Original diagnosis of invasive breast cancer not DCIS, but I took these drugs.
They called it TAC, presumably because they gave all three at once. It was a very hard regimen of drugs, I was lucky to have the support I had at home.
My best advice is make sure you have plenty of nausea medicine, and rest when you need to. You will likely have good and bad days, but it won’t last forever. I just counted them down on the bad days and celebrated the good days.
You said end of November which reminded me that I started in December, 20 years ago. It was certainly a different time for oncology patients. Are you due to start soon? All the drugs at once or separated like some of the comments above?
I had that combo -- 8 rounds of A/C every other week and then 12 weeks of the Taxol.
For me the worst side effect was the constipation, I would recommend doing *everything* you can to prevent it.
Another thing I regret, for my A/C they had me chew ice to prevent mouth sores and I hate chewing ice, so when they told me to ice my hands and feet during Taxol to prevent nueropthy I didn't and I got it in my toes on the last treatment. 🙁
Hello...I wanted to know if anyone received all 3 Chemotherapy medications:
1. Cyclophosphamide IV Formula (Cytoxan, Neosar,Endoxan)
2. Doxorubicin(Adriamycin, Rubex)
3. Paclitaxel(Taxol)
I will be thinking about you, @dmosssadler . Best of luck!
💐🫂💐
I forgot to mention - I read studies about chemo nausea and fasting and implemented a fasting plan for chemo days that I believe really helped for the nausea. The studies also proposed that it would help the medicine work better, and protect your cells, since your regular cells would be in a resting state due to the fast but the cancer cells won't.
I had that combo -- 8 rounds of A/C every other week and then 12 weeks of the Taxol.
For me the worst side effect was the constipation, I would recommend doing *everything* you can to prevent it.
Another thing I regret, for my A/C they had me chew ice to prevent mouth sores and I hate chewing ice, so when they told me to ice my hands and feet during Taxol to prevent nueropthy I didn't and I got it in my toes on the last treatment. 🙁
I took Zofran and Compazine for the nausea for the 3 days after the chemo. Not bad for 3 days, then started over for 11 more doses. Constipation. Noone said anything that i heard. It caused me many problems, as two times i was hospitalized, no water for 24 hours, so everything inside turned hard and bingo. Small tears and more problems. I now know what can happen, then was 4 months of just trying to get the laxative coordinated with the nausea meds. I do have some neuropathy still, but i never got mouth sores. We do not know our side effects until we get them, but we can prepare.
Hi there. I planned the dosages in conjunction with my work schedule (worked two jobs throughout). My experience of "dose dense" chemo (same as yours) was pretty good. Got it on Wednesday, good on Thursday, started feeling sick and tired Friday, OK by noon Saturday where I would treat myself to my favorite food, just in time to practice and play church services on Sunday. They gave me Neulasta to protect the WBC count. I know "attitude makes the difference" is an often over used phrase, but it's really true. When I felt really weak and tired, I'd just get up and walk around. It's amazing what that habit can do. I wish you all the best. Believe you can get through this. As one nurse told me "treatment has a beginning time and an ending time" And by all means, drink all the water you can! (ILC, modified radical mastectomy, left: Stage IIIC, dxed 2/13/2019)
Hi there. I planned the dosages in conjunction with my work schedule (worked two jobs throughout). My experience of "dose dense" chemo (same as yours) was pretty good. Got it on Wednesday, good on Thursday, started feeling sick and tired Friday, OK by noon Saturday where I would treat myself to my favorite food, just in time to practice and play church services on Sunday. They gave me Neulasta to protect the WBC count. I know "attitude makes the difference" is an often over used phrase, but it's really true. When I felt really weak and tired, I'd just get up and walk around. It's amazing what that habit can do. I wish you all the best. Believe you can get through this. As one nurse told me "treatment has a beginning time and an ending time" And by all means, drink all the water you can! (ILC, modified radical mastectomy, left: Stage IIIC, dxed 2/13/2019)
Hello! I want to thank you so very much for responding & sharing your experience with me! It is a lot to take in.
BreastCancer stage 2 with Lymph Node involvement...
Removed 14 nodes & 3 were cancerous. Oncologist said 8 rounds of Chemo & Radiation afterwards.
Hi there. I planned the dosages in conjunction with my work schedule (worked two jobs throughout). My experience of "dose dense" chemo (same as yours) was pretty good. Got it on Wednesday, good on Thursday, started feeling sick and tired Friday, OK by noon Saturday where I would treat myself to my favorite food, just in time to practice and play church services on Sunday. They gave me Neulasta to protect the WBC count. I know "attitude makes the difference" is an often over used phrase, but it's really true. When I felt really weak and tired, I'd just get up and walk around. It's amazing what that habit can do. I wish you all the best. Believe you can get through this. As one nurse told me "treatment has a beginning time and an ending time" And by all means, drink all the water you can! (ILC, modified radical mastectomy, left: Stage IIIC, dxed 2/13/2019)
Thank you for sharing your experience. Besides a positive attitude and staying active, do you have any more tips for someone who will be starting chemo next week? Did you do any fasting? Eat particular foods? Avoid particular foods? Take certain supplements?
