taxotere side effects

carlads - I am feeling good now.  The last day I ran a temp was Wednesday evening for just a bit and since then it has been good.  I did 6 doses beginning in September 2012 through the end of December, then had the break to recover so to speak, and I always ran a temp then but it was the Monday thru about Thursday of the week after.  This time it was only on the Monday after, then it started on Sunday which was different but then you said you had one on that Sunday also and that helped make me feel better, not that you had a temp, but that it seemed normal then.  My markers went up and the scan showed progression, my markers have always been right on with what the scans say so my oncologist has started to pay closer attention to the markers.  He has always said he goes by more than just markers or more than just scans, he likes the two together but has realized my markers have always been right on when they start going up.  I get markers everytime I go for treatment, which as you know is every 3 weeks and then scans after 3 treatments and he decides from there whether to continue on.  Last time we did continue on and I think we will probably do 6 rounds again this time.  Hope you are doing better also.  Do you go again next Thursday?  I was thinking we were on the same day.  I go at 10 next week, for my second dose of the 3.  My sister always goes with me and helps pass the time.  My daughter bought me a traveling scrabble board because she knows I like playing Words with Friends and thought it would be good for treatment day and the week after when I get fluids.  We did play last time and it makes the time go faster that is for sure.  Have a good weekend and let me know how you are doing.

Just wanted to give a CONGRATS to MsW2012, for getting questions answered, and for finishing rads!!!! Wooohoooo!!!! Now rest and heal!

MsW2012 - Now you can just sit back and take a little breather and heal from the radiation.  Hope you are having a good weekend knowing it is behind you.

Elizabeth - Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts.  You are so right that it helps to have family with you, my sister goes on treatment day and the following week when I go for fluids, that is also another 3 or 4 hour thing, my husband goes with me so at least neither of them has to sit through both days.  My sister has taken me once on a day when I needed the fluids because my husband could not but I do not want to wear out my welcome, she has said she would take me any time and would never mind doing it but I can not drive on those days and hate for her to have to take me and she is stubborn and will not drive my car, it is about 20 to 25 miles from here.  I am just glad to have them with me.  I really feel family support is very important.  I am glad your husband was able to meet you there when he could.  I know I would never mind going by myself but I just feel better if someone goes with.  Keep getting stronger and will be thinking about you, hoping and praying things continue to improve.  Hugs to you.

Hi Ladies,

Blondie- just read your post. Did you have chemo today? If so, hope SE's are easy on you!



Jeanieb- Are you on for tomorrow? If so, we will be together. My last one.. It is strange but I feel it is bitter sweet. I'm so glad to be done but a little anxious. At least while doing chemo I felt I was killing the beast... Now I need to decide on reconstruction. I was going to do immediate but decided to get through chemo first.. Well here I am.. My husband doesn't care one way or the other... He is amazing and I am so thankful to have him. My children have been great during this time.. I agree with Jeanieb family support is important.
Hope everyone is doing well.

Love to all,
Carla

carlads - Yes, I am on for tomorow, appointment is at 10:15 so probably will start chemo around 11 or after and be home by 3.  I can completely understand where you are coming from on being glad to be finished but a little nervous to NOT be taking it.  I felt that way 21 years ago when I first had it.  I was so glad to be done and then when I was done I was anxious and wished I could have continued because I knew I was covered by the chemo.  I got 17 years before I needed to do anything again, I feel very lucky to have gotten all that time.  I had reconstruction along with the bilateral mastectomy 21 years ago, had the expanders put in then developed a blood clot in the lung from the Tamoxifen I had started to take for 5 years, so had to wait about 2 years to have implants put in, then I developed a strep infection in the blood stream so had to have the implants removed.  My girls were in 5th and 7th grade at the time and just raising them seemed to be more important and time got away from me, so I did not go back and have it done.  When I turned about 52 I decided if I was going to do anything I better do it now because if I waited any longer, why bother.  My husband did not want me to do it but backed my decision so I went in and had the expanders put in, then got a staph infection and had that for 6 weeks so finally we just put the permanent implants in, they were not as large as I had wanted but I could not continue with the staph infection, I ran a fever for the whole time and was getting worn down so we did the surgery and I was fine after that and I am glad I did it.  I know everybody is different and some need to have it done, others could care less and I think it is just a personal decision and you have plenty of time to make that decision.  I am sure whatever you decide will be right for you.  I will be thinking of you tomorrow as you finish up your last treatment.  I will do the "happy" dance for you, not a pretty site but I will do it for you.  Take care and keep us posted on how you are doing.  Sending hugs to you and will be thinking of you as I am getting my treatment, knowing we are doing it together. 

blondie46 - Congratulation on the 14 years, I figure each year is just one more blessing in my life and am thankful for the extra years.  When I was first diagnosed my girls were 12 and 14 and my first words to my husband were, "who is going to raise my girls", he said YOU ARE, and he was right, I was able to be there to raise them and figure every year is icing on the cake, and am planning on lots more icing.

carlads - I hope your treatment went well, I thought of you while I was getting mine and did the happy dance for you when I got home.  I did get to talk to my onco today and not just the PA so got some questions answered about the plan of action for this time.  It is going to be like last time, 3 treatments, scans then 3 more treatments, scans, then take a break after the 6 IF everything continues in the right direction so it is something I pray keeps going in the right direction, but if not I will deal with it at that time.  Congratulations on finishing this up.

Carlads - Thanks for thinking of me and Blondie, I think about her often and read her posts.  She has been on it a long time.  I hope I can inspire someone and glad it is you.  I have already noticed SE today, food tastes terrible already and that usually did not hit until Sunday but last time it started on Friday also, so maybe they will come early and leave early.  I hope you have very few side effects this time and you get back to normal very soon.  

