Kathy M

Hi,

I also am triple negative with my breast cancer.  I finished my 6 months of chemo last week and start radium in 2 weeks.  I found the 4 x 3 weekly rounds of chemo not much of a problem.  I then had 12 weekly rounds of Taxol, which should have been much easier to take, but I found the last 6 weeks very hard to take.  I think I had nearly all of the known side effects of taxol.  I will list them below, but the main reason for writing is to help others who develop bad rashes, as little seems to be known as to how to  sooth them.

Side Effects of Taxol I experienced.

1.  Nose bleeding, which is much worse once finishing chemo.  Chemist can give you creams to help here.

2.  Tingling and numbness in fingers and toes.  Fingers are much worse than toes.

3. Bad heartburn and constipation.

4.  Swelling of feet and ankles.  Had to wear compression stockings for a few weeks.

5.  Minor mouth ulcers. Top of tongue is very irritated.

6.  Aches and pains all over - easy to manage with pain killers.

7.  Toenails ached terribly some days.  I think I will lose my large toenails and most likely the other nails on feet and hands too.

8.  Red, stinging rashes on face and arms - stings 24/7.

I soaked in pinetarsol solution with my own bath oil in it.  This is much more moisturising than using pinetarsol bathoil.    I soaked my arms and face in the same several times daily to relieve the redness and stinging.

I wish I had found out earlier that you can buy anaesthetic ointments which relieve the stinging for a few hours at a time.  This wakes me up every morning early.  Xylocaine is the best I found, but there are others on the market too.

My skin was flaky and so tight all the time for many weeks (still is really).  No amount of face creams would help on the face.  The only product that works at all is QV intensive moisturiser.  It is like vaseline, but does soak in to some extent.  Very greasy, gets on clothes, furniture etc..  Does wash out of clothes though.  Can't wear make-up, but shouldn't while one has such rashes anyway.

Cortisone products can help, but can thin the skin on a permanent basis, so use sparingly.  It comes in many forms - creams, ointments, fatty ointment plus one other.  I was allergic to the cream, but used it for several days before working this out.  Try a test spot on your rash for any product you want to use.  The ointment did nothing for me.  The fatty oinment worked on my face, but nothing is working on my arms.  They are still red and sore.  The backs of my hands are the worst.  Skin goes all blotchy too.  

Steroids  and antihistamines help with inflamation.

Still don't sleep well, but am used to this by now.

Stay out of the sun and stay cool.  Heat makes rashes worse.  I actually use fans even though it is winter.

 

Hope these hints help anyone who is unfortunate enough to get these rashes.  This info. may give you a head start in releaving the problem.