Hi Peacock,
I think it’s amazing you’ve completed 6 tax, I’m only on my 4th and pleased I’ve just got 1 more! sorry to hear about your fluid/swelling probs…this tax certainly has many and varied SE’s doesnt it? Great that your hair is growing back already! I havent noticed any growing back yet but this is 2nd time I’ve lost it cos I had Ac chemo to shrink tumor before masectomy so wondering if that will make any difference? Will be thinking of you next wednesday and hope all goes well for you.
Best wishes
smiler
x
Hi Smiler
had my 6th chemo (3rd tax) yesterday. It took 5 goes to get the needle to work, my veins kept shutting down! still got there in the end, hand quite bruised. My feet are peeling now and legs swelling a bit, I just need to wear v short sports socks so not to leave marks around my calves. One more tax on 27 nov. OP may be before new year but it depends on whether the surgeon wants time off or not!!! … dont worry bout me< I’ll wait… again. I have a very light fuzz on top of my head, not sure whether it will grow much before my tax finishes, luckily I am quite pleased (eventually) with my wig.
Didnt sleep much last night, probably due to initial high dose of steroids so will try to tire myself out by taking Lottie the lurcher out for a long walk in the rain!!, BUT before that breakfast, scrambled egg and mushrooms on toast… a girl needs to eat (well, actually my bathroom scales say I dont… but I’ll save that job (diet) for another day).
take care all
hugs Chris x
Hi Chris,
I’m sitting here wearing trainer socks to avoid marking legs (just marks my ankles instead!) and have a bruised hand too! Though I was a little luckier in that they got a vein 2nd time. Still only 1 more tax to go! Only had about 4 hrs sleep last 2 nights, these steroids really keep my mind racing (shame its not my feet I might loose some of this extra weight if that happened!) . i now have less steroids for next 3 days (Xtra to usual dose to try and avoid a repeat of my tongue swelling which happened after tax 2) so bit by bit should get back to ‘normal’. Hope you manage to get a date for your op soon, it’s unsettling not knowing the plan and not being able to get organised isn’t it? Hope your walk was ok, I got soaked taking my boys to school this morning, really need a bit of bright weather don’t we?
Hi Peacock, hope SE’s are getting less and less for you and that the swelling is going down.
Take care everyone.
Best wishes
Smiler
x
Hi all - I’m back!! Haven’t been on this thread since 4th TAC. 5th one was the worst because I had a cold which turned into a diabolical chest infection with neutropenia (0.1!) so was in hospital for 5 days. 6th and final TAC took place on 20th October and 4 weeks down the line I can really say that I am feeling so much better. Still swollen, but taking Frosamide 40mg for that once a day, and eyelashes decided to depart this week all together. Damn - thought I’d hold onto a few of those!!
But - I do have a lot more energy. Even considering doing some serious housework today… but maybe that’s excessive…
My littlest (aged 4) examines my head every night to look for hair (none yet, but expecting it within the next 3 weeks) - she told me to put ‘hair’ on my christmas list to santa…
Peripheral neuropathy even improving, slowly - feet don’t feel like ice blocks any more, tho still numbness.
Hope you’re all hanging in there. The end is in sight!!
Td x
Sorry to hear you had a bad time after 5th TAC Td, but pleased you are feeling a bit better and Se’s getting less. I’ve got 1 more Tax to go and was pleased to still have eyelashes, but obviously from your experience that could change! Hope perif neuropathy continues to improve, my toes are numb, apart from big toe…very strange! Think I’ll be lucky to see any new hair for christmas unless it’s in the form of a new wig!
Take care
Smiler
x
Hi I have had TAC number 2 with no side effexts at all so very thankful and not that naive to think 3 will be the same.
Congrats waiting angel for completing your chemo, you must feel relieved,
Hope everyone else is feeling ok
sharon xx
I am about to have 4th and final TAX on Monday. Unfortunately I have not found TAX easy. The lst was ok. Just tired and felt cold but wore off. With the 2nd & 3rd I have had increasing skin problems ie dermatitis? Advised to used E45 but not found it much good. It just seems the TAX has to take its course and thats it. Now got almost permanent runny nose and watering eyes. Has anyone else got these? I should feel great just one more TAX but feel so worn down mentally and physically by whole thing. But everyone says I look great!!!
