what is weekly Taxol like?

Brooklyn1234

Hi all,

Ten years after my initial treatment, here I am again, with a lump on my mastectomy site that is HER2+. (Don't worry, it's incredibly uncommon, as everyone keeps telling me!).

Ten years later, it turns out chemo is a lot different. I'm only getting Taxol with my Herceptin, but I'm getting weekly doses for 12 weeks. And because it's a recurrence I'm getting chemo before surgery.

Can anybody tell me how this new routine compares with the traditional one (TCH every three weeks for six cycles)?

Also, I tolerated chemo pretty well before, but I was 40 back then and I'm 50 now. I'm guessing 10 years makes a significant difference in terms of how well the body tolerates it....anyone been there?

And finally, I know there have been discussions about fasting on this site, but I'm just wondering if anyone has experience fasting before weekly Taxol/Herceptin treatments.

Thanks!

Ingerp

Taxol is sometimes referred to as "chemo lite." It's not fun but often does not have as many or as harsh SEs as the heavier chemo drugs. I did not fast (well--any more than usual--I've been intermittent fasting for about two years) but ate a *lot* of protein. There is a good "Weekly Taxol" thread, as well as a good "Triple Positive" one. Go poke around those.

Brooklyn1234

Thanks! I've been reading the weekly taxol thread, and one thing I noticed is that a lot of women said their hair actually started to grow back when they switched from AC to weekly taxol. My oncologist was halfway out the door when she mentioned hair loss, and I thought she said I would lose my hair. But I can't seem to find anything on the Internet that confirms you do lose your hair on the 12 weekly taxol plan. Is that something you can comment on? If so, many thanks!