Taxotere is a nightmare

My nails are pretty bad and I am about 4 weeks out from chemo. I have a wedding this weekend and I am thinking I will have to paint them, they look so terrible. I hope it won't hurt anything? I haven't worried about them because I haven't had anything social, I have been home.... but this is kind of throwing me. (The wedding) I want to look nice!

My nails are starting to look weird.  Kinda grayish and "dead".  They're all flaky, too.

I didn't ice through TCH.  I know, I was warned on BCO to ice.  I'm hoping it's not chemo related and has something to do with using nail gels the last time I had my nails painted at the salon.  They seemed to be really harsh on my nails and were difficult to remove.  I'm not usually one to get my nails painted so I had no idea what I was in for with those gels.

The nails seem firmly attached to the nail beds.  Maybe I didged a bullet and it's not chemo related at all?  (TCH #6 next week)

AKA; Taxoterabile. I hated it. I had problems walking, weak legs that I could not control, couldn't tell if my feet where on the ground. Hours of not being able to get out of bed. Scared to walk down 1 flight of steps to get into car. Pain in spine and skull. Asked to have reduced dose and was told, "take a week break than decide", doc refused to reduce last dose, so I refused the crap. Sometimes it takes going to the ER for the doc to realize there is a problem.

Then my surgical and radiation onc asked why I was not on Neurotin to help with the neuropathy. I don't understand wht medical oncs don't treat it.

Hi Ladies, after my first round of Taxotere and Cytoxan I spent 2 weeks feeling body aches and fatigue until finally it went full bore into an inflammatory infection that sent me to the Hospital ER then to ICU and finally day 4 I was allowed to go home. I'm experiencing same SE's as you have described but have to say that Sepsis SE was the "gotcha" experience.

Be really careful with exposure to germs. I was really careful and had neulasta but still I was hit by an infection. 

I only got the ER because I remembered my Taxotere instructions - if you have a fever of 100.4 or greater get to the Dr. asap. I did and it saved my life.  

Hope this help but doesn't cause any unnecessary angst. I just wanted to share what I think might be worst case SE. 

ma111, there has just been a study released that showed neurontin (gabapentin) no better than placebo for chemotherapy induced neuropathy.  I am currently working with a clinical toxicologist who has suggested a topical preparation, but she and my PCP have not yet discussed it so I am waiting on a final decision.  Not sure the insurance will cover it - but there was a clinical trial using a combination of topical amitriptyline/baclofen/ketamine that seemed to be helpful for hands and feet sensory stymptoms without having systemic effects.  Not sure it helped with the motor symptoms, though.  I am pretty frustrated with symptoms for the past  6 months, asking for help and relief, and getting brushed off with "it will take a while" and finally "it will probably never get back to normal." GRRRR!!!!  Wish they had told me that before.  I have asked that my MO report this as an adverse effect to the FDA so they can track how many women have problems after taking this awful drug.  I would have asked for different type of drug had I known this could occur and be permanent.  I applaud you for refusing the drug if you are having symptoms!  Apparently, as the toxicologist explained, there is a period of "coasting" where you think things are OK, but there is actually damage occurring, which is why sometimes things get much worse AFTER treatment than DURING treatment. Again, GRRRR! My patience is beginning to wear out!

I'll just add that the neuropathy spread from the bottom of my toes on both feet to the entire soles of both feet. They feel numb but I can feel every tiny crumb or dirt if I step on anything. Also my left arm started to swell about 2 weeks ago..lumpectomy side. Ankles and lower legs swell as the day wears on but had this before to a lesser degree.

Emily, hang in there.  The SEs can continue for a LONG time - my MO said some people get better soon (as in a few months) and others take a while longer (a few years).  There is also "coasting" where you think things are better or at least not getting worse, yet the damage done by the drugs just shows up a little later rather than immediately.  My best hopes and prayers for you to regain strength.  I still have problems just making my body move to get out of bed each day, but once I get past the painful part, I seem to be able to work more consistently with less shortness of breath.  It has been over 6 months, but I AM improving in many ways - I just have to remember that 6 months is "just a while" to some people and an eternity to me.

Also, be sure to check about lymphedema treatment and get on that ASAP so you don't get into longer term difficulty with that! If you get into treatment early, you have a much better chance of it not becoming worse and to improve greatly. I did not have that, but I know some physical therapists and massage therapists who are certified specialists in lymphedema treatment - they have quite a intensive training for this in addition to their usual training.  Good luck!

I second the gummy stiff legs getting better. I think I started to notice a difference on week 5. I still have nail lifting issues but not as bad as before. I think it's going to take a long time for that to get better especially on my toes. 6 of my fingernail beds are still tender. My left heel is still numb but worse on very cold or hot or humid days. At times it does reach to the pad of my foot and maybe a little in the other heel but overall not bad. It is something I can live with.

