Taxotere side effects?

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  • Cynthia1962
    Cynthia1962 Member Posts: 1,424
    edited August 2007
    Sharon - My chemo nurse said that tonic water helps with the muscle cramps due to the quinine in it. I haven't tried it yet, though, so I can't tell you from experience if it works.

    I've gained weight, also. I weighed myself before my last chemo tx and was 8 lbs heavier than when I started chemo, and I lost 3 lbs during AC. My tummy is all loose and jiggly now. It bothers me more than losing my hair! I hope it's mostly water gain due to the Taxotere.

    I hope your bx comes back with good results. It's great that your counts are good enough to let you deal with it now.

    Hang in there - you're very close to being done! Your last tx will be here in no time. I'm getting impatient, too.

    Cynthia
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2007
    Harley
    What happened about your shot? Did you return for it or take it with you? I cannot image having to give one to yourself. I 'd either break the needle or pass out.
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  • sharebear
    sharebear Member Posts: 332
    edited August 2007
    Cynthia,

    Thanks. It's funny but the weight gain bothers me more than the hair too. I live in Michigan and it's been very hot and humid. Not having hair has been much cooler this summer. Not everyone can say "Oh I'm hot today, I think I'l take my hair off!" I don't like this bloated weighty feeling though and I hope I don't gain much more. I watch what I eat but that does not help.

    I'm counting down. If all goes well, September 5 is the last one and then I'm gonna have a party!

    Sharon
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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited August 2007

    Jean,

    I didn't get any shots, because they did pre treatment bloodwork on the Friday before my 1st treatment, and based on that, the nurse said that my counts were fine, and I wouldn't need the shot. But, when I go on Wed., I'll get bloodwork, and I guess if my wbc is down, I'll probably get a Neulasta shot. I am sure they will give it to me, but maybe they will show me how so I can do it myself, which will be better than having to drive there on Tues & Wed., once for the treatment and once for the shot. I don't know if I can do it myself, but I guess I'll find out.

    Glad you got your treatment. How are you feeling? I've posted on your other thread, too...

    Hugs
    HARLEY
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2007
    Harley:
    I beleive the nuelastia must be given the following day or they use another drug. My son could not take the neulastia, he got very sick. He had to wait 3 days and then have a CBC. He then started shots of another med, every day. after 3 days they checked his WBC and gave him another shot this went on every day until his count came back up. I think he had 5-6 days of those shots. I perfer the single shot, and not having to return to the hospital every day. Especially when I feel like vomiting.
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  • sharebear
    sharebear Member Posts: 332
    edited August 2007
    Jean,

    Sounds like he got the neupogyn(spelling?) shots. I got those 12 years ago. They didn't have neulasta back then. The neupogyn can be given for 10 days til your count comes back up. I'm with you, I prefer 1 shot the day after.

    Sharon
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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited August 2007

    Jean,

    Are you saying that if my wbc is low on Wednesday, they can't give me the Neulasta shot? I would think it wouldn't matter if they did it the day after chemo or a week after. The nurse is the one who told me that she would show me how to give it to myself, but we'll see...

    I sure don't want to have to get shots every day!

    Thanks!
    HARLEY
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2007

    I might be wrong, lets hear form the specialist...but I heard it was to be given the following day. I check their web site and it does apearred to be given on day 2.

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  • twink
    twink Member Posts: 1,574
    edited August 2007

    I asked my onc because I missed a shot after one Tx -- he said anytime between 24 and 72 hours following Tx was fine for Neulasta.

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited August 2007

    Jean,

    Thanks... Now what do I do if my wbc is down when I go on Wednesday for bloodwork? What is the point of bw, if I can't do anything about it??

    Frustrated,
    HARLEY
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  • sharebear
    sharebear Member Posts: 332
    edited August 2007
    Your white count is always going to be its lowest 7 days after chemo and then it usually starts to bounce back. They get concerned if it gets too low and you can't fight infections. Then you should do the obvious like avoid people who are ill, but also things like don't eat fuits or vegetables that can't be pealed or cooked. Don't eat at buffets, etc. Even with the Neulasta shot my wbc dropped to .9 and when my 16 year old got a cold I had to send her to grandmas house. That was with the AC. I can imagine If I didn't get the neulasta it would have been non-existant. I'm on Taxotere now and my wbc hangs out around 2.5 which is within normal range and I don't need the shots. Also they will delay your treatment if your wbc hasn't gone back up by chemo day. With the AC treatment they already new it was going to knock down my whites so they didn't wait, I got the shot 24 hours later. With the Taxotere, it can still affect the whites but not as much so its not an automatic thing.

