Cytoxan and Taxotere...who's had this?

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  • ConnieBonita
    ConnieBonita Member Posts: 1
    #82
    jsth201 said:

    So glad I found this sight
    I am starting my treatment with taxotere and cytoxan a week from 2moro and I have been very anxious about it all. I am so glad to find this sight so that I feel a little more empowered going into this whole thing. I work in the public my family owns a 3 funeral homes and I am the funeral director, embalmer and manager. I am from a small southern town and they are a hugging bunch and It scares me to death because of the decrease in white blood cell count. Any tips on tactful ways to avoid hand shakes and hugs?... I have learned so much already from the little bit of time I have been on this sight. Thank you all you strong strong women.

    taxotere/cytoxan regimen
    I, too, really am glad to have found this site. Sometimes I feel like I'm just whining but I need to know if others have had similar effects. I've had 2 of 4 scheduled treatments. I lost my hair day 14 of first treatment. I am continually nauseous, periodically light headed and tired most of the time. I'm also very emotional and I'm not normally a person who cries easily. I'm unable to work for about 7 days after each treatment. The neulasta is keeping my white cell count up but it gives me excruciating bone pain from day 3 to day 8. I've also developed moutn sores. My oncologist gave me a good mouthwash for that. My job is great. I take about a week off and work reduced hours and/or at home. Can someone tell me if I'm just nuts. Is it my age--58? Or should I just calm down and accept that I'm just not going to be myself for a little while. My husband is good but sometimes I just feel like a need different kind of hug and empathy.
  • CAchick
    CAchick Member Posts: 277
    #83
    I had those exact same drugs...
    Hi, I had Cytoxan and Taxotere...and I also had the Neulasta injection.
    The neulasta caused a little aching. Not too bad. I did not have a port, was stuck each time. I also had the infusions three weeks apart (four of them in all).
    I had some nausea, but the Zofran helped a lot! Was tired, and lost my hair by the second treatment. I did not have any problems with my finger or toe nails.
    I had some peripheral neuropathy (tingling in my feet) mostly at night. I had a bad taste in my mouth for a few days after each treatment.

    I am no superwoman, and I made it through...so I know you can too!
    Prayers and best wishes to you,
    Sybil
  • renee616
    renee616 Member Posts: 181
    #84
    ConnieBonita said:

    taxotere/cytoxan regimen
    I, too, really am glad to have found this site. Sometimes I feel like I'm just whining but I need to know if others have had similar effects. I've had 2 of 4 scheduled treatments. I lost my hair day 14 of first treatment. I am continually nauseous, periodically light headed and tired most of the time. I'm also very emotional and I'm not normally a person who cries easily. I'm unable to work for about 7 days after each treatment. The neulasta is keeping my white cell count up but it gives me excruciating bone pain from day 3 to day 8. I've also developed moutn sores. My oncologist gave me a good mouthwash for that. My job is great. I take about a week off and work reduced hours and/or at home. Can someone tell me if I'm just nuts. Is it my age--58? Or should I just calm down and accept that I'm just not going to be myself for a little while. My husband is good but sometimes I just feel like a need different kind of hug and empathy.

    Hi
    I had 4 rounds of each,
    Hi
    I had 4 rounds of each, total 8. 1 every 3 weeks. First 4 were a/c. no major problems, you can eat, read, nap talk, laugh during treatment. Next 4 were taxotere followed in 24 hrs by a neulasta shot for keeping cell count up. I lost my head hair about 10 days after first chemo treatment, followed by ALL the rest. Taxotere, brought diarrhea, eye tearing, rash, minor blisters and peeling on inner hands. Dr warns of nail loss & blisters. i used hard as nails in advance, never lost any nails. Dr warns to notify him immediately if any blistering or mouth sores, says most people dont tell him in time. I used aquaphor with equal parts malox for sore butt from diareah rash. At night I jokingly said I needed my butt, eye, nose, lip & hand cream! referring to eye drops for tearing from lashes falling out, saline for dry nose, water for dry throat, lip balm for lips. auquaphor for butt, feet & hands! i was usually good to go 3-4 days after treatment. could've worked. I personally felt that the time flew. It was more of an inconvenience than anything and while I wouldn't want to repeat the steps, I would in a heart beat to prolong or save my life! You'll do great! Now I'm gearing up to start rads on monday....
    Hugs & Mega prayers to you!
    Renee
  • MSLLEN60
    MSLLEN60 Member Posts: 1
    #85
    Balentine said:

    chemo upcoming
    Hi Beth,

    Thank you for your insight. Yes...you may add me to your friends list. How do you do that? Do you need my email? let me know. I got some info from my hairdresser today that I can go to the local cosmotology school here in my town and there is a woman there who has a foundation for cancer patients where she buys wigs and gives it to them. I went to see her today and after looking at several wigs and pictures of wigs and asking what I liked and seeing my own hair, she said she will got buy 2-3 wigs and call me to come in and try them on and style them to my liking and give to me. I could not believe it. So that was fun today and the wigs are very nice wigs. Nicer than the one I already bought.

