TAC regime

Hi,
I had Taxotere combined with Adriamycin and Cytoxin at each infusion. 6 treatments every 21 days. Followed by 5 weeks Radiation. I had to take time off because the chemo got worse especially toward the end. I was pretty much a vegetable on the couch the last 2 treatments. Plus, after each treatment I gave myself the Neulasta shot and it was quite painful, but it kept me from my white blood cells getting too low. In fact at 8 months recfovering I just had my first cold. However, my side effects I have are still leg pain and have trouble walking. Most do not know if it was the Taxotere or the Neulasta shot or both. It has been difficult but I've been back to work for 7 months now and my Oncologist is good about pain medication. I still take Percoset every few hours to get throught the day. It will take at least a year for me, but I am Thank-Ful I had wonderful docotors and nurses. Is this the type of therapy your friend is going to have? If she gets the A/C first then the Taxol or Taxotere, I hear it's not near as bad with side effects. Anyway, tell your friend she has a lot of support from all of us on this website.
HUGS
Kathy

I had AC every two weeks and then went to Tax every two weeks. I would do treatment on Thursday, telecommute on Friday and then go to work on Monday. My recommendation is, if she can take an extra day or two off with her first treament, do it. She's going to have enough stress and that's one she can have control over. She'll have a better feel for how her body responds after the first treatment. Also suggest whatever anti-nausea meds they recommend, do it, I didn't with my first treatment and I paid for it. She's blessed to have a friend like you.

n2gr8books said:

Thank you, Kathy, for the info. My friend will be doing the same chemo you did TAC - six sessions, three weeks apart. Where you down for a week or so after your treatment? She is trying to figure out a work schedule. I realize everyone is different, but think experiences with this may be similar, if not exactly the same. Thanks

Well, I have finally found someone who is gonna go through the same. Her doc might not recommend the Neulasta shot every time after each treatment, but if he/she does, she should be prepared for the "Moderate Pain" after the shot. Everyone is different but it was pretty bad for me and like I said it keeps the white blood cells up so you can complete the 6 sessions, which they really need to keep you on for better chances of killing all the cancer.
I started losing my hair just before my 2nd treatment. Taxotere combined with the A/C is a real strong dose and I was no way possible able to work. But like I said the first 2 my body was getting hyped from the drugs and learning to cope, cuz you really don't know what to expect. I'd be pretty buzzed the first few days then when the drugs wore off, I'd be able to take walks. It was an accumulative effect. And toward the end 2 treatments I was glued to the couch. I was so scared the whole time I could only sleep on the couch. I lost my tastebuds, my hair and it was difficult, but my oncologist said he was going to "Hit me hard and Punch me in the stomach" that he was treating this very aggressively.
Like I said, we are all different in how our bodies react to treatment, but I would hope you friend has insurance that will let her take the time off and definately talk to her oncologist to find out if the dose is going to make it hard for her to go to work. Especially when all 3 drugs are being administered at the same time. By the 3rd treatment, my optimism was OK, my body just needed rest. Oh, and Compazin for the nausea worked but I also used Chinese pickled ginger when I felt a wave of nausea coming on.
So, is your friend going to do the Neulasta shot?
Her onc. might be giving her a low enough dose that she can work. But if she's getting the Hard Hitter treatment, which her onc. should let her know she won't be able to work, that's only fair since he or she is our lifeline. Hope to hear back to find out. As her friend you are also her caregiver? I had my best friend quit work to take care of me and I was lucky, cuz I really needed her. Tell your friend "SHE IS BRAVE!"

babs49242 said:

I am a breast ca survivor dx in june2004(stage 3). I had about the same regiment that your friend is having. I had A/C and then Taxol..I did not work thru any of itI was down 1 1/2 weeks after each treatment.I wanted to concentrate on ME getting well. i also had 5 weeks of Radiation. I had and still have joint/leg pains,numbness in my legs,and arms and it will be a year march 23rd since my last treatments.It is wonderful that she has a freind like you...BE a Winning Warrior

I had 8 weeks of AC (every week - dose dense treatment) followed by 4 weeks (every week) of Taxol and I worked the whole time. I had nuelasta(?) once or twice(no side effects) it just depended on my blood counts. This was followed by 6 weeks(daily) of rads and I went to school full time during that treatment.
I guess we're all different - but I took every drug they would give me and I was never sick, just tired and achy from the Taxol. I think your friend should do as much as she wants - she'll know if she's doing too much.
jill

I had 4 AC followed by 4 taxol dose dense in 2004. Had planned to work as much as I could, but one of the things I didn't forsee and wasn't warned of in advance, was that the low point in my blood counts co-incided with the days I felt up to working (I had Neulasta after each treatment, but counts still drop, they just recover more quickly). Result was they'd check my counts and tell me to go home and not go out in pulic for the next few days (I work in retail, so that's very public). By then it was time for the next treatment! By the fourth treatment or so I just gave up and took medical leave full time. I think I would have been better able to deal with it emotionally if I'd been warned I wouldn't be able to work because of blood counts. Of course if your job is such that you're not exposed to a lot of people that makes a difference.

Good luck and God bless, Di