Taxol vs. Docetaxel

I'm sorry you didn't get any answers. I'll be curious to see what responses you get. I may be switched from Carbo, Taxotere, and Herceptin every 3 weeks to Carbo alone followed by weekly Taxol+Herceptin. I was also told the SE's would be easier. Interesting though, when I told my onc. my nails were feeling loose, she told me to avoid very cold or very hot water. I haven't researched anything about icing them.

Taxol should be much easier to tolerate than taxotere, but I would keep icing.  And yes, the hair on your head will start coming back on Taxol (so strange, isn't it?), though in my experience with both taxol and abraxane, the hair that first comes back is fuzzy/downy soft, not-exactly-like real hair.  But eventually it will go back to normal.

I hope the taxol gives you less side effects.  Take care,

NancyH

Question on icing... I just had my first dose of weekly taxol x12. Does the icing help with the nail issues or the neuropathy issue or both?  Do you ice just during the treatment or have to start prior and continue after for it to be effective?  My clinic doesnt seem to offer icing of hands and feet, although they did have me do the ice chips or a popcicle while on AC.  Is the icing of your hands and feet tolerable though the treatment?  Thanks!

I was first given taxotere but had a reaction to it. Then did 4 DD of A/C. Now after surgery and finding cells in the nodes I will have to do the taxol. I see that some women do weekly treatments of taxol instead of every 3 weeks. I'm really concerned about taxol since I have had one reaction with taxotere. Also the neuopathy bothers me. I type for a living and play the piano for church. How bad is neuropathy? Would I still be able to type and play the piano?

rabbit - #5 was my worst, but #6 was a piece of cake - I waited for the SE but they never came.  I did the 6 tx every 3 weeks of TCH.  I was just very fatigued.  I am still receiving Herceptin and still have some fatigue and mild SE from Herceptin, like stuffy/runny nose, sometimes GI issues, and some stiffness, but nothing major.

Sorry you are struggling.  You are almost done though, hang in, you can make it!  Pretty soon you will be looking back at this instead of miserably looking forward.

Hi! Bumping this topic, because I'm considering asking MO about taxol instead of taxotere starting next week. Have already done 3 FEC, nervous about new and daunting SEs and longterm SEs. Any thoughts welcome!!!!

Hey there, I learned after the fact that the eye brows and eye lashes are on a different growing cycle than the hair on your head.  I lost my brows and eye lashes after AC while I was on taxol and herceptin. I still lose then occassionally.  Don't worry. Once you get peach fuzz your hair will start growing back fairly quickly. You will however have uneven hair growth. I had to have a few appointments just to get everything gowing at the same time.  And don't be surprised when your hair comes back either curly or straight.  You have no idea what you are getting. Mine came in very dark and curly. It has stayed curly.

You are on the road to recovery.   Your lashes and brows should start coming in but they will come and go for a while longer.  Shorter life cycle I guess.  Hange in there.

 sorry to hear about the nails. Definately keep icing as it really helped me.

hi all

Did you try a diet rich in frolic acid to help with hair and nails?

My wife has been has been making an apple and carrot smoothie or similar every morning and she only lost a bit of hair, but the slight hair loss might be due to just having another baby as she lost quite a bit of hair after our first baby.

Her nails and eyebrows are fine.

Our Onc was surprised as he says most lose hair on docetaxel.

I'm on the smoothies myself now but still balding.

Best wishes

Bp