    Everybody's different and every chemo is different so you have to trust that your doctors know how to handle each situation. The thing is finding a doctor you feel comfortable with and asking lots of questions!

    Sharon
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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited August 2007
    Sharon,

    Thanks for the advice! I guess I trust my dr. well enough, but... it bothered me that he tried to change my chemo drugs to AC, because Adriamycin is less expensive, and he's not getting much money from my insurance, but because it is a government-controlled insurance, if he agrees to see me, and I have insurance referrals, he has to accept what they pay. So, I will always wonder if his decisions about my txs have anything to do with saving money, and not helping me get through this with minimal discomfort. I mean, this is important... I don't want to get an infection or something.

    Really, I didn't know you shouldn't eat fruits or veg. that can't be peeled or cooked if you had low wbc. hmm... I LOVE strawberries, but they will be out...

    I did know that they won't do the next tx if the blood counts are still down, and am hoping that won't be a problem.

    Thanks again,
    HARLEY
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  • irishdreama
    irishdreama Member Posts: 938
    edited August 2007

    I had 4 AC and 4 Taxotere, and I would\ve taken double the AC to skip the Taxotere, it was that horrible. The muscle and joint pain was so bad and my oncolgist wasn't very sympathetic either. I also had problems with my eyes, and I finished it on May 19th and I still have neuropathy in my feet and legs and I;m very bloated. I finally went to my primary care Dr and he put me on Lasix (a diuretic) because I gained over 20 pounds in fluid from the taxotere. It also made me crave salt really bad, and I always felt dehydrated on it. It's been 3 months out of it, and I'm still having side effects from it

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  • ilovejesus
    ilovejesus Member Posts: 35
    edited August 2007

    I had 4 AC and an approaching the 4th of 4 Taxotere. The one time I didn't have the Nuelasta shot, the 1st of the Taxotere, I lived to regret it. My white blood cell count went to .2. I had a case of thrush that had me off my feed for a good 5 days. (I've already lost 40 pounds on chemo so I didn't need that). After that I gladly took the Nuelasta shot even though I had fought every one prior to that episode. Now my onc says it's not even an issue. I just get it.

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  • Traci40
    Traci40 Member Posts: 41
    edited August 2007
    o.k....first of all to the Michiganner..(sp?)...you don't know what hot is ...lol...try living with a wig and hot flashes in Tampa FL....it sucks. Walking outside is like walking into Hell. Literally. A wig is out of the question. It's so freaking hot outside.
    Cynthia, regarding the wine.....everything says that alcohol feeds cancer but...my onc says "enjoy a glass of wine" so....I do. Red wine with dinner, when my mouth isn't torn up from chemo. I love a good wine. In fact, I'm enjoying one right now as I type. Do I worry about it feeding the cancer? Yes. But, do I worry about everything else feeding it also? Yes. So, what the heck?????
    Keep smilin' ladies.
    : ) Traci
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  • Traci40
    Traci40 Member Posts: 41
    edited August 2007
    Hello my fellow Taxotere Ladies!
    Well, I did it. I had my last treatment today. They gave me a purple heart completion certificate. I told the nurses that I hope the next time I saw them, it would be in a mall or something. : )
    I also told my doctor that I wanted my port out. He told me that he always recommends that his patients keep them in for one year "just in case". I said "I WANT IT OUT!" So, he told me to tell my surgeon that it hurt. That way, they would take it out.
    I got on the phone with the guy who is doing my hysterectomy (ASAP - Trip Neg, BRCA +) and he told me that he could take out the port at the same surgery for the hysterectomy. That was great news.
    My onc told me to wait one month for the hysterectomy to make sure my body is healed from this freaking Taxotere.
    So, hopefully, I'll have that surgery in October, then, have my implants put in sometime in November and be able to celebrate Christmas with all of this behind me.
    I really love that idea. I also might have enough hair by then to go without anything on my head which would be super awesome!!
    I'm sick of being bald!!
    Anyway, I'm staying on this discussion board, even after I'm all done because, I don't know how I would have handled all of this without you ladies. (And, men!!!)
    I feel great right now, only a little lower back pain. I hope that my pain doesn't continue for months like some of you have described. I'm so sorry for y'all for that.
    I'm so ready to get back to my normal life with a few exceptions.....less stress, less taking life for granted and way more praying for good health.
    And for those of y'all newly starting Taxotere, or currently suffering through it.....I made it! So will you!
    GROUP HUG!!!!
    : ) Traci
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  • Cynthia1962
    Cynthia1962 Member Posts: 1,424
    edited August 2007
    Traci - Congratulations!!! I'm shedding happy tears for you. Thanks for hanging around...I appreciate it. I'll have a glass of wine in your honor tonight. I can't think of a better reason to throw caution to the wind. lol
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2007
    Traci
    Congrats and good luck with the 2 remaining surgeries.
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  • talktome
    talktome Member Posts: 4
    edited August 2007

