MRI

[kduck]

My mri showed spots on my liver. I will start taxamer in 2 weeks. Can anyone tell me anything about this Chemo drug? Please let me know, I feel IV Chemo should be my last resort! Please tell me what you can

[Hidden]

Hi,As you know I had taxotere last year, 6 rounds. This was the second time I have had this chemo, first in 2015 when diagnosed with primary BC.

The main side effects I experienced were fatigue, sore mouth and inside nose, hair loss. I mainly felt the fatigue kick in around 2/3 days after the infusion and last for 48 hours then I'd feel my energy levels pick up again. I was still baking, doing housework, being in the garden.

How many rounds are they proposing you have?

[kduck in reply to Hidden]

Every 3 weeks for 4 months, I just didn’t expect to go to IV Chemo, I thought there was more treatments before IV Chemo. Did your hair grow back

[blms in reply to kduck]

Yes, I am just about to begin taxol once again, after my first round of three months when the dosage was double from now. I will be going in the same schedule you are, 3 weeks on one week off. My onco wants 6 months but I said I would agree to four and I will take one month at a time. This way I feel like I have some control over my life--not an easy feet with this stuff. I begin on 3/22. I had a port put in yesterday and had my j and j vaccine after in another location at 3 pm same day--wow. But, I do not seem to have any side effects from that particular vaccine, so that is something.I COMPLETELY understand, that you feel this is the last line of treatment. But, both you and I need to try, feels impossible, to get that out of our heads. I am having my treatments on Mondays so maybe I feel better and can enjoy a couple of days on weekend with my family. Where do you live and where are you being treated. I am always looking for people like you to connect with.

[kduck in reply to blms]

I am in Mississippi! Taxotere is something new for me! I’m glad we connected. How are you handling everything, I just feel like there are so many more treatments before IV Chemo! Thanks for reaching out

[blms in reply to kduck]

You are hormone positive and HER2 negative, right?

[kduck in reply to blms]

Yes I am! Where do you live? Taxol and taxotere is in the same family. Do you have children?

[blms in reply to kduck]

I understand they are in the same family but I do believe taxotere is harder on patients. They used to do it here but not any longer. Ask you onco.Yes, I have 4 children. How about you? They kept me going for many years now from my original stage 3 B 23 years ago. Now they are grown and I am very thankful thankful that I have been able to raise them into amazing adults. How about you?

[kduck in reply to blms]

I have two a girl 15 and a boy 10! I have to be around to watch them to grow up! I don’t know why he is doing taxotere either. He states he wants to be aggressive with treatment

[R7777 in reply to kduck]

Oh my Lord, I'm HERs2 negative and have a 15 years old girl and 10 years old boy and I feel very much like you. I want to stay around seeing them grow up, even having the families on their own. 🙏 I hope we can get there! I have been diagnosed Nov 2020 and its in my lymph's and spine. On Ibrance/Letrozole combo. Just had my 1st 3 months check. But my oncologist only requested the bone scan... I was hoping for CT to see if it spread into organs. Bu no.. she wants to wait another 3 months for that...... I live in the UK and am 45 years old btw.

🤔I very much hope and pray we will be granted our wish. Please Lord

🙏 Good luck with your chemo, hope you will get some good advise here. All the best.

[blms in reply to kduck]

Ask why not taxol instead of taxotere. I would be interested what he says. Our children keep us going, especially as they are growing as your children are. it is a treatment positive.

[kduck in reply to blms]

I got a second opinion at md Anderson in TX, my Chemo appt was pushed back a week, do you think delaying treatment things will get worse? I worry about everything

[blms in reply to kduck]

We all worry about everything. I’m trying hard not to do that. Must meditate more. Bed now tired from vaccine

[Hidden in reply to kduck]

Yes its grown back nicely, finished chemo in August and now have full coverage once again. I wish you well x

[lynnhbtb]

Sorry you're ending up in the chair again. I did taxotere last year for several cycles. Main issues were fatigue, wbc counts lowering, nausea. I did the cold caps and have kept my hair through several kinds of chemotherapy that would cause hair loss. No hair anywhere but my head. Oh, I also had some neuropathy in my feet. It all cleared up after stopping. I switched to taxol after that and had similar issues. All the best to you.

