taxotere side effects

Thanks SpecialK,

Weighing the SEs of the steriod vs the chemo... ? I wonder? Has anyone tried chemo without steroid, or lowering the dose?

Uses For This MedicationDexamethasone is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat many different types of diseases and conditions, including allergic conditions, skin diseases, ulcerative colitis, certain blood disorders or diseases, eye disorders, swelling of the brain (due to brain tumor or head injury), arthritis, asthma, and certain kidney diseases.Dexamethasone is also used in the treatment of certain types of cancer, including certain types of leukemia (acute lymphoblastic leukemia), non-Hodgkins’ lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.Dexamethasone is also used in combination with other medications to help prevent nausea and vomiting that can occur as a side effect of chemotherapy.Dexamethasone is also used to decrease the risk of developing allergic reactions to certain chemotherapy medications, including paclitaxel (Taxol®) or docetaxel (Taxotere®).This medication may also be given for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

{{{{HUGS}}}} Gina 

SpecialK..... I'm sorry, but I'm not understanding. Was it good or bad having steroids 3x, pre, post and with TCH? Maybe that made #4 & #5 bad? I've never heard of other women doing that!

I asked him about titrating off the steroid and he said it wasn't necessary. IDK!

With the AC, i only got the IV steroids on the day of infusion. But with taxotere, i get the IV plus the three day oral. On days when i get both the taxotere and herceptin, i even get double IV dose, one prior to each agent. Then i dont get to sleep well for around three days despite ambien. And of course, the red face. I didnt know we could ask to decrease the steroid premeds, though im worried i might get severe allergic reactions if so. So, for now, ill just go with the standard. Just one more time.

i felt like myself again on day seven after my first treatment.

SpecialK - Thanks for the info on how they do the dosing.  I wondered if it wouldn't have something to do with your weight but never thought to ask.  Also the info on the decadron was helpful, to know that other people have experienced the same thing.  I am wondering if it is necessary to take it at all.  I am going to ask what could happen if it was not taken and see what they say about it.  The red face does not bother me I was just surprised that it could be the decadron I guess.  I see you said the decadron was for allergic reaction, do you think they could just use benadryl instead, although I know that makes you so sleepy and maybe the decadron can counteract the effects of the chemo better or something.

not - You wondered if anyone had taken chemo without using the decadron.  I am trying to remember back 20 years ago when I first had BC, I was given Methotrexate, 5FU and Cytoxan.  If I recall the first time I received that chemo they gave me decadron and it kept me awake for several days so I mentioned it to my doctor (I have the same one now as then) and he cut the dose the second time in half, the next time I went back I said it still kept me awake so he did not give me any decadron or whatever they used at that time and I got along fine without it.  Of course that has been 20 years and things have changed a lot and maybe they have found it is just better to give the decadron I don't know but I am going to ask when I go again on the 27th.  I have know idea what they will give me for chemo, if he will just cut the dose on taxotere or give me something else altogether. 

I appreciate all of the input I have received here.  I am starting to feel human after 10 days and not so weepy and out of it.  I am tired and fatigued but nothing like earlier in the week.  I have been trying to just rest as much as possible and I am sure the 2 liters of fluid helped quite a bit also.  I am inspired by  all of you that have been taking this and feeling so lousy with it but keep plugging away a treatment at a time.  I never felt this bad 20 years ago on what I took then but of course I was 20 years younger and am sure that has something to do with it.  I hope everybody has good results on this chemo and hope I can continue with it or find something that works just as well without feeling so horrible.  Whatever will be will be and I will deal with it, especially with the help of all of you here that have been there and know how I feel.  I am so glad to find this site and hear from everyone, you all have been so helpful, thank you for that.

SpecialK - Isn't it funny they give you steroids for swelling and they cause swelling.  I do remember them giving me Aloxi, they said what it was but I was not familiar with it so forgot the name and they also gave me Zofran so they gave two and then when I had the funny reaction to the taxotere as they increased the speed of the drip up they gave me the benadryl.  It sounds like we had some of the same stuff and maybe that is the cocktail they use for most people.  Do you know what the Tylenol was given for?  I just remember them saying the Aloxi, Zofran, Decadron and then my Zometa and Taxotere, then the Benadryl.  I think I was kind of in a daze as I was not expecting to get a treatment that day, thinking they would just put me back on the Xeloda and see how that went for a few more months.  Did you have the swelling of the face all of the time or did it let up in between treatments?  Also, did you lose your hair or just thin some, not that it matters that much to me, I just need to know whether to look for a wig before hand, I have the one from 20 years ago, but I am sure that is outdated.  You have been very helpful, thanks.

