Taxotere is a nightmare
HOLY COW Ladies !!!!! What a nightmare this little drug is.... I was told this would be a cake walk compaired to the AC, the first 2 days were a breeze but than day 3 rolled around I thought I was going to die... for 3 days I felt like I had the worst flu I have ever had I couldn't even lift my head up off the pillow oh and the jolts of pain that ran up and down my body were unreal... I also ended up with a sore thought and ear aches (which I still have), my nose bleeds every time I blow it and my nail beds are so sore I can hardly grip anything and the hot flashes are unreal. There was one upside no nausea. I never thought I would say it but I liked AC better. Has anyone else had these reactions? I have 3 more and I am done !!!!
Comments
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tracie23 ~ It really is a nightmare. I'm so sorry you are feeling so sick. I never did Taxotere but the AC made me feel the same way minus the ear aches. The upside was no nausea but those mouth sores were bad along with the jolts of pain in my body and bones. Hang in there sista!
Barb
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Aw man, my stomach has just dropped to the ground for you. I start taxotere on January 5 but I have 12 weekly treatments. I finished AC on December 15. Did you have the Neupogen shot after the Taxotere? I am wondering if your SEs are related strictly to the taxotere or may be from the Neupogen as well? Please keep on posting to let me know how you are. I am scared to death!
Susan
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Yup that sounds like Taxotere. It was odd but I had stronger reactions my first treatment then I did the rest. I had the flu like symptoms so bad i wanted to cry..actually I might have..leg pains..nose bleeds which I NEVER had in my life..vaginal bleeding...and bloating so bad wearing panties hurt.I think it was the WHAMMMM to my body...after that I didn't have any of those side effects. Take some advil for the flu symptoms it really helped me. My onc told me to take 3 advil every 6 hrs. I felt better in a day. You really need to watch your salt intake on Taxotere. I had very very little salt...until I had muscle twitching and had to increase sodium a bit.
Good luck to you, my guess is your experiencing the worst of it on your first round.
Stay strong
Diane
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Wow, I never had those problems. Well, I did have a nose bleed but just one. I was achy but nothing major. I'm sorry to hear you are having a bad reaction. Just goes to show that we are all different!
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I just finished my taxotere. I had more SEs from it than from my FEC, but, so far, they haven't been too terrible. I have the sore nails which is really aggravating. I cut my nails down real short, almost to the quick, because I hit one of them on something one night and it hurt like hell! So I'd recommend you cut your nails if you haven't already. I was told to take NSAIDs for the aches (ibuprofen or alleve). I also have nosebleeds; they said to do Afrin 2xday and saline spray 3xday for 3 days. My nosebleeds stopped. But a couple of days after I stopped the sprays, the nosebleeds came back, so I may end up going to an ENT. The nurse said it could be something "vascular" caused by the Tax.
Susan, everybody reacts differently. I too was scared to death of taxotere and almost refused to do it. But it turned out to be not that bad for me. So, you just never know.
Tracie, I encourage you to call your center/doctor and tell them everything that is going on. I told mine about every little thing going on with my body because I didn't know what was a side effect and what was just stuff going on. Most of it was SEs and they could do something to relieve it.
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Hi Susan, No Neupogen shot just straight Taxotere...I think having the Taxotere all at once makes it a bit harder on your body. At one point I was going to have it once a week for 3 weeks and 2 weeks off but that got all screwed up as everything does LOL.... On the AC I would get sick right away and nausea from the get go.... but this time it waited a few days and I really thought I was in the clear than the flu like symptoms set in the pain has gone a bit I feel like I have a bad hang over and the sore throat is still here , the ear aches are still here and my nails really hurt. But I imagine each day it will go away. I will post again tomorrow to keep you updated. Susan I am sure you are going to do great. I wish you didn't have to go through any of it. My heart aches everytime I hear someone else has to go through this crap.
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Hey Didel what part of Baltimore are you from... I grew up in Parkville... My family is still in Md, Pa and Deleware.
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Tracie, I'm sorry that Taotere is so bad for you - my stomach dropped too - I start it 25 Jan after my third FEC on 4 Jan. I hope that the next treatments aren't too bad for you.
Keep us posted on how the next ones go
Hugs
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Dunno if THIS will make you feel better or not, but I got my AC WITH the Taxotere, and the next day a Neulasta shot. Six times. Never again, and I don't care if I die!
I hope you'll start to feel better and also that when you finish it, you'll be able to crawl up from the depths of the ditch a little faster than I did.
hugs
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Hi, tracie ~ Sorry you're having such a rough time with the Taxotere. The pattern you describe is pretty typical -- feeling okay for a couple of days, and them, wham! -- bad, flu-like aches, pains and dizziness for a couple of days. After the first one, I knew to have a good book ready, and I just planned to stay in bed until those SEs passed. And sometimes they weren't quite as bad, but the timing was always the same.
