weekly taxotere

[lindaw]

Hello
I am over my feeling sorry for myself and thinking about what I may have to do next. It may be weekly taxotere and herceptin. Can anyone who has done this please inform me of the side effets and effectiveness. I have had it before - pre surgery I had doxorubicin and doxetaxol( taxotere) 3 weekly and it shrunk my tumour heaps.
I am not good with steroids and got osteonecrosis in my legs last time which can be very bad. luckily it had only begun and it then corrected itself ( immediately stopped the steroids). I have been reading a bit and it seems you can avoid having the steroids on weekly chemo. I could probably have the iv steroids and give the tablets a miss.
I work full time and have done throughout my chemo ( 4 years almost) with a few sick days here and there.
I am hoping to continue that.
What do you think.?Thanks

love
Lindaw

[janet/FL]

I had weekly taxotere and Herceptin. I only had the steroids at the day of the infusion along with zolfran as premeds. Hair fell our gradually over the whole treatment. You shouldn't need the tablets.
Hugs, Janet

[lindaw]

Thanks Janet - was it effective for you?


love
linda

[Kim in CA]

Lindaw,

I had weekly Taxotere and Herceptin back in 2001 for extensive liver mets. After about 8 months of this I had to stop. I managed ok with the treatment up until the last couple months when I started getting bad hand and leg cramps and constant tearing of my eyes and runny nose. Was just generally getting worn down. However, I started out with slightly lower than average blood counts because of the high dose chemo I had back in 1997. I only had the steroids the day I got my infusion so it wasn't so bad. I didn't need any anti nausea meds either. After awhile I figured out if I took a benadryl before bed it would help me sleep cause the decadron gets you so wired.

The treatment completely got rid of my liver mets, and other than my single brain lesion last summer, I am NED. It shouldn't be too bad for you. I was able to still ride my horse all through treatment.

Kim in CA

[janet/FL]

Thanks Janet - was it effective for you?

Lindaw
I was doing it as adjuvant treatment, so it seems effective though I have nothing to judge it by. My last one is next Tuesday and I hope to be done with breast cancer--as we all do.
I had wondered if I needed the Zofran, Kim said she didn't take it and I never had any nausa. I do have side effects. However, since I am such a whoose, I will wait a bit to see how much of my syptoms are from the drugs or from age, 62, and a body that is in general not real strong. My legs and arms hurt--but they hurt more when I was on Lipator for cholestrol
I really had trouble sleeping--took halcion for sleep and still do.

MY body still aches when I overdo--and it doesn't take a lot for me to overdo.

You may have little problems with it.

[Patty H]

I had weekly taxotere with herceptin and carboplatin. I had good results on them and I didn't loose my hair. I had to quit because of a reaction to the carbo. If we don't get this tykerb we are thinking about doing taxotere and herceptin. When I was on this my Dr. came in the room after a scan and did a dance. He said when they get this kind of news at his house they do a happy dance. I had a growing lung met, and I had shrinkage after 2 months on this combo. Some combo's have held it at bay, this was the only one with shrinkage. I did have to take some steroids and the next day or two after trearment I felt achey and just not good. But the rest of the week was great and I was glad to keep my hair. Patty H

[Jean]

LindaW

I am currently on Taxotere and Herceptin & Carboplatin (TCH..)
It is going well. I do have the runny nose and after one treatment
I did have strong toe and foot cramping. Have had 9 weeks of treatment so far.

I wish you the best!

Jean

[madubois63]

I did weekly Taxotere, Carboplaten and Herceptin. I did not loose all my hair - it thinned and I wore "newsie" type hats. No one knew. I had IV benadryl and Decadron along with Ativan and Zorfan as pre med's. I only did the Decadron on the day of treatment. I needed a gallon of ice cream (or anything that didn't move) and Ambien to combat the Decadron on the treatment night. Day 2 was fine for me, but day 3 was "leave me alone" day. I took lots of Zorfan, drank ginger ale and ate black licorice. After that, I felt pretty good. I did this regimen for over a year and felt better as time went on. Good luck and God bless...Maryann

[lindaw]

Thanks everyone for your informative replies. I do appreciate it.
My scans were clear again - so it is just the oesty skin mets. I see my Onc on Tuesday to see if we change from gemzar to taxotere. I don't think we mix it with carbo here in Australia.

love
lindaw

I had weekly taxotere last summer for twelve weeks with Herceptin, followed by Herceptin every three weeks for another 9 months.
I was premedicated for the first treatment with steroids. Because I didn't have an allergic reaction, I didn't need premedication for any of the remaining treatments, only 1 pill the day of my treatment.
My side effects were limited to neuropathy in my feet. This still hasn't completely resolved, and it's been 11 months since my last taxotere treatment. I also have excessive watering of my eyes, seems my tear ducts were affected.
The treatments didn't change anything for me - I was able to drive myself to treatment, and then return to work the rest of the day. I never missed any work, and was able to eat whatever I wanted. I didn't gain weight after my first treatment (gained 5 lbs. in one day with steroids), and other than the neuropathy, and lingering lack of sensation in my toes, and having my hair fall out, I was able to tolerate the treatments. I had echocardiograms every 3 months, and my heart function remained stable. This treatment was so much easier than the earlier chemo (Four years ago I had 6 treatments of FAC). Good luck to you.