Tax after Fec. Advice

[Donnaandfamily]

Hi Cassa

my mouth tastes yuk.....not so much metallic but everything lacks taste............ its an effort at times to know what i'm drinking or eating if eyes closed! I don't think its as bad as on the Fec xx

[Cassa]

Hi Donna, thanks for the advise, much appreciated, did you continue to get the horrible metallic taste with Tax, I have it now and it just turns my stomach it would be so nice not to have this again, hugs Cassa x

[Donnaandfamily]

Hi Cassa

I had terrible sunburn on Tax...so please be careful.....my skin is gorgeous now but was like a skin peel.....only spent 5 mins hanging out the washing......face went all red, swollen and painful...peeled and looked like a lizard!

Herceptin has been fine......and main side effects I had with Tax was sore mouth with thrush and ulcerated tongue and gums ( prescribed gelclair - excellent..takes away the pain and swelling........and nystatin for thrush.) It also took me longer to feel energised after the Tax.....usually felt normal by day 5 on Fec but about 10 days on Tax.......not ill but exhausted......probaly due to the accumulative effect of 6 chemos..so nothing nasty.......just pace yourself...........I hope this eases some of your fears xxx

Best wishes Donna

[Cassa]

Thanks for that Lovewine, good to know what to expect, x

[Lovewine]

Meant with Tax!!

[Lovewine]

Hi cassa, I have had 2 Tax and after first one my eyebrows and lashes dramatically thinned and after the second one have gone! But on a positive note my hair has started to grow back - Snow White and fuzzy but still hair!! Find it odd hair grows and eyelashes fall out! Good luck either Tax.

D

[Cassa]

Hi Ladies, I have just had my 3rd Fec and start Tax and Herceptin at the end of the month. Still have my eyebrows and eyelashes so can I expect to lose them with the Tax ? Donnaandfamily glad to hear your hair is starting to grow back, that's what I am really looking forward to ( and of course the end of chemo ) any other advise re Tax please send my way, hugs Cassa xx

[Donnaandfamily]

Hi Sheila

hope you are feeling better x I know what you mean about not wanting to go to the hospital unless absolutley necessary....have to admit I wouldn't contact the emergency line for temp of 37.4.......always told over 37.5

I had my final Tax yesterday......not too bad today....but you just wait for the side effects.......or not (fingers crossed) ....

Have my 18months worth of 3 weekly Herceptin injections all booked in.....and start tamoxifem in 4 weeks....not looking forward to that :- (  

However...despite this horrific journey we are on we are lucky to be in an era when there is something to offer us to treat it

My head hair is actually coming back all over...about half an inch now...so quite excited about that. I cannot wait for my eye lashes to return....so fed up with fiddling with falsies

I hope you keep well....

Take care

Donna xx

[SML1903]

Hi Donna

Do hope you are feeling better now.

I found your reply very interesting especially the bit about feeling light headed as I have been experiencing that as well to the point of almost loosing my balance. I also felt better after 4-5 days on the FEC but the same as you 10 days with Tax. I haven't had a sore mouth but have suffered with a very sore nose for some reason.

I saw my oncologist last night and got a bit of a telling off. When she asked me how I had been following theTax I told her about feeling like I was going to collapse while out. I also said I had been having diahorea 

( dont know if I have spelt that right) and that my temp had gone up to 37.4 and she said I should have contacted the oncology unit as I should have had a blood test to check my white blood count. She made me promise that if it happens again to phone the unit.

Take care Donna

Sheila xx

[Donnaandfamily]

Hi SML

I have found Tax alot tougher than Fec....I assume it is the accumulative effect of chemo....but I have suffered with the Tax....feel exhausted and have to pace myself...i have also felt.light headed .......i have found the last 2 Tax it has taken me..approx 10 days to recover whereas on Fec I was fine by days 4-5. However I have suffered with ulcerated mouth and gums on Tax..........and been unfortunate ein having a layngiitis and chest infection........

Doesn'y exactly answer your question......but have had similar episodes.....

