Taxotere question & prayer request

Angela · 01-30-2007, 06:56 PM

As some of you may remember, 3 weeks ago they tried me on taxol and I had a very bad reaction. I am schedule for chemo again Thursday (if the weather is good) and they are going to give me Taxotere. I pray I don't have another reaction. I am really nervous...I'm trying not to be but I just can't help it.

My question is what type of side effects should I expect from taxotere? I read somewhere that people have a lot of bone pain from it. Last time I was on chemo the dr. gave me pain medicine right up front. I didn't even ask for it. This time he hasn't. Not even after telling him how my back has been hurting since they gave me the shot to increase my red blood cells. Tylenol just don't seem to work on this pain.

Please add me to your prayer list for Thursday.

Thanks...hope everyone is having a good day.

Mary Jo · 01-30-2007, 07:01 PM

Hi Angela,

You can count on me for prayers for you for Thursday's treatment. I pray, in Jesus' name, that you can tolerate taxotere and you will not have a lot of pain from it. I'm so sorry that you have to have these fears and truly do feel for you as I type this.

Know that I care and will pray.

The Lord's Peace to you,

Mary Jo

kareneg · 01-30-2007, 07:20 PM

Dear Angela,
You have all my prayers to that you have no reaction to taxotere. Only a good response to it!

MCS · 01-30-2007, 07:32 PM

You know, Angela means angel so I'm sure it will be with you.

I'll lift your name to heaven tonight

MCS ( maria)

Sandy H · 01-30-2007, 07:39 PM

You will be in my prayers tonight. hugs, Sandy

SCOTT · 01-30-2007, 07:57 PM

Angela,

There is a new taxane out called Abraxane that is formulated differently so you don't have the allergic reaction. Taxol and Taxotere are both dissolved in a solvent called cremaphor that is responsible for the reaction. Recent research presented at San Antonio also said Abraxane is more effective than Taxotere due to its nanoparticle formulation and has fewer side effects. It is approved for advanced breast cancer and I am surprised your onc hasn't considered this option after having the reaction.

Scott

Liz J. · 01-30-2007, 08:18 PM

Dear Angela,

If nothing else, there is one thing that we can do for one another and that is pray. I do believe it is the best gift we can give and receive. I will be praying for you tonight.

Sincerely,

Liz J.

01-30-2007, 08:22 PM

I was on taxol, but quit after two rounds. I had very bad nauseau (for which I was given no meds) and pain (also for which I had no meds) even thought I asked before the first infusion for something. Oncologist said take Ibuprofen. I'm sure if I'd had an easier time of it, without the nausea and the pain I would have finished the four rounds. I cut off my nose to spite my face and refused to discuss with my oncologist-- just quit. And I'm sorry now that I did. Don't be foolish like me, make sure you have whatever you'll need to get through it. And I'm sure you will, so many others have before you.

Good luck.

01-30-2007, 08:26 PM

I had very bad constipation on taxol, for ten days. Make sure you have something in the house should this happen to you. I tried natural remedies like prunes but they only made it worse. Finally took senokot and it worked overnight.

rinaina · 01-30-2007, 09:37 PM

Will be praying for you Angela. Hope you have an uneventful treatment and can tolerate it well.

mslinda · 01-30-2007, 09:59 PM

Angela:
I wish you good results. I pray that you will not have any reactions to the different chemo on Thursday and all through your treatment.

Linda

Shell · 01-31-2007, 06:32 AM

I had no problems with nausea while on taxotere. My knees got achey, and I someitimes got nosebleeds or a runny nose. Overall, it was quite tolerable, and I wish you the same wth your upcoming treatment.

Regards,

KRISS · 01-31-2007, 06:41 AM

Angela

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers and send you white peaceful light. Keep up the fight and don't give up. Kriss

Diane H · 01-31-2007, 08:44 AM

Hi Angela, I too had a reaction to taxol but had no problems with taxotere as far as that goes. For side effects just tiredness and very achey but once I got adequate pain relief I could work and there was no nausea. I cannot stress enough to get good pain relief, it was such a relief once I had the body aches under control. Do not let them "pooh pooh" you on this. Sending you prayers and hugs and I really think the taxotere will work for you... Diane

tousled1 · 01-31-2007, 09:07 AM

Angela,

I had 4 rounds of Taxatere. I did get decadron as a premed. I think I had more reactions to the decadron (a steroid) than the taxatere. I was completely wired and couldn't sleep for about 4 days and then all of a sudden it was WHAM like walking into a brick wall. I did suffer from neuropathy while on Taxatere and had some bone pain. Not sure if the bone pain was the Taxatere or the Neulasta shots. At any rate, I got through it and I know you can. I'll say a prayer for you.

lexigirl · 01-31-2007, 09:25 AM

Hi Angela,

I had horrible bone pain from the taxol that lasted a few days after each infusion. I took motrin and hot baths did help some. I am saying prayers for your tx to go smoothly tomorrow and for you to have no serious reactions to the drug. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Hugs and Prayers,
Lexi

Louise O'Brien · 01-31-2007, 12:02 PM

Angela - I will be having my second round of taxotere next Wednesday. While I did have some side effects, I know what to do now and I'll be more proactive this time around. You may have none - the oncologist told me taxotere is supposed to be easier to tolerate than taxol - especially when it comes to neuropathy. (They also put iced mitts on our hands and feet during the infusion - a technique initiated by Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, one of the leading cancer centers in Canada.)

I did have muscle and joint pain but I let it go too long. The oncology nurse prescribed Tylenol 3 with codeine which made a huge difference in just one day. Make sure you get a prescription for that. I've usually found that side effects kick in one or two days after my last dose of dexemethasone. I won't wait this time to take Tylenol 3.

I'm assuming you're prescribed three days of dexemethasone - starting the day before? If not, you should be. I've been prescribed 4 - 4 mg tablets per day.

And yes, there was constipation but I've learned something now after four chemo rounds. I don't wait to take Senekot any more - I take it by the fourth day after chemo and it too makes a huge difference.

I wish you well.

Adriana Mangus · 01-31-2007, 12:21 PM

Dear Angela; My heart goes out to you. Ask the doctor for the meds. do not wait, remember the docs have a lot of patients, perhaps he does not even remember what type of chemo you are on. So Girl, be aggresive and go and ask. Good luck, and I will be praying for you sister....

Debra · 01-31-2007, 05:55 PM

Angela -

I will send many prayers your way tonight and will continue to do so. The power of prayer can be a wonderful thing!
Hugs to you and prayers for tomorrow to be a much better outcome then the last.

Bev · 01-31-2007, 09:49 PM

Good luck Angela! Also did benadryl and decadron w/ taxotere. Felt hungry, sleepy, speedy, crappy and constipated. But not too bad. I thought the premeds were worse than the taxotere, but I haven't done TH without premeds, so I really don't know.

Nurse told me to do B-12 for extremity pain. The back pain is probably from the blood cell boosters. Maybe your counts won't go down this time. My counts did not go down for TH. Ask them to alleviate your symptoms. BB