I had lost a lot of weight after the diagnosis and surgery, so no, no fasting or dieting. I ate what I wanted. My daughter, who is very health and diet conscious, suggested an organic, plant based diet which I do to this day (especially for milk, because 1% milk is my favorite beverage). Here's something else, after the chemo, I would get like this lump in my throat. It would go away, and I felt better after eating! (pretty antithetical). Even on the organ bench, I'd have a bunch of grapes and saltines at the ready. That sensation lasted during the whole chemo time. I didn't play with supplements--too afraid it would disrupt the chemo. Your doctor will let you know if you need anything in that regard. They served lunch in the chemo room. Who would think you'd look forward to that? but I did! Looking back eating was my best ally. There are all kinds of cookbooks for this period of time.
I will be thinking about you, @dmosssadler . Best of luck!
💐🫂💐
I forgot to mention - I read studies about chemo nausea and fasting and implemented a fasting plan for chemo days that I believe really helped for the nausea. The studies also proposed that it would help the medicine work better, and protect your cells, since your regular cells would be in a resting state due to the fast but the cancer cells won't.
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Hello, tha js for sharing your journey...Yes my 1st Chemo session is Nov. 29th. According to my oncologists, I will have the 2 together & 1 by itself
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1 ReactionThank-you for sharing your experience me. I start my 1st Chemo on Nov. 29th.
Thank you for sharing!
I will be thinking about you, @dmosssadler . Best of luck!
💐🫂💐
I forgot to mention - I read studies about chemo nausea and fasting and implemented a fasting plan for chemo days that I believe really helped for the nausea. The studies also proposed that it would help the medicine work better, and protect your cells, since your regular cells would be in a resting state due to the fast but the cancer cells won't.
Hugs!!
I took Zofran and Compazine for the nausea for the 3 days after the chemo. Not bad for 3 days, then started over for 11 more doses. Constipation. Noone said anything that i heard. It caused me many problems, as two times i was hospitalized, no water for 24 hours, so everything inside turned hard and bingo. Small tears and more problems. I now know what can happen, then was 4 months of just trying to get the laxative coordinated with the nausea meds. I do have some neuropathy still, but i never got mouth sores. We do not know our side effects until we get them, but we can prepare.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHi there. I planned the dosages in conjunction with my work schedule (worked two jobs throughout). My experience of "dose dense" chemo (same as yours) was pretty good. Got it on Wednesday, good on Thursday, started feeling sick and tired Friday, OK by noon Saturday where I would treat myself to my favorite food, just in time to practice and play church services on Sunday. They gave me Neulasta to protect the WBC count. I know "attitude makes the difference" is an often over used phrase, but it's really true. When I felt really weak and tired, I'd just get up and walk around. It's amazing what that habit can do. I wish you all the best. Believe you can get through this. As one nurse told me "treatment has a beginning time and an ending time" And by all means, drink all the water you can! (ILC, modified radical mastectomy, left: Stage IIIC, dxed 2/13/2019)
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsHello! I want to thank you so very much for responding & sharing your experience with me! It is a lot to take in.
BreastCancer stage 2 with Lymph Node involvement...
Removed 14 nodes & 3 were cancerous. Oncologist said 8 rounds of Chemo & Radiation afterwards.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThank you for sharing your experience. Besides a positive attitude and staying active, do you have any more tips for someone who will be starting chemo next week? Did you do any fasting? Eat particular foods? Avoid particular foods? Take certain supplements?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI had lost a lot of weight after the diagnosis and surgery, so no, no fasting or dieting. I ate what I wanted. My daughter, who is very health and diet conscious, suggested an organic, plant based diet which I do to this day (especially for milk, because 1% milk is my favorite beverage). Here's something else, after the chemo, I would get like this lump in my throat. It would go away, and I felt better after eating! (pretty antithetical). Even on the organ bench, I'd have a bunch of grapes and saltines at the ready. That sensation lasted during the whole chemo time. I didn't play with supplements--too afraid it would disrupt the chemo. Your doctor will let you know if you need anything in that regard. They served lunch in the chemo room. Who would think you'd look forward to that? but I did! Looking back eating was my best ally. There are all kinds of cookbooks for this period of time.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsOh wow! Thanks for that information, very helpful..GOD bless you
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2 Reactions