Docetaxol/Taxotere

[celiab]

Hello
I had 6 cycles of this chemo last summer and found it really good and would definitely have it again if I the choice. I don't work but was still able to do everything I wanted. I think that it had a cumulative effect so by the last one I was feeling pretty tired and had some fluid retention in my fingers. The main side effects were niggly little things but they were different each cycle eg. stye on my eyelid, couple of small mouth ulcers (difflam was great). My nails were already in a poor state from another drug but I wore dark nail varnish throughout the chemo and they were ok.
Cx

[Guest user]

Hi ladies, I'm glad to read some positives about this chemo. Hoping my mum is well enough to have a second dose this week x

[Guest user]

Hi All
I had six cycles of Docetaxol last year. The first one was definitely the worst muscle pain, loss of taste but following that did not suffer much from side effects apart from nail probs and the occasional mouth ulcer. I continued working throughout but found the side effects cumulative and following neutropenic sepsis had probs with leg odema butI taking this into consideration it was not that bad so please don't worry. I know we are all individuals and therefor side effects differ but this chemo is the gold standard for breast cancer secondaries and my experience was on the whole positive. Hope this helps.
Love Ann

[Guest user]

Hi All,

I, too, would like to offer a more positive experience of TAX. I had 3 with Herceptin before FEC and I think that is why I found it easier. For the first cycle I carried on as normal despite feeling rough on days 5-7. The second dose was pretty much the same except for sore mouth and bone pain and started to feel more tired towards the end. After third dose symptoms got progressively worse and didn't have a 'good' week because of bone pain.

I did have intermittent diarrhoea and only once had to take medication for it. I did have bloating quite a lot after dinner so started eating less and it cleared up. I also lost 3 or 4 pounds in weight but put it all back with FEC when I couldn't stop eating.

Reading this back it doesn't sound very positive but I was feeling well and enjoyed Christmas 10 days after 3rd dose. By contrast FEC wiped me out.

Good Luck and hope your SE are tiny. Take care, Liz.

[moser]

hello, would like to offer a mote positive view of tax. I had 6 x tax for a recurrence. The first was the worst, aand I did get bad back pain from days 5 -7, and mouth thrush days 6 - 9. But even so was able to work from Fay 12 and managed to work throughout the six cycles. the rest were much better than tax 1.Everyone is different, so best to go in with an open mind, and try to take it a day at a time.Personally, for me tax was better than fec.

[Maryland]

C1are_uk....my heart goes out to you. It's c**p enough having this horrible disease without having faith in the medical professionals who are supposed to be there to support your Mum. Hopefully your Mum will be in a specialist oncology/haematology ward where the staff should be pretty clued up and Oncs should be around tomorrow. When I was hospitalised (nearly neutropenic) 3 weeks ago, there were always Oncs on duty, so fingers crossed.
If you have time it might be worth giving the helpline a ring who may be able to suggest what sorts of questions to ask.....it can be hard to be objective and rational when you're understandably angry!!!! Might be useful to have pen/paper to note down what's said?
Your Mum is very lucky to have such a caring daughter - I know I couldn't have coped without mine (and my husband, son and parents) - and I'm sure you will ensure that she has the best possible care and treatment.
STAY STRONG....virtual hugs xx

[Guest user]

Thanks Maryland. This whole situation is just a nightmare and has been from the start ( i dont just mean the diagnosis but the communication, support, her useless GP thats never actually seen my mum for this yet thinks he can decide what my mum gets or doesnt, even the district nurse tried to overide what the oncologist has said, sorry rant over, emotions running very high)My mum is still inhospital and they said she'd now got a UTI but today they tell my dad they want to brainscan her to check its not the cancer spread there too and just the de hydration/UTI. Don't really know what to think anymore. There is no support for my mum or dad. No one seems to be really listening, so what do you do?!?!? Apart from screeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaammmmmmmmm!
Going downtomorrow to try get some clearer answers xx

[Maryland]

Oh c1are_uk....I'm so sorry to hear about your Mum....hopefully her stay in hospital will help to get her treatment sorted out...it must be a very worrying time for you. Sometimes we can forget how hard it is for those closest to us..........hugs xx
Jane 75 and Quinny....the one thing I forgot was that I have MADE/DRAGGED myself out of the house every day (apart from 2) for a walk, even if it is only for 10 minutes, although I have aimed for 30 mins.....as this really has helped with fatigue. On very wet days I've walked 2/2.5 mph on treadmill for 10 mins.....xx

[Guest user]