    I guess the hardest part of all of this is the waiting period. You know it is coming and you just want to stop thinking about it and get it over with...that goes for the hair loss and the chemo treatments. I went today also to a medical supply store to set up my appt for my prosthesis and bras. That will be 3/2/10. They would not fit me until 6 weeks after surgery.

    Saw my surgeon's nurse today so she could look at my incision and also this pocket under my arm that is sore...I was worried that it might be fluid but she checked it and said it was not. she said it could take several months for the tenderness and soreness to go away. I miss sleeping on my right side and I am just in constant pain all the time whether I wear a bra or camisole...by the end of the day, I am ready to take a shower and just wear a night shirt and lay down.

    I know I will probably do the same thing you did when my hair begins to fall out. the lady at the cosmo school said to just call her and she will have me come in after everyone is gone and shave my head for me. That will be a difficult evening but I am ready to get there and get it over with.

    Lorrie

    Starting out
    I was told I had breat cancer in april 2011I was so scared my faith was shaked. Now I have had surgery and is preparing for chemo that is also scarry but I find now that worship a praise really helps
  • tcat
    tcat Member Posts: 4
    #86
    Starting TC in two weeks
    Thank you wonderful gals for sharing your stories and experiences with Taxotere & Cytoxan. It really helps to take away some of the anxiety and fear, having some idea what to expect. I'm still kind of nervous, but reading about how strong you all were through your treatments is inspiring.
    I'm most worried about work as I teach Monday-Friday and I'm wondering if it will be fair on the kids to have a teacher who is feeling lousy for days at a time. On the other hand I can't really afford to take off the entire 12 weeks (4 rounds of Taxotere & Cytoxan to come, each 3 weeks apart).
    I'm not sure if anyone is still posting on this thread, but thought I'd give it a try anyway!
  • Cdvilla
    Cdvilla Member Posts: 1
    #87
    tcat said:

    Starting TC in two weeks
    Thank you wonderful gals for sharing your stories and experiences with Taxotere & Cytoxan. It really helps to take away some of the anxiety and fear, having some idea what to expect. I'm still kind of nervous, but reading about how strong you all were through your treatments is inspiring.
    I'm most worried about work as I teach Monday-Friday and I'm wondering if it will be fair on the kids to have a teacher who is feeling lousy for days at a time. On the other hand I can't really afford to take off the entire 12 weeks (4 rounds of Taxotere & Cytoxan to come, each 3 weeks apart).
    I'm not sure if anyone is still posting on this thread, but thought I'd give it a try anyway!

    Hi Tcat
    I too will start the same treatment in a few weeks. I have also worried about being able to work during treatment. When you get your first treatment tcat I would love to hear how it went for you.

    Carla
  • roseduke
    roseduke Member Posts: 1 Member
    #88
    Cdvilla said:

    Hi Tcat
    I too will start the same treatment in a few weeks. I have also worried about being able to work during treatment. When you get your first treatment tcat I would love to hear how it went for you.

    Carla

    How are you all doing?
    I am starting this same treatment at the end of the month. Reading all the comments has helped me know what to expect and eased my nerves. I am retired so at least I don't have to worry about going to work, but sometimes it is probably better to have something you have to do to keep your mind off cancer! I do have three grandkids who live about five minutes from me and whom I watch before and after school a few days a week - so that is definitely what will keep me going!! I haven't even begun yet and I wish it were done -- but I know this to shall pass!
  • sea60
    sea60 Member Posts: 2,613
    #89
    Hi Nancy
    Yes, I had that combo. My Onc was so great in that during her chemo class (yes, I actually had a class to prepare), she gave me these tips:

    Tea Tree oil (swab over your finger/toe nails before bed)
    Glutamine - I took this to lessen nerve damage
    Biotene - I took this mouthwash to ward off mouth sores
    Emend - I took this the morning of Chemo in addition to the anti-nausea meds in the IV

    These really helped.

    Also, Taxotere DID cause my eyes to tear so just know if that happens, that drug is the culprit.

    The injection to boost the WBC (Nuelasta, I also took Procrit) also made me quite sore. Deep bone pain which was tolerable for me but I was pretty much couch bound, taking it easy. You feel better with each passing day.

    Praying for you Nancy! You'll get through this.

