taxotere side effects

bcbarbie10

Ljhm, now it's my turn to say hang in there. I know you know, so this morning we know you will wake up feeling better.

I have been trying to exercise a bit since getting a week's break from my weekly infusions. The other day all i could manage was a ten-minute walk. Yesterday i did a 25-minute lightweight workout. And today, a light to moderate 30-minute stationary bike ride. One step at a time, indeed.

Lisa2012, you lost all your hair in AC? I had mine shaved after the first but im now done 6/8 and the growth still hanging in there. Half an inch on the average. Im wondering i might not lose all of it after all. I still have 2 taxoteres so let's see how it goes.

ljhm

day 12 after side effects and I woke up feeling like I've beem thrown around a bus.  Joint pain anywhere, first time, anybody else had this?

Ellendou

ITs day 3 after my final 4th treatment and this one seems to have really sent me for a loop....but have to look at it, that thing will just get better now.  Have to make a four hour trip into the city to meet with the R|O on Tuesday, sure hope I am feeling better by then.

Strange I am so happy to be finished with the Chemo but am so emotional, seem to be crying about everything......maybe it is relieve.  Hugs to you all

lisa2012

Bcbarbie, when I started losing handfuls of hair in the shower, about 17 days after first taxoter, I got a vey short buzz cut. That was the beginning of May. Now I have maybe 1/3 or 1/2 an in inch, all dark like my original hair. A few tiny cowlicks in back! I told my DH maybe it was time for a ponytail....well, instead I washed my wig last night.



Five of My fingernails still feel odd. Red nail polish covers the mottled colors. I keep trimming them o be short Wonder how long till they feel all normal?

bcbarbie10

Hooray for Ellendou! Im soooo envious!

Ljhm, i was better on day 12. Hoping you are getting better, too.

Lisa2012, im actually seeing bald patches now so i guess it was too much to hope for.

My fingertips, as well as the soles of my feet, get tingly as if they're on ice or on fire or something. Not painful, just bothersome and may keep me awake at night.

PaEaglesFan

We have made it through another Monday ladies.  Is anyone scheduled for the BGC this week?  I am looking forward to the long holiday weekend.  For me it is extended an extra day because I will have my #4 & final T/C treatment next Tuesday.

For those of you stuck in between #2 & 3 that are feeling down in the dumps, I can tell you that there IS a light at the end of the tunnel and it is getting brighter by the day.  I was SOOOO depressed the week before the 3rd treatment that my DH thought I stopped taking my prozac (AS IF!).  He learned that it was facing another treatment and it's SE's and knowing ANOTHER one was waiting in the wings to take it's place.  He has noticed that the closer the last one has become, the more upbeat I have become.  Yes, I know the SE's are still lurking around the corner, but I will be homefree after that!

It won't be long until we are all moving on to our next phase of BC whether it is surgery, rads, tamoxifen or NOTHING for a few of you luckies.  I am sad that we've all landed in this group for the reason we have, but I couldn't ask for a more understanding group to share this unfortunate experience with.  

Hikergal

Finished my last treatment 6 days ago and I have to tell you this one hit me hard.  Ellendou, I see that yours hit you hard too.  I had 4 treatments just like you and expected this one to be the same but was much more nauseous and fatigued.  I felt like I was going to pass out at work today.  I had taken Th and Fri off last week and thought I  would be somewhat ok for work this week.  Just an FYI, the treatments are cummulative, so prepare yourself.

My oncologist and his PA were genuinely interested at my last appt when we discussed icing during treatments.  I told them that I hope they will pass along the tips to women who want to decrease some of the SE's. 

lihm, I haven't had joint pain so late after treatment but from what I hear it will takes months before feeling back to self after chemo.

Melrosemelrose

Today was my first Herceptin only infusion.  I am 3 weeks PFC.  My hair fuzz is blossoming so hopefully in due time, I will have real hair again.   Still have some lingering side effects ( Taxo-tears, fatigue, some water retention) but reassured by my onco that those side effects should subside in time. 

