Taxotere is a nightmare

EricaH - During my taxotere treatments, my chemo nurses had me ice my fingers and toes through the entire treatment.  My nails are absolutely fine - no issues at all, not even discoloured.

Erica - I am also being treated by Florida Cancer Specialists,  but at the location accross from USF on Bruce B. Downs.  Dr. Wright is my onc.  I live right by Tampa Palms. I brought a thermal cup of ice and 4 bags (small size from SweetBay) of frozen peas.  I have read that some people start 15 minutes prior to T tx and leave on for 15 minutes after.  I just started at the same time as the infusion.  They kept the peas in the freezer for me and got them out for me.  I kept socks on and laid the peas over my toes with my feet kind of tilted back on my shoes.  I put my sweatshirt in my lap and dug my fingertips into the peas.  I had to keep taking them out to get more ice to keep in my mouth!  Next time I may try a frozen smoothie with a straw to minimize the fumbling.  My husband suggested that I patent a frozen pea holding glove/sock combo.  I told him I would work on that in my spare time!  I did start to shiver, mostly my legs but then got used to it.  This was my first tx so they went really slow, but the T was the first thing they did after pre-meds.  I also dressed fairly warmly in layers so I could add/subtract depending on what was happening.  I think I may bring a fleece throw next time.  I brought a huge bag with me with all kinds of stuff in it - I looked like I was nuts.  NOBODY else was doing this but I am going to continue doing it and really they were very accommodating.  I had also read somewhere that with the hardener you paint it on for seven days in a row then remove it and start over.  I had also read to paint your nails a very dark color like navy or black on the day of tx - something to do with the light and the nailbed.  Not sure if that works but I did that too!

Good luck!

Kathie

Erica - Yes, my cancer centre has special ice mitts and booties for patients who are receiving taxotere.  They were so cold but after I saw the problems other ladies have had with their nails, I stopped complaining and realized that I was pretty lucky that the cancer centre supplied these for me.  I also received a bag of products which included special mouthwash, toothpaste, hand cream and nail hardener.

Frozen veggies would work just fine too but make sure you have a cloth or glove between your skin and the ice.  They never asked me to suck on ice and I didn't have any problems with mouth sores.  But when in doubt.....Ice Ice Baby   (*groan*)

I did the elastogel cap as well during tax.  They said no one had done any caps in 25 years.  We brought in a big cooler.  My husband helped.  One way for everyone to get to know you.

Tracie + Coni --Thank you.

Tracie- Mexican food sounds so fabulous. And you are in Houston, too. My DH is from there. You guys have the real and probably the best Mexican food.  Here, in NY, we have Tex-Mex. Yeah, I am craving some guacamole. I have been eying some avocados for a while but was afraid to eat one (I have been avoiding everything raw while doing chemo).  I had Japanese food tonight and a really rich chocolate cake for my b-day. It is giant size cake. I don't know what DH was thinking to get me one that size, but his intentions were good. I wish you girls could have some of it. It will last me about two weeks.

Tracie - Coni-- you will get through this mood issue. I am getting better and having less moodswings, less crying and in general less anxiety attacks. I am 2 weeks post chemo. Keep going forward and think that it will get better. It does. I am feeling a bit better emotionally. A bit lighter.

I had 3 rounds of Taxotere. I have heard it referred to as Taxo TERROR. I didn't have as much pain as you but I did have the aches and my feet felt tingly. After researching on the internet I found that it's all normal. My symptoms went away quickly but I had read that isn't always the case.

Tracie- I'm so sorry to hear you are having such a rough time emotionally. I can't believe your husband is being such an ass. Is it just the 2 of you or do you have kids? It sounds like when you start feeling better both physically and emotionally- maybe some time apart would help. I normally would never suggest this to anyone, but he is abusing you emotionally. I'm sorry to be so blatant and I hope you are not offended, I just can't stand to see anyone treated this way when they need love and support the most. I am 8 weeks PFC and feel very good physically (muscles are still a bit sluggish). It does get better. Somehow I hope he will "see the light" someday and realize he has been so horrible to you. Sending you good thoughts and hugs.

Tiffany

Coni - Happy birthday to you and many more and many more birthdays! Love ya!

survivorwoman, tracie and lago

Lago happy b-lated Birthday hope you had a great day!

 thank you xox! my bday is monday never though i would be celebrating my 32th bday like this no hair...and today i will see if i loose my two breast together or one at the time ...but im also looking at it IM STILL ALIVE...this this yr sucked for all of us....but we will have so many more, where we will enjoy and we will stand up on our two feet and be able to tell me ppl we are survivors of breast cancer....been there done that!!

