Well it's day 5 of my 1st taxotere and everything you ladies have told me is true! It's TERRIBLE! The first 2 days were okay, then bam! It hit, bone pain, constipation, bloating, bad taste in my mouth, now it's so dry and yukky, like the bottom of a bird cage. Biotene not helping at all, constipation gone now it's diarrhea. FEC is pleasant compared to this, hoping day 6 will be better. Had a picc line in. It went quite well, wasn't as scary as first thought. Hoping everyone is having a great day. Much love Penny xx

I can feel for you! My Taxol wasn't too bad but the dry mouth and diarrhea I can relate to! My legs ached for a day or so but disappeared after that. Is yours weekly and for how many rounds? Thinking of you and I hope everything settles down. I found biotene helped for a little then was not effective towards the end of the round as the body weakens. I just rode it out with a little help from chewing gum and iceblocks! I also developed an infection in both my big toenails after round 11/12 which I think was my body saying I've had enough poison now and it was beginning to break down! Good luck and I'm glad the PICC is working out. I found I had no problems once I had the second one put in. ( the first was taken out after a month because I had a temp and they wanted to rule it out as the source of the infection) As it was they couldn't find one! Put it down to possible menopause symptoms. Ho Hum!!! Take care and will be thinking of you. I start radiotherapy on Tues for 35 sessions! Have also started Tamoxifen. Day 5 and all seems ok. The Perth heat doesn't help as I don't know whether I'm having a hot flush or not! My ankles also swelled up on Sat at the cricket but I must admit I was sitting down most of the day!! I think that was it!!! After a couple of long walks it seems to have settled down. Love Alison xxx

Hi Alison - here's a little tip for the yukky mouth - TIC TAC 'Intensity' - (suck slowly, they are like a bomb going off in your mouth) but they are far far better than the horrible taste you are enduring. My husband got them for me when I was going throgh chemo - and believe me, I still to this day keep a packet in my purse! Ginger is good for nausea. Hope this helps, Cheers x Josie

Hi Penny Im so sorry to hear that you too are having a hard time on that terrible drug. I found eating with a plastic fork or spoon helped a little, also Bundaberg dry ginger beer helped. As the other ladies have said, keep on top of the pain with the panadol. Keep taking your temp if it goes above 38 get yourself off to hospital. If you have trouble with your tummy eg pain, cramping I took gastro stop it helped a lot. Be kind to your self let everyone else look after you , and if you need to stay in bed , stay in bed if you can ! Thinking nothing but the best of thoughts for you Regards Hilary xxx

Mine is 3 weekly, and thank god I only have to have 2 more!!!! I thought I would be feeling better by now, but it's day 6 and I still feel awful. Glad to hear you are doing well Al, don't over do it. Xxx

I hate taxotere! | BCNA Online Network

beauty
Member
13 years ago
traditional chinese medicine had helped me when I had the chemo.
beauty
Member
13 years ago
traditional chinese medicine had helped me when I had the chemo.
Julie_P
Member
14 years ago
Very comforting to hear all the effects of taxotere, I think I've suffered most of them. Am at Day13 of treatment 2 and waiting for the energy levels to rise again like they did first time round, but instead I left work early and came home for a nap. Still have very bad mouth ulcers, reduced to eating yoghurt and other soft foods, hoping they go soon so I can enjoy my one 'good' week. Biotene had worked well up til a few days ago.

Penny, my treatment ends Feb 21st so like you, not long to go, by mid-march we'll be new women!

Look after yourself

Julie
hilsandglen
Member
14 years ago
Hi Tonya I so know what you mean re the taxotere , it will all be worth it if the bloody stuff has worked ! The only good thing about being in isolation was it gave me time to have a good cry without anyone seeing me . Hoping all the best for you Hilary x
pennyb
Member
14 years ago
Thanks Tonya, Sunday is day 10 so will make sure to stay away from the germy public. Don't fee like going anywhere at the moment anyway, my hubby told me it's the first time he has come home from work and seen me laying on the couch and thought I really did look like a cancer patient. This taxotere has really taken it's toll. How is everything going with you? Xx
pennyb
Member
14 years ago
Thanks Ann-Marie, hurry up week 2! Xxx
pennyb
Member
14 years ago
Thanks Leonie, am sooo looking forward to the finishing day, Feb 23rd! Xxx
pennyb
Member
14 years ago
Thanks Hilary, day 8 now and the bone pain has eased, the bad taste is still there though, hoping it will be gone sson. Xxx
pennyb
Member
14 years ago
I love that! Taxoterrible! Thank you for the kind words and for the advice xxx
pennyb
Member
14 years ago
Will keep the panadol in mind for next time thanks Chris, I found water with some lemon Gatorade is about the best so far. Hope you are well, am so looking forward to the time I can say it's been a year since treatment!