Okay! The second dose of taxotere was last Tuesday. The pains in my bones and the sickness were much worse this time. Starting to feel vaguely human again. Much more of my hair has fallen out too! My head is very itchy and I am told it is quite red and sore looking. Not helped by my children having headlice! I thought the chemo would kill off the headlice, no such luck. Having to use a nit comb whilst your hair is falling out is no fun! May ask my hairdresser to just shave it all off! My fingernails have started weakening too! Here’s to a better day tomorrow. Love to all, Snoogle x
Hello,
Day 10 after my first TAX. Have had just about every symptom but in a minor form, apart from sickness. My mouth is so sore, gums are all swollen and lumps inside cheeks and lips. Has anyone else had this? Or has some tips to deal with it. I’m doing the baby toothbrush and sensitive toothpaste thing and rinsing with corsodly daily diluted. I have thrush too from antibiotics, but I have nystan for that which is helping with that.
Hugs
Fiona xxxx
Hi can i join you on here. Its my first Tax tomorrow after four
FEC’s. I have just taken my four steroids and i am off to hospital in a minute to have regular blood test.
I was reasonably lucky with FEC (using the word lucky really loosely with breast cancer) my side effects were minimal. I have just been hospitalised for a high temperature and low neutrophils which is why i am having blood test today.
I am really dreading taxotere but then i did with FEC.
Will let you know
Linda
HI all, hope everyone’s okay. Fiona, I had the mouth symptoms and found Difflam oral rinse really helpful, you can get it in spray form and direct it straight where it’s needed. With that and the corsodyl at least 4 times daily, it seemed to help. My lips got quite sore and puffy too. I found my tongue got really sore and puffy but thankfully it didn’t last too long. Linda, best of luck with your chemo, I like you had FEC first and was dreading TAX as I’d read so many negative things. But then I read even more pos posts about it and the best way to approach it is with an open mind. I have to say that, on the whole, TAX was preferable to me than FEC. With TAX there was no nausea or vomiting, the main SE’s were mouth symptoms - loss of taste, sore mouth, achey joints and muscles and a bit of breathlessness. I had swollen ankles after my last TAX which only lasted a few days. My temp went up a bit on the first few days but my bloods were always fine. My last TAX was probably my best, although, nearly 3 weeks on I still feel quite achey but not enough to take painkillers. As I say, everyone is different, some people sailed thru FEC while others had an awful time - we’re all different but it’s def do-able and I’m sure you’ll be fine. All the best, do post and let us know how you’re doing, we’re always here. love and hugs Pat x
Hi Linda - will be following your footsteps soon, have had last fec, so are you having 4 of each? Take care everyone…mary x
Hi Mary, pmd you, I am having three of each. Hi Pat thanks for your comments. Well had first one now, no going back. Went in smoothly and no finger tingling. I feel fine at moment and just ate a lovely salad. The lull before the storm or a sign of things to come - i chose the latter.
Oh well we shall see…
For the mouth i have been using gingegel which is quite expensive but i have not had one single mouth problem on FEC.
All the best to all us taxotere triers.
Linda
hi all just got back from my pre chemo check before my 2nd tax tomorrow and they have decided to reduce my tax this time and if im as ill this time they wont give me the 3rd and final dose of tax . i know i had problems but still didnt think they were that bad lol . i guess we just get used to coping with se’s. still got yukky mouth after my first tax and achiness has just eased. still will let you know how 2nd tax goes . hope you all keeping well and enjoying the beutiful weather atm
take care love n hugs melissa
x
Hi Guys,
I’ve one more EC to go then I’m having 4xTax,and I’m terrified,everything I’ve read is so scarey,the nails coming off,hair not growing back,muscle & bone pain etc. I’ve been trying to decide whether I want to go ahead with it or not.I’m triple negative so part of me feels like I don’t really have an option.My head’s spinning with it all at the mo,I really need to hear some positive experiences.
