Posted March 4, 2009 By Janelle
Hello
I am half way through my chemo. I have completed 3 rounds of FEC and will start 3 treatments of Docetaxel next week. Has anyone experienced this drug?
Posted March 6, 2009 By MBE
I have had only 1 dose of FEC-D so far but my plan seems to be the same as yours, 3 rounds of the fec-d then 3 rounds of the docetaxel or taxotere. Can you say if each round of the fec-d had a worse effect on you than the first and second or was it pretty much the same each time? My hair is falling out as of yesterday, not unexpected but still makes me feel really strange that it took 2 weeks of poisen in me to react in that way. I will follow your experiences on this site with interest as I will be on the same path, just a few steps behind you.
Posted March 6, 2009 By Janelle
Hey,
FEC always made me sick the evening after I had the treatment and I was tired the first 3-4 days after. I had my treatments on Thursdays, and after all three was able to return to work the following Monday. I was a little more tired after each, but it has not been that bad. I have been working full time, and during the day I feel fine. I go to bed earlier, my body needs more sleep than it did. I have been eating really healthy and drinking lots of water which I think it helping my blood to recover. Also, I have been careful to wash my hands a lot to prevent germs. I lost my hair at 14 days after treatment too, but still have my eyebrows and lashes which is nice. All in all, FEC has not been that physically hard on my body.
Good luck.
Post any more questions if you have them
J
Posted March 15, 2009 By MBE
Wondering how the first dose of Docetaxel went? How was it different from the FEC-D if at all? Did it take longer to bounce back from it?
I have one more fec-d then the Docetaxel so I'm just behind you in treatment and interested to know how you managed.
Posted March 17, 2009 By Janelle
Hey
The first few days were OK (I was still on steriods) but day #3 and #4 were a bit more difficult. I was tired and my stomach was sore. Today is day #5 and I am starting to feel like myself again. This drug did not make me throw up, but did make my bones hurt. Feeling like I will be able to go back to work tomorrow...
How is your FEC going?
Posted April 27, 2009 By Roberta
Anybody out there having a hard time with Docetaxel. I am, I found the FEC a breeze but Docetaxel is horrible. I had an allergic reaction to it so that might have made it worse, but I have one more left and I am thinking of skipping it.
Posted April 30, 2009 By MBE
Hi,
My sympathies re the Taxotere, I have been having a rough time with it also. The allergic reaction you had did it happen when the infusion was going on or after? Apparently it's supposed to happen at the time of infusion and allergic doesn't happen after. I have had a rash all over my neck area, it's red and itchy. I have steriod cream for it which helps but it doesn't go away. My taste buds were dead for several days, my tongue was coated with guck and mouth dry as a bone but no sores, only a film. These things are resolving but too slow for my liking.
If you have one Tax left I envy you as you're almost there, I have 2 more and am thinking the same thing...do I want to keep doing this? I guess we need to remind ourselves that it's more over than not at this point, and at least we're not starting out at #1 fec (heaven forbid to do that again, for me...) we have some idea of what to expect and it is the pits but at least we know it's the pits and it will soon be over and we'll be on our way to recovery and some form of normal life (after the rest of the stuff I mean, I still need surgery and radiation to do after the Tax is complete but I don't fear any of those things as much as I have HATED and feared the chemo. Have you noticed that every time you ask a question of the professionals whose care we are in, they always start their response by "well, everyone reacts differently," if I hear that statement once more, once this is over, I'll scream.
It's been 7 days since my first Taxotere and I'm just beginning to turn the corner and come out of the tunnel, every day I'm glad to see the end of and hope to sleep and wake up clearer the next day. So far, bit by bit it's working. We need a fast forward button for our lives thru this.
I can't say don't do the last one, but maybe you'll be lucky and have suffered enough with the first two and get out of jail free on the 3rd. When is your next one? Probably not for a week or two yet.
I could say be strong but I'm tired of being strong as of now so I'll just say do the best you can for now. That's all anyone can ask or expect of themselves.
Mary
Posted July 6, 2009 By jlamondin
I just wondered if some of you that have already gone through the docetaxel can share your experiences? I am to start this in 2.5 weeks and I wondered what others experienced. And, it is true that everyone is different and does experience things differently but it is comforting knowing you are not alone and what could possibly be expected. ALSO, has anyone done herceptin and what should I expect from this?
Posted July 21, 2009 By julia
Dea janelle and MBE
I am staring chemo with FEC next,followed with 3 rounds of D. I've been reading all your replies and have been learning a lot of what to expect. I am glad to hear that FEC did not seem as bad as you thought. Just curious, how often do you wear your wigs, if you have one. I will be getting mine this week just before chemo.
I truly admire both your strength and courage. You are amazing women.
julia
Posted July 27, 2009 By jlamondin
Hi Janelle. I just had my first dose of docetaxal last Thursday and the first couple of days were just fine. I had no nausea, vomiting, no real side effects at all probably thanks to Dex. But, by Sunday I started experiencing leg pains which intensified as the day wore on. By nightfall I think every muscle in my body was aching. I had my husband rub me down all over with Deep Ice, (I am sure A535 would have worked better) and this did help me settle for most of the night. I woke up at 3am and was quite restless so I went downstairs to sleep but never did really fall back to sleep. I have been taking advil every 4 hours but I am giving it 1 more day and if things aren't any better I am seeing my family doctor for something stonger. I hope this gives you some insight into this drug.
