help with side effects of taxol

Hi Jenny- Are you having Taxol every 3 weeks? I got it every week for 12 weeks- in the end you get the same amount of Taxol just a lower dose more often. Those of us that are on the weekly don't get such bad joint pain as the "every 3 weeks" women. When I was doing FEC and had Neulasta shots, I remember someone saying that Claritin helped for the joint pain. Maybe it would help you now? I got really uncomfortable, short of breath and extremely tired from the Taxol but never had more than a twinge of joint pain. Everyone is very individual in which SE's they experience.

Just remember that you are more then 1/2 way through chemo and, even if it is hard to believe, you WILL be able to get through it!  Gentle hugs.

Unlike most people, I had a harder time with Taxol (weekly) than with the A/C.  I also had significant joint and body pain from the Taxol; the good news was for me it didn't get progressively worse -- what I had after the first treatment or so was as bad as it got (which was more than enough!).  I took Lortab at night to give me relief so I could sleep but otherwise lived with it (trying to take heavy-duty drugs and drive/work would not have worked for me).  I took Claritin (generic, the non-D type) throughout my chemo and beyond (in fact, I still take it, but it's allergy season now!).  For me it helped a TON with the Neulasta pain but I don't know if it helped keep the pain down with Taxol (because I never stopped taking it to find out) but if your dr. doesn't have any objection, it can't hurt to try. 

Talk to your dr. about a pain management plan; if one thing doesn't work, don't hesitate to ask for something else.  As mentioned, everyone is very different.  

You'll get through it.  I started all this a year ago this week and although at times it felt like I'd never feel normal again, everyone kept telling me I'd make it... and I did.  Best of luck and a warm hug. 

I have weekly Taxol treatments.  So far I am doing okay, but have mild pain in my joints a few days after treatments.  I started to get neuropathy in my toes about a week ago.  I hope that goes away.  My sister did dose dense Taxol and had much worse pain than me. 

hi ladies,

fg2000;  I had same experience asyou. I had 3 taxotere sittings each sitting 3 weeks apart. The 3rd day after a sitting i had extreme pain in the legs, I could hardly walk. After the 1st round of Taxotere i had not only the pain in my legs but also sores in my mouth, swollen throat, so that i couldnt swallow, lost all taste buds, even water was horrible but i couldnt drink anything else. I had upper stomach pain etc.... Today 6 weeks after i got thru with all my chemo treatments, I still have numb feet , numb fingertips, leg pain, and now on the last three finger nails on the both hands a brown stripe across the nail. I was told the numbness in the fingers and feet can last several months. Good thing is though.. no more sores in the mouth and i can taste everything again..thank god.  One tip all of you:  please  be carefull with animal bites and scratches ( dogs and cats ), or any cuts and scratches for that fact. I had a small little hole from my puppy in my hand... playfully biting. Well this hole got infected and i ended up having a complete collapse. I was brought to the hospital and stayed over  4 days. My hadn was operated on 4 days after i was admitted. I was close to a sepsis due to the infection.  We are very subceptable to infections the week after taxotere....... BE CAREFULL.... If i wouldnt have collapsed, I may be dead now from a measly little bite from a puppy and not from my cancer !!

I wish all of you going thru the taxotere good luck and hopefully you wont experience it as bad i have. But one thing is certain..you will get thru it.. I did and the light at the end of the tunnel of treatments is getting clearer. Im on my 3rd radiation treatment.. I have 38 in total. 

I had bad bone pain with taxol (every 2 weeks x 4).  It started on the 3rd day and lasted about 4 days.  I took Percocet and it helped a lot--sometimes I needed 2 though.  With the percocet for pain, Taxol ended up being a lot easier for me than the AC.

I had chemo last year (2009) for colon cancer also, and both times I finished chemo I had bad joint pain for a few months.  I had mild RA before, but this was worse.  I figured the steroids I get with chemo help, then when that's done everything came back full force--like a rebound.  I was going to start seeing a rheumatoligist again, but then I got bc.  Maybe this year... I've heard A LOT of women say their joints ache after chemo.

I am doing Taxol right now and the oncology nurses and others have told me that if I were to feel any joint or muscle pain, to try Claritin.  I know, it sounds odd, but they say others have used it with success for pain!

My primary side effect has been neuropathy in the fingers and toes.  It comes and it goes but it is not as bad as I have seen and heard from others and I attribute this to L-Glutamine twice a day (3 grams each time).  I also go to acupuncture every other week and she helps me with gastrointestinal issues, neuropathy, and anxiety.

Hope this helps!