Confused!

I was also concerned about heart damage and also hair loss... At the first mention of chemo, I expressed to my MO about my concern for heart damage, he suggested TC (didn't need H), which he thought was the best course for me anyway. After reading, I was very concerned about hair loss. The 6% is not 6% never getting hair back, but insufficient growth. Some say 3%, others say 6%. My MO said he has had 2 patients have insufficient growth, but they aren't bald. So I considered Taxol, which he was fine with. Taxol has a high rate of neuropathy. So I asked myself in a worst case scenario, would I rather be bald or crippled for life. I chose bald. So I went with Taxotere. For you it might be: would you rather be bald or have heart damage? Neither are likily, but which could you live with better. I am guessing being bald.

In the end, all my hair came back, full and thick.

And Angie... remember, these are worst case scenarios. If you read about someone who has insufficient growth, like belleeast above, you are reading it because they have a concern and are here. Those without issues aren't posting. I received a call from a woman who had insufficient growth on Taxotere, and my heart went out to her. She had tried everything. I sometimes think after reading about those with issues, many times these women are on their second course of drugs, and Taxotere was used after another chemo treatment. I think the body and hair follicles can only take so much.

I do suggest some preventive measures you can take to abate other SE. I put frozen peas on all my nails during Taxotere infusion to prevent nail loss and damage. I also used Brian Joseph lash and brow gel, for the whole duration of chemo plus 2 months. Never completely lost my lashes. Do some research and you can avoid other issues. And to let you know, I had 6tx of Taxotere, and my hair started to grow back between the 3rd and 4th tx while on vacation in St John. I was wearing a bandana most of the time, getting sun and swimming in the ocean. Who knows, maybe my hair follicles liked it!

angie, as well as the great advice you've received here, the Chemotherapy - Before, During and After forum includes a thread called Important Links for Newbies About Chemotherapy, with info from the main Breastcancer.org site, as well as from the discussion boards.

• The Mods

Angie,thanks for the info,I still have hopes:)) my hair will thicken! My picture is from before BC. It is only recently that my scalp started sweating! I really believe it was the quick infusion that messed my body/hair up. It was only after the chemo that I read that taxol/taxotere takes 3 to 4 hrs to infuse. I count myself lucky I have no heart problems or neuropathy. Just the hair issue.

Hi Angie... About cold caps, I was considering them, and could afford to do it, but but MO recommended against it. He said that the way it works is that it makes it so the chemo can't cross the blood brain barrier, thus not affecting the hair follicles. But scalp mets is one place you can get a recurrance. And after all, I was doing chemo to avoid that. So I understood his stance and moved on from the cold cap idea.

As Kicks said, not all things work for everyone, but no harm no fowl in trying. So here is what I did:

1) Painted my nails with Sally Hansen nail strengthener to keep the nails strong

2) Put bags of frozen peas on hand and toe nails during Taxotere infusion (about an hour). I would start about 5 minutes before and continue 5 minutes after

3) Used Brian Joseph brow and lash gel two times a day everyday through chemo and for two months post chemo (order online for $50 a tube - I bought 3 tubes in all)

4) I drank a tremendous amount of water during infusion - I would bring a small cooler with water/iced tea and my peas. I probably drank 4-5 waters during chemo. Had to pee a lot though. Thankfully I had a port which made it easier to move around.

5) I used Biotene mouthwash twice daily to avoid mouth sores

6) I took Claritin daily to help with pain due to Neulasta shot

7) I took heartburn meds to abate heartburn

8) I took a B complex vitamin which is supposed to help with neuropathy

I know everyone is different, and these may not all help you. But they certainly can't hurt you. My MO gave me Zofran for nausea and I never took it - never felt nauseous. I was on the steroids he prescribed the day before, day of and day after chemo... so I felt great those days. It was the third day, the day after the Neulasta shot that I was achey and felt flu-like. But it passed and I was good til the next infusion. For me, the first round was the toughest in the the achey feeling lasted about 3 days. But as I understand it, the first time you take Neulasta your bone marrow expands, thus pushing the inside of your bones out... its not comfy. But once they have expanded you have less pain.

I worked full time during chemo and took two days off per infusion (chemo day and sick day).... I traveled to St John for 10 days in the middle and felt great. I do think being positive helps a lot. And if one remedy doesn't work, try something else.

If I think of anything else I will let you know. I did start a thread on here called Taxotere Toolbox. I will look for it.

angie - Claritin should not be contraindicated if you are on blood thinners - it is only an antihistamine, but check with your oncologist.  It helps control the swelling that takes place in the bone marrow as it is prompted to produce new white blood cells.  It sounds like you cold benefit from some physical therapy.  You should find a lymphedema certified physical therapist to help you with range of motion and the probably cording under your arm.  It is important to use a LE certified PT so they do not do more harm than good - they fully understand how this type of surgery has impacted lymphatic flow.

Angie, I agree with Specialk about PT... I do suspect that the port in your arm is causing the problem. More recently many radiologists have placed the port in the chest not the arm due to ROM. Perhaps a little PT now, and then wait til the port comes out to work even harder at ROM.

A PT is not who I would suggest to see first - they are not trained in dealing with LE (lymphedema).   CERTIFIED LYMPHEDEMA THERAPIST are trained in lymphedema ('lymphatic flow').  Having had nodes removed, a CLET is the one to go to first - even IF  you have no LE everyone who has had nodes removed should get a baseline to use in the future if LE does develope.  The earlier LE is detected the better chance you have of keeping it under better control and not doing anything to aggravate it.  Only some PTs are CLETs, many claim they 'know all about LE' but have NO education in it so be careful who you see.  OTs (Occupational Therapists) can also be CLETs and for some are a better option than a PT.   My CLET has his Masters in OT and I have never seen a PT for anything related to my UMX as ROM was never a problem even the day after surgery  - we're all different. 

Not all Drs, PAs, NPs or RNs who deal with BC survivors unfortunately are not well versed in the issues that we, who actually 'live it' daily, experience.  I was/am blessed to have Drs, RNs and my PA (of 17 yrs) who are very knowledgeable, there for me - many, unfortunately,  don't.

Prayers and thoughts.

added:  Forgot to add - You might go to the 'Lymphedema' section here for more info.