1st onco visit today, getting Oncotype, anyone do Taxotere/Cytoxan and/or Tamoxifen?

BioAdoptMom
BioAdoptMom Member Posts: 358
My onco is sending out my pathology for an Oncotype which should be back in 2 weeks. He is a big supporter of chemo for intermediate as well as high results, so I guess from what he told me I have a 60% chance of needing chemo. He said he will use Taxotere and Cytoxan (4 treatments), should it be necessary. Anyone else on that? How did it go? What were your side effects? I will also be on Tamoxifen. Please tell me about that. That is a given!

Thanks!

Nancy

Comments

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    I was just taken off taxmoxifen 2 wks ago
    I started Tamoxifen Aug 2008-(finished radiation June 28, 08) after about 18mths my oncol. insisted i have internal ultrasound (name?) to check for thickening of the uterus-which I DID have-shortly after I had a D & C...all was ok...6mths later another ultrasound and another D & C (all ok) about 6 wks later...(may be just by chance) after 4 yrs of no bleeding I started (threw me off big time-) so back to GYNO some biopsies taken in the office...all ok...shorten version next week oncolog.took me OFF Tamoxifen-I go back in 2 wks (month off med -blood work prior) & she's changing my med...I am not sure what yet....i'll know soon...

    then more side effects...to deal with..

    ON tamox.I have very little noticeable side effect...nigth sweats, hot flahes what I call mild, don't sleep well at all *up 2-3 or more time each night!

    Denise...
  • Boppy_of_6
    Boppy_of_6 Member Posts: 1,138

    I was just taken off taxmoxifen 2 wks ago
    I started Tamoxifen Aug 2008-(finished radiation June 28, 08) after about 18mths my oncol. insisted i have internal ultrasound (name?) to check for thickening of the uterus-which I DID have-shortly after I had a D & C...all was ok...6mths later another ultrasound and another D & C (all ok) about 6 wks later...(may be just by chance) after 4 yrs of no bleeding I started (threw me off big time-) so back to GYNO some biopsies taken in the office...all ok...shorten version next week oncolog.took me OFF Tamoxifen-I go back in 2 wks (month off med -blood work prior) & she's changing my med...I am not sure what yet....i'll know soon...

    then more side effects...to deal with..

    ON tamox.I have very little noticeable side effect...nigth sweats, hot flahes what I call mild, don't sleep well at all *up 2-3 or more time each night!

    Denise...

    Hey Nancy
    I finished 4 rounds of C/T in July 10. I was never nauseous with it. I would get really tired and had bouts of constipation and diahrea. I never knew which it would be but, it generally the constipation was the worse. I started loosing my hair on day 13 after first treatment, not having to shave my legs and underarms all summer was one of the good things lol. I did not have any problems with my nails and never lost all of my eyelashes or brows. Drink LOTS and lots of water during chemo. It keeps you hydrated and flushes the chemo out of your system. I know some of the ladies have problems with food tasting bad, drinks too sometimes. I did not have much trouble with that. If you do use plastic utensils it helps with the metal taste. Rest when you can, I continued to work through tx just missing day of tx. I had mine on Fri. and usually Sun. was my crash day. I have been on Tamoxifen since Aug-10. The first few weeks I was moody and irritable but that did improve. I have hot flashes and some leg cramps but not to bad. It is all very doable.My BC was stage 1 grade 1 IDC. My Onc. really wanted me to do chemo beccause he said I was so young :o) 49 when I had lump.I hope this helps some. I am sure many other sisters will help out too. God Bless
    (((hugs))) Janice
  • joannstar
    joannstar Member Posts: 403 Member
    I am triple negative
    so I didn't have an Oncotype test. Even though I am only Stage 1, because I'm TN, I did chemo after my lumpectomy (had to have a 2nd surgery to get clear margins). I did 4 rounds of Taxotere/Cytoxan and them my ankles swelled so I was switched to Taxol/Cytoxan. I had a variety of se...rash, burning feet, aching bones (possibly from the Neulasta shot I got at each cycle)and I lost my hair and my fingernails separated but didn't fall out during the last round.
    Now 3 months out of chemo and set to finish 33 rads on 4/1/11, my hair is growing back and other than being very tired, I'm doing ok!!
    I won't have any other treatment because my cancer is not hormone receptive, just quarterly checkups.
    Even if it would have only given me 2% increase in my chance of beating this disease I would have done chemo--I don't want to look back and say, "if only".
    Chemo is no fun, but it is doable as so many warriors on this site will confirm.
    Good luck to you,
    JoAnn
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member

