I forgot I had read about your incredible way of life - very jealous, it sounds idyllic!
I guess every one is different regards to how their bodies react to diet. But I actually had no salt in my diet, except for a few pitta breads, (loads of salt hidden in everything), juiced most days too.
My mum was also staying with me for my last 2 tax and did all of the cooking and shopping, so it made it easy to eat so well when otherwise I would probably have been too tired.
Like the other posters on here I just want to send a big hug and empathise with you. I had a reasonable time with EC and my experience with the first Tax really caught me out and like you presented with similar SE’s. My approach to chemo has been hope for the best and prepare for the worst and this has certainly be challenged. I had my 2nd tax 0n 30/12 and am heading for 3rd one tomorrow and based on my initial reaction this last time has been slightly better. The other posters have I think presented some useful tips which I have done and at the risk of repeating just want to endorse what appears to have helped me.
* Fluid intake - I try to have 3-4 litres pre & post chemo - hydrates and helps get rid of toxic effects
* Mouth care - I developed thrush ( also under my unaffected arm ) GP prescribed Fluconazole capsules, Nystatin and Daktacort cream - I also have used Biotene toothpaste, mouth wash and dry mouth lotion which I think has helped ( available larger Boots Branch - not cheap but they have three for two offer)
My ONC unit provides frozen gloves & foot and peripheral neurpathy effects has been very minimal - I had read on the macmillan website about sucking ice 20 mins prior to drug starting and them continue during the admin which I did and the above measures didnot stop mouth issues altogether - but it wasn’t as bad
* Gut symptoms I have had omerperazole - the swelling is awful, but I have found it settled.
I have used manuka honey daily through my chemo and touch wood have been ok white cell wise.
Other ladies who are attending the ONC unit at the same time as me and have had a ropey time and have been changed to weekly palaxietal ( not sure this is right spelling!) and whilst your experience with the oncs is less than favourable - maybe this is something to consider and force the discussion.
To all my fellow taxers and especially LiF love& group hugs - previous forums around this subject show there is light at the end of this particular dark tunnel- and we will get there
Can only support what the others have said; yes it’s tough and horrible and wish that you could have been warned about how nasty it is. I finished Tues before Christmas so pretty recent too. Suffering now with my nails, lost one on Sat and fingers/toes numb too. Hated it and wish you all the very best, but you will get through.
Just think: If it’s doing this to you, what it’s doing to those bl**dy nasty BC cells! Got me through - and the support on here too of course…
I also did the sucking ice thing during chemo - can’t really tell if it made a difference. But I also kept my fingertips in a bowl of ice, and I think that did help - I haven’t had any of the nail problems other than a little soreness that went very quickly and some hardly noticeable ridges.
Thanks to all posters - lots of really useful advice. The Fuconazole is helping my thrush but the stomach is still a problem so daren’t take my Bondronat for bone mets as that’s so powerful but don’t like not taking it… might head to doctor to get some of the stomach drugs that some of you have mentioned to see if that settles things.
I was talking to my Reiki therapist the other day and she works at a local hospice - she said she knew of a local oncologist who’d trialed using a tea tree mouthwash to prevent ulcers and had enormous success with it. I’m finding this soothing (just a couple of drops of oil in warm water; DON’T SWALLOW ANY OF IT) and hoping it continues to work as I just have the coated tongue and crappy taste buds at the moment.
Angela - a hospital that that provides the frozen gloves and slippers; you are soooo lucky. It makes me determined to continue with my frozen peas.
Cherish yourselves everyone - this blue sky weather is helping me cope so let’s hope it continues for a while longer so we can get lots of vit D to complement our efforts with healthy eating - and hope you’ve got the sun shining near you.
Fran
Wicked francis…I am going to try mixing some tee tree mouthwash with some aloe vera juice…
I have never had the coated mouth mine is just v pink and sore. Will add anyone having stomach probs the omaprezole is very good! My oh has had reflux probs for sometime and has recetly been dx with a hiatus hernia so is on it too…marverlous stuff!
