Taxotere is a nightmare

Susan, I had my hair styled like my wig also, so that when I had to wear it, I wouldn't look dramatically different as I was teaching and didn't want to deal with 150 students asking lots of questions.  It worked pretty well, and I had a hair-cutting party, got a crew cut about a week after T/C #1 because I didn't want to do it while my DH was out of town, and didn't want to have the falling out in clumps thing. Made it as much fun as I could.

One thing I was not prepared for was how sore and painful my scalp was until my hair grew back. I used sunburn lotion with aloe and lidocaine, which helped a little, but just a plain nonscented body lotion worked best. I also got a very soft cotton wig liner (called it my "head stump sock" as it looked like a stump sock that people wear when they have an amputation) which really helped keep the wig from irritating my scalp more - the thin nylon ones just didn't help as much.

Good luck!

Susan -  I had a rough reaction to Taxotere #1 so the onc reduced my dosage for #2 and #3 (I have one more on 8/5).  My reaction to the reduced dosage is significantly better (thank goodness) but still dealing with my nails falling off, my mouth being hypersensitive, etc.

This is a helpful thread.  Funny, I avoided it for the longest time because the title frightened me (and I knew I'd be getting Taxotere after the AC!)

Liane.. I don't know Tracie's situation, but cancer can spread thru the blood too... if someone did not have clean margins, it could spread to other parts of the body and skip the nodes altogether.

Just checking in to see how my taxotere buddies are doing.  I FINALLY am getting some relief from the neuropathy - changed PCP and she has been wonderful, persuaded me to try "just one more medicine, low dose" and it has mad a world of difference! I am taking Effexor and using a topical cream specially compounded with 3 medications, and am about 75-85% better.  Hooray!!  Still having fatigue, but have local recurrence already, so that might explain the continued fatigue.  Am headed for BMX in a few weeks, have good attitude and fighting spirit.

Hugs to you all, hoping all those nasty SEs are becoming remote memories.

Linda

Lago, I have missed you!  How are you doing???

Actually, I DO have to do the nodes - probably should have done them before, but with lumpectomy & chemo, there was no evidence that taking nodes prolonged life, but I guess I was one of the outliers for that study.  Most likely not going for reconstruction - don't really want to have more procedures, am so small-busted it probably won't make much difference anyway, not sure I would like the feel of something that is "not me"... having a really tough time with the idea of numbness and possible arm problems anyway, but am getting through the planning pretty well. Just tried to "bargain" my way into another lumpectomy, but BS says not an option, and I know she is right.  I just have to suck up, get brave again, and do battle, maybe a little more aggressive than I was before.  They all seem to think I am still "curable" if we get aggressive now, so that's what I am doing.  I know the recovery is probably a lot quicker then chemo was!!!

Best wishes and hugs,

Linda

I will be starting Taxotere w/herceptin on 9/19. I started with AC DD and did fairly well with minimal SE (#1 & #2 fatigue and heartburn #3 add dehydration and #4 add low RBC) My last AC was on 8/19 and I persuaded my MO to allow me to start Taxotere after 4 weeks. Well the day is approaching very fast and I am extremely nervous. The Onco nurses told me Taxotere is easier than AC, but after reading the posts UGH! I saw a couple of post that it was ok and I know chemo affects everyone different, but that does help my nerves. I guess I will just have to wait and see what happens to me.

Cathy... its true everyone is different... I started a thread on here called taxotere toolbox... maybe have a look... people have contributed as to what helped them avoid SEs.

Let's see. Not much hair, pained expression, brains trapped in body that has rebelled, others saying, "Are you in there?"

HAha, Omaz - good point. As my muscles twitch and jump, and my eyes are winking and jiggling, I envision every twitch is a cancer cell dying.

Hi, Rachel: I've had no neuropathy at all. I believe it's from taking Acetyl L Choline faithfully throughout my treatment.

rachelvk, I, like Omaz, had neuropathy symptoms from the first dose.  Initially my face felt awful, teeth tingled, very mild tingling in one finger on left hand.  That was Oct, 2010.  It is now Nov, 2011, I was only able to complete 3 cycles with taxotere (docetaxel), and still have tingling, numbness in fingers, am unable to play piano (previously my passionate hobby), have difficulty doing sustained computer keyboard work (mandatory for my work).  I tried multiple medications, all with serious adverse effects, and am finally stabilized on low dose Effexor and a topical medication. 

Some women do not get any side effects or neuropathy at all.  I would suggest that if you go for it (and it IS a very effective cancer drug!!!), just go one dose at a time, pay attention to it, and STOP it if you have any early signs.  My MO just didn't believe I was having neuropathy initially because I could still "do my buttons" after the first dose, so gave me full dose on #2, then told me reduced dose on #3 should be OK.  It wasn't. But it sounds like your MO is at least aware that you can have these effects, and will probably be very watchful and change approach earlier rather than later.

Yes every nail nail problems. Still not recovered fully but the toenails don't hurt. I don't wear spikes though or 4" heels. Nothing higher than 3" but usually more like 2-2.5". I like that really long leg look.

Thanks for the input. It is so nervewracking not knowing until you're actually in the middle of it - but I'll definitely start making a list of things to counteract the potential side effects.

Next Monday 11/21 I go for my forth and last Taxotere. Taxotere was harder for me than the dose dense A/C. With A/C I just slept, with Taxotere the hot flashes are driving me up the wall and sleep only happens with a pill. As for my hands and feet, after the 3rd Taxotere and at that a week later I had some pain in the pads of my fingers.Thankfully that passed. Some of the hairs on my head have started growing, about 1/4 inch. Oh and have some numbing on the big toe of my right foot, but doesn't hurt just odd. Excited to finish the chemo portion of my fight.