Cytoxan and Taxotere ?

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  • emg326
    emg326 Member Posts: 102
    edited October 2007

    Karen,

    The hair thing is hard, but I'm kind of used to it now. I let me kids buzz it off for me. At first, my daughter didn't like it and would make me put something on. Now, it's no big deal. It feels good when my husband rubs it. He has never had a problem with it and is incredibly supportive.

    Harley,

    Congrats on your last tx. I had #3 yesterday, and my last will be on the 29th. I'm dragging today and probably will be the rest of the week. Had Neulasta this afternoon and hopefully won't have any problems with it.

    Hang in there everyboday. We'll get there!

    Eve

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  • Urbie
    Urbie Member Posts: 154
    edited October 2007

    Great Harley - You are done!  Must feel very, very good.  Congratulations!!!

    May big day....  Today I actually was able to get my ps to schedule my exchange surgery for December 21!  I still have 3 tx to go, last one on December 3, but I really needed him to see the financial reasons for getting this done in 2007 and HE DID!  I am so happy.  I had another 100cc injected into my tissue expanders today so I am at 400cc.  My end goal is around 500 and now I have lots of time to get that done.  He says that he wants one month from last fill to exchange, so I can do that.

    So, I keep telling myself that this will all be over by Christmas....  except for the nipples.  Funny, my 5 year old keeps asking me when I will get nipples :o)    Prayers to you all......

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited October 2007

    Laurie,


    I think the reconstruction will be harder than the mast. was...  I don't know why, but I just think it will be...

    Maybe because I will have to get the fills every couple of weeks, and then stretch my skin, to make room for all that stuff... it can't help but hurt...  but who knows?  All the rest has gone fairly easily, so I'll just keep praying, and everything will be just fine!

    BTW, my last tx was not so good... first, my friend who did my bloodwork had trouble getting it to work... usually, ShaNa gets it in the FIRST STICK!  This time, it took TWO!  It hurt!  OUCH!

    Then, the first nurse who tried to get my IV started and stopped because I was SO SCARED, at my very 1st tx, decided that she was going to do it again.  She tried ONE TIME, and I was SO FRIGHTENED, that she got Crystal again.  Crystal is another one who is very good, and can usually get it in the first try.  This time, it took THREE STICKS!  OUCH!  She ran the IV drip very slowly, so we didn't have any problems, but it DID take all day! 

    So, all is well...

    Thanks for all the support!!  

    I'll be thinking of you on Oct. 17th!  Good Luck!  I'll be praying that it goes smoothly!



    Hugs,

    Harley

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  • Gillkath
    Gillkath Member Posts: 149
    edited October 2007

    Hi Harley,

    You must have felt like a pin cushion?  But you are done and won't have to go through that any more.

    I also think that you will do fine during the reconstruction part of your surgery.  With my mastectomy and tissue expander surgery, I felt well very quickly and I have found that the expansions haven't really bothered me very much.  (Keep in mind that I am an A cup so I haven't had very many fillups).  I also only had one breast that I was dealing with. 

    I hope you are doing well with your tx side effects.  Have a good day.

    Laurie

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  • Gillkath
    Gillkath Member Posts: 149
    edited October 2007

    Hi Urbie,

    That is great that your doctor scheduled your exchange surgery.  I will be having mine in December, too.  I don't have a date yet but will let you know.  I'm thinking it will be at the beginning of the month of December, too.  My PS told me that the exchange surgery will only be about an hour or so.  I just can't wait to get all of this behind me, as I'm sure all of you feel the same way.

    That's funny about your 5 year old wondering about your nipple.  I haven't decided yet about whether I will do the nipple tattoo yet.  I just have this fear in the back of my head about my remaining breast (silly, I know) and that if I tattoo my reconstructed breast and something shows up in the good breast, the nipples will be off ---

    Boy, cancer sure changes your thought processes, doesn't it?  If you had told me last year that I would be worring about silly things like nipple alignment and fillups and chemo ..... I would never have believed it!

    Have a good day.

    Laurie

    PS  --- Do any of you ladies attend a support group for breast cancer patients?  It is something that I am contemplating but was just curious if any of you guys attend one.

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited October 2007

    Eve,

    I just had my Neulasta shot this morning, and I am SO tired!!  Two days in a row, with early appts.!! 

    Good Luck with your last tx, on Oct. 29th!  I'll be thinking of you, and praying that all goes well!