Hope you feel better soon  xxxx Donna

[SML1903]

Hi 

I had my first of 3 Tax last Thursday and have found myself taking longer to recover than when having the FEC. Today I had an appt with my diabetic nurse and although I usually walk I decided to go in the car. Afterwards I drove to get my prescription and I was really glad I did as I felt so terribly weak and thought I was going to collapse. Luckily there was a chair in the chemists and I was able to rest before going back to the car. Has anyone else experienced this sort of thing as it's a bit scary and makes me a bit nervous about going out again. I have rested now and do feel much better.

[Sam_BCC]

Hi Shoes220

Welcome to the BCC forums, I'm sure some of the other users will be a long soon to offer you their knowledge and experiences. 

In the meantime if you have any questions or need to talk things through do give the BCC helpline a call on 0808 800 6000.  Here you can share your concerns and thougts with member of staff who will offer you a listening ear as well as emotional support and practical information. Lines are open weekdays 9 to 5pm and Saturday 10 to 2pm.

Best wishes Sam, BCC Facilitator 

[shoes220]

New to this forum so hello to all. I am just going to start treatment for triple negative  after surgery. Going to have FEC and Taxol every week for 9 weeks is this the correct thread to read through? 

[SML1903]

Hi Debs

Sorry to hear you have ended up in hospital, do hope you are feeling much better now. Must admit I thought I was going to have to call the hospital unit when my temp went up to 37.4 last evening. ( have been told to contact them when temp goes to 37.5). Have started taking paracetamol every 6 hours rather than waiting until I feel really bad in the hope I wont end up going to bed because its the only place I can get comfortable.

I seem to be taking a lot longer to get over the Tax than the FEC although I agree I haven't felt sick with Tax but am finding it hard to eat anything that tastes good. The food either tastes very bland or of cardboard even when I try adding extra seasoning.

Take care Sheila

[Debs-]

I have had my 2nd tax and no problems so far with nails etc,had minor aches and pains. I had a small reaction to the tax infusion 2nd time although first time went fine and they had to stop it. I prefer tax to fec in the way it does not make me feel sick but i have just got out of a weeks stay in hospital being nutropenic with pneumonia and parainfluenza3(flu)...was really terrible and happened day 5 of tax with high temp,vomiting and just a terrible feeling of being unwell. I have ended up in hospital nearly every cycle though cant say this is tax that has added to it!! My last one next week....yaaaaaay

[Debs-]

I have had my 2nd tax and no problems so far with nails etc,had minor aches and pains. I had a small reaction to the tax infusion 2nd time although first time went fine and they had to stop it. I prefer tax to fec in the way it does not make me feel sick but i have just got out of a weeks stay in hospital being nutropenic with pneumonia and parainfluenza3(flu)...was really terrible and happened day 5 of tax with high temp,vomiting and just a terrible feeling of being unwell. I have ended up in hospital nearly every cycle though cant say this is tax that has added to it!! My last one next week....yaaaaaay

[SML1903]

Hi

I had my 1st of 3 Tax last Thursday and at first thought wow this isn't as bad as the FEC. However by Sunday evening I started to ache all over including my finger nails. I have had to take regular parecetamol and for a couple of hours get a bit of relief from it all. With pain in my finger nails it is difficult to carry out simple tasks like getting the parecetamol out of the blister packs. Also as a diabetic checking my blood glucose just adds to the discomfort in my fingers. Hope this isn't going to last for too long.

[Mrs_Moomin]

Oops! That should read 12 not 112 sessions! Mrs M

[Mrs_Moomin]

Booksandwine Wondered how you were getting on with Tax. I had my first treatment today, the first of 112 weekly sessions. Just felt tired when given Piriton. Otherwise, feel fine at the moment but have been warned about tingling fingers/toes and possible nail damage. Have not been bothering much with bail varnish but using a lot off nail cream. Hope that I do not get some on the tummy trouble or joint aches mentioned by other forum members. Hope you are finding new regime bearable. Best wishes from Mrs Moomin.

[booksandwine]

Debs hope your well and tax is ok for you mine is Tuesday

[Debs-]

oooooo Bettymoo and Kess,i start my 1st tax in just 5hrs time...Fec didnt treat me very well so im hoping i will do better on tax(they say it can happen that way !!! ) Theirs no flys on me but i know where they have been ;-). Watch this space x

[Kess]

It has been two weeks since my first tax and my innards are still not quite right.... I would take the immodium I didnt for ages and wish I had.

