T and C experiences?

missrenee said:

Hi Wendy
You've come to the right place--welcome. I had a lumpectomy and axillary node dissection as well. I was on a little different combo (TAC for 6 treatments) but here's what I can tell you I experienced: my hair started coming out in handfuls at exactly day 14 after the first chemo. I decided to just shave it all off right then--my husband and I had a happy hour outside, opened a bottle of wine and shaved it off. I got some beautiful scarves from TLC.com and various stores around town. I also got 2 wigs, but hated wearing them, so it was mostly scarves for me.

My first 4 treatments were not bad at all. The day after chemo I got a Neulasta shot to boost white blood cells. That caused a couple of days of bone and joint pain for which I took Advil. The worst thing about the chemo for me is that it made pretty much all food taste like wallpaper paste. The things I lived on that I could tolerate were Cheerios and milk, white bread and peanut butter and tomato soup. But it was all trial and error and it probably will be for you too. Also, remember everyone has different side effects and experiences--you may not have this. I sort of felt like I had a light case of the flu the first week. Also, the first few days after chemo, I had a diarrhea/constipation combo going on--I never knew which one it would be. But there were good remedies for that as well.

The steroids that are taken the day before chemo, day of and day after made it hard to get a good night's sleep.

I never vomited--just sometimes felt a little queasy for which there are meds for.

I wasn't working through chemo, so I was able to take naps (which I did often). Treatments 5 and 6 were more intense, but once again, I never vomited--just felt queasy and overall yucky.

My oncologist was careful about NOT telling me about all the side effects. Her theory was, why worry about what might never happen. Whatever you happen to get, we'll deal with it. I also found that a positive, fighting spirit helped me tremendously.

Good luck on this journey--it's definitely doable, and you're going to do great.

Keep in touch and let us know how you're doing. We have so many kind, caring and knowledgable people on this board--you will get great info.

Hugs, Renee

Double Whammy said:

I had same protocol
It's been about 18 months since my chemo ended. I clearly remember saying "this isn't bad at all" and that if I'd had a job to go to I could have done it, at least for the first 3 cycles. I took really good care of myself, walked every day (not far and not long), ate healthy and rested - read, watched TV, napped, etc. I was a princess. My hair left me on Day 14. Days 4, 5, 6 I felt very mildly fluish. I had quite a few side effects as the cycles progressed. I ran a low grade fever every cycle, but it was never over 100.5 - except the last cycle when I developed a "mystery infection". White count was elevated, I was tachycardic, anemic, and hypotensive. They never found the source of the infection, but one day everything just resolved. I also developed a skin toxicity on my arms that got worse each cycle. It didn't hurt, but it was like a burn and for reasons unknown to me, my oncologist seemed concerned about it. My last cycle of chemo was reduced because of it. Still got it, tho. Let's see, I had teary eyes, lack of appetite (part of the time), diarrhea, constipation, weak and shakey a couple of times, and I did have some mild breakthrough nausea but took either Zofran and Ativan.

I know this sounds like a lot, but I honestly never felt awful - except for the last cycle. I had no side effects from the Neulasta shots. Oh, one day I was really cold and so I decided to sit in the sun - for only 10 minutes. I got sunburned. Don't do that!

AFTER chemo my eyelashes and eyebrows fell out. My nails got ridges and pealed. My fingertips are still numb, but they don't effect fine motor skills (I can sew).

Good luck. I was told on a scale of 1 to 10 that this protocol rates a 4. Not bad at all. The side effects I had were mostly frightening and that's why I wanted to tell you about them in case you develop any of them. Most of the side effects they told me about in chemo school never happened. But every side effect I reported was not a surprise to them - they just didn't tell me about them beforehand so I was a little freaked.

You will look back on this and be amazed how quicky it goes and you will be so proud of yourself for getting through it.

Suzanne

MAJW said:

About the same side effects
I had basically the same side effects as the other ladies on Taxotere and Cytoxan......I had my hair buzzed before it started falling out on exactly day 14 after the first infusion...it gave me a feeling of having some control...I shaved it off the next day...bald as an eagle!! And I also bought my wig before I had my hair buzzed so they could see what my hair looked like....if you plan on betting a wig, I would recommend getting it while you have your hair...I was amazed at how quickly I became used to being bald....granted I didn't want to be bald....I wore scarves and little 100% cotton caps around the house...you get cold....and my head was very sore and sensitive when it started coming out...stayed that way for about 3 weeks...I lost my eyelashes but not my eyebrows...they just thinned...your eyes will water due to lack of lashes...

Chemo wasn't as bad as I imagined...I think the worst part was walking through the door for the first infusion....fear of the unknown...I religiously took my anti nausea medications...Zofran...I never had the first wave of nausea...my taste buds left me for about a week after each infusion...I experimented with different foods...I did have a bad time 4 days after the first Nuelasta injection...lots of muscle spasms and bone pain....never had this after that...also bad diarrhea after the first infusion....have some extra strength Immodium on hand just in case...constipation can follow....
Drink drink drink before, during and after chemo.....staying hydrated is really important...Gatorade is good to have on hand...also eat before each infusion....you have to have something in your stomach to avoid nausea...rest when ever possible....let people help you...don't turn down any offers of help...people want to do what they can as they can't do anything about your having cancer....and it will go faster than you think....

I wish you the very best...
Hugs, Nancy

cinnamonsmile said:

Scar Creams
When I had healed enough, my surgeon recommended using Vitamin E cream that I bought off the shelf at Walmart. She was concerned about how cherry red the scars were (I wasn't, I'd never had a surgery like that before with such long scars,etc), she recommended Cimeosil strips at night. They were long gel like strips that could be cut to fit my mastectomy scars. The scars on each side of my chest to my underarms were not straight, so my hubby measured the strips out and cut them to fit my scars. I would wear them at night, take them off in the morning. They are washable and reusable to point. Eventually the gel stickiness would wear off. By the time that happened, I no longer needed them. There were some mornings towards the end that I had to hunt for them in bed. My surgeon liked the gel strips better than a Cimeosil cream because it gave more bang for the buck. The cream would wear off on clothing at night.

I don't know if you had or are having radiation, so that may make a difference,so I would ask your doctors.