Advice Please on Taxol versus Taxotere

Pure

Advice Please on Taxol versus Taxotere

Pure

Everyone-I am starting taxol this week BUT I am in talks with the doctor to do TAXOTERE every 3 weeks with Zometa given each time-there is a study that was done and I am trying ton convince the docs to let me do this dosing schedule.

Anyone-my bc consultant told me Taxotere shows a SLIGHT SLIGHT advantage with er pos women-the study was a cross study so not that valid pursue but a slight hint is a slight hint. She also said it's not worse then doing the 12 weeks.

With that said it seems everyone is now doing the 12 week dosing schedule of taxol versus every 3 or 2 weeks with taoxtere.

Would you guys mind sharing with me how you did this part and if your doc explained why they were doing it the way they were doing ?

msmpatty

JMV - I was told that the 12-weekly Taxol and Taxotere every three week regimens were equally effective based on the research.  I was also told that the Taxotere had a much higher incidence of nuetropenia, which is a pretty serious side effect, than the Taxol.   I choose the Taxol.  I'm currently on my eleventh week of it and really have sailed through with very minor side effects!

Patty

P.S. - I'll be doing Zometa after the Taxol.

krcll

Congratulations on your baby! In Norway, they do mostly Taxol. My onc said that it is much more tolerable (on the weekly schedule) than Taxotere (every 3 weeks) and he "doesn't know why anyone would even do Taxotere". I was also under the impression that both get the same results. I heard people saying that there was a little less neuropathy with Taxotere, but never found any studies to support that. My onc hadn't heard of that either.

As far as neuropathy, I am using ice mitts, painted my nails black (a very small Australian study showed that there was 0% neuropathy when done in combo with ice mitts), and am taking 30 grams L-Glutamine and 200 mg. B6 per day (found no studies supporting this, but it seems lots of chemo nurses in USA reccommend it). I have no idea if what I am doing is helping or if I am just one of the lucky ones, but so far (after 5 of 12 Taxols) there is NO sign of neuropathy!!! 

I wish you the best with your choice!

Pure

KRCLL-Are you doing Zometa? What is ice mitts?

LRM216

Hi - I had 4 DD A/C every two weeks x 4 and then was supposed to have 4 DD Taxol every two weeks x 4 - but after my very first Taxol, I developed neuropathy in all my fingers and my feet right out of the gate.  My onc then switched me to taxotere every 3 weeks x 3, as the taxotere is NOT as bad with the neuropathy as either Taxol or even the Abraxane.  She was correct, my neuropathy never worsened, but I did complete my final taxotere Sept 10, 2009 and still have very minor neuropathy in fingertips only, but all my toes are still numb.  They have not caused me any distress other than they feel weird.  She said it could take a year or more to completely go away, which I am hoping to be the case and that I don't have this forever!  The only big problem I had is that with the Taxol you do not need the dreaded Neulasta shot ( which was worse for me than any of the side effects of either the AC or the Taxotere), and I needed it each and every time after all 7 of my chemos (not after the only Taxol I had).  I suffer greatly with the Neulasta, but unfortunately I either got neutropenia each time, or the counts just dropped really low, so I needed it.  Otherwise, I worked full time (am a legal asst.) and used my hands everyday with no problems other than the tingling and numbness.  Out of the two  - I had a much easier time with the A/C - the taxotere was pretty rough with bone pain and muscle aches - and then the Neulasta on top of that, ugh!  But - I made it - and pray to God I never have to go that route again!  Good luck on your chemo journey - it does come to an end, I promise!

Kisses to Kilian -

Linda

KerryMac

Ice Mitts - make them yourself with ice packs or ice in Ziplock bags - put your fingers in when getting the infusion. My Onc said they had cut the incidence of neuropathy down to only 10% at my hospital.

krcll

Hi Pure- I haven't taken up the Zometa question with my onc again after he has told me twice that the results aren't yet in regarding results. I will try to strengthen my argument for my next try. Why are you doing it during chemo? Is that better?