    Hugs,

    Sylvia
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #90
    sea60 said:

    Hi Nancy
    Yes, I had that combo. My Onc was so great in that during her chemo class (yes, I actually had a class to prepare), she gave me these tips:

    Tea Tree oil (swab over your finger/toe nails before bed)
    Glutamine - I took this to lessen nerve damage
    Biotene - I took this mouthwash to ward off mouth sores
    Emend - I took this the morning of Chemo in addition to the anti-nausea meds in the IV

    These really helped.

    Also, Taxotere DID cause my eyes to tear so just know if that happens, that drug is the culprit.

    The injection to boost the WBC (Nuelasta, I also took Procrit) also made me quite sore. Deep bone pain which was tolerable for me but I was pretty much couch bound, taking it easy. You feel better with each passing day.

    Praying for you Nancy! You'll get through this.

    Hugs,

    Sylvia

    I asked this...
    I asked this 3 years ago.!!! ....I did fine on that chemo....fast forward to June 2011 ...was cancer free for 19 months.......cancer came back in my lymph nodes.... Which were clean in 09...go figure !!! I .found one right above my clavicle ...I swear it literally appeared over night...I entered a clinical trial in conjunction with Sloan Kettering hospital...on oral chemo, Tasetexl...took two cycles...second one put me down for 10 days..and didn't work...so I started Zeloda another oral chemo and once again had radiation to the clavicle area...25 treatments...they had to over lap one area of my breast which had rads the first go round...developed nerve damage in my breast..I take Gabapentin..works for me...Had scans in Feb...Zeloda stopped working but gave me 7 months of a "normal" life..scans showed 3 small spots on my brain and a small spot on my liver...my rads onc ordered 10 brain rads....now brain rads are freaky!!! ..he is 99.9% the rads took care of the spots on the brain.......Last day of rads went directly to have a port installed...am now on Avastin and Carboplatin every 2 weeks..of course with the recurrence in 2011 it put me Stage IV....I've had some really crappy days, lost 26 pounds which I didn't need and really great days..!!! I simply take one day at a time...and pray we can keep the beast stable...I've accepted it for what it is....I can't change it so I just do what I have to do....

    So isn't it amazing what a difference 3 years make? Never in my wildest dreams, did I EVER imagine that when I posted "Who's had Taxotere/Cytoxan" when I was stage II that I'd be fighting this again...but " crap" happens! I'm allowed to drive again after 4 months, so I have that freedom back...I just go about my business...and enjoy my husband of almost 43 years, high school sweethearts...my grown son and daughter and my 4 grands...We have reservation, our plane tickets, etc. for a trip to the Domnican Republic in Feb...with my brother in law and sister in law ...and I'm determined to go!!!! Although we did buy travel insurance....lol.

    Hugs, Nancy
  • cctiz
    cctiz Member Posts: 47
    #91
    same combo
    Hi Nancy, My name is Cecilia and I have the same combo last summer, 4 rounds, every 3 weeks, it was doable, not a picnic but turned out OK, yes, you can eat before, during and after treatments, in fact, i took them@the hospital and all the wonderful people from the cancer society comes every day with breakfasts, drinks, treats,lunch, gifts and so on, it was amazing! i was so distracted chatting and being pampered that i was done in no time! 1st time you will feel a strange sensation when the fluids enter, no big deal, yes, you can go to the bathroom during infusion and will be able to do things after it, i took the treatments on thursdays and by friday night i started to feel real sick until monday in which the body rebounds on its own, you feel hunger, can go to the bathroom easily, the burning sensation goes away, etc., drink tons of water please, so the poison gets out quickly, every body is different, my sick days were rough others tolerate it better but in the end i made it and you will do it too, get prepared with the list of things your onco gave you because you will need them, neulasta and naupogen injections have their side effects as well, rest and drink, drink and drink, water and gatorade G5 for all the minerals and salts your body is going to loose, good luck and lots of love!
  • Switte
    Switte Member Posts: 3
    #92
    dorismac said:

    Cytoxin and taxotere
    I have had the same treatments as you. I began in March and ended in May. I had 4 treatments, three weeks apart. I prayed everyday that I would not get sick and I would not lose any hair. I never had any sickness or lost any hair. I did have a reaction while receiving my 2nd treatment. I begin to get light headed and dizzy and felt like I was going to pass out. They stoppped the treatment and gave me benadryl and then everything was fine. I was given benadryl before the treatments for treatment 3 and 4 and everything was fine.
    I had no problems after the treatments and I never felt tired or weak. You will be in my prayers.

    No Hair Loss?
    Hi dorismac: That is wonderful that you didn't lose your hair. I begin treatment December 3, 2012 with the same drugs. I'm ready for it and have come to terms but the hair loss was a big hurdle. Just knowing that I MAY not lose it is something to hope for. Everyone else seems to lose it and I was ready to buy a wig to prepare. How did the doctor explain the fact that you had no hair loss?

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