Taxotere is to hard!!!

chiquita

Texas 357, the nurse has ofter me gloves very cold that makes the chemo stay away from your finger tips...it help with the protection of your nerve ending ...

Genie2, yes I told the Oncologist about my side effects. He is not offering to much help, he told me to wait for the neupogen to work and the antibiotic to take its course...I have to go for blood work on Wednesday again, so far today was the first day that I was able to eat a Little and to drink without being seek...let see tomorrow, I am throing up a lot and not sleeping...

margaretr

I was given extra Decadron with the chemo when I had that reaction to Taxitere - which of course makes the sleeplessness worse but that bad taste thing only lasted for about 4 days with each treatment.  I, too, took the Claritan after my daughter discovered it on this site.  I had a bad reaction to the Neulasta and I swear the Claritan stopped that the second time.  I'm not sure of your diagnosis or expected outcome but as bad as you may feel - even for a week - if you can beat the cancer - isn't it worth it in the end?

Texas357

Yes, I've told my oncologist about the sore fingernail beds. He didn't seem all that concerned. The last treatment, because of burn-like spots on my hands that were peeling, he did back off on the taxotere dosage and doubled my steroid dosage. But that has not eased the fingernail side effects.

Odalys

Chiquita -  I received taxotere too.  My onc had me place hands and feet in a pan of ice(similar to getting a manicure and pedicure).  It worked wonders at preventing the Hand and Foot Syndrome caused by chemo.  If your nurses are offering the ice, I say go for it.  If they aren't, ask your doctor to write it as part of your chemo order.  No need to suffer when there is something they can do to help you get through this treatment.  Hang in there.  I promise it will be over soon and there is life after chemo. 

nelia48

I took prilosec for the horrible stomach issues.  It really helped a lot.  I also had the flushed face, which went away after a while.  Burning urine, burning bowel movents, horrible aching bones, terrible tasting food, etc.  Racing, pounding heart, too.  I almost quit.  I was so sick I felt like road kill.  But I stuck it out.  Glad I did, as the tumor shrunk tremendously.  I'm ok now.  It does get better, and it will soon be all behind you.  If you REALLY don't like your dr., please find one that you can communicate with and will listen.  It's YOUR life!!!!  Fight for it!  

Cora

susan13

Chiquita,

I have the sore redspots on my hands, both knuckles, Onc says he's only seen that once with the Taxotere, it's almost like they got scraped with something!  For the sore fingernails... not sure if that means they are going to fall off. My onc. told me to make sure my nails are painted a dark polish or with a clear UV protectant polish on them so they don't fall off.  That's gotta be painful.

Still suffering with my sinus', I think I'm going to get the wash that Genie is talkin about.  They started to feel better but this morning it feels like it's starting to get worse all over again.  Just doesn't end.

Sue

rsben70

i am taking extra decradron with taxotere,it seems to help some.  had a rash all aver my head when my hair started coming out. i was warned about my nail beds but they are ok for now. i just had my 3rd tx .  food taste terrible.  tumor has shrunk to almost nothing i have 1 more taxotere then i will have 4 AC.

susan13

rsben70,

How much decadron do you take?  I take 4mg's for the 3 days after treatment and that is it until the next treatment.

mumito

texas  Are you using ice mits durring infusion?  You wont loose the nails unsless they turn black.  For me the ice helped save my fingers but did not work on the toes.  6months out of chemo and my toenails are still a mess.

rsben70

susan13  i take it for 4 days, after my first tx got sick so we added the extra day it seems to help some.

nelia48

I didn't have trouble with fingernails, but my toenails are really a mess!  And my feet are numb and ice cold still.  I had my last chemo on Dec. 3, and I guess they are going to stay that way, huh?

Cora

Texas357

I'm using decadron the night before, and again the day of treatment. I just got #5 today, and still have 4 more to go. (9 total)

I asked the onco nurse about the ice. She said it works for some people but not others. That seems to be the battle cry with chemo, doesn't it?

