I start chemo tomorrow

taiga

I will do 4 cycles of 5-FU, Cytoxan and Epirubicin and then 4 cycles of Taxotere and Herceptin. I'm just coming off 15 mos. of treatment for ovarian cancer, so I've been in chemo before, but those drugs were Taxol, Cisplatin and Avastin.

Also, my doctors are recommending a double masectomy once all the chemo is done - gee, something to look forward to! Any chemo tips for these drugs is appreciated. I did great with the previous chemo, but had lots of pre-treatment meds and at home nausea and pain meds.

New Flower

Good Luck
Good luck tomorrow
Since you had taxol ask your oncologist about Taxotere. Both Taxol and Taxotere are comming from the same group of drugs
Hugs

Double Whammy

New Flower said:

Good Luck
Good luck tomorrow
Since you had taxol ask your oncologist about Taxotere. Both Taxol and Taxotere are comming from the same group of drugs
Hugs

Good luck tomorrow
What a swell way to end the year. Ugh. I had 2 of the drugs you're getting, Taxotere and Cytoxin, but not the others. Those two were very tolerable. I'm sure you're familiar with the drill for when to call and what to do about side effects.

If you enounter anything unusual or just need support for the usual, be sure to post here. There's always someone who's been there and the rest of us are there for you regardless.

Do you want us to gas up the bus?

Suzanne

LoveBabyJesus

Wishing you luck for
Wishing you luck for tomorrow. You will be fine.

I took Tylenol 1 hr. in advance for headaches caused by AC. I also chew on ice for the entire time the infusion was going through my veins so that I don't develop mouth sores. Bring a good read with you, and some snacks. I know you know about this though ;)And of course, drink, drink and drink lots of fluids.

Good luck tomorrow.

jnl

New Flower said:

Good Luck
Good luck tomorrow
Since you had taxol ask your oncologist about Taxotere. Both Taxol and Taxotere are comming from the same group of drugs
Hugs

I'm wishing you good luck
I'm wishing you good luck tomorrow!


Hugs, Leeza

gami43

LoveBabyJesus said:

Wishing you luck for
Wishing you luck for tomorrow. You will be fine.

I took Tylenol 1 hr. in advance for headaches caused by AC. I also chew on ice for the entire time the infusion was going through my veins so that I don't develop mouth sores. Bring a good read with you, and some snacks. I know you know about this though ;)And of course, drink, drink and drink lots of fluids.

Good luck tomorrow.

Taiga - wishing you the best
Taiga - wishing you the best with your new chemo. I was on FEC, followed by
Taxotere. Will you be having Neulasta shot after each tx? I needed all the
premeds and nausea & pain meds after every tx. It was dehydrating for my body
and I couldn't take in enough fluids, so I required IV fluids for about
7 days after evry tx; so the more fluids you can get down the better. I didn't
know about it during my chemo, but if you have Neulasta, Claritin is suppose to
help with any bone, joint pain that could occur. Hoping you sail through this
without any difficulty and the chemo does its job. I'm sending you some positive
vibes to take with you tomorrow.

Teresa

Texasgirl10

gami43 said:

Taiga - wishing you the best
Taiga - wishing you the best with your new chemo. I was on FEC, followed by
Taxotere. Will you be having Neulasta shot after each tx? I needed all the
premeds and nausea & pain meds after every tx. It was dehydrating for my body
and I couldn't take in enough fluids, so I required IV fluids for about
7 days after evry tx; so the more fluids you can get down the better. I didn't
know about it during my chemo, but if you have Neulasta, Claritin is suppose to
help with any bone, joint pain that could occur. Hoping you sail through this
without any difficulty and the chemo does its job. I'm sending you some positive
vibes to take with you tomorrow.

Teresa

Good luck
Good luck tomorrow. I had 2 of the meds that you will be on, but I don't know anything about the others. I hope this chemo is tolerable & you have an easy time.

Hugs & God Bless,

Dawne

GrammyKaren

Good Luck to you. Next week
Good Luck to you. Next week I will be starting chemo too.:(

taiga

gami43 said:

Taiga - wishing you the best
Taiga - wishing you the best with your new chemo. I was on FEC, followed by
Taxotere. Will you be having Neulasta shot after each tx? I needed all the
premeds and nausea & pain meds after every tx. It was dehydrating for my body
and I couldn't take in enough fluids, so I required IV fluids for about
7 days after evry tx; so the more fluids you can get down the better. I didn't
know about it during my chemo, but if you have Neulasta, Claritin is suppose to
help with any bone, joint pain that could occur. Hoping you sail through this
without any difficulty and the chemo does its job. I'm sending you some positive
vibes to take with you tomorrow.

