Any advice on Taxotere?

Like Linda
my taxotere was administered with my adriamyocin and cytoxen.(6 rounds) so I have no idea which one hit me worse. I worked through my chemo part time. I had chemo on Thursdays so I took off Chemo thursday then Friday and the following full week. I don't think I could have worked the week after chemo, but I am all alone in the office most days so I couldn't just up and leave if I felt ill or too tired to go on.
I am sorry you are feeling so apprehensive. Most of the time the worry is worse than the beast, you have done really really well so far! No reason to think you can't take the upper hand with this drug too.
Hugs and prayers for you!
Sandy

Monicalynn said:

I did taxotere and
I did taxotere and carboplatin at the the same time so not sure which gave what side effect. I did pretty good with it and they gave a few different premeds and the chemonurse stayed close while one of them was going in. I had no allergic reactions to the four rounds I received. It's been 4 weeks since my last dose and waiting patiently for my hair to grow while I am receiving herceptin

Taxotere
I had Taxotere with Cytoxan total of 6 infusions. Constipation was initial side effect for me. Some people have diarrhea, however no one can predict what side effects will occur. I would buy both Imodium and colace in advance to have it handy. I did learn how my body reacted as I undergone this Chemo. Another one was stomach pain. They usually give you Pepcid with infusion, which helped for first 2 days. Then I was taking Prevacid on regularly. As far as work I did not work during my first time around. It was tough regiment for me.
Wishing you minimal side effects and easy time
Hugs

MAJW said:

Taxotere...
I had the combo, Taxatere+Cytoxan 3 years ago...I have to say it wasn't bad, for me, at all....I did have the constipation/diarrhea especially after the first infusion...as said have some extra strength Immodium and a stool softener on hand..I used and use now Miralax.. I did experence fatigue.....and as we all know it's cumulative...I was given Decadron which I started the day before chemo, day of and for several days after...Decadron is used as an anti nausea med and also slows down your immune system so the chemo works better...I was also given that before each infusion...it can also give you bad heartburn...I also was given Pepcid before each infusion....they wanted me to take it t home if needed...I said I wasn't taking any more pills! lol......I did what my Mother used...baking soda! I put a couple of teaspoons in a glass of water, would take a few SIPS and it works instantly! I kept a glass of it on my nightstand ..so if heartburn hit in the middle of the night, I wouldn't have to get up..did this with my onco's blessing.....also I started my Zofran the day before an infusion and took it religiously for 5 days after...I never had the first wave of nausea! I credit that with never missing a dose of the Zofran.....my hair, which I had buzzed, fell out exactly on day 14...And I lost my taste buds for about 6 days...I'd wake up on day 7 and Boom, they were back! then I ate like a little piggy! Never lost a pound, actually gained, due to the Decadron...

I think you'll do fine...don't be afraid...I never had the Adrimyacin (sp) but I understand they call it the "red devil" and it's a rough chemo drug...so if you had that, I believe you'll do fine with the Taxotere...just take your anti nausea pills before you experience nausea...easier to prevent it than trying to get it under control....

Again, try not to be afraid...I know, easier said than done...keep us posted, we care...
Big hugs of encouragement,
Nancy
Hugs Nancy

II had it
Taxotere and Cytoxin. I clearly remember saying, "this isn't so bad" and it wasn't. I still don't want to do it again, tho.

My side effects were just plain wierd and I'll tell you about them because they were really strange and a couple of them I don't think others experienced. Every single cycle I ran fever and had a "mystery infection". I never ended up in the hospital, tho. I developed a skin toxicity which they said is not uncommon, but I don't think anyone on this board experienced it. Basically my arms got red and slightly blistered from my sleeve line to my knuckles. Then the skin would slough off. Like a sunburn. This was cumulative with each cycle, and the last was the worst, even though I had a reduced dose. It was mostly just plain wierd, not painful. I have photos on my expressions page. The soles of my feet and palms of hands were also red and peeled. I didn't lose my nails, eyelashes, or eyebrows until about a month after chemo ended. My nails got horizontal ridges sort of acted like onion skin and I lost both big toenails and a couple of fingernails. The rest I just kept short until new strong nails grew. I didn't have much appetite, but I ate. The last couple of cycles I really did have a hard time with that metallic taste and lack of interest in food. The last cycle I was hypotensive, tachycardic. short of breath and ever so weak. I was anemic. And - I had that doggone "mystery infection". I also had tearing.

Taxotere is supposed to have less potential toxicity on your heart. Take your meds as prescribed. Drink lots of water. I did throw up once. I have no idea why. Oh, I always had diarrhea but pretty well controlled with immodium.

I experienced some numbness in my fingers and they're still numb. It's very minor.

The side effect they don't tell you about is permanent hair loss, but it's very very rare and even if they'd told me, I would have still done it.

Good luck with Taxotere. I do believe adriamycin is much more of a challenge. The whole chemo thing is scarey, but we do it for a reason. As Chen says "we do what we have to so we can keep doing what we want to".

