Taxol Chemotherapy

Hello,



Like many of you, I had 4 AC and am now in the midst of 12 weekly Taxol. Actually, I had my 9th today. My side effects are almost exactly like those that Joni mentioned. I have nosebleeds when blowing my nose, rectal bleeding (which scared me to death), fatigue, etc. I have neuropathy on the tips of my fingers which has grown further down on my thumb so we are watching it closely. We may have to reduce or stop tx if this continues. My most bothersome SE is that my tongue is very sensitive. This really effects what I can eat and drink. My taste buds are pretty flat, I can mostly taste sweet foods therefore I crave them. I've been known to have cupcakes for dinner lately. I only have steroids during infusion, but I still managed to transform into Uncle Fester. I have to admit that I do like the energy they provide, but I crash on day 3 and pretty much stay in bed. My hair has started growing back fuzzy and white (I am a brunette), but I lost all brows and lashes during the last week. I now have "cancer face" and have given up on most make up. My finger nails are fine and continue to grow, but I lost 3 toenails during AC.



All in all Taxol has been easier than AC. My counts are good, my appetite is better, I've had no nausea and I have more energy.



I do have an SE that I've not seen anyone mention before. On treatment day and the following two or three days, I have trouble with urinary incontinence. Coughing, bending, etc. can cause me to leak. I have to go to the bathroom frequently during the night. I wonder if this has anything to do with the thinning membranes. Has anyone else experienced this? I have reported this to my MO and the NP and they both say they haven't heard other reports of this problem.

I'm on DD Taxol. My SEs have been 2-3 days of joint pain and loss of appetite, and loss of my eyebrows and lashes, minor nosebleeds and fatigue thoughout the 2 weeks. I've lost a couple of toenails, but only ones I whacked by bumping into something.

I get a big dose of steroids in the chemo IV but none before or after. I have crazy energy on the day after chemo then crash a day or two later. In general I haven't had problems with nausea so my doctors reduced my steroids for my 3rd Taxol, but the next day I was still like a 50s housewife on speed-cleaning out closets, baking cookies, making household repairs.

Edyem, I haven't had urinary problems with Taxol but I did when I was on AC. For the last week or two of AC I felt as if I had a minor UTI, with pressure when I peed. I suspected it was a SE because it didn't progress to anything more and, sure enough, when they did a urine test at my first Taxol infusion it came back normal.

Thanks Hope60, I start 12 weeklies next Wednesday. I'm hoping to ice brows, lashes and nails during tx and see if that works. The brow/lash thing will be an experiment but the icing nails has hard research behind it.  Good to know that you came through it so well.

I've heard and my onc. concurs that you can have some hair re-growth on taxol....did you experience anything like that?

Had my 2nd tx of Taxol yesterday. Still feeling good and steroids have given me so much energy. So far this is so much easier. I can eat and still have taste buds. Only SE so far is restless leg syndrome.

Merry Christmas everyone and hoping for no SE for all.

Lizzy - Yes, that's a SE. I get Pepsid with my chemo but also take 40mg of omeprazole daily for excess acid.  Be sure and tell your doctor.

Have a happy Christmas!

Thanks, I was so freaked out this morning.  I haven't had anything to eat for over 12 hours and even with AC, it wasn't this bad. 

Seacretgarden--are you asking about AC and supplements or taxol and supplements? I haven't started Taxol yet. My onc. okayed all the ones I'm taking but none the day before the day of and 2 days after tx on AC.  The glutamine/carnitine/b complex I didn't take yet--it's supposed to be for neuropathy a SE of Taxol. My onc. has limited my use of those to 2 days a week and I'm concerned that I won't be taking enough: I posted a question about this in a new thread on this same forum.

If you are concerned about mouth sores, lysine is the supplement for that: I didn't experience one sore while on AC and took lysine (those amino acids are really terrific).

Steroids were given to me the day of infusion via IV for AC.  To avoid nausea. From what I understand steroids are given for Taxol to reduce an allergic reaction, not nausea.  Now I've got to take the damned things the day before taxol by mouth, not via IV. I start with a larger dose the day before tx (tomorrow, my first one) and then if I do okay on Taxol with no reaction, they reduce the dosage of steroids every week.

