adrianmycincytoxin or A/C

labtech
labtech Member Posts: 37
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
IF Anyone has been on this chemo, could you tell me the side affects? i know everyone is different but i have been having lower back pain and sharp stabbing pain, seems to be in my kidneys. i am seeing my doc today i have 3 more of this to go and am thinking of stopping it. my tumors have shrunk 80% and they still need to do the surgery so i was thinking what is 3 more going to do for me except make me deathly sick? not sure it's necessary and been living on Oxycotin for the pain just to walk.

hope all are well as usual in my prayers

tracey

Comments

  • confused123
    confused123 Member Posts: 251
    #2
    Tracey,
    Please keep going. I
    Tracey,
    Please keep going. I know someone who did 3 of the 4 treatments and wanted to stop. Her docs told her no studies were done on only 3 treaments but 4 showed it helped.

    I did the AC combo after a double mastectomy. The purpose for me was not to shrink tumors. I was told that if I had any cancer cells floating around in my body it would kill them. The doc said that bone scans don't pick up if you only have ,for example,100 cancer cells in your knee or ankle but if they are there the chemo will kill them. It travels everwhere your blood goes(except brain I am told), killing any cancer cells floating around.

    The pain I got was not from the chemo but from the shot I had to get the next day. It lasted a couple for days for me. The AC caused much naseau which they told me to keeo very hydrated to help this. THe day of chemo they gave me a large bag of fluid and then whe I got my shot the nect day they gave me another one because I just wasn't drinking enough. They always stressed flushing it out of my body, maybe that would help derease your pain. I felt sick fron Tues. when I would get the chemo up until about Monday of the next week.

    Please keep going. I know it is hard but just think you already have one behind you. After the next one you are halfway there. Thinking like that helped me.

    Let me know what you decide,
    Kim
  • CR1954
    CR1954 Member Posts: 1,390 Member
    #3
    Tracey......
    I had A/C combo. My pain was also caused by Neulasta shot after infusions. That was sharp, stabbing pain in my hips, thighs & legs. Are you getting Neulasta injection?

    While others here have said that the A/C chemo was the worst, I experienced just the opposite. I handled the A/C better than I did the Abraxane (Taxol relative). It was that drug that almost did me in!
    So yes, everyone IS different!

    But please continue with your chemo. Tell your onc about every little ache, pain and worry that you have. And then, please go on with treatment. It is absolutely in your best interest to stay with the plan that your docs have chosen for you. It is the most effective way to destroy your cancer.

    Hugs, hugs & more hugs!

    CR
  • Moopy23
    Moopy23 Member Posts: 1,751 Member
    #4
    AC
    Tracey, I had 6 rounds of TAC. The physical pain you describe is, I think also, more likely due to the Nulasta shot. You can take Claritin starting the day before the shot and for several days afterward to reduce the pain. Of course, do check with your onc. first. Your onc. can also determine what else might be causing the severe pain.

    Please don't stop the prescribed treatments if your onc. does not recommend it. You would be taking a risk and making the treatments you have suffered through less effective. As far as side effects of AC, they can be managed. I promise. Just report them to your onc and come to this board, as you have. Many of us have experienced chemo side effects and are ready to share info and tips on coping.
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #5
    Moopy23 said:

    AC
    Tracey, I had 6 rounds of TAC. The physical pain you describe is, I think also, more likely due to the Nulasta shot. You can take Claritin starting the day before the shot and for several days afterward to reduce the pain. Of course, do check with your onc. first. Your onc. can also determine what else might be causing the severe pain.

    Please don't stop the prescribed treatments if your onc. does not recommend it. You would be taking a risk and making the treatments you have suffered through less effective. As far as side effects of AC, they can be managed. I promise. Just report them to your onc and come to this board, as you have. Many of us have experienced chemo side effects and are ready to share info and tips on coping.

    Tracey, I did not have
    Tracey, I did not have chemo, but, I just wanted to also say to please continue your chemo. It is saving your life and that is the goal of it! Like Moopy said, call your oncologist and tell him your issues and hopefully he can prescribe something to help you! Good luck!
  • 1surfermom
    1surfermom Member Posts: 396 Member
    #6
    Noel said:

    Tracey, I did not have
    Tracey, I did not have chemo, but, I just wanted to also say to please continue your chemo. It is saving your life and that is the goal of it! Like Moopy said, call your oncologist and tell him your issues and hopefully he can prescribe something to help you! Good luck!