Cannot imagine a life without chemo. Feel I am on this treadmill forever. Does anyone else feel like that? Sorry to be down but finding TAX very wearing. Difficult to keep any normal life going. Whatever that is.
Hi starfish,I sooooo know how you are feeling.I finished tax 7 months ago and am feeling fine now.You will get through it I know it doesn’t feel like it at the moment but you will.I had a really bad time on tax and after the second I wanted to stop and thought I would never feel well again but I do.Then when I was due my last one everybody kept saying only 1 more and your done,but all I could think of was the nurse trying to find a vain and the rotten way I was going to feel for the next 10 or so days.
sending you love and best wishes Mellxx
Hi All
I finished Tax 5 weeks ago, didnt find it too bad but I’ve got a bad memory and I didn’t do much…I was very lazy and watched loads of TV and DVD’s, when I did feel less tired I went off treating myself with per una tops. I’ve put on about 12lb in weight and my nails are a mess. In the last 2 weeks my nails have started weeping at the sides and I bathe them in warm salt water a couple of times a day.
Hi Starfish - I had watering eyes and runny nose, my eyes are much better now but my nose runs if I bend down. I thought that it was the Herceptin that was causing the runny nose as it happened to me last time I was on it.
In the last 2 weeks I have got more energy, looking forward to getting fitter and getting the house sorted out (got stuff everywhere!)
Love
Sue x
Hi Everyone
Pleased to hear that Mell and Sue that SE’s do lessen and that you have more energy a few weeks / months after Tax. Had Tax number 4 on Wed and had to take to bed for couple of hours this pm!
starfish i get watery eyes for while after getting up and first going out in morning. have at moment got this perif neuropathy and today seems to be effecting my teeth as well as toes and ends of fingers!!! LOL How weird is that?! Has anyone else had that?
Hoping , like you Sue, that when Tax is finished I will have more energy and start building up a bit of fitness and be able to loose some of the weight !
take care
Smiler
x
Hello everyone
I’m 4 weeks past my last taxotere and must say that I feel quite good really, almost pre chemo except for the weight gain and fluid retention which is making life very difficult at the moment. All the other horrible side effects seem to have passed, no more runny nose which feels clogged up with those little green things despite this = it has passed, quite quickly too so maybe I am being optimistic. My nails are still good, and despite being told by the dr yesterday that I don’t need to keep them polished now, I don’t want to take the chance and leave it off, just in case tax has a lingering effect, so I will keep them painted for a while. I still have slight PN but even this seems to be getting better each day.
So, to everyone who might be just starting on the journey, hang on in there it does pass and you WILL get through it.
cyber hugs to all
xxxxxxxxxx
It is good to hear how you all feel after the treatment, I have had 3 Taxotere and think I will have 3 more - it is working on my Liver tumours!!
Looking forward to feeling better though.
gill
Hello all -
Still feeling ok, but full of fluid - 4 weeks post Tax + AC. I have discovered that I can use false eyelashes despite having no real ones to balance them on so that vain me is happy!
Sit tight with the Tax everyone - it’s only a phase in your life. And it’s good to say at the end 'thank God that’s over…@
Td xx
Just had tax 4 final one. Relayed symptoms to onc. Apparently they are all normal. He did however reduce dose slightly because of upset stomach. His decision not mine. I will await rest of symptoms. You have to do everything I feel no matter how awful. I cannot take the risk.
Hi e/one,
had 3rd tax last thurs. Last couple days spent mostly in bed, no energy whatsoever or appetite, oral thrush again. @%~#
not a happy bunny. Had quite a few ache type pains especially in legs n feet this time, maybe accumulation of tax. One more to go on the 27th thank goodness then planning for op. Going for a soak may loosen up my muscles then Corrie if my eyes stay open then bed… again…
Waitingangel, cant wait to get this phase over with!!!, or the next, or the next,…, sorry, I am feeling a bit whingy, I make a bad patient, I need to learn how to chill more, brick to the head maybe??
Chris x
hi Everyone
how you all doing? Been a really tired day for me and hand and feet pain /tingling worse this time. Like you Chris just keep thinking one more Tax!