Lots of love,
Helen
Helen,
Don’t panic!! I know it’s hard not to when you read a lot of the side effects but taking one day at a time is the only policy… you may definately get a degree of side effects but everybody is different and the trick is to get as much info as you can so that you can deal with them IF they crop up…
I’m 12 days after my first Tax and yes I’ve had some side effects… the muscle and bone pain felt like i was coming down with a flu or bad cold (take paracetamol!). This is a doable chemo, remember that… The doctor is your best friend if you need Meds to help you get by… Not everybody has nail or hair problems…
Hope This Helps
Hugs
Fiona xx
Hi all, Helen don’t worry it’s not too bad, honest! I was terrified, really worried when I read of all the things that can happen on TAX. I had 3, with all I had mouth symptoms, sore mouth and tongue and yukky taste which lasted about 12 days. Aches and pains were controlled with paracetamol, and fatigue too. On my last one it wasn’t as bad, but still feel achey 3 weeks after, and have had swollen ankles on and off. But it hasn’t stopped me doing things as normal, it really is do-able and some people get more SE’s than others, or the severity of the SE’s varies for different people. My nails haven’t dropped off yet, but I guess they might. And my hair started growing back after last FEC and before I started TAX. Eyelids and eyebrows did thin on TAX, not a problem though. Do post and let us know how you get on, and Fiona’s right, your onc can give you meds to help with any SE you may get. Lots of luck, and hope everyone else is doing good and enjoying lovely weather - Melissa hope it goes okay for you. love and hugs Pat x
Good Morning, I have decided to take the bull by the horns and will be going to the hairdressers this morning. My hair has come out so much that I hate looking at it, but there is enough left to make putting my wig on tricky with bits poking out at the back and wearing it in the current heat unbearable. Also given how much came out during the last treatment I really can’t face the clean up again! Not sure how far i’ll go, but probably looking at a low grading if not everything. Depends on how brave we are both feeling (both myself and the hairdresser!). I am going to the hairdresser I have used for the last eight years so will feel confident in her judgement, still will feel strange exposing my head in public! Hope we all have a good day. Snoogle x
Hi Helen, Listen I was in the exact same position as you and sobbed when in with Onc begging him to let me stay on FEC and not have TAX as I was so terrified about what I’d read, but he insisted and I went ahead with 3 TAX. For me, I prefered it to FEC!!! Honestly it wasn’t that bad. I had my last TAX 4 weeks ago and the last one was by far the easiest, didn’t even feel like I’d had it (could have been placebo by the fact I had no side effects!!!) Ulcers for a couple of days but get those when I’m a bit down anyway! Thus is really doable, honestly and before you know it’ll all be over and you be onto next phase, which for me now is pretty scarey to! Start Rads next week which not worried about really but terrified about starting Tamoxifen on Monday!
Good Luck
Jo X
Hey Snoogle
I know this hair loss bit is very hard, I’ve always been so proud of my shiny strong hair, but don’t forget you really can get good wigs now, if you can get to a branch of Trendco I can highly recommend them, if you go before you lose your hair they can base your look on your own hair. I can also HIGHLY recommend the service set up by Trevor Sorbie,
mynewhair.org. They have stylists who have been trained by Trevor to restyle your wig to suit you and make it a ‘bespoke’ item. I was lucky enough to have Trevor himself cut my wig ( he travels to some of his saloons to offer this service), he was really helpful and supportive, and didn’t charge! I don’t wear my wig at home but feel much more comfortable with it since the restyle. Spend some time pampering yourself, you deserve it!
