Taxotere is a nightmare

Getting my last Taxotere this Thursday and I must say I tolerated things pretty good. Most of my side effects were doable and didn't need meds for anything. Thrush was the only thing that got me and I can't wait for that to come and go for GOOD. 

After Thursday I plan on claiming HEALTH and move forward with my live.

Hi Tracie,

I hope you start feeling better soon.  I'm getting my second Taxotere on Wednesday and dread it. However, there is a huge snowstorm heading our way and it supposed to hit us tomorrow and Wednesday so it may be cancelled.  That doesn't make me happy either because it would push my surgery back if I don't get it this week.  I am finally feeling good after 3 weeks of pain.  I am also worried I won't get my hair back.  I didn't even know that was a possibility until I read it this weekend. 

Take care,

Nancy

Haven't read all the posts but my experience with taxotere was an allergic reaction. One treatment put me in bed with mouth sores, thrush, sores everywhere else and a destroyed gastrointestunal system. Therefore, when taxol was suggested this time, I went how about abraxane? Taxotere and taxol are both products of the yew tree. One is the needles and the other one is the bark. I am going to try to avoid either one.

IllinoisNancy they think that the probability of your hair not coming back on taxotere is 3-6% but they really don't know for sure since the just started to take notice. I look at it this way… it's better than dying. Yes  sucky choice but at least you can wear a wig and tattoo brows. Dying has no cover up. I do hope it comes back for all of us.

tracie23  SE suck. I thought I was going crazy when my eyes started to do wierd things. They are still doing some weird stuff. I stopped driving on the days they were really wierd. I never did find a remedy for the sore feet but once I started taking the 500mg of Acetyl-L- Caritine I never got the SE after tx again. Currently my nails are painted with black nail polish. I need to redue them but scared to see what they look like underneath. They looked pretty crappy a week ago. I can only imagine.

-------------------------

yew tree… why would anyone think to make a drug out of it?

Dear all,

As a researcher, former cancer patient, and a participant at bc.org boards, I have become interested in learning more about patients' reactions to the  information they receive as they are diagnosed and presented with treatment plans that involve chemotherapy.

This interest has led to the development of a survey that asks about experiences with patient education materials provided at oncology centers across the nation.  This is a formal study, and the research protocol has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at Brown University, where I am on the faculty of the Division of Biology and Medicine.

The survey is anonymous and brief.  It will take you about 15 minutes to complete the survey.
To participate in this research, here is the link:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PatientEducationMaterial

Your participation will add to the body of information on this topic and is intended to contribute valuable data regarding patient education materials for oncology patients.

Above all, I hope you are well.

Warmest regards,

Marjorie

Marjie: LOL, sounds like something my DH would do. I'm glad we are keeping them entertained He told somebody at church Sunday that he rubs my bald head for luck.

My eye doc put me on steriod eye drops; cleared up the tearing in about 3 weeks.

Got it. I haven't tried it yet but it looks really good. Found it last week.

Milk's ooey-gooey double-chocolate cookies
http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fo-sos14-2009jan14,0,7127251.story  

Ingredients
• 1/4 pound (4 ounces) unsweetened chocolate
• 4 tablespoons ( 1/2 stick) butter
• 3 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup flour
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 pound bittersweet chocolate (chunks or chips)

Directions

1. In a bowl set over a pot of simmering water, melt the unsweetened chocolate and butter. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.

2. In the bowl of a mixer with a paddle attachment, or in a large bowl using a fork, combine the eggs, vanilla and sugar. Mix just until incorporated and set aside.

3. Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl. Set aside.

4. Add the melted chocolate to the egg mixture and mix just until combined. Stir in the sifted dry ingredients and mix just until combined, then stir in the bittersweet chocolate.

5. Cover the batter with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to chill thoroughly. Heat the oven to 350 degrees.

6. Divide the dough into 18 portions. Grease your hands (to prevent the dough from sticking) and shape the portions into balls. Place the balls on a greased, parchment-lined sheet pan, leaving 2 to 3 inches between each.

7. Bake until the edges of the cookies are just set and the center is still soft, 10 to 12 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. Place the cookies, still on the parchment, on a rack and cool completely before serving. They will be very soft.

Each cookie: 251 calories; 4 grams protein; 29 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams fiber; 18 grams fat; 9 grams saturated fat; 42 mg. cholesterol; 92 mg. sodium.

Total time: 40 minutes, plus 1 hour chilling time for the batter
Servings: 1 1/2 dozen

As I am snowed in today, I am going to make those chocolate cookies!! 

Oooo, chocolate in chili... recipe?

I went to the library at the cancer centre and got some books on eating throught treatment and beyond.  There's some pretty good recipes and advice that I wish I would have had before!!  Anyway ... here is a no-bake cookie recipe that looks easy and yummy, think I might give it a try:

NO BAKE COOKIES

makes 3 - 3 1/2 dozen

1/2 c graham cracker crumbs

2 1/2 cups old fashioned oatmeal

1/2 c sugar

2 tbsp cocoa

1/2 c skim milk

1/2 c margarine

1/2 c reduced fat peanut butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

In a bowl combine graham cracker crumbs and oatmeal. Set aside. In a saucepan, stir sugar, cocoa, milk and margarine over med heat until dissolved. Bring mixture to a boil and cook for 2 minutes.  Remove from heat, stir in peanut butter and vanilla.  Quickly blend in cracker mixture, stir by hand for a few minutes until thickened.  Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper.  Refridgerate until firm - store in fridge.

Calories per serving (1) 72, Protein 2g, Carbs 8g, Fat 4g, Cal from fat: 46%, Sat Fat 1g, Dietary Fibre 1g, Cholesterol 0, Sodium 57mg, Diabetic exchange: 0.5 starch, 1 fat.

Book: Eating Well Through Cancer by Holly Clegg & Gerald Miletello, MD

I am actually going to play with mine a bit....I'm thinking of increasing the oats, leaving out the graham crackers crumbs and putting in some toasted flax seeds and adding some powdered skim milk (for protein). Hmmm - you could add some raisins too I would guess but my family would hate me for it.

Don't count on me Tracie...I think I'll need to be out shovelling half the night to make sure I can get to my chemo tomorrow.  Thank goodness for the steroids!

Oh - forgot to add

Feeling sorry fo you girls over there - dealing with all that snow!  But spare a thought for us here in Australia - where I am we are battling heat - has been around 100 degrees for the past four days, and up north the biggest cyclone Australia has seen for many years is about to hit the Queensland coast - that's the same state that has just come through the worst flooding in a generation.

Trish

xoxo