Taxotere is a nightmare

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  • kallimom
    kallimom Member Posts: 54
    edited March 2011

    I too am hoping I can get our 'beds' mulched and looking good this year. Last year was a complete bust being diagnosed in early July...had planted flowers, but never had the chance to take of them, mulch the beds, etc...so hoping this year it gets done and we can enjoy the view...good luck with the surgery....I also had the bi lateral with immediate reconstruction....now just hoping radiation doesn't mess anything up.

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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited March 2011

    Same here - my back deck and yard were a mess!! I was also diagnosed in July. Ofcourse I still have about 3 feet of snow in my back yard just yet...

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  • nora_az
    nora_az Member Posts: 720
    edited March 2011

    Wow, my husband woke me up at 6.30pm last night telling me I was asleep and directed me to bed. I told him I was about ready to wake up and I'd be fine. He just said, "come to bed I'll have the tv on for you" That's the last thing I remember until 6am this morning!!!

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  • Omaz
    Omaz Member Posts: 5,497
    edited March 2011
    nora - A good nights sleep is the best medicine!!  Congrats again for finishing.
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  • Omaz
    Omaz Member Posts: 5,497
    edited March 2011
    SpecialK, Dragonfly, Pejkug - I think you are all into your second treatment?  Hope you are all doing alright, thinking of you. 
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  • dragonfly1
    dragonfly1 Member Posts: 766
    edited March 2011
    Omaz: Thanks so much for thinking of us...I'm on day 6 of TCH #2. As you (and others) suggested, it's been a little easier this time around. My worst side effects are almost over now (steroid fatigue crash, bone pain, headache, constipation, etc.) and I can see the good days of this cycle in view now:) I'm still managing to work and I'm grateful for that as well. I hope my TCH #2 companions are faring as well!
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  • pejkug3
    pejkug3 Member Posts: 902
    edited March 2011

    OMAZ:  My #2 TCH is Thursday.  Thanks for thinking of me!

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited March 2011

    I went to a very interesting speaker the other day. She is a doctor, nutrition specialist, and an eleven year breast cancer survivor. Among the many interesting things she said (I have them all in a post called 'Vitamins' on the exercise/nutrition thread), she said that having adequate Vitamin D levels has been shown to reduce the side effects of taxol based chemotherapy. She recommends getting it tested (should be between 40-50 ng/dL). She recommends 2000 iu a day to maintain a good level. Hope this is helpful, worth exploring anyway.

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  • TonLee
    TonLee Member Posts: 2,626
    edited March 2011

    Thanks Ruth!  I take it with calcium everyday to help slow bone loss. :)

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited March 2011

    omaz - thanks for the thoughts!  dragonfly and I are right in step as we were last time.  Faster SE onslaught but somewhat milder, and maybe leaving faster too.  My headache is doable with Tylenol and I am eating more this time although I can't really taste what I am eating. I am Day #5 of TCH#2.  I switched from Zofran (didn't work) to Compazine and it works better and puts me night-night so I am liking it.  I had trouble with sleep last time.  It is nice to have one under the belt to know that the immediate SE will go away.

    BTW - hair is now shaved off.  Let me just say I look much better with hair...

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  • Omaz
    Omaz Member Posts: 5,497
    edited March 2011
    SpecialK - I used promethazine which also made me sleepy and I appreciated that as well!  Yes, I just ate too, couldn't taste it but it made my stomach feel better.  I also just drank and drank.  You are 1/3 of the way done, and that's good.  Just imagine any lurking bad cells out there dying and know that it's worth it.
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  • shafree3
    shafree3 Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2011

    Hi Tracie, I just had my 1st Taxol on Friday (03/11/11) and by Sunday I was not feeling great. I couldn't decide whether I was getting sick or if it was the 'aches" my Oncologist described could happen. Now its Monday & the pain is terrible. I even went and filled one of my surgery pain medication prescriptions that I didn't even need after surgery! I think I have a pretty high threshold for pain but nothing is helping for the body aches and pains and I have taken everything I can think of - vicodin, advil and aleve and I can still barely get around my house. I had no where near this amount of problem with my previous four rounds of AC chemo. If anyone has any ideas of what can help I would be immensely appreciative.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited March 2011

    shafree - Sorry you are in pain.  If narcotics aren't cutting it you might want to call your onc.  I would suggest a warm, but not too hot, bath if you can.  I had more pain during the first tx and I was in the tub with a big mug of tea quite a bit.  I know it sounds simple but a warm bath relaxes me and it has worked in the past post-surgically as well.  Good luck.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited March 2011

    I had such bad back pain my 1st tx I couldn't even stand up! I never had pain like that again with the other 5 tx. Go figure.

