Taxol Chemotherapy

seacretgardn

Thank you ladies, sorry to hear so many also having the same SEs.



I was hoping the weekly was a little less with SEs.



Hoping for improvements for all,



Laura

bethu77

I have a lot of pain with Taxol. If I had ovaries, that is where I feel the pain. My fingernails are coming off, my fingertips and bottoms of my feet are numb and my joints are killing me. My husband reminds me to take the pain meds and yesterday I only cried twice. The pain and fatigue gets to me. I am having a lot of itching where my port is. Has anyone else experienced this?

I got 50ccs in my TEs last time and this week I am due for a fill again. I don't want to get that much. I had so much itching and pain. I know it is a lot less than most of you receive and I cannot imagine getting more. I have had radiation so I may not be able to stretch much.

I hope everyone has a good or better Monday.

GrandmaV -- do you see you RO tomorrow? I hope everything goes well for you.

stjude10

Beth, I just finished my Taxol last Tues. and I, too have joint pain. I haven't lost my fingernails, but the numbness in my fingertips is almost unbearable. I also get itching fits where my port is. I try to rub it instead of scratching it. I get 50 ccs every week in my TE. I've had 4 and PS says another 6 or 7 to go. I can't even imagine. I hope this week gets better for you. Hugs!

shore1

Hi Beth, I could not tolerate 50 cc's either. After the first fill at 50, I started getting 30 to 40 a week. Feeling achy on taxol, I wanted to reduce pain as much as possible even if it took longer to get to volume I want. Maybe if you get 30 cc's next time you wont feel as bad? Are you taking l-glutamine and B complex for the numbness? I didn't have itching by my port, but did have a weird skin discoloration on my neck. My onc told me to call back only if it started itching, got red, or spread. You might want to call your onc about itching and maybe he can give you something. Hope you feel better soon!

bethu77

My husband and I were talking last night about the itching and I itch when I had pain meds. I can put up with it because it takes away my pain. I don't always itch but I think this is one of those times. I am going to ask for 25 cc's on Thursday. Now I am thinking about an antidepressant. I thought I could get through this without another medication but I don't know now. I have lost my joy and love of life. I want my huysband to be with me all the time but one of us has to work.

I was thinking about my family this morning and they seldom call and won't drive 10 miles to my home to visit. It would be nice to be asked to do something with my only sister or my brothers once a week. I just can't shake the sadness that envelopes me. This is not me. I am usually so upbeat but I cannot seem to shake the sadness or the energy to even get off the couch. Most of the people who encouraged me at the begining have left me and I need them to help me. Maybe I should start calling each of them.

Sorry about the rant but I know each of you understand how I feel and my friends/family don't have a clue.

shore1

Beth, im so sorry you're feeling down. It is so hard to deal with dx and treatment and not get down in the dumps. If you feel you can't shake it, do ask your onc for help - if a med can help you get through this, do what you need to do. There's also nothing wrong with reaching out to family & friends - ive realized that many people just don't know what to do to help, even though they want to. I also think people don't want to intrude, so hearing from you that you need and want some help and visits to cheer you up may be what they are waiting for. Hugs to you. Let us know how you feel doing less cc's next time.

kelleysgroi

Beth- I say give the antidepressant a try- you have been struggling with this sadness long enough..it will help you get through whats left of your treatment then its worth it.  I agree with shore1- ask for help, ask your friends and family to come visit you.  That's what I did..I just started asking for people to come over.  I've never been one to ask for any help with anything, but it has helped!  Thinking of you!

Quaatsi

Phyllis-- did you try the Bao He Wan? And Kelley???   

I spent my SO CALLED week off between Taxol and the new stuff-- tired and sleeping lots!!! So much for that planned vacation.....

I started my Navalbine. Unfortunately I went into the doc and she told me that instead of 9 treatments over 12 weeks it was going to be 12 treatments over 16 weeks!! Oh heck what is another month of this???  I just want to get  rid of every ounce of possible cancer cells so doc--have at it!!  

Q 

Anonymous

Quaatsi - No I didn't try it and now I have to go back and see what it was for!  My memory is about as long as my patience lately. 

Sorry you've been tired when you should be feeling better!  My week off from chemo has been very good!  I'm getting energy and appetite back.  The bad news is that it looks like I might lose several toenails.  I didn't ice them because I didn't find out about icing until very late in treatment, but never saw any changes until the last 2 treatments.  Now 5 and maybe 6 of them are discoloring.  Booo!  No fair!

I haven't been online much because I gave back my niece's little HP mini that I was using.  She was very generous to loan it and now I'm too tired (or maybe just too lazy) to turn on the desktop and sit at the desk to type.  With the mini I could just sit in the recliner and not have to get up.

Okay, now off to look up the Bao He Wan.  Thanks for the reminder!