    Hey Nancy
    I finished 4 rounds of C/T in July 10. I was never nauseous with it. I would get really tired and had bouts of constipation and diahrea. I never knew which it would be but, it generally the constipation was the worse. I started loosing my hair on day 13 after first treatment, not having to shave my legs and underarms all summer was one of the good things lol. I did not have any problems with my nails and never lost all of my eyelashes or brows. Drink LOTS and lots of water during chemo. It keeps you hydrated and flushes the chemo out of your system. I know some of the ladies have problems with food tasting bad, drinks too sometimes. I did not have much trouble with that. If you do use plastic utensils it helps with the metal taste. Rest when you can, I continued to work through tx just missing day of tx. I had mine on Fri. and usually Sun. was my crash day. I have been on Tamoxifen since Aug-10. The first few weeks I was moody and irritable but that did improve. I have hot flashes and some leg cramps but not to bad. It is all very doable.My BC was stage 1 grade 1 IDC. My Onc. really wanted me to do chemo beccause he said I was so young :o) 49 when I had lump.I hope this helps some. I am sure many other sisters will help out too. God Bless
    (((hugs))) Janice

    Same chemo cocktail
    For 4 infusions...I took my anti nausea meds FAITHFULLY, starting those and the steroids starting the day before each infusion and continuing for 4 more days...It easier to prevent nausea than control it once it starts...I never had the first wave of nausea..lost my taste buds for a week after eah infususion..food did not taste bad to me, it simply had NO taste...may as well have eaten Alpo! I experimented with foods...watermelon was really good..could almost taste it plus it gives hydratiion...Then like magic taste buds returned after a week..Dink drink drink, before, during and after each chemo...also I was told to eat something beforehand...helps to prevent nausea... became more tired with each infusion..the effects are cumulative...I bought my wig BEFORE I started chemo so the lady who sells them could see my natural hair and how I wore it..I had my hair buzzed before I started losing it..that was day 14 after the first infusion...the next day I shaved my head...my scalp was very, very tender when it started falling out...I had a nasty bout of diarrhea after the first infusion...have some extra strength Immodium on hand just in case...also I had the Nuelasta injection the day after each chemo...the first one kicked my butt about 4 days later...but not the others..
    As scary chemo is, it is doable...the first one especially as we don't know what to expect...fear of the unknown..Be kind to yourself...accept any and all offers of help!!!!!! I am 17 months out of all treatment...I am not on any hormone treatment as I am triple negative..
    Wishing you well,
    Nancy
  • GayleMc
    GayleMc Member Posts: 311 Member
    joannstar said:

    I am triple negative
    so I didn't have an Oncotype test. Even though I am only Stage 1, because I'm TN, I did chemo after my lumpectomy (had to have a 2nd surgery to get clear margins). I did 4 rounds of Taxotere/Cytoxan and them my ankles swelled so I was switched to Taxol/Cytoxan. I had a variety of se...rash, burning feet, aching bones (possibly from the Neulasta shot I got at each cycle)and I lost my hair and my fingernails separated but didn't fall out during the last round.
    Now 3 months out of chemo and set to finish 33 rads on 4/1/11, my hair is growing back and other than being very tired, I'm doing ok!!
    I won't have any other treatment because my cancer is not hormone receptive, just quarterly checkups.
    Even if it would have only given me 2% increase in my chance of beating this disease I would have done chemo--I don't want to look back and say, "if only".
    Chemo is no fun, but it is doable as so many warriors on this site will confirm.
    Good luck to you,
    JoAnn

    I did exactly all these
    I did exactly all these things except Femara instead of Tamoxifen. My onco/dx score was 4 points above my onc's cut off, it came in at 22, so I had the chemo cocktail you are to have. As everyone has already confirmed, it is doable and the side effects vary from person to person but you should be sure to come to this site for any questions or concerns. I found that there was no question too small or unheard of. The support is amazing!!! Best wishes coming your way.
  • BioAdoptMom
    BioAdoptMom Member Posts: 358
    Thank you so much for your
    Thank you so much for your very encouraging comments and great advice! I actually think I am more nervous about the Tamoxifen than I am about the probability of chemo, maybe because it lasts a lot longer and so many of the side effects are emotional in nature.

    Nancy