Teresa

Neulasta shots
Teresa: I was told I would have a Neulasta shot the day after each treatment. But I don't think I am scheduled to get one tomorrow, maybe since it's my first treatment and it hasn't dropped my WBC too much. My WBC still hasn't gotten back to normal from the ovarian treatment. I got through all my chemo before without any delays or shots, which I was so thankful for. I heard the day or two after those shots can be challenging - don't you love that word, LOL! I have heard about the Claritin and plan to try that - but I also had a good supply of hydrocodone! Thank you everyone for all the support and suggestions. By the way, not to sound stupid, but "start up the bus" - is that a term to just get everyone thinking/praying for you? We didn't have that term on the OC board.

grams2jc

I had Epirubicin and Cytoxan followed by Taxol.
Taxol was worst of the bunch. I didn't need any of the blood count builders so that was a blessing and I was told Epirubicin is easier than Adriamycin...less heart and neuropathy issues, no metal taste. I think you should expect the pre-meds and the nausea and constipation post chemo.

Soooo sorry you are facing this!!

Jennifer

Kylez

taiga said:

Neulasta shots
Teresa: I was told I would have a Neulasta shot the day after each treatment. But I don't think I am scheduled to get one tomorrow, maybe since it's my first treatment and it hasn't dropped my WBC too much. My WBC still hasn't gotten back to normal from the ovarian treatment. I got through all my chemo before without any delays or shots, which I was so thankful for. I heard the day or two after those shots can be challenging - don't you love that word, LOL! I have heard about the Claritin and plan to try that - but I also had a good supply of hydrocodone! Thank you everyone for all the support and suggestions. By the way, not to sound stupid, but "start up the bus" - is that a term to just get everyone thinking/praying for you? We didn't have that term on the OC board.

Taiga, wishing you the best
Taiga, wishing you the best of luck with your 1st chemo tomorrow.


Hugs, Kylez

Double Whammy

grams2jc said:

I had Epirubicin and Cytoxan followed by Taxol.
Taxol was worst of the bunch. I didn't need any of the blood count builders so that was a blessing and I was told Epirubicin is easier than Adriamycin...less heart and neuropathy issues, no metal taste. I think you should expect the pre-meds and the nausea and constipation post chemo.

Soooo sorry you are facing this!!

Jennifer

How'd it go?
Just checking in on your first infusion.

The bus comment was whether you wanted us to board the pink bus and be there with you for your chemo. They don't have a pink bus on the ovarian cancer board, but I bet they could conjure up a teal one. Sometimes I take a peach bus to my gyn oncology appointments. Of course, the bus isn't real (or is it?). Just our way of gathering together and sending our collective selves along with you on your journey. See the thread Doris wrote on the history of the pink bus.

Hope you do well through the weekend.

Suzanne

taiga

Double Whammy said:

How'd it go?
Just checking in on your first infusion.

The bus comment was whether you wanted us to board the pink bus and be there with you for your chemo. They don't have a pink bus on the ovarian cancer board, but I bet they could conjure up a teal one. Sometimes I take a peach bus to my gyn oncology appointments. Of course, the bus isn't real (or is it?). Just our way of gathering together and sending our collective selves along with you on your journey. See the thread Doris wrote on the history of the pink bus.

Hope you do well through the weekend.

Suzanne

Everything went fine
Thank you for all your suggestions and support. I started my Zofran last evening and religiously take it every 6 hours. I do have to get a Neulasta shot later today and I started Alleve last evening. I'll try that and see how it works, but will definitely keep the Claritin around.

When the pharmacist was in discussing the chemo drugs, she told me that if I did as well as I did with IP Cisplatin, this regime would be very tolerable for me. Her real concerns were with hand/foot syndrome - the blistering and peeling, and the mouth sores.

So I was very happy I had no weird reactions where they had to call the EMTs. That happended to the lady sitting next to me on my first day of chemo with ovarian - and she was getting Taxol, what I was scheduled to get. Not a good way to start off!

cctiz

taiga said:

Everything went fine
Thank you for all your suggestions and support. I started my Zofran last evening and religiously take it every 6 hours. I do have to get a Neulasta shot later today and I started Alleve last evening. I'll try that and see how it works, but will definitely keep the Claritin around.

When the pharmacist was in discussing the chemo drugs, she told me that if I did as well as I did with IP Cisplatin, this regime would be very tolerable for me. Her real concerns were with hand/foot syndrome - the blistering and peeling, and the mouth sores.

So I was very happy I had no weird reactions where they had to call the EMTs. That happended to the lady sitting next to me on my first day of chemo with ovarian - and she was getting Taxol, what I was scheduled to get. Not a good way to start off!

best wishes Taiga
you sure will make it! is bad but not terrible, Neulasta is challenging though, if it is too bad you can have something milder instead after your next infussion, you have to discuss it w/your onco - Neulasta can crippled you for a few days, is a shot to protect your bone marrow but has side effects like everything else, then again, maybe your body can tolerate it, everybody is different or there is always other options regarding this shot, neupogen is one of them, good luck in every effort you make to beat this horrible beast

lulu1010

cctiz said:

best wishes Taiga
you sure will make it! is bad but not terrible, Neulasta is challenging though, if it is too bad you can have something milder instead after your next infussion, you have to discuss it w/your onco - Neulasta can crippled you for a few days, is a shot to protect your bone marrow but has side effects like everything else, then again, maybe your body can tolerate it, everybody is different or there is always other options regarding this shot, neupogen is one of them, good luck in every effort you make to beat this horrible beast