Phyllis

seacretgardn

Beth, I'm so sorry for the sadness and lack of energy you are feeling.



My onc and family have been pushing for me to begin an anti depressant as well. While there are certainly legitimate reasons forvdepression and anxiety, the idea tha it may help me along through treatment and recovery means I have to consider it, even as resistant as I've been.



Do your brothers or sister know how you feel? I have a tendency to isolate or make people feel like I don't need them when I'm hurting even though they are exactly what I need. I know its hard but ask them, they will most likely be happy to help. You may find that even talking to them about it helps.



You are in my prayers Beth.



Phyllis sorry about your nails. Especially now that you're done with taxol and beginning to feel well.

I read something about tea tree oil and will look again. I just began taxol and it's so cold in the infusion room I don't know about icing. But I may give it a try.



Quaatsi, I'm sorry about the change in tx. I hope your energy improves.



Better days for all, Laura







Laura

Anonymous

Dear Beth,

I thought it might help to know I've been pretty down myself these past two weeks:  and I'm ON effexor 37.5 mg to help with chemo-flashes...I may ask my onc. to up the dose till I get through Taxol. Cried nearly every day this past week and for hours on Sunday.

I feel your pain about family. My sister lives less than a mile away--she hasn't called since Xmas and when she did, that was the first time she called since my dx in Sept. I invited her on my caringbridge website and I don't know if she ever went there. My brother hasn't called since Oct and he lives 4 miles away. I invited him to my website too, and I know he's joined, but he has yet to write one word of encouragement to me. They don't even call my hubby to see how I'm doing. Both could email me but they don't do that either.  My mother makes excuses for them--"they don't want to call b/c they are afraid of saying something wrong" which is a copout if ever I heard one.  I wonder what I'd have to do to get them to care about me; you'd think cancer would do that.

Sometimes the families you find in your life are better and more loving than the families we GET, but I'm still very hurt that they haven't checked up on their baby sister in monhs.

Anyway. I DO know how you feel and I'm with you in spirit.

 Claire

shore1

Phyllis & Laura, tea tree oil helps nails a lot. My onc said it's fine, but I've seen it posted on here that it is estrogenic and should therefore be avoided. I use it a couple times a week and will stop when im sure my nails are not in danger of loosening. Ask your inc for sure, but mine said its fine for me to use.

heathermlarsen

Its so great to read all your post..Its so nice to have this..I go in for my 3rd/4 ac tomorrow..Then start Taxol after that..4 treatments..Thank you to you all..

Anonymous

Dear ladies starting Taxol,

I have had a lot less physical trouble on Taxol than on AC---just wanted you to know that not everyone has all the side effects that others have. I've generally had none, except for fatigue.  However, I'm still weary.   My emotional and psychological status stems from, I'm sure, the months long grind of dx and tx in general.  It just seems to go on and on and on, although I know there will be a day when I'm actually done, it's far away from now. And that really tires me.

Claire

kelleysgroi

Claire- hugs to you..I know how exhausted you feel..4 weeks ago I thought I would die before I got through all of this. Tomorrow is my last treatment and I think I am more scared now than I was when I got my diagnosis..how do I make sure this crap never comes back!  Please hang in there..I'm thinking of you.

GrandmaV- thank you for remembering..tomorrow is the big day..I almost cant believe it. This past week I have been feeling more like myself than I have in months..I hate that I have to go through it again..even if it is the last time.

Anonymous

shore - thanks for the tea tree oil tip.  I will try it.  Since I'm TN the estrogenic piece doesn't apply to me....I think!  Thanks again!

 Phyllis

Anonymous

claire - I'm sorry that you're feeling so exhausted.  Just to let you know - after finishing Taxol X 12 and having a week off, I'm feeling pretty normal.  The exhaustion was also a problem for me so I'm almost beside myself with joy over feeling good this week.  It will get better!  Of course, I start FAC tomorrow, so on Thursday I may be singing a different tune. 

kelleysgroi

Ladies- just when you think it is all over someone drops a bomb..I saw the onc today who told me I should have 6 weeks of radiation due to my 1 positive node.  At the start of all of this crap she told me I didnt need radiation..aside from sobbing uncontrollably for the past hour I just feel like I have been lied to..and that the cancer is "worse" than I thought..now I am just more frightened and frustrated..

bethu77

Kelley--I'm sorry to hear that you have to have more stuff done to your body. If she had said "Maybe radiation" at least you would have had an idea that you may need more treatment. When we get a cancer diagnosis and we finish treatment, we always wonder if it will come back.

I am feeling better. I am on Gabapentin for the neuropathy in my fingers and feet. My new nails are pushing the old nails out. My toenails are coming off also. The good side is...my husband still looks at me with love. I tell him that I feel like a fat slug and he still doesn't hear it. I hope to come out of this a better wife and person. I will be asking my onc about an anti-depressant to get me through the treatment. I will also try to get my family to see that I need them with me at the finish line.

