Just Diagnosed - I don't think I can do this

Hi ecehamm. I think your Oncologist's comment that the Cytoxan/Taxotere chemo combo is "just mild" is a little blasé. Chemo drugs are very powerful. We are all unique and every chemo affects everyone differently. I had 4 rounds of this chemo regime (no port) and didn't find it easy at all but many patients do. Fortunately I wasn't working. I wouldn't have been able to.

The first few days I was still "up" from the steroids. I found the middle week was the most difficult for me. After my first infusion my neutrophils bottomed out at 0.0 and I was hospitalised for 4 days. I had absolutely no ability to fight infection, developed Febrile Neutropenia and required IV antibiotics. Are you having Neulasta injections the day after each treatment?

By day 17 post first infusion I had lost the majority of my hair. I did buzz it on day 13 and felt more comfortable. Did your Oncologist warn you that a small percentage of patients who have Taxotere remain permanently bald? It's something you should be aware of so you can make an informed decision.

After chemo number 2 I again needed antibiotics but wasn't admitted to hospital. Nausea was well controlled and I never once vomited. Stay ahead of nausea and take your meds before you need them. My taste was so "off" that I had trouble eating much and was very weak. I could barely walk to the letter box and taking a shower just exhausted me. I had no real issues with constipation or diarrhoea during any of my chemo treatments.

After infusion 3 I ended up at the Emergency Room. Talked my way out of being admitted and was sent home with penicillin and strict instructions to return if my fever didn't subside. Fortunately it did. You need to monitor your temperature very closely.

Chemo 3 also gifted me an extravasation (leakage of chemo fluids into the tissue) but since you are having a port this won't be an issue.

Round 4 was my "best" though I couldn't say I felt good. I think knowing it was the last gave me a mental and moral boost.

Be sure to ice your fingers and toes during the Taxotere infusion to help prevent neuropathy.

Painting your nails a very dark colour may also help protect the nail bed during chemo. Nail damage seems quite common.

Look after your mouth. Oral care is super important. Brush regularly and rinse your mouth frequently to prevent mouth sores.

My breast nurse gave me a "recipe" to make my own mouthwash. It was inexpensive and worked well.

And drink, drink, drink. You need to be very well hydrated. I couldn't drink water. It just tasted so, so salty. Milk based drinks worked for me but may not for you.

I'm really sorry that you have been having such a tough time. Have you spoken to your Dr about your depression? You may need to take something to help out. At least in the short term.

No chemo is easy but it's doable. Your children need you; and you them.

Hoping you see some "light" soon.

Sending gentle hugs, Donna.

PS: Feel free to private message me anytime.

Hello Kgonz, I am so sorry you had to find us but there are many women and men here who understand and will support you. In the beginning I had many many tests just to get diagnosed. Waiting for results and for the next test was the hardest part. Once you and your doctor know what you are dealing with you can get a treatment plan in place and you will feel better.

The MRI isn't painful, but some find it uncomfortable. You lie on your stomach and have to be still. If they think your nodes are swollen they may want to do a needle aspiration (draw fluid out of the node for testing). It's not too hard either. I have 2 + nodes that were identified this way, and am doing neoadjuvant chemo (before surgery) in the hopes we can blast it out that way.

I think it's easiest if you can take it one day at a time, one test at a time, and get to know some folks on these boards here. You are not alone. Please keep us posted on your progress.

ecehamm, so sorry you are in this position. I did FEC-D with my last dose to be in a couple weeks. So it was FEC for 4 cycles and D for 4. The C and D in mine are cytoxan and taxotere. I really hope that you don't find your treatments too terrible, but I agree with smurfette, your dr should not downplay it.

Do check with your clinic whether they allow icing for fingers and toes if you wish, some don't. It's been found that it does not do anything to prevent neuropathy (though some swear it does) but is more actually to prevent the nail changes that come with Taxotere. When I asked about icing, my onco nurse said that they used to do it there, but that they found it only delayed nail changes and did not prevent them. I made the choice to just paint them super dark and take my chances rather than sit with my hands and feet freezing during infusion.

For me, the mouth issues were the worst thing to deal with during tax. I have gotten thrush each time although the magic mouthwash I have helps. And the taste changes, water just tastes like liquid salt to me too! I've been drinking a lot of iced loose leaf teas and G2.

I wish you all the best and minimal side effects

Ecehamm, whilst chemo is not the same for everybody, I think you mostly hear the worst on this forum because whenever I have issues, I come here to seek advice. I did TCX4 and it was relatively uneventful. I did take a lot of precautions such as icing my fingers and toes, painted my nails a cool navy, took supplements, claritin etc. I followed the tips given on the chemo thread. Bottom line, I lost about 60% of my hair, 20% of my eyelashes and brows, I did not lose any nails or did they turn color, did not lose my taste buds till the last infusion, a few aches and pain but minimally, I took only half the steroids ( so I did not experience as much side effects from that), I did not take any nausea meds after the first round ( bec. I didn't have nausea). I moved house twice during chemo, ran 3 times a week ( about 4 miles each time) through the 3rd infusion, walked 18 holes of golf every Saturday, did out of town college visits with my daughter, and went back to work after 5 weeks post chemo. However, like everyone, I was petrified at the beginning. Thank God, my fears about chemo did not pan out. Oh, and btw, my hair is growing back thick and nice.

I wish you a good chemo journey and hope it is as uneventful as mine. Keep faith.