Happy New Year everyone. I have finished my 3 rounds of FEC, and am due to start taxotere on the 12th Jan. Can anyone give me advice? Much love Penny xx

hi Penny, i am sure there are lots on here who have had taxotere, so sure someone will pick your blog up, here's to a happy and healthier 2012. Regards Moira

I will give you the "drill" that I was given. Taxetare is the PITS - BUT I survived. You really have to be prepared ie prepare meals; have lots of snacks in the pantry, ice blocks in the freezer. I went out and purchased plastic utensils as people told me that I would get a metalic taste in my mouth and wouldn't be able to use s/s ones. I didn't use any of them. I got a really furry tongue and all food tasted like it had passed through the backend of a dog!!!. But I did put on weight. It is the steriods that you will have to take to prevent the vomiting. I never vomited once during my chemo - did feel quite nauseous though. Dexametazine (something like that) is taken the day before chemo and two days after - from memory. What it did to me was "zoom me up" on the first day. My house was surgically clean each time prior to chemo and of course I couldn't sleep. Then three days after chemo WHAM the big MAC truck hit. It is quite "funny" to rethink it now. At the time it isn't. Someone told me prior to chemo "Just remember chemo is only for a short time" and also "Just go with the flow". If you feel like Crap ....just lie down and do nothing. Don't set any timetables for yourself; don't accept visitors during the first 5-6 days unless they want to "do something that is beneficial" and of course ONLY if they are germ-free. You will need to manage your temps as well. The oncology nurses will give you a chart. It is really important as a high temp (38 degrees) means you need to go to hospital ASAP. During my first chemo this happened to me and I ended up in hospital for 6 days in isolation. From then on I was given an injection on the day after chemo. What was my savour was finding a "buddy" on this site who was having chemo at the same time and same "potion" as myself. We compared notes and it was really helpful. Good tip: if you have any queries ASK - your oncology nurses or here online. There is a wealth of knowledge on this site so make good use of it. It is really important to be HIGH MAINTENANCE and care ONLY for yourself (if that's possible). You will need someone special (I see you have a lovely husband/partner) who is THERE for you. I set up a bed in the loungeroom for the first three days after chemo. Some cycles I would use it until day 5 but then I would unpack it and try to sit up and also walk around and be as active as I could. Nearly forgot DRINK COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF WATER - to flush the chemo through. I found the easiest way to do this (and avoid the furry tongue) was to drink through a straw. The girls online will have some more tips for you so I will finish here. Don't forget ASK ASK ASK. Been there done that and SURVIVED. XLeonie PS I kept a daily diary so I could compare notes for each chemo cycle.

Thanks Moira, Lovely picture of you. Xxx

Hi Penny, I didn't have chemo the first diagnosis as it wasn't going to give me a big enough % add on but this time I "lined up" for it. I was more scared of the alternative. On my first day at the oncology unit I talked nonstop. I went straight from the ward to the unit as I had a portacath inserted the day before. I still have my "Penny Portacath" even though it is now 7 months since my last chemo. My surgeon wants me to keep it in for a couple of years. I have to get it "flushed out" each 4 weeks. It hurts more than when I had the chemo tube put in - I have said that I won't line up again for chemo so why do I need it. Anyway I will keep playing the game and keep it in. XLeonie

Taxotere | BCNA Online Network

Anonymous
14 years ago
Hi Jacq, just wanted to wish you all the best with Taxotere this week. It is scary and understandable to feel apprehensive, but just go with the flow...take it all one small step at a time and look after yourself....you can do it! Celeste ?
JXL63
Member
14 years ago
Hi Celeste,

I have read your comments (& others, too) about being on Taxotere and what to expect. Found it helpful as I prepare to start chemo (TC) this week. I see the oncology nurse tomorrow and am apprehensive about the whole chemo thing.

It has been comforting to know that others have treaded this path before me and I am not alone.

Jacq
Anonymous
14 years ago
Hi Maxene, I had AC chemo back in 2009 and this time am having Docetaxal (also known as Taxotere). In my experience, Docetaxal (or Taxotere) is nowhere near as heavy going as the AC chemo. I havent had the side effects that i had with AC...that stuff nearly KILLED me! The high energy levels are from Dexamethazone, the steriod given pre and post chemo which assists in counteracting side effects of chemo. I lost my hair with both chemos. I am also having Herceptin, but because I'm having it in combination with Docetaxal, I'm not sure what the side effects for that specific drug are for me. i do notice that I get a runny nose and I've heard this is common on Herceptin.

Good luck with the Docetaxal Maxene, I'm positive you'll find it so much easier than AC!

Take care, Celeste x
Maxene_36
Member
14 years ago
Hi all - I know this is an older blog, but I need some advice!!

I just finished my 4th round of AC (Adriamycin / Cyccophespuamcde??) and am about to start 4 rounds of Docetaxec(??) but I thought my chemo nurse also called it 'Taxotere' with Herceptin.

