taxotere side effects

Ellendou · June 2012

Have also been suffering with shooting pains in my legs - call the clinic and was told to use Glutamine 10 grams 3 times a day....going to give it a try.

ILBoysMom · June 2012

A few tips for you ladies from a TCH veteran that I wish someone would have told me:

1. For soreness at the eye creases from the watering, I started using neosporin morning and night in those areas and it helped tremendously.

2. Saline nasal spray for the dry nose morning and night.

3. Ensure Immune Therapy shakes to boost both your fluid intake AND protein. I found that after drinking a couple of these a day I felt stronger as my taste sensitivities to sweet (even fruit) made it very difficult for me to eat and increased my nausea. The Special K shakes are also good. During the first week after treatment, there were a few days when this was all I would be able to consume other than chicken broth and kraft mac & cheese (yuck).

4. Do not ignore unusual tingling in fingers and feet or legs as they could be signs of neuropathy which vitamin therapy can help to alleviate.

I hope this helps in even a little way.

SpecialK · June 2012

Some additions - I am allergic to Neosporin so I used Aquaphor at the corners of my eyes and nose and on my lips. Sorry for the overshare, but I also used a q-tip to put it in each nostril to help with the dry nose. I did not use saline nasal spray because of the salt content - it did sting my nose because it was cracked on the inside. The involuntary tears may continue for about 6-8 weeks post-chemo, so don't be surprised by that. Depending on your hormone receptors you may not want to consume Ensure because of the soy content. On the other hand, this would be a short time use of this product, and sometimes you just need to eat what you can handle during chemo. To ward off neuropathy I used these three supplements - L-Glutamine (30g a day, divided into 3 doses of 10g of dissolvable powder in a hot drink, DON'T mix it with food, trust me it is not good, lol!), Acetyl L-Carnitine (1500mg once a day) and B-6 (50 or 100g once a day). These were all taken with the consent of my oncologist. I did have tingling in my fingertips that resolved between tx, and by TCH #4 I had some numbness on the bottoms of my feet. This resolved within a couple of months post-chemo. I can't stress enough the icing of mouth, fingernails and toenails - very important as the SE of nail lifting/discoloring can be a permanent or long-lived SE. It is an annoyance during chemo but you don't want to deal with the nail problems later. I lost my hair late - at 24 days, even my MO was surprised, but it did finally fall out. If you are prone to heartburn or are already taking meds for this prior to chemo - this SE may get worse, so ask for additional meds and/or GI pre-meds on the day of chemo. Good luck to you ladies!

Alicethecat · June 2012

Hi Ljhm

I had exactly the same side-effects as you after my first infusion of Taxotere on June 8. Had to spend three days in hospital as my temperature reached 38.3 (100 degrees) and showed no sign of going down. Intravenous IV antibiotics worked!

The side-effects came on day 5 (I count day 1 as the chemo day) and went on until day 13.

Good luck with your next infusion. I am not keen on having mine on June 29 but am also starting Herceptin so will go with the flow.

Best wishes

Alice

Tazzy · June 2012

Last couple of days have hit me hard...but chemo is accumulative and its my last one (I keep telling myself). The bone pains are what get me and just that feeling of blerh - no energy, no nothing. I keep looking to this time next week when I feel better and know that I don't have to go back to the BGC for more tx Smile

Kltb... hope you are feeling better now and smiling again. You have been on the treadmill... you are putting me to shame. Please send some energy this way.

Ssj - likely steroids causing the itchy red rash... I get it couple days after chemo. Mine does go. I keep moisturised with aloe. Do as Melrose said if it doesn't go... call your MO.

Ljhm.... The emotions of crying and being weepy are the accumulation of fatigue, generally feeling crap, dealing with bc, chemo - you name it. Its all normal said my MO - she said she'd think there was something wrong if we weren't emotional. Let ‘em out. Cry Yell Laughing

KCB. Each treatment can give us different se's. I always write mine down for my MO - plus I'd forget if I didn't.

