Taxotere side effects?

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  • bill777
    bill777 Member Posts: 8
    edited September 2007

    My wife had her first taxotere treatment and 5 days later was hospitalized for a week. Hand and foot syndrome, the onc said it was rare to have it as bad as she did. Very, very ill for aout the first 3 days in the hospital. Now she is home and her skin has peeled off on her hands and her feet are starting to peel. The onc says we should switch to taxol, weekly instead of every three weeks . That would give her 9 more treatments. I'm not sure if she can get thru that. She was really sick.

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  • eschan
    eschan Member Posts: 3
    edited September 2007
    I have just been told that I will have taxotere, carboplatin for 6 cycles, plus herceptin at the same time but lasts for one year and hormone inhibitor for 5 years after the 18 weeks. Is there anyone out there who had this? This is totally foreign territory to me.
    Sim
    left IDC stage 1 g-3 er-/pr-/her2+
    right IDC stage 1 g-2 er+/pr+/her-
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2007

    Bill



    What exactly did your wife have on her hands and feet?



    I recently had my 3rd and last TC treatment. (12 days ago) and for the first time my hands swelled up and had sores all over them. In fact my dh took a photo of them and sent it off to my onc. He said if it didn't clear up I needed to come into his office. I did have some rashes, a few sores, and lot of itching following treatment #2, but it was much worse this time.

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  • bill777
    bill777 Member Posts: 8
    edited September 2007

    Sorry it took so long to reply. At first a rash and then blisters with bad swelling. it has all peeled off now, kinda like a bad sunburn. she start dd taxol tomorrow for 9 weeks

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  • roach59
    roach59 Member Posts: 14
    edited September 2007

    Hello. I am 5 weeks out from my last treatment! 6 cycles AC on Mondays and Taxotere on Tuesdays.

    It seriously kicked some cancer butt and has got me in a better position for surgery at the end of this month.



    However, the pain in my muscles is more pronounced now and the swelling in my face and legs and feet are driving me crazy. I feel my skin will burst. Some effects are from the TX, some are from steroids.



    How does one DETOX from this junk?



    Any help is welcome.

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  • erika-canada
    erika-canada Member Posts: 142
    edited September 2007

    Hi Roach:

    I got DD Taxotere each 3 weeks (thought the 1st one was going to kill me). He then cut it to 70%, and I did a bit better, but had every s.e. possible and then some. Won't go into it, don't want to scare anybody.

    I gained 21 pounds on chemo and knew after Taxotere was mostly fluid retention. Several times I asked my onc to give me diuretics, and he wouldn't. Just told me to be patient it'll go away on it's own. I finished in middle of April, and have lost 24 pounds, I guess he was right.

    It needs to stay in your system for however long.......I would not detox...but this is just my personal opinion. You might want to discuss this with your onc.

    KP1970, unfortunately some of the side effects will stay for a few months, but remember every person is different. I'm still loosing my toenails all these months later.

    I know a lot of gloom and doom....but it is called reality...sorry!!!!!

    Good wishes and Hugs,

    Erika

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

    I finished Taxotere on May 24th.  I had the stinging in my eyes and muscle twitches for about a month following.  I developed problems with my nails about 6 weeks after, and that's continued.  It started with the skin peeling from my baby toes, then the nails went (hand/foot syndrome is not unusual with Taxotere).  My other nails are discolored and the cuticles are messed up.  My joints ache, especially when I first get up  -- my hands and hips especially.  That does not seem to have improved even at the 3+ month post Tx stage.  Others have told me the aches will diminish with time.  I can't wait.  I feel like I aged 40 years this year. 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2007

    Twink



    DId you also have a lot of, for the lack of a better word, JUNK in your eyes?



    I had my last TX 2 weeks ago. I will be having my mast/reconst on Sept 26th. The last 2 days my eyes have really started to hurt. Prior to this, I was constantly vacillating between dry eye and running eyes. I actually look like I have a black eye with sores on the lid. I am seeing my oncologsit tomorrow.

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

    roach 59,

    After you get chemo, they want you to drink LOTS of water, because that is how you detox... they don't want it to sit in your bladder.  That is how we detox from the chemo...

