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MammaVic 
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Joined: Jul 17 2010 Location: Ankeny Status: Offline Points: 20 |
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 Topic: neuropathyPosted: Dec 09 2010 at 12:56am |
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Has anyone had a bad experience with neuropathy (sp)? My feet are so numb and feel very swollen. If I'm up on them for more than a couple of hours I can hardly walk. The oncologist put me on Gabapentin, but it doesn't seem to be helping yet. This all started on my 3rd Taxol treatment out of 4, so they lowered my last treatment.
Thank for any input on your experiences, this forum really helps. Doesn't seem to be many support groups out there.  Thank, Vicki |
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SagePatientAdvocates
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Joined: Apr 15 2009 Status: Offline Points: 4748 |
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Posted: Dec 09 2010 at 1:17am |
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Dear MammaVic,
unfortunately this has been reported to be one of the side effects of chemo, especially Taxol. My daughter experienced the same thing...also pains in her joints...it's much better now but even 6+ years later it can be troublesome. It is very important according to a presentation I heard tonight to try and manage and stay ahead of the pain.. also sorry to mention this but some of the pain killers like Vicodin, also cause constipation so that has to be dealt with as well.. I am not saying you should take Vicodin just mentioning a well-known side effect.. This doctor said he recommends a fetanyl patch...again, I am not a doc so don't take what I am saying as medical advice..rather something to ask your physician about.. good luck to you.. Steve
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I am a BRCA1+ grandson, son and father of women affected by breast/oc-my daughter inherited mutation from me, and at 36, was dx 2004 TNBC I am a volunteer patient advocate with SAGE Patient Advocates
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123Donna
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Joined: Aug 24 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Status: Offline Points: 13510 |
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Posted: Dec 09 2010 at 8:13am |
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Vicki,
You may also want to try taking B-6 100 mg twice a day. And I've also heard other members used Glutamine supplements to help with the neuropathy. I hope you can get some relief from your pain. Donna |
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DX IDC TNBC 6/09 age 49, Stage 1,Grade 3, 1.5cm,0/5Nodes,KI-67 48%,BRCA-,6/09bi-mx, recon, T/C X4(9/09)
11/10 Recur IM node, Gem,Carb,Iniparib 12/10,MRI NED 2/11,IMRT Radsx40,CT NED11/13,MRI NED3/15 |
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mitymuffin
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Joined: May 20 2010 Location: Asheville, NC Status: Offline Points: 67 |
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Posted: Dec 09 2010 at 8:55am |
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I had some neuropathy in my feet, but very little. I took B-6 and Glutamine, and did weekly acupuncture. I also exercised as much as I could handle. I don't know if any of that helped, but I'm two months out from the end of the Taxol and all neuropathy has gone away.
My Onc told me to take electrolytes, which I did, and they helped tremendously with leg and foot cramps. |
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Diag. Triple neg. 4/23/10 Stage IIB, 3.2cm, grade 3, 1/11 lymph nodes, lumpectomy 4/23/10, AC + T + Avastin, clinical trial 5103, Rads, age 59
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MammaVic
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Posted: Dec 14 2010 at 2:41pm |
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Thanks all for your input and help ... Mitymuffin - How bad were your feet? My toes are numb and the balls of my feet feel like there are HUGE callouses on them. If I'm on my feet more than 1/2 hour or so,they get so swollen I can hardly stand.
 One DR did put me on B6, so I'll ask about the glutamine. I was also going to try acupuncture, but wasn't sure about it, but if you tried and it helped, I think I'm going to call and get that going also. We have about the same Diagnosis (IIB, grade 3, 2.7 cm) I had a bilateral mastectomy and still need to get the expanders exchanged out, but still life is SO FAR from any kind of NORMAL that I'm still beside myself. I, also had AC+T but at this point they don't believe they need to do radiation because they just went in and took the rest of the tissue where the actual lump was and it was negative (I guess that is ONE POSITIVE - No Radiation)  Again, thanks for all your input, this is a GREAT site for support and to hear ACTUAL experiences from someone going thru the same!