Glad things went well Tiaga
So sorry you are having to go thru all this again. I am in remission from ovarian cancer. I am BRCA 2 positive and the doctor has suggested I get a double mastectomy also. I have it scheduled for later this month if I do not chicken out. I plan to just get implants. I am on this board looking for some info about the surgery and implants when I saw your post.
Will keep you in my prayers. Keep us posted on both boards. Hugs!

carkris

lulu1010 said:

Glad things went well Tiaga
So sorry you are having to go thru all this again. I am in remission from ovarian cancer. I am BRCA 2 positive and the doctor has suggested I get a double mastectomy also. I have it scheduled for later this month if I do not chicken out. I plan to just get implants. I am on this board looking for some info about the surgery and implants when I saw your post.
Will keep you in my prayers. Keep us posted on both boards. Hugs!

glad it went well, I had 5fu
glad it went well, I had 5fu and cytoxan, they werent too bad. Hope it continues to go well. although it stinks that you have to go through it agian it is good you know how to manage it. We are here!

Megan M

taiga said:

Everything went fine
Thank you for all your suggestions and support. I started my Zofran last evening and religiously take it every 6 hours. I do have to get a Neulasta shot later today and I started Alleve last evening. I'll try that and see how it works, but will definitely keep the Claritin around.

When the pharmacist was in discussing the chemo drugs, she told me that if I did as well as I did with IP Cisplatin, this regime would be very tolerable for me. Her real concerns were with hand/foot syndrome - the blistering and peeling, and the mouth sores.

So I was very happy I had no weird reactions where they had to call the EMTs. That happended to the lady sitting next to me on my first day of chemo with ovarian - and she was getting Taxol, what I was scheduled to get. Not a good way to start off!

Glad that your chemo went as
Glad that your chemo went as well as it did Taiga. Hoping and praying that you have no side effects.


Hugs, Megan

VickiSam

Megan M said:

Glad that your chemo went as
Glad that your chemo went as well as it did Taiga. Hoping and praying that you have no side effects.


Hugs, Megan

Tiaga .. So happy you made it thru
your first chemo infusion -- for breast cancer. I am sorry that you have to endure chemo, again.

Personally, I have 18 consecutive treatment's of Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin (H - continued for 1 year) I had every side effort known to man or woman - yep, yep, yep -- the good times LOL

How are you doing with hydrating?

Prayers and Positive thoughts for no side efforts, and minimal disruption in your life.

Keep us posted -- we are a fun group of Gals/Guys -- with over 100 years of accumulated experience.

Strength, Courage and Hope for a CURE.

Vicki Sam

survivorbc09

GrammyKaren said:

Good Luck to you. Next week
Good Luck to you. Next week I will be starting chemo too.:(

Good luck Taiga and to you
Good luck Taiga and to you too GrammyKaren!


Hugs, Jan

Double Whammy

VickiSam said:

Tiaga .. So happy you made it thru
your first chemo infusion -- for breast cancer. I am sorry that you have to endure chemo, again.

Personally, I have 18 consecutive treatment's of Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin (H - continued for 1 year) I had every side effort known to man or woman - yep, yep, yep -- the good times LOL

How are you doing with hydrating?

Prayers and Positive thoughts for no side efforts, and minimal disruption in your life.

Keep us posted -- we are a fun group of Gals/Guys -- with over 100 years of accumulated experience.

Strength, Courage and Hope for a CURE.

Vicki Sam

Encouragement
I had NO side effects from Neulasta. Hope you don't have any either.

Suzanne

Kma2053

Double Whammy said:

Good luck tomorrow
What a swell way to end the year. Ugh. I had 2 of the drugs you're getting, Taxotere and Cytoxin, but not the others. Those two were very tolerable. I'm sure you're familiar with the drill for when to call and what to do about side effects.

If you enounter anything unusual or just need support for the usual, be sure to post here. There's always someone who's been there and the rest of us are there for you regardless.

Do you want us to gas up the bus?

Suzanne

Chemo treatment
I've had one treatment with the two drugs you mentioned. That was on Dec 19th and I'm due for my second round the 9th of Jan. the side effects for me were very mild. Didn't feel anything till day three when i lost my sense of taste and had a metallic taste in my mouth. Also the flu-like aches and pains started. The pain was manageable with a heating pad and Tylenol.

The aches and pains continued and then there was constipation and cramping. I continued for a few days and then had diarrhea. I did lose my appetite but nothing tasted good anyway. One day the stress built up and a good hard cry really made me feel good.

They gave me two neasua medications for at home. I don't know the names of them but we call them O & P. I did need them off and on and they really helped. I had some bloodwork done and things were as expected. Low white blood count but no surprises.

Today is day 14 since my first treatment and my have my sense of taste back and the metallic taste is gone but now the last couple days my nose and sinus membranes are extremely painful and dry. I need to get a humidifier but laying a wet wash cloth over my face and breathing through it really helps. My scalp hurts now and hair from those spots can be pulled out with very little pull so thats starting. I'm going to get my grandson to cut it all off either later today or tomorrow.

Hope this helps. I'm amazed by what advancements have been made since my mother in law had breast cancer.

Thank you for letting me join this group.
Kathy