taxotere side effects

Maddie...i actually bought this olive oil cream by palmers for when my hands and feet were peeling and were dry, might give that a go again for my nails then thanks for the suggestion.



Chemicalworld ..thanks for info. Might try nail hardner then. Toe nails are ok,im about 7 weeks out from Tax when did your toe nails pop off ??

OK so I'm about a week and a half PFC and while I don't expect to feel good yet, and am not impatient, just anticipating.... can some of those who have gone before us give me an idea how long before my eyelids stop twitching?  How long before my eyes and nose stop dripping?  How long before my vision clears up?  And most of all, how long before food tastes good again??    :-)

May I bitch a minute.....what is it with people.....I worked today which I don't do often at a department store, I know people are trying to be nice but a couple of them asked me when I was done chemo, then I got "that face" I was talking about before....also, if you aren't going through it you have no idea what it is like with this friggin SE's, now believe I know people have it worse off then me, all over the place and not complaining about the cancer, and there are kids who have not a clue as to what is going on with them, and it isn't if I want sympathy from my kids (don't have any family, parents are deceased and only child, only have my kids who are adults) but can they just try to understand that it isn't easy.....I don't work full time cause I can't.....I can't clean my house cause I get tired and the ashma and my breathing gets out of hand...they aren't offering to do anything for me and I am not asking them...they just see me as annoying and I get on their nerves unless they want something...they don't go to chemo or the drs. with me cause they can't be bothered, they probably would say cause they have to work, but that is bull, but again whatever, so my friend goes with me and she lives an hour away from me.....and they tell me to be grateful that she goes, well mom she wants to go, I said, she goes cause none of you go and she doesn't want me to be by myself (you idiot kids).....anyway, didn't realize that my eyes twitching was part of it either....anyway...waiting for the nails to do something also....DONE....thanks friends for listening, you are the only ones who understand.....

Sandy

Sandy,

Thank goodness for your friend. I don't have any kids, but have a sister, her husband, a nephew and niece (grown adults) who live about 1/4 mile from me and they don't even ask how I am doing unless I call them. I don't think it is payback for past stuff because I am and have always been hypersensitive to asking about people and seeing if I can do anything for them. I think many people are just so self-centered and wrapped up in their own heads. For me it is not that I need much physically, but emotionally I sure could use the concern. My DH (that is damn husband) won't even take out the trash until it is literally falling out of the can, which never happens because he knows I will get it before then. I know I can hear someone saying then just leave it, but so not my style. I try not to have resentments but still they slide in occassionally.

Hugs, hang tough, Sheryl

It has been over 2 years since my last taxotere, but I think the nose thing started improving within a few weeks.  The fatigue lasted a lot longer, as in it is still with me, but I have been told this is unusual.  The main thing is that if you continue to feel tired after 3 months, get your doctor's attention and don't wait another year to do anything about it.  I think most of the hair and nail issues begin to improve within a couple months (8 weeks to 20 weeks). I know this is a wide range, but it is so individual. Just don't get too discouraged, take one day at a time. But if you are not feeling lots better by 3 months, push your doc.

About 6 months ago I finally agreed to try something for the fatigue, and wished I had it a year before because I cancelled 3 major travels because of not being able to function.  My MO told me it would take "a while" and now tells me it could be 5 years or more, and the research I have done on cancer fatigue supports her comments.  I'm not sure why she wasn't honest with me up front instead of leading me on, telling me to wait a little longer.  Just tell me it might be a LONG time and get me some help, aready! 

Most of the SEs truly are temporary, it may just seem like an eternity as you are dealing with them.  It doesn't help much that once you have finished chemo, everyone around you expects you to perk up and be your normal self within a month or two.  They have no idea that this stuff is poison and it takes a long time for the body to recuperate.  I don't have an answer for that one.  I worked full time for 2 years during chemo, more surgery, more drugs, and finally  just couldn't do it anymore, and I know when I was working I felt so guilty about not being able to carry my full load, my colleagues were so supportive, but I really hated it when I had to ask for help to finish a project.  That came from within myself as much as from my colleagues - I was so lucky that they never tried to make me feel inadequate.

