What kinds of side effects have y'all had?

TexanCupig

What kinds of side effects have y'all had?

TexanCupig

I'm about to have my fourth round of AC, and I know this is kind of late with the treatment I'm receiving, but I'd like to know what kinds of side effects y'all have had with AC?  Besides nausea, losing my hair, the black spots on my nails, I've actually gained weight, and I hate to say it, but after every treatment, I've gotten constipated!   For the next four rounds, I'll be receiving Taxol, and I'm definitely not looking forward to the side effects of THAT!  Thanks for your time!

otter

TexanCupig,

The best way to find out what SE's women are having on the various chemo regimens (AC for instance) is probably to stop by the threads on the "Chemotherapy" topic.  There is a tremendous amount of information on those threads.  Many of us who are currently getting chemo discuss our SE's and compare notes on a daily basis.  That might be a better place to find what you're looking for.  Lots of women are getting AC with or without Taxol, and they would be happy to share their experiences with you.  One approach you might take is to do a search of the boards for key words representing some of the SE's you are experiencing. 

otter 

Anonymous

Otter has a good suggestion...there are tons of discussion here about the side effects of the various chemo regimens. I will say, though, that most of us who have had AC and Taxol have had an easier time with the Taxol. It does cause a little bone/muscle pain and, for me, some facial flushing, but all of that was completely manageable.

~Marin

JewelTXakaLinda

Sorry that you have joined our club.  I am a 4 year survivor.  What I have found out by talking to others here in the chat room is that those who have a hard time with AC, don't have such a hard time with taxol. 

I did 4 rounds of AC and did OK, but them I did taxotere and it kicked my butt, so my onc decided to alternate taxol and taxotere, which still kicked my butt.  The reason we gain weight with AC is because they also add steroids to control the neusea.  I gained 20 lbs and still need to lose 15 after 4 years.  Anyway I hope this info helps you.  By the way Taxol is made from the bark of the yew tree and taxotere is made from the needles of the yew tree.

Good luck to you

Jewel aka Linda in Texas 

pinkisit0415

Hey Texan,

sorry you had to join this club ~~~~

well if you had constipation w/ ac -- prepare for the taxol now -- really hard on some -- but others no problem !!!!!!!!!! -) I did TAC

6  times and just one bout  w // the constipation --- thought i was gonna die !!!!! get stool softener now !!!!!!!!

Huggers Too You,

hope all goes well

Pink

wishiwere

I didn't know that A/C caused the black nails, I thought that that was the taxanes?  Anyway, I did 4 A/C and had the N/V, dizziness and so on, but was pretty sure it was from the Kytril that I had headaches horribly as well as the N/V.  Zophran was much better.  One thing with Constipation.  Drink a ton (a gallon) I drank a 16 oz water every 2 hours the day before and day of chemo and a lot the day after at the very least.  I know after surgery I did the metamucil for constipation from the pain meds and never had a problem.  Fluids helped with chemo I think.  Meta after the pain pills and surgery.

{{hugs}} and keep posting if you have more questions, or Pm me about A/c if you need.   SOrry you are dealing with it all.

TexanCupig

I thank y'all for your sage words of advice!   The reason I started this thread...for some reason I started thinking of the old game show...'Family Feud'...and the survey says...as silly as that sounds?  It's good to know that Taxol may be worse than AC?...YEESH!!!  I'm just glad that I have ONLY one round of AC left?  I REALLY wish I wouldn't have to go through the pain of the side effects with AC AGAIN, ya know, but I know it has to be done so I could kick this STUPID disease in its behind!

After this round, I'll have four rounds of Taxol...and I will let y'all know how I'm feeling then...lol...

Thanks again, y'all! 

myheidiscrapbooking

Hi Sharon, (texancupig), I too just had my last (4th) of ac this past Thursday. I have been bedridden since Sat. - it usually lasts (total crash) from Sat-Wed - tomorrow is usually the day I feel at 50% better. I can NOT WAIT. AC was very bad for me but the reason was due to Anemia. I've always been anemic and this AC did not sit well with it.  Most of the time, I could barely lift my head. Its been awful. To say that I'm SO looking foward to being off this AC is an understatement! I start Taxol (like you) 12 rounds) not tomrrow but next Thrus. - when do you start? I've heard its easier too and I'm literally praying it is. I could NOT go thru symptoms as these for 12 more weeks. I can't imagine!! I must admit, I am worried, as I've been reading a lot about musc. pain on Taxol. I only wish I don't get this debilitating fatigue again. I'll even take the musc. pain over it.  Anyway, Im right here with you if you want to compare your taxol symptoms - away we go!!! AHHHHH. (big hugs)

