taxotere side effects

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  • MsW2012
    MsW2012 Member Posts: 226
    edited January 2013

    Thanks Sherylb! <3 /p>

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  • SherylB
    SherylB Member Posts: 450
    edited January 2013

    MsW,

    Wow I feel so smart! That is exactly what I was thinking when I responded to your post.

    Yes we definitely need to speak for ourself if we don't advocate for ourself no one will. As a nurse I get really irritated with nurses who throw off "oh it will be fine" because they are to whatever to ask the doctor.

    Sheryl

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  • SherylB
    SherylB Member Posts: 450
    edited January 2013

    OMG I am shedding like an Alaskan Huskey in South Florida. Damn I need to go buy another lint roller mine is running out of sticky stuff.

    Sheryl

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  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 5,712
    edited January 2013

    thanks for sharing, I wonder if it is working cause I don't have side effects, lol...as I said I started it in August but only did 1 round and then went into the hospital for an abcess then off for a couple of months, then did 2 weeks on and then back in the hospital for diverticulitis for 5 days, now am back on it and am finishing my 2nd round of 3 weeks on tomorrow....

    Sandy

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  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 5,712
    edited January 2013

    do any of you have blood coming out of your nose when you blow it....I do not alot, but is there, am telling the dr. tomorrow, have an appt before chemo?

    Thanks,

    Sandy

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  • SherylB
    SherylB Member Posts: 450
    edited January 2013

    Sandy,

    That seems to be a common issue from the dryness of our nares due to the chemo. I have been using sterile saline rinse but bought a NeilMed yesterday at Walmart for $8. If it a bottle of premixed purified water, sterile saline, and sodium bicarb (baking soda). I figure if the salt/baking soda/water worked so well for my mouth if would help the nose. I do have a couple of small sores in nose but none in mouth. I don't have any problem irrigating my sinuses as I am a scuba diver and used to getting a nose full of water at times. I really like the way my sinuses feel after the rinse.

    Sheryl

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  • MsW2012
    MsW2012 Member Posts: 226
    edited January 2013

    Hi Sandy yes this is common. Many here use Aquafor, apply in nostrils with your finger or a q tip, also saline nasal spray a few times a day. The Tax (and maybe Herceptin too) dry out your sinuses leaving them very susceptible to nose bleeding. Do run it by your onc though. They like to know any symptoms you are experiencing.

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  • jeanieb2
    jeanieb2 Member Posts: 319
    edited January 2013

    weesa - You had me laughing so hard at your story on your toenail, I can just picture someone doing that.  I am still laughing, I will have to remember that and keep a watch on my nail so I can retrace my steps just in case it falls off.  Of course I am just at home and wear shoes and socks if I have to leave the house but I don't want the cat finding it and playing with it, ugh, you know how they like to bat things around.  Thanks for making me laugh, you know laughter is the best medicine in my book.

    Traii - I am trying to keep my fingernails cut fairly short so I do not break them or bend the nail back and cause more problems.  Let me know what your onc says about your nails.

    gigi - I had 6 treatments of Tax.  My first treatment of Tax I did not need the Neulasta shot but from treatment 2-6 I did, and got it a week after my treatment.  I had absolutely no problem with them except for some aches and pains for about a day but nothing that Tylenol did not help.  My onc said if I needed to I could take pain pills but it never got to that point.  I had the shot on a Thursday and it was Saturday morning when I woke that I felt anything, took Tylenol and within a few hours could not even tell it, I did take them every 4 hours for that day just in case.

    Sandy - I had 6 treatments of Tax but I took 110 mg once every 3 weeks.  I did not start to notice anything until right before my 6th treatment and then I noticed some darkness under the nails, not much to begin with but that spread, it looked like blood under the nail, which it probably is.  I know my onc said it could happen but I thought it would happen way before this.  I do not know what will happen when I have to go back on it, I will have to ask him at my next appointment.  I hope you do not lose yours, I know some have not, you may be one of them.

