taxotere side effects

LRM216 · August 2012

Yes, I had the same thing. Then they watered non-stop and since I worked through all this and have to be on a computer for most of the day - I don't think I need tell how awful this was. Some gals have it so bad that they have to get little stents put into their tear ducts. My onc did not recommend it as she said they come out right away on so many gals and need to be put back in, and some just give up on it. Told me to just weather it as best as I could. Unfortunately, that tearing and watering didn't stop until I was about 3 months or so out from my last chemo. Just another wonderful side-effect from "chemo, the gift that keeps on giving". My breast surgeon told me at my first visit - that this would be the worst year of my life, but to hang in there - it would come to an end. She was right on both counts. Wishing I could speed up the process for you, hang in there. We're all here to help in any way we can. Just keep telling yourself - it takes poison to kill this beast, and you're doing all that you can for that to happen.

ljhm · August 2012

My eyes are not tearing they are blurrry. Hopefully the tearing doesn't start too.

ljhm · August 2012

I had forgotten already how rotten the 3rd day can be. Feel like crap so need to vent a bit. I know it will get better, only two treatments to go after this one. You feel so energized on the dex that when you get to this day it hits hard. Gonna go to bed early and pamper myself. Eyes still blurry so want to get that settled but eye appointment isn't until Thursday. My blood pressure is fine so I think it's the chemo, we'll see. Nice to have this forum, thanks for listening.

lisa2012 · August 2012

Here's a question: I had my annual eye checkup about 6 weeks after last chemo. My eye pressure was 20' which is like pre-glaucoma. My checkup last year was 14 (normal.)

Think Taxotere could increase eye pressure? They are checking it again in 6 weeks. Weird, huh?

PaEaglesFan · August 2012

Ljhm. Had #3 taxotere on Tuesday and i have had blurry vision with each treatment. Seems to be the worst on Friday's but does clear up. I just try to keep taking in fluids and food to flush that garbage out of my system and it seems the faster I do that, the faster it clears up. Today I was actually able to take my mom to a local car dealer so she could test drive a new car AND do my grocery shopping!

If your vision doesn't clear up by the weekend, call the MO. Maybe an extra bag of saline will give you a boost.

ljhm · August 2012

Yes I think it's the chemo, nasty friggin drug, worst one I've had. I just got new glasses before I started the taxotere so the eye changes have to be it. Will find out on Thursday, am trying to drink as much fluids as possible. Slept better last night on percocet but still feel crappy today. Thank god this one is only every 3 weeks !!!

PaEaglesFan · August 2012

Amen to that ljhm. I keep thInking "3 weeks from now I'll feel like this for the last time." and for the first time, I can't wait! Lol

Cranberry juice has been my go to fluid this time. The tartness seems to cut thru all of the craptastic taste left behind from chemo. I wish I had thought of it sooner!

bcbarbie10 · August 2012

Im 5 days post taxotere #2 and still in crappy island. I thought round 2 would be better since i could have prepared better, but no, it seems these se's are really cumulative. I told my hubby last night i might not be able to stand #s 3 and 4 anymore. He said to talk with the onc if it's reasonable that i just get the herceptin from here on. What do you guys think?

ljhm · August 2012

I find the SE's last 10 days almost everytime but you are half way there. I just finished number 4 and this is day 4 after treatment. You will get through this and if you are like me will find it basically the same each time, no better, no worse. I have percocet for the pain and take something to sleep. Drink as much fluid as you can stand and hang in there. This is a great forum to vent on, we've all been through it. Hang in there Barbie you can do it!!!

PaEaglesFan · August 2012

Barbie.. I am 6 days post Taxotere #3 and just finding out from Mom and DH today how BAD I was 3 weeks ago at this time! (So nice of them to tell me I looked like death warmed over, eh?) You call your MO tomorrow and tell her/him how you are feeling and ask if you can go in for a Saline IV. After my first 2 treatments, I developed a site reaction to the Tax. (Looks like poison ivy that followed the vein.) So my nurse gave me a drip combo of Tax with Saline to diliute it as it was going in to try and prevent it this time. (Won't know for a couple more days if it worked, it takes a good week for the rash to come out.) I TRULY believe that I bounced back from the treatment much faster because of this additional fluid.

I was so depressed the week before I had to go for the third treatment. I think it really hit hard because I was just starting to feel almost normal again and I KNEW how I was going to feel after the treatment and I KNOW there is another one coming up after that to knock me back down. I can't tell you how relieved I was to have that 3rd one finished and I am in the home stretch now. You can do it too, but you have to let your Dr know how you are doing so they can help you get there.