I hate the idea of steroids-so tired of having to pop pills daily--and wish I didn't have to take them. Hopefully I won't have any reaction and can eventually not have to take them at all.

I only had the pounding heart and some hyperactivity from the steroids--via talking, I was a real chatterbox--after AC tx for about 5 hours--like I had downed 5 cups of coffee.  No weight gain, bloating or moon-face--doc said I'd have to take them daily for a while to experience that. Let's hope I don't have a problem from this latest dose of steroids that are supposed to prevent a reaction to Taxol (I just read that last sentence and realized how bleakly funny chemo can be at times).

Claire

In response to the Abraxane, I wish it was more used, but I believe its newer and therefore much more expensive.  My once says its reserved more for stage 4, that insurances don't want to pay for it as a first line drug. 

Curley Mom:  I would NOT be able to reply on your question regarding Tian Xian-- I had to look it up since it is not a traditional formula or formula name.  When I did, I see that they claim CURE from cancer-- As I understand that is not a legal claim. I do not focus on cancer "cures"-- I wish but, I use TCM (trad. chinese medicine) as an adjunct.  I am concernd that your naturopath might suggest an alternative as a cure but I do not have the whole story.  

When I work with people, I work with the M.D.s as well-- helping people to get through treatment with as little impact on their constitution as is possible.  We have limited licenses-- all of us, including M.D.s-- so we have to work within those contraints.   If you have any other questions, I hope that I can answer them.  

I will be getting my 7th taxol tomorrow. After 12 of these, I will be starting Navalbine, normally for stage 4 so I hope that my insurance will cover it!!!  Happy new year all

q 

Gearing up for #2 Taxol and not looking forward to it this Thursday.  Yes it is better than AC but not looking forward to the bone pain again.

I am going to drive my self (it is 10 minutes from my house) - why is it the people that saythey will help you always have something else come up

Have any of you driven your self back and forth after Taxol ?

Also my eyesight has changed - for the worse...has this happened to anyone ?

Seacrtgarden, I am right ahead of you on tx...the AC tx went fairly quickly, now that I look back.I think you will experience the same.

My onc. never once told me what not to eat.  Unfortunately with AC I was either suffering from nausea, queasiness, indigestion and/or loss of appetite that I oftentimes didn't eat much at all.

My onc. worked with my naturopath 

From all my research (I'm exhausted--4 hours worth this a.m.) I found the glutamine is helpful for mouth sores and body pains as well as for neuropathy prevention. Could not find any contraindications regarding taxol.  Most medical journal articles recommend 10-12 grams a day, spread out over 2-3 doses--dissolve in water (powder form only) and drink.  

The B-complex seems to be 100 mg a day broken into two doses.

I am most afraid of permanent neuropathy from taxol.  It's a quality of life issue as well as a job-related need.   I have to avoid it, since I understand that sometimes if you feel it even a bit it might be too late.

SpecialK, you've been invaluable to me already with suggestions on icing nails and now this...did you take the glutamine throughout your tx, even on the days you got it? I'm hoping with a weekly dose, which should be lower, I'll have lessened side effects anyway...my onc. seems to think so.

Did you also take Bcomplex? I think i remember you saying you did, earlier in another post on another thread.

My eyesight is messed up to....:(

I wonder if it will get better after chemo or I will need some new extra super duper strength glasses.

And rant away..that is what we are here for.

My brother was mad because I did not want to come over Christmas day - the weather was horrible, I was dead dog tired and he has a bunch of small grandchildren - who were probably sick...or at the very least germy....I am trying so hard to stay well.

I had 7th of 12 taxol/herceptin earlier today &just just noticed a brownish discoloration on my neck & collarbone. It feels like dry scaly skin, except its brownish. Port looks fine. I called & Nurse told me to take benadryl & watch. If it spreads, itches or causes any problems she said to go to ER. Has anyone had any sort of skin issues that sound like this? Could a problem with port cause this? So far I've been doing great with very few side effects & I so do not want to end up in ER.