    Harley

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  • Cynthia1962
    Cynthia1962 Member Posts: 1,424
    edited September 2007

    Hi all,

    I'm 4 weeks out now from my last chemo and feeling like I was run over by a small car.  I don't think there's a bone or muscle in my body that doesn't hurt.  Since the pain has recently gotten worse, I'm hopeful that it'll peak soon, then start improving.  I'm feeling rather down at finding myself barely able to walk again, and having to rely on pain meds to get through the day.  I just want to feel better already!

    On the positive side, rads are going well and I've completed one week.  I think I have about 6 weeks to go.  

    I haven't been posting much, but I've been keeping up on how everyone is doing.  Take care and I'll be thinking of you all!

      

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

    Cynthia,

    I've been missing you, since you haven't been posting on the boards much.

    Sorry you are having such pain!  I'll be thinking about you while you are getting rads... 

    Keep us posted.

    Hugs

    Harley

    P.S.

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

    Cynthia,

    I've been missing you, since you haven't been posting on the boards much.

    Sorry you are having such pain!  I'll be thinking about you while you are getting rads... 

    Keep us posted.

    Hugs

    Harley

    P.S.   I had my 3rd tx today, and it went well, with a little bit of fatigue at the end...  But, I only have ONE more to go! YEAH!

    I met with my onc. today, and he thinks that my hair didn't fall out too bad, so it is on it's way back!  YIPPEE!

    He is giving me an Rx for Ambien to help me sleep, because I am having problems sleeping.

    I am now taking the L-Glutamine, to prevent neuropathy.

    Good Luck with your rads!

    Check in from time to time...

    Hugs

    HARLEY

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

    Cynthia,

    I've been missing you, since you haven't been posting on the boards much.

    Sorry you are having such pain!  I'll be thinking about you while you are getting rads... 

    Keep us posted.

    Hugs

    Harley

    P.S.

     I
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  • TenderIsOurMight
    TenderIsOurMight Member Posts: 4,493
    edited March 2008

    Hi All,



    I had Taxotere 100 mg/m2 every 3 weeks x 4 as adjuvant therapy, back in late 2001.



    I just wanted to say how strong you all are being in light of the drug: it really does back a wallop as well as kick some cancer #!!.



    I got progressively worse after my last dose with the muscle aches, but I think that was atypical. Do watch yourself for neuropathy: tingling, numbness of your feet especially, maybe going up your calf muscles, and deep aches to the muscles with fatigue. Tips of fingers can also tingle and be numb, causing dropping/ fumbling. Not much treatment for this.



    The blocked tear ducts are real common, had that too. Be sure and watch for yellow discharge as this would want to be checked for eye infection.



    All the studies support Taxotere as a great chemotherapy for BC, so hang in there! When I had it, they weren't as sure.



    Tender





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  • sharebear
    sharebear Member Posts: 332
    edited September 2007

    I had my last one on Wednesday. Does anybody know how long til food and water actually taste like food and water again? My last 3 weekly treatments made everything taste really metally. My eyes are also like water faucets without a shutoff valve.

    I gained 15 lbs from this stuff. Hopefully it doesn't take too long to take it off. I'm having my nipples done, my belly button revised and my fat pads removed Oct. 5 and it would be nice to have lost some of the weight before then. I'm not expecting miracles but 5 lbs or so would be nice.

    Twink.......I love your hair in your picture. Mine is coming back in but it's not curly. Yours looks great!

    Sharon

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  • Traci-----TripNeg
    Traci-----TripNeg Member Posts: 2,298
    edited September 2007

    Hey ladies,

    I am a month and a day from my last Taxotere treatment. I feel pretty good but, I still have a hard time going to sleep. I use to be asleep by 10:30 or 11:00...now, I'll stay up until 3:00 am. Sometimes, I take Ativan but, I'm so tired of taking pills. So, the lack of sleep (hot flashes don't help) make me feel tired during the day but my Taxotere pains are completely gone. My back used to hurt something fierce....all gone. Now, if only I can accept the fact that I don't have that excuse anymore and get my newly fat a*! (Ericka, I gained 30 lbs during my treatment.....) on my treadmill, I might really start to feel normal again.