    Hugs

    Harley

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited October 2007

    Urbie,

    Glad that you can get your exchange done in December! 

    I won't be getting an exchange... I am using the Becker permanent expander & implant all in one.  That should make it easier. 

    Funny how your daughter was asking about your nipples!  My dh hates the word "nipples", but we've been saying it since this all started.  I even asked my surgeons before my bi-lateral mast., on May 2nd, while I was in PRE-OP, or maybe on the way to the OR, I told them....  We won't need the ps, because I am going to use my husbands nipple!  They laughed, and I immediately went under the effects of the anesthesia!  My surgeon tells me that they will NEVER forget me!!!

    Good Luck to you!  I'll be following your progress on these boards...

    Well, I'm kind of tired, so I  will go for now...


    Hugs

    Harley 

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited October 2007

    Laurie,

    I am small also... I think I may be going a little bigger with my reconstruction... maybe a BIG B or a SMALL C...  Others have warned me that they will shrink, so keep that in mind...

    I am also dealing with a lymphedema issue, and hope to have no more problems from my reconstruction... 

    Take care...  Keep in touch!  I'll keep checking the boards for your posts...

    Good Luck!

    Hugs,

    Harley

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  • Barbeqrn
    Barbeqrn Member Posts: 200
    edited October 2007

    Harley,



    Wouldn't you know the last one would be the worse in terms of needles???? YUCK! I have a port so I am luck and in now rush to have it removed until everything seems good. Amazing how many breast cancer stories are in the magizines during Breast cancer month, usually stories of survival, so I feel much better about things.



    Laurie and Urbie, hope all is well for you . We will all get through this nasty chemo and be glad that we did it!

    Barb

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  • joanne_elizabeth
    joanne_elizabeth Member Posts: 499
    edited October 2007

    This crap doesnt work they are now saying?

    http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/10/america/NA-MED-US-Breast-Cancer-Chemo.php

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited October 2007

    Barb,

    Yes, I figured the last tx would be the hardest, in terms of finding a vein, because the 3rd one, the nurse told me that if I had to get SIX txs, it wouldn't have been possible without a port!! 

    A man was getting chemo at my last tx, and he was kind of feeling sorry for me, while they struggled to get the IV started... he said that he had trouble with his first tx, so I guess that is why he got a port... 

    I saw a note at my onc's office, and it said that they will do blood draws thru the veins, NOT THE PORT!!, so I guess my port wouldn't have been as much help as I had originally thought...

    Yes, you will ALL make it thru your chemos!!  If I can do it, so can you!!  I am the biggest chicken, so I know you will ALL be fine!!

    I'll try to keep checking the boards for all your updates... right now, I am SO tired!!  These txs REALLY ARE CUMULATIVE!!

    Good Luck!

    Harley

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  • Barbeqrn
    Barbeqrn Member Posts: 200
    edited October 2007

    Harley,



    You are brave and have an amazing strength about you which I think people here see and just feel better talking with you! I am soooo tired too. I have half a treatment left andhopeful will strat to feel less tired.

    For some reason, I thought I would only get tired if I became anemic. So much for that theory...



    Take care of yourself! Barb

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited October 2007

    Barb,

    You have HOW many treatments left?...  

    Oh, you are SO SWEET!  I think ALL the women here are AMAZING!  You have all strengthened me so I could get through this... 

    Yes, the effects are cumulative!  After my 3rd, I was also  very tired!  But this is even more tiring! 

    WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS!!!  WE ARE STRONG!!  WE ARE WOMEN! 

    Hugs,

    Harley

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  • lorimar
    lorimar Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2007

    Have had terrible headache every day since 1st Chemo 9 days ago of Adriamycin/Cytoxin.  Take Fiorinal but so much caffeine in it can't take at night.  Also, was suggested by Dr. to try Vicadin, but not really working for headache = helped with bone pain.  Also, day after, had Neulasta shot and lymph nodes under neck, shoulders, under arms swelled up. 7 hours in hospital.  Dr. wants to try it again next week.  Am dreading it.  Any help with headaches???

    lorimar

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  • TC_Trial_2007
    TC_Trial_2007 Member Posts: 2
    edited October 2007

    I am participating in the TC (Taxotere + Cytoxan) Trial Group

    Am I the only one who has awful bone pain from Taxotere + Cytoxan  (TC chemo)? The pain is a nonstop ache that went away on day eight of first treatment on September 12. My second treatment was on October 3rd and I still have the bone pain. I am worried about my future treatments if I feel this bad from treatment #2.  Nothing seems to take away the pain but Aleve dulls it only a little. If I did not have the bone pain the chemo would be a breeze. What else can I expect? Any suggestions to help? I take a multivitamin every day. Try to walk 2 miles a day.