Hang in there and remember you aren't alone, we are all here with you and sending our support your way.

bcbarbie10 · August 2012

PAeagles, thank you for sharing your experience with me. I will probably feel depressed, too, when i go for my number 3. I discussed skipping with my 21 year old daughter and she woulnt even hear about it. I hope i will have the courage to go through this two more times. Like you, i will soon be on the homestretch. I dont want to wimp out. But i still have weekly herceptin, that's in two days, i dont want to talk my onc into delaying. I want to bring it all on, but im scared.

Thanks again, ljhm and paeagles, i know im not alone.

ljhm · August 2012

Barbie

You will feel better tomorrow and even bettter the next day, hold on to that. If this chemo was any more frequent then every 3 weeks none of us would get through it. Relax, pamper yourself, nap and drink fluids. I am on day 5 today so know where you're coming from. Gonna plop myself in front of the tv and relax.

Tazzy · August 2012

Oh! Barbe... hang in there honey. It really is worth it. I know you feel that you cant do anymore now. I remember laying on the sofa saying to my DH 'I cant do this anymore'... but the next day was better, and each day got better until the next one. Remember it is killing the cancer and our bodies can stand this. Just ensure you tell your MO exactly how you are feeling. I used to keep a little chemo diary and write down everything and take it with me to the next appt.

I am just over 9 weeks PFC and cannot believe that my chemo is now in my rearview mirror. I see my BS on Wednesday, he has my path report from the surgery so will be able to let me know what a number taxotere did on my tumor.... and I will let you know.

To all you strong ladies.... you can do this, you are stronger than chemo, and most important chemo is killing the cancer.

Be kind to you.

lisa2012 · August 2012

My eyebrows and eyelashes did decide to mostly fall out 8week PFC, well there are enough hairs to draw around. Darn. I hoped I'd skip it and couldn't believe when I found out that you could finish up- and lose them 4-6 weeks later. Grrr.

bcbarbie10 · August 2012

My friends, it does get better! Crying now as i write this. Thankful for your support.

I got turned down for tomorrow's herceptin, though. Counts still too low. Onc said we'll try again day after tomorrow.

ljhm · August 2012

and tomorrow will be bettter too Barbie, you and I are almost on the same schedule, I'm on day 6 of post treatment and feel a lot better than yesterday. Keep your chin up.

PaEaglesFan · August 2012

ljhm, Did your vision clear up ok?
You hanging in there Barbie?

Day 7 for me and I feel ok but so darn weak in my arms and legs. Last night after I got my shower and dried myself I had to rest before I got my jammies on and brushed my teeth.

Fun times! Undecided

ljhm · August 2012

Vision is still blurry, see eye doc on Thursday. Feel less achy today but still tired, 4 more SE days to go, counting down. I know I will feel better tomorrow. Weakness goes with the stupid steroids! Hang in there ladies.

Tazzy · August 2012

My vision was more blurrier on taxotere.... I did go and have my eyes tested after I was PFC and was happy to report that they have really not changed that much.... so I wish the best for you on Thursday and hope you get the same report.

ljhm · August 2012

Thanks Tazzy, me too

Laurie

Tazzy · August 2012

Ladies, I just have to share this with you. I went to see my BS today for my post surgery appt. The excellent news is that he got all the cancer. He took 10 nodes 3 of which were positive. So today I am officially NED Laughing

BUT what I want to share with you going through SE's because of chemo and especially taxotere is that it works. My tumour was 8+cm when I was diagnosed.... 8 cycles of chemo shrank that bastard down to 1.5cm. So although chemo, especially taxotere, does a number on you in all sorts of ways... it does a bigger number on the cancer. Focus on that when you are in the BGC and the days after when you dont know if you can take anymore... you can and will.

Goodnight ladies and I hope you have minimal SE's.

Love & hugs xxxx

Ellendou · August 2012

Tazzy wonderful to hear that it worked for you, I have my last treatment on Friday and hope to goodness it has worked for me as well....then on to radiation.