I also wanted to comment on your sore nail beds. Are you icing your nails? Taxotere is really hard on our nails, but keeping them very cold during your infusions can help. Some infusion centers have ice mitts available. Mine did not, so I brought ice or a bag of frozen veggies (like peas or corn, which doesn't drip as it thaws) to hold against my nails. It prevents the Taxotere from circulating to your nail beds, where you don't really need it, and should not only cut down on the pain, but hopefully prevent much more serious damage.
Hope this tip helps! Hang in there! You're almost finished! Deanna
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Thank goodness mine hasn't been this bad so far. I just had my second round last Friday. After my first round about day 5 or 6 my nose was running a lot and a bit of blood in the mucus and my mouth was sore when I brushed my teeth but that was about it.
I'm sorry you have to go through this and I hope it gets better XXX
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I would get flu-like body aches the evening of day 2. Didn't know if it was the Taxotere or the Neulasta. Ibuprofen worked for me. Sorry to hear you are having nasty SE's. I hope they aren't as bad next time and that simple remedies take away the SE's for you.
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Wow I wish I knew about the bag of frozen veggies. After my 3rd tx 6 of my nails started to hurt. Told my onc and she said my nails might fall off. Now I'm 2 weeks out from my 4th tx and my nails hurt so bad I am having difficulty buttoning my shirt. If it gets any worse I'm not sure I will be able to type. They are turning black now too.
I for sure am bringing the bag of frozen veggies net Tuesday/infusion day. I have 2 more tx left. If my fingers hurt any more I won't be able to sleep.
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My doctor used to say it's healing pain. NSAIDs worked for me, although after he told me it was healing pain, I wanted to feel the pain.
For the sore throat I took sage drops (without sugar or added vitamin c) night and day. My toenails and fingernails turned black. But it was all worth it as I was NED before it was over. So hang in there! -
Tracie,
Bless your heart. I had a really bad time of it as well. I am on now the other side. My oncologist would not let me take even one Ibuprofen as it can affect your platelet counts...and cause bleeding. I managed my pain with Percocet, which was very helpful. I had the additional pain of Neulasta, but no regrets.
I was started on Neurontin before chemo (you can start these at any time however,) because we were anticipating the neuropathy pain. I am very glad that I did, as I too had the finger and toe issues. I still do, but much better. I take Neurontin 900 mg. every night (light dose) and I am almost one year out.
Please discuss all of your symptoms with you Onc/Nurses as I do feel there is much more that can be done to lessen you symptoms. Would you just check on the Advil/Ibuprofen before you start taking it on a regular basis? It can mess up your platelet counts, and you do have nosebleeds already. There are also over the counters like L glutamine that a Naturopath recommended to me as well (she was connected with our Cancer center.) Some ladies have had good success with this as well. I also found that my Zofran for nausea helped even out the body aches, go figure. We are all so different.
I am so sorry you are having such a rough time. I do understand completely, and I hope things get better for you soon. I do think it's important that you inform your medical team that you are having such a rough time, and see what they can offer to help. and not too sound like a broken record, but they should now all meds you are taking. I really pray that your journey gets much easier ASAP.
Hang in there Sister.
Traci
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The acetyl-l-carnitine has worked great for me (neuropathy). I do take Aleve but I'm very careful not to take it all the time. If my nose is bleeding I don't take it. Also I get these blood vessel bursting in my left eye (3 times so far). I try not to take Aleve if that has happened as well.
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For starters if you are having se's call your onc nurses they know all the tricks to help. As to the nails - keep them short, very short and paint clear nailpolish on them (Sally Hansen Hard As Nails is a good one) it seems to seal the nails and stops the hurting quite a bit - toenails too - icing them is a great idea but I didn't know about it in time, also wear rubber gloves when cleaning or doing dishes it makes a huge difference and to be on the safe side use nailpolish remover without acetone in it. Don't forget to drink huge amounts of water it helps.
The bottom line is Taxotere works - I hate that it has so many se's but I've been NED for almost two years because of it just get ready to lie on the couch and consider that taking a shower and getting dressed (in yoga pants and a tee shirt) is the day's activity - I got hooked on Real Housewives.......shows you how it affected my brain cells doesn't it?
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Tracie, I'm sorry that you are going through this. I am on TC right now and haven't had a horrible time of it. For neuropathy I did start L-glutamine and Vitamin B6. For the first treatment it was pretty scary but then took these and had no trouble with #2. My doctor gave me two drugs for nausea and only needed it one day thorugh two treatments.
Let us know how you are doing. BTW -- I'm in Houston too. Have my infusions at Methodist in the Med Center.
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hi Lmflynn, I am in the spring area. I started going to a place near my home off of red oak dr. than the insurance got involved so now I am at Ben Taub.... I am in Hell LOL I am getting what I need and the Baylor College of Medicine is taking care of me. But I ask every question there is and I don't feel like anyone really cares or they say yes that is normal but with no actual help.