[booksandwine]

Betty Just to say ouch you have really been hit each way with tax. I hope your starting to feel better now. My first is 3. June. All the best to you

[bettymoo]

I had my first Tax Thursday (15th May) and I felt fine up until Sunday night, then I started to feel really bloated and constipated and uncomfortable - bit more achey than normal too (Had 3 lots of FEC before this) - I did take a constipation tablet Monday night to try and help and since then I've not been able to keep anything in me! I did relent and have an Immodium last night (weds) but I didn't really want to in case it gets "blocked up" again. Also got that vile taste in my mouth, to me it tastes like old milk, and it feels like I have a light white coating all over my tounge along with ulcers - but I have some mouthwash from the Dr which I use, although it doesn't seem to make a huge deal of difference anymore.

Also noticed my fingernails feel quite "tight" and they ache as well, I've got them painted dark as per my oncologists recomendation and also just bought some Udderly Smooth for my hands as they feel as though they're burnt in the joint between my thumb and forefinger, and on my wrist.

All in all, my experience of Tax so far is really not good, still got 2 more to go as well, which I'm not looking forward to!!

[Emma76]

Hi pinkypie,
Ive just had tax (and carboplatin) no fec, but my mouth felt horrid about 5 days post chemo, but it never lasted for too long, I found mouthwash helped and gargling salt water, also sweets and fruit juices were good. I tended to eat things with quite strong tastes. I sometimes had a bit of pain too after the white blood cell injection, I found ibroprofen was the best for that.
Good luck best wishes,
Emma

[Debs-]

Sorry correction, start heceptin this Thursday and then tax on friday....

[Debs-]

Hi Pinkypie, ive had 3fec and start my 1st tax on thursday. I have had stomach pains that hospital said was caused by the injections to higher white blood cells.Is it possible that they could be causing your stomach pains also?

[booksandwine]

Pinkypie at this stage I can't relate as I start tax in June but I wanted to let you know I empathise Take care

[Pinkypie]

Hello everyone and good luck to you all. I'm new to contributing to the forum but have been reading different threads for some while now. I'm on my 2nd TAX (following 3 FECs) and wondered if anyone has come across what I've been suffering from for over 4 days now sine having chemo a week ago - excruciating abdominal pain that seems to come on overnight and at least once during the day? It lasts for about 30 mins until I take paracetamol and hold a hot water bottle. I've also got the most disgusting taste in my mouth (much worse than before) which is having an effect on eating. I've currently lost 3 stone since treatment started in February, so don't think I should be losing any more. I am trying to stay positive but it seems to be getting harder as each chemo goes past. Sorry if I sound like the voice of doom but it would be lovely to hear from someone else who's going through the same as this is such an isolating experience.

[Kess]

Per my onc, Tax is the drug with the widest side effects and the widest time range they can hit. Its really hard to be able to say anything apart from hang in there they will pass. And if the SE are really problematic to cope with ring up your chemo unit or GP and see if you can get some medications to help. I was fine on days 1 and 2 of my first Tax, then in bed for 5 days. By day 9 I am feeling as normal as things get at the moment - back at work and just a bit of residual mouth issues.

[skinnyminx]

Hi Ninathedaughter

Patients' experiences of chemotherapy are very wide-ranging so unfortunately it will be impossible for anyone to advise on how long your mother's side-effects might last.

Hopefully she will feel better very very soon. 

Wishing you and you mother all the best.

[Ninathedaughter]

Hi Ladies, 

I hope all of you will get thru this as easy as possible. My mom just had Tax on Wendsday , the following days she was great, than on Saturday and Sunday she left very weak and muscle pain all over. She can barely stand/ walk , her back hurts, her feet are red. Can someone please tell me , how long will  this muscle pain last on her, her next chemo is in 2 weeks. Will this last only for couple a days or longer. 

How can i make her feel better, can i message her? Please if any of you could guide me somehow, its very hard to see her suffer that way. Right now shes sleeping , i am praying that tomorrow she will feel better. 

