Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013

I had my first TC treatment today. I'm doing okay. Kind of tired and unable to focus on much. I get the neulasta shot tomorrow and am taking Clariton and will take some pain meds. I bought a 75 Oz water jug and keep telling myself to drink up.

my oncotype was a 23 I believe. So right in the middle. I will start tamoxifen after as well. Im 29 so I went thru egg harvesting last week. I don't have to have radiation though. Had a bilateral masetcomy end of October.

I wish it wasn't winter so I could go on some walks. But can hopefully go use a treadmill to get up and about.

Good luck Nebraska917. In the week since I've found them, these ladies have been a huge source of help and information and support!

Try TLC Kristi, it's part of the American Cancer Society. They have lots of stuff

Hi Brithael! I'll be getting my 2nd TX that same week, so we'll do it together! For me, my approach is to take it one day at a time. If I try to spend any time thinking about how I'm going to feel over the next few months, it's overwhelming. I draw comfort and strength from the ladies here who walked this path in front of me and shared their experience. All of it, the anger, humor, pain, and triumph, give me the courage that we have this, together!

Btw, I didn't know you could get a prescription for a wig! That's interesting to know!

Kristi

gakristi: There is a woman on the September 2015 chemo board, Southern Charm, who had some great looking halos. You could PM her to ask where she got them, or go through that thread. She's a sweetheart. I have to say, however, that I did't like my halo and never used it more than for quick walks around the neighborhood: it itched!!! I am not sure it has any advantage over a wig, and the wigs are more versatile. Just my opinion, however...

Hugs,

Octogirl

Things are going well as I wrap up the last few days of the first 3 weeks (only 3 more treatments to go!!). My WBC has finally begun to rebound nicely and will be back in good shape in time for treatment 2 next week (Wednesday)! I did choose a wig and have now shaved my head as well. The hair started coming out in large quantities exactly 14 days after treatment 1. I am glad I had already cut it short just the weekend before. It made it MUCH less traumatic! So - here is the wig I went with:

you look great gakristi, love the wig and you look so comfortable in it, which is a good thing. Great smile!! 😀

Take care and be well.

You'll be amazed at how uneventful it will be. (Yay). I was scared, too. They'll start the benedryl and saline on a slow drip for an hour before treatment, and they will tell you when you start the chemo drugs. I'm telling you this because I was all worried about SE, and my nurse finally said, "We haven't started your meds yet." Haha. Drink LOTS of cold water when the Taxotere infusion starts. I had fewer SE when I drank more water. They probably told you to drink a gallon a day, and it really DOES help. My nurse said that you know you're doing well if you drink so much that you're using the restroom every hour during treatment. Good luck! I start my Tamoxifen tomorrow.

I usually take my computer, my iPhone and/or a book or magazines. There's a tv for distraction. I bring snacks, sometimes a sandwich, fruit and water and juice. Oh and wear something loose, so they can access your port.

My first time, I expected to have SE's during infusion. It's really uneventful. Did your dr. Prescribe steroids? I start mine the day before. Don't expect to sleep through the night the first few days. If you get Neulasta take a Claritin the day before, the day of and the day after. My SE's didn't really hit until 3 days later.

Of course, everyone is different.Good luck!

I hope today goes very smoothly for you Brithael. Just like these ladies have said, my first treatment was very uneventful. I didn't even feel anything as the IV started or later when we switched from the saline / benadryl to the chemo. To keep me occupied, I carried my laptop and a movie, which I watched using my headphones the entire time. Remember, your doctor and nurses are pro's at this. They do it all the time and they monitor you very closely. The first time usually takes a bit longer because they go slower to make sure you aren't going to have any reactions. I did take some snacks to munch on when I got hungry, things like chewy granola bars, little bags of mini Nilla wafers, Cheezit's, etc., as well as some hard candy.

Good luck!!

I go in this Wednesday for treatment 2. We are going to do the Neulasta this time. When I asked him about the bone / body aches, he said that is usually caused by the production of WBC running out of room in the bone (?) and with the way my count dropped so low without the Neulasta, it may not affect me that badly? Advice? Should I still take the Claritin?

Last day of chemo today. Im so tired. Glad im only doing 4 rounds! It hasn't been awful, despite I had to go to the ER twice for fever (one time I was septic--that was no fun).

I'll be having a BMX sometime late-Jan and an oopherectomy some time after our cruise in May. And i reslly need a knee replacement. This is my year of surgey.

Britheal - How was it?

Mine bottomed out as well Smurfette. I didn't get a copy of the report from the blood work on day 7 (which is when he told me to start taking my Cipro and wearing the mask if I went out), but on day 12, my neutrophils were 100. By day 15 (Christmas Eve), they were back up to 1200 (Yay!).

Kristi

So glad to hear things went so well for you Brithael!

After my 2nd treatment on 12/30, I continue to do great. I haven't even had the horrible itching that I had last time. I have had very minimal effects from the Neulasta and it's doing it's job well. Because of how well I've responded to the Neulasta, I even get to forgo the Day 8 blood work for the last 2 treatments coming up (Yay!).

I have had another wrinkle that came up this time though. It seems the treatments have triggered early menopause. My medical oncologist said things may return to normal after treatment (or may not). At my age (45) it can go either way. All in all, I'm okay with that. My personal summers haven't been too bad. Where I'm having issues is trying to get some sleep. I have some insomnia and when I do sleep, I'm frequently plagued by bad dreams. Any advice?