Docetaxel help please!!

Going through breast cancer treatment Chemotherapy
581

Hi Nymeria,

With regards to your missing nails, I would maybe go to a repitable nail bar and ask for their advice, you may be able to get false nails that can be applied without causing any problems with the growth of your own nails,

I would be careful though not to cause any more damage, or infection, and wonder whether you may be better just trying to put up with it whilst your new nails grow back,

sorry I carnt be of any more help to you, maybe someone else will be able to give you a bit of information from their own experiences,

best wishes, liz xxx

582

Hi Liz,

Thanks for the suggestion. We have a very good nail bar in town (amazing when you consider we are in the middle of nowhere! :D) so I might pop in and ask them. It’s all going to look so unsightly as I’m going to lose at least 3 off each hand. It’s shame that if this was going to happen, it couldn’t have been while the weather was cool as at least I could have worn gloves then!

Nymeria x

583

Nymeria. Me too starting to feel better and tax parting gift is horrendous peeling of my feet and nails that look like I smoke 80 cigarettes a day - they look horrid. I’ve painted them, but I think they will drop off soon.

Hair gone, nails falling off, weight gain, peeling feet in my sandles - I’m looking lovely!

Rachel :frowning:

584

i am 2 weeks after last tax and am just starting to feel normal. Still feel exhausted, feeet peeling really bad and face dry, taste starting to come back. Main concern is vein in chemo arm, have had phlebitis since cycle three and still having herceptin. Any tips for improving circulation in arm to make treatment easier.

585

Hi all,

Rachel - it sucks doesn’t it? Just when you think the worst is over TAX throws in a couple of goodbye presents! :frowning:

I haven’t got peeling feet but my hands look pretty revolting even with applying a lot of intensive hand cream at every opportunity. I have a family event to go to at the weekend and I think I’d better break out the nail polish for that! I have a more formal occasion to go to the following week and a friend suggested a pair of pretty lace gloves which is a great idea if I can find some.

dixons - my BCN recommended gentle massaging with a lot of moisturiser 2/3 times a day with an action going up towards the heart. This has helped a lot with all the swelling I got from the huge number of cannulations I had whilst in hospital. It’s only been a week and it’s made a huge difference to my circulation, so it might be worth trying.

586

Hello Ladies, Had my first tax on Monday, so far things not too bad, today first day without steroids and do feel a bit shakey and kind of hungover, a bit spaced out. Been sleeping a lot over past few days despite them saying steroids would probably keep me awake and meake me a bit hyper. Having real problems with digestion though, taking 80mg omeprazole daily as well as gaviscon for bad indigestion and sometimes it’s still bad, anyone else experienced this?
Was reading the posts of some of you who have just finished tax, and what you have experienced, was wondering if se’s build up over time or if it generally stays the same as after first one?

Hope you are all doing well today and the weather is nice where you are, it’s beautiful here so going to try to get out for a walk and get some fresh air.

Pumpkin x

587

Hi Pumpkin,have just had 2rnd dose of docataxol,and its killing me! had 3 fec and then have 3 of these,am like a dying duck for a week,had thrush and then an allergic reaction to the anti fungal so ended up in hospital for 5 days!now have peeling hands/feet/disgusting toenails/looks like they are coming off/got thrush 2rnd time around,no taste oh dear things can only get better!!! have lost almost a stone in weight,but thankfully only 1 more to go.you take care xxxx

588

Hi all i am experiencing all these syptoms,am redused to shuffling around the house not wanting to go out,am on my 2rnd after 3 fec! wow it certainly lets you know its doing its job,hve had a 5 day spel in hospital and mouthful of thrush again lost almost a stone in weight in less than 5 weeks!!!looking forard to the wedding tom xxxxx

589

hi everyone,
Pumpkin, I have had4 FEC and3 tax so far, have to say Im afraid that the 2nd tax was the worse for me, I had terrible pains in my finger tips, couldnt do buttons up etc, and feet very sore. They delayed my chemo by a week and I had a reduced dose by 20%. The last chemo side effects not been as bad luckily, still get tired and cant walk very far without feeling puffed out! I have found walking even 10 mins a day has really helped, fresh air does wonders I think.
My feet are peeling badly too, not attractive looking in my sandals! Still, it will all pass and get better. Hugs to everyone having tax this week, must admit Im looking forward to having my last tax next Thursday. Ness xxxx

590

Hi, really struggling today with stomache pain, had omeprazole, rinitidine and gaviscone and still sore, anyone tried anything more effective for this? Also drinking lots of water but don’t seem to be peeing much, not like me at all, think i’m retaining water big time, feel really bloated!! Anyone had this? or can suggest anything to combat it?

Pumpkin x

591

hang on in there those of you who have just started TAX or are still going through it.

i am 2 weeks post last TAX - still no taste and I ache a lot but I want to say to you “you will do it!!”

i did find the first of my four TAX the worst for side effects- i think that the next times having at least half asn idea what was going to hit me did help a bit.

digestive system was taken off me for a week each time (constipation followed by the other) and my mouth was very very sore for about a week but, each time the side effects were less intense or perhaps it was me learning how to mange them, not sure

just saw your post pumpkin - yes i had a bit of flui retention in my legs but it went away itself after a bit

hope that is a bit reassuring for you

claire

592

A follow up regarding nail loss.

Yesterday I spoke to both my local nail bar and a manicurist at a local spa and both of them said that there was absolutely no way they would offer gel nails or false nails to anyone whose nails were either coming away from the nail bed or had already fallen off. This is because there is a high risk of infection starting underneath. Something that we’d want to avoid at all costs, so what looked like a fab idea is not going to work out.

