Had My first Tax yesterday…was supposed to be Tuesday but Pharmacy didn’t make it up so I had to come home!! They fitted me in yesterday and it took 8hrs as had it alongside Herceptin… Had to be monitored for 6hrs, It was a very long day!! I feel fine… Heartburn and hot red face from the steroids this morning, left foot is tender underneath and a bit woozy(spaced out just after antisickness pills)!! minor really, lets hope it stays that way!!
Sorry To hear Melissa that you have been having a rough time. I’m not sure whether to eat lots of fibre in case of constipation, which I normally get with even co-codamol, And I hate with a passon!!! (who doesn’t)? or go easy with the fibre in case I end up with the runs??? oh decicions, decicions!!!
Great PP that you have finally finished Chemo… massive hurdle for you to accompilshed…
Hope all you other girls are doing fine… It will take me a while to catch up with everyone…
Second round of taxotere and herceptin today. Still 3/4 dose as Oncologist not entirely happy, bloods seemed to be okay but I am having extreme breathlessness. Anyone else experienced this on taxotere?
I had my taxotere last year - i had 4 cycles finishing in late oct (i have IBC so had 4 x ac, then 4 x taxotere then my mx and rads…)
I startered getting breathless a few days after my first taxotere and it got worse over the 4 cycles… by the end i was very breathless just going from room to another etc and would cough if i talked…
The breathlessness did improve once i finished chemo - but i found about a month ago i found that it had started to come back… at the moment it is only as bad as it was on the first chemo cycle and comes and goes, i’ve got my first check up with my onc later this month so am going to mention it to her then… I’ve had blood tests to rule out a blood clot or anemia, and a chest xray and ECG and they were okay - so at the moment we are working on the assumption it is some scarring to my lungs from the chemo…
It comes on really suddenly - not necessarily when i am doing anything - can just be sitting in a chair etc.
new to this thread as well but from the latest posts this is perhaps where I need to be now.
Story so far: Dx just before Xmas, had 4 x Fec and first dose of Tax today (another three after this). Then surgery then radiotheraphy. Looking at October to finish all that but we are getting there! My health authority like to throw the lot at you and feel reasonably reassured about that now as I have learnt they are a centre of excellence in this country and Europe and appear to give you everything they can.
The FEC has done its stuff…onc couldn’t find the lump today and as it was 3cm at the start I am quite plesed with that. Got to go for another MRI next week so they can ‘mark’ it with a wire so the surgeon knows where it was. Otherwise the onc says the surgeon won’t know what to remove. Anyone had the wire? He reasurred me it will be minor and done under a local anthesthetic so no real discomfort.
Started on the high dose of steroids yesterday…slept fine but nice to see I’m not the only one with a flushed face Fiona. What I have learnt so far is not to overdo it, take everything I can re anti sickness and that everyone is different.
Will try to catch up on the back thread so appologies at this stage for not knowing where everyone is.
Welcome Julie. Can I ask where you are being treated? Is it the Marsden? Good luck with the rest of your chemo. I had 3 x FEC and 3 x Tax, the last one of which was two weeks ago. Go onto rads in two weeks and Tamoxofin next week.
Theresa, sorry to hear about your problems with TAx, especially a year on. I have to say that I’ve had my problems on TAX, low bloods, allergic reations etc but ultimately I think I’ve been really lucky on it and it wasn’t nearly so bad as I thought it ws going to be in fact I think I prefered it to the FEC, but then I guess we’re all different.
PP and Pat, we all joined this one together and we were all terrified of the TAX, but look us now we all lived to tell the tale so I hope if anyone else is reading this and worried about starting the TAX that they will take comfort from our experiences! I’ve gotta say my 3rd and final TAX was by far the easiest one, I had hardley any side effects at all apart from a horrible mouth ulcer which lasted about 3 days, apart from that no problems, didn’t even get the allergic reaction that I got last time, which is weird!
