hi, my mum is having chemo for breast cancer and has had 4 treatments, her treatments 5 to 8 are the drug taxotere and she has been the illest with it - any one else expereience bad side effects with this drug and can give any support/advice? She had 1st of 4 treatments on thurs and has spent sun and mon in bed feeling really awful (didnt feel like this with previous 4 treatments) - is this normal? thanks
Hi Cathcath and welcome to the forums,
I am sorry to read that your Mum is having a difficult time on treatments, you are both welcome to call our helpline where you can speak with one of our specialist breast care nurses for information and support, the number is 0808 800 6000 weekdays 9-5 and Sat 9-2. I am sure your fellow users will be along soon with their experiences too, if you wish to use the ‘Search’ facility at the top of this page you can read previous discussions on taxotere which may also help.
The following link will take you to the BCC publication about taxotere which will provide you further information about possible side effects:
breastcancercare.org.uk/docs/taxotere_jan_08_0.pdf
Best wishes
Lucy
Sorry your mum feels like this. Unfortunately, it is very common to feel rough on taxotere but it depends on every person how they react.
If you go to the search function on BCC forums, you will find numerous threads about the different side effects of taxotere. It is very commonly discussed here and I think you will find your many questions answered and lots of advice has already been given.
I’m sorry if that doesn’t sound very sympathetic as out of all the chemos I’ve had taxotere was definately the worst for side effects, so I do understand but it seems more time effective for you to look at the previous posts and you will probably find all the info you want there rather than wait for replies.
I always said that if I ever needed more chemo after I had taxotere I would refuse as it made me so ill as I spent more time in bed or in hospital than being well. Since then I’ve developed secondaries and had probably 5 different sorts of chemo since and none has ever made me so bad as taxotere.
sorry if that sounds depressing - I’m the sort of person you never want to read about
All the best
Kate
Hi Cathcath
Taxotere is really not very nice but in my case effective. Also when they give it after another sort of chemo there is a cumulative effect and so you do feel worse for that reason as well.
Best wishes to you and your mum
Hi Cathcath
I finished 6 tax in October, I used to have my on Thursday’s too and on the Sunday it would kick in. Sun and Mon were always bad, with achy glands and very very tired. My onc told me it would hit fast and hard but I would recover faster than on Epi and FMC but I found I was very tired for the 1st and 2nd week.
I coped by being really kind to myself and not expecting too much, I kept a diary of how I felt, what happened and what I had to eat each day so that I could compare each cycle. No 3, 4 and 5 were better although still bad on Sun and Mon (not as bad 1 and 2).
I ordered loads of DVD’s from Amazon so that I had a good selection of things to watch depending on what mood I was in. Also I looked forward to the postman coming each day with my ‘pressies’ Retail therapy and having lazy days did help me.
Hope your Mum is feeling a little better tomorrow
Best wishes
Sue
Hi Cathcath
Yes, Taxotere is a bit of a so-and-so. Your Mum’s reaction to it sounds fairly typical, from what I’ve read on here.
Whereas I felt having FEC was like being bit by a runaway train every three weeks, Taxotere seemed more akin to being dragged along behind one indefinitely.
As Kate says, there are loads of threads on here about Taxotere and and its many and cumulative side effects, so your Mum is not alone.
X
S
hi, its me again, is there anyone having tax i feel a lot of body aches and also very blotted stomach, headpains very strange feelings with stomach cramps backache feeling generally crap still in bed went out on monday for lunch, glad to be back in bed at least i had a good walk i belieave its good to push yourself what does everyone think lots of love Marysia,x