Got my package of drugs, and ready for Taxotere!

Well, today I got stocked up with sleeping tablets, heartburn medication, steroids and Movicol, all ready to take on my first Taxotere on Friday!!

I didn’t ask for the first two, but doc prescribed them just in case due to the effects of the steroids. Have to say, taking 4 steroids twice a day was worrying me, as I have a disturbed sleep pattern on only 2 tabs once a day!!!

I bought the Movicol as Lactulose didn’t seem to be working quite so well on my last FEC, but I understand I’m probably more likely to have diahorrea on Tax?

I thought I was going to get my first herceptin this week, but apparently that gets given separately for the first two doses, to prepare your body and ensure they keep a close eye on side effects. So that now won’t start until 10th Feb, followed by 2nd Tax on 12th. A nice valentines gift!!

I am keeping everything crossed that I have as good a reaction to Tax as I did to FEC.
Flora xxx

Hi Flora, I had 4xfec,4xtax and didn’t find the tax too bad at all! Did get more and more tired towards the end but maybe that was an accumulation of the fec as well. Maybe I was naughty but I found I didn’t need the steriods they gave me to take at home so I saved them up and gave them back when chemo finished. By far the worst thing about my tax chemo was losing all my beautiful hair but I had no trouble with it growing back. Fingers crossed you’ll sail through like me!
Josie x

Oooh, I do hope so Josie!!! I have relatively ‘sailed’ through FEC, so I am hopeful!!

I did reduce my steroid dose on the FEC as just didn’t need that many, so it is encouraging to see you did the same through Taxotere. I won’t for this first time, but will see how I get on…! They just sound very stern when they tell me that they won’t give me the Taxotere if I haven’t taken the steroids first!

Hi Flora29

I relatively sailed through FEC but had a really hard time on tax. You of course might sail through tax as well, I really hope you do. I am responding because of your mention of digestive problems.

I used Movicol on FEC then immediately after Tax had diaorrhea so badly that I could not keep it in and it came out as I stood up. This didn’t last long and I was soon back to needing the Movicol, even had to go to A&E one time as I was bleeding from my bottom so much due to hard poo. (Sorry if tmi!)

I had the most awful indigestion and could not lay down. I was on 6x the usual dose of Omeprazole (prescribed by out of hours Dr as it was weekend)for 48 hours.

Hideous, and I had lots of other side effects too, but it passes. Some things take a while, but it does pass.

Good luck with yours

Kinden
x

I too found taxotere much harder than fec.The important thing is to accept total wipeout,breathlessness,diarrhoea,joint pain and nosebleeds if they come knowing that they will pass and that the taxotere is the best there is for combatting primary bc.
Good Luck
Vxx

Flora, hope you have as easy a time as poss, and it passes quickly xx

Hi all, I have my second tax on Thursday. I didn’t do too badly on Fec, 1 out of the 3 wiped me out.

My first tax however gave me really chronic chest pains on day 5 and I had a trip in an ambulance to A & E. Stayed in overnight had scan and chest x ray, sent home next day. Oncologist refused to believe was anything to do with the chemo on day 5!!

Had terrible constipation and bloating during fec and initially on tax, then really bad diorrhaea for 3 days. Just make sure you have medication for any eventuality and you should be fine. I asked for loperamide for constipation and took it at night.

Hope it all goes ok for you and that your side effects are minimal. I expected the worst and when better than I thought, was a bonus.

Take care, love and hugs. Debbie. xx

Hi Flora,

Good luck for your first Tax…sounds like you’ve got all bases covered, but you know you can come on here for advice if side effects kick off…Just a note re steroids, They aren’t given with Tax to combat sickness, in fact you’ll probably find you don’t feel sick at all on Tax but the steroids are to prevent your body having an allergic reaction to the agent which is mixed with Tax to allow it to be administered into your body…That is why such a high dose is required so I wouldn’t advise cutting them down, especially as your having herceptin too which can increase symptoms. Movicol is good and gentle on the stomach, If you get bad indigestion pain the doc can prescribe a good antacid(omeprazole) to help…also a mild sleeping tablet if the steroids really mess up your sleeping pattern…don’t be frightened to pick up the phone to the GP. No one knows what side effects you get till they happen but there are meds to help if they do…all the best.

Fiona xxx

Hi Flora,

Good Luck for your Tax! Ive had 3, with 3 to go. The worst thing for me is the tiredness, fatigue and breathlessness - the other SEs (heartburn, peripheral neuropathy, diarrhoea, taste changes etc) have so far been quite minor for me I guess. Having to eat every 30 mins and drink sparkling water continuously is costing me a fortune!! The tiredness has lasted from days 3 - 7 ish, during which time I give myself over to lie-ins, very slow days, not going out and taking life very slowly. But after those days pass, Im ok, and have managed long walks (up to 8 miles) in the days after that.

