Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013

Anyone else have bad hot flashes/sweats with TC? They are really interfering with my sleep. Do they end after chemo?

YES! I had HORRIBLE night sweats with TC. I have to say they did improve as the treatments went along. When I finished TC, I don't remember having a lot of them, and I didn't during radiation. Now I am on Femara and I have light night sweats, but those also improved after about a month. I have been on Femara for two months and I only have them once in awhile. I do get a warm flush during the day once a week or so.This is doable! Hang in there! I am almost 60.

Just found this topic page, although I have had 3 treatments of T/C. I csn tolerate these safe effects....bone pain, fatigue, weakness, but the coughing is awful. Anyone else cough constantly

Welcome to all who are new to this topic! I've been busy with follow up medical appts and haven't been checking in as often as I like to.

Mysunshine, Call your MO immediately. Cough or hoarseness are on the list of SE from Cytoxan that my MO gave me that she wants to know about immediately. Also mention the bone pain. Are you getting an injection the day after chemo infusion.

Here are the others: You should check with your doctor immediately if any of these side effects occur when taking cyclophosphamide:More common

• Cough or hoarseness
• fever or chills
• lower back or side pain
• missing menstrual periods
• painful or difficult urination

Remember, your docs work for you! If you ever have concerns, call them. My MO got a little annoyed with me because I didn't call her sooner with some of my SE.

Inkster, I wore scarves almost all of the time when I went out. I didn't have any hair to change things up with, so the scarves were a nice option. I wore a few hats and beanies, too. With CT, the hair falls out day 10-11 like clockwork!

Sugar, Woohoo! Congrats, you are almost done with chemo! I hope your reconstruction journey goes well, ending with the results you desire!

Oh, yes, I get the Neulasta shot and take Clariton and still get the bone pain.

Mysunshine and Marksgirl, Cytoxin can cause lung damage. It is one of the less common, but more dangerous SE. Less than 1% of people experience this SE. It is more common in smokers and those with other lung problems or damage. The MO can decrease your dose of Cytoxin to minimize the damage. They can also prescribe corticosteroids or oxygen. MO are all different. Mine wanted to know every little SE I experienced. I would write the on a calendar so I wouldn't have to try to remember them.

Mysunshine, sorry you are having problem with the neulasta. Others here have tried all sorts of things to help with the bone pain, including having the injection in the stomach. My MO didn't automatically give me neulasta. She wanted to see how I would recover without it. I was fortunate and recovered well after each infusion without it. Maybe talk to your MO and see what your options are?

Thank you so much PoppyK.    There is a lot of talk about Taxotere but I did not hear much about Cytoxan.     I am thankfully done with chemo.   Ironically, they had to lower my taxotere dose for liver toxicity but never talked about the Cytoxan.   I also never smoked, no lung conditions that I know of.   I was very hoarse but my cough was minimal, thankfully!!!!!!!     Hang in there all who are still in chemo.     Guess we want the nasty stuff to beat the cancer but jeeze. 

How are you feeling after 2 weeks of finishing? My 3rd trestment left me much more tired and weak. I hear it is cumulative. So, how was 4th treatment for you? I wish I were done! My CT scan showed nothing, but coughing a lot.

Thanks Cats, I was relieved. Now, to get through this next two weeks and we both go for our last one. So far, this one has kicked my butt. My cell count was not as good today as the previous 2. Just have to keep pushin

Thank you, Poppy. I was very relieved about the scsn. And, wow, I see after trestment 3, I am soooo much weaker and my blood counts were not up today like they were after a week in trestment 1 and 2. Just hsve to keep pushing through and get ready for number 4. I don't know what I would fo without the support of everyone on these boards. Tired and am going to bed.

Cats, hope you are getting through. I feel like you are my chemo sister since we started on the same day

Sugar8: Hope you're celebrating!!!!

Mysunshine: I am really feeling good after two weeks. I too was very worried about my 4th round. Marksgirl's posts regarding her 3&4 rounds were so helpful for me as I basically followed her exact results of hives about a week after my 3rd and 4th round. Have Benedryl on hand in case you experience that too.

That's also when my doc gave me Prilosec, so I started taking that every morning about a week after my 3rd round, which helped with my chest discomfort and possibly my coughing...also I forgot to mention that I usually sleep almost upright with my wedge pillow.

Definitely check with your doc when adding OTC meds and any supplements. Mine told me to avoid aspirin, but just the manufacturer's limit on the Tylenol. I only took 2 immediately after my Neulasta shot, about 3 pm, and then two again at bedtime, about 9 pm, with my Clariton. About a half an hour before bedtime, for about a week, I could feel it was time for my meds as my bones would start to ache just a little. I also drank a lot of water.

I'm glad your scan came back clear, but it can be frustrating when this Pandora's box keeps throwing us abnormality after abnormality. My 3rd one was more exhausting than the others, which really frustrated me. I had to work so hard to do nothing! (Even just to focus my eyes to read!) Both the last two rounds I found myself crying on the fourth day, which I really hadn't done since being diagnosed. I figured I deserved to cry and the next day I felt better.

Actually, my 4th one has been better than my 3rd because I knew how to deal with the hives and I had Marksgirl sending me such positive thoughts and leading the way with great energy.

You sound like a very strong person and so does catsrus...it's great you have each other and this site

Hugs and Happy Independence Day!

Samileko, .whst was the Prilosec for? I had to go to my general practioner today because, oh yes, something else, a sty on my eye. Anyway, now have eye drops that I hope helps that! Never ends! But, he did tell me that it is possible to hsve acid reflux and not feel it. He mentioned something, but I am on Flonase for now to see if that helps. Just so thankful the lung scan was clear! I need to recover from treatment 3 and get ready for number 4. This one has had me down more than the others for sure. Exhausted walking from the bedroom to the kitchen. Geezz

yum, MYSunshine,,,, can I come?

Acid Reflux is one of the leading causes of coughs

I finished TC on February 5th, 4 treatments.. and was then put on Letrizole, can anyone please tell me what kind of side effects you have been having and when they started? I have been experiencing achiness...after laying down or sitting down for long periods of time.. then getting up. Sometimes my had feels numb when I wake up... and my shoulder joint hurts but not sure if thats from exchange surgery and reconstruction. Its so hard wondering all the time if what you are feeling is from the drugs or if its something else... how do you ever know??

thinking positive, I also finished 4 rounds of TC on February 20. I am now on Letrozole. I am on my third month of the Letrozole. I also have shoulder joint pain, especially in my left shoulder, and standing up after a long sit is a little tough...but is doable. I have had a few hot flashes (not too many)....I take the Letrozole at night. My MO wants me to take it; she says it is the best AI for me. I don't mind it at all..especially if it does its job and keeps BC away! I had more hot flashes in the beginning (at night)....on wake up I would be soaked...but they have stopped. I am hopeful that my body is getting used to it and the SE will stay the way they are now or even get better. Our treatment looks very similar as does our diagnosis. Did you have oncotype?