Taxotere (docetaxel) after effects

I have completed 8 courses of chemo, 4 on Adriamiacin & Cytoxin (sp?) and the second 4 on taxotere (3 week cycles).

It has been 4 weeks since my last infusion, and I am still experiencing peripheral neuropathy symptoms.

The weird thing is that I did NOT experience these symptoms during the chemo.  It started about a week after the last infusion.

I did have the other common symptoms during the taxotere chemo, which may be related:  pain in joints & muscles, pain in finger & toenails, and change in nail appearance, fatigue.

From researching on the web, I gather that these side effects may last another 2-4 weeks (or much longer).  Has anyone had any other experiences?  Long term damage?  Or positive experience by using B complex vitamins, eating certain foods, etc?

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear Wyetookay:  Peripheral neuropathy, numbness of hands and feet are common with taxotere.  In most cases, this will resolve in time - and it can take a while - weeks to months to resolve.  In some cases, there can be residual deficit for life (although this would be uncommon in someone who had no symptoms until after treatment).  You may learn much more about the condition by reading on www.chemocare.com.  Under side effects, you will find an article on numbness and tingling that I thing you might find helpful.

[valpal]

I also did the exact same thing as you.  I did very well during all treatments and about a week or so after the last taxotere I developed watery eyes, numb fingers and toes, painful fingers and toes, and swelling in my legs, etc.  I did read that the median time to resolution of the neuropathy was 9 weeks.  The swelling in the legs - 16 weeks.  The watery eyes for me stopped about 3 weeks after they started and the fingers and toes are no longer painful, but still numb.  
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/onctools/labels.cfm?GN=docetaxel
Look at this website under "precautions" and then "summary".

[Wyetookay]

Yes, I forgot about the watery eyes.  But I thought it was yet another infection and used "patanol" eyes drops - which cleared it up quickly.

Thanks for the two links mentioned.  I will check them out!

[rickndee]

Dear Wyetookay,

just some helpful information regarding certain foods.  The phone numbers:
800-4-cancer; 800forhelp; 800-940-2822 have very helpful info regarding foods, etc.

Dee