Taxotere is a nightmare

My eyesight definitely changed on taxotere. I had to see the ophthalmologist 1 month after chemo because I kept getting these blood bursts in one of my eyes. They were all ready to give me a prescription for distance sight when I told them to wait and test in a month. Sure enough my eyes were fine. No distance glasses… but my astigmatism was gone (for reading) too. So now I can purchase over the counter glasses.

So my advice is to wait about 6-8 weeks after your last chemo before you get your eyes checked again.

Special K..thanks for your reply. This leg weakness has been really worrying me. I had some of it the first round of taxotere for a few days but it went away. This round #2 , nothing is getting any better and next chemo ..and LAST..is Friday. The thought of doing chemo again when I still feel so rough frightens me. And yes, I find myself short of breath after the simplest tasks too.

emilyinontario- As SpecialK said- the leg weakness has increased over the last few treatments. TCH3 was the worst for me as far as mobility. TCH4 wasn't as bad but I have learned I have to pace myself and definitely not back to where I was before in earlier rounds of chemo. I have TCH5 Wed this week. Looking forward to the end of this too- just 2 more.

Glad for you that you will be on your last Taxtoere this week- that's great!

Lisa

n3ypb - thank you for the warning.  I think sometimes we are so focused on staying with the program we might overlook a SE that could be causing long-term damage, or we don't want to rock the boat.  I am not concerned for myself with the leg weakness - I have noticed diminished strength but I am walking 2 miles, and spent an hour at the gym today doing lower body weight machines.  I don't feel as strong as I was, but I don't feel I am in danger.  I have noticed very mild numbness just in my fingertips, and it isn't there all the time.  I have been taking L-Glutamine and B-6 in the hopes that I won't develop neuropathy - my Mom had a severe case due to a degenerative neuro-muscular disease that was treated with Methotrexate.

lago - sorry I chemo-brained  - I also take the Acetyl_L-Carnitine at 500 mg, as well as the other two!  Also, new development, cording in my AND armpit.  Bummer.

nmoss - I think cording and Axillary Web Syndrome is pretty poorly understood.  Apparently it can show up at any point after surgery.  Since I started chemo I had been having trouble if I was outside and it was too hot, or if I walked, or over-exerted my right hand, or exercised and raised my body temp.  I had tightness and discomfort in my AND arm along the bicep up and over the inside of the elbow and at the wrist on top of my hand.  If you look at the illustration for Axillary Web Syndrome that is where I had pain.  If I came inside where it was cool the pain went away.  I am thinking that since it is now hot all the time here I am not escaping whatever is causing this.  I had mentioned it to the PA after tx#3 and she chalked it up to edema in the arm from chemo.  Could be - or it could be exacerbating a separate, pre-existing, problem.  I have tx #5 this week so I will bring this up, because for the first time I can now see the cord right in the middle of my armpit.

Thanks for the explanation, sounds like something awful. Were you on steroids during chemo? This is to prevent edema.Enjoy the day off dragonfly!

specialK - I encourage you to get help for the cording ASAP.  The LE therapists have a special way of working with the cords.  I was told they are inflammed lymph vessels and have to be handled very gently.  My therapist was able to completely resolve mine in few weeks.  I am sorry you have them but they are treatable and the earlier the better.

I go to the onc for tx on Thursday so I will address it then.  Thursday is the only day he is in that office. I know they do refer to a LE specialist because I have heard the nurses discuss it.  I could call my BS but he is probably in Argentina or New Zealand at a conference.  He is notoriously hard to get a hold of, and the PA that used to work with him is no longer there.

dragonfly I had that stiffness with taxotere. The thighs were the worst. Just to let you know it does eventually go away. I think about 5 weeks after my last treatment it started to improve. I'm fine now, can even sit Indian style and lean forward. Hurt badly just to even try several months ago.

Christine it will take time but try to stretch too. Don't over stretch just enough to feel a little pull. If you stretch too much you will actually make the stiffness worse.

Thanks Omaz and Lago- very encouraging! The soreness/stiffness just started during TCH#4 so at least I haven't had it the whole time but it's become really bad. Looking forward to feeling better this summer after the last TCH (5/31)...

My last chemo was Feb 2.  I had extreme muscle soreness for maybe 4 or 5 weeks afterwards and now it has changed or moved into my joints.  Ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, even my hands are very sore and stiff.  I was very frustrated with my medical team, MO said the stiffness and pain was due to radiation, RO said it was from chemo, but then I realized I didn't really give a sh!t what was causing it, I have to deal with it regardless.  As long as I keep moving it's not too bad - sleeping is difficult and WOW am I slow to get moving in the morning.  What a ride .

That all being said and sounding so negative - I must point out that I am out being as active as I can, starting to run again and am back on the water with my boat team.  This year I have changed teams and become a member of the Rowbust team - great group of BC survivors that inspire and motivate me every single day. " it will come back! Check us out at www.rowbustdragonboat.com

This picture is from a race last year, I'm paddling second.

 

You don't need black polish... Some women wear a dark color to hide the darkening nails, but mine were just fine... Iced them and wore clear polish.. and just finished my 6 TC treatments...

I take Claritin.. and think it helps with the Neulasta pain...

My Oncologist said no ice caps... one place you get recurrance is in the scalp and he said why take the chance... I agreed.

Good luck and sorry you are back doing treatment.

Had my LAST dose of Taxotere yesterday!! The dose was reduced by 25% due to the problem I had last rond with neuropathy in my toes and leg weakness..I was using a cane to go out the past week. Those issues aren't any worse as yet and so far today ( day 2) I don't feel too bad. Could be the decadron helping and may crash tomorrow! The oncologist told me that there was no studies indicating the " ideal" dosage for taxotere for best efficacy and we had to weigh and the pros and cons with the side effects I was having. I am SO looking forward to starting to feel normal in a few weeks..and of course looking forward to some hair growth!