too. And Soon BC will be behind me ......

My understanding as to why some do Neulasta on Taxol after A/C has to do with how your WBC did during A/C. At least that's what my Dr said. Orriginally be had said I might need it on Taxol also but by count stayed very high so he decided I didn't need it on Taxol but if it dropped, Neulasta would be added. My count stayed up well within normal throughout Taxol so never had Neulasta on Taxol.

In other words, it's individual and how our body is responding. Different Drs also have differing opinions at times/on some things