At my onco appointment today, my onco asked me if I had time to talk to one of her patients who will start on the Taxotere in a few weeks after she finishes with the AC regimen.  Her patient was nervous about the nails and needed to be reassured that she could do things to help prevent nail damage.  So I met with her while she was having her AC infusion.  I showed her my polished nails and told her her to ice her nails.  Hopefully it helped her.  I remember at one of  my onco appointments, she  suggested I ice and polish the nails.  I had planned to talk to her about the icing and nail polish after reading about icing and polish here on the chemo threads.  Glad that I didn't have to convince her that I wanted to do those two things!!!!   

ljhm

Barbie

I did feel good on my 12th day and I feel really good today.  Wish next Wednesday was further off, two more to go.  Joint pain is gone, maybe too much exercise that day.  Trying to get my steroid tired muscles to grow again.  My nails have always been fine, but I ice them during treatment.  Toe nails have turned a little yellow but are still there and I don't ice them.  Have a good week ladies. 

Tazzy

When I finished my 8 chemo tx's I too was so emotional.   Relief being the main one, but I also felt that in chemo I was doing something to kill the cancer, then I wasn't in treatment anymore. Would the cancer grow back until I had surgery?  Stupid fears, but fears nonetheless.   Also, we are in chemo for so long, it becomes part of our life routine and the chemo nurses were part of my life... then suddenly they weren't.     Hope this makes sense, and hope it helps someone finishing treatment, that these emotions are so natural.   Let them out ladies.... better out than in.  

Wishing each and everyone of you minimal SE days.

Peace and hugs xxxxxx

bcbarbie10

PAegles, and ljhm, lets start enjoyin the rest of our week for next week we sit on those chairs again! And then for you, the light at the end of the tunnel will shine really bright. For me it will not be as dim, either, bec my onc agreed to lessen my last two infusions from 100mg to 80mg! When he learned how horrible round two was. He took heart anf lowered the dose. Comparison with the full dose in terms of benefits negligible. Better have a fighting chance than i die from complications. Or depression. Just apprehensive about my 2d echo the onc ordered. I just told him the litany of my issues, loss of appetie/weight, flu-like symptoms, bone pains, then the shortness of breath, which i wanted to observe some more before telling him. But it just came out just like that. Bummer. Now he wants the 2d echo done before wednesday! I even told hm my birthday's on tuesday, and felt fine by the 10th day! Biked, treadmilled, weighted, stuff! Look! Im ok, i got over it. But no, get the ptrodure done before i can see you on wed!!😒

PaEaglesFan

Have an appt w/my MO this afternoon.  How do you tell the difference between Lymphedema and water retention?  My surgical side is def more swollen than the non-surgery side, but my feet and ankles also appear swollen.
Not a happy camper 

bcbarbie10

PAeagles, from the little i know, water retention is more or less generalized. Lymphedema causes indentation from your bra, which is not present on the other side. If it's just water, i think it will readily shrink if you elevate the affected part.

My ankles and feet also appear swollen to me esp in the evening although, non-pitting. Meaning, might not be water. But still, i attribute this to taxotere. We also tend to think we have some form of edema/lymphedema on our surgery side bec of some nerve damage which dulls the skin sensation there. I went to my BS last month for the exact same reason as you have. Go, ask.

ljhm

Well I have to commit the cardinal sin today and go to the dentist.  First filling I've had without a general anesthetic in 30 years.  Wish me luck.

PaEaglesFan

Well yesterday afternoon I went to the MO's office about this fluid retention and of course he (not my reg MO) thinks it's the beginning of LE and said "You should call your surgeon about it."  So this afternoon I have to leave work AGAIN to go to ANOTHER appointment and pay ANOTHER co-pay so they can poke and prod me at the surgeon's office.  I agree that my surgical side hand is more swollen than my non-surg side, but I feel like a sausage that has been stuffed to the point of bursting.  BOTH of my feet are swollen to the point I can't get my Right foot into one pair of sandals that had been snug before.  At least he gave me a mild water pill to see if it helps.  I also wonder if it could be hormonal... this would be a PMS week if things were normal.  Does anyone even remember what normal is?

Barb, everything did look a little better this morning when I got up but of course now that I'm on my feet, they are starting to look like puffer fish. 

I know fluid retention is one of the SE's of Taxotere and that SE's are cumulative, so I hope that's all it is.  I only had 2 nodes taken out for cryin out loud!

Cancer sucks.

Chemo sucks.