I was never one to suffer heartburn... until chemo - MO said I could take Tums/Pepcid. That works. SE or not, heartburn is nasty eh?

Thanks to the veterans for coming on and adding. In fact, now I have finished tx I'd consider myself a ‘new' veteran. The information and knowledge I have gained from these posts has been invaluable. Plus makes you feel like you are not the only one.

Peace and hugs xxxxxx

kltb04 · June 2012

Tazzy - hope that you are feeling better...oh and the treadmill, yeah that didn't happen again today. Guess I will have one productive day and the next not so much

MO appt tomorrow as she will be out of town when I go for TX next week...going to discuss the low counts with her and be insistent about getting the Neulasta next time.

Tazzy · June 2012

One moment feel not too bad.. then not too good. That's how it goes eh? But it does go.

kltb... good luck with your MO appt. Let us know how you get on.

lisa2012 · June 2012

I am waiting to feel better. Finished my four treatments- round three was pretty easy. Now my stomach and food are being funky, my eyes are doing the taxo-tears, every finger is very sensitive, and I'm fine and then crying, wondering if this cancer was really hammered or not. (At least I like my wig.) And when I read about the Arimdex or Aromatase I'll probably be taking, OMG! Feeling low . I'll get through it I guess, maybe tomorrow will be better.

lisa2012 · June 2012

I am waiting to feel better. Finished my four treatments- round three was pretty easy. Now my stomach and food are being funky, my eyes are doing the taxo-tears, every finger is very sensitive, thrush again, wondering if this cancer was really hammered or not. (At least I like my wig.) I'll get through it I guess, maybe tomorrow will be better.

Lghm- smoothie was a great idea, actually tasted good and easy!! Thanks

liefie · June 2012

Hikergal, thanks for the good wishes for the wedding. We've organized things so that I can just be relaxed, and enjoy my only daughter's big day. My amazing husband is doing a lot. This wedding is what kept me going through the surgeries and chemo, because it helped me to focus outside of my own miseries. The date was set before my diagnosis, and initially I was so upset, but it turned out to be a blessing.

To all of you still doing chemo, I hope you feel okay. It sucks, but it will pass sooner than you think. All the best to you all!

ljhm · June 2012

Next treatment on Tuesday, trying to enjoy this week. Have a wig appointment today. Have learned that not only is it "one day at a time" but sometimes it is "one hour at a time". Hope everyone feels better soon.

stagefree · June 2012

I have insomnia, impossible to get to sleep without medication, is anybody else experiencing this? It is not just the days I get steroids, the entire cycle this is.

Tazzy · June 2012

Hey lisa... hang in there sista. It sucks while we feel that low and crappy and every fibre of our body hurts. And we are here to share your misery. Every day I experience any SE's I try to focus on the fact tomorrow will be a better day. I saw someone on one of these boards say "I'll fake it til I make it". thought that was a great saying. But you know when we are really suffering even faking it takes too much energy.

ljhm... have fun at the wig appt. Let us know how it goes.

Welcome stagefree. I have heard that sleeping with a lavender pillow aides sleep. Maybe even a few drops of lavender on your pillow may help. I hope you get some rest soon.

Take care ladies

xx

liefie · June 2012

Stagefree, I experienced the insomnia too. Cycle one was not too bad, but for me it got worse with every chemo cycle. I am very resistant to taking any pills, but I just resigned myself to the fact that I had to take something to help me sleep. One feels bad/exhausted enough as it is, and if you can't sleep on top of that, it is too much. My oncologist recommended this. For the first ten days or so of the 21-day cycle I took half an Immovane every night, which gave me about 5 hours of sleep. After that I would go to sleep by myself again until the next cycle. You should not take it all the time, because you can get hooked on this. Hope this helps. You don't have to suffer without sleep.

ljhm · June 2012

I have never been a great sleeper. I take oxazepam and a gravol. Any sleep aid that you mix with a gravol will work better and longer. I find if I don't get my sleep I am way worse the next day.

I am also taking percocet for the pain, am prepared for the next round on Tuesday.