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mitymuffin
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Joined: May 20 2010 Location: Asheville, NC Status: Offline Points: 67 |
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Posted: Dec 15 2010 at 9:08am |
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Vicky, I'm so sorry you are having such a hard time. The balls of my feet hurt also, and I found shoes with very thick soles helped (like Danskos.) I can't say with scientific certainty that the acupuncture helped, but it definitely doesn't cause harm, or unpleasant SE's, and many people think it helps. In Chinese medicine (as explained to me by the acupuncturist) they say much illness is caused by the stagnation of Chi, and the Chi lines run from the big toes (think, our sore feet) up through the breasts (Liver meridians). In Western medicine, I've heard physical therapists say "Circulation heals" which seems to me much the same thing. I take it all as a metaphor, but if it works, it works. Let me know how you are doing. My toes have gradually gotten better, though one still hurts a bit.
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Diag. Triple neg. 4/23/10 Stage IIB, 3.2cm, grade 3, 1/11 lymph nodes, lumpectomy 4/23/10, AC + T + Avastin, clinical trial 5103, Rads, age 59
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MammaVic
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Posted: Dec 15 2010 at 10:52pm |
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Mitymuffin - Thanks for the reply. I'm going to try it ALL and see what helps. Can't hurt anyway. Wish you all the best for the Holiday and New Year!
Vicki |
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TracyAMac
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Joined: Aug 01 2010 Location: Toronto, Canada Status: Offline Points: 401 |
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Posted: Dec 16 2010 at 9:08am |
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Hi Vicki
My onc. recommended B1 and B6 for my neuropathy in fingers and feet - I think it helped somewhat but I still have residual numbness almost two months after chemo - I am hopefully it will keep decreasing over time. Tracy in Toronto |
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TN&non-TN tumors April/10 Gr3&2;1 metaplastic
Rmast.1/9 nodes w/isolated t.cells Taxotere&Cytoxan x6 Bone cancer 1980 age17;surgery&chemo AC+Methotrexate BRCA-ve On hormone therapy & Metformin Trial |
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chyxgrl
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Joined: Oct 28 2010 Location: New York Status: Offline Points: 33 |
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Posted: Dec 18 2010 at 8:12pm |
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My mom is experiencing the neuropathy from Taxol. Her feet and hands are swollen and hurt. The skin is also red and itches. Is there anything that can be done for the itch? I am going to the doctor with her on Tuesday and will ask about B-6 and glutamine.
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My mom- 62y/o @ DX 9/2010; lumpectomy, Stage 1B, Grade 3, 1cm tumor left breast, neg nodes; TC once every 3 weeks x 4 doses then 33 rads; BRCA negative; 9/2011 mammo NED; 3/2012 MRI NED
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123Donna
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Joined: Aug 24 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Status: Offline Points: 13510 |
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Posted: Dec 18 2010 at 8:21pm |
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I had severe itching and a rash after one of my treatments. Benadryl may help. Mine got so bad I had to call my onc who prescribed methaprednisone (sp?). It was a dose pack where you take so many pills the first day and then step down each day for six days. It was the only thing that helped stop the rash and itch. Please call your mom's onc's office and let them know. They should be able to prescribe something to help her.
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DX IDC TNBC 6/09 age 49, Stage 1,Grade 3, 1.5cm,0/5Nodes,KI-67 48%,BRCA-,6/09bi-mx, recon, T/C X4(9/09)
11/10 Recur IM node, Gem,Carb,Iniparib 12/10,MRI NED 2/11,IMRT Radsx40,CT NED11/13,MRI NED3/15 |
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overwhelmed
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Joined: Apr 06 2010 Location: Greenville, SC Status: Offline Points: 490 |
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Posted: Dec 18 2010 at 8:35pm |
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chyxgirl,
I was also going to suggest Benedryl or even cortisone cream. Also, I had hives during one of my treatment cycles. I went to the GP and he gave me Zyrtec samples. It worked well, and I didn't get tired.