I will appreciate any  of your adivice,

Best of luck to all of you.  

[Maryland]

I posted this a little while ago as there is such conflicting advice out there!

My cousin is a consultant dermatologist so I asked her about the ice gloves. She sent me a couple of links. The first is a control study (by Georges Pompidou Oncology Centre in France where the gloves were first trialled) and the second is an article (sourced through Oncology journals) by Pam Stephan, an 11 year bc survivor, that describes general nail care during chemo. I finished FEC-T in July 2012 and only used clear varnish and lots of moisturiser. My nails became ridged, slightly discoloured and started to fall off at the end of August (not all of them). They were long and strong again by December. Toenails took a bit longer.

http://www.elasto-gel.es/PDF/estudio-01-zapatillas-elastogel.pdf

http://breastcancer.about.com/od/lifeduringtreatment/tp/fingernail_disorders.htm

For every 'I used dark nail varnish' there will be a 'I didn't use dark nail varnish' and every outcome is likely to be different despite wearing nail varnish or not! As TAX affects everyone differently no-one can safely say how it will be for you. To be honest I would just go with what feels right for you, as there doesn't appear to be any decent research available. Taking extra care of your hands and nails is the best idea.

My cousin has also offered this recently for a friend of mine "You may notice nail discolouration (particularly on taxanes) as the nail root cells are killed by the chemotherapy. These dead cells push out as new cells are produced, leaving the discolouration. The effect of chemotherapy affects keratin production, the protein that gives nails their strength and rigidity, which can cause brittle nails. sometimes the nail may separate from the nail bed. There is growing evidence that wearing 'ice gloves' or immersing finger tips in iced water during infusion may help to limit damage, as the chemotherapy is the most 'toxic' to cells during administration."

Hope some of this helps.....all the best for the rest of your treatment

[booksandwine]

Me again no the search continues I will see my BCN next week will ask and main oncologist slso. Might try the breastcare help line

I plan to keep hands cold frozen gloves and at this stage dark nails. C

[joan47]

There seems to be conflicting advice about using dark nail polish to protect nails on TAX. In my hospital one chemo nurse said absolutely not and I should even use clear. Another volunteered that her patients who had used it finished up with better nails. But when asked said there was no hospital policy on this. Can anyone else help on this. In particular does anyone know of any research.

[Debs-]

I'm southampton General Hospital 🙂

[Icelolly2014]

Lets not focus on the sledgehammer part lol, I'm in south west at taunton hospital where are you?

[Debs-]

Let us know how you go on it Lorna,i too was worried about sickness as altho i have 5days worth of emend and other sickness drugs too i still feel blurrr in first week of fec...Keep hearing alot about the sledge hammer effect on tax !!!

[Elsieoc]

Had my first tax on Monday and feeling OK so far, just a bit achy & weary.

Was worried about sickness cos I was vomiting on my first round of FEC and they prescribed me Emend for the next 2 but said I wouldn't need it on tax.

Luckily they were right as I have had no sickness so far.

Lorna x

[Debs-]

Hi Icelolly, im starting tax on the 22nd also :-).....

[Icelolly2014]

I am 35 had 4 FEC and waiting for T on 22nd May, think we should try not to worry too much just look advice and get stocks of good creams etc to be as prepared as possible I have managed to work 1.5 in every 3 on FEC but if we need to rest more we just need to listen to our bodies, onc told me should not feel so sick on T but that's all they have said until pre assessment Tuesday take care lindsey 😀

[Donnaandfamily]

Hi Books

thanks for the tip....................... got my "cows udders" cream en route.........(purchased on ebay ....free delivery) ....... will start using as soon as arrives (Udderly Smooth Extra Cream, unscented with 10% Urea - £8.97)

I was told by the chemo nurse that I would still receive Emend (Aprepitant) when on Tax -  which I feel is far better than the Ondansetron and domperidone.....(I am a nurse..so from nurse point of view and as a patient) .. but to be honest I will take whatever to prevent sickness

My hospital only gives Ondansetron on day of chemo....