Best wishes to all of you as you heal.

Blondie, I forgot for a minute, but this group seems to be a mix of early stage and advanced stage BC, so some who complete their cycles can expect improvement, but when you are on it longer term, it is different.  Are you on a lower dose than that given for early stage, or is the MO still trying to get you to NED?  Did you use hormonal therapy first with your recurrence?  I am kind of discouraged because the first scan after taxotere showed NED, but that was only a month after finishing, and then had recurrence 6 months after that, so I haven't truly been without BC since I was diagnosed, no breaks from treatment, pain issues, SE issues, more medication SE issues ... and yet, I have had some truly wonderful days here and there, and am so very grateful for them.  Also am grateful for the support and understanding that I find here on BCO, makes me feel not so alone.  I can be surrounded by family and friends and still feel alone because of this stupid disease, but here I find companionship, understanding, support, and love.  Yes, my friends and family love me, and they are supportive, but they cannot know the depths of despair treatmenent can cause - they often just get scared that we have cancer and are doing all we can to "fight the good fight" but the treatment is sometimes as difficult, if not more so, than the disease. 

May you each find many moments of peace and happiness today.

Hello ladies, just checking in ... it's been awhile!  This has been a busy forum for sure.  :-)  I am now four weeks PFC and radiation starts tomorrow.   I was hoping to feel better for this next phase but no luck there.  The feeling of exhaustion is still with me as much as two weeks ago.  My arms and legs are heavy and achy and I do force myself up and around all the time.  I've even taken a few good long walks ... with lots of breaks of course!  But, it kills my low back and legs!   Other than that, it is mostly the watery eyes that bother me but I know that too shall pass.   Traii - I was surprised to read that you just lost nails after all this time...yikes!   I had one big toenail come loose after first Tax but it hasn't fallen off and the other one is discolored and a bit sore.  But the fingernails look ok still although a bit darker.  Hopefully they will hang on!  I did ice my hands during treatment, did you?   Hang in there gals ... there is always brighter days ... sometimes it's just hard to get out of the dark.   Hugs

Thanks half for checking in...all the time I feel like I need to sit down.....

Linda, nope not wanting to change them, just try to understand...if it was in these times my mother, father or family member that is going through was I am I would do research to see what I could do, how I could help, etc....my mother died of cervical/ovarian cancer prior to the internet....

Linda-n3,

Thank you so much for you eloquent post. I wish I could print it out and hand it to friends and families. When I look good it is usually because I feel more like Sheryl. A long way from Sheryl before breast cancer but better than Sheryl 2-8 days post chemo. I don't know why I am writing in the 3rd person, blame it on chemo. LOL.

People will never get it until they live it and I hope no one ever has to get it. We have to do what is best for us period!!!

Hugs, Sheryl

Half-can - so good to hear from you again. I had my CT sim for radiation yesterday so should be starting rads sometime next week also. I am further out from my chemo and starting to get more energy back but it is a slow process, as others have said.My husband and I went away last weekend to a place in the mountains about an hour away - I found my lower back quite sore when we arrived and I was tired and nauseated. Things were better after a rest but walking around outside in the cold air seemed to cause me to stiffen up more and I was sore; we had to take frequent breaks so I could sit and rest. I was disappointed by this but as you said - there will be brighter days, we're hanging in there with you

Take care everyone

I know a lot of women get really offended when someone tells them they look good when they don't feel well.  I kind of got over that and just say "thank you, you are looking great, too!"  I think it is a way for them to acknowledge that they know we have had a rough time and they are trying to actually make us feel better, even when we don't.

My DH and I traveled extensively our entire lives, and he still wants to plan lots of trips.  I have had to cance at least 3 trips, and should have cancelled a couple more because I felt so bad.  He says "you can just lie down in the back seat" but even that wears me out.  I am afraid to commit to any travel these days because I feel like if I cancel I just cause more disappointment.  But we are traveling to Washington DC next week for a couple days - he will be on business trip and I will have fun - it is only a day's drive.  Next month I have agreed to do a presentation on chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy to a group of toxicologists in San Antonio and am really dreading the travel.  I hate flying, hate airports, hate the germs, people, stale air.... Train does not run through our area.  So driving is all that is left, and it is a 15-hour drive.  In my life before BC, I would do that solo in a day.  Now I have to let DH drive (now THAT is another very long story ) and I know he would much rather fly.  We used to travel with me doing the solo road trip, picking him up at the closest airport, we were both happy campers.  So the fatigue has required a lot of life-style changes that the onc team never mentioned.  But we are adjusting and are still married, so I DO believe in miracles!!! 