I'm also taking Prilosec for stomach issues, and I just started adding probiotics because I figure the chemo is probably killing some beneficial microbes in my system.

rsben70: I'm so happy to hear that your tumor has shrunk so much! That's great news. It's also inspiring to the rest of us.

dlb823

Texas357 ~  Some women have problems with fingernails while on Taxotere.  Some of my nailbeds had started to discolor and looked sort of bruised and blackish.  If you let it go, it can worsen, and they can eventually come loose.  Do you know about icing them during the Taxotere infusion?  It cuts down on the circulation of the Taxotere to the nailbed, where you don't need it anyway, so will help with damage control.  Some centers actually have ice mitts (forget who makes them; maybe the drug company that makes Taxotere?), some supply ice, and in some cases, you may have to bring your own icepack, as I did.  The other thing you can do is rub Tea Tree Oil into them -- not during the infusion, but like @ bedtime.  If you can find it in the paste form (comes in a little disc) it doesn't smell as bad as the straight oil.  I think someone on the TC thread also recommended Almond Oil as an alternative.  And lastly, I've also read that it helps to keep them covered with a dark polish.  Not sure why, but some on the August 08 chemo board recommended it.  Hope these ideas will be of some help to you  ~  Deanna

Texas357

Thanks Deanna. The doubling of the Decadron is intended to help my nails, and so far they haven't discolored so maybe it's working? My oncologist's office didn't have much positive to say about the use of ice, but if my nails begin to worsen, I'll definitely try it.

I've been soaking my nails at night in the bag balm (udder balm) that my oncologist recommended because the skin on my hands was getting red and peeling. So I'm wearing gloves to bed after slathering on the slick, gooey stuff. Not sure if it penetrates/works better than the oils you recommended. Again, I'll try a switch if they worsen. Anything that might help!

kathimdgd

I just finished chemo on the 5th of february.I was on taxotere and cytoxan x 6,.All my nails are grey about half way down and some have red lines in them.The red happened after this last chemo.With me i had a decadron drip,aloxi and then the t&c each time.The first one was awful,i had stomach pains,constipation at first,nausea,especially when dh cooked something,made me feel like i was pregnant.I also got very shakey and weak,and couldn't hardly walk without holdng on to something.The constipation only lasted 3 days and after that it was like non stop diarrhea,and that's when i got so weak and shakey.Called the oncologist and they had dh bring me in as they said it sounded like i was dehydrated,and i was,so they had to re-hydrate me.

Each one of my 6 treatments gave me some different side effects,but all gave me diarrhea .He had to put me on a prescribed prescription med for that ,still didn't help much.Last week was the first week since i started that i didn't have diarrhea,but it didn't last long as it came back this monday and i've had it today as well.I got the neulasa shot the day after chemo,and that made my face very red,also have had a red rash on my head ,parts of my arms and legs.

I go back for a check up this thursday,and will find out then what i'll be on for the next 5 years,and what else i'll have to do.

Kathi

Texas357

I've been taking Imodium daily as a precaution because I don't want to get caught in traffic when the urge hits. I've also got the red rash on my face, but nowhere else (yet).

Kathi, I was wondering whether the side effects continued to show up after treatment, which you just confirmed. I have a friend who has severe nail issues that didn't show up after taking Taxol for 6 weeks!

So being 'done' with chemo is kind of a misnomer. Even once we're through putting it in our bodies, it must take quite a while to completely clear it.

nelia48

My side affects were much like kathimgdg.  I also had the cytoxin with the taxotere, and the neulasta shot the day after, etc.  Also had the 6 treatments, and mine were 3 times the strength due to my weight and height.  One thing that did happen to me that was horrible and strange was, the bottom of my feet peeled off.  I think this was at about the 4th treatment.  Big, huge hunks of skin came off, leaving me almost unable to walk for days until it healed up.  So take care of your feet, please!!!  LOTS of cream.  I also had trouble swallowing.  The food thing was a terrible issue, as nothing tasted good.  I thought for sure that I'd be eating Cream of Wheat cereal the rest of my life.  The Chemo nurse suggested I try Carnation Instant Breakfast drinks, and that was a lifesaver.  If you can't eat, try this, or Ensure or something.  It did stay down for me, and I started feeling better after that.  You need the nutrition.

chiquita

Hi, after a bad bad bad week, finally I can eat and not have to throw up and have diarrhea, my feet is not sore and I stop shaking...my mouth is sore and I have a bad taste but I can eat...thank you for giving me holp and ideas how go on with this treatment...thank you again...

chiquita

My eyes are very red and itch even after using eyes drops and a cream....can anyone let me know if there is a special product for it?