Suzanne

jessiesmom1 said:

More on Taxotere
Seeing Suzanne's post reminded me of a Taxotere side effect I forgot to mention. My fingernails became ridged and discolored. Eventually they lifted away from the nailbed and fell off. I lost 8 fingernails and 2 toenails. It wasn't particularly painful and was actually rather fascinating in a gross sort of way. I would estimate that it took 6-9 months after the Taxotere rounds were over until my nails looked completely normal.

I cannot stress enough that I DID get through both the A/C rounds and the T (Taxotere) rounds. I have No Evidence of Disease. I have had numerous haircuts. I have all my fingernails and toenails. I gained back all the weight I lost. I am a survivor.

IRENE

I had taxotere!
I had 4 aggressive chemos at first FEC every three weeks then 6 weeks of taxotere and for me it was alright i didn't have any bad side effects it was what we call doable,it's different for everyone so don't let the bad news make it worst for you before you even do ti, i didn't have to have any nausea meds for it.I pray it does you the same ~~MollyZ~~

12 weekly taxotere treatments' after 4 Bi- weekly A/C cocktails.
I made it through the first four A/C treatments ok. I was told the taxotere wouldn't be as tough Nd I would be able to function better than the first four a/c treatments. This was from 3 women who went through the same regimen. Well, as with my whole journey my experience was very different. As I was told this is when I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes....:( and my eyes started watering. I was told the watering would go away after the treatments stopped.....not so, it got worse. The end result of the taxotere for me was fluid around each plural wall of my lungs (700cc was removed from each side and had to have a bronchoscopy) I had fluid around my heart, that thankfully went away on it's own, I also had infiltrations in my lungs. Those also went away on their own. The eyes is still a work in progress. The chemo created scar tissue that has sealed them shut. Three local eye doctors couldn't help me so I was sent to a fabulous specialist, Dr. covici in Springfield mass. He put in jones tubes which are basically prosthetic tear ducts.
I have had to have one replaced because it was too big and it is working much better. The right one will be replaced as well. I was also put on restates eye drops twice a day. I also have severe dry eye and the tears that my eyes do make are ad tears.... So at the first sign of your eyes running, go see an eye doctor. If I had had min irrigated a couple of times I might have avoided all this trouble!:( Goog luck to you!!! Also drink as much water as you can!! It's sooooo important!!:)

You Can Do this!
You Can Do This! It is scary, but keep your eye on the Goal: RECOVERY!

I had taxotere, carboplatin, and herceptin. I had six rounds of A/C every 3 weeks. The side effects I remember were heartburn, constipation, fatigue, insomnia, loss of appetite, loss of taste, uncontrollable eye twitches, nails became weak and brittle, skin texture and color was different. Those seem to be the main ones I remember.

I was diagnosed 3 years ago this past June. When I first started, I thought..."How am I going to get through this?" But you know what, I DID! And so will you, dear Sister of mine in Pink!

Stay focused, stay calm, and remember the goal: RECOVERY!

Hugs to you.
Ines

Oh My Dear Friend
How I wish I could just give you some reassuring hugs. I (thankfully) have not been subjected to chemo. I would be just like you. I was told I needed to have chemo on my very first visit to my oncologist. I begged NOT to have it.

Anyway.,,, My heart really cries out for you. I believe you can do this too. You have that hookspa about you and you truly are a fighter.

Hang in there dear sister. I am here for you.

xoxo
Mary

rallendorfer said:

Thank you so much my friends!
I am sorry I mentioned the "bridge"...I was tired last night. Becky bad, Becky very bad.

It seemed like so much sad news on the board yesterday. My sisters, my sisters I just don't know what to say to some of the posts and just cry. This is so crumby. In this day and age for a doctor to tell Camul that she should pursue her bucket list was something I never reckoned for. Wouldn't a doctor try everything in the arsenal and not give up?! It makes me so angry too for my sister. Is that what a doctor does? just throw up his hands and quit?! If I did that when my job gets frustrating I would be OUT OF A JOB! I started thinking about my own bucket list then...but I am too tired to do anything. I would like to see the land of Israel and touch the soil and look at the sky from that vantage point...that is what I would like.

I can face anything after you all give me a pep talk, I really can. Thank you with all of my heart!

Rebecca

Bad Becky....
This made me laugh, bad Becky.....someone's post about nails and toenails triggered what I was told 3 years ago when I had Taxotere+Cytoxan....
They told me to take extra good care of my nails and toenails...I used Sally Hansen Triple Strength, it's almost like an acrylic, but isn't...it's in a green bottle, got it at Walgreen's....you put on 2 coats, then 1 every otter day, if I remember correctly...and I used a pale pink Essie nail polish over this..and a red on my toenails...never had the first problem....they did turn yellowish, but never had any looseness....

Wishing you no se's...
Hugs, Nancy

rallendorfer said:

OMG
where is the frickin bridge?

My eyes watered
Rebecca, I had very watery eyes and a runny nose as well. No lasting effect, The nose still runs some but my eyes are back to normal tearing.