Weekly Taxol group

KarenAus

Just got home from my 8th dose of taxol, only 4 to go, thank goodness. Ended up at the hospital yesterday with elevated heart rate which I wouldn't have worried about but for my history with the blood clot in the heart. Otherwise I am doing alright so fat. Got some numbenss in a little finger and odd sensation in my hands at time.

Karen

Trvler

I had 2 weeks between AC and Taxol. I think that's typical. Although my doctor postponed my first one (ugh). She said it was because of my platelet count but I think it was because I was accidentally an hour late and it messed up their schedule.

LRFTexan

Is there a break between the taxol and radiation? Can you tell I am trying to plan my 2016 calendar

Trvler

I am not sure about that since 4 weeks after Taxol, I had my surgery. Then 5 weeks after that had my radiation.

justmaximom15

I had AC before; every 3 weeks and that's how we began Taxol, 3 weeks after my last AC. If everything goes like it has, I will finish Taxol on November 25th. I am supposed to have 6 weeks of radiation afterward and I have an appointment with my RO next week to discuss when we will begin. My MO said that I'll need a bit of a rest between chemo and radiation, she said anywhere from 2-4 weeks. We have a trip planned in mid-December and with the holidays, I am thinking we probably won't start my radiation until the first full week of January but I'll see what the RO says.

I'm a big planner myself so I completely understand.

ThePrincess

Justmaximom - the RO will usually allow up to an 8 week break between last treatment and the start of rads.

justmaximom15

I was nervous yesterday when I went to treatment. Now, that the end of all this is getting so close I am nervous that something is going to throw it off! Other than the fatigue, this past week I've had some swelling in my ankles and just a touch of dizziness later in the afternoon. I was really afraid that my MO was going to tell me that I needed a break but instead she told me I was probably a bit dehydrated. She said my numbers were great and unless I felt like I needed a break then we would go ahead and so we did. #10 of 12 FINISHED!!!

I'm sure she's right about my being dehydrated because I can honestly say that I haven't pushed the liquids like I was doing, so I'm back to that today and I'm already feeling a difference.

Hope everyone is doing well, especially my Taxol Twinsie 27heart, how are you???

Shanann

i got nueropathy in hands, feet & legs, face (eyes, nose, lips& throat). I am 5 weeks post, and while it is improving, I still have it in my hands and feet.

27heart

hello maximom! I was about to check on you too! Glad to hear you're done with #10!! So am I! Enjoying my steroid high today. Went to visit some younger cancer-friends of mine today. They are between 16-22. Sarcoma and lymphoma patients. They are so full of life! I had a great day.

JulieAggie03

Had #8 yesterday, only 4 more and I don't have skip Thanksgiving week! They are going to let me do #10 on Wednesday that week since the office is closed Thurs/Fri! Had dinner with some dear friends in town from Colorado last night and taking my 4 year old son to his first Dallas Stars game tonight! It's gong to be a great day for steroid high! Hugs to everyone, we can get through this! Have good weekend!

Trvler

Sounds great, Julie. Haha. I skimmed your post and I was thinking that will work great because she will be on her steroid high day and then I read you said it! lol

KarenAus

Got my 8th happening tomorrow and after avoiding getting a cold all winter I go to the Dr's on Friday nd now have a cold. I am hoping my bloods will still be alright and I can have this one. I do Not want to miss any weeks, I want to be finished by Christmas.

Karen

MJS1266

KarenAus, I got a bad cold after about my 3rd Taxol. The good news is I kept right on getting Taxol. The bad news is that it lingered, it got better but never really went away completely until I stopped chemo. I'm sure you'll be finished by Christmas. What a great gift to look forward to? I'm looking forward to starting 2016 with a clean slate health wise at least. Good Luck, MJ

MamaBexar

I seem to get a fever blister about once a year. The one I got last week has been the great-granddaddy of them all. My MO said I could take a anti-viral and it is clearing up at last. I will finish my Taxol the day before Christmas. I am going to celebrate New Year In Mexico City. Then I have 8 months of Herceptine left after that. Of course, there are some really serious side effects but they will monitor really closely. It should be much easier than Taxol.

