Starting Taxotere

Wilma-my treatments are going well. Just had my every 3 month scans on Monday, and it has shrunk my liver lesions, the tumor in one lung disappeared, but there are new nodules in the other lung, and one lymph node enlarged. My oncologist decided after speaking with one of the radiologist, to continue with the Taxotere. I hardly have any peeling anymore, just around the edges of the bottom of my feet, and sometimes my finger tips. I'm still have dizziness, but have been trying to increase the water (they think it's from dehydration). I haven't fallen again, thank God! I'm sorry to hear about the swelling, I glad you are seeing the dr soon. I was supposed to have chemo on Tues, but after I complained I would not be able to eat Thanksgiving (due to the Thrush and mouth sores I always get), my oncologist got it changed to Friday. Yipee!

Lisa-I too was on Ibrance and Femara (for 6 months), then Doxil (for 3 months) before starting Taxotere. They had to lower my dose too, after I had a bad reaction with the first one. My hands and feet swelled up and were almost purple. They peeled as well as my sides and my back. She never put me on Neulasta (I think she forgot), so I ended up in the hospital for 2 nights, a week after that first dose, due to being Neutropenic too. My hair is now just fuzz. I lost it 2 weeks after starting Taxotere in May. I have reflux too. I was put on Decadron (a steroid) 2 twice a day for 3 days before chemo and 3 days after (and they give me an iv steroid the day of chemo). The steroids though have given me Thrush and a yeast infection every time. Due to the thrush and mouth sores, I don't eat much the week following chemo. Yogurt, bananas, and ice cream (anything mushy and not acidic). I got the dizziness too, and fell 3 times 2 treatments ago, the last time I still got dizzy but not as much after they told me I was probably just getting dehydrated. I upped my water, I guess it helped.

Good luck!

Lynne

Lisa, I took 2 Decadron for 3 days before when I was on Doxil, after having a bad reaction with my first dose (my throat started closing up,, headache, chest and back pain) 5 minutes after they started the iv. I didn't have to take any after. I think she had me take it after with the Taxotere because, the reaction started a few days after with it. She actually added on 2 extra days a couple of treatments ago. It did nothing for the side effects I was having (it just made me have 2 more nights of barely sleeping), so I went back down to 3 days. The last treatment I asked if I could take it less days, and she actually dropped to 2 days. I'll have to look for the distilled with electrolytes. Someone suggested Gatorade, because of the electrolytes. I'll have to get it soon. My treatment is this Friday, it was supposed to be tomorrow, but I asked if we could do it Fri instead, so I could eat at Thanksgiving. They got me in!

Wilma, I forgot to tell you that I take 100 mg of vitamin B6 daily (I got the ok from my oncologist) for peeling. One of the women on these boards told me about it. It helps!

Yesterday and today, it's very windy, but sunny! Maybe the leaves on my front oak tree will finally fall off. The trees are keeping their leaves longer this year. It will be a race to get them all raked up before it snows (although, we did already have a dusting a couple of weeks ago).

Have a wonderful day!

Lynne

Lisa, mine is Dec 21st. I have 9 Dec birthdays in our family. We always said we should celebrate our half birthdays, in June! I hope your scans come back great!

If I don't get back on here tomorrow, have a wonderful Thanksgiving! It's at my house this year (our younger daughter said she'd do all the cooking), with my immediate family. My husband, 4 adult kids, son-in-law, younger son's girlfriend, and our 3 grandkids. My sister is have our 2 sisters and their families, and our mother over there. She's only 3 houses away (2 houses from Mom's), so after we are done, we'll take a walk over there to see everyone.

Lynne

Wilma- Thanksgiving was good. My daughters did the cooking. My husband deep fried the turkey outside. It wasn't bad. It was still moist inside. I could taste everything. Thankfully, it was right before my chemo (had it Friday). If it was this week, I wouldn't have tasted a thing (I call it my "Hell" week. Thrush, diarrhea, stomach cramps)! Are you using a good moisturizer daily for your face? I put it on my eyes and all over my face, ears, and neck. I noticed my skin got a lot drier with the chemos. I also use Udderly Smooth lotion for my feet and hands, right after my morning shower, and put socks right on. At night I use Aquafor (an ointment) on my hands and feet and put socks and cotton gloves on. I wear them to bed, but usually take them off in the middle of the night, once the ointment is absorbed. I also take 100mg of B6, which helps with the hands and feet.

Happy Birthday to all of us December Babes!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!!

