Blocked tear ducts from taxotere - need tubes

jaykay · 03-07-2013, 05:50 PM

Anyone have experience with tubes for blocked tear ducts? After weeks of tears streaming down my face, went to see an opthamologist. I know it is a side effect of the lovely taxotere but supposedly quite rare. If it's so rare, why did the eye doc know all about it?

I'm having tubes put in next week, both eyes. I really hate to complain but when do the side effects stop? Last chemo is next Thursday (yea!)

Janis

Kim in CA · 03-07-2013, 08:32 PM

Hi Janis,

I too am suffering from the Taxotears that constantly stream down my face. My last taxotere infusion was 23 days ago, and I've not seen any improvement yet.

When I mentioned this to my new oncologist that I saw this week, she said that it is not uncommon for the tubes to be placed while you are undergoing treatment, and then they are usually removed once treatment ends. Since I am already done with taxotere, and don't think I will ever go back on it again, I am going to just wait it out a few more weeks, and hope that the tears stop.

I was on taxotere back in 2001/2002 for almost 8 months, and had the tearing back then too, but it didn't seem quite this bad. It did eventually stop, but I can't honestly remember how long it took.

I will be curious to know how the tubes work for you, in case I don't get any improvement.

Take care,
Kim

Pamelamary · 03-07-2013, 10:27 PM

As another Taxotears victim, I never saw a specialist about the floods, although I found it extremely embarrassing! One more thing to make you want to just hole up at home. However improvement began as soon as I finished the chemo, and I felt "normal" after about 6 weeks.
Nevertheless, I feel my eyes have been permanently effected - much more sensitive now.
Best wishes..... Pam

jaykay · 03-08-2013, 07:27 AM

Thanks, ladies. One of my ducts is 100% blocked and won't unblock on its own and the others are really narrow, so I'm reluctant to wait.

I feel like a little old lady with kleenex in every pocket and sleeve :-). No offense to little old ladies!

I will let you know what happens. Supposed to be a relatively minor procedure in the dr's office - 15-30 minutes.

Best,

Janis

Jackie07 · 03-08-2013, 08:01 AM

Janis,

The latest abstract I could locate on the subject was published in 2002. Seems it's a recognized fact ... Doctors must have had a lot of experience on the procedure by now. Hope you will get the problem solved soon.

Arch Ophthalmol. 2002 Sep;120(9):1180-2.
Docetaxel secretion in tears: association with lacrimal drainage obstruction.

Esmaeli B, Ahmadi MA, Rivera E, Valero V, Hutto T, Jackson DM, Newman RA.
Source

Ophthalmology Section, Department of Plastic Surgery, Box 443, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA. besmaeli@mdanderson.org

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To test the hypothesis that docetaxel may be secreted in tears after intravenous infusion.
DESIGN:

Prospective pilot trial.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Tear fluid was collected from 4 patients receiving docetaxel weekly and 2 patients receiving docetaxel every 3 weeks as a single agent for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Tear samples were collected once prior to and again within 30 minutes following the end of the 1-hour docetaxel infusion. A blood sample was also obtained after infusion. The tear and plasma samples were analyzed for drug content using high-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry.
RESULTS:

Docetaxel was found in the tear samples collected from all 6 patients.
CONCLUSION:

The secretion of docetaxel in tears may be a mechanism for canalicular inflammation and tear drainage obstruction, which are known to occur as an adverse effect of the drug.

jaykay · 03-08-2013, 10:13 AM

Ugh! Kind of disgusting to think of taxotere being secreted via tears and rolling down your face but makes perfect sense because how else would it affect the tear ducts.

Thanks Jackie!

tricia keegan · 03-08-2013, 05:42 PM

Janis I had this side effect but no treatment for it and thankfully it was temporary, thinking of you and hope this blocking helps.

Emy · 03-08-2013, 08:55 PM

Janis..
I too have been having eye problems since on taxol..never had eye problems before.I don't even wear glasses....since taxol, have had painful styes...stopped wearing eye makeup, I didn't know what is was from....My vision is also affected...
eileen

Pam P · 03-09-2013, 01:22 PM

I was on taxotere in 2003 I think. The worst chemo I've ever been on. Both my tear ducts were badly scarred and so I needed the tubes. I found a specialist that was well skilled in the procedure. Back then I was in for day surgery. Glad to hear they're doing it in the office now. In the beginning I had a bit of a problem with one tube popping out so it took a few more office visits. None of it was painful. I've had no problems since and am glad I did. Before the tubes it appeared I was crying all the time.

linn65 · 03-12-2013, 05:25 AM

Janis,

My eyes watered non-stop on Taxotere, and it drove me batty! I kept thinking if my eyes would only stop watering "eye roll" it would be much better!! I complained about it all the time to my family. I tried everything too like natural tears or Claritan to think of a couple things. Then because they watered so much the cracks of my eyes would hurt and after a full day of work the time I got home I would try and lay on the couch with a cold wash cloth on my eyes. That watering eyes was just plain awful, and I feared it would not go away!! Sometimes I would just get pressure behind my eyes like a sinus headache with all the watering. I feel your pain I really do!!! If I was not crying from all the other side effects my eyes would water non-stop!!

My last chemo was the worse with my eyes, and I woke up and one eye was all red, puffy and watery it looked like I had pink eye or something. The doctor called me in steroid eye drops to use and that took that part away in a few days. After a couple of weeks of being done with Chemo my eyes stopped watering. It was kind of funny one of the first things my sister would ask me is, "How are your eyes, are they still watering"? It stopped and then came back for a couple days, and I thought Oh crap. But it stopped and they stopped watering and have not watered since.

My last chemo really kicked my butt! However, I celebrated the day of knowing this was the last, but at the same time I was scared to death of what would the final blow do of chemo. It had already been so tough. The first two were not uhm how should I put it not bad but each time got so difficult. My 5th and 6th were the hardest, but I was a "Lucky" one my ONC said because I managed to get them all without my blood counts getting too low (besides anemia) and never had the shot they said caused terrible bone paid.

I remember lying in my bed on the 5th one and one minute just shivering and within 5 minutes burning up, and just plain lethargic.

After the 6th I was like a weak kitten and my strength was just gone. I could walk to the kitchen and back and my legs felt really weak, my heart would race and talk about watering eyes and crying. Yikes! I ended up with Bronchitis and ended up in the ER to get steriods, fluid and antiobiotics.

The light at the end of the tunnel is after a few weeks the eyes stopped watering, my legs got stronger, and my strength is greatly improved. You will get through this part and it's tough but you can and will. People will tell you how strong, tough and how you are doing amazing, but I never felt the words given.

However, what I do know is that making it through those 6 chemo treatments of TCH you will be stronger as time goes on. Hang tough and complain all you want because Hey, I feel like this is my place to complain so it is your place too!! We are all kindred spirit's on this board and are pretty darn tougher than most because we are surviving a disease that we never chose to get. My heart aches for you and my thoughts are with you that God will give you strengh and peace!! I will say a prayer for you right now too.

Oh and I tend to ramble.......or get off track!! Cancer gave me ADD too. LOL

jaykay · 03-12-2013, 09:16 AM

Thank you, Linn - I'm kind of ADD from chemo as well :-).

Getting the tubes put in tomorrow; almost as excited as the last chemo the day after.

We're all so different in our reactions to chemo. My worst one was the third, things got better (or I was better prepared) after that. Other than the tearing eyes and brown/yellow fingernails.

I did get the Neulasta shot the day after each chemo. It didn't bother me as much as it did some others, guess I was lucky in that area.

Thank you and you are stronger than you think!

Janis