Taxotere is a nightmare

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited January 2011

    Tracie, I'm so sorry. There must be something in the air.

    We started new insurance on the 1st. I usually order my nueulasta today to be delivered by next Friday. The prescription division of my insurance didn't even have me on record. Yes I got that cleared up and the old prescription transfered the the new insurance's pharmacy of choice but now my onc has to write another justification for the new insurance! I've been dealing with it all day and still not resolved. Olso onc doesn't seem to be getting my emails. Not sure what's up with that.

    I swear it's a Nuelasta suck day! 

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  • tracie23
    tracie23 Member Posts: 598
    edited January 2011

    Hi Lago: Oh my God yesterday was a nightmare.... My onc finally called the pharmacy at the hospital and said over ride the cost get her the shot my husband waited from 2 until 6:00 pm but I did get it and so far all is good. I will get it next time a solid week before so I don't have these issues. I did get a MasterCard from the cancer center for Nuelasta and it will pay your 1st shot completely and than you only have to pay a $25.00 copay from than on. If your onc does not have them I would call the drug company it pays up to 5KI didn't have to use this time but I think the next one I will. but thank god I have it. My shot was going to cost 3400.00 YIKES.  I hope you have a better day.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited January 2011

    Tracie I hope you have a better day! What a hassle.

    At least I have time. I expect this all to be cleared up by Monday. Yes I always call 1 week ahead of delivery to get my nuelasta. I have it delivered the Friday before the Tuesday of chemo. This way if I don't get it I can call on the following Monday and have them deliver Tuesday.

    I'm originally from New England. We don't trust anyone so you can understand why I have put some safety days into the delivery.

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  • tracie23
    tracie23 Member Posts: 598
    edited January 2011

    lago, I am from New Hampshire, where are you from?

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited January 2011

    I'm orginally from MA, SE of Boston. About 20 minutes from Boston if you are driving on the SE expressway at 3AM. If 5PM then more like an hour ;-) I'm in Chicago now.

    My parents now live down the cape.

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  • jeanette41
    jeanette41 Member Posts: 70
    edited January 2011

    I had my first treatment this past Tuesday and yesterday (Friday) felt like I was dying. It is nasty.

    :(((((((

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited January 2011

    The first tx can be tough because you have no idea what to expect and when. Write down all your SE and when they happen so next time you can take meds before they get so bad.

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  • tracie23
    tracie23 Member Posts: 598
    edited January 2011
    jeanette41: It sure does make you feel like crap. I hope you start feeling better soon. Laughing
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  • emoorechase
    emoorechase Member Posts: 2
    edited January 2011

    I have taken 2 rounds of TAC - have 4 more to go.  My nose bleeds every day from the Taxatore so I know what you are going through.  My second treatment was worse than the first so I am not looking forward to the third.  My next treatment is on the 19t of January.   I started feeling tired and nauseous almost immediately and it lasted nearly5 days.  I am able to keep food down - but just feel sick.  

    I am getting my courage up for the next treatment and hope that yours get smoother!!   

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  • LRM216
    LRM216 Member Posts: 2,115
    edited January 2011

    All I can add is to just hang in there. I know it's easier said than done.  I wanted to quit the whole dang thing after my first taxotere.  It is absolutely the worst for some of us and I was one of the unlucky ones with side effects,etc.  My onc pushed me to continue to the end and I am now glad that I did, but if I had to do it again, I honestly don't think I could!  I too was told it was easier than the A/C, which was so far from the truth for me.  The A/C was far easier on me than taxotere.

    There is an end to this, I promise.

    Linda

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  • LadyinBama
    LadyinBama Member Posts: 1,132
    edited January 2011

    On the nosebleeds: I had those too. Then I started having a problem with  my eyes tearing. The eye doctor put me on a steriod eye drop, which he said might help the nosebleeds since the eye ducts are connected to the sinus cavities. I thought that sounded weird, but I haven't had a nosebleed since starting the eye drops!

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  • jeanette41
    jeanette41 Member Posts: 70
    edited January 2011

    I haven't really had much for side effects, other than the pain. Is there anything they can give me next time to lessen the bone pain?

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  • LadyinBama
    LadyinBama Member Posts: 1,132
    edited January 2011

    Jeanette: I was told to take Aleve for the pain. It helped some. The pain didn't completely go away, but it dulled it. My doc is not really into stronger drugs, but your doc may be willing to prescribe something stronger than the OTC drugs.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited January 2011

    I've been using the Aleve for Nuelasta pain. Really does take the edge off for me but like LadyinBama says it doesn't go away completely. I do have some major narcotics but I don't want to take them. SE of narcotics is constipation and drowsiness. I already have both those issues my first few days after chemo. No need to take drugs to make them worse.

    but

    if your pain is unbearable you should take them. I know I would if Aleve didn't give me any relief.

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  • ktym
    ktym Member Posts: 2,637
    edited January 2011

    Jeannette, I agree no one needs more constipation after chemo, but, have to say, I learned to take a narcotic pain reliever that first night the bone pain started.  If I did that, it got under control and lessened, if I tried to wait it out with tylenol/advil/aleve it stayed a constant drumming pain for a few days.  I was better off nipping it in the bud once.  Everyone is different, that is what worked for me

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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited January 2011

    I am having taxotere #2 tomorrow with the addition of my first Herceptin. My onc is increasing my steroids from 3 days to 9 days with a reducing dosage every 3 days - she says this will alleviate the aches and pain.  I will let you know how it turns out.

    Wish me luck - ofcourse it's snowing like crazy outside, just to make for an interesting ride tomorrow!

