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09-21-2008, 06:18 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 2,214
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Neurapthy & Taxotere
Hello all,
I have one more Taxotere to go, but am having problems with numbness in my hands, and weakness and throbbing in my arms and legs.
I don't want to be a wuss, but I work with my hands all day long and my oncology nurse said 50% of patients with neurapthy don't improve after treatment.
Has any one else regretted continuing Taxotere with this problem?
I've been taking B12, B6 and 600mg alpha lipoic acid.
I'd love to hear other's experiences.
'lizbeth
__________________
Diagnosed 2007
Stage IIb Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Pagets, 3 of 15 positive nodes
Traditional Treatment: Mastectomy and Axillary Node Dissection followed by Taxotere, 6 treatments and 1 year of Herceptin, no radiation
Former Chemo Ninja "Takizi Zukuchiri"
Additional treatments:
GP2 vaccine, San Antonio Med Ctr
Prescriptive Exercise for Cancer Patients
ENERGY Study, UCSD La Jolla
Reconstruction: TRAM flap, partial loss, Revision
The content of my posts are meant for informational purposes only. The medical information is intended for general information only and should not be used in any way to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease
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09-21-2008, 07:19 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: WA State
Posts: 199
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I had Taxotere and have just a bit of tingling in my hands. I have also had some charley horses in my right foot when I lay down to sleep. It's not bad and I've had been taking l-gutamine but had stop when I started radiation as my Rad Dr didn't want me to take it while I was doing radiation. The l-glutamine does seem to help with the problems as mine got much better while taking it. So far the problem isn't bad and doesn't seem to be getting any worst. I finished chemo on 7/24 and work with my hands quite a bit. I also do crocheting and I haven't been bothered by any real problems lately.
__________________
Cindy
L/IDC, 1.2 cm, Stage 1, Her2+, ER+/PR+ at age 48
4/15/2008 Lumpectomy + sentinel node biopsy
Margins neg and Nodes neg (2 tested)
MUGA score 55 on 5/6/2008
Treatment starting 05/08/2008:
Chemo 4 cycles, 3 weeks apart with Taxotere & Cytoxan - Chemo - Done 7/24/2008!
Herceptin for 1 year
Radiation starting in 9/2008
MUGA score 61.9 on 9/04/2008
33 Rads with boost - Done 10/13/2008
MUGA score 58 on 12/01/2008
MUGA score 59 on 3/16/2009
Herceptin for 1 year - Done 4/27/2009
MUGA score 64 on 6/22/2009
All scans - NED 6/24/2009
MRI - NED 11/10/2009
All scans - Still NED 8/25/2011
Still NED 2017!
I am calling this my pink journey
Follow my journey into the pink at my blog here
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09-21-2008, 07:35 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Thornhill, Ontario
Canada
Posts: 2,320
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I had Taxotere, did have alot of neuropathy - mostly pain in my legs and feet - then afterwards it actually got worse when I started Tamoxifen and Herceptin. It took a couple of months to settle down after I finished chemo and my body adjusted to the Tamox. and Herceptin. My onc. prescribed Naproxen which I basically lived on for about 8 weeks, gradually easing off as the weeks went by. I know Taxotere is a difficult chemo, but it is proven to be very beneficial to Her2+ BC patients. Stick with it, I'm sure you will be fine.
I had my last Herceptin a little over 4 months ago, still on Tamox - doing fine. I did start taking glucosamine chondroitin 2x/day last fall , as well as 2 x Omega 3 1000 gm. daily - I think this has really helped.
all the best
caya
__________________
ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+
1.7 cm and 1.0 cm.
Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested)
MRM Dec.18/06
3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere
Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08
Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years
Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012
BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative
Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal
Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so.
Reclast infusion January 2012
Oopherectomy October 2013
15 Years NED!!
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09-21-2008, 11:44 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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Lizbeth, I had six infusion of "TCH". The taxotere did cause some neuropathy in both my hands and feet. It was very annoying as I was so worried it was going to get really bad before I was through. I was concerned like you are that it would never go away after I was finished with chemo. But for me personally that is a chance I was willing to take because I had to know I did everything possible to keep "it" from coming back. Plus most the women I had spoken with on the boards all said in time their neuropathy went away.
