Taxotere skin toxicity photos

Double Whammy
Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Since no one seemed to have had or know about this side effect from Taxotere, I posted photos on my Expressions page of the skin toxicity I developed. The burns had begun to subside when the photos were taken because I had started steroids again, but basically I'm effected from my knuckles to about my sleeve line on both hands and arms. On both Cycle 2 and cycle 3 my right hand developed a cellulitis and I had to be on antibiotics. Cycle 2 only my hands(primarily right hand) were effected. She added Neulasta on Cycle 3 in an attempt to avoid infection again. But I did get a cellulitis plus a much more intense reaction in spite of it.

My oncologist discussed chemotherapy options on Tuesday with me and my husband. We chose to reduce the dose of both Taxotere and Cytoxin by 20% for my last round that I got this morning. She said this would not jeopardize the efficacy of the treatment and could help with lessening this side effect, which she says is not uncommon. I will also remain on steroids for 10 vs. 3 days after chemo in an attempt to keep any inflammation down. I wonder how much Ativan I'll need to sleep! I had my last round of chemo this morning so I have successfully completed my protocol. The other option was to quit chemo, but I can do this one more time. I'd much rather have this side effect than to risk not doing everything possible to keep this sucker from coming back.

Right now my skin is peeling, layer by layer. With the steroids I got this morning with my chemo, I'm not very red at all and only minimally tingly. I hope it stays this way. She said after chemo, it will all heal. It feels pretty much like a bad sunburn and it's really ugly. It will be long sleeves for me for public viewing . . .

I am so happy to say that this is my LAST chemo cycle and I won't have to deal with this or the other side effects after this cycle!

Suzanne

Comments

  • cavediver
    cavediver Member Posts: 607
    yeah...no more chemo!!!!!
    So glad you are now finished with chemo, but sad you have had so much trouble with side effects. Taxotere is harsh....I had 8 cycles, but the last one onc had to reduce to 50% for me to get through it. But, we are both done with chemo....yeah!!!! I hope your side effects will go away asap for you..........you are brave and have come through this! Will you be doing rads next, or are you done with treatments? Hugs
  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    Congrats, Suzanne, on
    Congrats, Suzanne, on finishing chemo. We just never know what side effects we will have to deal with but the good news is you are done!! I hope your skin clears up real soon and you can get back to living. Take care of yourself!!
  • smalldoggroomer
    smalldoggroomer Member Posts: 1,184
    I'm sorry this happened to you
    but I am glad you are done with chemo! I have one more to go TCH, I will also be very happy when it is over. It seems like you just start to feel a little better and you have to go again. Here's to you feeling better soon and your burns going away. It is a new day! Kay
  • Pinkpower
    Pinkpower Member Posts: 437
    Hi Suzanne,
    Actually I had

    Hi Suzanne,

    Actually I had that side effect on Taxotere too. On the 3rd chemo I first got that burn/rash on my face... it was horrible, steroids and cortizone cream helped heal it by the time I had the 4th treatment 3wks later but after the 4th treatment I got the burns on the back of my heels of my feet, needless to say I could not wear shoes for wks. And of course by the 5th treatment I got the burns on the elbow area like yours on both arms. That one was the worst of all. I thought I was the only one with this weird side effects. I swear I thought I got every weird side effects. I got twitching eyes for months, the tearing crying all the time for about a months during my 4th treatment on top of the normal side effects. So glad its all over. I still have a dark tint to the arms but its getting clearer and better with time.

    Lupe
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    Pinkpower said:

    Hi Suzanne,
    Actually I had

    Hi Suzanne,

    Actually I had that side effect on Taxotere too. On the 3rd chemo I first got that burn/rash on my face... it was horrible, steroids and cortizone cream helped heal it by the time I had the 4th treatment 3wks later but after the 4th treatment I got the burns on the back of my heels of my feet, needless to say I could not wear shoes for wks. And of course by the 5th treatment I got the burns on the elbow area like yours on both arms. That one was the worst of all. I thought I was the only one with this weird side effects. I swear I thought I got every weird side effects. I got twitching eyes for months, the tearing crying all the time for about a months during my 4th treatment on top of the normal side effects. So glad its all over. I still have a dark tint to the arms but its getting clearer and better with time.

    Lupe

    that sounds awful awful, I
    that sounds awful awful, I got the taxol rash all over my face, felt like sandpaper, and itched, red. it went away after taxol was done. now i have nice soft smoothe skin again. I do use lindi cream products for chemo patients, it can be pricey but a small amount goes a long way on sensative skin. Hope this clears up quickly!!
  • jo jo
    jo jo Member Posts: 1,175
    Im so happy that this is
    Im so happy that this is your last chemo so you can finally start healing! Im just sorry you had to deal with that and on top of it more steriod to keep you awake...i feel for ya!
    the things we go thru to GET RID of it!
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    Glad you finished chemo!

    Glad you finished chemo!
  • Jean 0609
    Jean 0609 Member Posts: 2,462
    Glad your chemo is done,
    now it is time to heal. Hugs, Jean
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    Hey Suzanne, is it possible
    Hey Suzanne, is it possible to have an ongoing reaction in the form of a rash years later? I started having a rash a couple years after treatment and it's still breaking out but the onc I saw three years ago said it wasn't connected to treatment. I've seen PCP and specialist and no one seems to know or didn't tell me what is causing it. I've also had cellulitis twice on my legs in this same time period. I saw your pictures and mine isn't as extreme and with care is kept under control but I still wonder??
  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    Marcia527 said:

    Hey Suzanne, is it possible
    Hey Suzanne, is it possible to have an ongoing reaction in the form of a rash years later? I started having a rash a couple years after treatment and it's still breaking out but the onc I saw three years ago said it wasn't connected to treatment. I've seen PCP and specialist and no one seems to know or didn't tell me what is causing it. I've also had cellulitis twice on my legs in this same time period. I saw your pictures and mine isn't as extreme and with care is kept under control but I still wonder??

    Who the heck knows?
    Hi Marcia-

    I asked my oncologist if my skin problems would continue after chemo. She said absolutely not. Well, how come some of the other side effects linger on? We will always wonder about the damage caused from this poison, but the benefits are supposed to outweigh the risks - or so they say. . . as long as any stray cancer cells were damaged and destroyed never to come back, I guess I could live with this .

    As an aside, I had a hysterectomy for endometrial cancer on July 1 and my vaginal cuff is still not healed. My gynecological oncologist is thinking this is because of the chemo, but thinks as soon as I'm really done, it will heal. Like I said, who the heck really knows about all of this?

    Suzanne
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    cavediver said:

    yeah...no more chemo!!!!!
    So glad you are now finished with chemo, but sad you have had so much trouble with side effects. Taxotere is harsh....I had 8 cycles, but the last one onc had to reduce to 50% for me to get through it. But, we are both done with chemo....yeah!!!! I hope your side effects will go away asap for you..........you are brave and have come through this! Will you be doing rads next, or are you done with treatments? Hugs

    Congrats Suzanne on
    Congrats Suzanne on finishing chemo!