I went through the AC treatment with effects and reactions much the same as Celeste. I have been told that the necxt 4 rounds won't be as bad as the AC, but I'm not sure - any advice would be wonderful. I notice that some of you experienced high energy - is this because of the Taxotere?

When I'm done with the upcoming rounds I'll start 6 weeks of radiation then 13 months of Herceptin. How have you found the Herceptin by itself?

With much love & thanks,

Maxene xx
Julia44
Member
14 years ago
Hi Penny,

I finished 3 rounds of Tax in about November. I found it worse than the FEC but not as scary as I had anticipated. It took me about 2 weeks to feel better after each whereas with fec it was about a week. I used the frozen gloves on hands and feel during treatment and revitanail and dark polish and had no problems with hands/feet.

My main problem was constipation(charming!)so I did not eat that well. Never vomited. It was nice not to have the stomach issues that I had with fec.

I guess it was rough at the time but looking back it all went quickly and I have now finished radiotherapy too. All the best with your treatment.

Julia
Chris
Member
14 years ago
Hi Penny, I also had 4 rounds of taxotere last year, and like Celeste, I didn't have a really bad time. I agree whole heartedly with the others, who said, look after number one, and be kind to yourself. The first round for me was the worst, mainly because I was anxious and didn't know what to expect. I learnt a few little strategies following the first round that made the other 3 rounds a bit easier. Things I learnt, take all anti nausea meds given to you even if you don't think you need them. My Dr said, it is easier to prevent nausea, than to treat it if gets a hold on you. Take panadol 4 hourly from the first hint of leg pains, which usually start on day 4. I use to spend day 4 on the lounge, as it was my blob day. Eat little and often. The nausea was a little like morning sickness, and food helped to ease it. I had diarrhoea on the first round, but not the other 3, and I was never sick enough to vomit. The furry tongue stage is grose, and water tasted awful. I discovered that the clear, flat, lemon or lime flavoured mineral waters in the pump packs were fantastic at over riding the metallic taste that comes from the chemo and the furry tongue. My finger nails survived well, due to the ice mits and nail polish. I did develop ridges on my nails, one per each treatment, rather like age rings on a tree. They all grew out without issue. My hair has regrown, and like Tonya, it took many weeks before it sprouted, and it is still curly, but it is not quite a year since I started chemo and I have had 3 trips to the hairdresses since, and my hair is about 6 to 7 cm long now. My eyebrows fell out well after I had finished chemo, but they too have started to grow back, and whilst I still use eyebrow pencil, they are have thickened up considerably. Wishing you all the best with the taxotere, and remember, it may not be as bad as what you imagine. Chemo didn't stop me from doing anything, and I actually had quite a social time with friends during my treatment months. Love Chris xx
Cheryl_D
Member
14 years ago
Hi there,

I had 6 treatments of this horrid drug combined with Carboplatin ( which is also a killer) this year, I can only say be prepared and be ready to stay in bed as that is just about all you can do.

Take all the pain meds you can get your hands on and do only for yourself, I know we sound drastic and are not trying to scare you but warn you, this really is a time when you can only look after yourself and even then you may barely scrape by so get all the help from your partner you need, good luck and best wishes,

Cheryl D
Cheryl_D
Member
14 years ago
Hi there,

I had 6 treatments of this horrid drug combined with Carboplatin ( which is also a killer) this year, I can only say be prepared and be ready to stay in bed as that is just about all you can do.

Take all the pain meds you can get your hands on and do only for yourself, I know we sound drastic and are not trying to scare you but warn you, this really is a time when you can only look after yourself and even then you may barely scrape by so get all the help from your partner you need, good luck and best wishes,

Cheryl D
TonyaM
Member
14 years ago
Leonie is spot on.I ended up in hospital isolation by day 10 on Taxotere.You feel like roadkill from a mack truck around day3-6.I just spent those days in bed under the doona.Your mouth feels like it's lined with fur but I never vomitted.My oncologist told me it's harder on your white cells and hair folicles.It took 10 weeks post chemo before I saw any sign of a hair on my head.Some ladies have breezed through this chemo and some have fared worse.The unknown is always scary so my mantra is -prepare for the worst but hope for the best.Just don't make any big plans on the mack truck days!

love Tonya xx
Leonie_Moore
Member
14 years ago
Hi Penny, I didn't have chemo the first diagnosis as it wasn't going to give me a big enough % add on but this time I "lined up" for it. I was more scared of the alternative. On my first day at the oncology unit I talked nonstop. I went straight from the ward to the unit as I had a portacath inserted the day before. I still have my "Penny Portacath" even though it is now 7 months since my last chemo. My surgeon wants me to keep it in for a couple of years. I have to get it "flushed out" each 4 weeks. It hurts more than when I had the chemo tube put in - I have said that I won't line up again for chemo so why do I need it. Anyway I will keep playing the game and keep it in. XLeonie