Feeling crippled after Doxetaxel, herceptin and perjeta

I found docetaxel much tougher than EC, though I didn't have herceptin or perjeta on top. I found pain was around days 4 to 6 but other side effects kicked in later, like skin sores. I also had severe chills and then severe hot flushes - the hot flushes probably the intensity of the sudden medical menopause from zoladex.

I could barely get off the sofa for 10 days the fist cycle, my whole body felt heavy. They reduced my dosage for final 2 cycles which was better - and still shrunk the tumour more than EC

I found paracetamol and naproxen really helped to take the edge off, and for your next cycles, take them before you have pain I was advised to do that, and it helped.

Thank you for your reply, so sorry to hear that you had to go through this as well. 

Honestly I had EC for the first 3 cycles and wasn't too bad but this is horrible. I'm on Zoladex as well and the hot flushes are insane, I hope all of this settles down soon xx

Yes I’ve felt like this too, I’ve just had my last one of this combination, it did gradually reduce but had some really sore times in there, it does start to reduce to more manageable levels over time but I still feel achy 2 weeks on, not as bad but still there. I took ibuprofen and paracetamol after taking advice, it’s sore, I sympathise xx

I had zoladex too and hot flushes were intense. Every 20 mins 24/7. And I had severe chills with docetaxel too so lurching from one extreme to the other.

The hot flushes were definitely much worse during chemo, they do start to calm down. I found it took a while for the anxiety that came with them to calm down as I had some that were almost like panic attacks during docetaxel.

It does get better, I promise you! I'm a year on from first zoladex and hot flushes and night sweats are less frequent (maybe every 1 - 3 hours) and don't come with the whole claustrophobia / anxiety any more so I cope with them far better.

I'd rather not have them but hoping they just continue to fade away. 

Hi there,

Yes, I found the Docetaxel / Trastuzamab / Perjeta combo really difficult. They did reduce the dose for me after the first one (round 4 after EC). I got an electric blanket as the heat helped, and warm baths with Epsom salts too.

I hope you can get a bit of relief. For me, the aches hung around for quite a while after chemo finished - hot flushes were awful too.

Sending a gentle hug. Speak to your team to see if they can give you some stronger pain relief so you have it in case you need it.

Ruby xx

Thank you Anna12345, I have been taking some paracetamol and ibrobuphen but to be honest it doesn't really touch it, luckily it's gradually decreasing as the days go on. It's just one thing after another. We all deserve a medal after this x

Hi, Beatthebreast, omg the hot flushes, I literally have a big fan next to my bed, covers are constantly on and off. Thank god they calm down.  My Dr did say after the chemo I can start to have some tablets to help with the hot flushes, so hopefully that will help. 

Thanks for your reply and you take care xx

Hi Red Ruby, thank you for your reply. I must admit I'm struggling this round on these new drugs, the electric blanket is a great idea, I've been trying to balance 2 hot water bottles, the baths are oK but after about half an hour I'm aching again I will give the Epson salts a go though, hopefully they will help. 

Did you get dry blood/ crusty nose with those drugs? My nose seems to have constant blood in it and so dried out its so sore. 

Thanks Again 

Amelia xx

I take sage tablet for the hot flushes and I think they help a bit. BCN recommended them. I took clonidine for a few weeks, but they didn't agree with me so stopped them. I think there are other options too but at the moment, I'm not too bad. A nice cold bedroom in the winter helps when you throw the covers off!

 Hi I have just had my first round of Docetaxel with pertuzumab and trastuzumab on Wednesday I had to go to hosp yesterday to get checked out as had no idea how painful this would be there is literally nothing that doesn’t hurt, I have been given codeine to take along with paracetamol so hopefully this will help. I found your post and the others on here reassuring as I would rather know what to expect than be terrified thinking there is something wrong. I have 5 more to go just hope I can do it.