Chemo for Me - Help

mgm42
mgm42 Member Posts: 491 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I just learned that my Oncotype test results placed me in the high risk group - 36/100. This means chemo. She thinks she will use a combo of cytoxan and taxotere. Anyone out there had any experience with this cocktail? If so, would you please share. It' strange. I'm not happy about chemo, but knowing is so much better than not knowing. Anything you may be able to share about these drugs would be extremely appreciated. I will receive 4 doses, one every three weeks. Thanks. Marilynn

Comments

  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #2
    I would say that many, if not most of us have had this Chemo Cocktail...mine was "spiked" with Adriamycin as well, not so affectionately known as The Red Devil. It is potent stuff, my dear!

    There are myriad things you can expect from the cytoxen/taxotere combo. Joint pain, neuropathy, fatigue, and hair loss, to name a few, are relatively common side effects.

    I also had a major drop in my white blood count from the drugs. So...on the day following chemo ( I was also on the 3 week schedule) I had to get an injection on Neulasta, which is a white cell booster. It speeds the production of white cells in the bone marrow, and works so hard and fast it is rather like squeezing the remnants of toothpaste from the tube. Only your bones are the tube! A common side effect of Neulasta is flu-like aches and all 206 bones in your body YELLING at you that they are making white cells as fast as they can, thank you very much!!! This pain typically starts 24-36 hours post-injection and can last for 3 or 4 days. Tylenol, warm baths, and a helpful family are in order!

    I want to mention that as horrific and frightening as the thought of chemo may be...the biggest side effect is: It is a Cancer-Killer!!!
    And, in time, the less than lovely side effects leave you~ I no longer have any neuropathy or extreme tiredness, I have really nice, needs-to- be-cut-often-hair, and I am almost 5 years out of treatment!

    As we so often say, there is Life before, during and after cancer...the chemo is by no means pleasant, but in my mind, it was a kick-butt army waging war with the Beast who had invaded my body. And guess what? The Chemo Side Won!!!

    I hope this helps; you will get a ton of advice and experiences from us, I'm sure!

    Hugs,
    Claudia
  • babs49242
    babs49242 Member Posts: 193
    #3
    I had the same cocktail as chenheart....it's worth it! and of course,me being me..I loved being bald..GI Cindie hahahaha
  • survivor51
    survivor51 Member Posts: 276
    #4
    Marilyn,
    I sent you an email. Angela
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #5
    I did't have that set of drugs. But the chemo is doable. I freaked out at forst but then found out it wasn't like I would thought it would be. You just can't guess. For every bad experience, you will hear a good one, from small side effects to the overall picture. For instance, I do the neulasta shot (do you know ladies, that those shots cost almost $6,000 a piece!) and I have had very little bone pain. On the ohter hand, I was a mess with hormonal mood swings! Today, after popping 10 steriods to handle the taxol, I was mood swinging like crazy. The chemo may throw you into early menopause. It was helpful to me to find out that my mood swings were due to drugs etc. and NOT a reaction to my life falling apart. In fact, my life wasn't falling apart, I just swung like it was. Just think, mgm, someday you will be comforting someone else...telling them, Yeah, I did that. I got through that. And you will too.
    Keep writing. You know we care.
    love,
    Joyce
  • Skybuf
    Skybuf Member Posts: 143
    #6
    Dear MGM, been there done that too. The girls are right, the chemo kills the bad cells. I swore during chemo and had the AC/Taxol regimen that NOTHING could live thru that stuff! Nothing bad that is, so if you need it, take it, let it do it's job and move on with life. I had invasive breast ca, massive as they put it, 5.3cm mass and two others..had a mastectomy and healed, then Jan 28th got another mastectomy due to size and symmetery for me. Easier to deal with now I hope, still got tubes in but they will come out soon and time to heal again. Looking forward to Life...each day, one at a time hon.
    God bless you and hope your appointments go well. I too seen 2 plastics docs, they both advised me not to get reconstruction due to heavy radiation treatments....I thanked them and made my decision not to also.....so I look forward to buying some new lacey bras and put in whatever (*)(*)
    Gob bless......Buffy
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #7
    I Also had chemo--ACT like the others. Chemo is tough but doable. The AC treatments were the hardest for me. In fact, I almost quit after the 3rd one. But I hung in there and the Taxol treatments were much easier. I had bone pain w/Taxol but it was actually better than the nausea, dizziness, and generally feeling like **** with the AC!! But truley, you can get through it. I too kept thinking about how the chemicals were killing the "bad" cells. Chemo helps give you some peace of mind in the long run. Losing my hair was hard at first, but I got used to it and it came back nice and curley! Although I think its starting to straighten now.....I am sad because I actually love the curls:0) Long story short, if the docs say you should have it, then I would go for it. You can get through it and once its over you can go on with your life. Good luck and God bless. Eil
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #8
    I Also had chemo--ACT like the others. Chemo is tough but doable. The AC treatments were the hardest for me. In fact, I almost quit after the 3rd one. But I hung in there and the Taxol treatments were much easier. I had bone pain w/Taxol but it was actually better than the nausea, dizziness, and generally feeling like **** with the AC!! But truley, you can get through it. I too kept thinking about how the chemicals were killing the "bad" cells. Chemo helps give you some peace of mind in the long run. Losing my hair was hard at first, but I got used to it and it came back nice and curley! Although I think its starting to straighten now.....I am sad because I actually love the curls:0) Long story short, if the docs say you should have it, then I would go for it. You can get through it and once its over you can go on with your life. Good luck and God bless. Eil
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    #9
    Dear Mgm, Chemo is always a bit scary but so necessary. It kills the bad cells that are hurting us. I have had cancer 3 times and have endured 24 sessions of chemo. Trust me you will be back to yourself in no time. I finished my last chemo this past July and my strength is back, my hair is back and I'm pretty much back to being me. Chemo is hard so be kind to yourself, if you are tired take nap. If you feel exhausted after doing very little that's to be expected and it's okay. Be sure to keep a distance from those who have colds and such because you will be more apt to get them due to the low white cell count. My expierience has been that I generally felt poorly the first few days to a week then I would get better. By the time it was time for my next chemo I was feeling pretty good. You will do great I am sure. Cancer is the enemy and chemo is what we use to wage war against it. My prayer's are with you.

Discussion Boards