Get rid of edema from chemo

I am on Taxotere and that happens. Some diuretics can help but will also affect the kidneys. They told me to drink a lot of water, that seemed to help.

Hopefully you only have 2 more Taxene left, then it will go down. Let your doc know and maybe they will let you have some diuretics.

SandraL, from your previous posts I'm assuming you had 4 rounds of Taxotere & Cytoxan.  If that's the case, you were on the same chemo regimen I had 3-1/2 years ago. 

And, yes, the Taxotere is notorious for causing fluid retention.  It's a known SE of that drug.  That's the main reason they give us dexamethasone before, during, and/or immediately following each infusion -- contrary to what most of us think, steroids like dexamethasone are used to decrease fluid retention.  (The dex also helps cut down on allergic reactions to the Taxotere, but that's another story...).

Anyway, I also had major puffiness about 3 weeks after my final T/C treatment.  I really didn't have significant edema during the other rounds, so I figured the problem I developed after that last round was because I'd normally be getting my next dexamethasone pre-meds right about then.  I had no idea the fluid retention from Taxotere could go on that long after the infusion, but, ... what do we know, eh?

My edema lasted about 4 or 5 days, as I recall; and then things were back to "normal" (as if that's possible).  I remember reading other accounts on these boards where the edema lasted longer than just a few days and was more of a problem.  In that case, it's a good idea (as usual) to call your oncologist for advice.  Some people were given diuretics to eliminate the extra fluid; that's not necessarily a good idea -- and never a good idea without a doctor's oversight.  It likely would be helpful to cut out salt from your diet, if you haven't done that already.  Any little thing like that could cause your body to not want to let go of sodium.

So, call your docs and tell them what's going on.  Don't let them lose track of you, just because you've finished chemo.   This is also a good time to be watching for lymphedema on your surgery side and/or in that arm and hand.  The only halfway serious bout of LE I had began about 3-1/2 weeks after my last round of T/C; and I'm convinced it was triggered, in part, by the excess fluid I was carrying after that last chemo treatment.

otter