Thank you.

kathimdgd

This has been a good week for me.Had diarrhea Only on monday and tuesday.The rest of the week was smooth sailing,even regained some of my strength back.My nails are still the same,but they aren't loose or lifting,just discolored.My biggest problem now is my eyes,they won't stop tearing,it's like i'm crying all the time.After this last chemo i lost all my eyelashes and most of the brows.Funny(not) how they didn't fall out til the last chemo!!  Mybe it's just to remind us we are not done with treatment yet!!

I have to go tomorrow and pick up some meds,he's gonna try me on.He wanted to give me samples first,in case they don't work,but he was out of them and had to call the rep to bring him some.They called me late friday to tell me they were in,so i'll go pick them up tomorrow.I don't remember what it is,i thought he said Riotin,but when i tried googling that it just came up with stuff about riots.Oh well,i'll find out tomorrow!!

Hang in there everyone,it does get better.

Kathi

caligrlof68

oh taxotere... I had 2 big doses of this 3 weeks apart since the taxol made my hands numb and useless. I must say the SE were dreadful, but didn't last too long. Fingernails turned black and loosened...use cuticle oil and keep them trimmed very very short to avoid pulling one off accidentally. Stomach pain was helped by prilosec and frequent small meals. Constipation occured for a few days after infusion....followed by.. you guessed it... diarrhea! If i took a laxative the day before my infusion i could avoid that painful full gut feeling. The muscle tremors were terrible a few days after infusion....one time i woke with full body tremors and thought i was having a panic attack in my sleep, but it passed rather quickly.  The second infusion sent me to the ER due to tremors and muscle rigors and the inability to breathe. My potassium was very low, so i suggest eating bananas while getting taxotere to avoid that problem entirely. The red face was from the decadron and i always got that the day after my infusion...every one said i looked like I had been sitting in the sun. Dry eyes drove me nuts.. i got some eye moisture drops which helped a bunch.  Bloody noses....that was just dreadful, but i slathered vasoline in my nose each night and that helped keep my nose moist and blood free. I also ran my humidifier all day long to keep my house "moist"....which also helped my nose. When i got mouth sores I got a script from my onc for magic mouthwash. It soothed and numbed the sore areas so i was able to eat and drink. I have a friend who got blisters on her fingers and toes...was very painful for her and the doc only offered pain meds for her. I had terrible joint and muscle pain on days 3-4 after infusion. I took vicodin for this and was able to get some relief.  All in all.. i think the AC was easier than the taxotere as the meds eased up all the AC SE. Taxotere you just have to deal with and know it it doing it's job kicking cancer's butt.

chiquita

Thank you Caligrlof68 and all the other people who are giving ideas how to go on with this chemo... I will try all the suggestions and I will let you know how I am doing. xoxoxox to all

Alyad

I think I am also reacting to Taxotere. Day 6 after first TAC and I still feel like crap. I have the red flushed face and last night was running a low grade fever. very low grade, 98.5-99 (normal is 98.0 for me), glands feel swollen, after a way too big dinner tonight I am belching alot, had diaherrea, feel short of breath. I;m just waiting to bounce back and it isn't coming yet. I feel discouraged.

Texas357

Alyad, that all sounds very familiar. I have a red rash on my face, and I'm belching all of the time too. I alternate between constipation and diarrhea, and yes I have the shortness of breath now and then. I just had taxotere #6 on Tuesday.

Other "wonderful" side effects that I've had from this drug: extremely sore nails, extremely dry mouth, bloody nose, and of course nothing tastes worth a darn. I have 3 more treatments, and then I understand that the effects can still show up even weeks later. Oh boy.

