extremely sore throat and taxotere

ds1
ds1 Member Posts: 19
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Have any of you experienced this? Other than the lidocane elxir that they call magic (that does not work for me) what did you do? I have to swallow the magic lidocane in order to take Tylenol (or other pain reliever)so that I can eat. How long does this sore throat last? What can you suggest that I do to make my life easier

Comments

  • DeeNY711
    DeeNY711 Member Posts: 476 Member
    #2
    Hi, ds! I've had 3 of the four cycles of taxotere and remember someone on the message board saying earlier that the side effects diminish as the cycles go on. I found that pretty much to be true except for the incapacitating fatigue. That sensation in the throat does diminish as the weeks go by. You should make sure the doctor knows, though, because the doctor may want to adjust the dosage of your decadron day before, day of and day after treatments. My 4th and last chemotherapy treatment is on August 7th. Yours will be over soon, too. Are you going to be getting radiation also? Hope you are feeling a little better. Love, Denise
  • jamjar62
    jamjar62 Member Posts: 135
    #3
    Hi...taxotere is known for causing sores in the throat and mouth. My friend and I who both went through chemo at the same time took glutamine powder at the recommendation of our chemo nurse. You can find it at GNC. You add the powder to whatever you can drink. It doesn't have a taste but it is grainy. I'm sorry but I don't remember how much we were told to take but I can check if you like. I do remember that we took a big dose the day before, the day of and the day after chemo and then a regular dose for the next week. Not only does it help with the mouth sores but also with the aches that taxotere causes. I didn't take the glutamine my first cycle and I did my second and it made a big difference.

    Of course, check with your onc before doing this (my disclaimer) and if you decide you're interested and can't find the correct amount to take, I will be happy to call my nurse and find out.

    Blessings,
    Karen

    Oh yeah, another thing I was told to try but never did is to suck on ice chips the entire time the taxotere is being infused. Supposedly this keeps it from making your throat and mouth so sore.
  • ds1
    ds1 Member Posts: 19
    #4
    DeeNY711 said:

    Hi, ds! I've had 3 of the four cycles of taxotere and remember someone on the message board saying earlier that the side effects diminish as the cycles go on. I found that pretty much to be true except for the incapacitating fatigue. That sensation in the throat does diminish as the weeks go by. You should make sure the doctor knows, though, because the doctor may want to adjust the dosage of your decadron day before, day of and day after treatments. My 4th and last chemotherapy treatment is on August 7th. Yours will be over soon, too. Are you going to be getting radiation also? Hope you are feeling a little better. Love, Denise

    No Denise, I do not have radiation planned. I am to go on the 5 year Tamoxifen though. Contratulations on the last chemo treatment. I hope you plan someting special to mark that day. I plan to get togethter with a few friends and celebrate when I take my last treatment...ds
  • ds1
    ds1 Member Posts: 19
    #5
    jamjar62 said:

    Hi...taxotere is known for causing sores in the throat and mouth. My friend and I who both went through chemo at the same time took glutamine powder at the recommendation of our chemo nurse. You can find it at GNC. You add the powder to whatever you can drink. It doesn't have a taste but it is grainy. I'm sorry but I don't remember how much we were told to take but I can check if you like. I do remember that we took a big dose the day before, the day of and the day after chemo and then a regular dose for the next week. Not only does it help with the mouth sores but also with the aches that taxotere causes. I didn't take the glutamine my first cycle and I did my second and it made a big difference.

    Of course, check with your onc before doing this (my disclaimer) and if you decide you're interested and can't find the correct amount to take, I will be happy to call my nurse and find out.

    Blessings,
    Karen

    Oh yeah, another thing I was told to try but never did is to suck on ice chips the entire time the taxotere is being infused. Supposedly this keeps it from making your throat and mouth so sore.

    Please check with the nurse on the amount of glutamine. I will certainly follow through on getting some (with your disclaimer in mind) I have bad leg cramps too and if glutimine can help that sounds great! Bless you
  • ds1
    ds1 Member Posts: 19
    #6
    jamjar62 said:

    Hi...taxotere is known for causing sores in the throat and mouth. My friend and I who both went through chemo at the same time took glutamine powder at the recommendation of our chemo nurse. You can find it at GNC. You add the powder to whatever you can drink. It doesn't have a taste but it is grainy. I'm sorry but I don't remember how much we were told to take but I can check if you like. I do remember that we took a big dose the day before, the day of and the day after chemo and then a regular dose for the next week. Not only does it help with the mouth sores but also with the aches that taxotere causes. I didn't take the glutamine my first cycle and I did my second and it made a big difference.

    Of course, check with your onc before doing this (my disclaimer) and if you decide you're interested and can't find the correct amount to take, I will be happy to call my nurse and find out.

    Blessings,
    Karen

    Oh yeah, another thing I was told to try but never did is to suck on ice chips the entire time the taxotere is being infused. Supposedly this keeps it from making your throat and mouth so sore.

    Hey, before you contact your nurse, I think I found the dosage in a reply (of yours to another person a while back) 30gm the day before of and after chemo and then 10gms for three more days. Does that sound right? I wonder what would happen if I started just taking it as a supplement until the next chemo treatment. I won't until I hear from you
  • jamjar62
    jamjar62 Member Posts: 135
    #7
    ds1 said:

    Hey, before you contact your nurse, I think I found the dosage in a reply (of yours to another person a while back) 30gm the day before of and after chemo and then 10gms for three more days. Does that sound right? I wonder what would happen if I started just taking it as a supplement until the next chemo treatment. I won't until I hear from you

    Yes! That is right! I thought I had replied with the dosage awhile back but couldn't remember that either. Obviously glutamine doesn't do anything for memory! Many people take glutamine daily for an muscle building supplement when exercising so it wouldn't hurt you to take it daily. I would stick to the 10 mg a day if you are going to take it daily and then switch up to 30 mg the day before, etc. I hope you find that it helps you.

    Karen

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