taxotere side effects

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  • halfcan
    halfcan Member Posts: 253
    edited December 2012

    Thanks for the well wishes. I am in the ER again today. Been here since 9 this morning. Got IV antibiotics and now they ran more tests and waiting for a blood thinner shot. Tomorrow will have an ultrasound on my leg...possible blood clot. Could be cause of fever. I an soooo tired of this! Will end up being here all day again.

    Gosh, I hope you all are having a better day. Xox

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  • schoolmom
    schoolmom Member Posts: 458
    edited December 2012

    All went ok today.  Waiting for taste thing to kick in .  Go for my shot in the morning and hoping to get some last minute Christmas shopping done while I still can. 

    Halfcan....get well soon.  :)

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  • websister
    websister Member Posts: 1,092
    edited December 2012

    Good to hear, Schoolmom



    Halfcan - so sorry you continue to have problems, hope the ultrasound is negative



    JeanieB - I have had my last Taxotere, just having more side effects with this one, I will continue with Herceptin until August 2013 and I will be interested to see which side effects continue with Herceptin, if any



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  • bcbarbie10
    bcbarbie10 Member Posts: 319
    edited December 2012

    I hope everyone merry christmas even though i know this is especially different for us. Let's enjoy our time with our families and people who care and stayed with us throughout this tough times.



    Websis, herceptin alone is a cake walk after taxotere. Just runny nose and pimples (oh yes, at 48!) for me. And tiredness on the night of the infusion, but not anywhere near that of taxo.

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  • schoolmom
    schoolmom Member Posts: 458
    edited December 2012

    Wow.  I just got the greatest deal at my onc. office.  My last chemo is in January and I went to the billing clerk to find out about overpayments on my account.  I was saying that I am at 100% coverage now but that I would have to meet my deductible for chemo and the neulasta shot in January so just hold my overpay in my account.  She had a program for people with insurance that the neulasta shot is submitted and applied to your deductible but this program will pay the onc. office for the shot.  So in actuality it is applied toward your deductible but you dont have to pay it.  She had me sign a form and then they take care of all the billing.  I dont have any more info but it is worth asking if you are going to continue neulasta in the new year.

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  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 5,712
    edited December 2012

    Back on Tax tomorrow, last 2 times got sick and ended up in the hospital in which they say it was unrelated....2 weeks on a week off....lets see what tomorrow brings....

    Halfcan so sorry.....

    Sandy

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  • websister
    websister Member Posts: 1,092
    edited December 2012

    Sandy - I will be thinking about you tomorrow and hoping that this time all goes well for you. I will be sitting with another lady from these boards as she has her chemo tomorrow which will remind me. Take care.



    Halfcan - how was today?

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  • halfcan
    halfcan Member Posts: 253
    edited December 2012

    Thanks for all the well wishes ladies! Today was another pretty full day with ultrasound and then back to ER waiting for results. As suspected, multiple blood clots in a subcutaneous vein ...not life threatening. My leg got an infection for whatever reason and that made the clots form. Done with 3 days of IV antibiotics and now 10 days of oral. Its been a rough go since Sat. night. The only bonus I see is I had a nail fungus under my big toe and thanks to chemo, my nail is lifting! This Taxotere has been fun for round 1.

    I sincerely hope you all are well and can enjoy the holidays! I got one week now till chemo and. hoping to enjoy some of it!!!!!

    Good luck tomorrow Sandy. :-)

    Xox

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  • Traii
    Traii Member Posts: 1,138
    edited December 2012

    Hi Halfcan, sorry to hear about your toe fungal infection ontop of the blood clots....though good to hear your results came back and you can be on your merry way to have some good days before your next lot of chemo which I hope they are lowering your dose for you hun .

    Sandy Good Luck for tomorrow.....

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  • MsW2012
    MsW2012 Member Posts: 226
    edited December 2012

    Halfcan, I'm sorry to hear you are having such a rough time of it. Chemo sucks! I'll be rooting for you, and praying for recovery and smoother sailing. I just finished Round 4 of 6 and it seems like the burden on my body has reached a new level. Big drop in energy, muscle strength and brain power. I'm beginning to understand why some people have refused to complete their prescribed course - I won't quit mine, but I understand the temptation.

