Taxol: 12 times or 4?

SandyinPa

An onco told me that Taxol can be delivered once a week for 12 weeks or 4 times in 12 weeks. What was your schedule? An research on the subject? Also said Doxirubicin can be delivered dose dense every two week four times or four times every three weeks. What did you have and what is the research showing on effectiveness?

bcfree2013

I am going to do weekly taxol for 12 weeks starting from 4/1.

gillyone

I had DD Taxol after DD AC. So every 2 weeks x 4, every three weeks x 4 and weekly x 12. Apparently you get the same amount of taxol whichever schedule. I don't know why one is chosen over another. Simply preference of an oncologist? I don't know the reasons, but am also interested to hear what anyone says.

Kicks

I did 12 weekly Taxol after surgery (did 4 A/C before surgery).  Still NED 3+ yrs.

PatinMN

Sandy, I had 12 weekly taxol treatments. Early on, I asked my onc some questions about dosage for both taxol and herceptin (in writing - it was a treatment day, and I asked the nurse to pass my questions on to him). So - I have his answers in writing. The standard weekly dose of taxol is 80 mg/square meter of body surface area. I asked if the weekly dose is one-third of what it would be if I were on the tri-weekly regimen. He answered "No it is not...because it is too toxic to give 240 mg/square meter every three weeks. This is probably why it is more effective to give it weekly."



So - the total dose of taxol is higher for 12 weekly vs 4 every three weeks. I didn't ask about the dosage every two weeks, but would be interested to hear from others.

anonymice

I did Taxol x 12 (actually x13, because they messed up the schedule and I got Taxol on an "off" week").  What I was told by a onc nurse - and I've never confirmed this or anything so it may not be true - was that there wasn't a difference in the efficacy so much as differences in how you feel on treatment , it works as well either way.  The big differences are in how you feel...some people feel better with once every three weeks because you generally feel poorly for several days but then well for quite a while too.  While with weekly, it cycles faster...less time feeling bad and less severe side effects, quicker recovery times, but no longer periods of feeling (relatively) well.

By the way, you'll hear of every type of experience with different drugs but for me and many others I know, Taxol is pretty well tolerated.  For me, my hair started growing back in earnest as soon as I started Taxol.  I felt fairly well...had a smidge of neurological problems and incredibly dry skin on hands and feet but they went right away after treatment was done.  A bit of fatigue, not horrible, and some achiness in my joints was it.  (That might have been from Herceptin, which generally makes me feel like I have a touch of the flu.)

SandyinPa

Thank you all for the feedback. I finally feel connected. I've been trying to get a support group, but there is nothing in my town. I guess I'll have to travel a little for it. Seems like it will be worth it. I really want to meet other women going through this. Your feedback and experiences mean so much to me.

gillyone

Sandy - I have found the support on BCO to be invaluable. I am still here over 3.5 years out from dx. I don't know where alse you post on BCO, but I found it very helpful to find a thread where you are all going through chemo at the same time. New threads pop up every month.

SchnauzerMom

Sandy, I'm doing Taxol weekly (supposed to have been 3 weeks on, 1 week off for 4 rounds).  After my second week, my white counts really dropped, so was moved to 2 on, 1 off.  Feel like I failed the test.  Not sure if  I will be bumped up to 6 rounds then, so that all 12 doses are done.  As far as side effects, I'm not sure what is from the Taxol or the Avastin.  I am definitely more tired than before, and I get significant diarrhea that starts about 6-8 hours after the chemo.  Now I'm cherishing Immodium!!

Hair was pretty much gone after about 2 1/2 weeks.

SpecialK

Just so nobody is confused Taxol (paclitaxel) and Taxotere (docetaxel) and both taxanes, but are different drugs with different dosing schedules.