Good Luck
Gill x
Hi Gill, Yes I have a couple of wigs. There is a fantastic company near here, looks like it is based at the bottom half of someone’s house. I went for a consultation a few weeks ago. They had hundreds of wigs and I must admit to trying on quite a few. They also gave advice and offer ongoing support. I could have gone there to have my hair cut, but felt more confident going to my usual stylist. I had previously advised her what was happening and she was prepared when she saw I had made an appointment and initially we talked at the back of the salon. The other stylists were all impressed with the wig and how realistic it looked. I could have had my hair cut out the back of the salon but decided to be brave and sit in the main area. I have to face this thing head on! Anyway I now have a very short cut, it feels good and looks good enough that I am not even wearing my buff at home. My daughter likes me wearing my wig to do the school run so that I look ‘normal’ and in her own words “people who I don’t want to ask me questions won’t ask me questions I don’t want to answer”. Gotta support her with that! Best wishes to all. Snoogle x
Hi Everyone,
good to see we are all hanging on in there. Week on from Tax 1, felt great yesterday but overdid it and suffering today but at least I had a good day and you take what you can when you can.
Re wigs…got used to wearing mine outside the house quite early on but resort to the buffs inside. I know what you mean snoggle about the kids wanting to you to wear it on the school run. I think they just want things to be as normal as poss in the outside world. Going back for another next week and going to go for something completely different, but wont be able to wear it round their school friends as it will provoke those questions they don’t want to answer.
Helen…yes Tax is not pleasant but you really dont know how you will be. The encouragement has it be that it is worth it. I went for another MRI yesterday and the Professor came out buzzing. She showed my the images (not that it meant anything to me) but my lump has shrunk from 3.9cm in Jan to 15mm!!!. That’s the chemo doing its stuff, so just remember it might feel as if it is hurting you but is it hurting the cancer even more.
She also said that is is really normal to be wiped out by Tax but each dose is not just fighting the cancer they know you have but is fighting anything they dont know about and “is in your long term best interests”. I am only 45, have two kids, a fantastic hubby and family and I owe it to them as much as myself to do the best I can.
There was a report out today aswell which said that breast cancer survival rates are the highest they have every been despite the fact that more women are getting BC. Down to early diagnosis and treatment, so it is probably important that we all put it in context, a bit of short term discomfort in order to have a bright future.
This thread is great as everyone is really postive. We are allowed to feel sorry for yourselves occasionally but knowing you are not alone really helps.
Thanks everyone.
Julie
Hi all,
I had first tax on tues so day 3 - i am having 5 gcsf injections too, started yesterday. So far only se is heartburn. Feel quite tired today but cant decide whether its warm weather tiredness or chemo fatigue. Just feel generally lazy. I have just taken dog for walk which took all my energy and now looking at wreck that is my house.
Oh well, sofa beckons. I am eating a del monte pineapple lolly which tastes quite nice and contemplating what to eat later.
I agree about good news re survival rates. Taxotere in itself is probably making a big difference as i think it really has only been in gen use here since around 2007. So whilst the se’s are not always pleasant, i raise a glass of anything to it…
All the best
Linda
Hi Julie, I know what you mean about looking normal for the kids, I got in trouble with one of my 10 yr old twins soon after surgery, ( i had bi lateral mastectomy in Dec) I washed my comfie falsies and left one pair on our arga type stove to dry, I was asked not to leave my pretend bobbies out where everyone could see them in case someone came round! Fair point!
Kids visiting the house have gotten used to my bald look now but a do cover up to go out. Bloke who delivered some flowers yesterday didn’t know where to look! I kinda like watchin em squirm!
Gill
Just a quick question. Has anyone had problems with the regularity of their periods whilst on Taxotere? Sorry its a bit personal, but worrying myself a bit. Thanks. Snoogle x
Hi Snoogle
I haven’t had Tax but on FEC my periods stopped after one cycle, the BCC info sheet on Tax says it may have an effect on the regularity of your periods breastcancercare.org.uk/server/show/nav.713/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/115
Hope this helps
Fiona
Hi all,
Really understand what you mean by sludge gob now. /My tongue looks disgusting and my mouth feels too small for my head. I have made an appointment at beautician for black nail varnish pedicure today which might perk me up. I dont feel as bad sickly as with FEC but just so tired. I dont think i am going to be able to eat much either with sore mouth, no ulcers just general soreness. Still as many have said at moment still beating FEC for se’s.
All the best
Linda