Posted last month when I had my first Taxotere and am due my second tomorrow.
Keep my nails varnished with a dark colour and have numerous things for the oral thrush and ulcers (going to try the sucking ice lollies as the sore mouth was the worst thing for me).
But my query now is hair loss. I pretty much lost it all on FEC and had a 5 week break between my last FEc and my first Taxotere and my hair started to grow back. Was well prepared to lose it again, but it is still growing (having to shave my legs and pluck my eyebrows again!). A friend on the same chemo is still losing hers. Has anyone else had Taxotere and their hair grown back, or not lost it?
I had 3 x FEC and 3 x Taxotere. I lost most of my hair on FEC. The day after my second Taxotere I noticed that my hair was starting to grow back in a couple of places. The new growth didn’t fall out with the Taxotere and it continued to grow very very slowly although it was very patchy and I had some bald patches for weeks. I finished chemo on 1st May but the growth continued to be very slow until the last couple of weeks when it seems to have speeded up a bit.
Good luck with the Taxotere tomorrow. I hope the side effects aren’t too bad this time.
My hair began to grow back after my second Taxotere, not like normal hair at first, more soft and fluffy like a dandelion, but it was definately visible hair. i am now 2 weeks past my last chemo and my head is completely covered with ‘normal’ hair, not enough to go out uncovered but no scalp is showing through. Unfortunately it seems to be growing back grey, I am 41 and had only odd grey hairs before! So that is alarming! My eyebrows and lashes thinned a lot more on taxotere, but haven’t gone completely. the bad news was the hairs on my legs began to grow back as thickly as before and hair began to grow on my face !!! sorry to alarm you! It is very fair and downy - but still unwelcome!
Glad to hear you are protecting your nails, I have kept mine covered with Rimmel rescue and nail varnish and they seem to be staying put - discoloured but still attached!
As to the taxotere, I heard horror stories, but have coped on it well and apart from some niggling side effects, have got on with life as normal without any sickness!
I am due to have my third Taxotere next week on Friday 13th of all days (hope this is not a sign of bad things to come!)
Between finishing my EC and the first Taxotere I noticed my eyebrows and lashes were starting to grow back. My hair was showing signs of activity too. My leg hair is noticeable on the front of my legs but I haven’t got any on the back. I have no body/underarm hair. However, after the second Tax I started to lose my eyebrows again. So far, my hair seems to be growing back and I have the beginnings of a 5 o clock shadow. I have naturally dark hair mixed with grey but it was dyed blonde to hide the grey. My “shadow” seems a bit patchy in places. I really, really don’t want to lose it again as it’s giving me a mental boost to get through the next two Taxoteres. But, I’ve been told that because Tax is so powerful that I will lose it. I have been told so many things that haven’t happened (as yet) it’s a case of wait and see.
How are you finding Taxotere regarding aches and pains and other side effects? I am having it coupled with Herceptin, but so far the most unpleasant side effect for me has been a sore mouth which was worse the second time than the first.
So I may be lucky and it keep growing. Have found Taxotere a bit harder than FEC, but after around a week I recovered and almost back to normal - apart from the usualy tiredness.
The bottoms of my feet are a bit numb and the tips of my toes and fingers are tingly.
Don’t feel quite so high with the steroids at the moment - but that is probably because I did not sleep at all last night!
My hair is growing really slowly and very patchy but it is growing[still some bald bits].No sign of lashes or brows yet I hope theyll start soon.Last tax 10th May.
Hi Anita
I had my first Taxotere last week after 3 FEC sessions. Lost most of my hair after 2nd FEC, thought it was my imagination that the lttle ‘frill’ that i have left seems to be growing! I was told that it would all go totally after the TAX so i’m a bit surprised! The worst thing for me has been the furry mouth syndrome and yacky taste that just wont go away but shouldn’t complain really, I’m a lot tireder than i was on FEC and a bit miserable but i’m sure that will pass soon, hope you feel ok after today
Well have had my 2nd Tax - they reduced the dose to try to reduce the side effects. Have been given Gelclair oral gel to coat my mouth with before eating, then follow after eating with Nystatin for the oral thrush.
Jibby, with my first Tax I had about 3 or 4 days of pain in my bones but mostly my lower legs - this started on day 3. The first day was quite painful so took dihyrocodine but paracetemol Ok for rest of time. Was a bit doddery on my legs too.
Yes, the mouth is the most horrible bit. My tongue was a bit swollen and I kept biting it at the sides, which made it even more sore and I could hardly talk. I was a very unhappy bunny for a few days - hopefully I can keep on top of it better this time and start on the mouth washes and drops straight away.
I have been very lucky with no nausea at all and have actually put on weight - will wait until treatment finished to deal with that - I just feel so unfit and my favourite exercise is swimming, which I can’t do until after rads finished. When this rain stops will try to get out for a walk.
It is harder than the FEC, but just think of this powerful drug zapping all those stray cells that might be lurking in our bodies.
Good luck with your next treatments Jibby & Tracy - let me know how you get on.
Hi All
I have just registered on the site. I had FEC last year and started on Paclitaxel, which is a taxotere, the beginning of May. I have been having it weekly and feel very tired and a bit weepy. Was due to have it today but couldn’t take it. One of the worst side effects is the horrible taste in my mouth all he time and the fact that nothing tastes as it should, particularly dairy products. Can anyone suggest anything.
On the hair subject I am completely bald on my head but still have some fine facial hair and thankfully my eyelashes.
Janet
Hi anita
Glad to hear it went ok for you, ive been suffering a bit this week-just thought all the aches were due to the drugs but temp went up to 37.7 last night so had to go to hospital-got a lovely kidney infection-just what i wanted-NOT!!! Probably a result of not drinking much all week cos of the yacky mouth thing going on-hard to drink even water though isn’t it when it tastes so horrible? Mint Imperials have been my staple diet up to today-seem to be able to taste things again thankfully-nurse told me today that the antibiotics i’m taking are not affected by alcohol so i’ve got a glass of red wine and its heaven!!! Oh for the little pleasures eh!!!
Think i’ll get some of that lime cordial in for next time-sounds good Anthi,
Take care ladies
Sorry you been poorly and hope the infection goes soon. I had an overnight stay in hospital the week after my first Tax but luckily my termperature started going down and they could not find any infection.
I have been drinking the Robinsons Fruit & Barley squash - the pink grapefruit is lovely - but I too find it difficult to drink the amount of water that we should.
This is what is so confusing - in our area (hanpshie) we are told not to drink bottled wate and we have to boil and cool water for drinking - don’t know if this is the same everywhere.
re the horrible taste - try eating with plastic cutlery it works wonders as does drinking any drink with lemon in it - lemon tango or even water with freshly squeezed lemon.
Hi
on the first subject my hair loss was about 75% on my head but lost hair from underarms, pubic, fine downy hair all over body, GONE …but my arms still have hair and my eye lashes and brows are sparse but still there…last year on E-CMF I was totally bald,and was told that the Tax was the same…but its not…was a bit scared as they reduced my dosage after No 1 as I was neutrophinic…so the worry was are they giving me enought?
On the second thing about drinking I really found it so much easier to drink through a straw and actually found I could drink a pint at a time using one! whereas if I had to drink it normally no way could I consume enough…sore mouth permitting of course…Anita I havent been told not to drink bottled water, can you tell me why that was please, as I drink it all the time…
I had my second Tax dose reduced too and I feel the same, are they giving me enough! Had it on Thursday and am absolutely whacked but so far the pain has not been so bad.
I think the water thing is just for our area - they have found cryptosporidium in the local water. Basically I have been told to eat and drink as if I am pregnant!