Hi, I'm glad to see this thread appear and my mum who has been diagnosed with secondary breast cancer has just had her first docetaxel. She did not have a good time and currently in hospital ( although I'm still waiting to here from my dad as to what's happening with her). Prior to starting the chemo she has been fairly well in herself other than sickness which she was experiencing almost daily. They gave this first dose of chemo and she was fairly ok for the first few days but has gone downhill since then. It's exacerbated her sickness ( but I'm thinking that's because the meds didn't get a chance to get into her system because of the sickness ) she went right off food saying it tasted disgusting and her appetite was already poor so she ended up on high calorie drinks, again because of the sickness, she hasn't wanted to get out of bed, extreme tiredness and this has resulted in a delay in her in her next dose and they are going to reduce it by 25% . We went to see her last week and I was really shocked to see the state of her. Mentally she wasn't with it, looked like she'd aged 20 years. She did start to slowly pick up this last week but nothing like near normal and after going along to a councilling session at the hospital yesterday and talking through all the trouble she's had they admitted her with what they think is dehydration. I thought they were going to discharge her today but having not heard from my dad I'm assuming she's staying in. I'm kind of hoping they can see what shes dealing with and will hopefully get someproper treatment plan in place before she leaves and starts the next dose.
She had FEC 75 chemo 5 years ago and that was a walk in the park compared to now. Hoping you ladies have a much better experience than what we are having :0( xx

[Sam_BCC]

Hi Jane75 and quinny

As well as the support and information you are receiving here you might find it helpful to read the BCC publication on docetaxel/taxotere. It contains information on what docetaxel is, how it works, when it is prescribed, the benefits and possible side effects. If you would like to read this on-line are to order a copu just use the link below:-

http://www2.breastcancercare.org.uk/publications/treatment-side-effects/docetaxel-taxotere-bcc35

Best wishes Sam, BCC Facilitator

[Maryland]

Hi Jane....I have had 2 Docetaxel, following 3 FEC for G3 primary bc, being treated as TN as my ER/PR is only +3 and HER2-. I managed FEC really well, so it kind of took me by surprise. The 1st one hit me quite hard, but my Onc says that was probably because I still had FEC, particularly the 'E' bit in my system and that all my SEs were 'common'!!!
Side effects, personal to me, included major bone aches and pains on days 5 - 7, however this may have been exacerbated by the GCSF white blood cell boosting injections. I had oral thrush on days 5 - 10, mild cystitis days 7 - 10, mild diahorrea days 9 - 11, small nose bleeds from day 8 - 15, red patches between my fingers on and off (not painful), feet painful to walk on days 5 - 10, and virtually no taste (or everything tasted vile!) from day 3 - 14. All unpleasant, but manageable with paracetamol, ibuprofen, cranberry juice, barley water, immodium, nystan (prescribed) for thrush and doublebase cream for hands and feet! Soaking hands and feet in cold water helped too. My nails have slightly discoloured, and I cut them very short and wore clear basecoat as the tips became tender and made using my hands uncomfortable. They also have little black dots on them.
Onc said to pre-empt SEs for TAX 2....which in her experience was likely to be 'easier'.....don't think she's ever had chemo lol...
HOWEVER.....TAX 2 has been MUCH better :). Started taking painkillers on day 3, but didn't really need them much at all, and stopped on day 6 as aches and pains very minor. Also started mouthcare on day 3. Only problem with mouth is one ulcer on side of tongue! Plus the inevitable no taste. Hands and feet minimal discomfort, cystitis and diahorrea not so bad, and no nosebleeds so far......on day 10 now. TIC TACS have been fab for taste.
I went back to work full time from days 14 to 18 and plan to return again on Monday (i work term-time) until final TAX on 26th.
The biggest issue has been fatigue but guess that's the same for everyone......it's just that I'm a fit, healthy, busy person who hasn't had a day off sick for 30 years, so becoming SLOW has been a shock to the system!!! Just about managed to sort the washing today!!
As I said, this is very personal to me, and I'm sure others will have different experiences, but hopefully forewarned is forearmed.......good luck xx

[mangochutney]

Oh dear!!!!
I had FEC-T chemo and I didnt find the FEC too bad at all. Just bad fatigue and bone pain from the Neulasta.
However, I found the Docetaxol, horrendous!!! No nausea, but if the FEC was like being hit by a truck, Docetaxol was like being hit by a tank!!! Fatigue like I cant describe. Absolutely wiped me out for about 3-5 days after coming off the steroids. Couldnt, and didnt want to, get out of bed until it passed. And then as a last Hoorah, I had a few episodes of explosive diarrhoea!!

Sorry girls, but you did ask and that was my personal experience of it!!!
Mandy xx

[mangochutney]

Oh dear!!!!
I had FEC-T chemo and I didnt find the FEC too bad at all. Just bad fatigue and bone pain from the Neulasta.
However, I found the Docetaxol, horrendous!!! No nausea, but if the FEC was like being hit by a truck, Docetaxol was like being hit by a tank!!! Fatigue like I cant describe. Absolutely wiped me out for about 3-5 days after coming off the steroids. Couldnt, and didnt want to, get out of bed until it passed. And then as a last Hoorah, I had a few episodes of explosive diarrhoea!!

Sorry girls, but you did ask and that was my personal experience of it!!!
Mandy xx

[Guest user]

i would like to no to thanks xx

[Guest user]

i would like to no to thanks xx

[Guest user]

I am due to start this chemo in a few weeks time and wondered if those of you already on it could tell me how you find it. I have been on Capecitabine, but didnt get on with it at all hence the change.
Regards Jane