    AC
    Tracey,

    I was on AC for four cycles and I can honestly say it was the most horrific experience of my life. I had extreme nausea and fatigue and was so ill that I had to wear adult diapers because I would vomit so violently I would wet my pants. However I made it through eventhough I wanted to quit after the second round but I just sucked it up and continued, I actually found consolation in the fact that AC can only be administered for one time because of it's toxic affect on the heart. I just kept telling myself that this is the last time in my life that I will ever have to endure the AC. I only had a partial response to the AC just think you had an 80% response after one cycle. The AC is showing the bc who the boss is, it is really working for you. I know it sucks but you can do it, Love Surf
  • cats_toy
    cats_toy Member Posts: 1,462 Member
    #7
    tracey
    I was on the adriamycin and cytoxin for 4 cyles too, and I can only state what they did, please do not stop. any chance of reducing the tumors is worth the pain. I did not have that bad of pain, but it does make you very nauseous, and of course the hair. But hang in there, you will be glad later that you did.
    Let us know how you feel after you talk to your doc.
    Cat
  • mimivac
    mimivac Member Posts: 2,143 Member
    #8
    Pain
    Tracey, I feel your pain. I had those drugs as well, along with a third. The bone aches are part of the side effects. As Moopy said, Claritin has helped many (when the pain comes from the Neulasta shot). It didn't do much for me, but 2 extra strength tylenol did help. If that is not enough your doctor can give you something stronger. They don't want you to be in pain. The ladies are right, quitting now might not give you the full effect of the drugs. It sounds as if the chemo is working right now, which is fantastic. Do all you can to keep at it. Some people simply cannot tolerate it, but the benefits are vast if you can. Good luck, Tracey.

    Mimi
  • taleena
    taleena Member Posts: 1,612 Member
    #9
    Tracy..I can not offer any
    Tracy..I can not offer any words of experience... but I do know that you can get through this.. you can do it... talk to your doctor.. let him find ways to help you through the side effects.. but don't stop... not until you reach the end.. and know that every microscopic cell is distroyed and can no longer reek havoc on your life.

    Sending hugs your way

    ~T
  • babebussie
    babebussie Member Posts: 150
    #10
    I did both of those my 1st
    I did both of those my 1st time around and i didnt have any problems. I was blessed.
    Please continue the fight, dont give up. Love yourself, love life and want to live.

    We all pray for you.
    Hugs and more hugs,

    Babe
  • tommaseena
    tommaseena Member Posts: 1,769
    #11
    babebussie said:

    I did both of those my 1st
    I did both of those my 1st time around and i didnt have any problems. I was blessed.
    Please continue the fight, dont give up. Love yourself, love life and want to live.

    We all pray for you.
    Hugs and more hugs,

    Babe

    I also did
    I also did A/C 4 treatments and am now on taxol w/Herceptin 12 treatments (6 more to go) and then will be on Herceptin every 3 weeks for one year.
    I did not have any problems on the A/C so I guess I was one of the few. I did have bone and muscle pain but that was form the Neulasta shot they gave me the day after chemo. I was told to take Claratin by my oncologist and it helped with the pain. You need to ask you oncologist if this or something else will work for this.

    Don't stop the treatment. If you are nauseous then ask for something else if the anti-nausea pills are not working for you. My oncologist told me (exact words) "If you get nauseous or sick then I am not doing my job."

