Hiya all
How’s everyone doing on tax?
I had my second session on Tue, all went ok. My bloods were all good which was a relief, slightly anaemic but that was it.
Sadly the yukky mouth thing seems to have started already - ugghhh. Overdid it slightly went shopping yesterday while I still was able and was soooo tired last nigh as a result but had a lovely lie in today.
Have found out I will need 3 weeks worth of radiotheraphy so it means I should be all done by xmas - yipppeeee.
Jude
xxx
Ah Jude, well done. Is that only 1 more Tax then? Brilliant news about being done by Christmas, I found out I only need two more Tax, so my last one will be 2nd November, then surgery in December. I am also relieved that the hardest part will be done by Christmas.
Sorry your mouth is yukky, mine is horrid - I just don’t know what to eat or drink for the best, currently trying cup-a-soup. Also my throat is so so sore - have you had that? I don’t have a temp, so I am guessing just another ‘feature’ of Tax.
Lie in…blimey that would be good, fighting to get out for school run unfortunately for me!!! Still at least my husband got up at 5.45am with the 18 month old…could be worse!!!
Keep us posted about the 2nd time side effects and if they are better/worse than dose #1…
Love and hugs
Ali
x
Hi Ali
I’ve got 2 more to go after this one but it makes it better knowing that I will be finishing by xmas. My last one is 6th November so just behind you with the chemo.
The lie in was a result of taking a sleeping pill last night. My son woke (nearly 3) woke up and was calling for me at about 7.10 but I hardly heard him as was so tired and my hubby took him to nursery.
I’ve just had soup and a roll for lunch that’s all I ever fancy and some red grapes (for their cancer fighting properties). Been catching up with lots of tv this morning and about to go and see my counsellor this afternoon.
take care
Jude
xx
Hi Jude
Well done on getting through your 2nd tax, and glad you enjoyed your lie in. Good on hubby taking him to nursery. My 3 year old ended up in our bed about 4am this morning, but slept til my 10 month old got up at 7.30 and I took in our bed, where he then tries to pull her hair!!!
I hope your side effects are minimal, although the yukky mouth thing sounds awful. I got my first tax on 10 October, so any info gratefully received.
Hope you are feeling OK this afternoon and your counsellor session goes well. Keep thinking maybe I should look into that.
Ali, hope you are OK too and your side effects are not too bad. Reading all the stuff about tax is soooooo frightening … but I can’t wait, as heard it is one of the best drugs and should zap the b******s best. Heres hoping …
Take care both of you
Love
Dawn
x
Hi Jude and Dawn
I was also thinking a counsellor session might not be a bad plan - as wildly veering from happy-to-manic-to-suicidal-to-hysterical-to-stressed (i could go on…) - fitting it in would be the biggest challenge!
Dawn, about Taxotere - I was really terrified, and after all the delays on my treatment day I just burst into tears when the started it off - I was obviously stressed beyond belief but not realised it needed to come out, and boy did it!!! I think on balance I prefer Tax to FEC, I found FEC really really vile, I think the bad veins finished me off.
I still feel a bit cr*p today, achey back and legs, but still managed to walk to school, do Tesco’s, do washing, clean kitchen, cook tea and put kids to bed - so I don’t reckon that’s too bad…mind you couldn’t have done ANY of that on Monday, I felt shocking…however if it is only 1 or 2 days of being laid up then that’s OK. The mouth thing is the oddest thing though - feels like my tongue is too big for my mouth, and it all feels gritty and chalky, very strange - i have cleaned my teeth about 5 times today!!!
Don’t worry it is still ‘do-able’ as the old cliché goes…
Hope you’re both ok tonight.
Love and hugs
Ali
Hiya all
I feel like cr*p today. I thought I would have until tomorrow until I went downhill but no such luck. I can still taste things but don’t really fancy eating anything - guess it will be soup for lunch again, god how many different types of soup can I possibly eat! Luckily my hubby has taken my son out to the seaside (he doesn’t work on Fridays) and so I have got a bit of peace for the time being. I did consider going but then thought there is just no way am too knackered. My eyebrows are looking shocking at the moment, they are in tatters - really hairy at the far end and then nothing much at the end nearest my eyes - I must look a bit strange, am slapping on the eyebrow makeup. At least my head hair is growing but think it will take a while before I can throw off my scarves!
Re the counselling it is brilliant, I would really recommend it. I didn’t think I would have anything much to say at my second session but I just kept on talking and it is very therapeutic. Just to have someone who doesn’t know you so you can say whatever you want and not have to worry about upsetting anyone.
Jude
xx
Hi Jude
Sorry you feel rubbish already, came on quicker this time then? Anyway maybe sooner it starts, sooner you’ll feel better - hope so my love.
Counselling sounds good - I should do something about that.
Get some rest, enjoy your soup (again).
Love and get well hugs
Ali
x
Ladies, while having my taxatere (which i found a dodle compared to FEC) my onc gave me a mouth wash made form bicarb/water, it worked a treat and solved that problem almost completely. I used to start with it day after chemo and carry on for about 5 or 6 days.Hope that helps.
Ooh thanks, I need some of that - I am so p*ssed off with my cruddy mouth - I can’t eat or drink anything without it hurting. Might lose a few pounds though!!LOL!!
Ali
x
Ali - I keep thinking that because it came on quicker then it will go quicker - I hope so. At least my mouth doesn’t hurt though like yours.
