taxotere side effects

Alicethecat

Hello ladies

Keep your chin up.

Six months after finishing chemo I can't almost remember having it!

This too will pass.

It is worth it, in my humble opinion, and I speak as someone who had sepsis, 0.37 neutrophils, peeling skin, hand/foot syndrome, blood clots (leading to daily Tinzaparin injections for three months).

I started feeling healthy again just four weeks after finishing and hopefully so will you!

Best wishes

Alice

SeattleMama

Thanks alice for stoppin by and giving us a pep   Hope you are having a nice weekend.

MsW2012

Thanks Alice! Encouraging words.

About the darned dry nose thing, I started using saline nasal spray, cheap at the grocery store. No more Neosporin or Vaseline. Just spray a few times a day. No sting and way less runny nose & "bats in the cave." (Got that one from my husband lol)

SeattleMama

MsW, that's what I use too.  Works like a charm

Jennie93

Thank you so much, Alice.  It feels so overwhelming when we are in the midst of it.  I keep reminding myself "this too shall pass" no matter how bad I feel, but it's not easy sometimes.  The end is in sight now for me, last chemo in a few days!

blondiex46

so that is the reason for the dry nose, just blowed mine and there was blood, nothing much and will tell the dr. when I see him...have nose spray the dr. gave me......the diverticulitis has flared up that is more problem then anything.....chemo again wednesday for my 3 weeks on 1 off, and off next week...I am on chemo til it doesn't work anymore or I get stable, the TM's are down, we will see....need to get a scan before dr. does anything else....he said when stable he will put me back on hormonals and see what happens.

Happy Sunday

Sandy

Traii

praying Blondiex46 that you become stable and that TM's are down so you can go back on hormonals ... everything crossed on me for you hun, let us know when your next scan so we can all have you in our thoughts and prayers x

Well Monday night here.....so good night from me to you xx or good day from me to you xx !!

ziffy321

Hello again, ladies.  Does anyone have some advice as to what are the best/worst days for going back to work after treatment?  I get my next infusion on a week from Tuesday and Neulasta shot on the following Wednesday.  I'd like to avoid being at work when I'm most vulnerable.  I thought it would be right after each treatment, but some have been saying that it's 4-8 days later.

bcbarbie10

Ziffy, on taxotere, i couldnt do four days later. Eighth day might be okay, though. Good luck!

SherylB

Ziffy,

Keep in mind that I am 56 and have quite a few health issues. My first tx was 1/10 Thursday and on Saturday had the muscle/bone aches from hell probably from the Neulasta. So if I wanted to work I could have worked Friday but then not again until The next Saturday, I had to much pain and was taking pain meds.

Remember everyone is different many woman here have worked through it all, depends on what type of work. I am a nurse and on my feet, bending, stooping, lifting etc.

Hang tough, Sheryl

blondiex46

Well, I get chemo on Wednesdays, I know that i will be tired afterwards, probably from te benedryl so sleep afterwards, thursdays are ok and friday usually is when I fade....if I work I try to do it on Saturday evenings or Sunday, but not for alot of hours, usually 4......I don't get the Neulasta shot, am on taxotere!!

Sandy

SherylB

Hi all,

Is anyone using the Brian Joseph's brow and lash gel and thinks it works? It is pricey at $50 bucks.

Thanks, Sheryl

SpecialK

sherylb - a member named bdavis used the Brian Joseph - send her a PM and ask her - I can't remember if she liked it or not.  By the time I saw her post about it mine were already impacted.

aic

I got treatment on a Monday. Wednesday through Friday were normally my worst.

jeanieb2

ziffy - I got my treatment on a Thursday and by Saturday around noon I started to fade, could not think straight, off balance, nothing tastes good.  By Monday diarrhea started and by Thursday I was dehydrated so went in for fluids every time a week later along with getting the Neulasta shot.  My onc said it takes between 7-9 days to hit the low point so we always did the fluids and shot the week after treatment, by the following Monday I was feeling human again, so it is about 10 or so before I felt just OK and could do a few things, but the fatigue kept me from doing much of anything until the week I went in to get it again, then I was feeling good.  I know everyone is different and hopefully you will not be as sensitive to this as I am. 