I'm slowly trying to ween off the diuretic but I'm still retaining fluid. I'm trying to convince myself it's getting better but I don't think it is.

Just reading the last few pages of this thread. Sounds like recovery is still taking place 6 months PFC.



I have received 1 infusion so far and worry about long term effects. My mo blew me off when I discussed this with her. She stated 4 doses isn't enough to give me long term effects. Ok well if that's the case, why not take 4 in solidarity with me.



Anyways, sounds like there are cumulative effects from tc. Hopefully somehow I can keep my body in good health between treatments and hope long term effects aren't too bad.



I did ask my mo, since this is an insurance policy, why not lower taxotere dosage to reduce overall long term effects. She wouldn't hear of it.

DebRox I will admit that my SE got much worse with tx 5 & 6. I do think I would have had less issues if I could have stopped at 4tx and not had 6. Either way most if not all the SE do eventually go away for most of us. It's been 6 months now and I can't say that the SE's from chemo that are still with me bother me much… the fluid retention is annoying but I do really feel it is better, certainly much better than 5 months ago. As much as we hate these SE I'll take them over cancer. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that the SE from cancer are much harder to live with than the SE of chemo.

Survivor2Be. I kept most of my lashes and brows through chemo… 5 weeks later the lashes all fell out and many of by brows. The brows grew back quickly. Eyelashes slowly. It's now 5 months later and some have started to fall out again (lashes and brows) but only noticeable to me. It takes a while for the hair to stagger it's falling out pattern. My hair came in on the sides before the top of my head. Front top was really bald for a while. I can't say how much I had at 1 month because I didn't bother to look. I was told it would start to s how around 4-6 weeks. You should check out the hair hair hair another question thread.

I have posted a link to my transition on page 315. I posted my first hair photo (without scarf) at the 6-7 week PCT

It sounds like this is the place I need to be asking my questions about swelling in my ankles and feet.  I had my last chemo, Taxotere and Cytoxan, on May 18th.  The swelling just started Sunday, almost 4 weeks out!  I didn't realize that could even be a side effect and now I have it - ahhhhhh!  I saw the MO yesterday and he sent me over for a Doppler scan to rule out blood clots.  Other than that, he didn't have any advice other than stay away from salt, elevate, avoid caffeine and alcolhol.  OK, I already knew all that.  He also gave me a diuretic which I will start tonight.  Any advice? It sounds like others have experienced this also?  It helps to know I'm not alone...

It's almost 5 weeks post taxotere for me and I too have terrible swelling in feet ankles and lower legs. Prior to chemo I had some issues with swelling, usually in hot weather but now the legs get shiny and very tight and the tops of my feet are always puffy. The onco told me a diuretic probably wouldn't help and that this could resolve suddenly on it's own.

The worst of the post taxotere SE's for me has been the leg weakness. I still can't walk far before my legs want to give out. I don't go shopping unless it's a short walk through the store leaning on a cart. I need a wheelchair to get to the radiation department as the hospital hallways are just too far for me. Both soles of my feet are still numb from neuropathy. Mt taste buds have only started to improve the past few days. I think that has been the worst misery..not enjoying eating. Despite that I put on weight which can't be from eating as I have eaten so little so must be fluid.

I have one eyelash left on each eye..pretty bizarre ...but have some peach fuzz on my head...can't see it but I FEEL it...yay!  My nails are slightly discoloured with some ridges but haven't loosened..yet. I am starting to feel less tired but now into the second week of rads so that may be short lived. Taxotere definitely seems to be cumulative and it's a very nasty beast. I long for all these SE's to be behind me.

How is everyone else doing?

thegood5 Congratulations on the PET scan results-that's awesome!!!

emilyinontario I'm 3 weeks out from my last chemo and I still have the swelling as well but I think it has improved just a little bit. I know all my extra weight is from fluid because I was unable to eat much during chemo as well...everyone keeps telling me the weight will drop off eventually. I hope they are right! If your swelling stays bad for much longer, you may want to ask for a diuretic to help drop some fluid.

Just popping in here. I too am still retaining fluid but not as bad. Now about 3-5 lbs instead of 5-8. I'm still on the diuretic for another month. Will try again too ween of it after that.

The sore legs just started to get better for me after 5 weeks. I did do stretching too. I'm still having sore feet though. When I walk all day the pads/heels of me feet are so sore. Anybody have this issue? Any good suggestions as to what I can put in my sandals that might work. Anyone gellin?

My legs did start to get stiff again but I think it's either from all the walking or the Anastrozole. Not stiff like on Taxotere though. I can shake it out in a few minutes.