Taxotere is a nightmare

Lago - it is never too late!!!! Never!!! You are one of the most positive women I know. You pull me out --a lot of times ---from my own misery just by writing a few positive thoughts here and there. Why would you be late for a Tykerb study?

Anyway, there must be a way to search for clinical trials (clinicaltrials.org ?) in your area. There is a topic on this board somewhere that also deals with them. And I am sure that even after getting the standard treatment, which is currently Herceptin, you would qualify for a Tykerb study somehow. I was so much hoping to get in the Herceptin/Tykerb group for added protection, but it did not happen. My friends tell me that maybe it is for the best and my onc thinks this treatment is going to work just as well, maybe even better !? Who knows? That is what we are testing. I really hope so that it will work well, especially b/c -- like you said -- it crosses the blood/brain barrier, as I do want to survive this breast cancer, too. I still have a lot to do and to offer and to give in this life. Though, I am very low energy right now to do anything. But I am very hopeful.

I know you did not mean in terms of survival, I know. I should not be so dramatic either, I don't know what is going on with me. I think you would qualify for another study.

Wow tracie I'm the opposite I can't stay sleep...I need to take a gravol so I can go to bed and no naps for me at all

I have some of taste buds but my tongue just feels weird, is like white but is not thrush. Doc lowered dose which has helped so much last time it took me over a week to start feeling better this time only 5-6 days and I'm starting to get there. pain was a lot less thank God last time I had really bad back spams to the point it felt like electric wave shots going from lower back to upper back, mouth sores all the way down to stomach, plus thrust, really bad acid. This time is just mainly the bad acid.. And a bit of soreness specially on knees it gets hard to go up and down the stairs

But I just have two more to go...I hope u all feel well soon!!

Kadyann - I also have watery, irritated eyes. My oncologist recommened Systane (sp?) drops which I was using, but they didn't help. I saw my ophthalmologist last week and he said my eyes were very dry (which strangely enough causes the tearing) and he put plugs in my tear ducts, which he said would keep moisture in my eyes so they wouldn't get so dried out. That was 5 days ago, and since then my eyes have been watering worse than ever. I have since learned that sometimes these plugs work too well and have to be removed. I also learned that there are temporary plugs which dissolve after a couple of months and should be used before the permanent plugs to see if they work. My ophthalmologist gave me the permanent ones, which can be removed, but it is a more difficult (and presumably uncomfortable) procedure. Grrrr!  I'm now looking for a new ophthalmologist. 

Kadyann - I am only 3 wks out from my last tx and my taxotears are making me crazy.  I had an appt with my onc yesterday and complained bitterly but she said there really isn't a tried and true solution.  She said it was usually directly related to the loss of lashes (of which I lost 'em all) which protect your eyes from all the dust and particulates floating around in the air.  Without lashes, this all gets in your eyes and causes them to dry out which then causes you to tear up to try to clear your eyes.  She also suggested Systane or other artificial tears but said you had to use it a lot until you would notice a difference.  The drops would help clear the particles from your eyes and keep them moist.

Most frustrating was that she said it could last up to 2-3 months .  My sister is sending me a bottle of Latisse....I'm hoping it gets here soon and that it helps!

Iago, or anyone.....have you noticed fluid retention on herceptin?  I just had my first herceptin alone tx today and I am noticing that my kankles are returning.  They swelled at my last tx but I thought it was the taxotere.

When I saw my onco today and complained about the red eyes and tears he had me put ice on my eyes during the treatment and told me to follow up with Artificial Tear Drops every 4 hours when they are watering. As far as the loss of vision, he said that will improve after treatment is over. I only have one more treatment after today and that is March 16th.  I can finally see the finish line

Thanks Iago...no shortness of breath but I am aware that I should watch for it.  There is another site that is all HER+ support and Herceptin - several women have posted there about swelling while they are on herceptin.  I am definitely going to report it to my onc.  Seems fast since I just had tx this morning.

Glad to know I'm not the only one with lower back pain.....not that I want anyone else to suffer...but it is obviously a side effect...speaking of which...I saw my Endo today (hypothyroid)...and he said chemo is really bad for your bones (no duh), but then he told me it usually effects two places on the spine first...the hump up top (where you see little old ladies bend over) and THE LOWER BACK...right where I feel those horrible spasms.

So I wonder if maybe my muscles are cramping because the bone density is changing there.  I can't go to the gym and do heavy lifting because of all the germs...and it's hard to work that part of the body with resistance at home (resistance/weight training helps build/slow bone loss).

Hope that's not it.

I also saw my Onc.  He's pretty young.  I told him about the Acetyl -l-carn. and he never heard of it before.  So he looked it up and the National Cancer Institute in Phase 3 of a study using it for Taxotere neuropathy.  (Which is what I told him, but he had to check..heh).  He told me it was fine, (and I left an empty bottle with him so maybe he'll recommend it to others) and he wrote me a scrip for B6. 

He also told me I will just have to suck up the taxotears....and they've been really bad this week...but no bloody nose this time!  I'll see what the opthomologist says next week when I meet with him...probably same thing. 

I go for #5 on Tuesday....and while I felt fantastic last week, this week I'm tired.  And grumpy.

Coni - I had low hemoglobin and did have to have a transfusion once....I remember mine was in the 90's so they were watching it but it nose dived the next day (I can't remember the number...70's somewhere maybe?) and my BP dropped too.  Supplements are not going to help your blood counts so be careful.

TonLee - are you on Nuelasta or Nuepogen?  When the Nuepogen was kicking in, I would get jolts up and down my spine usually when I first stood up.

Marjie,

I take Neulasta the day after chemo. 

I HOPE its from that...lol, and not from losing bone density.

I found claritin worked too.  I *think* the neulasta shot is time release neupogen and the release lasts about 10 days so I took the claritin for 10 days.