Hello ladies, I’m another one who hasn’t posted for a while. I’ve completed 3 lots of Docetacol and am about to start my 1st of 3 FEC on Wednesday.
Unfortunately, with each cycle of Tax I’ve ended up in A&E with a high temp and been admitted to the oncology ward for a week on IV antibiotics. What a nightmare. It would seem that one of the se’s has been that the drugs have given me diverticulitis which gets inflamed and infected, hence the high temperature.
My oncologist is going to reduce my dose of FEC to try and avoid another stay in hospital but I’m worried a lower dose wont work on my lump.
Wish me luck for tomorrow, please. I am seeing my oncologist for the results of my ultrasound scan last week. Fingers crossed the bugger has shrunk as much as everyone hopes it has.
For those of you who have already had FEC, anything I should be aware of? How does it compare to Tax?
I am really keen to avoid constipation this cycle so will start using the Lacido sachets tomorrow, the day before the chemo.
Each of my Fec affected me differently. However one of the main things was that SEs were more immediate with Fec. Drink loads, starting the day before treatment. 2-3 ltrs in a day. It will make you pee pink and the game is to drink enough to get it yellow again within 24hrs (my record was 6!). Make SURE they give you enough anti emetics, my first dose had me throwing up for 48 hrs due to being under medicated. ANY problems ring your Onc unit FAST!
You’ve had a rough ride haven’t you. If it’s any reassurance I found Fec easier than Tax, and I think Fec is easier on the digestive system.
Best of luck for your scan results, I hope things get easier for you now.
Hi Flapjack, I had fec 4 years ago and although I have only had one tax so far I would say the fec was diffinately a lot easier for me, I felt a bit yucky for a few days and tired but that was about it. I know everyone is different but I have heard others say that if you find one really hard the other is more tolerable. With the Fec side effects start same day or day after, not like Tax which happens a few days later. I will say if you feel sick don’t tolerate it, ask for stronger anti sickness.
Good luck, I hope the Fec is kinder to you, keep us posted on how you get on.
Haven’t posted on this thread before, but I have just had my 1st TAX and I am struggling, here is a few of my SE’s just wondered if this is what other people have experienced as I am getting myself all worried that it is other things!!!???
My whole body aches from my fingertips to toes, sharp pains every now and then in different places, my chest feels strange inside like its raw and I seem to be abit breathless at times (which scares me) the pain I have been able to relieve slightly with ibuprofen advised bt district nurse, my mouth feels like sandpaper and sore, some of these I experienced with FEC so I am used to it to a degree but the pain thing worries me terribly and I cant get comfortable at night therefore not sleeping to well!!! Sorry for this long post but just having one of those days where I am stressing about evrything and cannot relax. I hope somebody could give me some feedback I would really appreciate it.
Hi Donna, yeah all these SEs are normal, I am having 3rd Tax tomorrow,the Se did get better as the days moved on ,I found Ibuprofen and paracetamol worked best for me with the aches and pains. The fatigue is awful and that can make you feel breathless when doing the smallest thing ! The digestive tract feels like you’ve drunk bleach it feels so raw, I found sleeping almost sitting up helped too. See if your GP will give you something to help you sleep, you can cope with most things after a good sleep.
Try not to worry too much , here’s a hug from a fellow Taxer.
Jean
Hi Donna,
I had my first Tax on 22nd April. I have found it harder than FEC, but i think i was pretty lucky with that.
Unfortunately i ended up in hospital on a drip on wednesday for 3 nights due to an infection i caught from god knows where. That wasn’t very nice, and has made me want to lock myself away in a bubble for the next session!
I have the tingly fingers and aching joints, but they are, so far, bearable. I am VERY tired, and am so thankful that i don’t have to go to work. Anyone out there who does, i think you deserve a medal!
I’ve got to say, if i hadn’t ended up in hospital, then the rest has definitely been bearable.
Let me know how you go on.
Joanne xx
Hi Donna, Yes it all sounds pretty normal unfortunately, I had my first tax on 25th april and felt ok for couple of days then i was completely floored. I know what you mean when you say about being a bit panicky that something is wrong, it’s easy to let your imagination run away with you, Having all this happen can make you feel very vulnerable. If you look back through a lot of the posts there is a lot of information there which often helps to reassure me that what is happening is “normal”. I suppose when you start a new treatment you can be hypervigilant to SE’s, maybe as it goes on we will learn to mange it a bit better and feel less vulnerable. This is a great site and if in any doubt just get on and post and someone usually gets back pretty quick with some advice or reassurance.
Worst thing for me has been digestive problems, chronic painful indigestion and loss of appetite, amongst other things, pretty sure they have given me battery acid instead of chemo.
Ther are quite a few of us who seem to be just starting out on treatment, hopefuly we can get each other through this. Keep posting.