Best,

Heidi

myheidiscrapbooking

Hi Sharon, (texancupig), I too just had my last (4th) of ac this past Thursday. I have been bedridden since Sat. - it usually lasts (total crash) from Sat-Wed - tomorrow is usually the day I feel at 50% better. I can NOT WAIT. AC was very bad for me but the reason was due to Anemia. I've always been anemic and this AC did not sit well with it.  Most of the time, I could barely lift my head. Its been awful. To say that I'm SO looking foward to being off this AC is an understatement! I start Taxol (like you) 12 rounds) not tomrrow but next Thrus. - when do you start? I've heard its easier too and I'm literally praying it is. I could NOT go thru symptoms as these for 12 more weeks. I can't imagine!! I must admit, I am worried, as I've been reading a lot about musc. pain on Taxol. I only wish I don't get this debilitating fatigue again. I'll even take the musc. pain over it.  Anyway, Im right here with you if you want to compare your taxol symptoms - away we go!!! AHHHHH. (big hugs)

Best,

Heidi

myheidiscrapbooking

Hi Sharon, (texancupig), I too just had my last (4th) of ac this past Thursday. I have been bedridden since Sat. - it usually lasts (total crash) from Sat-Wed - tomorrow is usually the day I feel at 50% better. I can NOT WAIT. AC was very bad for me but the reason was due to Anemia. I've always been anemic and this AC did not sit well with it.  Most of the time, I could barely lift my head. Its been awful. To say that I'm SO looking foward to being off this AC is an understatement! I start Taxol (like you) 12 rounds) not tomrrow but next Thrus. - when do you start? I've heard its easier too and I'm literally praying it is. I could NOT go thru symptoms as these for 12 more weeks. I can't imagine!! I must admit, I am worried, as I've been reading a lot about musc. pain on Taxol. I only wish I don't get this debilitating fatigue again. I'll even take the musc. pain over it.  Anyway, Im right here with you if you want to compare your taxol symptoms - away we go!!! AHHHHH. (big hugs)

Best,

Heidi

myheidiscrapbooking

Hi Sharon, (texancupig), I too just had my last (4th) of ac this past Thursday. I have been bedridden since Sat. - it usually lasts (total crash) from Sat-Wed - tomorrow is usually the day I feel at 50% better. I can NOT WAIT. AC was very bad for me but the reason was due to Anemia. I've always been anemic and this AC did not sit well with it.  Most of the time, I could barely lift my head. Its been awful. To say that I'm SO looking foward to being off this AC is an understatement! I start Taxol (like you) 12 rounds) not tomrrow but next Thrus. - when do you start? I've heard its easier too and I'm literally praying it is. I could NOT go thru symptoms as these for 12 more weeks. I can't imagine!! I must admit, I am worried, as I've been reading a lot about musc. pain on Taxol. I only wish I don't get this debilitating fatigue again. I'll even take the musc. pain over it.  Anyway, Im right here with you if you want to compare your taxol symptoms - away we go!!! AHHHHH. (big hugs)

Best,

Heidi

TexanCupig

Hey Heidi...thank you for your response!   I have to say with the last round of AC, after the SEs, I have been an emotional wreck!  I'll have my last round of AC tomorrow morning, then I'll start Taxol next round (three weeks from tomorrow, health permitting)...I think my crash lasts three or four days, and I'm thankful that I'm not totally bedridden.  Anyway, these last few days I've been feeling very weepy and depressed, and I HATE it!  I hope you're doing allright?!?

Thanks again for your response!

pdm

 Hi Sharon

I also had AC and had the worse time of it..I was suppose to get Taxol but with all the se from AC I had, my onc decided to do Abraxane..this is suppose to be easier on you that Taxol..

The AC had me non fuctional and I was as you say "bedridden" most of the time..it really took a toll on me and they thought taxol would be too much for my system..my counts were down all the time and the neulasta didn't do much and all the high doses of decadron made me nuts..

With the Abraxane you only get a very small dose of decadron and small dose of anti nausea pre meds...This is just a precaution ...

I feel so much better and yesterday was my second treatment....tired yes but not put down..no crashing ...a little bone pain after 3 days, but nothing I can't handle with a litte tylenol..

I wish you the best ..

Pat

TexanCupig

Hi Pat!  Thank you for your response too!   How many treatments of Abraxane are you going to receive?  I'll be taking four rounds of Taxol, once every three weeks.  I'm SOOOOO relieved I don't have to take AC ANYMORE!!!   I told my onc that I was so close to not wanting to take it, but I knew that I had to!  He said that I've been doing very, very well, which helped me a WHOLE lot, both emotionally and mentally, ya know?

Besides bone pain, do you have any other SEs with Abraxane?  My onc said I'd probably do a whole lot better with Taxol.  I guess I'll find out in about three weeks, eh?

Thanks again, and I hope you're doing better!

Take care and God Bless!

pdm

Hi Sharon

The only thing I have had was the bone pain..it lasted all of 3 days withthe third day having very little...I am feeling so much better than on AC and I do understand that taxol is more difficult that Abraxane...my onc switched from taxol so I wouldn't have to have all the pre-meds..I had bad reactions from the steroids and my red and white cell counts were so low I was in isolation ..again we are all different and if you can tolerate taxol that might be good for you..

