Starting once a week taxol Thursday. What can i expect?

lisjo

Sigh. I am starting weekly taxol Thursday for bone mets. In 1998 I had four infusions every three weeks. I remember having a flushed face and neck, tight chest, numb feet and feeling like I was in a fog. Are the side effects less? Will I be fatigued? Bald? I am a teacher and go back to school August 24th. Will I be able to go? And how long before I will have progression in my organs. I read my chance of 5 year survival is 22%. I am moving into year four with mets. First time this round with chemo. What is the point since I have about a year left. Feeling blue.

Lisa

Fitztwins

I did have hair loss again with Taxol. The weekly doses just made me tire, but I was really functional on it. I usually had a really good response to taxol.

As to teaching, have you thought at all about going on disability? Life is really easier not working and doing treatments. I retired 3 years after I was diagnosed with Mets, it was the best decision I made. When I am not in hard treatment (chemo), it is wonderful and when I am on chemo like taxol, it is less stressful knowing that I don't have to work and when I am tired or feel like crap, I can rest and lay down.

I don't know what you teach, but those little kids are germy little dudes!!

As to the question about progression. Well, no one can answer that one. If this is your first chemo in 4 years, this might give you PFS (progression free survival) for a long time. Are you doing prejeta with it?

ShazzaKelly

Lisa check out the weekly Taxol for Stage 4 thread there is heaps of great info on it. I started weekly taxol in September 2013 and I'm still on it.

I did have hair loss but it started to grow again on the treatment pretty quickly and I have a full head of hair now although it grew back silver and not my natural brown.

I have worked about 30 hours a week all this time and while I did get fatigue over time it has settled. I had extensive Mets and the taxol reduced them back to a couple of pesky bone mets pretty quickly and has kept me stable all this time.

At the beginning of this year I started on a trial for the oral version of taxol Oraxol. It seems to be better tolerated than the IV with fewer issues. I'm certainly finding it easier.

Good luck I hope you have a similar response to me with Taxol

Shazza