    I am hoping to have enough energy to do at least some Christmas shopping and decorating before it's too late. One day at a time.

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  • Traii
    Traii Member Posts: 1,138
    edited December 2012

    Congrats on #4 out of 6 MsW2012 I did 3 out of 3 and boy I was ready to quit after the first one.....Its taking its toll now.

    I have burnt hands on top of (inbetween) my thumb and pointer (both left and right sides) it throbs .. cold water, ice and sorbolene are my best friends for that SE....then theirs my mouth, blah still 7 days in...

    I take my hat off to you for going through 4 rounds and 2 to go. Good on you for not quitting, I'd just imagine how the tempation would be there but I would be like you...if thats what the onc prescibes, well thats what shall be done!

    Hope you have enough energy to go out and do your christmas shopping and decorating, and enjoy christmas: )

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  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 5,712
    edited December 2012

    Thanks, maybe I will take my laptop and see if it works, Halfcan, so sorry about the nail thing...cancer really does suck!!

    Sandy

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  • MsW2012
    MsW2012 Member Posts: 226
    edited December 2012

    Thanks Traii. We are lucky there are so many ways now to deal with the se's. The mouth thing, I know! This just isnt fun.

    I will try to get to some online shopping today. At least for our kids, both teenagers. Right now it is time to go back to bed, after being up since 5:30 to see off my husband and our son. Merry Christmas to everyone. <3</p>

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  • fight4two
    fight4two Member Posts: 146
    edited December 2012

    Question - Does neuropathy feel like how your fingertips feel when you've been soaking in a bath for too long?  My fingertips feel like that wrinkly prune sensation.  I wasn't sure if this was the start of neuropathy or something else.  Wondering if I need to start taking supplements??

    Also, my arms and legs lose feeling when I put something heavy on them. ie. when I have my baby resting in my lap.  It feels like the area has fallen asleep/is numb, but without the tingly sensation.  It just loses feeling.  Not sure if this is neuropathy or not because it only happens when I have something resting on that part of my body.

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  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 5,712
    edited December 2012

    Yesterday came home (got) home at 5pm and went right to bed, woke up at 1230 and went back to sleep and got up and ran all day, if I get sick it will be tomorrow afternoon and then on saturday and then sunday I will be in bed...dr. said to watch for a fever and not pain so much cause the diverticulitis will cause pain, so watching what i am eating (sort of) think I will make an ice cream cone that is on the ok list and it will make me feel better....

    Sandy

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  • Traii
    Traii Member Posts: 1,138
    edited December 2012

    Fight4two, sounds like Neuropathy you got to me just like my fingers, my DS whos 3 on xmas day said mummy your hands look like an old lady....(gee thanks darling...lol) when I come out of the shower its worse but it doesn't really ease down so much ... wrinkly fingers (and I'm only 34 Undecided) My fingers come and go of feeling same with my toes.... If you are nursing bubs for a while I'd say loosing feeling would be a definete yes as I too when my son sits on me I go a little numb (though I am holding a 16 kg toddler...lol)

    My onc didn't recommend any supplements, just moisturiser ! though I have read of a few supplements that can reduce the numbness.

    What # chemo are you on ? I am #3 post 10 today and much better re feet and fingers, sstill tingly every now and then, only pain in the butt side effect is the peeling of my feet and the red inbetween thumbs and pointer finger, entire area is really red and burns under hot water but cold water (just like having a burn) is ahhh nice & relieving !

    #2 was bad for me , i couldn't walk for 7 days as the neuropathy in my feet was so severe ( bad bad pain sort of pins and needles feeling to somewhat describe it) was horrid......though was ok after 7 days and thsi time round nothing just peeling.

    Hope this info helps a little, but don't stress its Neuropathy I'd say as your symptoms described is what I have/ had .

