Anyone have ACT Chemo Treatment?

 

So a topic on my mind right now is hair.  Taxol is supposed to cause complete hairloss.  I have had my 4 AC treatments and 2 Taxol (2 left).  I have little "Spikes" of hair on my head and there is a part of my hair in the front that I never lost during treatment.  My friend (on the same treatment) has a head that is soft like a baby's behind and her last Taxol is tomorrow (not sure when all the hair left her head).  When do you think i should be seeing some hair--I'm talking something that would cover my scalp? 

 

I'm not liking the cold weather here in CT.  We have snow outside and it makes my muscle spasms/pains worse.  When I come home from work I lay in bed and have my fireplace going to keep me warm and cozy.  My life is not very eventful right now, but chemo takes alot out of you as you all know.

 

 Girlpower

I was able to have the infusions on Thursday and I took Friday off and was usually well enough to return to work on Monday -- I had the most difficulty with fatigue on the AC and found the Taxol to be much easier to tolerate - I was even able to work Fridays while on Taxol.  You did need to rest a lot!  

 

Here is where you can order the brochures,

 

 

I was premenapausal before chemo (45 yrs old) periods stopped during A/C, but the hot flashes didn't start until the night after my first Taxol - and they are brutal.  I started Effexor with my 2nd Taxol and it does help - I have them less often and they're shorter and less intense - which makes sleep much better. 

 

I had a CAT scan about 5 days after my last Taxol and got the all clear.  I was allowed to go on vacation 4 weeks after chemo (blood test showed my anemia and immune system were better) and I started rads 5 1/2 weeks after my last chemo. I had my 1st post treatment mammogram in August - all clear - I have one every 6 months, along with an appointment with my breast surgeon.   I have my 2nd post treatment, every 3 month appt with my oncologist tomorrow - so far so good!  My energy level is still lower than before all this started - but I'm told that's to be expected after the amount and length of my treatment.  And being menapausal now doesn't help.  I have chemo induced arthritis now in my hands, feet & knees - especially my right knee.  I predict the weather like an old lady!  But no neuropathy, except my arm from the lymph node removal, and I hardly notice that any more.

 

It's good to hear from you and you are almost done with your chemo, that is wonderful.

 

I had Taxol and did have bad leg pain but that isn't the case for everyone, we all respond differently.

 

Keep us updated and best wishes to you,

 

 

Thanks for your concern.  I am doing ok, only 2 more taxol treatments to go.  I started work again on November 2nd and I have been drained when I come home from work.  My routine consists of going to work, coming home and hopping into bed and just watching tv and then pushing myself to get the energy to do laundry. 

 

For the most part I have had muscle spasms/pain, stomach pain, the usual hot flashes and insomnia.  The steriods have been making the back side of me sore to the touch.  I have had thrush a bunch of times with this treatment.  I am happy to say for the most part, the naseau is gone--I am so thankful for that. 

 

The hip hat is a huge success at work.  People who don't know what happened just think I either got into hats or am supporting my brother through his hair loss (lung cancer stage 4).  Obviously word has gotten out at work to some, I told a couple people then you know the rest.  I'm fine with it.  Some people try and keep track of me, checking in each day to see how I'm doing (which feels nice to be honest). 

 

My husband bought me Yoga for the Wii, has anyone done that either in conjunction with the real Yoga classes or just by themselves?  One of the things that work affected was the ability to go to my Yoga classes due to the time it was given at.

 

Unklez--What symptoms did your wife have with the Taxol?  When I first started I was freaked out about having issues especially since the nurse stood there for 10 minutes making sure I was ok the first time.  Has her treatment plan altered with the new treatment--is it still every week or is she back to every two weeks?  After chemo is your wife having a 6 week break and then doing radiation?  A week after my last chemo I have to have an MRI of the breast to look again at my margins and then figure out if I need additional surgery.  If I don't we would proceed with the radiation 6 weeks later.

 

I recently got the TNBC brochures in the mail and I am excited to hand them out to the cancer centers and surgeons office.  I wish I had something like that when I started.  It would definitely have made my treatment plan easier to decide.

 

Girlpower

 

 

 

How did your treatment go?  I would think you would be fine for Thanksgiving.  These chemos have a cumulative effect about them.

 

Some people I've known absolutely sailed thru their Taxol.  My daughter worked everyday while on that drug.  When I had Taxol I developed leg pain, we are all different in how we react.

 

 

I had taxotere and found it to be much easier on my stomach. But I did have problems with thrush. I used Nystatin to keep that at bay. I really think you will be fine for Thanksgiving.

 

I went to yoga today and the fire alarm went off twice.  Now this is at my nearby hospital that I do the yoga.  It was right during meditation time which wasn't the best.

 

I'm starting work again on Monday to a position I had about 6 months ago.  Does anyone have any words of wisdom for starting the job?  I know the people pretty good and my new boss (old boss laid off after I left earlier this year) knows about my health and he actually knows about my brother too since I found out he had cancer while I was still working there.  I'm going to do my best to take it easy.  I'm hourly so I just wont get paid if I go home sick.  I'm ok with that.  My health comes first.

 

Tonight I'm going to have my husband shave some of my head.  I'm gonna keep what's left of the front of my hairline and parts of the sides/back of the head but get rid of the top stuff.  Each night I go to bed with the night cap on and it turns all around on my head and I wake up with hair in my face coming out of the cap.  I should probably just get rid of it all (minus the side burns and back) but I'm just not there yet.  Maybe I'll surprise myself tonight, who knows.  I'll keep you all updated.

 

I am truly grateful for this website and the people that share their lives on it.  All of us here truly have a bond that is hard to understand if you have never been through this "hurdle" in your life.  I look forward to being able to help others, as others are helping me understand and get through these rough patches that we call life. 

 

Girlpower

Not having to shave WAS GREAT lol