moral support after first tax

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Please can someone remind me that these side effects of chemo do get better and i will get to feel normalish and even venture out of my house again. I have had a rough week after my first taxotere. I only have 2 more tax to go before ards and tamoxifen, and normally i can focus on the end goal, but can anyone who has aleady done their treatment and feels better, or had a good week after tax at least,or even any chemo, please just write nice things about good things they are able to do, and that this is worth it and only temporary.

Thanks everyone

Vickie

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Hi Vickie, If it I making you feel bad, just think what it is doing to those little bc bu@@ers. They must think life is not worth living. Sorry I cannot be more helpful. You can do it, girl. There is light at the end of the tunnel, always.
Big hugs
Maria

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Hi Vickie

Sorry to hear your feeling pretty crap. I feel so much better now. I was on FEC then TAX and found TAX by far the hardest. Between sessions, particularly towards the end of chemo, I used to think the side effects would never go away but as I’m sure you know, they do but when its current and happening to you, its like a never ending nightmare. I finished my chemo on 19th May (will never forget the date) and by God how much better I feel now to then is amazing. Don’t get me wrong, I feel tired and I’m now having different side effects (hot flushes) with Tamoxifen but compared to the chemo, its a breeze (for me personally). In fact its weird because even though I know how awful I felt during chemo, I’ve now managed to put it to the back of my mind, a bit like childbirth.

You have ticked one off the list, two more to go and you’re there.

Good luck and hugs and hope you feel okay soon

Krissy x

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Hi I too have just had my first TAX. The first week was horrible… its hard to describe but i felt like I had been hit by a bus, sore and weak and every bit of my mind and body ached… the tierdness too was unbelievable. I thought it would never end! As well as every side effect under the sun, sore tummy, sore nails/fingers, sore mouth etc etc.

I am now on day 14, and since Monday this week felt sooo much better getting beter each day. I am now eating normally and can taste again, have no pain at all and are doing normal things, was working all day today. I am still a bit tierd though and I am sleeping around 12 hours a night… but thats not a bad thing.

It does get better as it goes out your system and I am told the 2nd and 3rd doses will not be as harsh on your body. I am sure someone else will be on here to confirm this.

Hang in on there. there is light at the end of the tunnel - its horrible stuff and as maria says its obviously doing its job and once you get to day 10 its onwards and upwards…trust me!
xxx

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Hey Vickie

I hope some people who have had tax come on to help, but focus on getting to know what your side effects are like. You told me once you have been through it once you know what to expect next time and you won’t be so scared. At the moment this is the unknown but you will get through it. Pick your onc friends brain and get some reassurance. Sending you a big hug. ( remind me of all this when I start tax : ) ) Dxx

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Hi Vickie - I had 4 EC and 4 tax last year. The first tax was definately the worst. When you go for the next one let the staff know about your side effects. Take whatever pain relief they give you. After each tax days 4 - 10 were the worst, then I started to feel better and even had a week-end away between sessions.

Loads of hugs

Clare X

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Hi Vickie, l am having a bad couple of days after 2nd FEC, just tearful. So not really any help, just thought if you try and break the next TAX down, you may find it easier?

What was the worst time, having the TAX or the side effects, l know you had a bad reaction, but l assume this time they will be very careful with you.
So l am assuming it is the side effects! perhaps writing down your side effects and when you got them. Then the next time you can tick each one off knowing that one has past, each one you tick off is one less, and before you know it another is out of the way.

On your last TAX hopefully you will feel slightly easier, knowing this is the last one! and instead of ticking them off, you can cross them off!

I am sure there will be lots of ladies along who have had their TAX, and give more valuable information. Because no matter how you try and get your head around it, it still has to be done.
I hope you manage to Persevere with the last two, so near yet so far!

Try not to look too far ahead Vickie, just cross one day off at a time, otherwise you are looking ahead to the next TAX and worrying about it before you have fully recovered from the last one.

How easy it is to sit here and type this, hopefully when my TAX starts (1 more FEC) l will look back and remind myself how to do it?

So very sorry you are having such a rubbish time, very difficult with the boys! but you obviously have good support around you.

Just think one more TAX, Vickie, then you will be on the final one!
you will do it, you know you can do it! do it for your boys.
Do the next TAX for your eldest son, and the last one for your youngest, and if that doesn’t give you an incentive, well l give up and will go back to being a misery today!
Lots of Hugs
Lots of Support
Lots of ‘You can do it’
Sandra xxx

PS. Yes l am having a problem getting on the pages today!

