Taxotere - any good days?
Taxotere - any good days? Hi there,
Have just been offered Taxotere to treat a local recurrence. I was really ill with my first lot of anthracycline chemo and am really relucatant to have any more but it is looking like my only option.
I know the side effects from Taxotere can be pretty grim too, so
what i would like to know is whether (and if so how many) you have any O.K days between treatments? i.e. are there any days when you start to feel relatively normal again before the next treatment.
I know we are all different but i think it will be safe to assume that my side effects will be pretty dire so i would like to see if i will have any life at all in the next 6 months or wheteher it will be a total wipe out.
Don’t spare the news, good or bad. you won’t put me off, I just want to plan!
Thanks for your help.
Wishing you lots of good days to come.
Lucylu x
You never can tell I had an absolutely lousy time on FEC, but I was much better on taxotere. The big problem with taxotere was that the steroids made me really hyper for a few days and then I would go into a very sleepy phase. I had my taxotere on a Friday which worked out really well because I would get lots done over the following weekend and then collapse on the Monday. I did get more tired as things progressed. I had four rounds, but even then I was nowhere near as bad as I had been on FEC after four rounds.
Hi Lucylu, I had 4 x FEC and 4 x Taxol in '04.Must admit I found the FEC more grueling.Got more tired on the Taxol and was left with periperal neuropathy in my toes which still isnt quite right(but nothing to complain about) It certainly wasn’t the nightmare I imagined it would be! It didn’t interfere too much with my life - but by the time I’d had four doses I’d have been picking myself off the carpet after a fifth one!!
good days? I had 4 cycles of taxotere in 2004 (same time as Christine MH…in those days not so many having tax and it was good for us to compare notes.)
I had mine on a Thursday , was hyper with steroids till Saturday and then felt grim for 4-6 days each cycle. Not sick, ‘just’ that awful can’t get out of bed fatigue. But I was OK by the following Saturday so I’d say I had about 10-12 days feeling OK each time.
I know what you mean about that no choice feeling. I’ve just got regional recurrence and started navelbine and xeloda on Thursday…objectively its not as bad as taxotere and AC but oh I had forgotten how chemo for me ‘messes with my head’…depression, what’s the point kind of feelings.
I think the point is that we all do it in the hope of some more healthy time…I went more than 2 and half years between last lot of taxoeter and now and yes I think it was worth it for the good times I have had (Though I confess always to that sneaky question we are not supposed to ask: would it have been OK anyway???)
Sorry I’ve muddled my stuff with yours. Taxotere doesn’t have to be for everyone as bad as you sometimes read. Good luck.
Jane
i have just finished taxotere hi I have just finished 3 FEC and then Taxotere. I was very lucky I had very little side effects with both. With FEC I sailed thru it apart from feeling sick the first few days. With taxotere I only had a horrible taste in my mouth. I did end up in hosp but that was because I got a sore throat in mid cyclye and my white blood cells went low. Even then I didnt feel ill. Everyone is different you just have to wait and see. Good luck. I am in hosp next week for a mastectomy and then radiotherapy. heres hoping everything goes well. Love Catriona xx
I had worse side effects with taxotere than with FEC.They varied with each cycle and were cumulative however I wasnt sick with it.No1 brought over aweek of pain in joints.Then there was increasing fatigue.diarrhoea.numb fingers nd toes.weakness in legs and arms.extremme lethargy and sore eyes.There were others but those were worst.By the end I had no ‘normal’ days between cycles as the weak legs lethargy and breathlessness persisted although they did improve.I
My last was on 10th May andI cannot walk far and have numb fingers and toes.Dont forget to wear dark nail varnish to protect your nails.lol Val
thanks Thanks for your advice everyone
I know what you mean Jane, about “would it be alright anyway?”. I was really hoping I’d said goodbye to all this but it seems as though I’ll never break free!!
It does seem so tempting just to walk away and say “forget it, I’ll take my chances”, but I’d never forgive myself if it spreads within the next six months when I could have had a chance.
How are we meant to make those sort of decisions?
I’m thinking about seeing another onc anyway just to confirm whether it will be worthwhile.
In the meantime thanks so much for all of your help when you’re probably feeling pretty fed up yourselves anyway.
Best of luck next week Catriona & thanks for the nail varnish tip Val!
Take care
Lucylu x