Lena

This thread caught my attention because my oncologist wants to put ME on taxotere (along with cytoxan and adriamycin), supposedly to start (presuming I don't go find a bus to step in front of first) in a couple of weeks. 6 cycles they want to give me to shrink my tumor so I can have a mastectomy. (I'm also still waiting to find out when they want to insert the port-a-cath)...Well, I read everybody's posts on this here, now, and...

   ::::::faints::::::: How do you ladies stand it?! What could possibly make life worth this? I can't think of ANYTHING!

Where in the heck did the oncologist and chemo nurse get the idea to tell me that I would tolerate chemo 'well"?! Everything I've read in here is exactly the reason why, when I saw the changes happening in my right breast, "Just Knew" it was cancer (not what type or how advanced, just that it was cancer) and started doing research on breast cancer/treatment, I decided I'd rather die (I almost decided not go to a doctor at all -- I only went because my boyfriend said I should at least go and find out exactly what was going on). So I go, get mammo'ed, ultrasounded, biopsied, diagnosed, staged, then I get told I'll "tolerate" it "well" and also read other posts in here from women who held down full time jobs while on chemo (which my chemo nurse also told me some women do)...and now THIS? :::::faints again:::::

I have stage IV IBC and despite the changed appearance of my right breast, I am not in pain and I don't even feel sick. My right breast feels a little tender and is occasionally itchy, but that's all. I find it really hard to go back to the cancer center now, feeling pretty well, and letting them give me this stuff that's going to make my life so miserable I'll WISH I was dead, from what I researched previously and now what I've been reading in here.

Eeesh. I'm sorry, I'm sure I'm not making any of you feel any better by freaking out like this. Maybe I should just go back to lurking. I honestly don't know how you're able to endure this and my heart goes out to you all.

~Lena.

Texas357

Lena, chemo is hard but it IS do-able. We all commiserate because we didn't choose this, and often it's a royal pain in the behind. But I wouldn't choose to stop chemo. It's giving me a greater chance at a longer life. I loved my life before this all happened, and I'm eager to regain as much of it as possible.

So bloody nose, sore hands ... whatever ... I will continue to put up with it all.

MariaG67370

Everyone is different and reacts differently to all the cancer treatments, whether it be surgery, testing, chemo or rads.  I've had a bi lateral mast,  4 tx of Cytoxen and Taxotere and 33 rads.  I tolerated chemo well. Blood work was always good so I never had a Neulasta shot. I had minor side effects, (sore mouth, finger nails did darken, lost most of my hair, and I was tired on the 4th day).  But I cannot say that I had a sick day due to chemo. I worked throughout chemo.  I do have arthritis and when the Taxotere was going in I did have pain, which was aleviated with Benadryl and a slower drip. But I never had pain on the days following chemo.  I made it thru the 4 treatments.  And even if my side effects had been worse I still would have continued because I would have wanted to make sure I did all I could to fight the cancer.

ango74

I also had a rough time with Taxotere but, each tx was different. Some were worse than others, that is the only way I got through it. If they all were bad I don't think I could have done them all. I know it's rough but you can do it.

My nails were HORRIBLE. They started out sore, then they turned a purplish color and started lifting.  Then they got infected, they smelled just awful and had pus coming from them. That all lasted a couple of weeks, then they came off.  Once they came off the soreness went away. They are starting to grow back now but are paper thin.

Maeve

Texas

My finger nails and toe nails also hurt like hell during taxotere, they went extremely thin and flakey with horizontal lines running up and down and although they broke easily they did not fall out, I used to wear plasters over my nails to protect them from hitting anthing... very unattactive but it did help the pain when I tried to type. 

Texas357

Funny because my oncologist keeps claiming that nail problems are "so rare" these days. I think sometimes they only see what they want to see as far as side effects.

Ironically my nails are harder than ever thanks to my use of the Hard as Nails. The beds of some are turning red. I'm babying them, keeping on gloves/bag balm at night because the skin on my hands has also been burned/peeling from the taxotere.

I've also been working full time, and haven't used up much sick time due to surgery or chemo. Somehow we find the strength, don't we?