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ta everyone, just remembered from reading the posts that the first fec was def worse than the other two so i have hope. Glad to hear you are getting the reprieve time Saffronseed, i wasn’t well at this stage with fec either, it was day10 then too and now i am on day seven, its just hard when its unchartered territory. Glad its passed into your memory now krissy, cannot wait for that to happen! Midge, how you feeling?

ps don’t want to scare anyone about the tax, if you look at my posts after first fec, they are much the same, its the unknown thats the hard bit i think, at least when you have done one, you know what to expect

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sandra, good idea to think one left, one for each of my boys, will remember that one! sorry you are having a shit time too, on my fec day 6/7 ish i was always tearful, hormonal swings etc, so maybe thats how it is for you too? i remember you posted that you were having a tough time last cycle at this time, as i did a post about hormonal effects of fec and you said it was affecting you at the same time too.

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Hi

Got a stinking headache and still got bone pain. I seem to get every se going. Just one more jab tomorrow. Anyway don’t want to hijack your thread. There is some v good advice there. My personal theory is they should just put us to sleep for a week after each chemo and let us sleep through it- we could have a drip of course. : D. Dxx

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i will sign up for that too thanks, wake me up on day ten

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Thank you Vickie, l thought l had written something about being tearful day 6/7 but couldn’t find it! so at least next time l know on day 6/7 bury my head in the sand!
Hugs
Sandra xxx

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Hi

Just wanted to say sorry your feeling bad. I think it’s hardest in the middle and it just feels like it’s going on forever. I am just finished and coming out the other side of the last se. It is good to be finished and know that this is the last recovery. I think i read you saying that before that the last one is only a half and it is kind of like that. Am following you all going through it as you were only just behind us. Your doing so well it’s just hard to see it when your in the midst of it.

Hope your feeling a bit better.

Lots of love

Jayne xxxx

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EC I didn’t find so bad - but had fun on Tax. First session side effects not too awful … but second session really grotty … third session much better.

With all Tax treatments I had horrid awful cardboard mouth … but the more severe symptoms were sore throat; cough, chest infection; loss of voice.

A few months on I feel fine … it feels like a long time away from that treatment. The lump shrunk and I had successful treatment. My hair is growing too!

BW - P x

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I too found Tax difficult, felt like i had been hit by a bus. Did find the second one better. My tips for RTax are:

  1. Drink plenty of fluids- fpr me it was lucozade sport and Sprite, the colder the better
  2. Have immodium at the ready
  3. rest- but if u have small kids like me easier said than done
  4. kiddies ice pops help with hunger and refresh mouth
    pain killers something with codeine in it if you can tolerate
  5. if you can eat do but i had wolly mouth so for me it was the ice pops

I did find cycle 4 & 5 emotionally the hardest but you are are getting there and doing fantastic

Louise

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Vickie, I am still looking for the bus that hit me, too, 2 tax down, 2 more to go, like you with the allergies I get mine super slow and with plenty of dex and piriton. I am pragmatic, just trying to get it over and done with, feel sorry for my boys as we have not done as much as we usually do but keeping up with the school run etc. I think I am doing the best I can by taking the treatment so I can be fit and healthy in the future and never ever having to do this again! (fingers crossed)! Saying that I sat in my car on the way to Tesco’s yesterday with tears running, so it’s all taking it’s toll!
I am sending you a big hug! You are not alone in this, and the end is in sight!xxTina

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thanks everyone, i feel a bit better today, tho not well of course! Basically all i have done in the last week since treatment is sit and wait ti feel better. I have done nothing but rest, other than a shower every day and sitting at the table to try and eat some tea. Tina, how on earth you have managed to do the school run and go to tesco i don’t know! I am hoping that by weekend i will be on the up and reengage with life a bit. And that my taste buds will come back from their holiday!

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Hope you feel better and have some lovely days soon. Dx

PS read about bottom burping on the other thread. After chemo I did one and both cats left the room in disgust.

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Hi Vickie,
Thinking of you, read all of your threads during your treatment. You are doing so well, especially with all of the SE’s your having to put up with, can’t comment further as I haven’t started any treatment yet.

Lots of hugs and best wishes,

Isabelle xxx

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day 9 in the taxotere house…feel lots better today, hurray! there is some light at the end of the taxotere tunnel!