Has anyone had adverse side effects on Taxotore? I had 3 FEC and then my first taxotere 2 weeks ago. Blimey I managed to get every side effect going and last Friday was admitted to hospital with neutropena. Spent 4 days in hospital in isolation but am now really worried that I am going to have the same response with the next one. Felt so bad last week was ready to quit but now my head is clearer and I am calmer I obviously know that is not going to happen. Has anyone any advice on getting through the side effects with Taxotere? Karen
Had loads of side effects with the Tax so much so that we agreed to switch to weekly Taxol for which I went on Monday and immediately went into a very bad reaction so back to plan A which is more tax this morning and I am not looking forward to it - no hospital for me thankfully. Re management - I’m not very good but here is what I do
Mouth - very sore so painkillers and diflam
Thrush - still trying to get on top of this and have tried EVERYTHING
Bone ache - more painkillers - I do go out walking everyday and it is very sore but I don’t think they are connected and I don’t think they are connected it is just that I want to keep my fitness levels up before I go into Rads
Nose bleeds - Platelets are fine so just keep a pack of handkies with me where ever I go
Tiredness - bed !
Loss of appetite - that is linked to the sore mouth so I just eat soup and yogurt until it passes which for me is a good week and a half/two weeks
sorry can’t be more help - I feel your pain and am sending an E-hug for when you need it - this too will pass and chemo does work so keep on truckin… R xx
Hi there
I also feel your pain!
I had my first tax last Thursday…still suffering now!
Sore mouth, throat infection, bone pain, tiredness, mood swings, fuzzy head, poor concentration, loss of appetite…all temporary but horrid!
I think maybe write down all your side efects and go through them with your oncologist next time you meet and see if he or she can’t give you extra meds to deal with then, ot lower your dose.
If it’s any consolaation, i spent alot of last night feeling very down and ready to give up…and i may well do,i absolutely hate it all with a passion.
I found Tax a lot easier than FEC, but I did end up in isolation after my first too.
I was given neulasta injections the day after my next 3 TAX cycles to keep my WBC & neuts up & it seemed to do the trick.
I had my Tax on a Thursday & on the Tuesday following I usually had a temp of around 39 & some really awful palpatations, but they passed within 12 hours or so. I just kept an eye on things & got my GP to check my bloods for me the day after just to ensure there was no infection.
For the bone pain, I was given Gabapentin (sp?) & it worked really well. The only time I had any discomfort was the one time I forgot to take them!
Good Luck with the rest of your chemo…it’ll be over before you know it!
After my first taxotere I had a severe reaction. I developed blisters all over the palms of my hands and neutropenic sepsis. I was in hospital for 5 days. My husband was terrified at how ill I was and didn’t want me to continue as he thought it would kill me. I told him that stopping wasn’t an option for me as I wanted the full treatment.
My Oncologist reduced the next dose by 25% and I had the GCSF injections for the white cells which I had to start a day earlier. I did get a high temperature each time but luckily not neutropenic sepsis again.
I had a lot of side effects on Tax - all the usual - sore throat, dizziness, tiredness, severe weakness, loss of appetite, nose bleeds etc. I also had some more unusual ones such as itchy rashes. I had 4 taxotere altogether and it was a struggle but I got through it. I am so glad now that I went for it as I feel I’ve done everything can.
The thing to do is to look at each side effect and get help from the Oncologist or from the chemo nurses who i found really good.
Horrible as it is I kept thinking if the taxotere is doing this to me just imagine what it is doing to any lurking cancer cells. That got me through plus the fact that I knew that other women had been through it too.
A very big hug to you and Naz. Keep with it!
Elinda xxx