Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013

Wow, Thunder! Yes, keep us informed. I have to eat! I am weak even with eating! I hope it works for you, but I bet very few of us could do this

Thanks for all your encouragement. I am finally finding some energy today and went out to do a little grocery shopping with DH. First time out in a week but now I need a nap :-)

8 days post final treatment. At least I can stay awake and walk around the house, but still so weak and really can't do much. Is this normal? Not as much bone pain this time, which is weird, considering I had a lot after treatment 2 and 3. Just have no energy and feel like crap. I hate to complain, but am soooooo tired of being sick. Before surgery back in April, I really felt great. Since then, awful. However, with all this said, I need to remember all this surgery and treatment has gotten rid of this Cancer. I sure hope so! Now, I will worry that the treatment enough. Do you think this? Ohhhhh, I am ranting.

my sunshine: I wonder too if my chemo will get rid of any cancer cells floating around my body. I think about it a lot now during my treatment. I hope after I finish chemo I can get on with my life and not always be thinking about cancer.

mysunshine4.....I worry every day as well. It's always in the back of my mind. I just keep saying to myself I am going to be okay. I had one node positive so it's a struggle to stay positive. I am on Fermara for the past five months and can only hope it's doing what it is supposed to. I am just starting to move on and do things ....life goes on and I want to make the most of it and enjoy everyday.

Thank you PoppyK. Things still going well, a little tired but that is about all.

Keep stretching Mysunshine!    It worked for me to try to workout, walk or stretch in the morning before I felt lousy!    The caffeine from 12 ounces of coffee 15 min before is thought to dull some pain and improve work outs (for the next 5 hours).    No more than that is recommended.    I think the weakness is neurological from the chemo and the tightness will persist so keep fighting it off - yoga, pilates, just hamstring and calf stretches.    Hang in there!!!!!    We are all with you. 

Waking up dizzy happened to me even before chemo. You can always call your MO, but you've been through a lot. It took me a long time to recover my strength.... something I'm still working on. Could the dizziness be from low blood sugar?

Also two weeks out from last chemo and I'm doing okay. My blood pressure was low after chemo, especially the last one. It seems to have normalized now. My energy level is good but not back to where it was. I've been tackling some household chores that were neglected during treatment (so I'm also getting some motivation back too!) but I have to take frequent breaks and just sit so everything takes a while. It's hot out which normally I would enjoy immensely but I find the heat saps my energy very quickly so sadly I haven't spent too much time outdoors, I'm enjoying the air-con! My mouth is still a little on the dry side but much better than it was. Taste is returning although lettuce and some other vegetables still take very bitter. I gained 5lbs while on chemo, mostly I'm sure due to the junk food I ate as it seemed to be only thing I could taste and enjoy. I'm anxious to get back to salads and vegetables. My digestive system was "off" during chemo (maybe the sudden influx of junk food!) - neither one thing or the other, just "off" - but that too seems to be returning to normal. My nails seem to be doing okay. I have two definite bands in them, one close to the cuticle and the over a little above that, it doesn't look like I'm going to lose any of them. I used Sally Hansen Nail Hardener all through chemo and wore cold mitts for the Taxotere infusion. My feet are doing fine and I do not seem to have any neuropathy. Too early for hair returning yet, I believe. I have what I think someone described as kiwi fuzz on my head. I still have my eyelashes. My eyebrows were always sparse and may have gone slightly sparser but not gone completely. My legs have a few hairs. I haven't shaved in over three months so definitely nothing has been growing.

I started Letrozole (generic Femara) last night so I am wondering what that will bring.

As I said at the beginning. I think I'm doing okay. Yes, I still worry about "it" returning but I try not to let it dominate me. I'm making plans for next year - my niece is getting married in the UK and I plan to be there. And I'm determined to be laying on a beach with a drink in my hand (complete with umbrella and fruit) before the year is out. I'd like it to be sooner rather than later but am waiting for my "out of country" travel insurance to be valid again following this adventure. They say I'm supposed to be stable on new medication and out of treatment for three months....ugh.... I'm going to investigate and see if there is any coverage I can buy that will allow me to travel sooner (the one that wants the 3 month period is part of my retirement package so I don't have to pay for that!).

Feel better soon, Mysunshine.

Hugs to Klanders - I've been thinking about you.

Good wishes go out to everyone else wherever you are in treatment.

Be sure to hydrate if you're dizzy. Lack of water can easily cause dizziness, especially in the heat or summer.

hi all

Is there anyone who got taxol with cytoxen insteadof taxotere

ThinkingPositive, I think it'a based on weight. I had gained weight and when the nurse weighed me she said I was still 'within the range' for my dosage. I don't know if it related to one orboth though.

Thank you, Cats! I am starting to feel better. Baby steps. I am doing little things too, but, like you, I have to sit down a lot. Dizziness is much better. I also think drugs are given according to your weight.

Cats, why did your MO put you on Femara instead of something else. I do not understand the criteria for the three main choices for us post-menopausal women? Can anyone help explain? I meet with my MO on Thursday, but would like to have a lot of information. I have looked up each and really do not know. I would like to know what other MO's say. Thank you!

Mysunshine, not sure why Femara. It is what I was expecting as my friend was on it. Feel kind of dumb now for not asking that question!

Suzanne, glad the infusion went well and I hope your side effects are minimal. Are you doing 4, 3 weeks apart? If you are then you are a quarter way through! Good luck to you.

My treatments are 3 weeks apart. I didn't ice my hands or feet last time. I actually hadn't heard about that. That on top of my caps would really make me a human popsicle. I am rinsing several times a day with salt/baking soda mixture in hopes to prevent mouth sores. So far my side effects have been manageable. I think the steroids have been keeping me up at night but last day for those were yesterday. Hopefully my sleep will improve. I feel a bit "off" at times but nothing too bad. I am just taking it day by day. I hope everyone is doing well. I try to remind myself everyday that "this too shall pass" and we will all get through this stronger and better. I am looking forward to all of this being behind me but for now, I just put one foot in front of the other.