I finished chemo and radio in June 2007,all the time I was having chemo and ever since I kept saying how my legs hurt they felt tired and heavy.Every one said it was due to the chemo,so I accepted that walking far was not easy and stopped going far.
After treatment I was put on Arimidex and my legs seemed slighly worse,but I was told this could be a side effect of the tablets.In May this year my oncologist canged my tablet to Aromasin because of the joint pains.
Aromasin did not help so I was put on strong pain killers to help.
I live in Scotland and frequently travel alot with my work after a trip in August the pain was so intance with all the walking in air ports,I decided that I had to do some thing.I am cold from my tummey down and hot avove that.
I went to my GP who examined my legs he could find no pulse in either legs.
Two days later I saw the Vascular surgeon and after a couple of simple tests explained that I would need major surgery as soon as possible for a blocked aorta.(Aorta bifemorul graft.)I have now had all the tests required and I am having the opertion very soon.
I can now walk only 15 yards and that depends on the surface before my legs wont work.I have tingling and numness in my legs and lower face
If I dont choose to have the operation I would eventually have to loose my legs.
I was wondering if any boby had come across this before after treatment, and to remind others as good as our consultants are they only specilaize in there chosen field.
This should have been picked up a long time ago.
Heritage.
Hi Heritage
So sorry to hear about all the pain and distress you have been in - and for so long. I hope the operation is a great success and that you are soon back to normal.
Thanks, too for the warning about legs - were you told if this this a known, if rare, side effect of some types of chemo? Or was it that the chemo worsened a hitherto undected problem with your aorta? Or would this have have happened whether you had had chemo or not?
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
X
S
Oh Heritage, I’m so sorry to read your post.
I too have trouble with my legs following taxotere. I went for physio today, and fortunately, it’s minor. The various leg muscles from the thigh down are “tight as a drum”. During tax I felt as though somebody was holding my ankles in a vice and twisting my legs. My OH could actually feel my leg muscles trembling. It transpires that due to the tax & also oedema, the muscles haven’t been allowed to work as they ought. I have exercises to do to loosen the muscles off.
My oncologist today said that tax can cause these problems with legs.
However, my problem is nowhere near as serious as yours, but it does go to show chemo can affect the legs. I hope you have the operation and fervently hope it’s successful. In the meantime, have you considered claiming DLA - you may qualify for the mobility component.
All the best to you
Westie x
Hi, and thank you Heritage for starting this thread!
I finished my 4th & last round of Docetaxel 3 weeks ago ( 4 x EC prior to that as neoadjuvant chemo) and about a week later the swelling stared (mostly) in my legs.
It’s been very hard to decide if this is part of the fatigue which oncs keep telling me is to be expected. Today after struggling in & back to do my pre-surgery MRI, I am now in bed as the muscles in my legs feel as though they should look black & blue! Can’t make it up the stairs without hauling myself up using my arms…. So I’m wondering if I’m in the same boat as you, Westie?
Can I ask you about the exercises you’ve been given? I have an appt. to plan my surgery this Friday and am now thinking I should put in a request to see a physio as well…. If they do confirm I have a problem, it will be down to this thread!
All the best to everyone here. Heritage, I hope your surgery is a success. It’s really a shame ( and a little scary) that you’ve had to suffer for so long before you found a solution. Taxanes are powerful drugs, but the side effects are just so unpredictable.
Here’s hoping we all get our mobility back!
Lomalinda
XXX
Hi Heritage
I am so very sorry to read your post and so grateful for it so I can keep an eye out
I hope that the operation goes realy well and that you are back on your feet again very soon
good luck
love FB xx
Hi all
Sorry to learn you are all suffering with (TLS) Taxotere Leg Syndrome, but glad to hear I wasn’t alone with this one. Legs, calves and thighs up like a balloons last week, really aching, too, and I’ve been staggering along like an old woman.
Hospital said it was OK to have diuretics, so my GP prescribed some, which has helped a great deal. (4lbs of ‘weight’ gone in 24 hours). Has anyone else been given diuretics for this? I still find walking a bit of a struggle, but at least I can manage about half a mile or so again now.
Hope things are improving for you all.
X
S
Sorry to hear of your problems with your legs, heritage. i get very heavy legs and will now be on my guard and get it checked out if it gets worse.
Rachael
So sorry to read we are ALL suffering from TLS (nice name for it)
Lomalinda - the exercises I got were basic stretches. Sports players do them as warmups, and I’m sure you can find them on the internet. Be warned - my legs hurt now more than ever! However, no pain no gain I suppose.
Am going to get OH to give my lower legs a massage now…partly coz it helps loosen them up, and partly coz it’s nice!
All the best to everybody with this unfortunate side effect.
Hi Heritage
So sorry to hear that you are going through all this. I thought I just had to tell you about my cousin who went through this operation and had amazing results afterwards. She has never had chemo but had a family history of narrowing of the arteries so I don’t know anything about the relationship to taxotere.
Before the oeration, she could’nt even leave the house because of being unable to walk any distance at all. You should see her now, she is out and about all over the place, I know that does’nt help you at this time when you are awaiting surgery yourself but sometimes it helps to hear sucess stories
I hope that everything goes well for you