Taxotere is a nightmare

Have you asked about vitamin B? I have iced my nails for both of my treatments and I am wondering if it has had any effect on my lack of neuropathy?? I do get a little for a day or two but thats it... I have had 2 of my 6 tx.

Hi,

Have any of you had a numbness in your face?  I feel like my face around my mouth is numb.  It is really strange.  I don't have any problem with my hands or feet.  I hope it goes away after I finish Taxotere.

Nancy

Nancy- i didn't have hand or feet issues either, but I get a tingling every now and then in my bottom lip and left side of tongue. It only lasts for a second or two, but I never had anything like that before TC. I am 7+ weeks PFC.

Tiffany

I had a sore jaw. That could be from Nuelasta. Mine was.

My jaw was really sore but that was from my Nuepogen shots because I had it all the way through chemo and not just on taxotere.  My first taxotere I had severe body aches but mostly in my legs and hips - I remember because my DH had to help me walk and get into bed one night it was so bad.  I have had very little hands or feet issues....the very ends of my finger tips are a little numb, but it is barely noticeable.  I have definitely noticed that my lips and around my mouth are a little numb, definitely feels weird.

Touch wood - but I feel very lucky that I have come away from taxotere with a lot less severe SE's than a lot of ladies.  It sure hasn't been a walk in the park, but I am done and can just work on feeling better.  DEFINITELY remember to ice your hands and feet during your taxotere transfusions - use ice packs or frozen veggies, whatever works.  My cancer centre had mitts and booties and although it was very uncomfortable, I know that it helped me to avoid nail issues and even possibly the neuropathy.

Hang in there everyone - it's doable and we have to keep the end goal in mind!

all i got from taxotere was swollen legs, ankles & feet ongoing almost a year

The Taxotere nightmare continues for me : I still have diarreah, every day, in the evening,now 11 days past last chemo. I just called the oncologist's office. Pray for me please that the diarreah stops. I really would like to start eating healthy, but I can't because I end up in the bathroom.

Thank you so much Lago. I saw your list before and chose my foods very carefully based on your list . I also just talked to the oncologist who said it cannot be from the chemo any more b/c I am  11 days post chemo, but that it must be from the clinical trial drug that I take daily and should not worry too much about it at all, if my diarreah only comes in the evenings. She said I should start eating everything regradless of my diarreah.

Colodisneylover I did paint my nails with clear nail polish during chemo. I don't recommend painting a color. If you have issues you will want to see what's going on. If you have nail beds that hurt it will be painful and put more trama on your nail beds if you have to remove it. Be sure to use non acetone nail polish remover when you do use it.

I didn't find out about the icing till too late but I did do my fingers about 1/2 way through. I brought frozen peas in a insulated lunch bag. I also put a bag of ice in with the peas to keep them frozen till I needed them. Bag of frozen ice can work too. You might consider wearing socks so you don't freezer burn your feet.

I have acrylic nails and haven't had any issues with nails.  I take TX 5 next week.

However, here's a quick question...does anyone have lower back spasms?  Really severe lower back spasms?

I usually get them after doing some form of cardio, or just hard walking.  They're so painful it takes all my will power to stay on my feet.  The muscles pulse in time to my heart, (just like my eye when it twitches..)...

Anyone else have this?

Tracie - thank you for your kind words, they couldn't have come at a better time. By the way, congrats to you for finishing chemo, too! I am done, too.  I did 6 taxotere/carboplatin treatments. How many did you do?

The clinical trial drug I am doing is called Tykerb. It is for HER2 + women. It is being tested on women with early stage breast cancer. It is an international study and the doctors think Tykerb will eventually replace Herceptin because it is in a tablet form as opposed to having it in an IV. I take 3 pills daily that will be doubled in two weeks. Its most common side effect is diarrhea. Although, I was also taking it during chemo, I never had such a bad case of diarrhea before. But my onc thinks we can combat it by me taking two different types of anti-diarrhea medicines. If only I had remembered picking up the medicine today when I was in the city. (I was at work today and afterwards I got so worn out that I forgot the pick up the prescription. Can you ladies believe it? It only occurred to me on the subway that I forgot it completely. I am bummed out.)