If you can do something about the side effects and it involves medication, take it. My onc said that if you need a drug, it is unlikely you will get addicted to it. These side effects are bad enough, after the first found I was counting the days saying tomorrow I am going to feel better. Good luck.

MimiNC · June 2012

Hopefully, you're feeling better by now. I had my second round of Taxotere/Cytoxin June 21 and both times I've found that I feel yuckiest about day 4-5 and start feeling better after that. Luckily there seemed to be an answer for each SE- mouthwash for thrush in mouth, benedryl for slight rash, etc. I found that always keeping food on my stomach really helps. My last week of first round I felt great.

financegirl · June 2012

I am over treatment but taxotere caused my hands to swell twice their size, the skin split and bled. I was having chemo every other week and after first treatment, the onc skipped another week in between and lowered slightly the #mgs the last 3 sessions and that worked. About treatment number 3, my fingernail and toenails all popped off (and I literally mean popped). I'd grab onto a door to enter a place and "pop" there would go a nail. However, I was surprised at how quickly the nails grew back.

Hikergal · June 2012

Thx for the info MelroseMelrose, It is weird how quickly my period was zapped, but my oncology nursse did not even flinch when I told I did not get my usually very regular period within the days after chemo. LOL about the freezer Smile

lijm, sorry to hear you are going thru menopause again now with chemo.

KCB I had my first tx last week and am struggling with some zits too. During my treatment I kept ice in my mouth the entire time and so far no weird taste in my mouth or sores. I am going to do the same for my next one. I also have the scratch throat and after the Neulast shot had achiness in my shoulders and neck too. I too had shooting pains in my right temple for days after the first tx, not sure what that is all about!

Melrosemelrose · June 2012

Hikergal- Did you try the Claritin regimen for the bone pain from the Neulasta shot? There is a clinical trial researching if the regular 24 hour Claritin taken for 7 days beginning the day of the injection to determine if it prevents bone pain. I took the Claritin for my 1 st Neulasta shot I received after my #3 round and had no pain. I just had another shot yesterday for #4 round . So far, no pain. I know that the Claritin doesn't work for everyone but it is worth a try. I had some skin issues pop up but I think it was from the hormone surging because I had a period right after I had the round #1. After that, my poor ovaries continued to scream a little out of confusion but have gotten better. Now I just get those wonderful heat waves!!!! You will know when the texture of the inside of your mouth starts changing. Make sure you rinse your mouth out with 1/4 tesaspoon baking soda+ 1/4 teaspoon of salt + 1 cup of warm water several times a day. It will help with mouth sores. The scratchy throat is because the chemo affects areas of the body that turn over cells quickly ( ie your mouth, throat, hair).

Tazzy · June 2012

Hikergal... The Full Monty for another movie ?!

Hope that you are all coping well with any SE's you may be experiencing.

Take care xx

Anonymous · June 2012

Hi,

I am on TC for 4 rounds every 3 weeks and each time my se have been different. the first time every se was present and unpleasant; the 2nd time only very mild se and very few, the worse was just being tired. today was my 3rd and so far nothing.

Best of luck,

VVH

Estelle_Brisbane · June 2012

Hi, taxotere feedback, I had my first of that family in May, and it was awful. combined with Neulasta I ended up in ER with fever, and due to bone pain, sore mouth (swollen) and faecal impaction caused by lack of movement (and I am a regular gym visitor, so this was really a new place to be) and the nose bleeding. my oncologist omited the Neualasta on 12 June for round 2 of the Docetaxcel (Taxotere family) as it was found that the platelet count was so high it caused pressure inside the bone marrow and hence the incredible pain (not even endone or morphine could help). It was sooooooo much better, but still SE of mouth numbness and taste changes, but sooo happy could handle the bone and joint pain better. And, my hair is growing back, and with speed, not happy about the fluff growing down the side of my face, just happy its very very light. Apparently it goes away. 3 July '12 sees my last round of chemo, not doing radiation. I think the reduced dose of Docetaxel helped with the SE. Almost there.

kltb04 · June 2012

Well, I go on Monday for Taxotere #2 and I am getting the Nuelasta the day after this time so I am anticipating lots of fun bone pain for a couple days. I am just hoping it helps my WBC not bottom out this time - going back for Neupagen shots for 3 days last time was a PITA - I live an hour from my drs office.