    Hugs,
    Margo
  • whosie1
    whosie1 Member Posts: 1
    #12
    I agree, please keep going.
    I have just completed the 4 treatments, I was able to continue working, not easy but, you can do it.
    I can only relate how it affected me and what we did to help the side effects. The day of treatment we would start the Emend, an anti-nausea drug that is taken the day of treatment and then for two days after treatment. Of course, I also got the Neulasta shot the day after, the side effects after the first shot were probably the worse but, could be handled with Tylnol. Also, together with the Emend I took for two days after treatment I also took, at the same time, one Zofran and one Dexamethasone (steriod), this was all prescribed by my doctor. This really helped me, my fatigue really hit about 4 days after treatment.
    I had my surgery last week, right breast removed, no additional lymph nodes removed. I see my surgeon and oncologist tomorrow to get pathology report. I know radiation is in my future. I did lose all my hair and, I hate to say it, also eyelashes but, they will come back.
    Any questions I can answer will be glad to. Family, prayers and friends will keep you going, as my husband would say, "Just another bump in the road" He is a two year cancer survivor of Squemas (spelling) cell carcinoma, he had a very hard time but, we got through it.
    You can do it!
  • j916
    j916 Member Posts: 141
    #13
    AC pain
    I didnt experience any nausea with AC except for my first treatment, and then it wasn't bad. But the pain from that nulasta shot, like many of you, did me in!!! I did have some stomach pain, that seemed like it was up into my liver...and it was from the severe constipation that came from the anti nausea drugs. Once i got that under control, the pain was so much better. I tell you, that constipation is something that you can't even make someone that has never had it understand...i was ready to find some TNT! lol Also...i have never seen any discussion regarding medical canabis on this site...are we not allowed to mention it?
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #14
    babebussie said:

    I did both of those my 1st
    I did both of those my 1st time around and i didnt have any problems. I was blessed.
    Please continue the fight, dont give up. Love yourself, love life and want to live.

    We all pray for you.
    Hugs and more hugs,

    Babe

    How are you doing Babe? I
    How are you doing Babe? I don't see you on here much. I hope you are doing well!

    Hugs, Noel
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #15
    whosie1 said:

    I agree, please keep going.
    I have just completed the 4 treatments, I was able to continue working, not easy but, you can do it.
    I can only relate how it affected me and what we did to help the side effects. The day of treatment we would start the Emend, an anti-nausea drug that is taken the day of treatment and then for two days after treatment. Of course, I also got the Neulasta shot the day after, the side effects after the first shot were probably the worse but, could be handled with Tylnol. Also, together with the Emend I took for two days after treatment I also took, at the same time, one Zofran and one Dexamethasone (steriod), this was all prescribed by my doctor. This really helped me, my fatigue really hit about 4 days after treatment.
    I had my surgery last week, right breast removed, no additional lymph nodes removed. I see my surgeon and oncologist tomorrow to get pathology report. I know radiation is in my future. I did lose all my hair and, I hate to say it, also eyelashes but, they will come back.
    Any questions I can answer will be glad to. Family, prayers and friends will keep you going, as my husband would say, "Just another bump in the road" He is a two year cancer survivor of Squemas (spelling) cell carcinoma, he had a very hard time but, we got through it.
    You can do it!

    Welcome, whosie1
    You have already made much progress along the journey. Congratulations for completion of your chemo. Yes, not easy - yet doable. Nevertheless - quite an accomplishment. Congratulations to your husband, also, for his two year survivorship. I am fast approaching my own six year anniversary.

    Good wishes to you for the best possible outcome from both of your doctor appointments tomorrow.

    Please feel free to visit us often. We're all here to support and encourage each other.

    Kind regards, Susan
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #16
    whosie1 said:

    I agree, please keep going.
    I have just completed the 4 treatments, I was able to continue working, not easy but, you can do it.
    I can only relate how it affected me and what we did to help the side effects. The day of treatment we would start the Emend, an anti-nausea drug that is taken the day of treatment and then for two days after treatment. Of course, I also got the Neulasta shot the day after, the side effects after the first shot were probably the worse but, could be handled with Tylnol. Also, together with the Emend I took for two days after treatment I also took, at the same time, one Zofran and one Dexamethasone (steriod), this was all prescribed by my doctor. This really helped me, my fatigue really hit about 4 days after treatment.
    I had my surgery last week, right breast removed, no additional lymph nodes removed. I see my surgeon and oncologist tomorrow to get pathology report. I know radiation is in my future. I did lose all my hair and, I hate to say it, also eyelashes but, they will come back.
    Any questions I can answer will be glad to. Family, prayers and friends will keep you going, as my husband would say, "Just another bump in the road" He is a two year cancer survivor of Squemas (spelling) cell carcinoma, he had a very hard time but, we got through it.
    You can do it!

    Just want to say congrats
    Just want to say congrats whosie to you and your husband!

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