Sending all of you lovingkindness today - may you experience moments of peace, joy, happiness, despite the other crap going on.

Hi all.  Thanks for all the comments regarding my questions.  I definitely makes me feel less alone and gives me more understanding of what to expect as time passes.   Everyday I try to move around as much as possible, even if it's just in my home.  Today was rads #2 of 16 so the process is moving along.  It was much easier today and quicker.  Yesterday was a lot of setup and pictures and adjustments before the actual radiation.   I was pretty miserable by the time I was allowed to move.  Traii - my thumb nails look white in the middle and the half moons in all fingers are red ... hmmm.   Websister - good to see you too!   Yes, any distance in a car upsets my stomach too.  Not sure why as it never was a problem before chemo and I am now 4 weeks PFC.   And yes again to the constant low back pain!  Ibuprofen is a must these days.

Happy Valentine's Day to all.   

Hello! Gee, all of a sudden I stopped seeing posts here. I hope that means the gang is doing well. I had my last TCH Jan. 21. I am just now, 5 weeks later, finally feeling my energy come back.

There were some big surprises, even tho some here experienced the same: some se's showed up after the last chemo! Seems so strange. Like whitening and then loosening of finger and toenails. Then just a few days ago the wrinkly fingertips. Also it wasnt till #5 that I started feeling the large-muscle aches, especially getting out of bed in the morning. I think it might be improving now, but it's always better if I don't do any walking except on flat smooth ground and I haven't been doing that all week. It all still seems strange.

I still have so many questions! I write them down for dr visits but then there are more questions as things keep developing.

My mastectomy surgeon says don't worry about lymphedema. The rad onc says yes you should take precautions, and so does the rad onc nurse. They did tell me rad increases the risk. So I took a 5 hr flight without a compression sleeve, before rad onc folks told me I should have worn one.

And about radiation! I will switch to a rad forum but mainly I kept hearing just a mild sunburn sensation and feeling a little tired. The rad nurse said to expect a lot worse than that. Dang, just when I thought the worst was over! I start treatment Tues March 5.
I am also curious about Herceptin se's. I will find that forum too. Heard so many say there are virtually no se's but mfr web site lists dozens. How much is lingering from the Tax and how much is the Herceptin?

I hope you all are doing well. I know a few of you were just a few weeks ahead of me on the Tax. How are you all doing? Hugs, best wishes and prayers. -Elizabeth

Hi There, I know all about the finger and toe nails.....I had my last Tax on 12th Dec. My toe nails only started to fall off with in the last couple of weeks (if that) .. I think there is only one or 2 to go before they are all off. I didn't even know until I looked down and noted that there was no nail polish on one....!! The only one i realised about was one of the big toe nails....it hurt a little as it lifted but once it was off....all ok .

I have mild lymhedema and haven't even had my BMX as yet. Its from the ALND I had I'm doing my excercises (some days) and I do find myself feeling a lot better and less tender in that arm.

As for rads, I won't be doing them however when I did have rads 16 years ago...I didn't get any hair back under my arms and I was 'sun burnt' thats the feeling I got ... severe sunburn.

Hope you find your answers and best of luck with your rads on the 5th March MsW2012

Hi

My last chemo was Dec. 4th, 2012, started on August 13th, 2012 and my toenails just started falling off about two weeks ago.Several of my fingernails are looking like they may follow and I am still having peripheral neuropathy in my fingers but the large muscle aches are pretty well gone. I am very stiff if I have been sitting for long periods and first get moving. Hard to know which side effects are from which meds as I am also on Tamoxifen and Herceptin.

I can't speak much to rads yet as I have only had four treatments; so far so good with the skin.