Tiredness with Taxol?

Hi Cathie,

I'm sorry the Taxol is wearing you out. Do you have two treatments with Taxol left, or what is your regimen?

The reason I'm asking is because there might be light at the end of the tunnel, if you're like me. I had Taxotere, and it absolutely wasted me. Believe it or not, I found AC to be much, much easier than Taxotere -- why, I don't really know. Most women are relieved to be off the AC and to start a taxol drug; some of them even start to grow hair again.

Hopefully you'll be like me and find that AC is easier to get through; that is, if you are indeed going to a different regimen soon.

Hang in there!

Love,

Annie Camel Toenails

Cathie --

I think you need to talk to your medical team about all this. Although none of the chemotherapy treatments qualify as a fun thing to do on your vacation, they are -- for most of us -- feasable. We can get through them. I would usually spend about 2 days lying low after treatment, then gradually get better again. My third week was completely normal.

It's possible that some of the other drugs they're giving you with the Taxol (and with the AC) are contributing to your inability to deal with the chemo. Are you perhaps having trouble with the Dexamethasone? That one was nearly impossible for me, and I understand lots of other women have trouble with it too.

Again, this needs to be thoroughly discussed with your chemo people. You can't go on like this for ten more treatments.

Let us know what they say!

Love,

Annie

Were they giving you any predrugs before the taxol?

I was getting taxol with herceptin..Before the treatment they gave me Adivan, Pepcid, Benedryl and Decadron..the benedryl did me in, the nurses used to kid me about it because I always fell asleeep, and I slept when I got home.   As for caffeine, I was told right from the beginning no caffeine.

Angie

hi, I just finished 8 out of 12 taxol/herceptin, and I have noticed that they do accumulate, because I have being feeling more tired every time, I get my infusion on Tuesdays and always knocks me down in the weekend.

I am so much wishing for it to be over, good luck to all. 

Hi again Cathie --

I had a thought -- have they checked your electrolytes? I was woozy and light-headed and faint for days after my treatments, and finally demanded blood and urine tests at the urging of friends on this board. It turned out my sodium and potassium levels were very low. As soon as I started Gatorade, I felt a lot better.

Maybe you can ask for tests as well.

Thinking of you!

Annie

I am also on my second dose of Taxol, 7 more to go. I am definetly more tired this week than the first week. I heard it can get a little more each week as it builds up.

Marci

I noticed the post that mentioned it could be the other drugs vs. the chemo that could be the problem. The dexamethasone in high doses absolutely floored me. It felt like someone was sitting on my chest and I had a hard time breathing. Once the dose was cut in half I functioned just fine. I am still taking the AC and no Taxol yet and had heard the Taxol is much more tolerable. Bummer this might not be true. Good luck.