taxotere

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alesh71
alesh71 Member Posts: 7
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I finished my treatment with FEC (3 chemo sessions) and I am starting taxotere September 7. Anyone has experience with that. I read a lot about Taxol but not about taxotere (I guess similar but from an European tree). If anyone had problems with the nails, when that started, just with the first session or after several.

Advise.

Carmen

Comments

  • jmears
    jmears Member Posts: 266
    #2
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    Hi Carmen -

    I took Taxotere after Adrimicin/cytoxin (4 treatments) and found that my hair and skin started to returnto normal. I did take steroids with it because I understand it's tough on joints and other conective tissues...I gained weight from the steroids (just a warning) but never thought I was experiencing any side effects from the Taxotere...the other treatments were harsher so I guess Taxotere seemed easy. Good luck and hang in there ...you do feel better once you are done... Jamie
  • Susan956
    Susan956 Member Posts: 510
    #3
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    I took taxol after A/C. My understanding is that the active ingredient in Taxol and Taxotere are the same, just a slightly different delivery solution. I did have problems with my nails and with a small amount of nerve damage. (made my hands and feet really sore). Actually the first treatments seemed like a relief. I didn't start having problems until about 50% of the treatments were completed. I finished my Chemo last Nov 1st. And my nails are pretty much back to normal and my hands and feet no longer hurt. So for me there were no lasting problems.

    Take Care... God Bless...

    Susan
  • ylgriffin1
    ylgriffin1 Member Posts: 17
    #4
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    hi, had taxotere also. could not do taxol. mad side effects. had black toe and finger nails. after you finish treatment they will go back to normal. promise. hair does change consistency. but just getting hair back is great. god bless. yvette
  • youngibc
    youngibc Member Posts: 9
    #5
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    I had 12 weeks of Taxol, then 4 treatments of FEC, my toenails did get a little thick and had I had more treatments I believe they would have fallen off. My doctor told me to not paint them or use chemicals on my feet or hands. Also, he told me to blow dry my toenails with a blow dryer and wear comfortable shoes and socks, it really helped. My finger nails became oddly shaped on the end, however, my last chemo was the end of March 06' and they are back to normal. Good luck and god bless!
  • krkath
    krkath Member Posts: 72
    #6
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    HI Carmen,
    We are ALL so different in our side effects. I had Taxotere each session right after Adriamycin and Cytoxin. Dense treatment!
    My fingernails and toenails got really thick and after a year comletion chemo and rads, my fingernails just have ridges. Hands and feet still tingle, But I do remember how hard it was to cut my nails due to the thickness.
    At this time I have had leg/hip bone & joint pain to this day. I've retired myself to accept it will take my body more than a year to be done with the side effects.
    I do now, however, go to a Pain Specialist and every Friday start out with Aquatics excercising in a pool, then go back to my hospital for Relaxation Therapy a little yoga and the final hour is Bio-Feedback. The Bio is something I'd never done before but it works.
    They hook up your wrists with electrode monitors and watch your breathing and heart rate. They tell you to breath from your belly (diaphram) and get you to the point where your heart rate and breathing match on the computer screen. At first it was difficult, but now when I practice at home, it really puts your mind and body in quite a serene place of mind.
    My technician even explained that this type of breathing involves PH and Carbon levels in the blood. So chemically we can "Balance" ourselves through concentrated breathing, bringing your whole body in balance. Relieving pain.
    Like I said, we are all so different and you may "fly" right through with little side effects from the taxotere. And will probably get over any effects sooner since I had all three drugs at each session. It REALLY affected me. I have osteoporosis and have shrunk 2 inches in a year since I finished treatment. But hang in there, I think and hope you'll have minimal effects.
    But just in case anyone else has gone through the same as myself, there are some really good relaxation and therapy out there for those still in joint pain. Rehab was not the answer for me. My body needed to learn to relax not roll around on those big rubber balls and excercise. I needed slow, relaxing, exact positioning and stretching. Like my Therapist says. Honor your Limitations. It's so true. Paying attention to your body.
    HUGS to you,
    Kathy
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #7
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    Carmen....had ACT, followed by Taxol....'taxol tingles', but I drank at least 2 quarts of water a day....still do....5 months later, no tingles or other side effects left....