I started tax on 3rd of April. got 5 more lots to look forward too! not! I felt lousy first 10 days but better now! Head itching like mad so sure will fall out in next few days! My syptoms have been nausea , sick abit once, but should have taken more of anti sickness tablets, will next time, metal taste in mouth , for a week! Lost appetite and did not even fancy drinking much! Also had bad frush in mouth, put on fluxadine and gave me stomach cramps! think it was that ? or injections of grathite or whatever its called. Now have heart burn bad ! Also had upset tum, just wonder what other peole have had symptom wise on this.? next one on 24th!
julie rose xx
Hi Julie,
Yes I had the guide wire and there certainly wasnt any pain, just a feeling of what I can only describe as gentle pressing. They wouldnt let me walk back to the ward after though as they didnt want me to trip so there maybe a wheelchair! Good luck Lynn x
Julie Rose - please don’t suffer with the heart burn chuck, I mentioned this to my onc (I’ve already had 4 FEC and had my first Tax yesterday - 3 more to go) and he prescribed Lansoprazole - you take one in the morning half an hour before you eat and it stops your stomach producing too much acid - they’re brilliant!
I’m just waiting for the district nurse to arrive to give me a jab of Neulasta to boost my white blood count - did you have this too and did you have the achey bones after it?
Take care everyone
Sue x
I am at the Queen’s Centre In East Yorkshire. Very new and just round the corner from home which is excellent.
Julie Rose
Can recommend Lansoprazole aswell. I was prescribed it re FEC but only had to use it a couple of times, but it definately worked.
Lynn,
thanks for the info re the wire…in as an out patient so best I drag hubby along as well. He normally comes with me for everything but often feels like a spare part. At least he will feel useful this time.
Sue,
Looks like we are at the same stage re first TAX after the FEC. Not heard anything about a Neulasta jab. Is this because your count is low? Waiting for the achey bones to kick in but taking it easy just in case.
Seems like the stomach cramps are normal. Day 2 of TAX and am suffering. Not unbearable rather just a nuisance. Does this last long? Thanks for all the tips so far. Bad taste is still there as per FEC (sweet taste rather than metal, but same effect. Everything, including water taste foul). Have learnt though that must still eat something as not to do so leaves me weak and even worse off. Not a good idea to diet at the moment
hi all , still very achy after my first tax . my overall symptoms were the diarhea , horrible taste in mouth and ulcers , and for a few days no appetite and not even wanting a drink either , which wasnt helpful with the loose bowels lol x and of course being very achy which made me restless . i have to say i havent had heartburn as much as i did on the fec and i havent lost any more hair .and thankfully no nausea or sickness . still 2 more tax to go and counting . i cant believe that i have my 2nd one next week already when still getting over the first. im hoping the 2nd one wont be so bad but we will have to wait and see
still hope you are all keeping positive and leaving the housework for the men to do lol
i have to say my hubbie has been brilliant and i know without his support i wouldnt have got through it even though ive got great family support.his a bit like my spare part and comes to all my appts , although because of my ms i cant drive but its still nice having him there with me.
anyway must go ,got to get kids in or they will try to stay out to play all nite lol
take care love n hugs
melissa
Sorry to hear you have had such a bad time. Hope you pick up a bit more before your next one.
I suffered with bad symptoms since my last post. I was doing so well till the steroids stopped. Terrible stomach pain!!! Heartburn to start with then 12hrs later I was rolling about the floor. I’m now on omeprazole, ranitadine and metoclopramide. Seems to have it all under control but I’m dreading next chemo or steroids!! I took really bad flu aches and pains, I see you suffered this as well melissa. Well I’m hoping that’s me for the side effects at the moment. Got to try drag myself out to look at wigs tomorrow.
Also everybody seems to have done FEC and then TAX. But I’m doing TAX first along with herceptin. I wonder if that changes how we react with it?
Julie - Re the Neulasta jab - from what my onc told me, this seems to be something I have to have after each Tax just to to avoid any infections which you’re more prone to on Tax. My bloods and everything else was fine so think it must be precautionary.
I too am waiting for the achey bones but fingers crossed, so far so good!