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  • Paula1231
    Paula1231 Member Posts: 456
    edited January 2011

    Marjie,

    The taxol is really getting me down and I am in alot of pain.  What steroid will you be taking?  I cannot take the ondansitron (sp) it makes me very sick.  Let me know if it helps and I will ask my onc to prescribe.

    Kmmd, what type of narcotic are you taking?  The aleve and tylenol are not helping at all.  I need to talk to my onc and get this pain under control.

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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited January 2011

    Paula - I had the odansetron at the beginning of my FEC treatments for nausea.  The steroid that she has me taking now is Dexamethasone...will definitely let you know how I make out.

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  • Paula1231
    Paula1231 Member Posts: 456
    edited January 2011

    Thanks Marjie!  I will ask about it tomorrow.  Do keep me posted.  Sure would be nice to have the last two taxol's joint pain free!

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  • ktym
    ktym Member Posts: 2,637
    edited January 2011

    Paula, I took 5 mg of oxycodone that first night the bone pain got bad. 

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  • tracie23
    tracie23 Member Posts: 598
    edited January 2011

    Hi Ladies, I just had my 2nd Taxotere last Thursday ... the 1st 2 days I do fine no nausea no issues just hyper from the steroids. Starting Saturday night the fatigue and body aches start and become unbearable Tuesday I started coming out of the toxic haze.This time around the toxicity was terrible I could hardly walk . The bone pain is horrible and still is as of today I got the Nuestala shot this time so I am sure that the combo is what is making it so bad. I did take darvoucet to help with the pain as , Aleve, Tylenol and Ibuprofen do not help. I hope everyone is doing ok.

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  • Paula1231
    Paula1231 Member Posts: 456
    edited January 2011

    Hi Tracie,

    I sure hope it does not get progressively worse!  I am finding that I am still sore today six days post!  I am going to ask for steroids and Oxy.  Geez!

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  • SAMayoFL
    SAMayoFL Member Posts: 958
    edited January 2011

    Hey Paula, I am taking Taxotere once a week for 12 weeks and I get a Neupogen shot the day after.  My blood count looks good, I am feeling better than I did on A/C and I have had few relatively few SE's. I know that my onc. gives me dexamethasone too but I get it in my IV bag before they start the taxotere drip.   What treatment are you currently getting?  I hate to hear that you are going through chemo and are suffering with the SE too.  That stinks!

    Susan

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  • tracie23
    tracie23 Member Posts: 598
    edited January 2011

    Hi Paula: I asked for Vicoden but it does not work for me the Darvocet seems to help. I am going to also see about the steroid tapering I was going to do it and someone told me that it really does not make a difference but I will try anything to make this go away.... I did 4 rounds of AC and to me that was a cake walk compared to this Taxotere... I hope you start feeling better , on AC I would have already been on the up swing I can't even get out of bed on Tax I slept all day today again.... and I still feel like I am really hung over. I also am still getting electric shocks up and down my legs along with the bone pain. Let me know how you are doing.  Tracie

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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited January 2011

    Just had my 2nd round of taxotere today - lets see how it goes.  My onc has me on the steroid tapering for nine days so I am hoping it works, she says it should relieve the pain.  Even with the neupogen shots, my counts were still really low so who knows what this next few weeks will bring.

    Oh BTW - I found when all else fails, a soak in a hot bath really helped too.

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  • Paula1231
    Paula1231 Member Posts: 456
    edited January 2011

    Hi Susan,

    I am doing the dose dense taxol every two weeks and Neulasta on the day after chemo.  Maybe because it is a high dose, that is why I am having such a tough time.  I do get the dexamethasone in the IV before the taxol and it is interesting that my pain starts three days post chemo.  I wonder if I ask for the steroid the pain will stay away.  The SE of bone pain is the only one I have but it is a doozy.

    Tracy, I do have darvon and I am going to take one right now to see if that works.  AC was pretty exhausting, but at least I did not have this terrible bone pain.  I have been able to work, but my poor feet, knees and thighs are having those same electric shocks too.  It seems to be lasting longer this time too.  I was fine after the first taxol five days after chemo.  This is sucky wucky.

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  • bdavis
    bdavis Member Posts: 6,201
    edited January 2011
    Wow... I start next week... can't waitCry... just kidding. Makes me so nervous to read about the pain... any suggestions are welcome. I plan on DRINKING LOTS and taking claritin for my neulasta... and I have extra oxycodone from my surgery,,, what else can I do. I start TC on Tuesday, every three weeks 6x... will also be taking Decadron for 3 days also.
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  • mommafluff61
    mommafluff61 Member Posts: 40
    edited January 2011

    I had my first TC on Dec. 30th. Felt great that day. Felt great on Friday...even went into work a few hours for finish up some end of the year/month stuff and friends over New Years eve. Sat and Sun I just laid around...felt a bit of nausea and my legs were sore. (I didn't have a neulasta shot) Mon-Wed mornings I went into work about 9am - felt like I had morning sickness. Thursday, I felt great again! 

    Yesterday, I had indigestion/acid reflux....today I took a prilosec otc when I woke up and have felt great all day!

    Keep warm and have a great evening! 

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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited January 2011

    bdavis - As far as SE's go, everyone has different experiences with many similar parts!  You'll get so much help, support and advice from these forums - it's really amazing.

    You'll get through it and we'll help. Promise Smile

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  • SAMayoFL
    SAMayoFL Member Posts: 958
    edited January 2011

    Hey Marjie, how is your thrush?  All cleared up?  I hope so!!!  That was a miserable time for me!

    Susan

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