Going to the Dentist sucks too, but I bet I won't mind it so much the next time I have to go after all this crap. GL ljhm

ljhm

first filling in  30 years without a general anesthetic success!!!.   Cheated a bit, took a percocet and an ativan but didn't feel a thing and got it done.  Better than having that really sharp hole in my mouth, I think that would cause more problems.  Nap time.

happyfollicles

I am going to start my chemo on 9/17  with taxotere, carboplatin and herceptin.  I am interested in anyone that had that combination and what side effects you had. 

I am going to try the Penguin Cold Caps and while I am very optimistic because of the number of people that have said they were able to keep their hair, I was wondering if anyone found a non-chemical color to use since my hair will be growing in quite gray.  I am trying to be as informed as I can to avoid surprises, but every day a new question comes up.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.

bcbarbie10

Girls, our third week's coming up after the weekend! To us, and all the big girls going in next week, minimal se's, tears, and one more step towards the finish line!



Happyfollicles, Lush has natural henna haircolors, it's called les cacas, i think. You might want to try that. A friend of mine uses Herbatint, too. Just not sure where to get it. I actually dyed my stubble with my daughter's leftover bubble hair dye! Just for fun! Tough luck, it's back to gray now, and patchy 😁.

bcbarbie10

PAEagles, hoping it's not LE.

Ljhm, you go, girl, as always!

Ellendou

Hikergal hope you are feeling better, I'm still feeling terrible, but then it might be that the trip to the city wore me out.....Rads are set for the 27th of Septermber - need 25, so will have to move into the city.

lisa2012

I worry about LE too. Have had abaselineassessment in July before my exchange surgery.

All fine. Still have some water retention but it seems to be waning (almost 10 weeksPFC.)



However, with a BMX I have TWO affected sides!! That' s all the sides I have!! 3 nodes out on each side. So I am at risk both sides forever. I see my BS in a few weeks- will ask about compression sleeves for flying, even though I have flown once and nothing happened.

not

Hi, Gina here,

Wondering why no one mentioned hydration? I was fine until 4th round of Taxotere, Carboplatin, and Herceptin, and then I found out that getting "hydration", or a liter of water IV a day or two after treatment really helps prevent SEs! I ended up in the ER to get hydration, and a lady told me she got it both days after chemo and it stopped the horrible SEs. I wish the doc would've given it to me (and everyone) to prevent SEs. Has anyone else heard of hydration being common?

I'm also wondering why everyone's taking Andriamycin and Cytoxan (AC) instead of Taxotere and Carboplatin? (I think TC must be older?) And what about Ellence? Are these newer and have less SEs?

I also found that I crave sugar and weird things which cause candida, and brushing my tongue (or scraping it) helped prevent a swollen, sore mouth. I saw on another post someone recommended "oramagic" for mouth sores which is on amazon and looks good, but kinda expensive.

Does anyone have a cure for sore scalp that's getting zits? My hairs almost all out and cut very short. 

Thanks. Hang in there. Have a nice weekend.  

"If you're going through hell keep going." ~Winston Churchill

Melrosemelrose

not-  I had a sore scalp after my 1st round of chemo when my hair was first falling out.  I was using Aveeno Baby Conditioning Shampoo and also Neutorgena T-Gel Shampoo intermittantly when I started having scalp problems (soreness & clogged hair follicles).  Once the scalp problems cleared up, I starting using the Aveeno Baby Shampoo all of the time.  Now that I'm 4 weeks PFC ( 6 rounds of Cytoxan & Taxotere), hair fuzz is growing.  Hope this helps.

not

MELROSE... That's a great idea. I will look for those baby shampoos. So, you're 4 weeks post chemo? Congratulations! How were the last 2 rounds? Did you get IV hydration?

felisaragland42

I know how you feel they give me taxotere and cytoxan and I have been feeling terrible. There are times I dont feel like getting up out the bed I be dizzy alot I usually takes it every fri but i couldnt last fri because i had diarrhea bad sore mouth blister all the side effects