    FYI...My hair fell out on day 13 after 1st treatment.

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  • Gillkath
    Gillkath Member Posts: 149
    edited October 2007

    Hi Lorimar ---

    After my tx of taxoter/cytoxan, on probably the second to third day after, my lymph nodes in my neck and armpits hurt really badly.  I goes away after a day or so.  Is this what happened to you?  I also get the Neulasta shot, but I think the lymph pain is from the taxotere?

    I do believe, though, that the Neulasta shot can cause a reaction of a horrible headache.  You should let you doctor know of the headache -- a friend of mine went through horrible migraine-like headaches after the Neulasta.  Her doctor determined that it was a reaction to the Neulasta.

    TC  Trial 2007 -- I too suffer from the most horrible bone pain after my TC treatments.  I believe, though, this is worsend by the Neulasta shot that I receive.  Do you receive the Neulasta shot after your tx?  If you do, I have been told that Clariton will help with the pain and I plan on taking that on my next tx which is Thursday, October 17. 

    Glad to hear from both of you ladies ---

    Laurie

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  • TC_Trial_2007
    TC_Trial_2007 Member Posts: 2
    edited October 2007

    No, I did not receive the Neulasta shot. My blood count was down last time and my doctor wanted to see if it would be higher this time duing labs. I told him I do not want the shot as I do not want to add to the bone pain that Neulasta brings. If I have to get Neulasta I will try Clariton.  Thanks for the tip. 

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  • elliegurl
    elliegurl Member Posts: 10
    edited October 2007

    I had lumpectomy for IDC, grade 1, 1.9 cm, neg nodes, stage 1, er and pr+, her2- and premenopausal.  My oncologist with 3 second opinions recommended 4 cycles of TC every 21 days.  Decadron 8mg 2x/day given day before, day of, day after chemotherapy to prevent fluid retention from Taxotere.  Taxotere recommended over Adriamycin due to its cardiac side effects.  The Taxotere's neutropenia peaks at 7-10 days post treatment so this is why Neupogen is given to prevent an infection.  I have completed two cycles and I found that the Zofran for nausea caused constipation so I didn't take  it the 2nd time and the constipation was better.

    Prozac can interefere with Tamoxifen/Effexor is better if needed

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  • elliegurl
    elliegurl Member Posts: 10
    edited October 2007

    ask your oncologist about using Aleve because it can cause problems with your blood counts.  Tylenol may be better.

    I thought the bone and muscle pain was less with my 2nd TC treatment

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  • love2canter
    love2canter Member Posts: 5
    edited November 2007

    Hi,

    I'm wondering if anyone has a solution for night time neuropathy from Taxotere?   It causes my right leg and foot to go so numb that it wakes me up about 5:00 am, and I really have to struggle for a few minutes to get my foot to move at all.  Then I can't go back to sleep because it doesn't return to normal until I get up and moving.

    Also, does anyone else have triple neg bc?  I'm curious what kind of treatment other women got with the triple neg as it seems to be very uncommon and after web-surfing it doesn't seem that the research community has focused much attention on it.  

    My bc was diagnosed last February.  I had two tumors in one breast.  It is  negative on both est/prog as well as Her2/neu.  (Kind of - with the more detailed FISH test I came out at 2.07 on Her2/neu and the cutoff for positive is 2.0 - but most positives are much higher, so I was treated as negative).  I had zero positive lymph nodes - yea!

    I had double mastectomy and lat flap reconstruction with expanders in April (I was small enough that taking two tumors out with lumpectomy would not leave anything recognizable as a breast and the other I opted to remove to eliminate risk and improve symmetry). 

    Then I had four rounds of C/T three weeks apart from May to July.  I felt really great during #2 and #4, but with #1 and #3 I developed horrible diarrhea and high fever, ending up in the hospital for 3 days the second time.  No source of infection was ever found, but my WBC was down to 0.4.  So, I had neupagen in the hospital (caused severe headaches) and Neulasta after#4. 

