1st TAC chemo down, 5 to go!

Welcome Virgo. I had TAC chemo in 2011. I had the impression it is very effective but I don't see many members here having it now.

Chemo is the hardest part of this ordeal but the best thing about TAC is that the treatment time is shorter than some other protocols. I just kept counting them off on the calendar and that kept me going.

I didn't have problems with the Neulasta and didn't have too many awful tines, but I wasn't working. Drink plenty of water in the days following treatment, eat small meals of whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it and have ginger handy to counter nausea.

My hair started to fall out on day 15 and I lost 90+% of it progressively. I didn't shave or cut it but used a hair net to prevent it falling everywhere.

This experience is temporary and you will have better times after it's over.

Keep in touch. This is a great place!

Virgo,

I started 6 rounds of TAC last October and I'm here to tell you that although it was no walk in the park you will get through it. I found that the fatigue was cumulative...each round took a little longer to get over and seemed to pack a bigger wallop than the previous ones. My worst lasting s/e was ankle and leg edema that began after round 5 and lasted for a several months after completion. My oncologist says this was the Taxotere and most people do not experience this side effect. Lucky me! The Neulasta bone pain actually hit me hardest the first couple of rounds and seemed to not be as bad in the latter rounds. Mine was in my knees and I would wrap an electric blanket around them and turn it on high. That seemed to provide a little relief. Just remember that hydration is extremely important. Drink, drink, drink.

My hair began to fall out about 2 weeks after the first round and I had to buzz it before the second round. My last treatment was February 2nd and I'm sitting here typing this with a ton of chemo curls covering my head. It is absolutely nothing like my original hair which was stick straight and actually a lot thinner than it is now. I guess that's one positive to come from chemo. Lol.

Saying a prayer for you that you have an easy and seemingly quick journey through chemo. Just remember that this too shall pass.

Bock

Hi, Virgo. I'm wishing you the best of luck on your next TAC, which might be tomorrow? I finished 6 rounds on 9/6/17. I had a unilateral mastectomy prior to starting chemo. I remember the Neulasta pain only lasting 24-48 hours for me. The worst time was the last treatment, but that was because my tissue expander for my reconstruction was fully expanded and it pressed on my rib cage.That was not pleasant since my bone pain was mainly in my shoulders, neck, and ribs! But the Neulasta worked very well for me - no problems with low WBC.

I was able to work throughout, just taking a few days off after each treatment. Cut yourself some slack when you need it and don't overdo it. TAC is a very difficult but highly effective regimen. My oncologist told me that she wanted me to do TAC since I am younger (even though I'm 54!) and because of the triple-negative diagnosis. It's not recommended for older patients since it is so tough. She felt like throwing all three drugs at the cancer at once is more effective than dividing them up as AC, then T. I just want to do whatever I can to be sure this cancer is gone!

Just take it one day at a time! I found that planning fun things to do the weekend before my chemo got me through. I usually felt pretty good at that time and even had an appetite.

Best of luck to you as you continue with your chemo, surgery, and radiation

I also had TAC July through November of last year and for me I needed a full week to regain my strength and for my blood counts to get back up before I could go back to functioning. I worked freelance so had some flexibility. You get really "good" at managing chemo, something you never wanted to be an expert at. There's a lot of normal in between all of that too. I hope the next five go well and you aren't too uncomfortable.