    Hugs, Kathi
  • alesh71
    alesh71 Member Posts: 7
    #8
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    ylgriffin1 said:

    hi, had taxotere also. could not do taxol. mad side effects. had black toe and finger nails. after you finish treatment they will go back to normal. promise. hair does change consistency. but just getting hair back is great. god bless. yvette

    thanks for the information. I am having only 3 treatments. When did you have your nails and finger problems? How many treatments did you have? Thanks so much
  • alesh71
    alesh71 Member Posts: 7
    #9
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    jmears said:

    Hi Carmen -

    I took Taxotere after Adrimicin/cytoxin (4 treatments) and found that my hair and skin started to returnto normal. I did take steroids with it because I understand it's tough on joints and other conective tissues...I gained weight from the steroids (just a warning) but never thought I was experiencing any side effects from the Taxotere...the other treatments were harsher so I guess Taxotere seemed easy. Good luck and hang in there ...you do feel better once you are done... Jamie

    Hi Jamie and thanks for your advise. I am only taking steroids three days around chemo. Is that what you did? I hate the idea of putting weight. I am already unhappy about my expansion (breast) because they are bigger now that the final protesis. I am not use to be big. Carmen
  • alesh71
    alesh71 Member Posts: 7
    #10
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    jmears said:

    Hi Carmen -

    I took Taxotere after Adrimicin/cytoxin (4 treatments) and found that my hair and skin started to returnto normal. I did take steroids with it because I understand it's tough on joints and other conective tissues...I gained weight from the steroids (just a warning) but never thought I was experiencing any side effects from the Taxotere...the other treatments were harsher so I guess Taxotere seemed easy. Good luck and hang in there ...you do feel better once you are done... Jamie

    Hi Jamie and thanks for your advice. I am taking steroids just three days around chemo.Is that what you did? I really would not like to put weight? Also I hope that with three sessions I am not having nail problems. I have enough physical changes with the expanders (breast), and I have to still go through radiation. Well, it is going to be a long year but I know it will pass.

    Carmen
  • lindaanderson
    lindaanderson Member Posts: 4
    #11
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    I had taxotere with each chemo treatment of adriamycin and cytoxin. The worst thing was the achiness, flu like symtoms,bad taste in mouth, hard to eat and drink, and mouth ulcers. Used something call "magic mouthwash". Some things I found I could eat and drink were hot chocolate,sometimes lemonade,hot tea, and products using tomato sauce. Thank goodness I am done with chemo, since May. Also hair loss, but you may already have done that from others.I had one toenail to become dry and brittle but did not come off. I had a cousin's wife who lost a large toenail. Good luck. Linda A
  • tonkatuff
    tonkatuff Member Posts: 2
    #12
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    Hello alesh71~
    I have breast cancer that has metastisized to bone cancer. I was treated with radiation, and chemo being taxotere. I was given a pre-drug Rx before I received the taxotere so I had no real sickening side effects only loss of hair (thinning) and my nails started to turn black, they hurt and looked like I smashed them in a car door. I cut them back for fear of catching them on something due to the pain. I had 12 sessions of taxotere, I received it once a week for 12 weeks. I believe it was about the 6th week I started having noticable changes in my finger nails. I did get very fatigued and grew anemic. Due to other difficulties from my radiation we had to stop the chemo after 12 weeks and they appear to be coming back a little thicker but I've been told they will return to normal once they actually grow out.
    GOOD LUCK, hugs and kisses (^)
  • ylgriffin1
    ylgriffin1 Member Posts: 17
    #13
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    alesh71 said:

    thanks for the information. I am having only 3 treatments. When did you have your nails and finger problems? How many treatments did you have? Thanks so much

    i had a/c & Taxotere (act) for 4 months. treatments were every 3 wks. nails started turning blk soon after starting taxotere. they do go back to normal. and i gained mad weight too. sorry. keep the faith. yvette

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