Chemo cocktail ,taxottere,cytoxan

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ppurdin
ppurdin Member Posts: 1,181
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi everyone.I have the list of chemo drugs I received the first treament.taxotere 150 mg.cytoxan 1200.Can you tell me what it was like for you when you got side effects.One of these drugs is like a shur thing that i will loss my hair.I think it is the taxotere but not sure.Does this seem to be the normal mg.Any info would be appriatted.Thank you.(Pat).P.s I am not sure if spelling is right.I am reading a dr.s writting.

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  • pitt
    pitt Member Posts: 387
    #2
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    Hey - I start the same
    Hey - I start the same cocktail on Thursday! We can do this together!!! Wanna bet on when our hair starts to fall out? I started another post last night about different things we can do to make this easier. Some people have told me to use baby oil on our nails to keep them from becoming brittle. My dr. said to take Claritin to keep the Neulasta shot from causing too much pain. I am high risk for nausea so the dr told me one glass of wine at night will help alleviate that problem... I'll check that post now to see what the other girls tell us to do. Good luck!!!!
  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    #3
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    Yes, this is what I am doing.
    If I'm not mistaken, a side effect of both of these drugs is hair loss. Mine started coming out in around 14 days. At first it was just shedding pretty bad and then it really started coming out in the shower and when I combed my hair. I had it shaved on a Friday to give me time to get used to it over the weekend. I have had 3 treatments so far with one more to go. I have been lucky in that I have not experienced any nausua. I do experience bone pain about 3-4 days after the Nuelasta shot but I can control it with Tylenol. Other than that, I really don't have negative side effects. I may just be one of the lucky ones. Good luck!
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #4
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    Chemo Cocktail......
    The Taxotere and Cytoxan both cause hair loss....Anywhere from 10-14 days after the first infusion....Taxotere can cause bone pain, which can become worse with the Neulasta injection the following day. Your oncologist can tell you what to take for that. After each treatment, tiredness becomes more so, it's cumulative. My taste buds were off for 6-7 days following each treatment....you'll find what tastes "good." You may not feel like eating but try and drink PLENTY Of fluids during and for days after treatment.....You may want to have Immodium on hand, just in case......
    Best wishes
  • elm3544
    elm3544 Member Posts: 748
    #5
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    Taxotere and Cytoxan
    I had these also. Finished Sept.8
    My hair did not start to fall out until after my second treatment but I shaved it just before.
    I did not lose all of my eyebrows or any eyelashes.
    For me the side effects grew more intense with each treatment.
    I took Claritin with Aleve to relieve the bone pain from the Neulasta. I had a prescription for Vicodin, too. It also helped to try and walk.
    The Taxotere and pain meds cause constipation. You might want to use a stool softener. My Dr recommended Mirolax.
    Nausea was mild and I was given a prescription to prevent and relieve it.
    The whole inside of my mouth got bumpy and I couldn't taste much. Alot of things tasted off.
    If they suggest or prescribe a mouthwash, use it. It really helps.
    Toothpaste burned so I got Tom's. I liked that it was not sweet, too.
    Get lots of rest and drink lots of water!
  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    #6
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    elm3544 said:

    Taxotere and Cytoxan
    I had these also. Finished Sept.8
    My hair did not start to fall out until after my second treatment but I shaved it just before.
    I did not lose all of my eyebrows or any eyelashes.
    For me the side effects grew more intense with each treatment.
    I took Claritin with Aleve to relieve the bone pain from the Neulasta. I had a prescription for Vicodin, too. It also helped to try and walk.
    The Taxotere and pain meds cause constipation. You might want to use a stool softener. My Dr recommended Mirolax.
    Nausea was mild and I was given a prescription to prevent and relieve it.
    The whole inside of my mouth got bumpy and I couldn't taste much. Alot of things tasted off.
    If they suggest or prescribe a mouthwash, use it. It really helps.
    Toothpaste burned so I got Tom's. I liked that it was not sweet, too.
    Get lots of rest and drink lots of water!

    Pat & Liz,
    After 3 of 4 treatments of Cytoxan/Taxotere + Neulasta, my side effects have been similar to what everyone else here is describing.

    I actually never got entirely bald -- but had to shave it way down around Day 16 just to contain the "fallout." Lost most of my hair in my "southern region," but eyebrows, underarm and leg hair all just thinned and stopped growing. Eyelashes seem the same.

    I know that some women get really bad bone pain from the Neulasta, and I went in for my first shot totally expecting the worst. I've been so relieved that it hasn't been very bad for me -- I'm achey, about like when you have the flu, for two days after the shot, but not enough that I need to take anything for it.

    The fatigue has probably been the worst part for me, and it definitely has grown worse with each treatment.

    I know that most of you aren't shy about talking about ANYthing on this board -- for which I'm grateful, since I've benefitted from your wisdom! -- but I'm just too squeamish to discuss my bowels on a public forum. I'm a big baby, I know! So I'll leave that discussion to others.

