Hi all,
Just a bit of advice needed really having 4 x FEC - 2nd hopefully on Tues pending bloods but really worried as will be starting 4 X TAX on the 18th December and have only read horror stories about side affects. Have a holiday cottage booked and two little boys and want to try and have a lovely one, don’t know how many I have left!!!
Any one out there who has been OK or any advice how to get through it as best as poss.
Thanks sorry to moan on Sat night
Love
C
Hi C.
I would have a serious talk with your onc, sooner rather than later, and ask about the possibility of delaying the start of the taxotere so that you can all enjoy Christmas first. After all if you got an infection or were poorly it would be delayed anyway. They are usually very sympathetic if there is no danger in delaying.
Dawnhc
I’m inclined to agree with Dawn as I was very unwell on Taxotere, in particular with the first one, the side effects kicked in 3 days after I had it at the hospital and I was in absolute agony with shooting joint pains to the point I spent 2 days in tears. Couldn’t get my GPs surgery either as it was the Easter Weekend. I had 4 x FEC first the second was the week before last Christmas, but I was OK for Christmas Dinner as it was only me and OH. I was very tired on Boxing Day though and spent it in my pyjamas.
I was OK right the way through FEC, just a couple of days fatigue during each cycle. I’ve heard the nurses say if you are OK with FEC you tend to have a harder time on Taxoter and vice versa. In my case my onc said it didn’t help that I was having it combined with Herceptin as the combination of the two can make the fatigue worse.
I’m sure if you speak to your onc they will be able to sort something out for you - I had one of my doses suspended for a week as they thought I was possibly becoming diabetic (thankfully, it was a steroid side effect and all is back to normal). I was thankful because the extra week in between let my body repair itself a bit as I had no energy for the 12 weeks I was on it.
i agree with Dawn, talk to your onc about delaying the treatment over Christmas.
however, should all your chemo go ahead on the due dates, and you do start your TAX on 18th - make sure you take all the anti sickness medication etc as prescribed. Make sure everything is sorted before your treatment - you can all wear scruff gear for a few days! Christmas day itself is a week after treatment, so you should be reasonably ok that day anyway.
whatever happens you will be well enough to watch the children open their presents and have fun - you’re away from home so they won’t notice if some of the traditions are missing
hugs
Good advice from the ladies about delaying 'til after Xmas, but in case that doesn’t work - just wanted to reassure you a little. My first dose of Tax side effects kicked in on day 3 also, but really only lasted for the rest of the week, weeks 2 and 3 I have been OK. I have been having antibiotics from day 7 to 14 too, prob standard for Tax I think, but make sure you get those and that will help on the infection front…oh and gets som difflam in case your mouth is sore.
Good luck
Ali
x
I’ve just had dose 3 of 4 Taxotere and agree with what the girls have said. Delay it until after Christmas if possible.
I have my final dose on November 1st and start rads at beginning of December for 3 weeks, and I’m worried about getting all the Christmas gift and food shopping done!
Tax can really take it out of you.
xxxx
Thanks everyone I didn’t know you could delay it and not sure i want to as hopefully if all stays on schedule i will finish chemo on valentines day!! Silly I know but a bit of a romantic really. Is it standard to have antibiotics everytime just in case? I hate swallowing tablets but don’t mind needles at-all!!! Anyone else on them just in case.
Thanks again
Bestie also i read on another thread you used the cold cap, I have posted one as scared re metastasis in scalp, where you worried at-all? I would like to keep hair if poss as my little boy freaked when I had it cut.
Love
C
I can only say that no, I haven’t been given antiobitics on Taxotere.
xx
where I am antibiotics isn’t standard - and if you’ve got white cells then they don’t prescribe at the hospital either. We don’t get offered cold cap either - so have a fuzz now! My grandsons and I discussed granny going bald for a bit and which of my hats i should wear - at 3, 5 and 6 they are all in agreement that granny without hair is very funny 
dawnhc’s idea is good try that first, then if all else fails, get yourself really organised. I suffered for a few days after my fec but by next one was feeling better. So on your good days, do as many jobs as poss inc any cooking and freeze/store this. By the actual day you may be fine but enlist as much help as poss from OH or who ever you are spending time with.
Enjoy it as much as you can.
Love Irene
I had 4 Fec and 4 Taxotere last year, the side effects are very different, I didn’t have chemo delayed but did request herceptin to be changed to allow me to go away and the chemo nurses were fine with my re-arranging.
When I switched to taxotere I thought it was a breeze, but don’t be fooled, the effects kick in day 3/4, get a really good mouthwash, loads of nurofen, dark nail varnish (I treated myself to a Dior one) and rest whenever possible, hard I know with children, but I had to really slow down on the taxotere. I did end up neutropenic after the first but I think I was rather niave and over did it.
The last 3 session were OK and I managed to take my 8 year old daughter a girls aloud concert, watch take that with my girlfriends and continue to watch my son play football. I just really listened to my body, caught up with sleep and rest when my 2 were school and make the most of neighbours and friends who offer to walk the kids to school or have them over for tea or to play.
8 sessions are hard work but its do-able. Good luck,
Debbie x
Hi there Zjlove,
BC is a bummer and having chemo over Christmas is rotten - but I’m sure your onc will work with you to make it as doable as possible. Re the cold cap - mm I guess there is a small increased risk of mets (but my onc really played this down) i went for it - just couldn’t face my kids pulling the wig offf in the playground ! The cold cap worked for me but only time will tell if i made the wrong choice…
good wishes on your journey - the kids will keep you going through the bad days.
cheers
caroline
Last year I delayed the start of chemo cos second one would have been due at Christmas onc said delay did not matter at all and we had a lovely time.I did find taotere horribly debilitating do defer if you can.lol horace
Sorry to hijack this thread. I too am having 3 FEC and 3 TAX, started FEC yesterday. First TAX is on the 18 Dec all going well. Am worried about Christmas too. Do you think I can defer until after? No effects from FEC yet but then it has only been 18 hours!!
Vanessa
Hiya,
I would agree to move starting TAX til after Christmas, especially if you are going away from your local hospital. What if you got ill and had to go to hospital over the Xmas period? Over that time hospitals are staffed very minimally. I am on weekly EPI and continuous 5FU and had to stop treatment for two weeks due to a very nasty coldsore on my lip, I was disappointed but its only two weeks extra.
Good luck
allie
Hi zjlove
Agreed on moving it. I have suffered very badly with my first Taxotere. Flu like symptoms, around 5-8 days after, really sore mouth (not good if you want Xmas dinner!) and weird heavey thing (although not feeling nauseous). Also like Allie a painful cold sore in the corner of my mouth.
Still having headaches and fluey feelings and it’s 13 days later and I had the GCSF injection.
I think Christmas would be a bit miserable with all this.
Cecelia. x