Tesla

Starting my Taxol chemo #1 on 12/3. Anyone know estimated time you will spend at the infusion room? For example,from pre meds to finish.

I'm getting Taxol and Herceptin.

MamaBexar

Tesla,The first time is the longest but there are so many variables. I.e. are they doing the blood draw. The first Herceptine is longer than the later ones. I would just ask them.

KarenAus

Anyone had a reaction on the 9th infusion? I went in for mine today and never had an issue before but today there were panic stations.All is well and I only have 3 to go thank goodness.

CyndiNic

Tesla

My RO said to plan on about a 4 hour visit that very first time, then it will go faster after that. I'm starting 12 weeks of Taxol/Herceptin in early December.

Trvler

I think start to finish, I was usually there about 3.5 hours. It mostly depends on A) how long it takes your blood work to get back and if you have to wait for the doctor. I only saw her every other week.

ThePrincess

The taxol (after the first time) usually runs 60 mins. Herceptin, after the first time (a larger dose), usually runs 30 mins. The rest is bloodwork, waiting, flushing, etc.

The allergic reaction can happen anytime - I had mine on #4.

Shopgal2

does the heavy leg feeling get better/worse after time? I am DD and had infusion #2 last wed and have had increased tired legs since then. It feels like I am walking in water. Is this a sign that neuropathy is getting worse or will be permanent? I did tell my mo nurse and she said that will happen. I go for #3 next week and would like to get that one in to get as much dose as possible to prevent Triple neg from returning.

ThePrincess

ShopGal- My understanding is that it's low Hemoglobin that causes that- it goes away after you stop taxol.It sucks, I'm sorry you have it.

justmaximom15

Tesla, I always thought that my taxol treatments would be so much quicker than my AC but I was wrong! Of course, now that I'm going weekly I made all my appointments in the afternoon so I could work a half day. So, unless I'm the very first appointment after lunch (I see MO weekly) then it could take a while for me to make the circle from accessing the port back all the way back to the infusion chair. Last week my MO appt was at 12:40 and I finished chemo around 4:30.

Shopgal2

thanks princess. I am a week out from the second DD and the neuropathy is sucky. I am taking b6 & b12. I may just want to addglutamine. Does anyone know if glucosamine & condroitin tabs help or is it just Lglutamine? Anyone find Lglutamine at a whole foods store?

ThePrincess

ShopGal- are you icing / doing cryotherapy? It does help with it if your MO will allow it.

Shopgal2

no icing. Mo said it isn't proven to work since the nerves all start from out spinal column. Eventually the taxol will reach the fingertips/toes even after icing stops. And if I bring ice by the time I get from mo appt, blood draw from port, wait for blood results, and get into he chair it would melt. I did think about it and maybe I will see what I can do for #3. At this point I am 1/2 way thru the DD, so I don't know what effect it would have. Mo said I could stop after #2 if neuropathy was too much. It may be a decision we will make next week.

ThePrincess

Yes- my MO did a clinical trial on it while I was on taxol - I had almost no neuropathy at all, just some light temperature sensitivity (tho I know DD and weekly are not the same dose). Out of 38 women, NONE had neuropathy greater than that. I don't know when she's publishing it, but the researchers I worked with were very very pleased - they seem to feel that the 15 mins prior to starting taxol being iced and the 15 mins after taxol stopping being iced were the most important. I would think it couldn't hurt to try. They iced me 15 mins before, all during, and 15 mins after.

VickiRides

Shopgal2 - L-Glutamine and glucosamine are different things. I bought l-glutamine at Natural Foods market, then I found it on Amazon at a better price. Can we post links? http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013OXEKK?psc=...

I've been taking l-glutamine and B-6 and so far I am having just very mild tingling in my right pinkie. I am also trying acupuncture, which is supposed to help.

Shopgal2

cool thanks Vicki I will check out the link. How much B6 do you take

Trvler

They do carry Glutamine at Whole Foods. I would be very careful buying that kind of stuff from Amazon. Cheaper isn't always good. There are many unscrupulous sellers on Amazon and it wouldn't surprise me if some of them sold fake supplements. Heck, GNC was busted for having fake supplements. God knows where the stuff from Amazon comes from.