    Traci
  • lolad
    lolad Member Posts: 670
    #7
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    Pat
    Im not sure what my mg on cytoxan is. I do Adriamyacin (SP?) too. Ive lost my hair. It started on about 10 days after my first treatment. Im not sure which one if not both caused my hair to fall out. The side effects for me are nausea, but i have nausea meds they give me before chemo and at home that help soooo much. But ive been very tired and want to sleep about days 3-5 or 6 and after my second treatment, i got very tired again for a couple of days right before it was time for my third treatment. I know side effects are different for everyone. Oh, and i also have blisters in my mouth that i got a mouth swish for, it just numbs my mouth for a few, but the blisters start to go down away and then its time for another chemo. So you might as well say that the rash in my mouth has been constant. Taste buds are gone too. I hope this post doesnt get you down too much. These are just what side effects i have on my treatment. Doesnt mean you will have the same. Take care of yourself
    laura
  • ppurdin
    ppurdin Member Posts: 1,181
    #8
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    lolad said:

    Pat
    Im not sure what my mg on cytoxan is. I do Adriamyacin (SP?) too. Ive lost my hair. It started on about 10 days after my first treatment. Im not sure which one if not both caused my hair to fall out. The side effects for me are nausea, but i have nausea meds they give me before chemo and at home that help soooo much. But ive been very tired and want to sleep about days 3-5 or 6 and after my second treatment, i got very tired again for a couple of days right before it was time for my third treatment. I know side effects are different for everyone. Oh, and i also have blisters in my mouth that i got a mouth swish for, it just numbs my mouth for a few, but the blisters start to go down away and then its time for another chemo. So you might as well say that the rash in my mouth has been constant. Taste buds are gone too. I hope this post doesnt get you down too much. These are just what side effects i have on my treatment. Doesnt mean you will have the same. Take care of yourself
    laura

    Hi everyone.
    Thanks for your coments.I know all these side effects are normal since you have had them also.Iv had joint pain,sore mouth and a headach that lasted for days.some nausea.The worst is the muscle pain for me.So I am getting better about taking pain meds,It helps allot.(Pat).
  • Fran1947
    Fran1947 Member Posts: 72
    #9
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    Hair Loss
    Hi,

    I just had Taxotere without the cytoxin and my hair started falling out at the end of the second week. At first I went outside a couple of times a day and ran my fingers through my hair and tossed handfuls at a time into the wind for the birds to use for their nests. but my scalp was pretty sore so I eventually let my husband shave my head. After that I was fine. I finished treatment 6 months ago and my hair has come back curly, but I'm not sure it will stay that way.

    One of the side effects for me was an extremely dry mouth. I used Oasis moisturizing mouth wash, which I found very helpful. My dentist recommended it, not my oncologist.

    The worst part, for me - and everyone is different - was extreme fatigue. I had my treatments on a Wednesday and felt fine until Friday afternoon, when I would get just a little shaky - but by Saturday morning I was barely able to get up to brush my teeth. That part lasted 2-3 days, then I would slowly start to feel better. It was not as bad on treatments 2 & 3, but then the last treatment was the worst.

    I also had joint/bone/muscle pain, but it was manageable with tylenol. I have heard many people say that Claritin makes a huge difference.

    Hang in there - it is a hard path, but definitely do-able. I can now say I am cancer-free and that makes it all worth it.

    Hugs,

    Fran
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #10
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    ppurdin said:

    Hi everyone.
    Thanks for your coments.I know all these side effects are normal since you have had them also.Iv had joint pain,sore mouth and a headach that lasted for days.some nausea.The worst is the muscle pain for me.So I am getting better about taking pain meds,It helps allot.(Pat).

    Pat .. another good source .. log on to
    Chemo care site www.chemocare.com a picture with Scott Hamilton will pop up .. Go to medication section, type in chemo med's and a listing of all side efforts will appear.

    I have done this, however, I found more useful information our our bc site with the various postings, and suggestions from our sisters in PINK.

    joint pain, headache's etc .. just part of our treatment.

    Good luck, and get plenty of rest.

    VickiSam
  • Taina
    Taina Member Posts: 166
    #11
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    same chemo meds
    Hi, i had my last chemo tx last Monday. Side effects 4 me: hair loss 1 days after 1st chemo tx, red face, couldn't wear my contact lenses while tx, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, slept max of 4 hrs a day, felt like stuff crawling my skin, fever on last chemo, Neulesta day after chemo a little joint pain nut not bad, headaches, water tasted bad so i added crystal light, "hot flashes" which i never experience before, my period stoped after 2nd chemo and not back yet. I start radiation next week (total of 30) and then hormonal therapy but my oncology dr hasn't talk about which pill i will be taking. I was out on medical leave all 4 chemo tx. I will go back to work tomorrow. I pray i can work while my radiation.....
  • lentva
    lentva Member Posts: 1
    #12
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    pitt said:

    Hey - I start the same
    Hey - I start the same cocktail on Thursday! We can do this together!!! Wanna bet on when our hair starts to fall out? I started another post last night about different things we can do to make this easier. Some people have told me to use baby oil on our nails to keep them from becoming brittle. My dr. said to take Claritin to keep the Neulasta shot from causing too much pain. I am high risk for nausea so the dr told me one glass of wine at night will help alleviate that problem... I'll check that post now to see what the other girls tell us to do. Good luck!!!!

    Me too...
    I had my first Cytoxan/Taxotere treatment on Monday. I had some nausea, and body aches from the Neulasta shot. The nausea meds work, but I found I had to stay on top of it, taking the meds before the nausea sets in. No excessive tiredness yet. I took a Percocet I had left over from surgery on Wednesday night when the body aches (mostly neck area) were at its worst. It got me through the night and I felt better the next morning. Let me know how you're doing. Take care.
  • laurissa
    laurissa Member Posts: 773
    #13
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    Me too
    I start mine on Monday, don't know the dosage. I hope it's a breeze, I'm worried about my nails and bone pain mainly. I guess it's a common regimen. Hope it works for us.

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