Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?

Dear SharonW and all you other posters.

I haven't been on this site for quite a while.  I just finished my last t/c treatment 2 weeks ago.   I agree with everyone, the worst SE was what it does to your mouth and taste buds.  Mine are just getting to the point, where I have a "sense" of taste, and everything isn't tasting like something died in my mouth.

I also had that Neulasta shot with every treatment...and yes at first it did add to the body ache of the taxotere. I was in tears.  After tx 2, 3 and 4, it helped to take the Aleve before the aches started. Did you realize that, that two second shot under the skin, cost upward of $2,000? I found, around day 7, if I started taking brisk walks (and yes I had to force myself) when I got back, I was feeling better.

As for bald, at times I do get awfully sick of always having something  on my head; so with big earrings I do go bald. Thankfully, I kept a few eyebrows and lashes, so makeup and big earrings make bald look better. I recently had a very confirming experience at the local grocery store.

 This one day, a younger woman cried out as she approached me in the store, "It is SO good to see your bald head."

She was wearing a pink baseball cap, and on closer look, I saw she was as bald as me.  We hugged each other for 30 seconds, never exchanging a word, but moving on.  That hug truly confirmed we were "sisters".

It saddens me that women feel they need to hide their baldness.

We are a strong, proud bunch (despite feeling like @#% sometimes)... and unless it is cold out, men don't feel the sense of "shame" or need to hide their baldness.  I think I'm gonna wash the floor with those wigs.

Starting last fall I was dx with a 2nd primary in my contraleral breast.  Then over in the breast that I had a lumpectomy eight years ago, a 3rd primary was found.  The mention you made SharonW of the prone radiation was very much of interest.  I am finding a "salvage" mastectomy doesn't always yield as much worry from recurrence as it would first appear.  There are many studies looking at a 2nd lumpectomy and this radiation information is worth pursuing.Thanks for bringing up this new information.

To everyone inching to the chemo finish line, I cheer you on.  You too will cross it, and your taste buds will celebrate with a dinner of you favorite foods, a month or so later.

Grandma Wolf  aka Dakota Wolf

Wendy,



Thanks so much for the detailed response... it really helps me see how each treatment might differ on some SE's and be consistent on others... I guess everybody's experience is a bit different.



I am going in tomorrow (2/26) for my second treatment (TC) and am so curious to see how it compares to my first. If nothing else, at least I'm prepared with a boatload of medications to tackle whatever SE comes my way!



Best to all,



C-Babe

Morning ladies. Went for my shot yesterday after work. I was so tired when I got home that I put potatoes in the microwave to have with leftovers, and just fell asleep.  Hubby work me up a couple of hours later and said that we could eat whenever I was ready.  He was waiting to eat with me.  He takes his lunch at 10:30am so the poor guy was starving, but wanted to share the meal.  I did manage to eat most of my food.  I still have a bit of taste buds left, but they are disappearing daily.  I am tired but don't want to give in and stay home from work.  I feel that if I give in, I won't want to push forward.  Trying to keep up with plenty of fluids.  Hope everyone is holding strong.  My body is achy, but I was hurting with muscle spasms before I started the chemo. My PS says that waiting to get cosmetically balanced is a good thing. It gives the scare tissue time to heal, and that will make my "fixes" easier to heal.  I finally have gotten use to sleeping with pillows.  Better get to work, just wanted to touch base. Have a great day all.

Hi all!  Just finished reading all the latest from everyone!  I am so sorry some of you are not doing well!  Hang in there, there is a light at the end of the tunnel!  I am finally feeling better.  Last tx was 1/24!  Just to share some new weirdness, I started getting a rash, but only after I scratched!  My skin would look fine, then It would itch, so I would scratch, then I would get the rash.  I used cortaid, and it would go away!  My eyelashes and eyebrows thinned but never went away completely!

Here's some new info, I wanted to go for a massage as my legs were getting a little swollen, and I had that whole heavy feeling.  Well the massage therapist told me I cannot have a massage for at least 2 years, cancer free!  Makes perfect sense, as they do move things around inside you, and could spread any cancer that might still be hanging around!  It was a bummer, as I was looking forward to it!

Now, I am waiting to see what my hair looks like when it comes back! 

Hang in there all!

Lou

Hi girls!  Had to catch up on all the posts.  I had my pre-chemo labs and check-up this morning and everything looks good for #3 tomorrow.  WBC/ANC are up above normal, and I'm only "slightly anemic"-- just under normal for my H/H.  My onc isn't going to do anything right now but watch it.  I wish I could forgo the Neulasta like some of you, but I can't.  It's better for me to do it and avoid the hospital after my little neutropenic fever visit the first time.  My onc did say I can try taking the Claritin that some have reported helps with the bone aches (he hadn't heard of it, but said he knows no reason to not try it).  I'll let you guys know if it makes a difference.  So I'm ready for tomorrow-- will be 3/4 of the way done with chemo, and about 1/6 of the way done with herceptin (oooo, that doesn't sound so cheery).  Just hoping for no taxotere reaction again this time.

SharonS:  Hope round 1 went well today!  Keep a diary of SEs you experience and when and what helps or doesn't help-- it'll be a big help/learning tool for #2.

SharonW and Wendy: Thanks for sharing all your knowledge so far.  I'll try to do the same after my 3rd round.  It is so helpful to read what everyone does and what works for them with SEs.