Ondansetron works by blocking the action of serotonin, a natural substance (that chemo can stimulate) and may cause nausea and vomiting...takes a while to take effect - hence take before food

Domperidone works by helping to move the food in your stomach through your digestive system more quickly. This helps to stop you from feeling sick...again .takes while to work 

The chemo nurse said the most common side effects with Tax are fatigue, a sore mouth and diarrhœa and or constipation....and the bone pain

Hopefully we do not expereince any of them - but we have no choice 😞   xxx Donna

[skinnyminx]

Hi

I had 3 x FEC followed by 3 x Tax in 2009/10.  I wasn't on a forum at that time and didn't 'compare notes' with anyone so I didn't know Tax side-efects would be any diffferent from FEC. 

In reality I tolerated Tax rather better, with fewer days feeling yukky and more energy generally. 

The only difference was that Tax finished off my eyelashes and fingernails - both of which soon grew strongly back post-chemo.  My toenails thickened and peeled/flaked - again they grew back but still aren't my best feature (nothing that can't be disguised with a bit of nail varnish in the summer).

Wishing you all the best as you make the transition from one regime to the next.  Please don't assume because you read on here about side-effects that you'll be similarly affected.  Remember, those who don't suffer too badly with side-effects won't be on-line reporting about it.   

[queenbee1407]

Thanks for that, a lot of abbreviations I'm not sure on. XXXX Tracey

[kim-53]

hi booksandwine, i had 3 fec and 3 tax and i found both completely different, the tax had more side effects for me but i prefered it to fec because there was no nausea or sickness and i am one of those people who cant cope with feeling or being sick, my experience with tax was that on day 4 i would wake up and feel like i had been hit by a bus sort of like the flu but worse , i had the tax on a weds and i knew that on the sat i would have to stay in bed until the monday morn when i would wake up and feel absolutley fine! my other side effects which werent too bad to cope with were slimy mouth, sore feet,runny eyes and manky nails, i hope this helps you get an idea, you may not get any of these side effects! good luck

[vercors]

Hi Debs, 

Not sure by what you mean by a break. I was never ill or in pain, but the tiredness was almost constant; but indeed I fel better during week 3. 

Good luck

[Debs-]

Hey for those of you who have had Tax already on average do you get a break the last week of it before the next hit ? Pain etc or is it constant?

[Butterfly318]

Hi there Queenbee

FEC is a combination of 3 chemo drugs.  A lot of Breast Cancer Units use FecT routinely in the treatment of Breast Cancer.  Some units use only FEC some only Tax and there are always anomolies depending on diagnosis etc. but it is widely used as 3 Fec followed by 3 Taxotere (Doceraxel).

5Fluorouracil

Epirubicin

Cyclosphosphamide   are the three drugs that make up FEC. 

Hope this is helpful Queenbee.    Take Care   Gilly x

[Butterfly318]

Evening Girls.

Have been following your thread, you all seem to be doing just great. Like most people have posted the change to Tax is different.  I had FecT November 2012 - end Feb 2013.  Similar to the other ladies on FEC i had mouth ulcers, nausea, constipation and felt rough days 2 - 5/6.  On Tax there did seem to be a cumulative effect on tiredness and I did get thrush in my mouth, upset tummy (tax trots) and felt rough (flu like) on days 4 - 8 ish.    I found the side effects were just different, not better or worse.   My Clinical Nurse Specialist was very knowledgable, helpful and had loads of time and she suggested i massage nail oil into my nails, keep very short and use a four sided file / buffer to keep them smooth.  This really worked and whilst they did go discoloured and ridged i didn't lose any.

My Oncologist routinely uses GCSF (the single large dose one........) every month throughout the whole treatment and this does create a lot of pain in hips and 'long bones'  so had a lot of leg pain and they felt very weak.  Did get pins and needles towards the end and this continued a little while after the end of Chemo.

I did try to walk every day which helped with joint / bone pain and luckily was able to work throughout Chemo ( i hadn't had surgery then though, had surgery following Chemo).

Good luck girls with the rest of your treatment.  Take Care  Gilly x

[queenbee1407]

Hi being a little bit daft, what is fec?