Waitingangel, I’m so pleased you’ve managed to sort eyelashes, i was told I couldn’t have them when I lost them after last chemo! Did you apply them yourself or go to a beautician? Haven’t lost mine YET…but they are thinning!
Peacock I seem to think it’s your op day tomorrow? Will be thinking of you and hope all goes well for you.
Take care everyone and hope SE’s will be less for us all as the week goes on!
Smiler
x
Hello all
well, rads have just been delayed by 2 days, but that’s ok; it just means I don’t finish til the 23rd dec - cutting it fine!!
I stuck my false eyelashes on myself - I’ve bought cheap ones from wilkinsons and they’re as good as any others I’ve ever bought! Not wearing them all the time thought as they do irritate after about 6 hours - not bad though!
5 weeks since last TAC and not a hair in sight; maybe I’m impatient!!
Have a good w/e all
Td xx
Hi All
just about coming through worst bit of 3rd tax now… In 13 days my last tax will be all over with no juggernauts to run me over 3 weeks later… Cant believe this part is nearly over.
Has anyone been to a Look Good Feel Great session? I have heard good reports about them and so have booked myself in for one next tuesday at hosp. Perhaps I too will be glueing false eye lashes on, bet they feel really strange at first though. I am now getting a 5 o clock shadow on my HEAD, hope this is the beginning of that strange thing called HAIR growing back.
I wonder how long the s/es of tax take to go when we have finished our last tax, how many weeks/months does it take to be out of our body? I suppose if we are loosing our nails before end of chemo then they will just have to take their course, eventually drop off and regrow. Mine are a pale orange colour and each time I cut them they seem to get further down my finger. Cut them short as I dont want to catch them.
Starfish, how are you doing after your FINAL tax, know you were not looking f/ward to it but as you said it had to be done. Your final sh…y days after chemo, each day past is a day getting to feel better and better. Not much comfort while you feel bad I know but true.
Smiler, I dont think the tax is affecting my teeth but I am often aware that i am holding my jaw together tightly, sometimes wake up like that too, tension.
Melly, It took 5 goes last time to find a vein in the back of my hand that wouldnt collapse. OUCH. I may be a cissy on my last time, go early and see if I can have some pain cream applied before they have another go! Also apparently I need to drink a lot more which may help. It isnt too bad putting the needle in, its when they wriggle it around trying to get the blood to show, the air should have been blue!.
best wishes everyone
Chris x
Hi everyone
Side effects of final tax now kicking in. V tired and up and down all night last night with terrible cramps in legs. Mouth feels terrible. Par for the course. Awaiting sore tongue. They did reduce dose for final TAX. But in my experience the side effects build up with each one. Is it the same for everyone? Hair looked like it tried to grow back after FEC then fell out (what there was of it) after first TAX. Slightly worried by another thread suggesting hair loss can be permanent after TAX. Anyone know figures on that.
Should feel elated after final TAX but strangely do not. Am also HER2. Anyone else. So started Herceptin injections and keep reading internet on how aggressive HER2 is. Also just found out this week that found cells on outside of lymph nodes ( all removed) so rads to underarm as well. A further blow which I have only just found out about some 7 months later.
I estimate it will take me until next May to start to feel well again. Investigating diet etc to try and build myself back up again. Is anyone else doing this? All so scary and seems even more so now coming to end of chemo. Somehow the hospital rounds are like a treadmill and you do not get much time to think and then chemo ends.
Sorry for moaning. Could be low after 7 months of chemo. Anyone else feel like this
Take care
Starfish x
Hi Dipstick I can fully appreciate what you are sayong. I am On TAC and had my 3rd dose today and it took 4 attempts with the fourth in my “bad” arm. I was reluctany but they had said they had done this before as long as there was no lymphodema. I had to trust them as we did talk about a portacath which does not appeal to me but needs must I suppose and considering there will be a waiting list it may end up for the last sessions anyway!! I had to ask for a sleeping tablet today as well as last cycle I was up for about 62 hours I did manage 4 hours slepp one night - bl~~~y steroids!!
Hope you and everyone else are well.
Love sharon xx