[kduck in reply to lynnhbtb]

Thanks

[kduck in reply to lynnhbtb]

Did you have liver mets as well? How many treatments did you do before IV Chemo?

[lynnhbtb in reply to kduck]

Yes, I had liver mets, but the taxotere adn taxol and keytruda shrunk them.

[Gorgeousness]

Have you already had oral chemo? Strange they’re starting on iv

[kduck in reply to Gorgeousness]

No I never had

[kduck in reply to Gorgeousness]

That’s what I don’t understand

[Hidden]

I am so sorry to hear your news, especially after your fantastic news last year. Please know I am thinking of you, and I hope the treatment you get is short, sharp and does it’s job.I share your worries as I have a 14 year old Son. He is my life and what keeps me fighting to stay on this earth to see him reach adulthood.

Clare x

[Wintervt]

Kduck,

Did your oncologist explain why he/she wants to treat you with IV chemo? I encourage you to get a second or third opinion! It is easier to do so now with most oncologists using telemedicine. I am ER+ HER- and have school age children. I have had second and third opinions.

xo Jade

[kduck in reply to Wintervt]

He stated he wants to treat it aggressively. Can you tell me how do second opinion work? Do they work with my doctor and go over my treatments? I’m looking into getting a second opinion. Can you tell me where I should go or who to look into?

[Wintervt in reply to kduck]

I told my oncologist ( I live in VT) that I wanted a second opinion from Dana Farber institute. I needed her referral so that it would be covered by insurance. I also wanted the two to work together as a team to help treat my disease. Basically, the oncologist at DF agreed with my VT oncologist’s treatment plan but I now have access to all the newest research and clinical trials.

In terms of what places to look into I would start with a NCI cancer center near you. cancer.gov/research/infrast...

In addition, I work with an integrative oncologist that my VT doctor suggested.

[blms in reply to kduck]

No they don’t check with cure t onco. Insurance should cover it. I had a few consults

[kduck in reply to Wintervt]

Where are your Mets?

[Wintervt in reply to kduck]

My bones and there are suspicious spots on my liver.

[ChrisVict]

I have spots on liver too happened while on Affinitor and exestamane but bone Mets went down. Onc switched me to Xeloda an oral chemo so far tumor markers went down but liver activity a little high so I’m going to get blood next week to monitor the liver mets I hope it goes down more I’m on 1 week on and 1 week off of 3000mg /day I have so far found side effects tolerable some hair thinning,. This maybe a longer and riskier way to get there but everyone is different. I still don’t know if Celida will do trick but bloatlting and most of the discomfort is becoming less I’m praying.

[ChrisVict]

Sorry That’s Xeloda typo and auto correct

[mariootsi]

I pray you will do well on your treatment with mild side effects and success in zapping the damn cancer!

[Totheriver]

So sorry to hear this😢

[ChrisVict]

Oh if you can get to Md Andersen in Austin Texas I hear it’s the best near you?

[kduck]

I just got an appointment for March 30 th! She told me to put off IV Chemo until I came to see them first

[Justme153 in reply to kduck]

So glad you are getting a second opinion!! I think you will feel a lot better knowing you checked all your options!!!

[WordNerdSharron]

kduck, I had taxotere and xeloda for my first encounter with breast cancer in 2004-5. It did what most other people here have said. My hair grew back, and I had no lasting neuropathy. The only lasting effect was one big toe nail that never has been the same. I was on Taxol for three months in 2018 after MBC diagnosis, then went to Ibrance and Letrozole. That worked well for about 15 months before tumor markers started climbing. Now I'm on Abraxane, and the markers have fallen substantially.

Do consider cryotherapy to prevent the neuropathy that the taxanes tend to have as a side effect. I use one big cold pack for me feet and two smaller ones for my hands, all purchased at the local pharmacy. Some people use frozen soda bottles for their hands.

Good luck to you! Sending prayers and good energy your way.

[kduck in reply to WordNerdSharron]

Thanks 🙏🏽