Taxotere....

hi
i think everyone is different i had 4 rounds of chemo every 3 weeks cytoxan and taxotere and no port either. all my side affects were not that bad i worked eveyday never missed. the hair loss of course was the worst one for me.you have come this far i think you will be ok it will be over before you know it. best of luck to you and happy holidays...



teresa

I had 4 cycles of A/C once
I had 4 cycles of A/C once every three weeks before surgery and 4 cycles of Taxotere once every three weeks after surgery. It takes so long because they drip it in. The nurse sat with me the first time to check for side effects. I felt a pressure on my chest and she stopped it and slowed the drip. I did not have the port either.

Not sure what your nurse meant about doing it every week to lessen the side effects. She shouldn't be second guessing the doctor to you. If it makes you feel better talk to the doctor yourself about this.

I had treatment in 2003/2004 so I can't remember the difference between the A/C and Taxotere as far as after effects. I got sick and was tired with both but everybody is different. Hang in there.

Dear Chrispea, please don't
Dear Chrispea, please don't keep your feelings in and pretend everything is OK. People around you who love you need to know how you REALLY are . You have every reason to cry and feel like crap. A pity party might be just what you need for a little while. But only for a little while. Then you'll feel better and move on.

There have been threads on this discussion board about why women have found it better to NOT act as if everything is OK. Perhaps they'll chime in here with their personal stories. Here's the synopsis: things are not the same as they used to be; they are very different now, for you and everyone who loves you. Facing exactly HOW things really are is scary. We want to avoid changing because it means it will upset us and others. Well, unfortunately that's the reality now, as much as we wish we could run and hide from it. Please think hard about what YOU NEED and ask people for their help. Maybe it's just listening to you over a cup of coffee for 10 minutes. Maybe you need to write in a journal about what you're feeling.

I hope you find some answers to making your situation better!
~~Connie~~

crselby said:

Dear Chrispea, please don't
Dear Chrispea, please don't keep your feelings in and pretend everything is OK. People around you who love you need to know how you REALLY are . You have every reason to cry and feel like crap. A pity party might be just what you need for a little while. But only for a little while. Then you'll feel better and move on.

There have been threads on this discussion board about why women have found it better to NOT act as if everything is OK. Perhaps they'll chime in here with their personal stories. Here's the synopsis: things are not the same as they used to be; they are very different now, for you and everyone who loves you. Facing exactly HOW things really are is scary. We want to avoid changing because it means it will upset us and others. Well, unfortunately that's the reality now, as much as we wish we could run and hide from it. Please think hard about what YOU NEED and ask people for their help. Maybe it's just listening to you over a cup of coffee for 10 minutes. Maybe you need to write in a journal about what you're feeling.

I hope you find some answers to making your situation better!
~~Connie~~

welcome
you are welcome and dont feel bad about crying .im done with chemo and radiation i was diagnosed in april and i cry about everyday very hard to go through all this ..




teresa

aztec45 said:

Don't Be Scared
The nurse practicianer has to tell you all the bad things that can happen to you even if they are rare. I had the usual suspects. Diarrhea, mouth sores, fatigue, low red and white cells and tingling in my finger tips. Everyone is different and some people do not have anything at all.

P

Taxotere -- was not my friend .. 5 chemo cycles or
16 weeks straight chemo .. that included herceptin on weeks 2 & 3. Please .. please don't take my side efforts and symptoms to heart - as you can tell from other women here on our wonderful site, many of whom did not have severe side efforts. Very much like aztec 45, I too had everything she described with consipation, night sweats and low iron. But, as I have been told, I was a "RARE" case.

Don't be scared ... this is just another phase of our breast cancer treatment, and we will come out at the end .. SURVIVORS ..

Love, Peace and Strength,

VickiSam

carkris said:

I honestly dont know the
I honestly dont know the difference between taxol and taxotere. I am receiving taxol for 12 doses. I have GI issues so I think its best to spread it out for me. I OFTEN wish it was over and 12 seems like forever but I have 7 done and have gotten through. I was more afraid of the taxol prior to starting and did not have any problems during infusion. It takes a while to get access as I do not have a port either and I get a liter of fluid with my treatment. The fluid helps me out .

Taxotare
I had it. after FEC. The taxotare was a bit dodgy, my bones in my hips and knees hurt like hell after the first one, not so bad after the second and by the third I had no problems.. get loads of tylenol extra in for the first one. Apart from that and the taste buds thing I had no problems. I hope you will have even less side effects than I did...Jxxxx

Chrispea said:

Thanks everyone.
I emailed a
Thanks everyone.

I emailed a friend who is an oncology nurse in Ohio (I live in PA)... she said the Taxotere isn't as bad as the AC... so I'm wondering if that nurse practitioner got Taxotere mixed up with Taxol... I had a different NP last time, I like that one better!

Well, I'm halfway thru, so that's good!!

I just started
my first round of Cytoxan and Taxotere last Wednesday. The nurse did want to start the Taxotere slowly the first time just to make sure I didn't have any allergic reaction (it does happen on occassion), but I was just fine, and other than the awful taste in my mouth, a little pain for a couple of days (I just took Tylenol), and constipation (I'm still dealing with that one), I'm doing fine. Have been able to go Christmas shopping and do some cooking and laundry the past couple of days.

Best wishes to you for the rest of your treatment.

Take care,
Cindy

Taxotere
I also had the choice every week or three weeks for the Taxotere. I went thru my first dose of chemo in January with no problem A/C. They said taxoter wasn't as "as bad or strong" as the A/C. I chose every week a lesser dose, as to lessen the chance of ill effects.

I had every bad effect they had, I was discouraged because the first dose went so well. I was very week and my eyes watered and nose ran, my hands hurt so bad could'nt latch seatbelt in car, I began to get burns of my hands it reminded me of battery acid the more it got wet the redder it would get and peel. They stopped treatment for a week after the 5th round, I told him I would be dead before the 12th week.

They were going to change me to taxol however, I wasnt up to find out the side effects to await me from a new drug. I went to my primary care doctor, showed the burns and told of my symptoms I said I thought I was getting too much drug, as I did loose 10 lbs. The doctor said I could be right.

Went back to onc. I didn't want to come this far and quit, the dose was at 70? I had them drop it to 65 and tried that still bad shape, so I finshed the last treatments at 65? I was at least somewhat functionable. I asked for two weeks off they wrote me off for three, boy was that a good choice, I couldn't get much from bed to couch, didn't want to even get dressed, everything was a struggle.

Bottome line: It all sucks, but you will get thru it one way or another, everyone has differnt side effects maqybe you will be one of the lucky ones. Hang in there. I did and off to rads I go. I have 4 more treatments and this has been a breeze for me!!!

I finished Taxoter Oct 17th still have eye problems, no lashes very few brows. I am though beginning to get concerned about my eyes seems to have been along time and it started back in late august.