PALady: I'm waiting to see if chemopause has happened.  Last month I had the never-ending period (2 weeks), this month I was due Monday and it's not here yet today.  I'm regular like clockwork usually!  Last wwek I had all the usual signs/sx that I get with the week before, so I'm not holding my breath.

GrandmaWolf:  Loved your story about baldness in the grocery store!  I'm bald at home most of the time (except on the frequent cold days we've been having here in DE), but haven't been brave enough to venture outside without a hat/scarf on yet.  I only wear my wigs out to appointments or lunch.  I'll probably wear my wig a lot when I go back to work, too, but we'll see.  I think as soon as I have enough hair (like a pixie 'do), the wig will be done.  I'm amazed at how much hair I've grown in the past two weeks!  It came out after round 2, but grew back fast.  I know it'll be gone or thin at least again after tomorrow's round.

loopyloulee:  I had not heard about avoiding massages.  That's a bummer.  I'd be curious to hear an onc's take on it...

CHJ:  No rash for me, at least not yet!

Good Afternoon Ladies!  Just a quick update...  I had my first tx yesterday (2-25) and it went very smooth!!  No reactions and felt fairly decent on the long ride home.  I did start to get a mild headache in the back of my head early evening and a feeling of my stomach being bloated.  I slept through the night and awoke to start my 2-day cycle of anti-nausea meds.  I hope they will keep it at bay!  I could not taste anything during lunch a moment ago; I was not looking forward to that so soon! 

Thanks to you all for all of the great feedback and information you provide to us daily!  It is truly a Blessing!!!

Hey ladies!  I haven't checked with my oncologist on the massage, but the thing is that the massage therapist would not do a massage.  You have to fill out a paper and it asks if you have any arthritis, cancer, etc.  I circled the cancer, she asked when I had it, and then said that not knowing really if there was any cancer left in my body, she could not do a massage.  She said a light rubbing was ok, but a deep massage might move cancer around if there was any.  I will wait the 2 years cancer free and then get one!

Guggerty:  Yes, it's the OTC Claritin.  Some of the girls on the January 2008 chemo thread I also post on have tried it with good success.  You start the Claritin the day of neulasta and continue for 5-7 days.  I'll bet you can still try it this round, it won't hurt.  The dose is the usual adult dose (10mg I think) once a day.  I plan on starting mine Thursday evening since I get the shot in the afternoon and don't feel too bad until the following evening (so far that's been my pattern).  BTW Claritin generic, or Alavert (which is the same drug, just a different brand) will probably be just as good, and cheaper!

On the Claritin, I bought the name brand, just because I was afraid the generic wouldn't work, even though I pretty much always buy generic.  I started taking it the morning of my shot through the day after my normal day of pain. I get my shot on Monday morning so I took it before I went. I usually start with the pain Thursday afternoon around 5 and end Friday night. I took my last pill on Saturday morning. You want to just get the plain Claritin, not the Claritin D.

On the massage, I heard somewhere - I think back when I was diagnosed in October and BC awareness month it was everywhere - that to have a massage, you need to go to someone who does it a certain way for cancer patients. I don't remember enough of the details on it though. I know when I went for my first massage, last year, the lady had said how it is really good for your lymph system, so it seems to make sense that you would want someone who knows what they are doing.

CHJ, the nurse gave the neulasta shot on my stomach, and it didn't hurt during and after. You might want to try that?

Hi everyone.  Have been following everyone's progress.  I was supposed to have my first Tx tomorrow but my husband has a nasty cold and I feel a little of it coming on too, so I changed the date to next Wed.  I have purchased all the various items you have all talked about, like the Tea Tree Oil, Prevention Mouthwash, Miralax, etc, etc.  I need to add Claritin to the list.  Today I bought a wig, a wrap and a comfort cap.  I am READY.  I hate to postpone a week; I want to get started and get it over with.  With radiation following it will be mid summer before this is done.  Boo.

I hope everyone feels better each day.  You are a great group to hang out with.

Joyce

Debbie,



Oncotype of 33 is considered "high risk," and I was actually relieved that this made my decision easy -- do it all now. I am recently widowed and cannot afford any risk of recurrence here, so have plunged into chemo with guns blazing.



I did seek a second opinion, just to be sure, and the same meds were recommended, although the second onco said that 4 treatments could be sufficient. I just cannot help but think that more is better (I know this 4-vs-6 question is currently being studied) as long as I can tolerate it. I will follow up the chemo with radiation (I only had a lumpectomy) and hormone therapy (Tamox then AI).



Hope this helps!!!



C-Babe

Hello - T1 down- 3 to go.  So far I feel fine....so we will see..Here is my experience

Drug and cocktail included

gave me tylenol and emend

Next they poked me in the port - didn't feel too bad

my chemical cocktail included   Benedryl, A stomach coating med, Taxotere,Cytoxan...   We got home around 5....had dinner...

Sleeping now...have a little gas...but other than that feel fine...should I go ahead and do the stool softener tonight?

SharonS,



My rec is to take the stool softener to get things moving before constipation kicks in, as it is such a common side effect, and since you have a little gas already... give it a try early!



Best of luck...



C-Babe

C-Babe & Sharon: we don't all get constipated - some of us have the opposite reaction. I'd wait to see what my stomach is doing before adding more chemicals into the mix.