Taxotere is a nightmare

I would love the recipe Lago....

Hello,



I have been following the posts for TC, I just finished up my treatments on Dec 2nd. I thought it was going to be worse than what I experienced, original treatment plan was to be ACT, but in the first treatment was allergic to adriamycin so o/c switched me to TC. I never lost all my hair, but now have lost most of my eyebrows and all but a few eyelashes weeks after my treatment ended. I do have neuropathy in my fingers and most annoying black and blue fingernails that are lifting off.



Monday I had my breast exchange, doing ok. And yes! It's so much better with the TE's out and the implants in. Next adventure is a hysterectomy in about a month and Arimidex

My onc gave me a prescription to calm me down but I didn't use it yet....I like the whole super-woman thing, lol.   I do have to make sure that I don't take 'roids to late in the day because I will be up all night.  I find though that my Neupogen shots kind of bring me down in the evenings too - not looking forward to them!

Marjie-  That is so funny... I went to get a boob fill up today for the first time since September and the nurse commented that I looked like I had an all over tan.  I never noticed.  My boobs could break bricks!  (c:

Lago - OMG those oreo stuffed cookies look good.  Hardly fits in the anticancer diet!!!  LOL.  Why is all the good stuff bad for you?

I never had steriod rush, but the red face was bad for me.  it was the worst the first time. I looked like I had a bad sunburn.  It seemed to gradually decrease with each treatment.  And it caused horrible night sweats. I really hate steriods.  I took them once before for a respiratory infection and swore I would never take them again. 

Wow - you were right Tracie - Taxotere certainly is a nightmare.  I had my first treatment on Monday - 6 days ago and on Wednesday afternoon felt like I'd been run over by a bus and it all went downhill from there.  I've spent the last three and a half days in bed, and lost over 10 pounds. 

Feeling a bit more human today, but very tired, and still aching a bit.  My biggest problem was the diarroeha (where I lost all that weight I think) it also made me feel a bit queasy - not like I was going to throw up, but not great.  My nails are ok and I haven't had any tingling, but I feel like I'm 100 years old and now I think I look like I'm 70 (I'm 53).

My private parts are stinging and feel like they are red raw - even passing urine was agony.

Please tell me that this won't be so bad next time - I don't think I can do that again.

Trish

Hi Trish,

I am so sorry you are having such bad SE's.  I agree with Lago, in that prevention is key in managing the taxotere.  On day three, I start the immodium and the aleve.  This will help enormously with the bone pain and the runs. 

If you are getting neulasta or neupogen right after tx, clairitin and aleve will help with that bone pain as well.  Drink lots of fluids during the chemo and for several days after.  I found this diluted the urine and will help with the stinging and the raw feeling down below.  I keep baby wipes right by the toilet so I can wipe off all residues of the chemo.  Make absolutely sure you do not have a UTI, that could be very dangerous.

Are you doing weekly or dose dense?  Above all take it easy on yourself and keep in mind, you will get thru this.  We will hold your virtual hand all the way. 

Paula

Yes I had the sore pads of my feet and the blisters. It's not unusual to get blisters. My onc mentioned that about the blisters but the had already resolved. She says she typically sends people to the podiatrist for blisters… they can get infected and we know infections are a bad thing for chemo patients. I stopped getting the blisters and sore feet after after the first 3 tx.

So don't do what I did. I didn't think this was a big deal but it is. Tell your onc about it.

Trish,

Do you use flushable wet wipes? 

I discovered them with my kids, and now use them myself.  I find they are more soothing, less drying and harsh than regular TP, especially with diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and burning urine.

My chemo nurse told me right off the bat to get and use the flushable wipes.  I picked up a pkg of the Cottonelle ones from Costco.  I was really raw in my nether regions and had sores, not hemorrhoids, all around my anus (I know...TMI) during the FEC part of my chemo, the wipes definitely helped.

My dosage for taxotere was reduced so I think I have managed to avoid the worst of the SE's.  I has a lot of pain after my first tx so they reduced it again and last tx was pretty doable. My onc told me though that I was to come straight to the cancer centre triage if I got diarrhea.

Get lots of rest and stay positive Trisha-Anne!!

Adey - Pain in the ass LITERALLY!! lol

Witch Hazel is a good idea, never thought of that.