    Thank God......................my nails are still o.k.

    Harley, I am so glad you are almost done!! I remember when you first started posting. You go girl!!!!

    I just want my hair back.

    Hugs girls, Traci

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  • sharebear
    sharebear Member Posts: 332
    edited September 2007

    Traci,

    How does your food taste?  I just really want a nice cold glass of water but it taste so bad right now. The Onc. told me it could take up to 2 to 3 months before that goes away. I hope not. It's the one thing that really bugs me. even more than not having hair. I'm sure that will change when the weather gets cold and so does my head!

    I do live in Michigan and cold weather's inevitable!

    Sorry about the hot flashes. I had a hysterectomy 6 years ago so I don't have to worry about those. I'm already past that.

    Here's to pleasant dreams!

    Sharon

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

    Traci,

    I hear you, about being tired of taking pills... I found that I didn't need some of them, for nausea, so after the 2nd, I didn't take them... but now I need Claritin for bone pain, and now I'm getting Ambien to help me sleep on those sleepless nights, tossing and turning...  they were really starting to get to me!, before this tx I had yesterday. 

    But, since that last tx, I am feeling much better!, thanks!

    My last tx. will be Oct 9th!!! I can't wait!

    Oh, and I miss my hair, and want it back, too!

    You have been so positive thru all this, I thought you were ahead of me!!

    I'll be thinking about you, and praying that your last txs go well!  You must have one coming up soon!  Good Luck! 

    Well, better go to the CVS and get that Rx filled!!

    Hugs,

    Harley 

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  • roach59
    roach59 Member Posts: 14
    edited September 2007

    OK, I'm 5 weeks from my last treatment and my feet are killing me. Swollen and numb. As my daughter would say; this totally sucks. At the moment the southern U.S. is still balmy, so flip flops are still in fashion, but if these feet don't go down I won't be able to get into my shoes!



    Actually, I go in for my mastectomy a week from today and I'm nervous. I had all my pre-admitting testing today and I'm just fine. But, we had to be sure since I spent the last 4 months at Chemoland.



    I too have joined the rolly polly club, 16 pounds hovering around my face, legs, ankles and did I mention FEET. I bought a new pair of jeans today in a size larger because my stuff is simply squeezing me.



    I'm sorry for whining so much, I just thought I'd be rapidly building back my strength and my body once chemo was done, but instead I feel almost weaker than I did during treatment. I will say, my brain power is back. I'm much sharper than I was during treatment.



    OK, I vented, I feel better.



    Nite from Bama

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

    Hi Roach 59,

    You WILL be weaker for some time after your last chemo tx... give it some more time! 

    Also, You are having surgery, so be good to yourself... pamper yourself!

    I know, I will be having my reconstruction on Nov. 7th, and that will be almost a month after my last chemo tx, so I may still be kind of weak...


    Just hang in there!  WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS!!!

    Hugs

    Harley

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  • roach59
    roach59 Member Posts: 14
    edited September 2007

    Thank you Harley.

    I slept well last night and feel much better today.



    It's the weekend and I intend to just play with my husband and daughter.

    We have no real plans, except to hang out together.



    Have a great day.

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

    Elaine,

    Have a great weekend!

    My dh and I may be going to a wine festival later today, but I was feeling bad yesterday, and wasn't sure how I'd feel today.  I just woke up at 9:30am...  I keep sleeping later and later!!

    Hugs,

    Harley

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  • roach59
    roach59 Member Posts: 14
    edited September 2007

    A Wine Festival sounds awesome.

    Alabama isn't really know for their wine. I think all they do here is beer and Nascar, oh and football.

    After growing up in the Pacific NW, Alabama has been quite an adjustment!! I won't complain we're heading into my favorite time of year in Dixie.



    I quess this is off topic. Is there a wine thread on this board? I'm off to look.

    Actually, I'm getting my ducks in order before the big surgery at the end of the week.



    Be back soon.