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  • jeanieb2
    jeanieb2 Member Posts: 319
    edited January 2013

    Sandy - I had that problem starting about the 4th or 5th day after treatment for about a week then it would clear up.  I am allergic to the Aquafor and am unable to use that so I used Vaseline instead and it did help. 

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  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 5,712
    edited January 2013

    thanks guys you are the best!!

    Sandy

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  • giselagarcia43
    giselagarcia43 Member Posts: 7
    edited January 2013

    HI  SherylB

    I have also heard the mention of Clariten D and that it works as an anti inflamatory aid. I appreciate your feedback and I am going to take your advise since I too, have bad lower lumbar issues like a pinched nerve. I had  my infusion today and feel week so im resting for tomorrows Nulasta shot. Thanks again i really am happy that you responded as I have been trying to set up my registration to join you girls for a while.Smile

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  • giselagarcia43
    giselagarcia43 Member Posts: 7
    edited January 2013

    Hi Jienieb2,

    I soo hope that it goes the same for me. Ill keep the motrins in mind. Thank you for your advise I can surely use everything I can learn for others experiences. So greateful and lots of best wishes to you.

    gigi

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  • giselagarcia43
    giselagarcia43 Member Posts: 7
    edited January 2013

    Hi Traii,

    I did combat the fear once i sat and  went through the treatment so far so good. Im home now and had a bubble bath and a bowl of soup and resting now. I appreciate your words of encouragement because I need that especially since i have been hearing negetive things about side affect to all medications. I wish I can just change my diet and be done with it.

    unfortunately its not that way. I  think Ill stick with you girls since we are in similar situation. I actually feel good expressing to this group. I found my nitch. ThanxSmile

    gigi

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  • giselagarcia43
    giselagarcia43 Member Posts: 7
    edited January 2013

    Hi Linda-n3

    I am so greatful that you responded because, my biggest weakness is that I suffer from anxiety and worry about evrything and evryone. I am currently listenning to the power of now from Eckard ot learn how to relax and meditate to ease my anxiety. Funny you asked me what Im afraid of because I cant  seem to pin point it. But ill tell you something. This is going to definately be my goal for the next few weeks  so ill know before my next infusuion. Thank you for point it out. I will try hard to stay focused and keep you postedUndecided

    gigi

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited January 2013

    blondie - the reason for blood when blowing your nose is two-fold - first, chemo causes soft tissue irritation, second, it causes a lower platelet count which is the thing in your blood that helps it clot - with lower platelets you bleed more easily.  This is one of the reasons they do a CBC prior to chemo and sometimes delay it because of blood counts that are too low.

    gisela - take Claritin 1 hour prior to the Neulasta injection (24 hour Claritin, not Claritin D) and then take it every 24 hours for several days following the Neulasta.  Claritin has an antihistamine that combats the edema in your bone marrow that happens as the marrow is producing new white blood cells.  Check with your oncologist before taking it - but most of them give it the OK.  Here is a link to a current clinical trial:

    http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01712009

    MsW - chemo inhibits healing - they need to be careful when they replace your port because you may not heal adequately, in addition to the nadir point for WBC.

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  • Traii
    Traii Member Posts: 1,138
    edited January 2013

    Sandy, I only was scheduled for 3 Taxotere cycles....I had my last Tax on the 12th Dec and over the last couple of weeks my fingernails are coming off...showed my onc today I asked him if it was normal that only 'half' the nail is coming off, he said yes as the new nail is pushing through so the top bit dies off while the new one pushes through the old one so that's how mine are coming off!

    My hair didn't ALL come out but it did come out, around day 12 like Carlads mentioned in chunks ( still have eyebrows and lashes :) ) enough for me to have to wear a wig of course but i never buzzed it, so when i'm home and wear my little bandana thing I still have some shoulder length hair showing :)

    I too had a really dry nose for about 7 days and it would bleed a little but not a lot.....