Tazzy · August 2012

Ellendou... .thinking of you for Friday! We could be in rads around the same time. BS said about another 3 weeks for me, but I am calling my nurse navigator tomorrow to find out when its going to be arranged for. We can hold each others hands Smile

Sleep well ladies xxx

IndigoMont11 · August 2012

Hi - I'm headed for Taxotere #3 tomorrow, too. I can so relate to those of you who say you dread going because by week three, you're feeling good. To those of you who are having a rough time, I wanted to suggest you ask your MO about coming off the steroids more slowly. I had a relatively easy time with A/C, but after my first Taxotere, I was down and out for over a week. I felt like I had the flu. I told the MO about it, and he prescribed a "steroid taper." In my case, I take 2 decadron twice a day the day before and the day of tx, and 2 pills once on the second day. For cycle #2, the MO had me take 2 on the third day, one on the fourth, and a half on day five, then stop. It did seem to help a lot; while I still had the nasty taste/tongue stuff and fatigue, and muscle aches, I didn't feel sick and like I'd been hit by a truck. I know there are other health conditions that might contraindicate the extra steroids, but maybe it would help some of you, too. Looks like several of us will finish about the same time (my last is scheduled for September 13). I'll be listening for the bells!

bcbarbie10 · August 2012

I hanged!!!!! Thank you, ladies!

Today, i was able to drive around and do some errands. Im actually planning to do some lightweight exercises, if i still can. And i ate one whole double-patty burger! No guilt!

My onc postponed my herceptin for next week. I really welcomed the break. Yay, no steroids for two weeks!

Tazzy, so happy for you! And thank you for sharing.

Ellendou, friday's good! Your last! I envy you!

Indigo, good luck for tomorrow and the days after.

Minimal side effects for both of you.

Ljhm, i hope your eye issues get resolved.

PAeagles, yep, still here. Waiting for our next journey together.

Im afraid my next taxotere is the day after my birthday 😁.

ljhm · August 2012

Tazzy that's famtatic news. Barbie I told you it'd get better. My day 7 sucked big time but woke up today feeling much better, I can see the end of the SE's. Had a good nights sleep. Eyes aren't so bad so cancelled by eye appointment. Makes much more senses to have appointment when chem is done and do it all at once. Sending hubbie to the boat for a couple of days, he needs to get out of this sick situation and clear his head. I had relying on people for every little thing ( not that they mind). Gonna have pure crap for dinner with my son KD and weiners yea. Good day to everyone, hope you feel okay.

IndigoMont11 · August 2012

You too, ljhm, hope you enjoyed your dinner. I got turkey patty melts for me and DH tonight after getting home from tx because I wanted to enjoy it before the poison taste sets in. I got full before even finishing half of my burger it tasted pretty good. :-)

Hugs and wishes for minimal SEs for us all.

ljhm · August 2012

Had a crappy 8th day. Had a friend come over after her first cist/gem treatment with her meds all screwed up. Her stupid oncologist didn't give her Zofran pre chemo but another drug post chemo so she is sick as a dog. Her stemetil vial wasn't even labelled for nausea, just take as required. ARRRRRGGGHHH, Got her straightened out, makes me glad I understand my meds. The chemo is bad enough without mixed up drugs trying to kill you. She's a single mom too, god just when you think you're in bad straits there is always someone worse. I have picked the 31st to have a martini. Haven't felt like drinking but think I deserve a treat. Tomorrow should be better then on to day 10 which should end SE's. God I have this drug. Night ladies.

Reah · August 2012

Hi

I am almost done with taxotere and thought I would share my experience which has not been pleasant to say the least!! I am one of the lucky ones and have lost 3 of my fingernails and my 2 big toenails and all of my fingernails have lifted and for any of you that have acrylic nails be sure to have them removed before chemo!! I lost all of my hair with the first four treatments of the AC and my eyelashes and eyebrows I also have the watery eyes and my taxotere treatments are every Friday and my last one is set for Aug 30th. Yeah!! Then I will have the mastectomy and then radiation and then the diep reconstruction next March! If anyone has used Dr Colohan in Seattle Wa I would love to chat with you!! Thank you all for letting me share my experience! I hope for everyone a successful speedy recovery and painless! God bless!

lisa2012 · August 2012

Tazzy, I am so glad that Taxotere does work some magic alongside of its funky junk.

Of my four rounds (every 3 weeks) I only had one week' on round 3' where I felt actually decent. So it was along three months. 9 weeks PFC now and feeling much better. Hair is now covering my head with 1/4 of an inch... Nails discolored and now have nail polish on. A few loosened, but none fell off.

What a trip. Started back to work last week!!

taxotere side effects

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