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  • Bernadine
    Bernadine Member Posts: 49
    edited September 2007

    Hi ladies been a while since I been on the board,I'm 6 weeks off my last chemo taxotere and thanks god it's done I feel good,still have bad taste in my mouth but I can taste my food , my nails are getting funky and I to gain 20 pound that I hate now I have to work harder to lose these. I started tamoxifin 2 weeks ago so far doing good  hot flashes during the night but not bad. My arm that bodders me all the time it's num and it feels like a football underneath there. They took 19nodes and not one was positive so why it hurt so much and when will it come back to normal.... Yell My hair is starting to grow I can't wait to have some HAIR back and my lashes and eyebrows...~~~~

    Take care ladies

    ------------------------------------------ 

    IDC,9-03-2007,19nodes-,er/pr+,stage1,grade2,her2-,margin clear

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

    Elaine,

    Yes, I agree... NC isn't known for their wine, either...  NASCAR and cigarettes...

    Let's get together for some wine, when I am through all this chemo stuff and the reconstruction!!!

    Harley

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  • Margie
    Margie Member Posts: 1
    edited September 2007

    iloveJesus,

    I feel your pain because of taxotere, your just look at your little boys and know it is worth it all.  I thought I would die last night because of the aches and pains, but it is a passing thing.  Good days and bad days.

    MargieWink 

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  • Bernadine
    Bernadine Member Posts: 49
    edited September 2007

    Hi erika ,

    You said that you gain 24 pounds did you go on a diet afterward or it just came off gradually. I gain 22 pounds and hate it before this I lost 22 pound and I put it all back, I finished chemo Aug 14. Hopefully it will come back down with time because I'm going to work and I wore size 8 and now I'm size 11 WOW!!!!! that's to much....Undecided

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  • mrsmew
    mrsmew Member Posts: 1
    edited September 2007

    I did better with the taxotere than with the A/C. I just told everybody I wasn't actually crying that it was runny eyes. I still have one toe that gets numb when I'm tired. My last taxotere was Oct. '06 and I still have not much hair. I just want to look normal. Anyone else with this problem? I had more hair at the end of A/C. That fell out with taxotere and now only about 2 inches with a REAL receeding hairline and very thin (boo-hoo). I look in the mirror and it reminds me of cancer. I am happy to be here though.

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  • sharebear
    sharebear Member Posts: 332
    edited September 2007

    I'm now 3 weeks from my last taxotere treatment. I received 12 weekly treatments. The eyes are still running like a faucet someone forgot to turn off. Food is getting a little better water doesn't taste as bad. Still have that metal taste, just not as bad. I continued to gain weight after chemo. 5 more pounds. I'm now up to 20 pounds gained. The weather is changing here in Michigan and I'm gonna have to buy new clothes as nothing fits. I'm very careful what I'm eating but damn those steroids!!!!!!!!!! Oh and the aching neuropathy got worse instead of better. Especially my lower back and left leg. Finding it difficult to walk.

    When does this get better? I hated the dd of AC but at least when it stopped, so did the SEs, this although more tolerable on a daily basis keeps giving even after you stop!

    The husband's cleaning and filling up the hot tub for the season. Hopefully that will help.

    Sharon

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  • janet11
    janet11 Member Posts: 262
    edited October 2007

    Sure.  I had 6 cycles of Taxotere and carboplatin, and Herceptin weekly until my ejection fraction (from MUGA scan) fell and I had to go off Herceptin.

    I found if I treated each side effect as it hit, it was quite doable. The main thing that helped was biotene mouthwash. I was shocked when I found a major side effect during each cycle was about 5 days of "sewer mouth" -- a totally disgusting taste I couldn't get away from.  Biotene mouthwas is over-the-counter and really helped. I also brushed my teeth several times each day to help with the taste and flavor changes.

    Each cycle, a few more things didn't taste good.  Some of the first things to go (that I couldn't tolerate while on chemo) were anything with vinegar, coffee, or tomatos. Later I had to add chocolate to that list.  And my sense of 'salt' got more and more distorted.

    But it was doable. I found things I still DID like, and  by the end of chemo, I was literally dreaming of food I wanted to eat.  My husband laughed when I woke up salivating... thinking of things that during chemo... tasted disgusting.

    good luck,

    Janet 

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