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  • Omaz
    Omaz Member Posts: 5,497
    edited March 2011
    Hi Lago - the onc nurse told me that the first time you get the neulasta shot it causes the bone marrow to 'expand'.  This is what causes much of the pain.  With subsequent treatments the bone marrow is already 'expended' so it doesn't hurt as much.
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  • bdavis
    bdavis Member Posts: 6,201
    edited March 2011

    Shafree... hang in there...

    I can say that with each treatment, it is getting easier... I am also medicating for things that I think MIGHT happen based on the previous treatments. For TC #1, I had chemo on Tues, Neulasta on Thurs and Friday felt achy and flu-like and had headaches for about 4 days. Treatment #2 I took Claritin starting on Neulasta day and didn't have the pain or headaches at all... but did suffer again on Friday from heartburn. For treatment #3, I added Zantac starting on chemo day, and this time didn't have aches or heartburn, just general malaise and wanted to nap on day 3/4 (depends how you count).

    So my chemo/neulasta toolbox includes:

    *WATER for infusion day and lots of it

    *Bags of peas to ice my fingers/toes

    *Sally Hanson nail hardener

    *Claritin

    *Zantac

    *Biotin every night

    *Brian Joseph eyebrow/lash gel daily

    And for me, I have had little joint pain, less heartburn, no nail issues, still have my lashes and brows, no thrush, no taste bud loss since tx#1, no nausea, no weight loss/gain, no neuropathy

    Half way done and hope my good luck continues.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited March 2011

    bdavis I hate to tell you this but my eyelashes and brows thinned just a little on chemo… 5 weeks after chemo they started to fall out. Now 8 weeks after chemo my eyebrows are really thin and I've lost most of my lashes on my right eye. Left eye lashes aren't to great either. Frown

    My fingernail beds didn't start to hurt till tx 3 but I didn't ice (wish I had). Several of my toenails turned black then too.

    My fingers still hurt some and of course both my finger/toe nails still look like crap.Every fingernail of mine lifted. Fingernails are starting to grow out though.Looks like it's going to take about 6 months IMO to grow out.

    I gained a few pounds on the first 3 treatments but no big deal. After that I really started to put on but half of my weight gain was water retention. Once I was put on a diuretic after chemo I lots 8lbs in 2 days. So my total weight gain not counting fluid retention was 8lbs. I figure that was from not working out and losing all my muscle. I'm working on that now. 

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  • Linda-n3
    Linda-n3 Member Posts: 2,439
    edited March 2011

    lago, I think you and I had similar experiences with the eyebrows, eyelashes, and neuropathy.  My fingers and fingernails are still giving me a terrible time, although they are continuing to grow out and I'm hopeful that they will be you closer to normal within the next 2 to 3 months.  For some reason my toenails did not seem to have as much a problem but they do grow much more slowly.  My feet continue to be numb across the entire sole, but I don't have any pain with them, thank goodness.  I didn't know about icing the fingers but wish I had.

    shafree, hang in there!  Each round seems to bring its own challenges, sometimes a little easier, but sometimes little worse.  Warm baths, warm tea, and just generally being kind to yourself and remembering that most of these side effects are temporary and that you will get through them are very important.  But also, please, please, please, contact your MO or on nurse to let them know how severe your side effects are so that they can help you manage them.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited March 2011
    n3ypb yes I think we did have similar although my fngers issues are not neuropathy. I still have the numb left heel too.
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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited March 2011

    IMO just when you think you have dodged the bullet on the lashes and brows...that's when they start to fall out.  So far, that is what has bothered me the most - it takes so much character away from your face and ... well... you look like a cancer patient!

    Omaz & Lago - I remember I had awful pain my first Neupogen....it brought me to tears.  Shooting pain up and down my spine, all my bones, even my ribs hurt.  After that though, I would get pain in my jaw and maybe a little jolt to my spine but that was it - very bearable.

