TAXOL

stillhere663

Hey Gals!

PLEASE if there are any of us out there who have had Taxol as part of Chemo regimen, would you post some of the side effects? I have looked on the net and am scared to death! I start mine as a follow up to AC in February. UGH!

MiniMacsMom

I saw your post on the actives list so I thought I would let you know about this other thread.  Under the Chemo forums that has a running list of those of us on taxol.  http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/779535?page=1

Some have had taxol before, some after other chemo treatments, some weekly some dose dense, some every three weeks.  Read through and see if that helps you at all.  I am on weekly taxol but some of the other ladies posting are DD.    Hope this helps, Hugs.

Outfield

StillHere, I hated Taxol. Made me nauseated, pains shooting through my body,a nd this horrible weird nerve-damage itching in my feet that was really debilitating. But you get though it, and it's over.  I toolk a lot of meds to stay comfortable, listened to audiobooks,walked when feet were up to it.

stillhere663

Thanks Outfield

I just had first Taxol infusion. Feet are really sore already.  I read where B-12 helps, gonna try that. Only 6 more weeks of this crap. I am over it.

Anonymous

stillhere663, be sure to tell your onc about your feet.  She/he might want to try gabapentin, L-glutamine and or acetyl L carnetine for that. Gabapentin is prescription but the other two are over the counter.  My onc prescribed the gabapentin and said I can take the others but in the dose recommended on the package only.  I have heard that others do it differently, though.

Good luck with your Taxol!  I hope the next one is better.

orlandpark65

I had terrible pains in legs and feet, could barely walk.  The Onc gave me a steroid and it made all the difference.  Ask for that.    My toe nails were strange while on Taxol besides that it was okay except for the 1st treatment. Everyone reacts differently.

TectonicShift

I've only had one Taxol treatment so far (DD) one week ago today and it was horrible. I cried through the whole thing until I finally passed out from the Benadryl. Fortunately I did not have an allergic reaction. But I came home and slept the rest of the day. Beginning the next day I had sore tingling numb feet, shooting pains all through my body, headache, earache, some nausea, fatigue. A week later I'm still on the couch with aches and pains, especially shooting pains in my torso, and fatigue. I was hoping it would be "a breeze" as it is for some -- but nope. I don't feel as "sick" as with AC but there's much more pain and a different kind of discomfort and just as much fatigue.

stillhere663

I am right there with you. My side effects started on Friday after infusion on Wed. Neuropathy of the hands and feet (very  painful) and massive bladder spasms. I thought the abdominal shooting pains were my imagination.  I demanded Ativan to calm me down. Dr. recommended B-6, E and and analgesic for spasms. I am a little better.

This is so much worse than AC. They just don't tell you what to expect and I am scared. I have 3 more to go but my attitude is lousy and I wish I had never started this crap.

Ginger63

I had AC DD in February through March of 2011 and Taxol DD April-May of 2011.  I did not have any horrible side effects of Taxol.  I had some tingling/numbness of my feet and fingers and after I finished the Taxol my fingernails and toenails were really thin and I lost the toenails on a couple of my toes.  After going through AC treatments I really didn't think the Taxol was horrible.  Good luck with everything, I hope you are spared from any horrible side effects.

stillhere663

Trying to be tough. Thank you for support.

stillhere663

I am having terrific pain from bladder spasms. I have IC but have been in remission for years. Not sure which of the drugs triggered it, but hope the next poor girl thinks to ask about side effects first.

Outfield

The "C" part of AC (Cytoxan or cyclophosphamide) has well-known bladder effects.  I don't know about Taxol.  

stillhere663

Yes, I  read that. Is there any relief? I am about to embark on the doctor merry go round