hi little h - I’ve had my last tax now but had bad tummy probs with all 3 cycles - diarrhoea/bloating/cramps - you know, all the fun stuff!! I think its part n parcel with the tax for a lot of people - nausea was a lot better and not really there - mine seemed to kick in at about day 5 or so…mary x
Hi Girls,
Well a week down the line with FEC, feeling fine and yes I’d say that FEC is easier than TAX… although I am hoping someone will be able to help with the 14 hours of vomiting for the next one so please God I don’t have to do that again!!!
Yes I had bloating with TAX, no diarhoea or cramps… still got nose issues (bleeds and crusts) and this weather not helping…
Had a bit of a low a few days ago, but that was prob brought on by all the puking!! still got 2 to go and all of a sudden it felt like a mountain to climb…
I’ve calmed down about the flu… although it’s still rampant here. I’m not going out much and all chemo patients here have been put on marrow juice, I haven’t had any serious side effects with them… the district nurses are all running about like crazy!!!
My nails are doing ok, I’m still painting them. They are flakey bit the sides look ok…
Hope all you girls are doing fine and enjoying the lovely weather…
Best Wishes
Fiona xxx
Hi everyone,
off steriods now so Tax really kicking in now but taking it easy…always a lot easier when the sun is shinning.
Linda…Thanks for the prompt re neo adjuvant chemo…there is a link to the atricle on the front of this site so have been able to read it for myself. This type of treatment is the norm in my area so looks like the post code lottery comes into play here. The problem is that when you start out with all of this it is all such a shock and you tend to trust in the experts only learning as you go along what other alternatives are out there.
There is also a comment re swine flu for those who haven’t seen it. Doesn’t take us much further but at least Breast Cancer Care is trying to get the info out.
Re nails…my story is that mine seem to split from the top but there is another nail underneath. I can see the new nail growing which is rather bizarre (but like adult teeth growing underneath milk teeth) I have permanent nail varnish on as I don’t particularly want to see what my nails look like underneath. What will be will be though.
enjoy the weather whilst it lasts ladies!
Julie
Hi LIttle H,
Ditto with the bloated stomach. My weight is also yoyoing.
Snoogle
x
Well today I succumbed and now have dark purple nail varnish. Couldn’t quite go with the black, I am not a goth! At least purple covers up the bruising well!
Snoogle
x
Time for a rant!!!
Not sure if its because its my last and I just want it over, but this one is really hard. Was up all last night just pacing around wanting to punch walls but still feeling too ill/tired to do anything conmstructive like the ironing. The taste thing is just as bad as usual but I am sick of everything tasting foul and not being able to eat anything. On top of that my boiler has broken and they can’t get a new part until Tuesday so NO HOT WATER. Can always go up to my dad’s but its not quite the same as being able to have a long soak in your own bath.
Guess it is just frustration as I have come so far and just want this next week to be over. Keep telling myself that each day it gets easier but as you all know it is hard work.
Hopefully i will be sio exhausted tonight that I will sleep…if not, stuff it the ironing board is coming out.
There…feel better for that. Can’t rant like that in front of the family as its not really fair on them. Poor OH can only say “nearly there” which isn’t very helpful but what else can he say!
Hope everyone else is feeling a lot better by now.
Julie xx
Julie XX
Hi All,
Julie i have felt like that for weeks now. I have developed lymphoedema which means i cant do much. I am left handed so its really a big deal. That couplied with starting tamoxofen which i am convinced is making me retain water. Oh, and the oncologist told me i was going to lose all of my finger nails - joy!!. I have them painted dark cherry red to delay inevitable. i had expected to feel much better four weeks after last chemo but instead feel like an big old woman still.
On the ‘’‘’‘bright’‘’‘’ side, i have an appointment with lymphoedema clinic tomorrow and planning for rads on tuesday. There are signs my hair is starting to grow again, although it does look sparse on crown. ~(Really too early to tell) no sign on legs, which is blooming marvellous if it stays that way.
It does seem to be common to get a bit angry and frustrated when chemo finishes and a little apprehensive. You are not alone.
Linda
Good morning all,
Well what a weekend,i think i took taxotere for granted,that it werent gona get me an ive been bedridden now since thursday,cant eat or drink no energy,big fat tongue,no taste,awful stomach cramping,labour type aches.Had codein,paracetamol,tramadol,the works and they seem to of given me even worse acid reflux which i already take lanzaperole for.HELP,im thinking how on earth am i going to take two more of these :-(…there was me thinking i was a strong bird!!!
sorry to moan boo hooooooooooo sharon xxxxxx
How long do the problems last with the Tax? With FEC I was rough for about six days, then better for the rest of the cycle. I’m now on my first cycle of Tax, very tired and sore tum, struggling to eat anything. Can I look forward to a break in this, or is this it now until the middle of August?
snap suzanne,im on first.got fec last.had epi first.
Ive heard that eac tax gets worse oh goody lol
xx
My first round of TAC was quite fine : some body aches and mouth sores , gone allready…
I did had at least 3 liters of water daily, also i started to take 3 piils of beta glucan , 2 table spoons of grape seed extract and 1 pill of b complex with the approval pf my onco.
