i have asked this before but i couldnt get any answers ,because i couldnt find where it had gone, so iam giving it another try, i am due to have my last tax on Mon 22 dec. i have been so depressed during the days after until the next one ,and finding i am so out of puff. Is anyone finding this? Driving myself mad with worry. Marysiax
Dont Worry! It all sounds normal. I finished taxotere on 16/11 and became very depressed towards the end. Also I was breathless & tired. The tiredness now is better except when walking up an incline or stairs. But I push myself! I had a whole mass of symptoms of taxotere and unlike the sickness with FEC there were no tablets or treatments for it. Taxotere is very hard. FEC I found easy.
Yes - don’t worry - I had the same. I usually go for a good fast walk every day but while I was on Taxotere it was difficult to walk at all - even slowly - and I also became breathless. I got depressed as well.
Well done for getting through all the others and good luck with your last one on Monday.
Take care
Anthi x
Thank you so much for your help, it is very tough at times, i am so grateful for your comments it really helps, sometimes you feel very isolated, thank you again love Marysiax
Oh Bleedin Heck
I am about to start Taxotere on 28th for lung mets. Was not looking forward to it anyway, but even less now. Have read all different stories about some found it easier and some harder. It does worry me that AC chemo for primary was just over 12 months ago so god knows how my body is going to react.
Hugs to all
S
xxx
Oh Sparkler - don’t lose hope! I’ve jist gone through 4 EC and 4 Tax - and I’m there: had my LAST tax yesterday!!! (and some lovely bubbly last night to celebrate!)
Yes, I am another one who found tax more of a challenge - but I’m here to tell the tale, and as everyone always says, everyone is different.
My survival kit for Tax was E45 / acqueous cream to smear onto red feet, dark nail polish to help protect nails against sensitivity to light, lots of handcream for dry hands, especially fingertips, Difflam mouth wash for sore mouth (and carmex lib balm for lips at the same time), crunchie bars when I couldn’t fancy anything else to eat (not healthy I know, but what the heck), Manuka honey to boost immune system and help with sore mouth, tissues for runny eyes and nose, and lots of rests if trying to walk uphill or upstairs.
Best wishes,
julie
x
Julie
It sounds horrendous. I did feel pretty cr*p on AC, but on the grand scheme of things I think (know) I got away quite lightly. It bothers me that I am coming from a totally different angle this time round. I.E. - I was ‘well’ when first dx - and had been fit - this time - since July 07 I have had chemo, rads, 2 lots of major surgery, lost my mum and this time - this is not going for ‘cure’ - just control. I hope I find the strenght to get through this - I know many others before have.
Thanks for your reply and congratulations on finishing your chemo.
Take care and thanks for survival tips
Love
S
xx
Hi Julie
Thanks for the Tax tips. I have just had my second tax and was beginning to worry about my hands and feet. I have painted my nails in a very dark colour but am finding that they feel very tender, despite everything my nails seem to be growing much quicker than normal. Later on today I think I will cut them back really short again to try and protect them. Also the skin around my nails is beginning to crack a bit so I will try a really thick hand cream to soften hem up a bit.
Never thought of Crunchie bars but like the sound of that answer!
Thanks LOL
Andie xx
The breathlessness on tax was one of the worst bits I would be gasping for breath after a few steps to the loo but the good news is that it improves quickly after chemo.I wouldnt worry it is as so many things seem to be according to my oncologist,‘a recognised side effect of taxotere’.
Hi Horace did you mean when chemo finishes altogether. because iam due for my 4th on monday and hopefully then finished
I had been wondering about he breathlessnes - thanks
I hope to have my last one on 5th Jan
gill
There can be a number of reasons why we get breathless. I’m on Xeloda but have found in the last 3 months that I have become breathless and it’s down to my haemoglobin being low so I had a blood transfusion this week and it seems to be sorting it out.
I am on an advisory group in my area for breathlessness for people who have cancer and there’s beginning to be a lot of research into it. Interestingly using a hand held fan or being near an open window (difficult sometimes at this time of the year!) are also known to work. I went to a seminar last week on it and one of the Professors from Manchester is looking into speech therapy which is quite interesting.
Hi Anthie im due my 3rd on monday , i feel worse than i have ever felt does this mean at least 3 weeks and more before i feel anymore does the breathlessness get easier or worse after the 3rd because its comulative does that mean i will fell worse. i dread Christmas .Marysia xx
Just bringing this back to the top for a friend who has just started Tax.
Hi
I’ve just had my second cycle of taxotere and I have noticed that when I walk our dog (who is a very lively 6 month old boxer/springer cross puppy) I am getting out of breath before I get to the first doggy pooh bin, which is not like me, so its quite re-assuring to know that I am not the only one experiencing this.
I also washed my hair this morning and most of it ended up clogging up the plughole. My husband had to go into town and buy me a couple of beanies as an interim measure over Christmas - where’s the best place for an emergency rug! I didn’t expect this as I had been using the cold caps, and they had worked quite well when I had FEC 5 years ago. I agree with the comments that Tax is much harder going than FEC, I just hope its more effective too. I too am keen to know if the effects are cummulative although I suspect I won’t like the answer so please someone enlighten us.
Regards
Linda
Sorry not to reply sooner I have been away for the weekrnd.Yes I meant it improves permanently when all chemo is done.I found some improvement between cycles but it was a bit of a worry till about 6 weeks post final tax.Vx