The Abraxane is every week for 3 then off one ..a total of 13 treatments but remember this is milder so they give it more often..I have to note..I am feeling almost normal on this..tired yes but not put down as on AC..I didn't want to get out of bed with the AC..now all I want to is go out ..guess I am making up for lost time...

Take care and let us know how you are doing

Regards

Pat

Yogi70

The adriamycin made me a tired and nauseous for about 2-4 after the 3rd and 4th treatments.  My nails are black my tongue is spotted (but I think that is common in African American- the tongue thing.)  Hair loss of course and my palms and the soles of my feet are almost and dark as the rest of me.  The palms and soles are clearing up on the Taxol.  But I keeping having to get a neuprogin shot for the taxol  (low wbc).  Has anyone else had this experience?  I have yet to do my third tx of taxol.

Bibbie

Hello Everyone:

I was diagnosed December 6 on the day before my grandson was born. Since then I have had 3 lumpectomies and four treatments of Adriamycin, Cytoxan and Taxotere. I did pretty well with the first two but the fourth one kicked my butt. I have no nausea but severe headaches, heartburn, and a general feeling weakness. I have been having them every three weeks. My next will be June 10 and my last July 1. I guess I will have a few weeks before my bi lateral mastectomy. I will then have 5 days a week radiation under my arm for 6 weeks. I will be so glad when this night mare is over!! God bless all of you that are going through this terrible disease! Please respond if you have had these drugs.

Sincerely,

Bi Bibbie

HeatherBLocklear

Dear Yogi,

I think the low white blood counts are fairly common on the taxol drugs. I know my oncologist insisted I have Neulasta after every treatment. I'm glad I did, because it allowed me to be functional, although barely. I was able to go to the grocery store, and even to campus for different events without being terrified of infection.

As far as the dark soles and palms are concerned, my oncologist told me to expect the same, so I guess we're all in the same boat. My tongue isn't spotted, but boy did I get MAJOR mouth sores from Taxtatere! After my fourth treatment they lasted nearly two weeks, and I dropped five lbs from not being able to eat.

Keep your spirits up, Yogi, we'll get through this.

Love,

Annie Camel Tongue

TexanCupig

Hi y'all!  I'm sorry I haven't been able to keep up!  I have no computer access where I live, since school's been closed too!  I've done my second round of taxol, and I'm not looking forward to the joint pain, but I'd like to say I'm enduring?!?  As far as the SEs are concerned, my knees are still in pain, two of my fingers and my thumbs get that numb feeling, which I have to say...i HATE IT!  It's hard for me to bead, and sometimes when I turn my hand a certain way, I get a jolt of something...which my doctor think is related t o when I had shingles!  YUP!  I had shingles and was medi-vac'd to Bethel for a week...IN ISOLATION!  Anyway, I'm definitely glad that the whole AC thing is done with!  Just TWO more treatments...just two more treatments!

I thank y'all for your responses, and I will attempt to be more responsible back in my village and keep up with y'all!

Thanks again! Sharon

bar62

Hi everyone,

I'm glad to hear  that my tongue, now   covered with black spots, and my purplish-black fingernails has happened  as SE before:)

. I thought  discolored nails were Taxol SEs. My last AC treatment  this afternoon and I am oh so glad.

erindunn

Congratulations on your last AC Bar62! 

I have had four AC's and three Taxols. My last taxol is Dec. 4th. (yay!) I have a year of Herceptin still to come, plus Tamoxifen and maybe radiation, I haven't heard the final word on that yet. I hope for a NO vote on that.

I've had horrible pain with the Taxol. Every bone, joint and muscle in my body hurts, and my Nupogen shots add to the bone pain. AC sucked the life completely out of me and I had to deal with post-operative pain with the AC (mod. rad. mastectomy). It is still nothing like Taxol has been. Things burn inside my body. 

I did get other SE's similar to everyone else's...mouth sores, numb/tingling/painful fingertips and numb feet when I wake up each morning, slight itchy rash on skin of outer upper arms day 3 of chemo cycle for both, dizzy spells and blurry vision. I'm sure I'm blocking out a ton more SE's.  I'm getting steroids in my IV instead of pill form now and my energy level the first three days is unreal. The fun really starts when it begins to wear off and the pain kicks in.

My best to everyone.

Erin

TexanCupig

Good morning, y'all!

Congrats to bar62! 

I know I was happy when I received my last chemo!  I was relieved but empty, somehow, when I was close to getting done with my radiation treatments, but now, I can say I'm glad it's ALL done and over with!  I had my last rads on 11/03, and came back to the village on 11/04, TO VOTE!  I had 33 treatments of rads, and I think my skin is all but back to normal!   I also got my medi-port taken out while I was receiving treatments, and it seems like the scar still bothers me a little bit.

I've been on Tamoxifen since my last chemo, and I think I went through a bit of depression, but I seem to be doing a whole lot better!  I do wake up, in the morning, with stiff hands, but that wears off as the day goes on.  Other than that, I think I'm doing pretty darn good, now!  I don't go back to see my onc until 1/13/09!

I hope y'all have a great holiday!