Is anyone getting Cytoxan and Adriamycin?

Options
miknikmom
miknikmom Member Posts: 31
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

I am going to get my next treatment tomorrow that will be #3. I really feel tired and not myself. I look into the mirror and feel like I lost myself and when will I be back. I was scheduled to get TC 4x but almost died at 6 drips of the medication. They had me change to this different treatment. I go every 2 weeks for 4x's. I really don't want to go back. I feel very weird and I have a light cough and runny nose all the time. I had my ovaries removed and have hot flashes and night sweats all the time. My red blood count is lower than normal so they have me taking more iron. If anyone is having this treatment let me know how you are feeling. I am 46 and have had 6 surgeries in the last year and a half. One more to go to do the exchange to get the implants. I had a Double Mastectomy. I have breast cancer and ovarian cancer in my family. I am lucky that I was stage 1, no nodes, PR+ ER+, however, my Onco DX came back intermiediate mid range so that why I am doing chemo. I was not sure if the treatment I am getting is considered AC because when I looked it up it said AC is Adriamycin and Cyclophoshamide.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • TerryNY
    TerryNY Member Posts: 603
    edited July 2007
    Kiddlegirl, if you go to the "Going Through Chemotherapy" discussion, there are a bunch of ladies who are doing the AC (adriamycin and cytoxan) regimen, including me. Just look for the June 2007 group and jump right in.

    I'll have my last tx (of AC) on July 30th and I can't wait to get it over with.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • shrink
    shrink Member Posts: 936
    edited July 2007

    I am on the same treatment regimen as you are but every 3 weeks instead of every two. At least I have 2 weeks of feeling relatively well. My third treatment is tomorrow. I'll think of you. I do have ongoing wierdness and sweats though. After the 4th tx of Adriamycin and Cytoxin, I be getting Taxol. Wonder what the side effects will be. What an adventure! Who needed it? I'll be having a bi-lat mastectomy after chemo. At least yours is over with. Lots of luck tomorrow.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • booklady
    booklady Member Posts: 70
    edited July 2007
    KiddleGirl,

    Sorry to hear that you've had such a hard time. I just finished weeky AC. Biggest problem was the metallic taste, but I didn't get sick and was able to work everyday except the day of treatment (travel time mostly). I took neupogen shots so my counts stayed up. I had the cough and cold like symptoms every weekend (txd on wed) so sat & sun were down days that I used to rest up for the upcoming week. AC was manageable for me - definitely not as bad as I had expected. And I definitely got the head sweats big time.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • debkc
    debkc Member Posts: 14
    edited July 2007

    Hi ladies...just wandered into this thread...treatment and side-effects are of course different for everyone. But, if you are like me, AC was HELL ON EARTH and taxol was a piece of cake... I wish you all the best and send loving healing energy

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • roxy42
    roxy42 Member Posts: 495
    edited July 2007

    Hi I'm new here.I'm 42 years old.I just started that regimon of kemo on monday the 23rd of july.Its been 5 days and I have had some bad days.real tired cunfused.I have 3 more rounds of kemo befor my lumpectomy.Then 7 weeks radiation.I have a disabled daughter to take care of.Its been real hard.My Husband just retired from the navy of 20 years,He is a disabled vet.So our plate is a littile full.I need support through this tough time.I hope I posted in the right place.....Take Care god bless..roxy42

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • booklady
    booklady Member Posts: 70
    edited August 2007
    In my case, I did only those things that I had to do and everything else got pushed to the side. My first week on treatment, I slept a lot until I got meds changed.
    Hopefully you can find someone to help with your daughter for at least a few hours a day. Check with the volunteer agencies in your area or the local social services office
    Good luck and hope it gets easier for you.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • twink
    twink Member Posts: 1,574
    edited August 2007
    Roxy,
    You sure came to the right place for support. Treatment and surgery are tough on their own. Going through this while taking care of young or disabled children is even tougher. I was / am fortunate in that my kids are a little older and independent. My husband was /is extremely helpful as a caregiver. I was able to focus almost entirely on me...just getting through this lousy experience.
    I completed 4 DD AC and 4 DD taxotere on May 24th. Had a bilat mastectomy on June 6th and a full axillary node dissection (left side) on July 6th. The chemo shrunk the tumor in my left breast from 3.5 cm to 2 mm. I don't think the AC did much but the Taxotere kicked butt. I ended up with 3 positive nodes - micrometastases. No radiation at this point but I'm waiting for a second and final opinion on further treatment options (cancer is triple negative).

    Good luck to you Roxy. Come back often.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • liven42day
    liven42day Member Posts: 76
    edited August 2007
    Ladies,
    I know ourcircumstances are a bit different, but this A/C is kicking my behind. I had my first tx July 30, finally got my head off the pillow yesterday, trying to eat something but everything gives me diarhea, I am even taking Immodium AD. I have taken Emend the first three days along with Zofran every 6 hours, just bad nausea and quesy. Been living on crackers and water/ juice any ideas on keeping something in me? I am also a triple negative, thats the only reason I am doing chemo. Take care all Charlene in PA
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • myrenewal
    myrenewal Member Posts: 203
    edited August 2007

    Adriamycin also kicked my butt - I also had days when only thing I ate were soda crackers. My daughter would bring me mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese from the upscale restaurant she worked at. I would eat a couple spoonfuls every few hours if I could. I also could eat a good cheese ravioli, plain - no sauce. Good old canned chicken noodle soup. Plain scrambled eggs. I tried warmed ginger ale (don't ask, for some reason it soothed my stomach!). You need to find ginger ale that actually still has ginger in it, most are artificially flavored. I believe Hansens at Trader Joes was the one we found - not sure. Trader Joe's also had a ginger chew type of candy that had real ginger in it. Anything kind of bland with egg noodles (such as tettrazini (sp?), swedish meatballs, stroganoff). For two months I don't think I had a single vegetable or fruit, just could not tolerate it. Once I was done with the Adriamycin, though, my digestive system healed pretty quickly. Be well, it does get better!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Cynthia1962
    Cynthia1962 Member Posts: 1,424
    edited August 2007
    Hi Charlene,

    I remember those days and I feel for you! My suggestion is to eat/drink anything that sounds remotely appealing at the time. I barely ate the first few days after each tx. I could sometimes handle scrambled eggs or mashed potatoes. I sometimes could eat crackers and crescent rolls. I could only tolerate distilled water because it didn't have any taste. I took a lot of Ativan for the nausea. And, popsicles made with real fruit helped when I couldn't tolerate anything else.

    Good luck and I hope you start to feel better soon.

    Cynthia
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Curlylocks
    Curlylocks Member Posts: 1,060
    edited August 2007
    Kiddiegirl,

    Hang in there sister AC was tough for me, absolutely hated the way it made me feel---tired, tired tired! You only have two more treatments to go..and then you are on your way to start gaining your health and life back. There is light at the end of this long treatment tunnel. I had 8 treatments due to 3 positive nodes and a 4 cm tumour and hope that I never have to revisit the chemo road again.

    You can do this!!

    Your bc sister
    Michele
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories