[Andrea Barnett Budin]

I was on Taxotere from Sept '98 through to the end of May '99 (when my BC metastasized to the liver). Initially I had a radical mastectomy and 4 Adriamycin and 8 CMF. I felt more and more fluish, weak and wobbly, shaky and sapped with each treatment, but fared well overall. I was told I'd be back to normal in a few months. I wondered what was wrong with me, when I continued to feel the side effects after finishing my protocol. I friend with leukemia told me not to listen to the doc. That it could take years. Convinced I was sane and not an oddball, it did indeed take years. Then came my recurrance. HER-2 was in clinical trials in '98. I asked to be tested, after I asked for the liver (abdomenal) sono, which called for a CT and then a liver biopsy. My liver enzymes were very slightly elevated w/every 3 month blood tests. The docs kept saying not to worry. I questioned the #s all the same. And finally I asked for the sono. Taxotere was the most aggressive tool in the med prof arsenal, my favorite onc told me. He said I had a highly aggressive form of BC (4th stage invasive lobular, not ductal, carcinoma w/ 2 out of 18 lymph nodes involved from the outset). I chose the harder road, knowing it was my best shot. I got shingles after the first 2 treatments. Icaught it the moment the first itchy bug-bite-looking raised red blotch appeared on my belly, went to the doc, got put right on the drug to counter it. I spent 10 days in hell, w/calamine lotion, the pills and some additional herbal supplements I read about in my Nutritional Healing book, and then was good to go. No chemo when you've got shingles. I was determined to get back on the chemo. I expected the "freight train" drug to be tough, read all the side effects and tried not to allow the fear of them to predict my course. Still, I had almost every side effect listed X 10. I went into remission, getting 3 different radiologists to read my scans and finding that the concensus was that what they were looking at was no longer multiple tumors in my liver, but the dead remains of tumors, cyst-like, filled w/fluid. I was in cautious remission. I remain so. AND YES, I still have the neuropathy thing going and the deep pain in my legs and sometimes in my arms on bad days. I have an oncological nutritional expert in Manhattan who recommends mega doses of a batch of immune boosters, healthy heart boosters, anti cancer herbs and energy boosters. I don't know where I'd be without Dr. Mitchell Gaynor and my crazy huge list of vitamins+ that I live on. I believe they keep me pretty straight. I have stopped my pain meds, finally. I have developed a bit of a swallowing problem and an IBS (Irritable Bowel) since Taxotere. Dr. G. gives me stuff for that that has been a Godsend. Mar, tell me what your experience has been, long term side effects and all. I am delighted to have found a cohort who really gets it. I am sending you, and all who read this, love and healing energy. Stay strong.

ANDI