Anyway, I know we are all very different, so heres hoping you have a relatively easy time and sail through it!

K x

Hi Flora, when I was on tax they gave the steriods in the drip with the chemo hence I wasn’t too worried about dropping the ones given to take at home - but of course I didn’t do it willy nilly! I’m not telling everyone to do it - it’s something that worked for me. I didn’t get indigestion just a constant horrible taste in my mouth like burnt sugar and I’d no problem sleeping, but I did get periperal neurapathy which is still in my toes over 5yrs later. Luckily tax wasn’t a big problem for me and I can’t beleave I’m the only one!
Josie x

Flora, sounds like you ready to take it on! You go girl. I think I’ve said to you before, my first one was the worst and then other 3 were ok. Managed the aches and pains, just the tiredness that really hit with the last 2 (I had 8 so no wonder really!). You’re a herceptin lady too - I just had No 5 yesterday.
best of luck with the tax and hope its kind to you!
xx

Just wanted to add that you may get thrush in both areas. Mine came on on day four as wasn’t prepared for it the first time but for the 2nd and 3rd i had started the medication the same day i had chemo and this helped alot especially in the ‘pant’ region.

Good Luck
Gina

Dear all- day 10 post first tax and this has been a rough ride ! for the first 4 days I just wanted to be out the way lying down. Then the bone pain kicked in but paracetemol took care of that and I don’t need it today so that is great.

The main issues are thrush and constipation/the runs and nose bleeds at any given moment - infact I have had to stop posting cause I 've just had number 3 of the day !

The thrush is horrid - I have nystatin and diflam both and I still feel as if when I eat anything it tastes of ashes - just awful. The constipation comes and goes (so to speak) and I was awoken at 3 am with the need to go ! again at 7 am … I’m just feeling miserable really …

Can’t remember if the first dose of Epi was the worst one as the Epi settled down to a manageable routine.

I have 3 more tax to do so I hope I’m like Jayney and it stettles down. Any advice that anyone has is much appreciated… xxxx

Thanks for all of your tips and stories, girls. I admit I am anxious about this one, but they may as well bring it on and then I will know what my body will react to.

I’ve never had thrush, so am hopeful this means I am not ‘prone’ to it. I have so far planned to have next Monday and probably Tuesday off work, but am hopeful I will be back after that, even if I’m not operating at full power!!

Don’t worry, I shall be taking my full steroid dose starting tomorrow morning, not making any amendments unless under guidance!

xxx

Hi Flora - good luck today with the TAx, I have now moved my days to Monday, get an extra weekend ‘off’.
FEC - was not too bad in the end, just the nausea, and now the ‘dewdrop’ nose, gone through paper hankies like mad. am a bit concerned with all the aching etc with TAX, just hope I react okay with that too. Forgot to ask Oncologist if I get steroids too, must ask Monday.
Have a good weekend all.

Hi Mammie

Tax went well today. I must be still hyper from the steroids as I came home, ate like a horse, changed beds, did washing, prepared and cooked a stew, cleaned up the mess from OH’s exploded milkshake in full overnight bag…!!

I will definitely be taking a sleeping tab tonight!

You should definitely have some steroids. Our hosp is insistent that you take them before Taxotere chemo or they won’t deliver it.

I guess your dewdrop nose is due to hair loss in the nasal passages? How have your eyebrows and lashes fared? Min have got thinnner, but still enough to slick some mascara on.

Good luck for next week.
xxx

Hello. For the mouth thrush I was given Fungilin lozenges which were a great help. I also found that Piriton tablets helped with the dreadful rash.

Good luck everyone. Best wishes. Anthi x

Just a quick update - it is day 4 and I have muscle/bone aches. :frowning:

Was all wobbly yesterday so didn’t do much except sit on the sofa, and am having my first proper day off sick from work today (hospital appointments excluded!). Feel very achy, like flu without the fever. Didn’t sleep so well. Will see what tomorrow brings…

Hi Flora,
stick with it, you have done so well and sailed through up til now, hopefully this is just a glitch!
keep meaning to ask about your hair, I think you said in an earlier post that it seems to start growing back each session before the next blast?
karen xx

Hi Karen

Thanks for your positive thoughts.

I think I have a proportion of hair that just never fell out! I had shaved it all off initially, just before chemo #2, and the stuff that didn’t fall out at the roots carried on growing from the length it had been shaved to.

My OH and I gave me a ‘clean shave’ on Saturday, and already I have a 5 o’clock shadow growing back. I have still lost most of it from the roots, but there is definitely some that just keeps on growing throughout. I don’t know whether, if I had never shaved it, there would have been enough left to make it look reasonable. I have always had very thick hair, so I wonder if I could have gotten away with leaving it! Makes you wonder…

How are you doing?