  I got news from a friend yesterday that has been fighting this for over 5 years and she goes to my doctor also, I saw her yesterday when we were checking in and told her I would see her in the chemo room, she said ok, well she was not there so I thought her counts were to low but come to find out the doctor said there was nothing else they could do, the chemo was only 17% of effective so he gave her and her children some time to decide on whether to continue with chemo or not take it and feel good, but only give her about 6 months, she chose NOT to continue on with chemo.  It hits hard but I also know the dreaded part of this disease.  I do not mean to bring anybody down but I just had to talk to someone that understands, it is hard to handle without our sisters support and I figure we are all sisters whether we like it or not.

I hope everyone has a great weekend with minimal SE, great Spring weather, friends and family.  Cyber hugs to everyone. 

thanks Jean unfortunately 14 years wasn't enough....the side effects were horrible this 3rd week...decided that the last one I need to be with someone....I also think I need fluids and also the friggin fingernails that are discolored, one of them apparently has some sort of fungus, whatever

jeanieb2 ~ (((hugs))) I am very sorry to read about your friend.  That is something to take in.  I just said a prayer for her and her children and to you.  It is hard when you hear something like this.  I don't know her but when I read stories like that on here I seems like I am also losing a friend with this cancer battle. 

You take care and as you know the ladies on here are super supportive and we all understand in one level or another.  Keep strong my dear.  Have a great day to you too.

Jeanieb2:

Glad you had a blast with family and friends at the picnic yesterday! Wow Moracco…good luck to your niece with the cancer research. Wish her all the best!

Jeanieb2:  I am feeling bit down today.  Not too sure if it’s the cancer mood-swing or the fact I am still in shock that my aunty had passed away Saturday gone…I think it’s both really.  I am trying to shake it by keeping myself busy.  As for the Lumpectomy, I am healing pretty well.  In the area’s they went in it’s really hard.  Its weird and I noticed my nipples hurt a lot…strange.  I am assuming its normal right… I am still waiting for the surgeon to contact me because I was supposed to start the radiation from May 9 to June 27 (33 daily treatments) but since they have to remove more tissues that has been pushed down.  I have eight more days till I fly out and I haven’t heard from them yet and I am getting nervous.  It’s quite expense to change my ticket, so I hope they can do something for me next week.  I have my fingers and toes crossed.  Thank you for your prayers; it means a lot to me.

35_smiling - I am so sorry to hear about your Aunt, I pray she is at peace and strength for you and your family to get through a tough time like this.  I am sure with her passing and your situation ahead of you, the worry about everything working out, especially when you have to fly for it, it sometimes seems overwhelming.  As for the nipple hurting and being normal, that I can not help you with, I had a bilateral mastectomy 21 years ago with reconstruction so I can not answer that.  My sister had a lumpectomy a year after my mastectomy but hers did not involve that area so she was no help on that question either.  I hope everything checks out to be OK and will be thinking of you, please keep us up to date on what is happening.  Try and think of me being there holding your hand and trying to make you smile when you need it, maybe I can think of a few things to make you laugh.  I am sending prayers, hugs and a great big smile to try and brighten your day.  ((HUGS))

blondiex46 - I am in the same boat as you as far as eating goes.  My husband is great but food it not a priority with him, well he likes to eat but does not like to cook so when I am not eating he is eating junk and nothing healthy.  He never sees to it that I eat, I guess people do not realize how important it is for us to eat when we are doing this.  Decadron makes me NOT hungry and then the SE of the Taxotere just compound the problem.  I try and eat a boiled egg, or scoop of peanut butter or cheese but sometimes that is very, very hard.  I usually, not always, but usually can eat cookies, they are my favorite food and have always looked at them as the "other food group", and I was also told to eat whatever and whenever I wanted even if it is not healthy but that I should try and get protein in there so I try but I can not stand cooked meat during this time so I go for things that are cold.  Hope you can stay where they will feed you and help you get some strength.  Take care and enjoy the beach, even if it is only 60 degrees.  We had 5 inches of snow yesterday here in Nebraska where I live and Sunday and Monday it was 80+ degrees, then the snow and 30 degrees Tuesday. 

35_smiling - I am sorry to hear you are going to have the mastectomy, but I am sure you and your onc have made the right decision.  I am glad I did have it back in 1992 and have never regretted doing it.  I am sure you will get along just fine and be so glad when it is all behind you.  I hope you can get it done on May 17, then you can just concentrate on getting better.  I also took Tamoxifen for 5 years from May 1993 until May of 1998 and got along ok with it.  Good luck to you and please keep us posted on when you are going to have the surgery.  You take care, hugs.

blondiex46 - Oh, I can completely understand the drinking part, I have a really hard time with that also.  I keep a large mug of ice water next to me at all times and try sipping on it whenever I think about it but sometimes it is so hard to do because it tastes so bad.  I have thought about getting some of that suff you put a few drops of it in your water, it is some flavor thing, I do now know what it is called, but wondered if that would help me to drink more.  You can make it as strong or weak as you want depending on how many drops you put in your water.  Worth a shot I guess.  I also take the Zometa and have been getting it every 3 weeks, and sometimes he will wait and give it to me when I get the fluids the week after.  I also understand the part about no one asking if we do eat or drink, I have the same thing, I guess they just figure we will eat, but little do they know we really do not care one way or another if we eat.  I am sometimes to tired to eat or even chew anything, let alone trying to fix something or even taking it from the frig is not worth the effort.  It does not hurt me to lose some weight so I do not worry about it to much other than I know eating keeps your energy and strength up and we need that right now.  I do keep a jar of peanut butter and spoon by my chair so I can take a scoop of that from time to time, it does help.  Hang in there and hope this next time is better.  Try and sip any kind of liquid you can, popsicles work also.