Just wondering if post Tax anyone has had a tingley feeling across their whole head? It’s not pain but a weird sort of heavy, tingley sensation and I think it came on post steroids and first Tax two weeks ago and has not gone yet. Think I might go to GP or hospital about it as, needless to say I’m worried it might be the cancer moving one… But just wondering if it’s a “normal” side-effect since you all gave me such rasssuring and good advice on the thrush/ringworm issue and that’s now resolved itself (hurray!) Hope others are feeling better too.
Hi fran
I have the exact same tingly feeling across head and through whole body, apparently common side effect of Tax. I have also had a strange feeling on my tongue which came after each dose and takes ages to get back to normal.
Maggie x
Thanks for such quick reply!! Will get on with life now since when I’m busy I’m not aware of scalp (it’s just when I’m resting and trying to sleep that it really bothers me) My tongue is back to normal now nearly 2 weeks post-first ~Tax so will make the most of eating for the next week too.
thanks again for your info - and hope you have a “goodish” week that seems to be the best to expect when on Tax…
Fran
x
i keep getting what i call pingy aches it pings up somewhere aches for a few seconds and then moves somewhere else. Thats about the best i can explain it. There seems to be a bit of a headache of some sort most of the time. I think my bloods are really low as my nose is running and thats a classic for me, also sort throat that isnt sore if you get me.
Ive slept for 3 days looking forward to being awake today.
Tingly bits all over seems to be normal! Also if you get any taste at all back after tax 1 make the most of it as I am halfway between tax 2 and 3 and to be honest cannot taste anything!..I can smell what it should taste like but when put in mouth everything tastes really weird! Cannot even have a beer as even beer does not taste like beer!
The running nose is classic and i have developed small cracks at corners of mouth that will not heal and have been there for 3 weeks…oh the joys of tax…not
im using diprobase to keep my skin in good condition the corner of my eyes get sore but the dip really helps and the edges of my fingers split. I donthave to many side effects as yet and im about a week in.
Yep very drippy nose already - hope it doesn’t get any worse as doses mount up. And yep lots of lipsill going on lips so will now be prepared for that being a long term issue too. Feet becoming sensitive if I walk/stand up too much so guess that will guess worse?
On a positive, I’m now off Arimidex as that was not “holding things” well enough and my joints are working well again - can put on my own socks!! Such simple things in life become so significant with BC , don’t they… Side-effects are such an issue…
Thanks for sharing - it’s very reassuring and helps we avoid pestering overworked nurse at the hospital between appts with doctor.
Aha! So it’s not just me with the runny nose, then? My left nostril has a permanent fissure at the entrance - looks absolutely hideous! And I’ve developed a ridged nail on my thumb and nails that are really thick! I didn’t know any of these things were attributable to Docetaxol. Thanks everyone for enlightening me! I’ve only got one more out of a set of six to go now, so the light is at the end of the tunnel. Best of luck and lots of hugs to anybody going through this treatment at the moment.
Ladies I think the drippy nose can often be because you lose your nose hairs, so there’s nothing to trap the drips - sorry if that’s tmi. I had the nose drip all the way through chemo, but it definitely wasn’t a cold. finty x
I had tax in early 2007 and had all the se’s mentioned and was hospitalised with neutropenia despite having a Neulasta jab after every chemo.To those of you who exercise/walk during chemo…respect!!I could barely stagger from bed/couch to bathroom without gasping for breath.I couldnt walk more than 100 yards until well after rads finished-about 6 weeks post chemo.Still no eyebrows and still got peripheral neuropathy in fingers and toes however I am still ned 4.3 yrs post dx…
Hi, I agree with you Horace much respect to those who exercise through chemo I was the same as you I couldn’t walk from one room to another without having to sit and get my breath back,I remember crawling up the stairs no my hands and knees lol,can laugh about it now but at the time I just wanted give up.I still have peripheral neuropathy,mainly my toes and my eyebrows have only just come back(nearly three years after last tax) but are a bit hit and miss.
Reading some of these posts brought it all back and I just want to send my best wishes to you all :).TAX is horrible.
I also had the runny scabby(sorry)nose,it seemed to go on for ages and was really annoying.