I have an appointment today with the onc at Ben Taub I have a huge list of items to take and ask about. Thank you everyone for your suggestions I really needed them. I will check in with you all later.
Lena: I would rather have another appendage removed before doing chemo again.....
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I was told that in addition to painting nails with a nail hardener, also paint your nails with black nail polish. If the light can't get to the nail beds it helps lessen the chance of loosing them or having them turn black on their own. The nail hardener needs to be painted on each day for seven days, then taken off and start again.
I intend to have black finger and toe nails, courtesy of nail polish, for my taxotere treatments. It's going to be a fashion statement to go with my bald head lol
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Another little tip on nails from a BCO-sister on my August 08 chemo thread who was living in Paris at the time and got it there... if your nails do start to lift, use wig tape to keep them in place and hopefully save them. Evidently, it's very gentle tape and will not pull on them when you remove it as much as other kinds will.
Sorry to bring up such an unpleasant possibility (losing nails) to those of you going through chemo now, but since others have already voiced the possibility, I thought I'd share this with you. Deanna
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Tracie,
I hope you had a good appointment today, and that they listened to all of your concerns...AND gave you some solutions. I just so feel for you, I was right where you are now January last year. Please keep us posted.
TracI
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Tracie~ let us know how your appt went. Actually I think Ben Taub has some good surgeons - dont know abou the oncologists but since a teaching facility sure you are in good hands. (I work for a suture company) I started my Oncologist at BCM -- but she moved to Methodist in October. I'm really happy with the services so far. Tx#3 of 4 is tomorrow for me and still anxious about the TC. Here's to hoping for few side effects!!
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I am curious as to why some got Taxotere and some got Taxol? Anyone have any idea?
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Hi Everyone, I had my appointment yesterday... and it was good I cried through the whole appointment LOL... I think he thinks I am crazy now to
but they said the pain with the flu symptoms could be from the steroids not being tapered off so next round we will try that instead of just doing the 3 days worth and if that doesn't help they will try something else. But all my other symptoms are par for the course (GREAT). Last night was a rough night had some stomach problems and a small fever of 99.5 but my nail beds feel better and I am coming out of this toxic haze.... I will keep you updated. Thanks for all the great support. -
Paula I'm not sure but it does appear that those of us who get taxotere get it with carboplatin and do not get AC.
Also I think Herceptin had been tested with Taxotere/Carboplatin but not Taxol/Cytoxan. I think Taxotere is much more agressive than Taxol but Adriamycin is even stronger than that.
Good question for the onc
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EEEK!!! I have just had my first taxotere tx after enduring 3 FEC tx's. Poking around these forums can be a little scary! So far this has been wonderful compared to FEC although I just had my tx yesterday and am still pumped full of steroids. I have had no nausea and they did not prescribe any meds for it so I definitely don't miss that! During the full transfusion yesterday they had me wear ice mitts and boots - oh so uncomfortable but hopefully I will avoid some of the nail problems. They also gave me a Taxotere pkg with product info, Vit E skin cream, soft toothbush, toothpaste, non-alocohol mouthwash and a "super hardner" for my nails.
Today I start on my 10 Neupogen shots but they tend to be slow reacting although they do eventually kick in. So far each tx has landed me in the hospital, my onc says I don't metabolise the drugs the same as most so although I am hoping NOT to, I think it's assumed that round about day 7 I shall be heading in...*sigh*. My onc says she is hoping I just "sail through" Taxotere because I've had a hard time so far, but my husband suspects she is just trying to make me feel better LOL.
I am a little concerned for day 3 as that seems to be when the SE's kick in and ofcourse, it's Christmas eve.....I think I will mark this forum as a favourite and beg for advice!!
Wishing everyone wonderful holidays.
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Paula: :My onc called taxotere "second generation taxol." Apparently, they are very similar drugs. I had some reservations about taking taxotere and he told me he was ok with me doing taxol instead if I wanted to. So I guess the choice of drug just depends on the doctor and on your own preference. Taxotere was done 3 times every 2 weeks and Taxol is done every week for 12 weeks. In the end, I went with the taxotere. It can have some funky side effects, but from everything I've read, it really is an effective drug.
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I am going back down hill today... but today I really feel like I am getting sick. I made a dr. appt. Last night my temp was at 93 for about an hour and than it finally went up to 99.5 so I am not sure what is up. Right know I am cold achy and my temp is running 97. so who knows and my throat still hurts. I will let you know
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tracie ~ Is your dr. appt. with your oncologist or primary doc? If the latter, be sure to let your oncologist also know about the low temp episode ASAP. I'm not a doctor, but I would be extremely concerned about something like that occuring, especially while on chemo, and I'm sure your onc will want to know about it, too. It's not a normal reaction to chemo. Deanna
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