    Does anyone else have all over itching as a se? My 3rd cycle I started itching like crazy on day 14. I've only heard of itching when T is administered. I hope I survive to cycle 6 and beyond.

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  • Traci40
    Traci40 Member Posts: 41
    edited August 2007
    ((((((((((Cynthia))))))))))))Thanks for the happy tears! Cheers sister! Thank you Lady Jean for the congrats!
    Cynthia, I forgot to ask you again... how is your hair doing?? Anybody else?? Mine is baby fine and about 1/16 of an inch long. It looks weird around my ears..... I want my hair back!!!!!
    Of course though, I am shaving my legs daily again. Damn it.
    : ) Goodnite ladies!
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  • bomber410
    bomber410 Member Posts: 564
    edited August 2007
    Traci, Congratulations! Must be great to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

    I've been through to T treatments. No itching for me. Just the watering/cloudy eyes, runny nose, bloated stomach, etc.

    I'm off to get my now weekly Procrit shot.

    Debbie
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  • twink
    twink Member Posts: 1,574
    edited August 2007

    Congratulations Traci! There will come a day when all this is not central to your thoughts. So they tell me.... Hugs.

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  • tos
    tos Member Posts: 376
    edited August 2007
    Traci congratulations!

    NJSYB, itching all over, yes, yes!

    I keep trying to remember to put something on my skin but it doesn't seem to last too long.

    Good luck and if you find some kind of relief, let me know!
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2007
    njsyb -
    I am on day 11 of tx #2 and have been itchy all over. However, the worse place has been my head. My bald head has been itchy all weekend and I am now getting bumps and sores on my head and upper chest and neck area.
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2007

    Is anyone getting sores? The last day or two my head has been very itchy and now I am getting little sores that look like pimples. I am also getting some red marks on my chest, back and shoulders.

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited August 2007
    Jean,

    I got the pimples FIRST, and now my head itches a little, but the worst is just whenever I comb or brush my hair, TONS of hair comes out, just like when my thyroid medication needs to be adjusted...

    So sorry that we have to go through this, and just the hair loss.. oh, the indignity of it!

    HARLEY
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2007
    Hi Harley

    Although only a little over 2 weeks, it seems like forever since I brushed my hair. I wonder how much time will pass before I will ever do that again.
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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited August 2007
    Jean,

    Yes, I wonder if I will ever get my hair back, since I have that thyroid disorder, and my hair grows slowly. Every time I get it cut short, it never grows all the way back. It is shoulder length, but I never have gotten it to get any longer...

    We have to just hang in there!
    HARLEY
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  • twink
    twink Member Posts: 1,574
    edited August 2007
    Jean,
    I recall a thread from earlier this year about pimples on a bald head...somebody said they'd had that problem and it was a staph infection.
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2007
    OMG....Twink...NoI Does it appear anywhere else on the body?
    Darn I wrote this 2 times and it disappeared.

    My onc has only seen me 2 times since I started chemo 5 weeks ago. I did see her partner, and he canceled last weeks appointment as he saw no reason to see me until day 14! No WBC. My dh called her office last week and she sai unless I had a fevere, no reason to see her.

    I have a new onc, and will be seeing him on Monday. They already said they want bloodwork done.

    I have also been having strange feelings in my chest adn breast. Kind of a tingly sensation, and pain in the rib area. I am getting very scared.
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