Change in regime due to non-response?

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Hi Girls

I’ve had two cycles of FEC but my tumor is still getting larger, so it appears not to be working working, so I’m going straight to Taxotere

Has anyone else had this?

I was due for my third FEC today, but when I talked to my onc about the fact that my lump seems to be getting bigger again (had stayed static), she’s changed my treatment to have Taxotere straight away

To be honest, it’s rocked my confidence a little, and I need positive stories, and Taxotere coping tips

Thanks, Rebecca

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Hi all

I have posted this on behalf of Terry

Regards

Louise
Facilitator

My wife had taxotere for 11 sessions. Tiredness was the main problem. The anti sickness drugs were very good and she could eat normally pretty well straight away.

Getting rid of the mouth taste was difficult but cold fruit seemed to work. Her nails did get damaged but she never got the hand/foot syndrome.

She came off Taxotere as it was doing too much damage but I have not heard of anyone else having 11 sessions. She went from Tax to hormone treatment but her liver cancer grew again, so no she is on FEC and finding that much harder than the TAX.

Hope that helps a bit.

Terry

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Paint your nails,finger and toe with dark polish.Suck ice cubes or lollies during chemo[I took them in a flask].Have supplies of fizzy water,roses lime cordial and fresh pineapple.Rest,rest ,rest.Take pain killers at first sign of aches,I’d combine ibuprofen and paracetamol.Use a soft toothbrush.Dont panic if you feel weak and very breathless.This is fairly standard and passes after treatment ends.Do keep a close eye on your temp and ring chemo unit if it goes over 37.5.These are all tips which helped me cope with taxotere.It is doable honestly and you are not usually sick on it.Love Valx

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Hi Rebecca

I’m sorry this is going to be short as I’m wizzing off to do the school run. I had 3 x AC which initially shrank the tumours but then stopped. I then switched to Taxotere and it shrank the 4 x 4 cm tumour to nothing.

Big hug Becks xxxx

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One of my friends had no response to FEC but did with taxol - a really good response.
I had FEC x 6 which seemed to shrink the lump but then waited 4 weeks to have mastectomy and found the lumo was then the same size as on original diagnosis so think it is best to have taxotere.
Kate

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Hi all

I have posted this on behalf of new user Joy.

Regards.

Louise
Facilitator

I had taxotere for 6 sessions. The side effect I suffered from was water retention, which got progressively worse. I was becoming increasingly breathless until I couldn’t do much without having to rest. I then was taken off the chemo and had a pleural effusion (lungs drained) which cured the breathlessness straight away. The taxotere did help with the cancer. It improved secondaries in lung and bone and liver secondaries remained the same. So all in all it was worth taking.

JOY

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hi mum2two, my sister was the same as you and had no change in her lump after 2 AC, so the oncologist changed her to taxotere which did shrink her tumor. hope this helps and good luck.
claire

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4 x FEC was not as effective as onc would have liked in my case. Tax worked so well he increased cycles from 4 to 6.
Good Luck

Jackie x