I wish someone at the chemo unit had warned me about this when I started treatment, especially as both doxyrubicin and docetaxel are apparently well known for seeing off your nails. Doing a bit of surfing today has made me realise that there are quite a few things I could have done to help reduce the damage if I’d known in advance. It’s so annoying that this has happened after my treatment has stopped - I thought I’d got away with just skin problems.

Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to grin and bear it! :slight_smile:

I’m going to look for some pretty gloves to wear when I go out to minimise the impact of how my hands look - they’re pretty hideous now.

Nymeria x

593

Hi Nymeria,

sorry to hear that gel nails etc are out of the question,

good idea to get some gloves though, get some pretty lace ones, there are some really beautiful ones around,

all the very best to you, i had my last tax of 6 today, so i am feeling quite mixed emotions at the moment, a lot of relief though just waiting now for the side effects,

good luck with the glove hunting liz xxx

594

nymeria - hope you find those pretty gloves

elizabethtracey - glad you finished - yes real mix of emotions - u want to feel “good” about having the last one but knowing you have the side effects to come is pretty weird and prevents you feeling real relief.

hope everyone is ok

claire x

595

Hi All, Havn’t posted for a few days as I have been totaly flattened, now I understand what you all mean when you talk about being hit by the tax truck!! First couple of days I thought Hm maybe this won’t be too bad for me, WRONG!! Day four after stopping steroids the tax fairy showed up with my lovely basket of SE’s. The worst being digestive problems, ( i’m thinking maybe they confused the chemo with battery acid!) Chronic indigestion, bloating, constipation. Fri and Sat felt like every nerve end, muscle and joint
belonged to a ninety year old!! Hardly been able to eat or sleep for past 4 days. Bring back FEC, all is forgiven. Feeling slightly more human today, thank God.

Anyway, sorry for moaning but I know you’ve all been there and understand what it’s like. It’s hard trying to explain how you feel to others who have never experienced this.

Do any of you know anything about alloe vera juice? I’ve heard it can be really good for digestive problems during chemo, I’m sure I read somewhere others have used it but can’t find it now. Just wanted to know if it’s ok to take, I know if I ask my Onc she’ll say no, she doesn’t like herbal stuff, she prefers to pump me full of pharmaceuticals!! but they are not the ones having to tolerate this.
So if anyone knows anything about this that would be great.

I’m so glad a lot of you are finished your last chemo, you’ll have to forgive me as I can’t remember individual names while writing this as my brain feels like cotton wool. I hope you are all doing well, and those of you who, like me are still going through it , please keep posting. I’m so grteful for this forum and being able to talk to you all.

Pumpkin

596

hi all

pumpkin - hang on in there - the side effects do hit hard but they will subside honest.

i think my sebse of taste may be coming back -almost three weeks post last TAX - i do hope so

still ache all over though - any thoughts when the aches and pains go post chemo?

happy day to you all

claire

597

Hi Pumpkin

I have just started TAX as well and bracing myself for the SEs. My sore fingers are starting to worry me, does it mean my nails are going to fall off? I have painted them a dark colour as suggested on another thread (deep purple varnish normally used on toes!) and so I feel a bit of a diva which definately does not match the bald chemo look on top!

I suffered from digestive problems for years (until I finally found out it was gluten) and took aloe vera juice to help, also slippery elm springs to mind. The usual advice is to check with your Onc before taking anything but I understand if you do not feel able to do this. My Onc was so rude following a perfectly reasonable question about diary v soya that we have asked to see someone else so that we can discuss rationally the possible benefits of taking IP6.

Many of the ladies who post regularly are very knowledgable about this stuff and I am sure they will be able to give you some pointers.

Take care
DaisyGirl

598

Hi ladies,

i have just finished tax 6 of 6, thank god,

the ses have been really hard on me, but not as bad as some ladies have suffered, i dont think,

you have to take each day as it comes, it is very up and down, i have been completely knocked off my feet each time, and had to give in to it, it is the only way, dont fight it, go with what your body says,

it does get better,

once completed, i believe it takes a while to feel better, because of the accumulative effect of the poison,

aloe vera is good for a multitude of things and i too have read posts on here about it being soothing particularly if your mouth gives you trouble, i have had thrush,ulcers and a very sore mouth each time.

its a vile drug, but is the best there is at the moment, so hang in there ladies, and keep thinking if its making you feel like this whats it doing to the cancer cells,

about the nails, keep them painted dark, and short but not too short, it really helped with mine and as yet they havent fallen off.

love and best wishes to everyone liz xxxx

599

Hi Liz

Good news about the nails, I know this sounds daft but it is the thing I dread the most about TAX, all the other stuff you can hide from the outside world but like loosing your hair it draws attention to yourself when out and about and you can’t pretend everything is OK.

Here’s to you feeling on top of the world again!

DaisyGirl

600

Hi all, day six post tax 1 and feeling much better to day, up and about and even managed to get out my jammies. Still a bit giddy and glands and mouth still quite sore, still real problems with digestive system, have lost 5lbs in last six days, which normally I would be happy about but find quite worrying as I always struggle to lose weight.
Took a diazapam last night and managed to get a reasonable sleep, what a difference that makes to how you feel, lack of sleep seems to make everything else much more difficult to cope with don’t you think?

Daisy girl was wondering how you are coping with the SE’s? I think you and I are just starting our tax journey, was that your first too?

Hope you are are all well today and enjoying the bank holiday.

Pumpkin x