    Carlads, love you too hun :) you are doing well. so proud of you :)

    Gigi, glad you are feeling better. its great having forums like this, little questions go a long way to ease our minds !! I wish we could just change our diets too and be done with, ahhh if only it was that easy hey !

    Hope all you ladies have a lovely day xx

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  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 5,712
    edited January 2013

    Thanks, platelet count is fine, will check today when I get bw before chemo, hair thinned, sort of fell out, eyelashes did for the most part, eyebrows didn't!!

    Off to drs. and chemo...

    Sandy

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  • websister
    websister Member Posts: 1,092
    edited January 2013

    In your pockets, Sandy :)

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  • SherylB
    SherylB Member Posts: 450
    edited January 2013

    Hi all,

    I am going to post this message on many of the threads please help me share it as I found out about it here.

    www.GoodWishesScarves.org

    They will send a free head wrap/scarf. It took about 4 weeks but the wait was well worth it. I like the one they sent me better than any others I have. They even have a little fairy with wand in crystals on the edge of one of the tails. Too cute! They do accept donations too of course but it is absolutely free even the S/H is paid by them and they send a best wishes card signed by the staff. Just overwhelmingly generous and compassionate.

    Thanks, Sheryl

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  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 5,712
    edited January 2013

    Yep they do cause I got one!!

    Sandy

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  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 5,712
    edited January 2013

    Ok went to the drs. and I had a low grade fever which is normal for me 99.3, told him about the blood coming out of my nose when I blow it, he said it is a SE of taxotere and that the claritin I take can dry my nose which will cause it, wanted to look at my platelet counts and they are fine...so it is either take claritin and not have a running nose all the time AND have my dry nose OR take it have a dry nose and possibly have blood come out when I blow it, whatever......told him no SE's cept that, so he wants me to continue taking it even tho the TM were down for now and we will scan in a while, agreed with him, he doesn't go all the way with TM goes with scans...but I have a lump under my arm where it is in my lymph nodes and that is still there, although has gone down, and another one in my chest on the wall that protrudes out, and that has gone down, so chemo is working, but as I said haven't been on it consistently.

    Then went to chemo AROUND the corner, got my chair, went downstairs of the hospital and got something to eat and drink back upstairs, got there @ 1215.....ate....they came to hook me up @ 1245.....got a new BIGGEST FRIGGIN NEEDLE IN THE WORLD, they put it in my port and it wouldn't flush, thank goodness I used the lanocain, moved it around, didn't work, got another nurse to do it she couldn't, then did, then couldn't get a blood return, then they did, took 2 tubes of blood, lost 1 tube, found it in a box in the trash can......BW came back...WBC was 10.2 so they did it....started with the flush and went to the steroids (which is why I am friggin up still, lol) then went to 1 anti nausea medicine with flushes in between, then they casually tell me that....there was fog in the morning and the plane that had my other anti nausea medication was on it, couldn't land at Philadelphia International Airport so it flew around...STFU.....so we were (another guy was waiting for his chemo, at this point said don't care about mine, not a big deal have zofran, they said no no no it will be here...so they put the benedryl in got sleeping....then the taxotere, HERE IT IS fedex delivered it we all cheered and she hooked me up.....(didn't work, just took a zofran at 2:00am)......I got out of there my typical 430pm...yep you are right I am there for 4 -5 hours.....who knows why but am....OK done complaining, and not any tireder (is that a word, wow I am babbling) Cool I will have to lay down at some point in time, but who knows, dinner tonight with daughter maybe the other one, so will need a nap...OMG babbling...bye

    I will let you all sleep and BB later.....

    Sandy @ 416am....Cry

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  • Traii
    Traii Member Posts: 1,138
    edited January 2013

    Oh Sandy, you are too funny, you sounded like me with the steriods, everyone knew when i was on them, I talk on the best of days but with the steriods it was blah blah blah, half the time I didn't even know what i was going on about......ha ha...