    Hope they get better for you. How old is your little one ?

    Sandy, don't you jsut love the fatigue we get from this ...... pain in the butt.....yes CANCER SUCKS !! but so long as this toxic stuff is doing its work I guess we will just have to bare and grin it all and then we can look back and say we DID IT!!!

    Anyone else have tight chest feelings at times ? and get a sore back too , off and on ? I'm a little worried at times thinking it may be something else, onc says re all my SE's just to remember that TAXOTERE IS TOXIC ..... yeh he doesn't need to say that again to me ...... I KNOW its toxic stuff thats forsure !!

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  • jeanieb2
    jeanieb2 Member Posts: 319
    edited December 2012

    I have some questions that I hope someone can give me their opinion on.  I saw my onc yesterday, my markers had only gone down 2.8 points which is ok with me, they had been going down about 12 10 15 points since September and I knew they would slow or even go up one or two months.  He asked how I was doing with it I told him fine, yeah, I know I kind of stretched the truth, but anyway, I have learned how to handle my 3 week battle, knowing the first 12-14 days I do not go anywhere except for fluids the week after treatment, for counts, and my Neulasta shot.  I asked him how many more treatments we would be doing, I did number 6 yesterday and he said he would like to be able to give me a break after this one, but we will scan on December 31 and I will see him on Jan 10.  I told him I would rather keep going instead of taking a 3 month break or whatever and then starting over, I would rather be stuck at home in the winter than during the spring or summer months, plus my hair would start growing back, then would fall out again and a wig in the summer, well it is way to hot for that, it is even hot for me this winter, but that is the least of it.  He said his preference would be to keep going also but was thinking of me and that I may need a break.  I guess I was wondering if anyone has taken a break and then went back on it for another 3 or 6 rounds?  Did you like the break or would you have rather just continued on until you could be off for a long time?  I know that I could do another 3 or 6 rounds, be taken off of it and have to go back on it at anytime, I realize this is a forever thing for me.  I was just hoping if I did more rounds, got my markers to a stable place that maybe I could be off of this, and just take my Xeloda to keep it at bay for a year.

    I guess I just wanted someone elses opinion if they have done this and even if you have not gone off and back on, what would you do, I know everyone has a different way of looking at things and just getting more opinions helps because sometimes you think of something that I have not looked at.  Thanks everyone.

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  • MsW2012
    MsW2012 Member Posts: 226
    edited December 2012

    Jeanieb2, tough question. I think your onco is the best person to discuss with. Too bad we cant just email themwhenever we have a question. For me, it would be about how much my body could tolerate. If the doc said going without a break was a good option, meaning the only consideration was my own emotional strength, then I would go on without a break. However, it is not an easy choice. Take your time thinking about it. Usually there is no great urgency about these things.

    I will be thinking of you. I feel like I have faced similar decisions. Getting my mind off of it always helped, if you can somehow take a break from thinking about it. I hope this helps.

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  • Linda-n3
    Linda-n3 Member Posts: 2,439
    edited December 2012

    Just a quick note to some of you who are experiencing symptoms of neuropathy: TELL YOUR DOCTOR!!!!!! I told mine with every infusion that my symptoms were worse, and she reduced and delayed #3, and cancelled #4 (substituted adriamycin). I had what is called "coasting" effect, stable neuropathy which was pretty bad, then it got much much worse for a few months after end of chemo, and now I have permanent neuropathy in my fingers. I tried using L-glutamine (with MO's approval) but I still got neuropathy. And all the drugs and treatments that she and other specialists have tried have given me worse SEs to deal with, so now there is nothing to do but have pain with typing, and avoid doing those things I did for pleasure (play piano, garden, cook...). Not everyone has such a bad outcome, but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let your MO know so he/she can monitor and hopefully prevent it from becoming permanent!