Traii

I had my infusion on weds....i went back to work on monday!

jeanieb2

I am wondering what happens when you lose you nails.  My big toe nail is all black underneath and when I wear shoes and walk much it bleeds out from under at the top of the nail.  I am sure it is going to come off and I have other nails that have what looks like blood pooled under them on hands and feet.  I started Tax on September 6, taking it every 3 weeks and my last one was on December 20, so I had six treatments and my oncologist had me take a break, he thought my body needed it and when he looked at my feet and hands he was really sure then.  I do not know what to expect when the nail does come off, is another one growing in at the same time or are you without a nail for a while?  Does it hurt or does it just kind of finally pull away, then does it bleed much?  This is kind of gross but just wanted to know what to expect.  Thanks

blondiex46

I would like to know that also....it seems like everybody has issues 2 days after...

Sandy

weesa

Jeanieb2--It has been a while for me, but I did dose dense taxotere, and my nails did pretty much as you describe. Much to my relief, they fell off on their own and it did not hurt. There was a new nail underneath which had grown half way up. The grossest part for me was when they got loose and bled. It was a relief to finally get rid of them!

jeanieb2

weesa - Thanks for the information, it makes me feel better.  I did not realize that there might be another nail growing underneath this one.  I was afraid the nail would have to come off completely before the other one started to grow in, so I am relieved to know that another one is probably already growing and I won't be without nails for to long.  Did you lose all of them or just a few?  I am sure everyone is different, just curious I guess.  I can see where it will be a relief when they finally come off and I can quit staring at the ugly thing wondering when it will happen.  I know I am going to freak out, not much bothers me but nails; or hair in food, are two things that just about do me in, I can take anything else, well except bugs, they are the worst thing to find, except lady bugs blondiex46 .  About how long did it take for your nails to get back to normal?  I know I will start Tax again as soon as my markers start going up or if scans the end of March show something.  Thanks again.

giselagarcia43

Hi,

I  just went through my first three weeks after chemo January 8th. I start my second round tomorrow january 29, 2013, except now they want to give me Nulasta and im so skeptical of the side affects. I do want to continue what I sarted but im scared any suggestions.

gigi

SherylB

gigi,

Everyone on these forums seems to take the Claritin (loratadine generic) 1 day before the neulasta and for about 5 days after. That is what my MO has me do. I already take ibuprofen 800 mg three times a day along with tylenol at the same time (all ok with my MO). I have arthritis and a bad back so that is what I have to do. However, I did get severe back pain, and sore muscles/bones aching in shoulders, arms, thighs etc. It was all tolerable but the low back (which is already a problem for me), I did have to take lortab for the back for a couple of days but most on these forums see to do ok with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or aleve (naproxen sodium), get you something for the aching. You need the Neulasta for your WBC. I never dropped below 3 and my last WBC count was 8 the week before chemo when should be at my lowest point.

Hang tough, Sheryl

Linda-n3

Gigi, do you know what you are scared of? I was able to specifically identify what I was scared of, but my MO just didn't listen and pay attention to helping me, and I ultimately have done poorly. You need to identify the part that frightens you or causes you the most anxiety. Talk with your MO or someone here - if you can figure it out, you can better address it and you will feel more comfortable going ahead with treatment. If you have an inner voice that does not get answered, you may be risking a lot if you continue on a treatment regimen that you are afraid of, but you may be less afraid if you can work with through that fear. Don't just go blindly into the treatment because you started it, but rather go through the treatment because you believe it will help, and that you can handle the SEs. Best wishes.

