Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- May 2017

Hi

Finished 4/4 TC w/ Nuelesta and Chemo Cold caps on Aug 7. Its now been 14 days post and muscles are very sore and tight and lots of arm, left leg and ankle swelling! Is anyone else having swelling? Dr. Ruled out blood clot and we are trying low does of LASIX but no relief yet- also very tired body wise not enough to sleep but just rest. Good news kept 80% of hair with the CCC! Walking for 35-40 min everyday too?

So glad this is over- but want to feel better!! Tips and advise appreciated!!! This round was worse of all- I guess it all added up!.

Finished my chemo 5 weeks ago and this is my 3rd week of radiation therapy. So far so good, it's usually pretty quick and they play my favorite playlist from Spotify for me. I just use the cream my doctor gave me for now but if the skin starts to get red or irritated, I may try Aloe or something else.

Last week, I felt pain in my rib cage and felt this vertical line under my skin and panicked. It brought me back to when I felt the lump in my breast. Turned out, it is an after-effect of surgery called "Cording" or "Auxiliary Web Syndrome." some people get it in their underarm where lymph nodes were taken out. It's basically a swollen, inflated blood vessel and the doctor told me to put a warm compress and take ibuprofen as needed until it goes away eventually.

VLevic & Suthrngrl I'm still suffering from the post chemo muscle pain, too. I had an ultrasound done for my calves before and it was negative for blood clots. And I had the same thing done for my entire legs too because my thighs also started hurting, but it was negative as well. The pain and soreness just won't go away. Swelling has calmed down though. Oncology massage, foot massage, stretching, Motrin, heat/cold pack all help but temporarily. I hope it goes away soon. I have hard time walking up the hill and stairways. It even hurts when I sit and get up. I try not to make noise from the pain in public, I'd really sound like an elderly lady.

LeesaD I used PCC but still lost about 90% of my hair. It still had a length for ponytail or bun but got miserably thin. I cut off the longer part because it was getting in the way of scarf and wig. I can see my hair very slowly started growing, just mostly gray hair. I bought Toppik in medium brown online and plan to try it out sometime soon to see if it makes my hair look any better. I've gotten used to wearing scarves and wigs, got a whole bunch of them. But I can't wait for my hair to grow back just like everyone else here. I do realize I have to be patient. I'm not taking any supplement following my doctors' advice.

Lrwells50 - what does help with swelling? How are you now?? I am 20 days PFC or almost 4 weeks finished...

I've been going to LE therapist, tried the LASIX (didn't work but was only 20mg daily) - resting with legs up- watching salt- and NOTHING is working. Drink over 72 oz. of water daily.

Today right hand puffed out - and as usual behind both knees, left ankle and right arm (more than left) are still thick and tight.

Need to start anti estrogen soon but afraid to add those side effects to these! Plus will be plane traveling in 2 weeks and yes will wear compression on all but so dated that too will cause more issues...

Suthrngrl, I don't know what helps the swelling. I'm 5 weeks PFC, and strangely my feet are better, but my ankles thru my knees are still swollen. The MO said walking would help, but to put my feet up afterward. I haven't had any arm swelling that I've noticed, other than my fingers off and on, and that would happen before chemo. My legs are better when I get up in the morning, but that makes sense. Can't spend weeks in bed, though

Hi! I'm not sure how you're body is going to react with chemo and then with Neulasta on the second time. In my experience, I feel like the more chemo I did, the worst feeling I get, particularly with fatigue. Some people feel differently though so if you feel like going to the day trip, you can go just make sure that you don't drive and have meds handy. Most of us are done with our chemo and I'm glad that you found this thread helpful. Are you using cold caps? Good luck and stay strong!

Hi everyone.

I start chemo (TCx4) on Wednesday. Do any of you take Zofran for nausea. My NP said she's giving me the script to take it "as needed" but I'm wondering if I should take it ahead of time to prevent nausea from occurring at all. Would love to hear your personal experiences on this - am really dreading SEs.

Thanks.

