Chemo protocols
 

I start chemo next Tuesday. I will be getting cytoxan, taxotere, and herceptin, every 3 weeks for a total of 4 sessions, with the herceptin continuing for a year.
Is there anyone else on this protocol? The doctor said I will still probably lose my hair, even without adriamycin, but there is a chance i won't. Anyone on this protocol who kept their hair?
Also wondering what people's side effects were on these specific drugs. I have to take decadron the night before, the day of, and I think a couple days after each chemo. Also, I need to get an injection to boost my WBCs the day after each chemo. Just trying to be as prepared as possible for what's to come!
Thanks!
Pat

Re: Chemo protocols
 

Pat -

My protocol was close to yours, except I had Carboplatin instead of Cytoxan, and I went 6 rounds.

I did lose my hair, well, I shaved my head and donated my hair to locks of love before it fell out... I wanted to be in complete control, as much as I could.

Taxotere side effects for me were: changes in my finger nails (strangely, not my toe nails), dry mouth, constipation and diarrhea depending on the day (sounds crazy, I know) all over body aches, fatugue and weakness. My side effects started kicking in about the 2nd time. The hardest part was the body aches - I also worked full time during treatment so maybe they seemed worse because of that?

Herceptin is easy. I will complete my one year on the 2nd of Nov. with no problems at all.

The Neulasta injections the day after chemo may cause some muscle pain. For me, sometimes it caused the pain and sometimes it didnt. it usually lasted about 24 hours.

I am now 7 months out from chemo and I can see my body slowly trying to get back to normal.

Good luck to you, you're gonna do great :)

Kelly

Re: Chemo protocols
 

Thanks Kelly,
So yesterday was my first day of chemo. It wasn't too bad. The premeds (benadryl and adivan) made me really tired, and I slept for about 2 hours while there. When they first poked me in my port it really hurt, but another patient was having her port removed so she gave me her lidocaine cream to use next time so it won't hurt as much. Today i had some mild stomach cramping, but no diarrhea or constipation. I wasn't able to get the neulasta injection today because I had an appointment with my pulmonologist so I am getting it tomorrow morning. Besides the stomach cramping, i just feel a little bit tired, but not too bad.
Also, on Monday I went to a local Breast Cancer resource center and got a free wig, hat, and night cap, so at least now I feel a little more prepared for what's to come.
When you lost your hair, what kind of soap did you use on your scalp?
Congratulations on being 7 months out of chemo!!!!!
Pat

Re: Chemo protocols
 

Pat, My sister is on the exact protocol as you, only she is getting 6 rounds and Herceptin for a year. She gets steroid pills the night before and the day of, and has to take Benedryl IV right before....she has done amazing...had her 3rd treatment yesterday, continues to work full time. Her hair began to fall out day 17...so we cut it short, within another week, even the stuble was gone....she does still have her eyebrows...i am so jealous!!! Hoping this combo will be kind to you as well....she uses EMLA cream to numb the port....ask the nurse for a script. She also gets Neulasta the day after....she is on a 3 week schedule for the chemo.

Thinking of you~~

Re: Chemo protocols
 

Thanks, Pat -

Glad to hear your first round isnt being too harsh on you :) I also worked through all of my treatment. I had chemo on Thurs, took Friday off and was back to work on Monday.

For sure get a script for the lidocaine cream. I would put it on about 45 mins before and cover it with plastic wrap until is was time to get poked.

As far as hair loss goes, my hair (yes, my hair) started hurting about a week after my first treatment and I couldnt wait to shave it off, I felt sooooo much better afterwards! I started using Ovation Cell Therapy products on my head, I really think it helped with hair growth. I used the shampoo to wash my scalp and the cell therapy as a leave in cream. It's expensive but you use so little it lasts forever. I purchased mine last December and I still have WAY over a 1/2 a bottle of each.



I hope your remaining rounds are just as easy :)

Kelly

Re: Chemo protocols
 

Good morning ladies, thanks for the information on the Ovation Cell Therapy! As most of us I too lost my hair and have been using organic shampoo and creams for my scalp while going through the chemo. I have my last chem session Nov. 7th so my hair will begin growing in shortly after that. I will look into the cell therapy, I hope I can find it here. I have switched over to Paraben Free and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) hair and skin, soap products. Unless the products actually state paraben and sls free the product has those damaging chemicals in them, even the products for our infants and children have these terrible chemicals in them. Organic shampoos, creams and soaps are not that much more expensive and so much better for our skin and hair.

Re: Chemo protocols
 

Re: Chemo protocols
 

I used the Ovation Hair system - my sister gave it to me. I'm not sure it did much but it was nice. I also have a big jug of Philosophy body wash I used on my head.

I did carboplatin, taxotere and then the yearly herceptin. I found that I had very few side effects - mostly tired and that was at the end of the treatment. I am a huge believer in drinking a LOT of water during treatment. I drank 64 ounces the day before, the day of and the day after. Hydrating yourself keeps a lot of the bad SEs away, especially constipation. I also ate a very high fiber diet.

You'll find that the changes make your tastebuds taste like sewer. You can try this water - http://www.delightwater.comwhich is supposed to help with the bad taste. I don't know if it works for that but I did try it on my new chemo (which doesn't cause the taste issue) and it was very good.

I don't know anybody who hasn't lost their hair. I'm glad you didn't go crazy buying wigs - I did and I spent way too much and it turns out I couldn't tolerate them. So, I used scarves. Fortunately, the scarf trend is still in play so you should be able to find plenty.

Good luck to you!

Re: Chemo protocols
 

Thanks Cool, for the info., I agree with you, the water intake really helps. I also enjoy warm water with slices of ginger for another taste, cucumbers too add a 'spa' flavour.

Re: Chemo protocols
 

I also did 64 ounces the day before, of and after... as suggested by my onc nurse. After my 3rd treatment is was hard to drink anything... for me, all liquids felt like they were as thick as motor oil going down my throat and the metal taste was pretty bad as well - BUT- I knew I needed to do it to flush those toxins out of my body :)

Re: Chemo protocols
 

I had the same chemo protocol with the decadron, for the prevention of hand/foot neuopathy. I had carboplatin instead of the cytoxin.

Re: Chemo protocols
 

Thanks for all the info. The water and ginger sounds interesting. Last night I started to have SEVERE lower back pain, going right down through my hips. It is sooo bad. I'm taking percocet, and I don't like to take strong stuff like that. The nurse said that it is probably from the neulasta. The firsat 2 days after the neulasta wasn't bad at all, but yesterday and today it is barely tolerable. It hurts so much I would swear I had a tumor in my spine! And I'm not a whimp! I like to run, and do triathlons, and have been trying to stay active, but this pain has knocked me on my butt!!!!! The percocet helps the pain, but making me feel sick. Wow, this really stinks!

Re: Chemo protocols
 

Neulasta is nasty stuff and it's surely the cause of your pain. Take a claritin an hour or two before you take your shot - it is supposed to help. It does get better - not perfect, but better.