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  • jeanieb2
    jeanieb2 Member Posts: 319
    edited December 2012

    MsW2012 -  Thanks for your input, I need all of the opinions I can get right now.  I feel as you do that I would rather just power through all of the rounds instead of the break, the onc also said his preference was to keep going and I do feel strong enough to just keep at it.  I have only been on it since September 6th so I feel I would have no problem going on to February or March or however long I need to get the results I want.  I just think if I stopped I would continually think about it spreading again, and the fact I would have to go back on and do it all over again, of course those are things that go through our heads all of the time anyway, I think.  I will just wait and see what the scans say and how the markers are in 3 weeks and make the decision then, I know right now I would say lets continue on but will ultimately leave the decision to my onc, as I trust his judgement on my care, and I do put my two cents worth in and he will take it from there.  I have gone to him for 20 years and he can read me like a book so he knows when I am skirting the issue or when I am telling him the truthLaughing.

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  • Traii
    Traii Member Posts: 1,138
    edited December 2012

    Jeanie, ....doing a straight 6 Taxoteres I take my wig off to you!!!!! .......I was lucky to have lasted 3 with the blistery/peeling feet and burn like hands.....my onc said if it was to have happened he would have lowered my dose earlier, however because thsi was the last one , I guess I'll take what it's given me and move on to CMF next.!

    Good luck with the decision...but i would be the same as you if i didn't have these major SE's ...... to continue doing them with no break if you feel up to it, but don't push yourself, your body , and only YOU can make the decision if you will handle or not, you would not be a failure you would be simply having a break from it.

    xx

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  • schoolmom
    schoolmom Member Posts: 458
    edited December 2012

    Finished # 3 of TC on Monday and dealing with all the nasty taste issues.  It usually lasts a week so I have a couple more days to go.  So hard to eat and stay hydrated.  I guess I should not complain since others are dealing with more significant se's.  It is just hard to keep energy up and I always lose weight this week.  Since #2 I stop my blood pressure meds the week of chemo because getting dehydrated my bp goes way too low and I am soooooo tired.  Last time it went to 100/60.   Hope all are doing well and ready for the holidays.  We are probably going to celebrate Wednesday....

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  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 5,712
    edited December 2012

    ok got it Wednesday, still nauseous and tired, but am ok for now, next one the 28th and on it until it doesn't work anymore, then on to something else...

    Sandy

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  • Traii
    Traii Member Posts: 1,138
    edited December 2012

    Sandy how many have you had so far of Tax? I hope it does continue to work for you and you only experience minimal SEs.



    My hands look wrinkly and burnt..my DS who will be 3 xmas day tells me one hand looks like and old ladies....lol

    Feet slowly getting back to normal think its due to the sea salt water from the beach and exfoliating in the sand. Lol



    Schoolmom taste issues are the worst ... I got mine back then the next day cold like symptoms...runnynose, chesty cough and NO taste buds for xmas!!! Oh well I'll just have to pretend i can taste!



    Wishing you all a merry christmas with nil or very minimal SEs .

    Hope Santa brings everything you want and 3 cheers to a healthy 2013 for us all...WE CAN DO THIS !

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  • MsW2012
    MsW2012 Member Posts: 226
    edited December 2012

    Hello ladies and Merry Christmas! I finished Round 4 of 6 (TCH) and this one hit hardest so far. Like Schoolmom, I feel I can't complain because I don't have a lot of symptoms, but the fatigue is getting more intense and lasting longer all of a sudden. My muscles are sore, especially leg muscles and around the mastectomy site. I'm walking really slow up the hills. The tastebuds thing is really annoying and weird. Comes on slowly with each cycle, then for a day or two they are completely gone, then gradually come back. Dry eyes, bloody nose, plus runny nose & cough. Mostly right now I am thinking about the hair loss. Just recently found out about the 6% of Taxo patients who have permanent loss. Still have sparse eyebrows and I think all the lashes I ever had, but onco says they could still come out.

    I am lucky that Christmas comes at the best possible time, just a few days before the next round. Unlucky that I wasn't able to do anything but write a few Christmas cards. No tree, no lights, no meal plan, no gifts, even for the kids. (Teens. They'll be happy to get cash! lol) My husband is lucky to have the 25th and 26th off work, thank goodness.