    Then, because they found some cancer cells in the margin of one of the tumors, in the muscle, they recommended radiation as well.  I hated doing that, but did - 5 weeks with IMRT.  It's been about 5-6 weeks since that's finished and I still have an obvious difference in skin color, and ithe left breast is very slightly smaller than the right.  Does anybody know if the color goes completely back to normal?  Does anybody know if the skin continues shrinking beyond this time frame?  I'm curious because my ps said he doesn't want to do the exchange until 4-6 months after radiation and I REALLY want it done before the end of the year - financial reasons, plus these expanders as SOOOO uncomfortable.  They are so wide that my armpits make spontaneous fart noises when they are wet.  What fun in the shower....  And they itch (inside).

    So, I'm about 4 months post chemo and I have the numb foot, plus tinnitus in one ear and deformed fingernails (anybody else have that and does it grow out)?  Hair is growing back slowly.  Not sure if I'm in menopause or not. Periods have ceased but I haven't had night sweats (except when I got the neupagen in the hospital) or other signs of it.  My arthritis has also gotten much worse.  Any time I stay in one position for more than 5 minutes I get so stiff and have to "warm up" all over again.

    I'm all done - have been pronouced "disgustingly healthy" by my oncologist and am extremely happy to be alive, but certainly not feeling "disgustingly healthy"  :)

    Oh, also, my onc said studies show that exercise helps prevent Her2/neu negative from growing.  Anybody else know about that?  (Curious, then, how it grew as I have always been an exercise nut and am wondering if that means I need to do MORE exercise)

    I am fascinated to read everybody's stories and admire all of you who have posted (not that I read all 529) for your strength and positive attitudes!   I pray nightly for all bc patients!

    It seems that I'm still full of questions, but the ones I'm most curious about would be the numb foot, whether the radiation impact to my skin is done or will continue to worsen, and the deformed fingernails (they have a weird, annoying sensation).   Sorry to be so lengthy!!

    Nora 

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  • love2canter
    love2canter Member Posts: 5
    edited November 2007

    P.S.  I didn't get any headaches except from the neupogen and the Neulasta, but I do know that NOTHING made them go away but time.

    Nora 

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  • Methusala
    Methusala Member Posts: 285
    edited November 2007

    I am C&T

    the adromycian (sp?) made me too sick.  I wasn't going to do any more chemo, but they asked me to try C&T every 3 weeks for 4 doses.  I've had two, and so far, it's not too horrible.  Much better than the AC. Enough better than I went back LOL 

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  • cbee
    cbee Member Posts: 3
    edited November 2007

    Hi Everyone,

    I am very happy to have found this site. It really helps to hear from those who are living this experience. I appreciate all the little tips and advice. Your courage is a tremendous source of motivation for me.

    This all happened so quickly.  It was just over 2 weeks ago they spotted the "shadow" on the mammogram.  I've since had the biopsy and lumpectomy.  I've been diagnosed stage 1, 1.1 cm, node negative, ER/PR negative, Her/2 negative, high S phase, grade III.   I've been to a couple of oncologists - both highly reputable and very very kind.  They are recommending different courses of chemo which makes it a little difficult to decide.  One is recommending 6 doses of TAC and the other 4 doses of TC.  I am extremely drug sensitive and not tolerant of many of them.  I really felt that the doctor recommending the TC understands this better.  Can someone explain to me what if any benefit the TAC has over the TC? 

    Thanks so much.

    Caryn

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  • Gillkath
    Gillkath Member Posts: 149
    edited November 2007

    Hi Caryn,

    I can't really speak to the benefit of TAC over TC, but my situation sounds very much like yours, except I am pr/er positive.  My onc was originally going the TAC route but then decided that TC would be the best route -- I have just completed yesterday my last (YIPPEE) tx -- I had four of them and it was doable.  My onc decided this because there has been a lot learned in the last few months about the benefits of TC (I think particularly for your type of cancer).  And with the adramycian (sp) in TAC you can have long-term heart issues which you don't get with TC. 

    I'm so sorry you have joined this club but you will get lots of insight on these boards.

    Laurie

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  • jdg1
    jdg1 Member Posts: 608
    edited November 2007

    I did 4 of AC and Cytoxan and now moving to 4 of Taxol.    There pretty much is a standard they use when you go to see your Oncologist.  They use a site type in your info and then it gives them the chemo information they should use to treat you.  Although, some prefer not to use certain drugs.  As well as if you had an Oncotype DX test this could also help in determing your chemo regimen. 