Lynne

Happy Belated Birthday, Wilma! I hope you felt ok, being your "hell" week and all. I'm getting my chemo on Friday, I'll be having my "hell" week for my birthday on the 21st too. At least I should feel better for Christmas, with my hosting my husband's family on Christmas Eve and my family Christmas Day. Last Fri when I saw my oncologist, she put me on Zithromax (took my last pill yesterday) and Robitussin with codeine so I can sleep at night. The cough has gotten a little better. It's not keeping me up at night (although I started my pre-chemo steroids yesterday, and I got 3 hours sleep last night, hopefully a little more tonight!). I have nail problems too, they were breaking all the time and I've lost about 6 of them (there was a smaller nail underneath though, both finger and toenails), as well as the ridges. My oncologist told me to put tea tree oil on them. I try to do it daily, but do not always have time, if I'm going someplace early. I put it on after my shower and before my daily udderly smooth lotion. My hair is about 1/4 inch long. I thought it was growing back about a month ago, but I seem to have a bald spot at the crown now, just like my husband. I do have one longer hair near my left ear, it even sometimes gets in my face, LOL! I cut my waist length hair and dyed it (for the first time at 55!),2 weeks before my chemo, most fell out 2 weeks later, and more about a month later. My eyebrows have been gone for a few months, and most of my eyelashes have been gone for about a month. I did get a rash from the salon shampoo and conditioner about a month ago (that I had been using all along with no problem, I wash it every other day). The oncologist told me to switch to baby shampoo. I have a wig, that I hate (it doesn't look like me). I've worn it 5 times. Most were funerals, and I wore it for Mom's birthday party. My husband doesn't mind it, but I do. I wear mostly scarves. I have a couple of summer hats. I wear winter hats, as long as I'm not going to be shopping, too hot (as is the wig). I can't really take a winter hat off though without a scarf underneath. At home, I hang around bald. If I know one of my adult kids are coming over, I'll put on a scarf. The grandkids don't mind. This is just Nana's new look. My older daughter cut her long hair very short so I won't be alone (even though I told her not to). It suits her though, and she's received many compliments. My youngest grandson wanted his hair short like mine (he just turned 5). My son-in-law brought him to the barber's. He red curls were all gone. It was a marine cut, high and tight. They shaved the back of his neck. It's grown back some, and his curls are coming in. He looks so old though. His mother (my 27 year old daughter) kept her long hair for me though (she was going to cut it short too). My 2 sons kept there longer cuts too. My husband's is short anyhow.

I hope everyone is doing ok today!

Lynne

Lisa, my birthday is the 21st. I am getting my chemo today at 10:30. Put my numbing cream and saran wrap (I use press n seal, sticks better). I'm hoping I'm feeling better by next Sunday. I have my husband (who does most of it), and 4 adult kids, and a son-in-law who can help. My younger daughter helped a lot Thanksgiving, the older daughter got shamed into it. Our sons will do something if you ask, sometimes we have to ask twice. LOL I'm doing both this year because we do it once every 4 years (my husband has 3 siblings too), with his side on Christmas Eve, and it's our year (he's the youngest). My youngest sister and I are the only ones with houses of us 4 sisters, and she did it last year. Our mother used to do it at her house every year, but it was getting to be too much for her, even with our help. I'm the oldest of the 4, and felt it was my turn. At least next year I won't have to do it for either side. Done in one year! I actually don't mind doing it at my house. We don't have to drive anywhere.

The nail thing is a pain. I had a couple of weeks of nails pulling off. It has gotten better. I just had one toe nail come off yesterday, second time for that one (the left big toe). I haven't worn nail polish since I started Taxotere because of the nail issues.

My hair is weird too. Sounds just like your's. Eyebrows are gone. I have some lashes left on the top lid only. I'll wear mascara for the Christmases if I still have lashes left. I draw in my eyebrows if I leave the house. I wear nothing on my head when I'm home too. I'm wearing my Christmas bandana today for my chemo day. I won't be back there for 2 weeks.

I'll be thinking of you on the 22nd! I hope your hell week isn't too bad, and you're feeling ok at Christmas!

Lynne

Happy Belated birthday, Lisa! I hope you had a wonderful day and a great Christmas!

Wilma, I hope you had a great birthday too. I too had the hand and feet thing, it's become better, as I go along. Do they have you taking steroids to avoid it from happening next time. I too could not walk for a few weeks without being in extreme pain. At the time it happened with the first dose, they told me there was nothing they could give me. The lowered my dose (from 1 1/2 hrs to1) and had me take 2 Decadron twice a day, for 3 days before and 3 days after chemo. I haven't had the swelling at all, and the peeling got less and less with each treatment I had. I just get it along the edges of my feet now, and the tips of my fingers, no redness either. I hope it gets better for you! No fun at all!

Iwrite-Thanks for your kind words!

I hope everyone is having a good day! It's in the single digits here, with wind chills in the negative numbers. It is suppose to be like that for the next week. BRRRR!

Lynne