I finished TAX four weeks ago and just wanted to say that for me the first tax was the worse and tax 2 and 3 the SEs were easier. For the pain (similar to labour pains for me with tax1) I took codeine and ibruprofen. Night times were worse, days 5 - 8. The tiredness and general miserableness lasted a few days longer. I know it doesn’t seem like it when you are going through it, but the SEs do pass and I’m feeling good now and going back to work tomorrow (inbetween daily trips to hospital for RADs!).
Good luck to all taxing … it will be over soon and you’ll be able to pass on your tips and advice to others …
yes, to echo what others have said the ses all sound “normal” for TAX and for me, the first one of my four TAX was the worst - i think after that although the side effects were similar, they were less of a shock and you learn to manage them as best as you can.
i recall days 4 -7 post TAX 1 really scaring me - i was in so much pain at night and my mouth was a mass of ulcers. i took diclophenac and got every product i could find to ease my mouth (flucoazade tablets, difflam, nystatin and gelclair)
the other thing i found with TAX was the potential for constipation. i took senna tablets from the day before TAX, drank lots and got some anusol cream in case of piles.
i did find FEC easier to handle than TAX
all the best - don’t hesitate to post for help n support - people are brill on here
Hi Donna, all your SEs sound par for the course I’m afraid. You should be able to get some perscription pain killers from your gp or Onc. Don’t suffer in silence. If they give you Codine beware it buns you up like nothing else, so get something to keep you moving too.
I had my last tax now, the first one was by far the worst for me, it got a bit easier after that. P x
As all the others say -sounds pretty par for the course. That Tax truck is a b***ger isn’t it. It will get easier as the days go by- hang in there- lots of hugs to you.
I’ve now had it confirmed that I won’t be having any more chemo as my body just cannot tolerate any more treatments. I start Tamoxifen today and will start rads on Monday. Tax really has been a cr*p ride for me, especially after the last one that left me in intensive care. The final straw was that learning how to walk with walking sticks went horribly wrong on Saturday when I fell down a flight of concrete stairs and broke 3 ribs! I am over the moon that I won’t need to go through any more chemo!
Do remember that if you are coming to this thread because you are about to start Tax, what happened to me is the exception not the norm! I have underlying health conditions that made me more susceptible to the cr**py Tax SEs.
Tax can be a hard one to get through but you can get through it!
Well, that’s it for me now - I had my last Tax yesterday and the district nurse has just been to give me my Neulasta jab so now I’ve just got to wait for the truck to hit later on tomorrow.
I really hope that the muscle weakness won’t get too much worse - I’m struggling to walk far as it is and have orderd myself a very natty walking stick with a little perch seat (it’s called a Flipstick - looks useful!) so that I can get around and rest when I need to.
Nothing else majorly nasty planned for a while now as I don’t have my rads planning date yet. I’m meeting with some forum friends ina couple of weeks and am booked on a Look Good Feel Better session which should be fun. Also going to see DD’s end of 1st year performance in a few weeks (she’s studying Musical Theatre at uni) so that will be lovely.
I hope everyone else has got some nice things planned for when it’s all over. Nymeria - so glad they’ve decided to call a halt for you. Just no more trying to turn somersaults with those sticks - it’s not a good idea!
Nymeria, what an awful time you have had lately, you must be so relieved that you don’t have to go through that anymore!! Big hugs and I hope your ribs heal quickly.
Alto, glad you tax is over too and you have some nice things planned.
Hi ladies,
Nymeria, Im sure you must be pleased no more chemo. What a time you have had of it all. I had my last chemo cancelled today saw the onc Tuesday, he said because I have been suffering with neuropathy in my fingers and having had 4 FEC and 3 TAX, enough done to shrink the tumour, lumpectomy and axillary clearance booked for 17th May, then rads after that. Boy my legs are aching like mad and I have swollen ankles, wish I could walk more than 20 metres without feeling exhausted, I need to shift this stone I have put on! Hugs to everyone having tax this week, it is cr*p thats for sure. Ness xx
nymeria - what a nightnmare - keep your chin up, as you say no more chemo is good
pumpkin - keep going
Nessp - i am 3 weeks post last tax n ache all over - i want it to stop like you do too
alto - glad you finished n enjoy the look good feel better session - i went on tuesday and really enjoyed it - i learned a lot especially how to draw eyebrows which makes a huge difference.
i think i still feeling the effects of chemo as have been really tired and achey the last few days
Hi Ladies, I know everyone is different but I was wondering in general how long it usualy is before hair starts falling out with tax?
Stomache seems to have settled down a bit today enough to actually have three small meals, thought it would never end! hope I havn’t spoken too soon on that front!
Been for a brain scan today and feel like pin cushion, took them five attempts to canulate for dye. Onc said it was just a precaution as was having some parasthesia in arm, and unlikely mets there as no other symptoms, hope they are right. Anxious time now waiting for results.
