taxol side effects peak time?

Anonymous

taxol side effects peak time?

sumomo

I would like to know when you had the most side effects and when it turned to improve. I completed 12 weekly treatments of Taxol three weeks ago. After completing them, the side effects are still getting worse. As it is cumulative, I understand the worst time could come after completing the treatment. When was it for you? I would like to know when it was for everyone, so that I can have some idea when I will get better. I will greatly appreciate your input.

Egads007

My hair fell out after 2 infusions, I was tired and foggy throughout the whole treatment. I don't remember a peak per say, just a slow return of energy in the weeks and months following. My eyebrows didn't fall out until the week following my last infusion and grew back rapidly. My eyelashes grew quickly but fell out in cycles over a period of a year (not completely they got sparse every month). My hair seemed to take a long time, but it came back curly so length not thickness was the problem. Any particular SE you're wondering about?

sumomo

Hi Egads007. Thank you very much for sharing your experience. I'm particularly interested in neuropathy. I had some numbness/tingling during the treatment but it's getting worse after completing the treatment. I also started having some muscle pains and feeling weakness in my thighs. Anyway, except for hair loss, would the numbness/tingling/pain/fatigue normally get worse after completing the treatment? When is the worst, e.g. 3 weeks after completion? That was what I would like to know. Thank you.

Ingerp

Sumomo—I’m on my phone now so can’t share the link but along with this thread, you might pose the question on the Weekly Taxol one. I believe it’s mostly women who are currently in tx but I’m sure there are some checking in who have finished tx and might have some stories to share. (I haven’t even started yet but have favorited this thread—I’m very interested in the responses.)

Egads007

Sumomo - Ingerp makes a great suggestion in posting to the Weekly Taxol group. You’ll likely get a better picture from many.

As for neuropathy I noticed my fine motor skills (buttoning clothing) was affected immediately after completing chemo and lasted a very long time, like two years later. It slowly started to get better after that point to normal. However, on extremely damp days I still feel it a bit. I felt weakness in my hips when getting up from a sitting position or getting out of the car, again that started within weeks of completing and lasted until I started strength training so I’m not sure if I’d still be feeling it. Fatigue came and went in cycles after completing chemo but slowly improved over a period of about a year. Every once in a while I’m hit with what feels like the same fatigue, but not sure if that’s just life’s stresses or tamoxifen which has that as an SE. As for SEs from taxol getting worse, no, just a slow improvement if anything.

sumomo

Thank you for your suggestion, Ingerp. I will post a question there.

Thank you Egads007 for sharing your experience further.