Hi,
I’ve had three doses of FEC and this friday I should be having my taxotere. Will it be very different from what I’ve got used to? I’m so pleased to be at the half way mark but I’m a little anxious - wondering whether something different is around the corner.
Anyone else had this combo…?
Were your side effects different?
Thanks and good luck,
Tirrick
Hi Tirrick, I am on day 6 of my first tax after fec, I had the same worries and if the forums are to be believed it’s very individual some did better on fec, some on tax. I am probably more tired, had emend which is very effective for the nausea, main SE bone and muscle aches. See how we get on! Good Luck! Tinaxxx
Me too in this postion, just finished 3 FEC, mininal side effects all the expected but minor and managable even working full time! However worried about TAX heard lots about it and it seems I am walking into a new world and don’t know what to expect… My Onc has said I will lose my eyebrows, eylashes and probably my nails will be damanged and split etc - also more fatigue and more bone pain… On top of my ‘normal’ side affects ie sore mouth, sickness and general tierdness and pain due to my injections not sure how I will cope? Maybe I am just looking on the ‘black side’ and like Tina said we are all different and we all seem to experience very different SE to some degree… wouldn’t mind keeping in touch to compare notes… My Tax starts 24th June (steriods to be taken before treatment this time)… xx
Hi Ladies,
I’m interested too. Had my 2nd FEC yesterday. My first tax will be mid July, and 10 days later I’m going on holiday, so is a big worry more me. Just another part of the advenutre I suppose.
All the best to all starting tax.
Maria
Excuse me for jumping in here ladies, with probably not much useful information…Spoke to three ladies yesterday who finished their TAX in December, all three said it was not worse, just felt a lot more tired, and that they were more upset about the thought of nail loss!! only one of the three lost their nails.
The bcn asked them if they ‘were’ more tired with TAX or was it because they were half way through an extremely harrowing time? they all said ‘probably’ yes they agreed they had joint pain, but all was managable, one went to Ireland for 10 days!
Whether it works…VERY dark nail varnish has often been suggested on this site and by our bcn, something to do with the light during chemo! may be worth a try!
And now l will butt out for a couple of months, when l will also be on TAX!
Hugs
Sandra xxx
Defo try the nail varnish i did and had no problems, afterwards they went a bit discoloured but nothign major and no cracks or anything… good luck, i found it slightly easier than fec, jsut different really, first one was worse as dont know what to expect… x
Hi all
I did the dark purple nail varnish trick and it worked for me - no discolouration, just had three parallel ridges, one for each dose of Tax on each fingernail and now (just over one year on)those ridges have just finished growing out. Only my big toe nails showed a bit of yellowing, rest of toes fine.
Otherwise, as the other posters have said, there are loads of variations across individuals. I found the fatigue on Tax to be worse than on FEC, and did experience some constipation and diarrhoea (heartily recommend glycerin suppositories for the first and a fibre-free diet for the second).
Will happily share more details via PM’s if that will help anyone!
Rosie x
Wow - I can’t tell you how good it is to know you are all out there - some having got through it and others feeling a bit like me. I think alot of it is the anticipation of something new, isn’t it? You just feel like you know your Side Effects, and which gory things you can cross off the long list they’ve given you, and then you’re onto a new thing and you’ve no idea which things will hit you.
I’ve done ok with muscles, memory and ulcers so far, but now any of them could start! And the hands and feet being affected is a worry. Hey ho.
Its one of the wierdest things isn’t it, not knowing quite what you are preparing yourself for, and knowing that everyone is affected differently.
I need to decide about the cold cap for instance. I used it through Fec and I lost the hair on the top and very back of my head but the rest has still been growing, and although i look wierd without anything on its meant that when I wear a hat or scarf I look like I’ve got some! (i had it all cut from long and curly to an inch short just before I started chemo, which was a great help psychologically). My oncologist said don’t bother with Taxotere as it will def. go, but I saw a registrar yesterday who said the cold cap could still work. Confused. Its not much fun, and the idea makes me feel a bit sick so I don’t want to do it if fall out is inevitable!
whats the nail varnish thing? is it just to mask the changes or does it actually help prevent them? I’m quite a natural girl and try not to use chemicals although I have been known to wear it for parties occassionally, especially glittery gold! Its a bit of a dilemma for me to add more chemicals to my body right now, but maybe i’m being silly as theres loads of them sloshing about in there already! If it helps keep your nails normal looking its something I would consider. More info please from those of you who’ve trod this path already.
Hey, great to hear from you all. Hope you have a good sunny day.
Tx
Just one more thing - what do you mean by PM Rosie W?
thanksx
Just to jump in to say ‘pm’ means privately message.
Hi ladies,
I just had my last of 3 Tax yesterday (yippee). I did find it slightly more trying than my FEC. I was a little more tired, had more diarrhoea and my nails were a little sensitive when typing - they are also a little discoloured, but nothing that anyone else notices, I also had greater hairloss - well my eyelashes and eyebrows, but still have some of each.
I have continued to work full time throughout both though with only minimal time off for treatments and appointments. I know I have been lucky to be so well.
So good luck all you new Tax ladies. Hang in there, you are on the final stretch.
Jacqui
Have painted nails dark blue yesterday, looks odd, don’t usually wear vanish, still using paxman cc. Even though I have only got about 20% patchy hair left, paxman said its results vary individually, and it can help with regrowth. Definitely now feeling the tiredness. Have a good weekend everyone! Tina
So… had my Tax. Went ok but I had a bit of a funny reaction - only for a minute or two but I took the cold cap off as it was just one extra thing. Shame, but never mind, i only really have a quiff and bushy hair at the back!
the best thing is I don’t feel as sick as with the FEC. Each FEC i was in bed for a week just awfully nauseous and not wanting to leave the house. Today (DAY 1!) had a friend visit, sat in the garden and ate proper food! Yipeee! So good so far, but yes, very tired so it’s interesting to see that some of you have had that too.
is the nail varnish to do with covering up discolouration, or slowing/reducing it by reducing light or something?
hope you are all having a break this weekend. Sounds like you’ve all kept life on such an even keel! I’m really impressed.
tx
hi the nail varnish thing is something about blocking the light out which is what causes the nails problems. xx