    I was a little upset yesterday when i went for chemo and I got the 4 hour waiting time because chemo wasn't ready despite me having my bloods done day before and I got 3 needlese pricks yesterday because they couldn't find a vein that was 'right' ... though mine was getting mixed in the pharmacy at the hospital, not on a flight....lol...you poor thing.

    Just so you know i never took Claritin its not talked about here I only hear about it from you ladies, but my nose was still dry and bled every now and then so defintely the drugs, so if Claritin works for your I'd still take it because its def the Taxotere with the dry nose...mine was so dry and scabby (sorry TMI) but it was horrible.....

    Good to hear that the chemo is doing its thing, thats what we want it to do so glad for you that the lumps are going down and keep going down til you can no longer feel them anymore and they just disappear altogether.

    Well hope that you have gone to sleep now...perhaps sleep talking .... lol

    Its midnight here now so best I go get some sleep before my DS wakes up with the bin truck around 5 am.....lol

    Enjoy your day all.

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  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 5,712
    edited January 2013

    Well Traii thanks for that am getting the claritin when I go to walmart in a few and nope still haven't slept AND I have ADHD and am not medicated so I talk all the time....lol...

    you are so sweet!!

    Sandy

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  • jeanieb2
    jeanieb2 Member Posts: 319
    edited January 2013

    Sandy - I know exactly what you mean with the steroids.  I talk quite a bit anyway and kind of fast, well with that I was talking a mile a minute, in fact my sister said one day "Slow down sister" and we both laughed.  I would talk and I am sure I did not make sense half the time.  I hated to be out in public because I would talk to anybody that would listen.  I hope you get some sleep soon.  Sometimes I would take 2 Benadryl about 3 hours before bed and I could usually get to sleep then.  Also, I am thinking about getting one of the scarves, I just do not know which pattern to get, and how long did it take for you to get it do you remember?  Not that it matters, I just need to get in gear and decide which pattern to get and get it ordered.

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  • amywolfie
    amywolfie Member Posts: 11
    edited January 2013

    I had TCH & it's not a bunch of fun -- started throwing up IMMEDIATELY.  I had to bail on chemo early, so maybe someone who's been through the full course can answer you.  In the meantime, if you want to read something FUN(!) about BC, I am donating copies of my memoir DON'T LET ME DIE IN A MOTEL 6 _FREE_ to fellow survivors!  Just email me at amywolfie@gmail.com  Sometimes laughter can help!  Hang in there -- HOPE!  Amy

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  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 5,712
    edited January 2013

    Jeanie.....get benedyl as part of the regiment, that is a good idea tho.

    As far as the scarfs you go on you pic 3 choices, well the ones I picked they didn't have so I had to pick another one and it took a couple of weeks, it is awesome,  I thought I was going to lose my hair and didn't it thinned tho. We need to pass the word, I tell people where I get chemo about the grants I have gotten and the ones that are available, the are the best kept secret...

    Sandy

    PS nope still haven't slept, and going to lay down in a few...

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  • SherylB
    SherylB Member Posts: 450
    edited January 2013

    Hey all,

    I have started with the cracking and peeling fingers especially on both thumbs. I didn't ice my hands I just couldn't sit there for an hour with my hands in ice. I have been using lots of lotion and yesterday I started to use vaseline which seems to make them feel so much better. Had #2nd chemo today so expect them to get worse. Does anyone have anything else that is as good as or better for my hands?

    Thanks, Sheryl

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited February 2013

    sherylb - I used Aquaphor (but you could use Vaseline) and put a thick layer before bed and slept with cotton gloves over the Aquaphor.  Did the same with my feet.  You can usually find the gloves at the drugstore or Ulta.

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  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 5,712
    edited February 2013

    I use udderly smooth the same thing I used when I got hand and foot while on xeloda!!

    Sandy

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  • Traii
    Traii Member Posts: 1,138
    edited February 2013

    I used the palmers olive oil cream worked amazing after trying different products.



    Sandy u slept yet...lol

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