Jeanie, I find it funny that they give decadron to prevent swelling and here I sit 13 days pfc and my legs are still swollen.  (Going to an LE therapist next Monday, hopefully that will help).  I hated the flushing from it too, I swear you could fry an egg on my face those days.  I did lose most of my hair about 2 1/2 weeks after my first Taxotere/Cytoxan treatment.  I shaved it before it fell out, but I knew the day it would have gone because the stubble that was left over itched like crazy and I could just pull it out with my fingertips.  I have some hair that came back while I was going thru treatment, but not enough to make much of a difference.  Those hanger's-on are now about a half inch long and about the same as my pre-chemo hair was. 

Barbie, I am on Prozac.  I was taking it prior to DX for PMDD and my MO never said anything about having to stop it.  I can't imagine what a sobbing mess I would have been if I hadn't already been on it.  Now I'm wondering if I will need to continue since I am in chemo-pause.

PAeagles, im seeing my onc today. Ill ask him if ok to take the Prozac or whichever s more suitable for me, then have a chat with my shrink on how to go about this. Cant wait. Seems taking the anti depressant asap is more anticipated than finishing tax! I need to get out of this rut. Life keeps throwing things at us, it wasnt done with me after cancer. So many other issues. If something can make me cope better, now's the time to take it.

Hi Not,

I know where you are coming from with the steroids - I hate them with a passion - they make me sweat every half an hour all night and give me dreadful stomach ache, but I don't think you should try without them. They stop allergic reactions - I have had a few, so am too scared to try a chemo without them. The staff told me they are also supposed to help with the nausea. 

Hi Not- hope the fluids help with the SE's. My Mom says it looks like I have been on 2 weeks holiday with the red face. I wish!!!! I am now 3 days post 3rd chemo, and felt really foul all night and today. My hands and ankles are now swollen, and I find it painful to put my one foot down. I hope this wears off and doesn't carry through to chemo no 4! It hurts to touch my skin - have any of you experienced this? I am not sure if this is a reaction from the Neurlasta injection or the Taxotere. Sometimes it is so hard to decide what drug is causing what! It makes it difficult to cut something out to make one's life easier. Thanks for the tip on Buspar Not. I am trying not to take too many drugs if I can help it. They have never agreed with me -I seem to be allergic to a lot of them. If I took 2 paracetamol a year it was a lot, so my body is just freaking out now. I will keep the Buspar in mind though- have written it in my book as a safer option to Prozak if I need it.

bcbarbie10- I am so sorry to hear you are struggling big time with depression. I do hope they manage to sort you. Hang in there!!!

Maddie.... I have the skin sensitivity also, especially on my back, but when I got really sick 3 days after chemo #4 I couldn't handle any touch, light, noise, anything, and the nurse here at the clinic said it could be a migraine, which I had premenstrually before menopause 8 years ago. She said we need to be aware that some of our SEs could be from other things besides the chemo. I just asked for imetrex because that worked then and this could be a worse form of migraine. I'm getting hydration with kytril and decatron for the second day after chemo. I'm hoping it stops the worst SEs, and doesn't just postpone them. 

Hang in there everyone. XO 

Shrink started me on Prozac 20mg. Says i should let her know if things improve in 3 weeks. Hopefully they will. The prospect of ending chemo should add to the better outlook.

Thank you, hikergal. So looking forward to feel like myself again.



Ljhm, have you had that martini yet?



Fourth and last taxotere tomorrow!!!!

PA eagles - the "Taxotears" may continue for an extended period after chemo so don't be surprised - like 6-8 weeks.  Then they seem to magically disappear.

Congrats to all who are finishing or almost there - you can do it!  It is a wonderful feeling walking away from the last one.  Of course, I had to walk back in later to keep getting Herceptin, but you know what I mean!

jeanie - I just realized that I never answered your questions from the previous page!  Sorry!  I have been going up to Washington, D.C. for a Her2+ vaccine trial and don't usually get on the computer when I am there.  To answer your round face question - I think I pretty much had it all the time once I went to the before, during and after steroids.  After #3, I had body-wide swelling so I just looked swollen everywhere.  I received my pre-meds all prior to any infusion of chemo drugs or Herceptin.  So the Aloxi, Decadron and Benadryl were given IV at the very beginning, Tylenol by mouth.  Then the T, C and finally the H.  The Tylenol was most likely to prevent aching and fever - just like it would normally be prescribed.  I worked in Transfusion Services in the hospital where I had my BMX and many docs would prescribe Tylenol and Benadryl prior to a blood transfusion.  It prevents the body's natural reaction to a foreign substance - which is to marshall the immune system and mount a fight.  Giving these drugs helps the body stay calm and not complicate the infusion process with a reaction.  On the hair - I did lose it, but I lost it later than most.  I had a full head of hair on day 24, which amazed my MO.  I got through two infusions with a full head of hair.  Once it started to go it came out quickly so I had my DH buzz it down to about 1/4 inch.  Mine grew back more slowly than most but once it started it grew fairly fast.  It is past my ears, almost to my shoulder, now after a year.  I wore a wig for 8 months.