Tracie Im sorry you are having a hard time with your husband...but just know that what this experience has tough all of us is that we are strong and if we can handle chemo, losing our hair, losing our breast, feeling like crap and sometimes looking like it...we can beat anything...we are that STRONG and no man can ever makes us feel bad or down. we can stand on our two feet!! stray stong, go out with your friends and do something you enjoy, show him that him not paying attention to you means nothing! this time is time for us to think about us, we need to stay strong for our bodies, and our health! i know it must hurt....but think of you....no one unless they go what we are going through understand stand how our bodies feel and what wer are going through physically and emotionally....if you need to talk and express let everything out do it, we are all here to help or listen and maybe give ya some advice...try to find things you like to do. or pick a hobby that dosent require so much work.

Ladies, I don't remember if I posted here a week or so ago, but had full intentions of doing so.  I have had all of you in my thoughts since I landed on this site a few weeks ago, and wish you all the best.  You have actually helped me a lot because the last couple of weeks have been my most difficult because I just expected to feel better within 3 or 4 weeks of completing tx.

Let me also encourage you all to report ALL SE to your doc - don't take anything for granted.  I wish I had been more vocal about the tingling in my tongue, teeth, mouth, and fingers that started within a few days after my first tx (the early signs of peripheral neuropathy) because we went ahead with full dose for #2, delayed & reduced dose for #3, and finally discontinued due to such severe finger pain that I was unable to even do basic hygiene without pain.  I am left with pain in my fingers, mouth, teeth and tongue that keep me from writing and presenting lectures - and that is how I make my living!  Also am unable to play piano, cook, etc. - all things that I normally did for positive coping and fun.  I did discover a program called "Dragon" that allows me to dictate email and lecture notes, and my tongue is getting better.  I am on gabapentin, so I am hopeful the fingers will eventually improve as well.  I was told it could take a couple of years or longer, and I would probably "get used to it" even if it doesn't resolve.  Small comfort.  I did try the glycine, vitamin B6, and they may have helped - hard to know for sure as I don't know how bad this would have been without them.  I took 10 gm L-glycine poweder in a glass of water three times a day (total 30 gm) - got it in large bulk can.  The onc was OK with that, and up to 50 mg B6, but more than that can also be toxic to nerves, so it is a fine line with some of this stuff between protecting and damaging!

I was very interested that several of you mentioned trouble with your teeth and mouth.  When I complained about the sensation that "my mouth feels like it is falling out" with teeth "tingling and on edge" my onc seemed to think it was just the usual GI/oral mucosa effects, but I now think it is related to the peripheral neuropathy. I cannot even begin to consider getting my teeth cleaned now because the teeth are so "edgy."  I have lost a lot of weight because I just cannot enjoy food and find it very difficult to force myself to put anything in my mouth.  My sense of taste actually did return.

I did find Refresh eye gel drops and nighttime ointment to be helpful for the eye problems.  Miralax worked well for constipation as some of the others give me terrible cramps.

My fatigue started about 2-3 days after each tx, lasted about a week to 10 days, except I never seemed to recover from the last cycle on Dec. 13.  No one told me upfront that it would take a full year to get my strength and stamina back once I started therapy, but now that is what I am told.  So I am much more patient with myself because I certainly felt that I should be feeling better by 10 weeks after chemo and 13 weeks after last T/C! (But I wanted patience yesterday, thank you very much! LOL! )

My hair started coming back in about 10 weeks after last T/C, but wouldn't you know it, the leg hair came in first! Ugh! There is no justice... have to shave the legs but don't need to even comb the hair on my head! Losing my hair was never particularly disconcerting, but losing my eyebrows was more so, and I am very pleased that they are coming back in as well! Yaay!

All in all, if I had known before what I know now, I'm not sure I would agree to T/C, but there is no active cancer right now, and as hard as it is on the body, I just hope it was harder on the cancer!   I know that each person responds differently, that each one has different SEs, but if I had known that I would be left without any of my usual coping activities or ability to enjoy my passions and that my 10-year survival benefit was only increased by 10%, I do not think I would have agreed to taxotere - I would have at least enjoyed a little more time feeling healthy and without pain.  (sorry this is so long... I promise not to post too much next time!)

Tracie - Hang in there girl!  I know you can

I have been very moody and miserable as well but today I gave myself an evening out and I feel much better. Tomorrow I am hoping I feel up to driving to my mom's - she's about an hour away.  I have only been able to see her once since I have been sick and I know it will do us both a world of good.

Tracie- What a great breakthrough with your DH!  I am so happy for you! Have a wonderful date!