Side effects of Taxotere? less weekly?

[Lolly]

Eric, when I was on Herceptin and in and out of NED, my onc would always suggest reverting back to weekly Herceptin when it became necessary to combine it with chemo for that one-two punch that would hopefully knock me back into NED or stable disease...
I never had a triplet combo, because he feels the side effects are indeed more severe than with a single chemo. I had very good results from this strategy, and now that I'm on Tykerb/Abraxane the plan remains in place; use of single chemo's with Tykerb as necessary.
I don't know specifically about Taxotere side effects as that's one I've never had yet, but I know others here have info on that. I just wanted you to know I'm thinking of you and Caryn and to reassure you that a single chemo/Herceptin combo can be very effective and extend options.

<3 Lolly

[Kavy]

Hi, Eric,
Taxotere/Herceptin is a very good combo, and I am glad Caryn will get Herceptin again. I had this combo for 6 months and it was pretty easy on me. I did not feel tired, I had much more energy than I have now with Nalvabine, and I did not lose my taste. But my hair did not grew back while on it, and my big toe nails both fell off. My finger nails got pretty bad, and I thought they would fall off too, because they were all half way loose, but I used tree tea oil on them, and they got back to normal. I used to bring a plastic bag with ice to the infusion room to put my fingers in it, because I read it helped the nails not to fall off, but it did not help me though.
I have tingling and numbness in my hands and feet, and my legs feel heavy sometimes. My doctor says that it is from Taxotere, but I think it is from Nalvabine.
I was very disappointed when my doctor decided to change from Taxotere to Nalvabine, because it was very doable, and it was every 3 weeks.
I hope and pray that this combo will take Caryn to NEDland.
KarlaV.

[Sheila]

Eric
I am on Taxol rather than Taxotere with Herceptin and Avastin...the Taxol is very similar, I get it weekly x3 then off a week, they just switched my Herceptin to every other week, and Abraxane every other week...the Abraxane is new and blocks the blood supply to the tumor, the Herceptin has been my backbone in treatment for 4 years. I have had very few effects from the Taxol...did lose my hair after 3 weekly, but no nausea, tired from the premeds they give me, but my counts are good so far....Taxotere hopefully in the same family will be just as easy...although I wonder why no Abraxane, also the same family with minimal side effects....I couldn't get it as the insurance would only pay for Taxol, same effect but CHEAPER...maybe ask about adding the Avastin....my nodes are less than half the size after 3 weekly treatments!
I will be thinking of you and your wife.