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  • Omaz
    Omaz Member Posts: 5,497
    edited March 2011
    marjie - I am 16 weeks post and my eyebrows are more visible now and I had to laugh last night because I was looking at them real close in the mirror and my 'wild hairs', long ones that curl up, are coming just the same as they were.  I kept two spots of brows toward the middle but all the out reaches disappeared.  They are visible again now.
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  • kallimom
    kallimom Member Posts: 54
    edited March 2011

    Interesting about the eyebrows and eye lashes....mine also came out after all the treatments, plus several fingernails have dead areas and some have lifted and come off....people always used to think I had acrylic nails so it is hard to look at them....they look like something has chewed them off....but...as long as those drugs found all the cancer cells, I can deal with the rest of it...they will all grow out... The pain on Tax was not nice....some days I could hardly get myself dressed...shoulders and back were so sore. And then came the Neulasta shots....so guess pain is just part of it...hang in there everyone.

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  • IllinoisNancy
    IllinoisNancy Member Posts: 722
    edited March 2011

    Shafree, I am on Taxotere too and I have the same bone pain as you describe.  I take Vicodin for mild pain, Oxycodone for medium pain and Morphine for bad pain.  I take the morphine with applesause and it lets me rest.  Without it the pain in unbearable.  I used to just roll back and forth on the floor because it hurt so bad.  Don't quit trying new meds until something helps.  I get my very last treatment tomorrow and althought I dread the SE's, I'm thrilled to be done with it.  It has been a very long trip which started in November.  Good luck with your continued treatments!

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  • Omaz
    Omaz Member Posts: 5,497
    edited March 2011
    Nancy - Congrats on your last treatment tomorrow!!!
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  • bdavis
    bdavis Member Posts: 6,201
    edited March 2011

    Omaz amd others... Yes I have read many times that eyelashes and brows don't fall out until after treatment ends... I have been told that the gel I am using, provided I continue to use it 3o+ days post treatment, should help keep the lashes and brows... Of course this is a leap of faith and $150 all in... I will only know if it works this June/July... For $150 and daily application, I am willing to try. I will be disappointed of course if it doesn't work... and I have fake lashes and brow pencil waiting just in case...

    But so far, 3 treatments down 3 to go and no brow/lash loss, and the finger/toe nails are totally normal too... And in my opinion, if someone hasnt iced and isn;t done, I say better late than never... Its a cheap fix (the cost of 4 bags of peas) and I only do it during taxotere plus 10-15 min on each end.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited March 2011
    dbavis I iced my last 2 treatments. It was too late for me. Frown But now at 8 weeks I can say they are growing out. Just wish the sensitivity would stop.
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  • bdavis
    bdavis Member Posts: 6,201
    edited March 2011

    I can't imagine having nail pain... how do you do anything?? I usually suffer from eczema and that has made life difficult... always wearing bandages... Luckily I have found taking beta carotene has basically cured me...

    I guess if someone has started chemo and does not have any nail problems, then starting the icing could be good, but I don't think if the nail problems start the icing would reverse the damage... 

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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited March 2011

    Worst I got with my nails is they were a little sore and I noticed they have yellowed a bit, but not too much.  They are still growing and seem to be ok - I try to keep a hardner on them.  IMO everyone should be told to ice thru their treatments.

    Now, going through rads, the advice isn't to ice.....it's "loob yer boob"  LOL.

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  • DivineMrsM
    DivineMrsM Member Posts: 9,620
    edited March 2011

    Interesting info on the eyelashes and eyebrows, I surely have been babying mine--thinner but still present one week after 2nd chemo treatment.  No finger or toe nail issues yet but I always kept my cut short anyway. I coat them with a couple clear coats (even tho it says 'touch of color') "NutraNail Touch of Color Strengthener with Green Tea Antioxidants" nail polish and all nails are so far so good.  Someone had mentioned cream from this company to rub on the nails and cuticles before chemo, but I could never find the cream in Walmart or RiteAid, so I just picked up the polish.

    I realize I'm still rather early in the chemo process, and the hair sitch may change, but as stated, I'm babying the stuff around the eyes for now.

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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited March 2011

    Funny thing - the hair on my head started growing back while I was on taxotere, but it wiped out any remaining stragglers "down south", took my brows and lashes, and I still don't have to shave my legs or underarms.  Go figure.

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