There are ice mitts and booties, made precisely for chemo patients (I think....) or as Kerry suggests, use ice packs or ice in Ziplock bags. My chemo nurse said they used to use ice water. With the ice mitts, they start me off 15 minutes before I get the Taxol so that I am good and numb when it starts. They change the ice mitts any time I feel like I'm getting warm again- about every 30 minutes. Then I continue with the mitts for 15 minutes after the Taxol is done. If they don't already use ice mitts where you are, you could check if they have a freezer you could use and if they would mind going and fetching new supplies for you when things start melting. I hope this helps!

krcll

Thought I would explain that the theory behind the ice mitts and booties is that by freezing your fingers (or toes), your blood vessels will contract and the Taxol won't get to your fingers/toes- so no neuropathy. I have heard that some places don't like to use them because they want the chemo to go EVERYWHERE, but my onc said that "no one ever got finger mets". He is less positive to the ice caps (to keep your hair- same reasoning) exactly because you can get brain mets. For me, the ice mitts were a no-brainer since I am a musician and neuropathy is something I've been very scared of.

gogo_xago

My mom had 3 rounds of Taxol, two weeks apart. She had problems with hands and feet from neuropathy. The nurse had said to us that Taxol is a cousin of Taxorete. But I don't know the difference. As I remember the onc. doc. had said that if my mom could'n stand of Taxol maybe she would change with Taxorete, but also said the she preferred to continue with Taxol. So my mom had patience and completed the 3 rounds of Taxol. Now about 3 months from the last Taxol she had little numbness in her fingertips but nothing serious. Only doctors can explain the difference between these two drugs and decides which is suitable for you.

hugs and kisses 2U and 2 your baby. 

everyminute

I got taxol every 2 weeks after AC every two weeks.  My onc said that if you put 10 oncologists in a room you would get 10 different opinions over which was better taxol, taxotere, AC/Taxol, TAC.  Oddly enough I got three opinions before I started chemo and all three suggested the exact same thing AC/Taxol DD.

I thought that someone told me taxol was better because taxotere but maybe that is what I wanted to hear or maybe it has changed since then! 20 months is a long time in cancer world - look at zometa (which was barely even being mentioned for early stage when I started) and tamox metabolizing test (which is now very common)

All we can do is make the best decision with the info we have at the time.

ps - I got no neuropathy - took b6 and l-glutamine because my onc suggested it and taxol was pretty easy on me - did have some bone pain on days 4-6 but bearable.  Never even took tylenol.

Gayleebug

I got the taxotere in the TCH combination (once every 3 weeks).  I had neutropenia but not so bad that I had to get shots or got an infection.  I had some neuropathy but mainly in my toes ... it's still there today but very tolerable.  My hands were "clumsy" while I was doing chemo but that has pretty much resolved.  No one mentioned the ice mitts when I was in treatment, nor any supplements to ward off neuropathy.  At least mine turned out to be mild even without interventions

I'm guessing Zometa is for hormone positive folks?

KerryMac

You know, I think there are "protocols" for different hospitals, and the drugs that are given are fairly a matter of choice from different regions. Most Toronto area hospitals use FEC-T, but I noticed if you go into SW Ontario, they use A/C-T. Obviously, your Onc will tell you what they are giving you is "the best", or else why would they use it! When we asked my BS after Surgery if we should get a second opinion for Onc, she said, there is a set protocol, if you asked 3 different Dr's in the same geographical area, they would probably all recommend the same. She said it would be useful only if I had a rare type of Cancer.

I really think there is not much in it - if so, everyone would change. It is standard now to get a taxane whereas 10 years ago it wasn't - they know taxanes make a difference, it probably doesn't matter which one - I think either choice is a good one. I think what Mary says above - you make the choice based on the best information you have at the time, and believe in it.

victoriasecret

I received AC/T  dose dense (Taxol)I have not had any problems to complain of. I asked about the cold mitts and my chemo nurse said they did not give them to women recieving taxol she said it was another therapy . I did see women using them .I had slight numbness in my finger tips and toes but that is gone and I finished Dec 7th.

C

AnacortesGirl

If it were me I'd stick to the taxol.  In the biographies forum there's a long topic about taxotere and permanent hair loss.  Apparently it affects about 6% of women.  Not high, but I wouldn't want to be in that group.  I'm sure it depends on the dosing, though.