Starting the T part of Fec T next week......

Hi 

Most will get a 3 day honeymoon period with T where you wonder if it is actually working so bear this in mind. You will find where FEC/EC etc makes you feel a bit nauseous you shouldn't get that issue;  T mostly makes your muscles and bones ache.

Most important thing with T is to monitor your temp as some on T will find themselves needing antibiotics because of infection picked up when your white cell count is low. 37.5C is the magic number and the time to ring your onco unit for advice. Aim to take your temp first thing in the morning before you take any paracetamol based tablets as that can lower and mask the correct temp.

The November Breast Group Chemo Chat will be up and running by then, so get involved with that if you have any questions or need some tips.

Hope Mr T is kind to you, G n' J

Hi

T made my bones ache so much that I needed some stronger pain killers. Then discovered a little trick of taking a antihistamine tablet made from loratadine, claritin is one brand name but you can get the supermarket own brand just check its loratadine. This helped a great deal and when I spoke to chemo unit about it they said it was fine to take and yes they had heard it helps some people. The changes in my taste were hard to deal with, food smelt lovely but I just could not eat it it tasted fowl.  Think I lived on buttered rolls, tomato soup and marmite on toast, and I hate marmite normally and I hate it again now. Keep up the fluids, try to drink 2 to 3 litres a day it does help. Take your temperature regularly and be kind to yourself. 

Hi @Paguera I had my last docetaxel on a 3 weekly cycle 3 weeks ago and dreamthief is so right it does take a few days to kick in. I found the first one completely floored me but then the others were no where near as bad. I still managed everything I did before such as looking after my grandson, working and the odd trip away, but I did have to pace myself more,

the aches and bone pain got better but do take painkillers before it gets bad, I didn’t know about the antihistamines tho wish I had!

also got oral thrush, mouth ulcers and cold sores but only with the first one.

my taste buds disappeared totally and are only just returning. Found water melon frozen grapes and tomato soup were the only thing I could taste. It did mean I lost a little of the ec weight tho.

my fingertips and toes were so very sore and still are, it’s looking now as if at least some nails are going to go unfortunately. My feet go numb from time to time but it seems to be improving.

my temp did go up to 38.9 on the first one but went down soon after, it did spike quite a lot but as long as everything else was ok I didn’t have to ring.

my veins collapsed too as I was always cannulated, even the ones in my lower arm have gone now too, but they’re not painful at all.

i had one injection to give myself afterwards too, it was easy to do but I did forget a few times and was late doing it. I found this made my bones ache too.

i also was very naughty and didn’t take the steroids after the first one as they make me totally loopy and depressive. (The onc told me to take half)

being honest I found it worse than ec, but if I can do it then anybody can!

Hi are you having Docetaxel or Paclitaxel? Is it weekly, fortnightly or three-weekly?

Hi londonmumof2

Going to be having Docetaxel every 3weeks for 3 cycles.

 Xxx

Thank you Ruthie2.

im pleased  that you are thru yours now

xxx

Thank you Aliblue

xxx

Hi ,

I had Docetaxel. I would start to feel very tired on about day 5 and it would last about 4 days, when I say tired, I mean very weak, like going to the toilet was an major effort. I tried to get up out of bed every hr and walk from my bedroom around the landing and bk and I was exhausted. I just didn’t have any energy, days 6 and 7 I was lucky if I could get out of bed, walking a lap of my bedroom was enough. By day 8 I would feel slightly better and the end of day 9 was Pretty much bk to normal.

I found a website before I started the Docetaxel which sold nail varnish and base coats etc especially for ppl on chemotherapy. I used them on both my fingers and toes. I did lose 4 toenails after my treatment had finished, but the new nail was already there. My fingernails did turn very brown and one or two went black, I was convinced I was going to lose them but I didn’t. My fingers were very sore and even my nails hurt. I developed Hand foot syndrome as well which turns them red, they blister then peel, but it didn’t hurt. I got cream from the Dr.

Please remember it all sounds a lot but some ppl don’t get many side effects at all. Fingers crossed for you x