back from Moffitt tonight...Cytoxan?Taxol,adrimycin and Neulasta and emend?

Ok, I am starting and researched my chemo rX, and Cytoxan is just that " a toxin" and is it a pill? and I don't quite understand.. yall can help me out here.. i just took so much information in today  and my head is spinning...

The above titled question are the 5 words i heard today... yall said u are here for me.. so please give me some insight on what to expect... Oncol. said that I cannot be around any place that would subject me to germs.. like work... impossible...

Love,
valli's Mom ( and yes, he is here laying by me.)

[bluebutterfly2222]

Cytoxin, Adriamycin, and Taxol are all chemotherapy drugs.  The first two ("AC") are often administered together a certain number of times ( as determined by your oncologist ), two or three weeks apart, and then followed  with Taxol ("T") on a weekly schedule for a number of times.  (I believe some protocols call for all three to be given at once.)

Emend is commonly given right before each chemo treatment, and is intended to reduce the likelihood of nausea or vomiting. You may also be prescribed some kind of pill for nausea that can be taken at home, if needed.

Neulasta is often given a day or so after each chemo treatment. Its purpose is to keep the neutrophil count from dropping too low, which would impair the person's resistance to infection.

I'm sure your head IS spinning, and facing the first chemo treatment  causes a lot of anxiety for most people, but the experience  usually isn't as bad in reality as it is in one's imagination.  

Many people continue to work most, or much, of the time during the months they are undergoing chemo, but you'd  have to negotiate that with your oncologist if s/he has told you that you should not do so...

Some of the other community members may be willing to share their experiences with you.

Meanwhile, just keep dealing with all of this one step at a time, and you'll get through it. A good friend of mind often comments, "It's not pleasant, but it's definitely do-able."

Warm regards to you, and a "belly rub" to Valli...
bluebutterfly

[bluebutterfly2222]

p.s. I've also sent you another PM.

[SueYoung55]

Cytoxan and Adriamyacin are the first chemo's I received. Adriamyacin will be very noticeable as it's bright pink/red. Cytoxan was not administered as a pill but through my port catheter. I had 4 rounds of these two chemo's and also had neulasta shots the next day. Within 3 weeks of the first treatment you can expect to lose your hair. If they don't offer the EMEND ask for it. It is taken right after your chemo, then also the next day and the next day. It does a fabulous job of stopping nausea. Bluebutterfly said it should be taken before chemo and it is prescribed that way but since you won't know if they will do the chemo until they've done your blood test you do not want to waste a pill that costs $106.00 for 3. They will most likely give you a script for compazine as well for when you're at home and get a little queasy.
Taxol/taxotere are all taxane drug chemotherapies. These are usually given in the last 4 rounds of chemo. You will either tolerate it or have an allergic reaction to it. I had the allergic reaction so my last 3 chemo's were carboplatin and gemzar and they go after metastatic cancers.

Chemo is not fun, not at all. I was able to work through my chemo and radiation but I don't work with the public or in a healthcare industry. You will want to keep washing your hands and be vigilant to not touch your face.

Drink lots and lots of water. Let them pump the chemo in and then you go straight to as much water as you can force down. Don't be surprised if you urinate pink, that's the adriamyacin.

You can do this and do it well. Don't let anyone limit what you can and cannot do. Do what you can and keep as active as you can. Feel free to post questions as you go and we'll try and answer them for you.

Best wishes :)

[valliboy]

Wow, thank you! That was a big huge help to know that u went thru all of that too. I don't know if i mentioned that my chemo will be every 2 weeks.I will see if I can handle traveling like that every other week.. and my brother taking me. So, within, now I am just really trying to prepare,the first or 2nd one I will start seeing the effects.(hair loss)None of my coworkers or clients know anything, i haven't mentioned it to anyone, so I am worried that just one day, I am going to show up to work bald !!  Dr.confirmed that I will definately receive Emend.

Well,,  for sure I know I will be diligent to learn more about germs.

Who gave u your Neulasta shots? I have to recruit someone here to do it, that was what the Dr. told me.

Oh, did u gain alot of weight? Dr. said I will gain weight from N-lasta... and here I have been trying like crazy to eat this last month and put weight on, because I thought I was going to lose weight during chemo. !!!! That is insane.. well,, I am up to 135 lbs.gained 5 lbs in a month. :)

My port is scheduled for next Tues at 6 am.and then the MUGA.

Thanks to all of you and please don't stop all of your great encouragment.

Val's Mom

[SueYoung55]

You may want to consider cutting your hair short if it's not already so that when it does start coming out you won't be more disturbed by it. Your hair will "hurt" before it falls out, sounds strange but it's true. And when I say "hurt" it's not too bad but you'll remember I told you that and know what it means when it happens. I did go bald through my treatments and everyone supported my decision to do so. I would have sweated to death with a wig or scarf or hat. I lost hair, eyebrows, eyelashes and all body hair (no complaint about that one) but I only missed the eyelashes.

The neulasta shot I took in my stomach. Trick to it if you're going to have someone administer it for you, have them press the plunger to administer as they enter the skin so that it's a little quicker. (tiny burn sensation with drug administration). Very skinny needle so that's a plus.

They always administer steriods before the chemo is hooked up so you will gain some weight. You may want to ask for a small prescription of ativan too to help you keep calm when you get fearful.

Best wishes :)

[bluebutterfly2222]

Emend may be administered before  your chemo treatment in IV form, along with the other pre-chemo meds.