Taxotere??? Any other options???

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adom
adom Member Posts: 10
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

My mom was diagnosed with Stage 3 triple negative breast cancer. She has 3 large tumors in her chest wall. She has gone through 6 doses of the drug called Taxotere. She is not doing well with this drug (legs extremely sore, hard for her to walk, very weak, fingers and toes numb). This is her 2nd round about of cancer 1st time around being Her 2 + stage 4. Then 1 year later getting diagnosed with triple negative. The Dr. said she has 2 more rounds and then the'll do another Cat scan. The dr. has said that she'll be on the Taxotere indefinitely until she says stop or her body can't handle this anymore. My mom as at the point where she wants to stop and is looking at more of quality of life vs. quantity. I am just wondering if there is any other drugs out there that anyone else is taking that isn't as bad as the taxotere??? I am so scared what will happen if she does stop treatment. Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated! THANKS!!!

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  • LRM216
    LRM216 Member Posts: 2,115
    edited January 2010

    Adom - So sorry to hear about your mom but I can relate entirely to what she is feeling while on the Taxotere.  I had 4 DD AC every two weeks, and then the horrid Taxotere for 4 rounds every three weeks and I had sooooo much pain and weakness as well.  I also work full time and had to go to work during it all, but after laying it out to my onc about the bone pain and muscle pain, she put me on oxycodone for the pain as needed.  It was a God-send.  I only took half a pill every 5 hours, even when the pain subsided from the pill, just so I didn't break the cycle and let the pain come through again.  It truly made all the difference. All the pain from the taxotere went away as soon as I was off it.  Since she will be on it for a few more rounds, and possibly longer, I would insist that the onc give her something stronger than the usual tylenol, etc.  I had to insist, my onc didn't just offer it up either.  I wish your Mom a much less painful time of this.  God bless.

    Linda

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  • HairSprayMom
    HairSprayMom Member Posts: 251
    edited January 2010

    Wow I am so surprised and so so sorry to hear of this terrible side effect with Taxoter. I also had 4 dense dose Tax. and 4 Dense Dose A/C. The biggest side effects I had were from the stinking Nulast shot I had to have the day after. I know this may sound looney, but ask the nurses about taking Zertek (the allergy med) for the bone and joint pain. My onc nurse was GREAT and had many tips for me that the doc never mentioned. I took Zertek 2 times a day for a week after my shots/chemo and it really helped me a lot with the bone/joint pain. And I second the pain killers. My doc never offered, but he never hesitated when I asked for them. I am allergic to all Codine so I took a mild Dilota(morphine tab) when I needed it. Keep us posted on your mom.

    Sending love and energy~~~

     Regina

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  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 4,352
    edited February 2010

    I found an amazing product to help get the chemo out after each treatment.  You take it before going to bed the first day you start taking the steroids for nausea.  It's called Mag O7 and it gently cleanses the body and it's magnesium based--no bloating, no real side effects--it just flushes the chemo from the body and completely eliminates any constipation.  It has cut down my bad days from chemo to 2 instead of 7 or more!  I still have 2 to go and I hope your mom gets some relief from these suggestions.  PS--I also take many other alternative supplements except for the 3 day window before,day of and day after chemo--you may want to look at the alternative site for suggestions!

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