Hi everyone, I thought I would join even though I am 2 treatments in. I think it's nice to chat with others on the same regimen. I will be totally honest ... I had zero and I mean zero side effects with the first 2 treatments. Doesn't mean the next 2 will go this smoothly and I will be thankful for the 2 good ones I did have if that's the case. If I wasn't bald I would think they gave me water! In a nut shell, I take the steroids twice a day the day b4 and day after chemo. Infusion day I get an IV drip of steroid and anti-nausea med. I have needed nothing at home for nausea. Slightly constipated and take a colace for that. No diarrhea. I go in for neulasta shot the day after. I take claritin 2 days b4 chemo and continue for a week after chemo. No metal taste, great appetite. I do drink 6-16 ounce waters starting the day b4 chemo for about 4 days then taper off a bit. Treatments are Monday and I go back to work on Thursdays. Walk 3 miles a day even on chemo day. I did not do cold caps. Had my hair till day 23. I do hear that eyelashes and eyebrows fall out weeks after treatment over and some have nail issues. Not looking forward to that. I do not ice my nails so I guess I will see what happens once I'm through. I was told to take anti nausea med at first "twinge" of not feeling well and to try to snack frequently. I feel fortunate to have done so well and don't really know why. I just wanted you to know that it can happen. Be hopeful you will do well too and we all can have this behind us soon.

Hi ClaireCo!

My experience was not as easy as DebAL, but not too bad nonetheless. I actually received 6TC-- so 50% more, and it was tolerable to the end. I may have taken 1 zofran pill, but I was also given compazine which I was told was lighter and fewer SE (i.e. Constipation), so I probably took one of those the evening of each infusion and would be fine next day. I used "Heather's tummy powder" (available on Amazon) to keep my system regular and never dealt with C or D. My taste buds were fine unless I ate spicy foods that first week after infusion. If I did, it would give me a rawness in my mouth. I did ice fingers and toes using simple cups and ziplocks-- no fancy mits....but mostly because I had 6 instead of 4, so thought wise, and I have no issues. I did not receive Neulasta shot. Told my doc I wanted to see if my body could rebound on its own first, and when it couldn't I would take the shot....never needed them. I remember my stomach gurgling a lot the first couple of days, and feeling an overall sense of malaise, but nothing major. I continued walking just about every day, but didn't do the more intense workouts I was accustomed to...mainly because I stayed out of the germy winter gym. I am 47 and have 2 teenage children....I received chemo before...25 years ago for lymphoma, and remember that regimen being a lot worse.

You have got this! Give your body rest when it needs it! Find strength in your faith and keep a positive attitude! Let family and friends love on you every day! 4 treatments will be done before you know it! Best wishes, and happy to help with any other questions regarding TC. Go Girl! 💪🏼🦋🙏🏻😁

Clareco, how are you feeling?

ClareCo, I am sorry you had to endure those side effects. I did not have a fever, so I'm not much help there, but I did have the bone/muscle pain with each chemo. Did you take anything for the bone/muscle ache? My MO said no Nsaids, so I started with Tylenol, but ended up taking Norco during the very painful days. A daily walk helped. I hope you can find relief on your next go round.

Funny you should ask about fever. We’re in the ER right now. They’re running labs and cultures and then we’ll see.

Fever is about 101.6. Chills and pain.

One week out from first TC infusion.

Gosh, I hate hearing about you all having fevers and ending up in hospital-- which is the smartest place to go! I definitely had weird chills in my body post infusion....ususally lasted a day or two, but never broke into fever. I know allergic reactions run high with the drug that is the carrier of the Taxotere, and that is why they give the first infusion slower and why there is so much steroids given. Please report back with what you learn and keep us posted on how you all are doing. Sending hugs and healing vibes!

(I received 6 TC from Oct 18 2017- Jan 30 2018

Fevers are quite common with Taxotere. Not sure why. I had higher than normal temperatures usually from day 7 to day 12 every time. I did have to go to emerge the first time when my temp was 38 C (100.4 F). They never found anything in the blood work to indicate why it went up. I felt fine. The only way I knew my temperature was up was by taking it. But they drill it into you to go to emerge right away with a temperature over 38 for over an hour as a precaution. After that first time I decided that if I felt okay otherwise I'd just wait and see. Most of the time it came back down if I took off my clothes and laid under the fan. Tylenol helped as well.

For the first five days I had muscle and joint pain but it eased up after that. Just keep moving!

The first round was the worst, after that I knew what to expect and knew what to do.

It's definitely no fun but you can do it.

Engine 104: The funny thing for me being in the emerge is when the doctor came back to give the results of the blood work. He was shocked and asked if I was on something that increased my WBC count because it was at 21. I had to educate him on Neulasta shots and chemo. I had to give myself the shot within 24 hours after each treatment. They didn't give me any antibiotics or meds because they couldn't find anything in the blood work and by that time the fever had gone under the 38. You definitely need to go because you just never know.

Hang in there, you can do this!

Well it sounds like everybody's fevers are going back down, thank goodness! Sending recovery vibes to all!