I know everybody is different but pls dont skip water, its essential to get rid of toxicity i think
And one thing the moment i started to feel tired or something else i fought it in my mind, i did not stay in bed or something similar, i try to go on like a regular day and mostly it was a succes…
ı hope and i pray with all my heart that all my Sisters with Tax will have minimal SE too
Blessings and Hugs from Istanbul …
Seda
Hi smallstar, seda and susanne and everyone else,
My personal experience is that it got worse each tax, but significantly more so when I started having it in combination with carboplatin. Have number 6 in just over a week!
I think that everyone reacts individually so we have similar but different side effects, if that makes sense. A definite yes on keeping the intake of water up, although I must admit I am having to take mine in mostly as squash in the days after chemo as water tastes foul. I may have said before that I have found it best just to go with the flow, rest when necessary, listen to your body. I find the tiredness remains for a couple of weeks, although does lessen. Also, would recommend you have some dark nail varnish on standby! Oh and constipation and/or diahorrea may feature!
I think i should stop now. 
Snoogle
x
Hi all,
I am afraid my experiences with tax are the same as snoogles, it did get worse with each one. I consoled myself with the fact that if its doing this to me, whats it doing to the cancer.
I found those microwave thingies similar to hot water bottles helped with aching joints. i know that seems a bit silly in this weather but my SEs made the parts that ached feel chilly too.
I am now four weeks clear of my last tax. I think although the se’s get worse, it gets easier to bear because you know what to expect and what to do (in my case take to bed with a hot water bottle or similar). I have rads next but apparently, the dr said that after the chemo i have had that will be a walk in the park. Good to hear.
Just keep looking on each one as another one less.
Linda
Hi Ladies,
I have to say that I found my last (3rd) Tax was the easiest to deal with. I was able to carry on almost as normal, didn’t spend any days in bed as with previous tax and FEC. It made me wonder if I’d had a proper dose!! but then another lady said almost the same thing, so I was just grateful. The aches def lasted longer and I still feel a bit achey nearly 3 months on. Nails have held on - just, and I have painful toes still. My hair started to grow back on Tax even though I lost eyelashes and brows which had stayed while I was on FEC. As snoogle says, we’re all individuals and our bodies react in different ways to the same treatment. It’ll soon be over - a really good feeling when it is! - and hopefully the side-effects will disipate (sp) over time. And yes Linda, in comparison, rads ARE indeed a lot easier to cope with, although tiring as it’s a daily thing, especially if you have a bit of a journey. Slap on the aqueous cream religiously and you won’t go far wrong. love and hugs Pat x
I’m feeling a little better today, managed to have some soup for tea. But this heat is sending my temp up towards the red zone, although I don’t have any flu-ey symptoms. I rang the ward last night and they said as I’m already on GSCF and anti-biotics, to wait and keep taking my temp every half-hour and see how it went. As it got cooler, my temp began to drop, so I’m hoping it will do the same again tonight.
Hello all,
This is day 11 of my 3rd Tax and I am just emerging. Taste buds are still not at their best but I can taste some food. I have a funny feeling on my fingertips, not really pain but just an annoying feeling when I press them. My nails haven’t changed colour though. Is it the start of my nails falling off ? I have one treatment to go on July 8th and I can’t wait ! The catheter will come off that same day. Then, I will have the longest shower ever… I will be done with baths for a VERY long time and I will be able to get into my favorite position to sleep again ahhhhhhhhhh.
Soniaxxxx
Hi All,
I had 4xEC and had a really bad time on it ending up in hospital with neutropenia so I was dreading the Tax but I’ve just had my 3rd one,(and was told I don’t have to have number 4,Yippee!)and it’s so different from the EC, eyebrows & lashes have gone,joint pains tend to be from day 4 onwards & I do have numbness & pins & needles in fingers & toes.
Oh,yes,and the horrible taste…but for me,compared to EC this has been easier,like it’s been said already,we all have our own experience of chemo,you just have to take it as it comes.
Sonia, I’ve yet to have my surgery (Jul 14th)so they’re keeping my PICC in but I can’t wait to have my arm back too!
All best wishes,
Little H xx
susanna - I still got a week of feeling ok once the worse had worn off and even fancied a glass of wine which tasted ok! My hair started looking like it was coming back as fur after the tax started or maybe 2nd but then my eye lashes and brows started going very thin - still a few about but looks odd - if you fancy a chat or meeting for a coffee send me a message…mary x
Hi there,
Was just going through this and get my last tax next mon - hurray - the end is nigh… I’ve not read of anyone else, but I had awful neuropathy symptoms with my first - couldn’t feel sharp stuff etc - so they reduced my 2nd dose to 75%, which is still effective, and my side effects have been much better - except the tiredness days 5-9. I found the only drink I could manage without nasty taste etc was baby tea! Very milky, very weak - so little taste and not soo hot for my sensitive teeth - also caused by the chemo I found out. Just kept me hydrated as the water tasted terrible. Mouth nearly normal - find I enjoy sweet but only get half or less of the taste of savoury stuff, even spicy, for first 2 weeks.
My hair and my eyebrows seem to be coming in slowly now, had a few days its looked like all coming out again but just seemed to thin and has stopped again thankfully. I’m hoping to have enough to get the clippers too soon to see if that helps it look thicker…
Yes, I’ve got the sensitive teeth thing, and the soles of the feet. Not too bad though - livable with. I’m beginning to feel a little less tired (day 7 today) and my tummy has settled - I actually managed breakfast this morning. If this is going to be the pattern, it’s OK - it was not knowing how long it would go on that was getting me down. Same when I started FEC - but once I knew how long I’d feel lousy for, it was easier to get through it.