Head still bald as a coot and bottom eyelashes are upping sticks now too! Weird that my leg hair is still growing and intact tho - grrr!!
Melissa - sorry to hear you’ve had a rough time chuck, but one the postive side, and like me you sound like you have a marvellous hubby to support you. I wonder too how I would have managed without mine, although I too have fab family and friends, on a day to day basis, he really has been my rock in all this.
Hope you feel better soon and your next one is kinder to you. x
Take care everyone else - every day is a day closer to end of treatments hopefully for us all !
Sue x
Hi All, Second round treatment this week. Very achy from Neulasta, but I am getting more comfortable with my husband administering it. He’s fine about it, I am the wimp. Very tired, so won’t be a long message. Hair getting very thin now. Best wishes to all. Snoogle.
Hi girls, I agree - its so useful to know that others have been through all the ins and outs of tax - I had my last of 3 fec yesterday and due first tax in 3 wks - got the dark nail varnish ready and the loo roll! Take care everyone, mary x
Hi all, On day 10 of my last TAX and I’m pleased to report my taste is gradually improving but still am a bit achey. I now have a date for my mx 11 May so am getting nervous about that now!!
Have a good weekend everyone
pp
x
Hey all, haven’t posted for a while,
had 1st Tax 3rd April then wiped out on day five with a bit of a fainting episode and temp of 38.3. Spent morning in chemo unit but WCC count over 4 so they thought I could fight any infection I had! Felt pretty rough for rest of week but rested up and took regular Iprofren for aches and pains. Managed to get to france on following friday, yippe! spent time with friends who live there and with mates who have a holiday house there. Couldn’t have had a better break, picked up quickly once we got there, benefical effects of red wine and cheese I guess!
Had second Tax today, hoping I made enough deposits in the energy bank to get through this one smoothly.
Wish you all luck and smooth passage through your next treatments
Gill x
Hi All
I’ve never posted before though I’ve used the site loads for info. It’s been really good to read all your posts, I start my chemo sessions on Monday (20th April). The abbreviations on my prescription sheet don’t seem to match any others, mine says TC, taxotere and cyclophosphamide. I was diagnosed with high grade DCIS with 2 small invasive tumours (4mm and 7mm) in Jan last year. I had masectomy with recon in feb, no further treatment. In jan this year I was diagnosed with local and regional recurrence and following surgery for that am about to start the next phase. Feelin very nervous but would like to thank you all for the good tips and info I’ve gained from you. Will keep on reading and keep you updated how I go.
Best wishes to you all
Kirsten xx
Best of luck Kirsten. I am finding my feet with my treatment, working out when I need to rest most and work the rest of life out around that. Good morning to everyone else. Love. Snoogle x
thanks folks…reassured to see that the aches/pains and washed out feeling seems to be quite normal. Day 3 after first Tax and feel completely drained. Stomach cramps have gone thankfully but now suffering re what food to eat. Had sussed it out under FEC but Tax has a different effect and I am having to learn what tastes ok (nothing tastes good at the moment). My husband was just saying that he was quite worried out how washed out I was,so it will be good to let him know this appears to be quite common.
Looks like this is quite nasty stuff but just have to remain postive and learn to take it easy now and again.Not something most of us are used to no doubt but needs must.
Hi all, how’s everyone doing? Hi to the new ladies, you’ll find some really good info on this thread re: Tax and SE. I’m Day 17 after my last TAX, still feel quite tired and achey, taste is recovering well and hair def growing! Very much bumfluff at the mo but at least it’s on it’s way back. Eyes v sore as virtually no lashes on bottom lids, but I’m sure that’ll improve. I found I got quite bad cramps and bloating on TAX but may have been effects of Neulasta injection. Just listen to your body and rest loads when you need to. After my 2nd TAX on Day 3 or so I felt like I’d been hit by a truck, and that lasted a few days. After last TAX, it really wasn’t so bad so you just have to take each day as it comes. It’s totally doable, and we’re all here to help support each other. Wish everyone all the best, hope the sun is shining where you are! love and hugs Pat x