Taxol Chemotherapy

I've heard that many women have an easy time of it with Taxol, but as with all things chemo, my ride with Taxol was an extremely bumpy one.  I ended up in the Emergency Room following the first two Taxol treatments with what they thought was an allergic reaction, which can be very dangerous.  My oncologist thought I might have to stop taking it after the first reaction (tightening of the throat, itching rash, etc.).   I rash continued throughout all 4 treatments.  I developed neuropathy of the face and tongue, which is rare (still have the remains of this neuropathy 4 months out from the end of treatment) in addition to the usual neuropathy of the hands and feet (tingling, pain and numbness).  I had pains in my arms and legs, which were quite severe at times and toward the end it felt like the soles of my feet were very bruised.  Most uncomfortable!  I had a terrible chemical taste in my mouth for the first 4 weeks plus had mouth sores throughout.  The only good part of Taxol was that the constant nausea that dogged my entire AC treatment (and yes they gave me every anti-nausea med available anywhere with little result) disappeared.  I developed bad gastritis (which also continues) and lost all my eyebrows and eyelashes (the latter caused my eyes to burn and water).  But I think my experience is not the norm.  This was my 2nd bout with breast cancer and I have reacted very poorly to every chemotherapy agent they have given me. 

I did Taxol..dose dense, four rounds.  Was easier for me to tolerate than the dose dense AC, which I also received 4 of.

 main problems besides fatigue:

 1.  neuropathy in my feet..oddly still feel some tingling in toes 5 years out, but it's mostly resolved.

 2.  Would get Taxol Monday and Friday afternoon (like clockwork) experienced dull, achy bone pain from the hips down.  It would be gone by Saturday.

3.  Turned me bright red...face and chest.

4.  Water retention.  Couldn't even wear shoes by the final treatment.

 I looked like a big, fat beefy bald guy by the time I was done...BUT...was cancer free and 5 years later still am.

Best wishes to those who are starting this journey.

I can't speak to the side effects (don't have that info yet) but many have told me that icing hands and feet 15" before infusion, through infusion, and 15" after infusion saves your nails...and that L carnitine, L glutamine, and B complex or B 6 saved them from severe or any neuropathy. My oncologist concurs about the supplements and I'll ice whether or not she says it won't work. It can't hurt. Finally, I did read also that 12 weekly is less hard on your body than larger doses less often.

I didn't know about the water retention...hadn't heard that before, or the red-face thing.  Most have told me that after AC, it's not bad at all.  

SeattleT - I had the same regimen. 12 weekly Taxol followed by 4 every other week AC. The taxol for me was very manageable until about week 9. I did have neuropathy in my hands and feet which I think started after a couple of weeks, but I was on medication and it never got unbearable. After week 9 it just seems that it built up and I started being more fatigued and having joint pain, mostly in my hips. But, compared to AC it was a lot better! I had my last AC on November 4th and am now waiting for my hair to come back! Good luck to you!

I am doing AC now with 12 Taxol to follow. I'm grateful for all and any info/tips, etc. Yes, it sounds like a lot of time in the chair, but worth it for many reasons -- and if one reason is less time lost to nausea, I'm in!

curlymommy thank you for starting this thread. I will have my first taxol tomorrow. I had a reaction to taxotere then did 4 cycles of A/C. I opted not to do the taxol after A/C because the tumor had shrunk and didn't know if the nodes were positive. Had simple mx on Nov 2 and SNB on Nov 9. MO told me Monday I need to try the taxol. Taxol is a "kissing cousin" of taxotere. I am very nervous about another reaction. I'm praying that by getting the smaller weekly doses I will not have any reaction. A/C was really hard for me, none of the anti-nausea meds worked and lost a lot of weight. Didn't need to lose any weight so I hope I can eat with taxol.



I would like to hear how everyone is coping on Taxol. I am planning on working everyday except day of infusion. Praying for no SE for all.

