SIDE EFFECTS

Hi Airlie,

I had all of those lovely side effects as well as dizziness, vomiting and neuropathy in my feet. I was on carboplatin and then that was swapped for cyclopsphomide as well as taxotere. Herceptin made me feel a little "off" and dizzy. Not quite nauseous but I just didn't feel right. It would start whilst the treatment was being done and would last for a couple of days after but no where near as awful as the combined TCH. Apparently most people get no side effects from the herceptin.  There were 3 of us where I had my treatment that the herceptin affected. You are definitely on the downhill run now. Good luck with it all. Karen xox

I have had nose problems with Taxol, but also when having Taxol one of the pre meds they give me is Ranitidine which is Zantac, to treat indigestion/heartburn, so I assume this is a well know side effect of Taxol. Also found out today the pigment discolouration which has been developing around my eyes is a side effect of this chemo (I had thought it was part of my allergic reaction to Taxol). The nurse said it is similar to the "mask of pregnancy" which some people get when pregnant. I don't mind it, because it provides a lovely contrast to the black bags directly above it, and the red red blotches directly below...I like to think of it as a lovely Tahitian sunset right there on my face for everyone to enjoy!

Chemo...the gift that keeps on giving eh?

Congrats on finishing your chemo Airlie.

I had a terribly bloody and congested nose, it was definitely Taxol and improved a lot after my last Taxol treatment. My nose is still a bit sensitive ( eg when I have a cold) but otherwise normal.

Kath, have you tried rubbing petroleum jelly into the nostrils?

I suffer from nasty nosebleeds at the best of times due an unrelated medical conditipn as does my mum. Now that AC killed all hairs in the noszrils even worse than any other winter has been.

My put me on petroleum.jelly ages ago and it really hels as it coates the nostrils and if you get just the jelly withour vaseline type additives there is nothing to reacz to so it acts as prozevtive coating with no irritants... You can oick up a tub of it in a generic brand for just a couple of dollars in any supermarket...

Jel.

Hey Airlie

I am having my 11th Herceptin next Tuesday. Finished chemo in February and radiation in May. Took a while, about 8 weeks, for side effects and reflux to settle down after chemo and rads. But now I am not having any problems on Herceptin.

Hope you feel better soon.

Nadine

Sorry ...should read round 5 herceptin.  Kath x

I'm  on both and as I have the same symptons since I've had more and more taxol  (and herceptin) week 9 this week ...I have had stuffy nose inmediately after fir 2 to 3 days then a running nose often with blood after. I get loose bowels which doesn't seem to follow any pattern. After reflux settling after AC I am now getting it again and quite badly....sigh. I have also had increasing yucky taste in mouth.  I am hoping it is taxol and will settle down soon a few weeks after off. Round 4 is only 1  week after chemo I think. Hope things improve soon.