Pineapple I tried bicarb of soda in water that worked a bit, tastes quite nice salty. I just tend to eat lots of boiled sweets as well - anything to get rid of the taste.
Jude
xx
These worked for me to help deal with the sore mouth problem:
But it’s also worth mentioning that my sore mouth got less severe every time I had taxotere & pretty much disappeared my the last (6th) session.
Hi Jude
It took me a week before I felt back to ‘normal’ after my 2nd Tax - started to feel grotty from the evening after onwards. I found that I was really feeling down (and grumpy) this time!! The mouth thing is a complete nightmare. I asked my breast care nurse if there was anything other than the mouthwashes - she suggested I try chewing pineapple, so I will try that next time.
Best wishes to you and all the other ladies
Sally
x
I got some Difflam from my Doctor today, and that has helped already. I tried fresh pineapple this morning but that stung like hell and I had to spit it out!!! Pineapple juice and lollies were good.
My other aches and pains only seemed to last a couple of days - so that’s a relief. I really fancy wine and chocolate tonight, but I’m quite sure that will not do any good…so tea and mouthwash it is…ooh the excitement!!
Love and hugs - hope you are all OK.
Ali
x
A week and a day after my 2nd Taxotere, and am starting to feel a bit better. I was ill for a fortnight after the first, and even got shingles as well!
I’m still exhausted after doing even the smallest task, and have to nap most afternoons, but managed to walk the dog round the block today. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for those of you who have children to look after, I hope you are getting loads of help!
Aches and pains still present, but not as bad as after Tax 1. But the mouth thing is awful isn’t it!! Mine is coated with white stuff for a week after, and when the white stuff goes it is red and sore underneath…and the TASTE, eeeuurrrggghhhh!! There seems little pleasure in food at all and I am able to eat very little…not good, as I’m only around the 7 stone mark anyway!
I have two more to go…last one (bloods permitting) on November 1st.
Love and best wishes to you all
xx
I’m not doing too bad today. Is day 5 and went downhill yesterday but feel a bit more lively today. The irony is that my hubby has got a sore throat/cold thing and looks worse than I do. We are trying to keep apart as he doesn’t want me to get it. I’m feeling a bit hopeful that it might not be as bad as tax no 1 but that is probably wishful thinking. Bizarrely I am really hungry all the time - don’t understand why as I am hardly doing anything. Looks like more soup for me!
love to everyone
Jude
xx
Hi Jude
Glad you are feeling OK today. Hope you don’t catch the germs from hubs though!!! I have been really hungry since my first Tax, thought it was just the steroids to start with, but now +8 days and still going on…oh dear!!! Mouth thing a little better, but still not great.
We had a really nice day today, been up to Holkham Beach on North Norfolk coast with the kids, then drove back the long way round all along the coast road - needed to get out as having our driveway done and knee-deep in mud outside our house!!!
Hope you continue to feel OK and progress to something other than soup…
Love and hugs
Ali
Hi Ali
I’m amazed to say that my weekend has been ok. I had a chinese takeaway on Saturday night and it tasted really nice, my yukky mouth thing hasn’t really happened this time. I’ve been eating pretty much what I want and I am just sooo pleased that it wasn’t like the first time. My energy levels are much better too, it’s Monday and I’m taking it easy and pottering around but have only had to have one lie down in bed this whole weekend. So far haven’t caught my hubby’s cold thing, to top it off he went and hurt his back lifting my toddler into the car - he was in a very sorry state after that!
So if it’s any consolation to anyone about to start taxotere the first one is hard but the second one is much much easier - well it has been in my case and I’m hoping it is too for everyone else.
Jude
xx
Hi Jude
Thanks for this post. I am due to start tax on 10 Oct, so reading your post, maybe am in for tough first session, but then hopeully might get better.
Glad to hear that you are not suffering with no.2 and hope you continue to do well. Hope you hubby feels better soon too.
Ali hope you are doing ok too. Watch this space next Thursday after my 1st tax, oh my god … keeping everything crossed for me.
Take care
Love
Dawn
x
Hiya Jude and Dawn
Jude - that’s great - so glad you are OK. that’s a huge relief for you (and for me and Dawn too - lol!!!) Good job you are OK really as hubs is not fit for much is he? Bless him!!
I am remarkably OK today - I would even go as far as to say ‘back to normal’. I have energy, no aches and pains and my mouth is loads better, still got some white spots on my tongue, but it is not sore and swollen anymore.
Dawn - I will be thinking about you this week, fingers crossed for Thursday, try not to worry hun, it wasn’t quite as bad as I thought. The tiredness and aches and pains hit me on Day 3 and really only lasted 36 hours - then it was just the mouth thing. Get some Difflam from Dr’s if yours plays up, I left mine 3 days before I got anything and prob would have been loads better if I’d have just asked to start with!! Live and learn hey?
Can’t believe the weekend has gone already, we have done loads though…been to North Norfolk coast, been out for Sunday lunch, had all my family round to watch the footie last night - I feel like we had a ‘normal’ weekend for a change.
Speak to you soon
Ali
xx
Dawn
Good luck for the 10th, I’ll be watching this space for progress reports.
Ali - normal weekends are good aren’t they. I forget what they are like after the sh*t ones I have had recently! Just being able to go out and leave the house is wonderful! I’ve not actually left the house since about Friday but I still had a good weekend. Am planning the great expedition tomorrow - to the post office at the end of my road just to see how I am!!
Jude
xx