Hi all,
I’m finally starting chemo after a couple of months of hassles with IVF etc. Has anyone else just had the TAX? If so, how bad were the SE?
Thanks for your support
M x
I had FEC T so ‘just’ theoretically 3 TAX - ended up with just 2 due to septicemia but that’s another story!
Chemo isn’t easy - no question. It is do-able tho, as many on here will testify. I scared myself silly I must admit be reading of nails falling out unless you wore black nail varnish, 24 hour sickness etc etc etc before I had mine, but now wish I’d not read any of it as those fears weren’t to come to be. I personally found FEC easier, I was sick but that was controlled, the main problems with TAX were my mouth - nothing tasted right - I scoured the shops looking for inspiration for things to drink and ‘clean’ my mouth - and total devastating tiredness and fatigue. Everyone’s different, some suffer more than others, but bear in mind all the time that it IS doable, you will survive and you’ll come out the other end.
Best of luck
Nina
Hello
I had 3 x FEC and 3 x TAX, with Tax I wasn’t nauseus at all but had the bone and joint and nerve endings pain.
I only took paracetamol the first time, second I had stronger painkillers from GP I advise you to get these in stock and use them, the relief is wonderful.
I felt drained for about 7days and got shooting pains around body. I just stayed in bed for the first 3-4 days and gave into it and then knew when i had come out of it, about 7 days after chemo.
Look after your nails - TAX can affect them, I painted mine with black nail varnish for 10 days after chemo, and used a nail base with ecrinol in it leading up to chemo, my nails were long, they are now layered ridged and I have white lines all over them, you can lose your nails with TAX.
My taste disappeared for about 8 days after TAX but then came back, I was also very emotional and had very depressing thoughts.
I finished last TAX a month ago and feel fantastic - not 100% but so much better and know I will only improve.
Good Luck, you’ll get there and let me know how you’re getting on.
Jude
xx
Hi
I had 6 lots of TAX with two other chemo drugs as my regime was 6 x TAC. I had bad muscle pain for about a week after each tax, the first two chemos were the worst (normal painkillers didn’t even touch the pain after the first one but did after the second one), after that it was general aches and pains in both my stomach and my legs. Each chemo got progressively worst for me in terms of lethargy, by chemo 5 I must admit I was absolutely shattered. The worst thing for me was I had no taste buds for about 10 days after each chemo. It does come back though and there are certain foods you will like, by chemo 5 and 6 all I could eat was sweet foods such as custard but during the first four chemos I couldn’t stomach anything sweet, really strange! By chemo 5 it took about two weeks for my taste buds to come back. Having said that I did have about 10 good days in between each chemo up to chemo 5 and was able to go out with the kids, have a night out and do housework etc.
Chemo is hard at times but is also doable and it does go very quick, I had my last one 6 weeks ago and chemo seems a blur now and you have to remember that everyone is different and some people don’t get as many side effects as others. I just kept telling myself that the side effects are only temporary and I will get through it and you will too.
Best of luck. Amanda xx
Thank you all for your advice and kind words. I’m starting to get a bit scared about tomorrow now that I’ve officially started my steroids etc. It definitely is the unknown that is freaking me out more then the thing itself I guess. Hope all of you who have finished are recovering well, and those of you like me about to start good luck!!
M xx
re pain my GP recommended taking ibuprofen and paracetamol together-it worked for the 2nd one,for the first I had to have diclofenac and co-codamol.The secret seems to be the combination.The worst side effect for me was extreme fatigue combined with breathlessness,I wasnt sick or nauseous at all though I was on fec.
Good Luck
Vx
Good look for tomorrow stay strong you can do it im sure you will have alsorts goin through your head at this momment it will all fall into place 2moz take a bottle of water with you and take someone with you if you can you get so much information it just goes right over your head let me know how you get on i did 4xAC and 4TAX