Hi I’ve just had my last Docetaxel this morning, 3of3 , and my previous cycle I started getting muscle weekness in my legs.
Im literally struggling to get up the stairs , and can’t seem to walk very far. My legs feel so week and stiff. Like ive over done it in the gym.
I know it’ll become more intense once I’m off the steroids.
Being a single parent of two autistic kids i realty need to find a way to manage it.
Has anyone else suffered with this and if so , whats the best way to manage the pain and build up my strength again?
Would really appreciate some help.
Thanks for reading .
I’m on weekly pax after 3 ecs and my legs are weak. I walked around M&S earlier and my legs felt soooo heavy. I’ve got 6 to go but I do worry about my legs and hopefully it won’t last long x
Hi hun
I’m on 3rd also and legs and body heavy and aching.At its worst I use oramorph and heat packs (the ones you heat in microwave).I’m still three to go.im on GCSF injections also so those days I’m worse.
Good luck we will get through it
Hi tigertot
I was on docetaxel & carboplatin for 6 cycles- April-June 1923. I too suffered muscle, ligament, pains + leg cramps. Luckily only had me to care for. Prescribed paracetamol by oncology. Daily max for the 5 weeks between neo-adjuvant chemo & surgery. Did leg exercises - stretching & gentle strength (chair stands). Managed to relieve, but full recovery as taken over 1 year. That was due to ligament & tendon (knee) issues. Plus lots of gentle walking - avoid sitting for any length. Good luck &
How old are your children? It is bad enough having breast cancer but to try and manage cancer treatment and put the needs of your children first is pretty much impossible.
I was told at a group I go to that in an airplane crash you put your mask on first and then help other people after. It’s ok to accept help, but if you don’t have any, ask your school or nurse for suggestions.
Good luck but I think you need more than luck, you need practical support.
I struggled hugely with muscle fatigue too and stairs too so can empathise. For me, what helped was keeping moving which I know can feel counter intuitive at times, but it really did worsen when I was stagnant. Bathing in magnesium salts has always helped when I’ve had aches and pains too.
@Seagulls Yes I do have support, I guess whats difficult is that when that suppoert kicks in, it totally disregulates my 14 year old daughter whos non verbal. My 21 year old son commutes to uni and has Chronic OCD along side his Aspergers. Although he copes fairly well considering, there is alot of stress involved when dealing with both at the same time.
But like you say I have to accept the help.
I just want my parenting independence back again., as no one gets my kids like I do . x
Hi @sbee Yeah I’m struggling with Docetaxel, mainly muscle weekness/fatigue, oral thrush like you wouldn’t believe but they finally gave me something for that.
I found that Docetaxel has really effected my mental health, despite doing my regular Reiki, Chakra balancing, and meditation. Which is strange.
Possibly it may be throwing me in to menopause, who knows.
I suffer with depression anyway, but didn’t find it as bad on EC. Although EC totally distroid my liver and they had to stop the 3rd cycle.
Where as now my liver is back to pre chemo health!
What worries me is I’ve heard a lot of reports that this muscle problem from Docetaxel can take up to 12 months to recover! I’m findinding that really hard to accept. Especially now I’ve finished chemo and I’m now worried about how the 10 years of hormone therapy will treat me.
Scared to look more than a week in to the future to be honest. x
Morning @tigertot - I can understand. I am meant to have one more cycle of docetaxel & dread it. I have the same challenges with depression and feel this diagnosis and the docetaxel has thrown it into a whole new level.
I had the oral thrush too - did they give you nystatin? I haven’t read about the 12month thing, hopefully not. Xx
Hi @sbee , yes they gave me Nystatin. I found it works really well. Shame they didn’t give me the correct meds for it on the first two cycles! They kept giving me Gel Clair for mouth ulcers. Which did nothing.
I’m drinking 2-3 litres of water a day , which I think has helped me from being massively poorly.
My diet is very good too. I dread to think what I’d have been like if I hadn’t. .
Tred some Epsom salts in the bath this morning, which has helped with my muscles.
Also doing light stretches every time I feel the stiffness coming on.
I dread coming off the steroids as I know thats when I start feeling rubbish. xx
Hi @tigertot - i understand, I ended up in hospital after my first dose & wasn’t prescribed nystatin until the 2nd cycle. I’ve managed the 3rd without, but it was a struggle.
My hair has started to come back, but my skin is still so very sore & my nails are coming off.
Hi thanks for posting about muscle fatigue and weakness and sorry to read about your side effects.
Had my first treatment of Paclitaxel, Carboplatin and Pembrolizumab (Immunotherapy) and ended up at a&e 4 days later because of numbness and weakness in legs, could hardly walk.
Oncologist is planning an elimination treatment for my 2nd treatment as she thinks its down to the immunotherapy however the hospital doctors thought its down to Paclitaxel.
Advised me they will have to reduce or stop the treatment causing it because of the severity.
Also prescribing some multivitamins tomo when I go for chemo.
I also had knee pains appear overnight and thighs feel heavy and achey when walking but walking is what seems to help.
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