Melrosemelrose

not- I guess I am one of the lucky ones whose side effects were minimal and very manageable.  Each round of chemo seemed better than the first and maybe because I was a little more proactive each time so I could avoid certain side effects.  For example, I made more of an effort each time to rinse my mouth more often with the baking soda/salt/warm water solution and brushed my teeth and used mouth wash after every time i ate.  I took Zofran to help prevent nausea but it also caused a little "C".  So in addition to eating more fiber and high buik foods and drinking lots of water/fluids, I also ate a few Sunsweet Ones Prunes everyday ( individually wrapped prunes-- really moist and sweet.)  Since my red blood count started to drop after each round, I started eating more red meat and iron fortified cereal/ rice and other foods to help keep it from dropping further.  My onco said it was better for me to eat iron rich foods than to take an iron pill.   Having a low red blood count makes you anemic and just tired.  I did not have any IV hydration during chemo.  I always made sure I started hydrating a few days before I would have chemo (this helps the veins)  and continued to keep up the fluids the days following chemo to help flush out the chemo.  My nails so far have done okay; I iced during the Taxotere infusions and also have used Essie All in One Base/Top Coat on my nails.  My onco had suggested using Sally Hansen's Hard As Nails Clear.  I tried that but found it just came off more quickly.  I also do everything I can to protect my nails--- I don't use them as openers for boxes & packages, staple removers, etc and also wear rubber gloves when washing dishes and house cleaning.  I am in the Herceptin B-47 clinical trial and have made special efforts to keep track of everything I eat or take so I would know what I ate when and what drugs I took when.  This helped me a lot since there is so much happening that it is not easy to remember everything. 

Wishing everyone minimal side effects!!!! 

SpecialK

PA eagles - did your MO say anything about taking a diuretic?  I had to start one at tx#4 due to severe body-wide swelling.  Also had to increase my steroids to the before, during and after dosing - I had only been getting Decadron in the same-day pre-meds.  The steroids also cause swelling so it is somewhat of a catch-22.

not - you should be drinking your body weight in fluids starting from the day before chemo and continuing until about 5 days after each tx.  Have you been taking in that much?  If not, that may be why you have required IV fluids.  Taxotere is a newer drug than Adriamycin, and many doc prefer to combine it with Herceptin because Adriamycin has a much higher risk of cardiotoxicity.  Since Herceptin also has cardiotoxic tendencies Taxotere is preferred - including by Dr. Slamon, the inventor of Herceptin.  The ladies who are receiving Adriamycin (Ellence is Epirubicin - same basic drug) may not be not Her2+.  Also, the cardiac damage from Herceptin may be reversible but damage from Adriamycin is not.  Adriamycin is no less brutal than Taxotere as far as SEs are concerned.

happy follicles - also check the Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin thread.  Lots of good info there.

ljhm

Going into my 5th taxotere torture this Wednesday.  Mouth sores are taken care of by Caphosol which is not available everywhere but if you can get it, it works.  The dexamethosone is my problem, causes shakes, thrush in my mouth, interrupts sleep, my face looks like a clown face.  I have 6 cycles in total so am going to try to get through it.   I drink tons of ginger ale and take wheat grass juice and my blood counts have never beeen down.  Had to switch to a powdered wheat grass from fresh so we'll see what my blood is like on Tuesday.  Good luck to everyone and minimal side effects!

not

Lijhm... Wow, that sounds familiar. I just had my 4th tx and it nearly killed me. The day after I felt fine, but my face and upper body were bright red hot from the steroids, I needed ambien to sleep, mouth and scalp sores, constipation, craving sugar, and candida's coming back... Then, the 3rd day it hits me like a ton of bricks, like food poisoning, or like sea sickness nausea, muscle aches, chills and sweating. 

I went to the ER and IV hydration stopped the SEs.  I'm asking for hydration the day after chemo, and maybe for 2 days. I only have 2 more to go also. We'll get through it. Drink lots of water tonight. [[[[[[[hugs]]]]]]

PaEaglesFan

Has anyone in the group experienced water retention?  I know the Dec is suppose to help that and last week I was also put on a mild water pill, but my ankles and calves have improved but are still showing signs of fluid.  Of course both Dr's I went to last week think it is LE but I have my doubts.  They did an L-dex reading on Thursday and it is 1.9.  I started at 1.2 and was up to 1.7 at my 2 week post-op check sooooo.... I guess we'll see.
Aa small part of me is looking forward to getting the last treatment overwith tomorrow but I'm having a really hard time taking any fluids lately.  Seems like everything is making me gag now.  Not a good time for that.  The rest of me is just plain dreading it because I know what will follow but it will be for the last time.  WHEW.   
Keeping my eye on the light at the end of the tunnel now and hope you are all right behind me (or better yet ahead of me!!)