Blessings to all of you and thank you so much for helping me through these treatments.

Anko66

I'm four weeks into Taxol weekly treatments (fifth treatment today) and I  think I'm starting to suffer from neuropathy.  My feet are not tingling but they are rather numb, and when I get up from a sitting or lying position, I can't feel them very well at all and I have difficult "placing" my feet (I can't think of any other way to put it.  I'm walking about clinging on to furniture to steady myself until it eases off usually after about ten minutes.  Is this neuropathy?  I have not tingling in my hands but they are very very shakey, looks like I've had a hard night on the booze!  And my fingers nails are starting to feel soft and very sensitive.  God this is horrible and not what I expected at all.

JulieLynn

Anko66 - That's neuropathy.  Are you icing at all during the Taxol treatment?  I've been putting my feet on ice and holding my hands around frozen water bottles and so far I've been lucky with very little numbness/tingling in my hands and feet (what I do have comes and goes) and my nails are not discolored and are so far staying put.  I've completed 10 of 12 Taxol treatments so far along with Herceptin each time.  The one thing I notice is after the steroids wear off, my legs, knees, and ankles get achy, kind of like a flu feeling, and I feel a little unsteady going down stairs.  Once I start the steroids again, they go back to normal for those few days.  If you haven't tried it, try icing and/or ask your doctor for a medicine like gabapentin/Neurontin - Hopefully that will help.  Good luck!!!

kelleysgroi

Beth- yes it was quite a surprise..sounds like you are doing better..I like the idea of the antidepressant!  The nail issue you ladies are experiencing is awful..I have not had that problem..yet.

You are not a fat slug! Amazing they can see our beauty through the loss of hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, our sense of humor and our sense of self..I had a woman tell me yesterday that I was "breathtaking"..I nearly laughed at her..  

FLislander

Anko

I saw on the forum somewhere to wear CROCS shoes to keep from bumping your toes, they have saved me about 5times from hurting my toes from running into stuff.

sidekick

I will be finished with 4 rounds of Taxotere day after tomorrow!!!! I have had my tx every 3 weeks without a port.  My infusion usually takes about 1 1/2 hours.  My veinss did burn a bit but not too bad.  I alternate hands each infusion. 

Kim137

Kelley, I'm right there with you! Originally I was told no rads, then it switched and I'll be getting 6 weeks also. I was devastated!!!! I cried for days straight. Just when I thought the end was near someone re-routed the race track and I can't find the finish line! Hang in there Hun! Give yourself a few days to let it sink in. You can always get a second opinion of you don't feel comfortable with the plan. I decided to do it without getting another opinion since I knew the RO had already co wilted with another RO at Emory in Atlanta.

MiniMacsMom

It was nice of taxol to rear its ugly head at the end of treatment and put ne in the hospital with a severe sudden onset uti.

Kim137

Oh no!! Minimacsmom, I hope you're on the road to recovery and feeling better by the minute! Taxol has proved to not be so " easy" after all!

stjude10

Kelley, so sorry your MO decided to do the rads after all. It has to be frustrating to think you're done and then OOPS, sorry. That truly sucks. Same for you Kim.

I'm also dealing with the numb fingers and toes. I am managing, but not liking it.

And can I just say that cording...the gift that keeps on giving...sucks! I guess, no I know, it could be worse. But that doesn't make it any fun.

Kim, you said it best, Taxol wasn't that "easy" after all. It definitely had its crappy moments, but I'm done w/it and hope you are too. Now it's recovery time.

Not diggin the hot flashes, but if it means no more periods I can suck it up. I've been thru worse, right?!

Hope all you gals are having an ok week and not feeling too bad. I'm thinking another nap is in order for me today!

Anonymous

Anko66--search these forums for "l-carnitine" and "l-glutamine"...that could be your solution for neuropathy.  The icing is to protect your nails. Your onc. should be inquiring when you see her/him about this issue--if not, TELL them. They can also give you something to take, but I found the above two supplements are what most women here have had good luck with.

On to T#8 today.  I'm feeling like I'm running a marathon and someone keeps moving the finish line away from me, around a corner where I can't see it.

I'm with all you Taxol ladies in spirit. Day by day, we'll finish.

Claire

sb1yo

Hello All!

I am wondering if anyone has insights about being treated with  the TAC (with taxotere) every 3 weeks for six cycles versus AC every other week x4 followed by taxol every week x4. I consulted with 3 MOs and 2 recommend TAC. I know that there are unpleasant side effects with both. I am 37 and want to use the most "effective" treatment if there is such a thing. Also, when taxol is given over 12 weeks instead of 4, is it usually in smaller doses? Been trying to get answers from my docs, but difficult.

 Thanks for any help