I am still stuggling with neuropathy in my feet 2 1/2 months after my last chemo. The rad onc saw me limping down the hall one day and prescribed Gabapentin and recommended I take a B complex vitamin. Some days I think it's getting better, but then I'm on my feet too much and I feel like I'm not doing much better. My joints also hurt. It feels almost like what I would imagine arthritis feels like. Luckily I don't have any numbing.
For me the neuropathy got worse after chemo was done. I had a little of it after the 4th and 5th cycle, but it went away. I guess this is one of those lingering side effects from taxol and taxotere. I do struggle with what to take for the pain. I can't take Advil, aspirin, or Aleve because I am taking Avastin. I try not to take hydrocodone, but Tylenol does no good, and it's what I'm left with. This is frustrating, but I know that it will pass.
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DX ILC TNBC 3/10 at 50, Stage IIb; Grade 3; 5.1 to 7 cm,SNB neg;TC-6 rnds, 30 rads, Avastin-18 rnds, BRAC 1&2-
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chyxgrl
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Joined: Oct 28 2010 Location: New York Status: Offline Points: 33 |
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Posted: Dec 18 2010 at 8:49pm |
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Thanks Donna. I am familiar with that dose pack. We called the on call doctor earlier and he said to come in on Monday. It got a little worse as the day went on and if it is still bad tomorrow, we will place another phone call. For tonight, she'll take a Benadryl. That might stop some of the itch and definitely help her sleep. Thanks for all the advice!
Michele |
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My mom- 62y/o @ DX 9/2010; lumpectomy, Stage 1B, Grade 3, 1cm tumor left breast, neg nodes; TC once every 3 weeks x 4 doses then 33 rads; BRCA negative; 9/2011 mammo NED; 3/2012 MRI NED
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chyxgrl
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Posted: Dec 18 2010 at 9:17pm |
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Thanks overwhelmed. I didn't see your post when I posted before..my computer is slow with refreshing pages. So she is definitely taking the Benadryl tonight. I have hydrocortisone cream, so she can use some of that. I hope as the days go by, your neuropathy gets less and less.
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My mom- 62y/o @ DX 9/2010; lumpectomy, Stage 1B, Grade 3, 1cm tumor left breast, neg nodes; TC once every 3 weeks x 4 doses then 33 rads; BRCA negative; 9/2011 mammo NED; 3/2012 MRI NED
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snugltz
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Joined: Jul 10 2010 Location: Reedley Status: Offline Points: 438 |
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Posted: Dec 18 2010 at 9:46pm |
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overwhelmed
Glad I am not alone. I finished chemo 10/8 so nearly 2 1/2 months also. My feet swell and tingle. My arm and hip joints hurt and ache down my arm and leg. Like arthritis. My doc said it is the chemo and could last up to a year. Which is comforting in that otherwise I would be sure it was a recurrence. Hope it starts letting up soon. And mine started actually during or after the last chemo treatment.
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1 cm, 0/2 neg nodes, lumpectomy 6/16/10, cytoxin/taxotere 4x every three weeks, rad start 11/8 33X
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overwhelmed
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Joined: Apr 06 2010 Location: Greenville, SC Status: Offline Points: 490 |
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Posted: Dec 18 2010 at 9:54pm |
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snuglz,
I let those thoughts of recurrence creep in. I have pain in my back and hip, but I've had that for years, it's just come back. My knees ache and today I had pain in my right arm (opposite side from surgery). I know it's the chemo. I just never expected it. Also, when I first felt the foot pain I didn't think it was neuropathy because I had no tingling or numbing.
While I complain about this, I do feel much better than I did during chemo. It is a lingering inconvenience, but I feel so much better everyday.
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DX ILC TNBC 3/10 at 50, Stage IIb; Grade 3; 5.1 to 7 cm,SNB neg;TC-6 rnds, 30 rads, Avastin-18 rnds, BRAC 1&2-
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