taxotere side effects

Fight4two - have you had your hemoglobin checked? Chemo also affects the red blood cells and can cause anemia. When I am anemic my heart rate is faster and I feel short of breath with very little activity.



PA eagles - enjoyed your post, good to hear, I am almost 6 weeks post and still having a lot of muscle pain in thighs

sherylb - glad you are drinking but don't forget that you should drink different kinds of fluids - too much water can skew your electrolytes.  Soup, juice, and Gatorade (I cut mine with water - you are in the right town for Gatorade, lol!) all count.  A number of the ladies took Aleve and got good pain relief from Neulasta and you take fewer pills, unless you have a script for 800mg Ibuprofen, and your MO is specific that it be that drug.

Well I saw the oncologist today and got results of my bone and CT scan.  The bone scan showed the same as it has been, nothing new, just same old cancer.  The CT showed a little thinning of the omentum, I thought it should be gone but he said it will probably never go completely away, our goal is to keep this from spreading.  My markers went to 64 from 74 so he wants me to take a chemo break.  I said for what 3 weeks, he said come and see me in 4 weeks and we will see what the markers say, he said if they go up ten points he would not start treatment again but if they went up 20 he would.  He also said my markers have always been a good indicator, whenever they have gone up we scan and there is something new and they have been that way all the time.  I am hesitant to take the break after 6 rounds of Tax and asked if I took the next 3 if the break would be longer, he said there is no guarantee if I took the next three that I would be able to be off for 6 months or longer, he said it is like a craps shoot, and he is right on that.  There are no guarantees in life.  So I am officially off Taxotere and Xeloda until markers go up.  We are scanning again in 3 months so that will also be a factor if things are showing any progression so we are not totally going by markers but both things together.  I figure it will be a couple of months or maybe 3 but whatever I can get will be good.  I know I will be on and off chemo for the rest of my life but that is OK, if I can get another 10 to 20 years that will be great and who knows by that time there may be something out there to help all of us to get rid of it forever.  I will be checking back on here to see how everyone is doing and I am sure with questions.  I asked the onco nurse today how long before I felt back to normal before chemo and she said it would probably be 2 months and maybe 6, I told her I would be back on it before that happened, she just laughed and so did I.  She said you would feel better but to get back to normal could be anywhere from 2 months and some people it is a year and I am thinking the first time it took me about a year or longer but then I had a bilateral mastectomy and lots of trouble with implants and blood clots so I think that is why it took me so long. 

I hope all of you get that break soon and that the Taxotere works great for you all with minimal SE.  I know this last round was my worst I think, with my temp lasting for 2 full weeks, which it had not lasted that long before, but I made it through and when I go back on I will know what to expect, and I have just resigned myself to the fact of what will be will be and there is nothing I can do about it.  Although I have to admit I am excited about it I am also very nervous to not be covered so to speak by any chemo.

fight4 - I found NUUN !!!  Its a tablet you dissolve in water that works like gatorade, without having to drink so much.

It really worked for me.

Hello, just weighing in on the pulse thing. Mine has been high since before I even started chemo and part of it is simply the stress of what we are going through. My pulse has been down to a reasonably healthy 70-75 from time to time but it has mostly been around 85-95. One day last week when I went in for chemo it was 104, and I was very concerned. I am gathering that this is just not particularly alarming for cancer patients. My doc said just yesterday that if it is accompanied by chest pain or breathlessness, then you must be seen. She also said she sometimes prescribes a beta blocker, if for any reason she is particularly concerned, for example if the heart rate is overly distressing for the patient. I know this isn't very comforting information but at least know that it is common.

Jennie and MsW - I just measured my resting heart rate and it was 118.  Seems extremely high.  Its good to know you both have high rates as well, but they don't seem quite as high.  Even though its high, I can't feel it racing - I would not have known.  My MO never measures my pulse.  I only learned of the fast rate because its standard procedure at the BS office.  Perhaps it has been like this all through chemo?  The thing that worries me is that the doctors have decided to move up my surgery (in 10 days!) and I'm not sure I want my pulse to still be high.  Does anyone know if they give you an echo before surgery?  I had an echo before chemo started, but never another one to see if my heart is STILL good.

This added stress is probably terrible for my heart rate, ha!  Also, still haven't been able to shake my Taxotere fever.  Will go drink some more water now.

Fight4two, I would definitely let your MO and your surgeon know about your high heart rate. It may still be ok but it needs to be addressed. I think they have a responsibility to either treat it or explain to you why it is ok, because it's terrible to go into surgery with a concern like that hanging over your head. I hope you find a solution. High heart rate can be so many things. Good luck.

Has anyone had a break from Taxotere for a couple of months and then gone back on it?  I was wondering if you had any problems when you did go back on it.  I am on a break, don't now for how long, but I am wondering if or when I go back on will it be worse than before, the same or better?  I know we are all different but just wanted to know what others may have experienced with this.

Thanks Sandy, I was afraid the side effects might be worse.

Will do.  I am hoping to have 2 or 3 months or more off, but time will tell.

fight4two - Thanks, I hope they are easier also.  I am still fighting with this low grade temp.  It was gone last Thursday-Saturday after 2+ weeks, had it a little yesterday and now this afternoon it is not going away.  It gets to 100 and I lay down and it goes down just a little.  I have not caught a cold or anything and can not figure out what in the world would be causing it.  It has been over 4 weeks since I got Tax last and finished up my Xeloda yesterday so thought I would be feeling much better by now.  I am sure it will pass soon, if not I may call the onc on Thursday and see what he has to say.  When I was there last week he had no idea but then I had quit running it when I saw him.  It is just a nuisance to not let you feel good but not bad enough to run to the doctor.  I know, I am whining, so I will quit, it could be so much worse that is for sure. 

back on tomorrow of taxotere after my week off for 3 weeks on.....so far no side effects except being tired....

Sandy

I am wearing HUGE pockets and I would love to take all of you with me for my LAST chemo tomorrow!     This is the first time that my blood work has so many flagged low numbers (WBC/3.1, RBC/2.9, HB/97, HCT/.28 and Neutrophils/1.6 but MO is pushing ahead so must not be too low I guess.   I was lucky on the last round and other than being completely exhausted (still am) the side effects were easier.  No fevers or blood clots or anything worse than the bone pain associated with the Nuepogen shots like before.   My fingers are crossed this last Taxotere will go smoothly too.  I was especially surprised to see my Neutrophil numbers down since I do the injections ... usually they are high!   Maybe it is a good thing that this is my last round ... the ol body must be getting tired of it all.

I know some of you are having a hard time.  I sincerely hope things settle and things get easier for you!

Hugs to all  xox 

In your pockets tomorrow Halfcan - congratulations!

<<doin' a happy dance for Halfcan>>