I did what you describe in 2008 only added to the taxol for the 12 rounds each week was herceptin. Just as your oncol. said, mine too said that it would be more effective and easier on my body to do it this way. Now, nearly 4 years later, I am still cancer free; however I have had joint pain to varying degrees ever since.

Today was my first taxol tx. Did find, no problem during infusion. Left the center and had pizza for lunch and still have appetite and energy. I have washed clothes and done a few things since I got home. I did take a nap because the benedryl really makes me sleepy anytime. I pray this continues because I am planning on working tomorrow. With the A/C I never felt this good after a tx.



Tappy - I see you are from LA, I was born in Baton Rouge but moved to VA years ago. I also love the song you put in your signature. So very true.

So far the first Taxol went ok...(knock on wood) - I did fall asleep during the treatment...and ate lunch and thru it up - it was to spicey...but I was there from 8-2.  I should have made some one get me some lunch, I think that was more it than the treatment

Just my face is red and swollen from the steriods I am guessing, hope it goes away fast like it did with the AV.

I feel tired today, but so far no neaseua - which is a blessing to me.

I finished DD AC followed by DD Taxol at the end of September.  I am glad I had AC first as it was difficult and I am glad I got through it first before the cumulative effects had taken a toll.  Dana Farber still administers this combo in this order.  I mentioned something to my MO about the 12 week Taxol protocol and i agreed with her comment that having chemo every week was just grueling.  Each of my treatments was about 6 hours because they drip the Taxol very slowly to minimize the potential for allergic reactions.  The Taxol portion of my treatment was 3 of those 6 hours.  I would have had 4-hour weekly treatments.  Yikes! 

There must still be some question about the efficacy of Taxol before or after AC, or 12 weeklies vs DD every two weeks; otherwise, Dana Farber would be doing it, too.  All I do know is that I still had cancer in my mammary nodes after my BMX because they couldn't remove those nodes.  After my chemo I had a complete pathological response...no cancer left anywhere that could be seen on a PET/CT scan. 

I found I had much less nausea with Taxol but a bit more joint pain on days 4 and 5.  And I was fatigued.  I did not have a problem with nails or neuropathy, but I took the supplements mentioned by claireinaz.  I did not ice my nails as I felt I couldn't endure 3 hours of that pain. 

I found the benadryl infusion to be absolutely bizarre.  I didn't sleep, but I did slur my words and I might have been able to nap if I had been alone.  Someone from my family was always there with me.  After the first treatment, they cut the benadryl from 50 mg to 25 mg and I was a little less loopy.  I also took just 6 mg of Decadron as a pre-med on treatment day, none on the day before or after. 

I have a little bit of achy in the bones today, but not so bad...think I will take a warm whirlpool bath 

MY mouth is dead however andI can taste nothing... I keep waiting for the other shoe to fall.

Curlymommy I have just had my first AC tx, to be followed by 12 taxol.



The yoga exercises you mention help your digestive track, are these something that a novice could handle? And one who has limited range of motion from the d&mn teflon under her muscles?



I too am struggling with mouth burning and sores. Terrible heartburn to which I think just aggravates the mouth.



Im so glad to hear so many having an easier time than with AC.



Thank you and be well.

I have done 2 dose-dense Taxols after 4 dose-dense A/Cs and found the Taxol to be much easier to tolerate.  My main SEs have been constipation and pain in my legs that could be coming either from the joints or a muscle spasm.  The first treatment I had a lot of soreness in my thumb and first finger nails so much to the point that it was getting hard to do certain things requiring those fingers, but I did not experience it so much after the 2nd treatment.  With A/C, I was very fatigued, but with Taxol I get sleepy earlier and am sleeping much more rather than having the all-over fatigue.  I hope things continue this way for the last 2 treatments. 

 For neuropathy, I was told 30g (no less) in divided doses if you can of  L-Glutamine . Helps with GI issues too.

I put it in a smoothie with whey protein, good quality yogurt and 4 strawberries every morning-- helps me get enough protein for cell repair.  yummm