    Good Luck to you

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  • loopyloulee
    loopyloulee Member Posts: 80
    edited November 2007

    Hi Everyone!  I have read most of your comments and am thankful for all your info!  I start my first TC treatment on Nov. 26th!  I had a lumpectomy on 10/15, and radiation (mammosite) for 5days.  I was stage 1, very small tumor that was tubular carcinoma.  I am triple negative, with no lymph node involvement.  I chose to have the chemo to make sure that I am doing all that I can to insure a long life!

    I am not nervous really.  I think I am prepared.  My doc said I would not lose my hair, but from all you say it sounds like I might.  Does anyone have acrylic nails?  I am wondering what might happen to them?  should I have them removed?

    Thanks,

    Lou

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  • emg326
    emg326 Member Posts: 102
    edited November 2007

    Hi Lou,

    I did have my acrylic nails removed before chemo. I had asked the nurse who did the orientation, and she said I should. You just want to reduce any chance of infection etc... I did lose my hair too. I finished TC 2 1/2 weeks ago, and it wasn't that bad. The first few days after each treatment (I had 4) were the worst as far as appetite, taste and fatigue. I didn't really have any nausea. I also walked everyday which helped. I'm feeling really good now, and I had my nails put back on last Friday. It's one step to being back to normal. Good luck with everything!

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  • loopyloulee
    loopyloulee Member Posts: 80
    edited November 2007

    Thanks!  I will have 4 sessions also.  What a crazy trip this has been so far.  Not looking forward to these next 2 months, but the way time flies, I am hoping it will soon be a blurr.  I think I will have the nails removed to be on the safe side.  Well, I have seen many of you say your hair grew back curly, so I am hoping for straight!  Mine is curly now. 

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  • love2canter
    love2canter Member Posts: 5
    edited November 2007

    Hi,

    Caryn,

    My cancer is exactly like yours, only I had two small tumors about that size, and I'm not sure about the S phase.  But I'm triple negative, too.  Opted to have complete mastectomy as lumpectomy with two tumors doesn't leave much breast behind (when you are as small as me).  Have they tested your lymph nodes yet?  Definitely have that done before you go further with treatment.  My onc was suggesting TAC until my lymph nodes came back negative.  Then they switched to just TC, because the Adriamycin can creat heart troubles.  If it's less likely that it has spread through the lymph nodes, then there's less need to risk the Adriamycin effects.   

    Lou, I would be really shocked if you didn't lose your hair.  Keep us posted on that progress!  My onc nurse even told me which day it would start to fall out (17).  Think positive, though!!  Even though it's very visible and annoying, it's not a long term problem like neuropathy or heart problems.

    I would take the acrylic nails off, too.  Stay away from any and all possibilities of infection.  I ended up with three days in the hospital over 4th of July because of an infection (not even sure where I got it), but that was not fun.  I didn't really feed badly - they just wanted to get my white blood count back up and try to figure out what caused the infection.   But their food is awful!!  :)  Do exercise regularly, but don't overstress anything.  I grabbed something (a dog in a fight) and yanked hard, and my nails nearly came out.  So, walk, vacuum, read, tell everyone else to do the chores and relax with a smile!  I never had any nausea and very little fatigue.  I tool CoQ10 (an enzyme which helps with energy) during chemo (did ask the onc first) and I really felt great through the whole thing. 

    Good luck girls.  After you get past the three weeks of the last chemo, every day is better than the last!

    Nora 

     

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  • georgias_mommy
    georgias_mommy Member Posts: 87
    edited November 2007
    Hi Lou,

    I'm going to start TC on November 30th. You might want to join the "Chemo in Nov 07" conversation too. It looks like there are a bunch of us that are going to be taking Taxotere as part of their adjuvant therapy. I am early stage with no node involvement, but my oncologist says that studies are showing that TC increases the survival rates for younger breast cancer patients. I'm 39 and I also have a history of heart problems in my family, so my oncologist is steering me away from AC.

    I just found an article on this site about Taxotere: http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/chemotherapy/new_research/20060217.jsp 

    Nora, I'm going to ask my oncologist about the CoQ10. Anything to help with the fatigue! Thanks for the tip.

    Good luck to everyone!

    Sharon 

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