Stopping Taxol Early

Atb1201

Hi,  I was diagnosed in May with breast cancer. Had a lumpectomy and a auxiliary node dissection. Tumor was 2.5 centimeters. One of the 5 nodes removed had a micrometastsis. Er+ Pr- Her2-. Oncotype ex score of 21. 

I finished the adriamycin and cytoxen (sp?) regimen and started the taxol and have completed 9 of 12 treatments I have developed neuropathy in my feet. Oncologist and Neurologist are discussing the possibility of stopping treatments depending on the nerve conduction test. 

Had anyone else stopped early? I’m so concerned about the chemo not being effective enough if I stop early. Btw I am 58 years old. Besides this the side effects from the taxol have been minimal. 

Any feedback would be spp

beauz

Hi Atb. I have had AC+T. I stopped after taxol#7 because of low counts of neutrophils. My dosage was cut down by 15% after taxol #4 also because of the low count of neutrophils. My oncologist told me that I have completed 75% of my total scheduled chemo, it would not make much difference with further treatments. Also I may have a risk of permanent damage to my bone marrow if I continue with chemo. I am comfortable with the decision. There are a few women on current weekly taxol group forum who have to stop early because of various SEs. It may help if you read those posts at about 3 or 4 pages back from the last. Best wishes.

Brightness456

I stopped taxol after 6 of 12 treatments due to neuropathy. My tumor was pretty small and my risk of recurrence is supposedly low, but I can’t help worrying. My MO, her colleague and other doctors on my team all felt comfortable with me stopping, saying the first 6 likely gave me more benefit than the last 6 would have and the risk of permanent SEs wasn’t worth continuing.

I’m still on herceptin for a year and I’m doing radiation now. My neuropathy is almost resolved after 4 weeks, almost but not completely. I’m not sure I’ll ever feel safe, but I’m trying to think of myself as healthy and normal again.

muska

9 of 12 without dose reduction is a lot. If neuropathy is not improving between the cycles it makes all the sense to stop.

My taxol dose was reduced by 10% starting from #3 because of elevated liver enzymes. I was offered to stop after #10 because of worsening neuropathy but I continued for two more cycles. Fortunately, neuropathy went away completely.