Day 9 post TAX #2 and still not sleeping very well, but that could be because I have been cat napping during the day. I have been up since 4:40 this morning and not napped at all. Feet are still sore, as are finger tips. Mouth is beginning to feel better. Still very very tired but thinking about doing some baking tomorrow so I must be feeling better.
Going to make the most of the next 13 days before I engage with TAX #3.
Hope every one is doing okay - please let me know.
Supertrouper, sounds like you are feeling much better, that’s great! This seems to be the different course with TAX, a few days of feeling OK, then it hits you for a week, then you gradually start to feel better. I get a bit euphoric once I start to feel almost normal! Once past the week of really bad side effects, I find I concentrate more on the awful taste - it’s just so horrible isn’t it? But I find it’s almost cleared by day 21.
I’ve lost all my eyebrows & most of my lashes on TAX, but the hair on my head that I lost so quickly on FEC is definitely growing back - how strange is that?!
For those suffering hot flushes, I found these were much worse in the first week or so after treatment & settled down later in the cycle - so hopefully you won’t all be stuck with them. It might be a different story once we are on the aromatase inhibitors though 
I’m going in today for my last TAX - looking forward to it in an odd way…knowing it’s the last time, & being well prepared for what to expect must be helping.
Hi ladies,
I am very happy to say that day 5 post tax no 2 and it’s not nearly so bad as tax no 1. This time 3 weeks ago I looked and felt like a poisoned bald frog. It was vile and i was sooo miserable. I just started on the white blood cell boosters last night so have aches and pains but as one who is never afraid to reach for the pain killers, I think I will manage.
I have gone from being a rather svelte, athletic size 10/12 with who exercised a lot, so a slightly chubby, chunkier creature, who eats with WILD RECKLESS ABANDON. I reckon I wont worry about it for now, but hopefully I will be done with all things cancer related in the early new year and will emerge from my shell then.
How is everyone doing today? X
Hi all, I’m also day 5 Tax 2, and like you cannoliwings, I am eating anything I fancy that has the ability to help with the awful woolly/greasy feeling mouth situation. I have definately put weight on, but quite honestly, I don’t care! Aches and pains are there, but paracetamol is being effective. Just want to get my energy back - I wasnt my life back!!! I hate having to watch people doing things for me. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the help, I do! It’s just that I want to be doing it myself!
Hope all well and ses undercontrol
xxx
I too have put weight on but not too worried about that at the moment.
Glad to see that fellow TAXers are doing okay. I had a really good nights sleep (6 hours) and feel refreshed and actually want to do something today! Watched so many cookery programmes over the past week that I now have an urge to buy a big food mixer and bake lots of cakes.
Supertrooper
Cakes are good, make you feel better. I have started baking chocolate ckae for my boys when they comein from school, still lovely and warm,k the best thing is they take most of it (only get 4 helpings as quarter each for them)so I just have a taste of it sodon’t feel so quilty. Sorry my fingers are not working,had tax 2 on monday.
lemon cake that everyone is talkling about sounds very nice and lemon is soothing when you have a yucky mouth(i’m getting tempted but knkow Iwon’t taste it)
I’m hoping my tax 2 is like yours and not as bad as the first one.
xxx
i know how you feel; enough already eh?! hopefully our eagerness to get back to our normal healthy existences will help us through the transitions - if we are lucky enough to have good reason to believe that treatment will be over and life and health can resume as before!!
of to eat my feelings, oops I mean more toast (with nutella)…XX
My last TAX has been postponed twice due side effects and raised temp (but not neutropenic) am on anti-biotics, have an appointment with the Oncologist tomorrow and he will decide if I can have my final chemo on Monday. I HOPE SO. I just want it done now.
I’ve been having mine every 2 weeks, so only a couple of “good” days after the injections before being zapped again. I managed okay for the first 2, but it’s been really hard since then.
Looks like I’m going to lose 3 or 4 toenails and my 2 index finger nails soon. YUK.
I’ve put on weight too - trying not to worry about it until after chemo finishes, but I too feel like a bald,fat, poisoned frog. I hate not being able to wear my skinny clothes. I seem to have lost my self confidence and can’t wear heels either, feel frumpy.
Hopefully rads will be a doddle after this…
Slendabenda and all - we will get our svelte figures back in time!(otherwise am gonna have to buy a whole new wardrobe to fit my new giant arse into…) i was extremely fit before - ran up and down hills and all that jazz, but am now breathless and knackered if i do I 10 min gentle jog (and i dont do that much…)
For any other poisoned bald frogs out there suffering with the dreaded tax-tongue - I am finding fizzy water with a squeeze of lemon extremely refreshing. still/ tap water tastes gross! Obvs in addition to tongue drops and mouthwash.
Slendabenda you have had a v rough time no? was I imagining it or did you post about a horrible exp in hosp recently?
anyway i really hope you are all good to go for final chemo on monday.
it’s a real mile marker innit! I am going to celebrate with a nice dinner out that eve if i’m up to it. No champagne though - bummer.
