taxol's nerve damage

Jane108

I just had #10 taxol after skipping a week due to neuropathy of my hands and feet.  I am not certain I want to go through with #11 and #12 which will be the end of taxol treatments for me.  Over the past 2 and a half weeks, I have had a very raspy voice, much like laryngitis, but it doesn't seem to be going away.  I keep thinking I now have nerve damage to my throat.  Has anyone had this experience?  Last week my onc knew I couldn't speak well, but he didn't comment on my voice at all. 

kfinnigan

I had the raspy voice too, but along with A/C and Taxol I am getting Avastin and my onc thought the voice changes were from the Avastin.  Hugs to you and I hope it gets better along with your neuropathy.

SusieMTN

Jane108  I was on Taxol for 12 weeks straight and had neuropathy symptoms that went away after I was done with Chemo.  I am at the 1 year mark from the time I was diagnosed and my last Chemo which was CAF was completed 2 Jan '09.  Currently I have few symtoms of neuropathy, just every once in a while tingling in some fingers.  I did get rather "raspy sounding voice" at one point but never mentioned it to the doctor as I thought it was related to needing to drink more water.  Your post is from Feb 2009 hope you are doing better now!

NatureGrrl

Jane, I haven't seen anything about nerve damage to the throat but that doesn't mean it isn't possible -- but I've been doing lots of research, as my own neuropathy is starting, and I'm not happy about it!   and I haven't seen anything about the throat.

My mom did get a very raspy voice on one chemo but it was from an infection -- make sure that's not the case with you. She otherwise felt fine.  It did eventually go away with MMM.  I hate to say it, but her voice sounded kind of funny and she couldn't yell, so a couple of times when she got mad and frustrated and would try to yell, she sounded so funny that we all couldn't help laughing at her!  fortunately she took it well!

I would think there could be many causes.  It's worth asking your oncol. about, especially if it's an infection, so you can start treatment.

(Susie, I think you saw Jane's "join" date rather than her post date -- the post date is recent).

cbm

Jane--it might be reflux from stomach acid?  Once I was in the Taxol protocol I didn't need all the tummy stuff I used in the A/C part.  And I ate more.  And reclined becasue I was still tired and conserving energy, etc.  So, I developed gastric reflux, which will make your voice raspy and also make you cough, or both.  I added a Prilosec, for a total of two a day and it went away.  Once it sets in it can be a bear to get rid of. 

Hope you are doing well.  I found the oncologist didn't help as much as the nurses 

 C

Jane108

My oncologist will never admit that things can be a side effect from chemo.  although I am not on avastin, he did say one day that many chemo drugs are derivatives of others.  It's almost 3 weeks that I have the raspy voice and now have an appt. next week with an ENT specialist.  Thanks.

Jane108

Susie,

Have had the raspy voice for about 3 wks. now and am seeing an ENT specialist next week.  I have got to get to the bottom of this.  I keep thinking I could have cancer of the throat now and am scared to death.  Thanks for your input.

Jane108

NatureGrrl,

Thanks for your input. I am going to see an ENT specialist next week.  This laryngitis is hanging around too long and I am worried. 

Jane108

cbm,

I, too, find that the nurses are so much more helpful than my oncologist.  The Nurse Supervisor told me that over the years, some patients have had raspy and hoarse voices.  She thinks that it is either a stubborn infection or it could be some type of side effect.  Everyone reacts a little differently.  I'll be seeing an ENT specialist next week.  Thanks for your input.