Traii

Hi Jeanie, My finger nails are falling off slowly one by one, so far 6...they only fell half way off so i have half a nail and the other there is no nail there I'm actually going to show my onc tomorrow as I have an appt it just looks weird....they didn't bleed nor do they hurt but they just look damn ugly....

gigi, good luck with your second tax ... I hope you have combated your fear. I suggest going into chemo with a positive attitude to kill kill kill any nastys that may be lead astray. taxotere unfortunately doesn't have nice side effects but we are all riding through them. I had neuropathy and still do get it every now and then, my hands shed like a snake but now have nice new skin ( moisturise and more moisturising I suggest because the skin does become VERY dry) are you icing? I suggest icing your finger nails and toes. It can lessen and did to me my neuropathy....suck on some lemon drops while you are having chemo if you can....I didn't ice my mouth through infusion and I know many if not all of us experienced horrible taste in our mouths which subsided after around 7 days, but I just used salt and water to rinse and some biotine gel.

I only had 3 so I take my hat off to the women whom had more than me because 3 was more than enough for me...but if I needed more I would have had to bear and grin and do what I'm told....lol.

Good luck, we are in your pocket for tomorrow hun.

weesa

jeanieb2--I am remembering a funny story about losing my two big toenails.(The other 8 toenails got loose but I never lost them, and my fingernails felt tender for a bit but stayed in place.)

It was summer when I finished my four rounds of dose dense taxotere, and soon I felt well enough to return to work. I could not stand the pressure of regular shoes on my feet but I found a pair of sandals that were fairly presentable--I work in a very sophisticated, rather posh office where people dress up very spiffiily. I was self-conscious about how gross my toenails looked, so the night before I returned to work I painted my toenails bright red and went to work wearing the sandals. Mid way through the work day I glanced down at my feet and to my horror, I had only 9 bright red toenails. The big toe on my left foot was pale pink with an embryonic nail emerging. I ran around the office frantically, retracing my steps until I spied a bright red blob on the pale grey carpet. My missing left toenail--I was so grateful I found it myself, before some other unsuspecting person picked it up and wondered what it was! That night when safely home, I pulled off the toenail on my right foot--it was hanging by a thread, and got out my red nail polish and painted an approximation of a full grown toenail by painting the skin above the new nail, on both my big toes.

blondiex46

when did the finger nails/toe nails start to fall off...haven't gotten that yet, hair isn't falling out either..

Sandy

carlads

Blondie, I had my first treatment on January 10th, shaved my head last Thursday my hairs started coming out in chunks..  Next treatment this Thursday.  They did tell me I might not lose my lashes or brows but I am using Latisse just in case.  My MO said I could use it, but I have seen some on the boards who said their MO said no.

I will be icing my nails too.  I asked my nurse about it and she said well we don't have very many women that do that..  Oh well I am. 

Starting my Miralax today, my Claritin tomorrow a day early to try and avoid the Nuelasta headache!  Don't want that again. As well as the steroids. 

Sheryl, I'm there with you on Thursday!! 

Traii, love you. 

Everyone else have a good day!

Carla

MsW2012

Morning ladies! I am having trouble reaching my docs since Thursday. Does anyone know why doctors generally like to wait two weeks after chemo to do any kind of invasive procedure? I am scheduled to have my port replaced tomorrow morning and am not able to reach the surgeon to confirm that 8 days after chemo is long enough. I would feel much better if I could be reassured the timing is ok. Must have to do with blood counts, right? Thanks!

SherylB

MSW2012,

I would be concerned too. Our Nadir (lowest point) is supposed to be 7-14 days after our last chemo. Keep calling and be assertive before you go tomorrow just to be sent home if WBCs to low.

Sheryl

MsW2012

Ok, I made a royal pest of myself and got through directly to the surgeon. He was not aware it was so soon after chemo & he rescheduled! After my chemo nurses and the surgeon's office mgr both told me they were sure it was fine. In fact he said my counts would be at their lowest right now and no way would they do the procedure now.

Lesson: if you feel anxious about anything, don't be afraid to ask, and keep asking till you get an answer you can understand! We would have driven 2 hrs in terrible commute traffic tomorrow morning and my husband would have taken the day off, all for nothing. We really do need to advocate for ourselves.