Slendabenda- I have had same problems as you hight temp but neuts ok. So antibiotics and painkillers this was day 4 very tired since, otherwise ok until last night and Tax trots but temp high for only hour , today ok and more energy. Still fat but not too hungry now. Must drink more to make up for yesterday.
SupertrouperAnd Kinsee you are all sounding so energetic and I am so lazy.
Cannoliwings I am not so much a frog as bald ape.
Again it will be over sooooon! Please…
Cackles
Thanks girls - I’ve just remembered the title of this thread - Need positive posts about TAX!
Sorry - positive is it WILL be over soon.
Hi Slendablenda - this post was started due to a need for positive sides to TAX. It has developed into a general TAX topic for people going through it, been through it or about to go through it.
It’s reassuring to see that when people have a bad time - then it is the same bad time that others have. I was quite concerned about the numb finger tips until I read that other people had the same problem. It’s a shame that the side effects are not properly explained to us before we start - or that might be why they aren’t? Once you have it inside your head that you might suffer from x,y & z then the placebo effect could kick in and you suffer!
But as you said - it will soon be over.
I woke this morning feeling like I had crawled from a deep deep pit determined to be positive on day 8 post Tax.Set up a motto"Go for 7 in 2011",made list of 7 tasks to make me proud of myself,each task to take 7 mins ,meditation takes 27mins,and to drink water,water.My little timer has been going mad,but it gives me permission to flop out at all other times,achieving the tasks is very empowering,hope it is not a one day wonder,Going out for a walk with timer set for 7 mins nearly wet myself when it went off in my pocket giving me permission to turn back for home,amazing how far you can get in 7 mins and what you can get done in 7 mins.Acheiving the evening meal takes longer!!
God what a lot of daft spouting,got verbal diarhoea!!!but it is positive and proactive!!
(((HUGS))) MAVIS
Ps any insomnia cures would be appreciated
Mavis you are a STAR. So upbeat. As explained I have woken up from Tax today and I am going to do do much more tomorrow. Beds changed etc I have been in it too long!!
So back to nest in yew tree and dreaming re only two to go. I am going to a looking good session at Maggies Oxford next week so perhaps the shrivelled ip bald ape / frog/ rugby ball might be transformed into a princess!!!
I too cannot sleep but at least tonight I feel like posting rather than dozing in discomfort.
See you in the dark hours
Cackles
Mavis and Cackles - good to see you around.
I love the idea of the 7 minutes thing - did you get that of FlyLady.org by any chance? I love her look on life and my timer keeps me going except I set mine for 10 minutes.
Tomorrow I am going to start going for walks - don’t care if it is raining, I can walk indoors on my “twist and glide” thing that is currently going rusty under our gazebo outside. I am very aware that my energy and fitness levels have never been so low! Even though I got a good nights sleep and woke up feeling great, I still fell asleep for an hour on the settee this afternoon!
Like you Cackles - I have two more TAX to go - I went on my looking good session at Christie in Manchester back in August - so glad I went. I can now draw on my eyebrows and eyeliner every morning with a very steady hand.
Sorry you aren’t sleeping - mine is getting better but only just. I think I might move back into the marital bed soon. Although I do like my own space!
You see it doesnt do to plagiarise ,you always get found out.Yes I am a “fly baby” but still only fluttering after 8 years.The site was so helpfull to me then when I took on looking after 3rd surprise Gd 8 yrs ago, couldnt have coped without the control journal.The Shiny Sink rules here if nothing else does!!The timer does keep one focused.
Cackles thanks for suggesting this thread on our general forum.There is several good you tube videos called "walk away the pounds"one mile two mile walks in the home ,quite good fun.
Haven for breast cancer do good home videos on tai chi, yoga and lymphodemia.Slept for 6 hours last night so on a high.
I too am in the marital bed,OH in his sleep pod,not allowed to call it his room,he crawls back each morning for his cuddle and chat!!
((((MEGA HUGS TO ALL))))mAVIS
Hello ladies
I have been lurking and reading for a little while on here. I am a bit premature as am only on day 7 of first of 3 FEC but will be having 3xTAX (taxotere) starting in december.
I have been one of the lucky ones and seem to be getting away with minimal se on FEC but am dreading TAX after reading some of the posts so just trying to get prepared in advance and pick up tips in advance should i need them x
Hi fellows TAXites. Just got out of hospital today finally going in on Saturday having done my best to ignore 48 hours of spiking temps. Same story as after my first FEC. iv antibiotics but no obvious infection and no neuts. Had the bone marrow booster and they went from 0.08 to 11.0! Having a truly miserable time on TAX and getting thinner by the day as I’m really struggling to eat. Am buoyed by your tales af No 2 being better. Here’s hoping!
Laurie x
Hi Alesta
Glad you are home.
I had apt with Onc today. He is happy for me to go ahead with final TAX on Monday. Temp has settled and bloods are okay.
I will really be glad to get this one over.