That being said I believe it was about six months after I finished chemo that I noticed the neuropathy was slowly going away. Then about a year after the end of chemo I was pretty much back to normal. I can honestly say I don't have any problems with it at this point.
The weakness, aches and pains you speak of will be there until you finish your last chemo. I was pretty achy all the time with the taxotere but that too did pass. In fact the aches and pains in my bones, muscles and body left pretty quick after my last infusion. Within a couple months I felt like a new person just being on herceptin alone. That was a piece of cake after the taxotere. You only have one more Liz...I know its not easy but you really should finish it. For you to have peace of mind...your going to want to know you did everything you possible could so hang in there & get this behind you. You can do this.
Chelee
__________________
DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs.
Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06
Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07
3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07
9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV.
9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa
9-29-09 Power Port Placement
10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head.
11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed
12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa.
3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed.
4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone.
5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy.
Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time.
7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
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09-22-2008, 01:53 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 230
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Lizbeth,
I am sorry about the neuropathy. I too had it but when I mentioned it to the onc. he cut my Taxol dose in 1/3 so I would go weekly & it seemed to help. As for the neuropathy going away mine has not gone away totally, things usually bother it like extreme cold or heat but it should subside considerably.
Mar
__________________
Mary
Diagnosed 11/04 @39yrs. young
Stage IIB
2.5 cm, ER/PR- Her+++, grade 3
Partial Mast., 1/3 pos. node
1/05 full node dissection
4 A/C 4 Taxol DD, Herceptin 1 yr.
30X rads.
BRCA Negative
NED
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all -Emily Dickinson
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09-22-2008, 02:16 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Hi Lizbeth,
I did not have any trouble with my hands but did experience neuropathy in my feet. When I spoke with Dr. Slamon he advised that to give it time. It took almost a year for my toes to improve.
Jean
__________________
Stage 1, Grade 1, 3/30/05
Lumpectomy 4/15/05 - 6MM IDC
Node Neg. (Sentinel node)
ER+ 90% / PR-, Her2+++ by FISH
Ki-67 40%
Arimidex 5/05
Radiation 32 trt, 5/30/05
Oncotype DX test 4/17/06, 31% high risk
TOPO 11 neg. 4/06
Stopped Arimidex 5/06
TCH 5/06, 6 treatments
Herceptin 5/06 - for 1 yr.
9/06 Completed chemo
Started Femara Sept. 2006
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09-22-2008, 03:16 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 869
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Yes, I had it in my hands and toes. It took a year or so to improve...I was a teacher so it was very hard for me to pass students' work back to them, but I found ways to compensate. It should improve with time. Good Luck. Ceesun
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09-22-2008, 04:02 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: indianapolis, indiana
Posts: 1,544
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i still have it mildly in my fingers. it's not as bad as it was thankfully, but it does affect what i do. used to cross-stitch but it makes it hard to hold the needle.
__________________
dxd 9-04, lumpectomy,
st 1, gr 3, er,pr-, her2 +,
2 tac,33 rads,6 cmf
1 yr herceptin,
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09-22-2008, 06:16 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 2,214
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Dear all,
Everyone - Thanks for posting. I feel much better hearing that in most it improved in time.
__________________
Diagnosed 2007
Stage IIb Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Pagets, 3 of 15 positive nodes
Traditional Treatment: Mastectomy and Axillary Node Dissection followed by Taxotere, 6 treatments and 1 year of Herceptin, no radiation
Former Chemo Ninja "Takizi Zukuchiri"
Additional treatments:
GP2 vaccine, San Antonio Med Ctr
Prescriptive Exercise for Cancer Patients
ENERGY Study, UCSD La Jolla
Reconstruction: TRAM flap, partial loss, Revision
The content of my posts are meant for informational purposes only. The medical information is intended for general information only and should not be used in any way to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease
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