Starting taxol and Herceptin what can I expect?

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Marybetz
Marybetz Member Posts: 202
edited June 2014 in Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis

Stage IV BC with mets to the liver, finished 2 months of AC chemo 2 weeks ago.  Plan is to start Taxol and Herceptin later this week.  What are the side effects I can expect?

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  • ElaineD
    ElaineD Member Posts: 2,265
    edited July 2010

    I haven't had taxol so can't help there. But herceptin is very manageable-a few soft and ridged fingernails, but other than that, no noticeable side effects. Hope all goes well for you.

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  • justpayton1
    justpayton1 Member Posts: 786
    edited July 2010

    I had 4 cycles of Taxol every 2 weeks...No experiance w/ Herceptin.

    With Taxol I had joint pain for 2-3 days. I would take advil and soak in warm baths w/ Epson salt, that seemed to help some. Towards the end I did have swelling in my face and ankles..I was prescribed Lasix and that helped w/ that.

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  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 25,634
    edited July 2010

    Hi Mary....I had 4 rounds of Taxol every 2 weeks with Herceptin weekly for one year. AC was little hard for me.

    Taxol was much more easier.

    Herceptin absolutely no SE. I used to walk back home from the hospital.

    And like Ellen said my nails got messed up, but in time they got stronger.

    Good Luck to you.

    If you survived the A/C treatments this is nothing compare to it.

    Sheila

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  • justpayton1
    justpayton1 Member Posts: 786
    edited July 2010

    I echo Sheila..if you survived the AC..

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  • Marybetz
    Marybetz Member Posts: 202
    edited July 2010

    Thanks for the encouraging words!  I had read some pretty bad things about Taxol too.  Thank goodness for this site where you can hear honest opinions from people who've been there!! Bless you all!!

    M.B.

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  • my2boys
    my2boys Member Posts: 339
    edited July 2010

    I am on weekly Taxol and Herceptin for 12 weeks.  I am up to week six.  So far the Taxol and Herceptin are not bad at all.  The funny taste in my mouth is the hardest part.  I have no nausea to speak of and a bit of drippy nose.  I was on Herceptin last year and the drippy nose is caused by that drug. 

    This regimen is VERY tolerable.  I am not changing my vacation plans for this summer....full steam ahead!

    Good luck.

    Anne

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  • jteach
    jteach Member Posts: 199
    edited July 2010

    Hi Mary.

    I started 4 rounds of A/C every other week at the end of last August.  Then I started weekly Taxol and Herceptin (12 rounds.)  I am completing my year long Herceptin infusions by going dose dense every 3 weeks.  I have a port-makes things so much easier. 

    I can tell you that chemo makes you TIRED.  That being said, it feels like forever ago for me.  I just had DIEP flap recon. and have lots of energy.  Chemo wasn't all that long ago for me, but it's no longer part of my world.  Herceptin is.  But now I drive myself to infusions.  Now the nurses hang out and really talk and laugh with me instead of whispering because I'm so sleepy.  I don't dread going at all.

    You can do this!  Before yopu know it this will all be a crummy distant memory.  I promise!Smile

    (((HUGS))) Janice

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  • seaofhope
    seaofhope Member Posts: 66
    edited July 2010

    I am on the same therapy as you.  The taxol gave me a pins and needles (neuropathy?) feeling and joint pain in my extremities.  It was usually gone by day 3.  Herceptin has been very manageable...very few side effects, tiredness and runny nose.  Good luck with the taxol (it's better than the AC).

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  • TriciaK
    TriciaK Member Posts: 362
    edited July 2010

    Hi,

     Scoll down the main page and post this on the her2 forum where you'll receive lots more replies from people who have had this treatment.

    I had it too, my hair grew back on taxol but lost my eyebrows/lashes:(

    You can get very depressed/tired and lose your finger nails too, however the good news is it's far more tolerable than a/c and you dont need anti nausea usually and /or neulasta!

    Good luick and also check out www.her2support.org for more info on this type of cancer:)

    Tricia x

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  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited July 2010

    Herceptin is nothing.  A runny nose, but nothing else.

    I switched from taxotere to taxol in the middle of my chemo.   I went from every three weeks to weekly, so  I perceived the taxol as harder but it probably wasn't, just less recover time.  Fatigue was my biggest problem, and some bone aches.  No nausea, nothing else.  

    Do check into  l-glutamine for neuropathy.  I took it and it seemed to help, I have almost none to speak of now, and the reason I switched was becasue my neuropathy was bad on taxotere.  I don't know if the l-glutamine helped but early clinical trials are promising.  Ask your onc first, off course.

    Good luck. 

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