Side effects of Taxotere? less weekly?

[eric]

Met with the Onc today and Caryn's new regimen will be Herceptin and Taxotere. I was suprised Carboplatin wasn't included but I think it's due to the amount of treatment that she's already had. I know that TCH side effects are tough but it appears that it's a lot easier without the carbo. Anyone get taxotere without the carbo? Weekly? Someone suggested weekly as opposed to every 3 weeks to minimize the chance of side effects including hair loss.

Hugs,
Eric

[caya]

I had FEC (3 rounds), followed by Taxotere ( 3 rounds, every 3 weeks), a month break, now have had 2 Herceptin infusions - again, every 3 weeks.

My hair had already fallen out from the FEC ( a common chemo cocktail here in Canada, and other commonwealth countries like England and Australia) - My main complaints from the Taxotere were sores on my rear end - I got a script of Anusol H for these - lower leg, ankle, feet swelling, some neuropathy in my hands - and of course night sweats and fatigue. But I kept telling myself this is doable, and I did it.

I pray this new combo will work wonders for Caryn and stop the beast in its tracks.

All the best to your Caryn - from Caya ( my real name is also Caryn).

[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.

[Mary Anne in TX]

Hi Eric!
I just will believe that the Taxotere and Herceptin is the right, kill those nasty cells, treatment for your wife.
I had Taxotere with Adriamycin and all my hair fell out plus really awful mouth sores, but that was the combination I think.
I then had Taxol, Carboplatin, and Herceptin and that was much easier - lost eye lashes and eyebrows and had some stomach pain that was controlled with my little magic pills(can't remember what he gave me but they were awesome). I did get an e-coli virus during this time that made me really sick, but the prescribed medicine knocked it out and I did continue treatment with just a week delay.
Then I had Navelbine and Herceptin which I thought was really easy. I did have some tingly feet and was tired, but not sick. And I could breath again. I had trouble getting deep breaths with all the other combos, but not with Navelbine.
Just remember to call when she feels bad and get something to relieve the whatever pain for her. It took me too long to realize that if I took care of the side effects, I could DO the treatment and have a life too!
God bless you both and keep fighting,
ma

[Jean]

Dear Eric,
I am feeling and thinking positive on Caryn's new treatment plan.
please let us know how both of you are doing.

Sending Major Hugs your way,
Jean

[LOPSIDED]

I Did Taxotere For 3 Months On A Wkly Basis, Just Had Some Joint Pain, Fatigue & My Eyes Teared With My Last 3 Treatments---but My Hair Started Growing Back.

[StephN]

Hi Eric -
Sorry to hear the Caryn is changing treatments again. There will be a good one for her. Sending my most fervent positive thoughts for Caryn in her fight.

For me Taxotere was awful. I took it adjuvent in the clinical trial days of 3 weeks vs 2 weeks. I drew the big dose, which was really tough. I was slated for 4 treatments and had to cut the last one by 25% as it was so hard to tolerate for me. I had it alone after Adriamycin and then a 4 week break between the 2. I needed all the red and white cell builders to get me through.

I needed Neurontin for the pain and to help me sleep. With the weekly Taxol (for mets) I needed hardly any steroids and had NO nausea with either of the taxanes. Used Neurontin again sparingly.

Others have not reported such dramatic problems tolerating the Taxotere, and I hope the weekly dose will be more like weekly Taxol was for me.

[Vanessa]

I am on taxotere and herceptin weekly for a 2nd time. Initially, last June the I was on taxotere, carboplatin and herceptin, but I developed a severe allergic reaction to the carboplatin, so the doctor discontinued it. She stated that taxotere and herceptin are still a good combination. Since I started a 3 month regimen of taxotere and herceptin, (after being on a chemo break for 6 months) I have less side effects than I did when I was on TCH. My hair did not fall out this time. Good luck, The TCH really knocked out my mets the first time and my doctor feels the TH will do the same this time. Best wishes, I will keep both of you in my prayers.

[Kim in CA]

Dear Eric,

The Taxotere/Herceptin combo is very do-able. I was on the weekly combo for over eight months for widespread liver mets. It wasn't until the very end that side effects became bothersome. My hair thinned, but I didn't lose it all. I had hand and leg cramps frequently and tearing eyes/runny nose. Had some fatigue, but was able to do most normal things. This was a very potent combo for me that brought me to almost completely NED. Also, the weekly Taxotere is much easier to tolerate than the 3 week dose. I'm hoping this combo will do the trick for Caryn too!

Kim

[eric]

Thank you all. Caryn's Onc feels that the weekly regimen is only slightly easier than every 3 weeks and that it's not worth the burden of getting stuck every weeks plus the additional time involved.