    Last chemo round will be Jan. 21. So I'm hoping by end of February I'll be feeling better than I have for a while!  I'm not sure how long it will take to completely recover. I figure the usual 3 weeks to feel like I normally do right before another round, but then how long until I really feel normal again? Back to my regular exercise routine and all? I will be doing radiation for 5-6 weeks. And of course I wonder what my hair is going to be like. Right now it's like soft peach fuzz, holding at about 1/4" long the last several weeks.

    Wishing everyone a good Christmas, minimal se's and the ability to enjoy the peace and warmth of the season. God bless.

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  • Emilylaughed
    Emilylaughed Member Posts: 50
    edited December 2012

    Hi all—

    My mom just got her first treatment of taxotere, and I'm hating the side effects. She got the treatment on Thursday. Friday she was mostly all right. Saturday about half way through the day, she got extremely tired. While we were in church, she was falling asleep and falling over while standing up. She sat through the end of mass and when we got home, sat and just dozed the rest of the night. Today she seemed a little stronger most of the day, but developed a wicked headache and said that she feels her heart beat in her chest. I just gave her some tylenol, a yogurt and a warm washcloth for her eyes, and she's starting to see it relax a bit.

    I'm trying to make her call the doctor, but she's getting short with me, saying that she wants to see if it gets better. I know she knows her body best, but this is so hard to watch. I'm obviously really concerned, and after reading these posts, I feel like it's an extremely nasty drug with lousy side effects... but I'm just praying that it gets better. I think that you are all so remarkable—I'm not even the one experiencing it, and I can hardly stand it! I can't believe that we're only 2 months into chemo. So much more to come... 

    She was on A/C for two treatments, but a rash on her affected breast concerned the onc., and he wants her to do the prescribed four taxotere treatments in the middle instead of at the end as we were planning. 

    Cancer sucks. Chemo sucks. Watching your mother hurts sucks. Not knowing how to make it better sucks. I just hope it's all worth it.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited December 2012

    jeanieb - I would ask your stopping/starting question on a stage IV forum - those ladies have more experience with long term chemo.

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  • SherylB
    SherylB Member Posts: 450
    edited December 2012

    emilylaughed,

    Your concern for your mom brought me to tears. Mine died 12 years ago just before Christmas and you touched my heart. Just be there for her sweetie, she will tell you when she needs to call the doctor or go to the hospital (most likely). It is wonderful that you can be there. My best support is a sister who lives about 2000 miles away and I really miss her right now. Watching someone we love go through hard times makes us feel so helpless, but believe me the fact that you are there speaks volumes.

    Bless you, Sheryl

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  • Emilylaughed
    Emilylaughed Member Posts: 50
    edited December 2012

    Thanks SherylB—

    She's now resting comfortably. I do keep looking over to make sure she's not having any issues, but she seems ok. I'm a little fearful of what will happen when she wakes up, but for now, I'll let her rest. She just started snoring, so I'm going to take that as a good sign. We are dog-sitting for her sister starting tomorrow, and I know she's going to be upset if she doesn't feel well for the puppy! (Really an old, sweet, wonderful mutt.)

    I'm so sorry your sister is so far away! I almost took a job out of state about a month prior to her diagnosis, and I'm so thankful that I'm so close to her now (even though I make her crazy when I stare at her). I hope that you are recovering well from your surgery. You've got my thoughts and good vibes headed your way. :) I hope that your Christmas is truly blessed, and that you are able to kick this cancer's butt.

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  • SherylB
    SherylB Member Posts: 450
    edited December 2012

    Hi all,

    Just wanted to toss out there that Prevacid or any of the meds in the same class can take a few days to start to work. The class of drugs such as prevacid help the body to not produce acid, the drugs like pepcid neutralize the acid once it is produced. I have been on prevacid for years and would encourage anyone with stomach/heartburn to take it daily. Please..please ask your doctors don't just take my advice.

    sheryl

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