MO did mention she was slightly reducing my dosage because of my red blood cell counts/anemia - she said she didn't want it to go any lower and that it wouldn't affect the efficacy of the treatment.

I had a bit of a scare that I posted about on my other boards - my calcium level was high according to my labs I had done last week. I had myself self diagnosed with bone mets all afternoon - then the nurse called and said they re-ran the test and on the redone results my calcium was normal. Phew.

Melrosemelrose · June 2012

ktb04- Good luck on Monday with your #2 Taxotere. The regular 24 hour Claritin seems to be prevent any bone pain I have after getting my Neulasta shot. There is a recent clinical trial investigating the use of Claritin to prevent the bone pain. The dosage is one regular 24 Claritin for 7 days beginning the day you receive the Neulasta shot. I take the Claritin in the morning and get my shot in the afternoon. It may help. As for the red blood count/anemia, foruntately, you can help that with diet. Red meat, eggs, leafy green veggies, dried fruit, beans, peas, fortified cereal, breads & pasta are some of the foods that you can eat to help raise the red blood cells out.

Tazzy · July 2012

kltb... good luck tomorrow.

Hope you all had a great weekend with minimal bearable SE's.

kltb04 · July 2012

Well, yesterday went fine except the Benadryl kicked my butt - I find it impossible to sleep there - the room is wide open and noisy and I just can't get comfortable. So I was dopey all the way through and once we got back to town, I had to drive my kids the 10 minutes home from my parents house and then I just lay down and dozed til dinner time. Then found it impossible to go to sleep that night, compounded by issues with my youngest - but that is another story.

Going back for Nuelasta today.

ljhm · July 2012

Well I'm all set for Taxotere # 2 treatment tomorrow. Got my blood results today and my white count is better than normal, I am not anemic and my neutrophils are fine. I have been taking wheat grass juice and am crediting that for keeping my counts up. I don't usually believe in this holistic crap but can't argue with results. My last treatment produced 10 days of side effects so I am hoping this one won't be so bad. My hair is all gone now but I have nice caps to wear and the good part is my beard & moustache are gone also lol. Hoping I don't lose my eyebrows or lashes. Wish me luck everyone.

Tazzy · July 2012

ljhm - sending good vibes for tomorrow. That's interesting with the wheat grass juice eh? I am 11 days PFC and still my hemoglobins must be down cos I still get breathless when I do anything. I may have to look into that - whatever works girl. For me 10 days was about the length of the SE's. Today is the best I have felt and am sure knowing I dont have to go back to the BGC in 2 Fridays is making me feel better. I found that each treatment my SE's were slightly different.

kltb - hope you are feeling not too bad after yesterdays treatment. Again good vibes to you as well.

Estelle - see you had your final chemo today - congratulations on being a 2012 chemo grad !

To everyone else out there - take care.

ljhm · July 2012

HI

I am not a great believer in herbal medicines but this one is harmless and it's main job is to build up your cells and detoxify your liver. You can get it a health food stores, I take 1 oz a day and it tastes like fresh mowed grass yuch. Will see if it works for the next session but am glad my counts are so high for this one. Asked about cold caps and they don't use them in Canada because of the possibility of brain mets. I think that decision should have been up to me. Oh well, too late now. Will have a smoothie during treatment to keep my taste buds. Cheers to everyone, Laurie

Tazzy · July 2012

Oh! well I am 12 days PFC so bit late for me. But its great its working for you ljhm. I asked them for frozen gloves for my feet too. For some reason - and I think it was the excitement - I didn't have them on my feet for the last tx. The tingling has been a lot worse this time round than any other.

Hope tx # 2 is going OK for you.

Take care all.

taxotere side effects

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