Taxol Chemotherapy
Comments
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Hello edyem - I am responding so late to your post about incontinence, as I am trying to catch-up on several threads. I definitely did have incontinence with Taxol! I never told anyone, not even my onc., but I actually wet the bed several times throughout Taxol. I have not wet the bed since Taxol ended for me on 8/30. (I am 57 and in good health besides BC, so I do not feel that I am ready for night-time diapers - I truly believe it was the Taxol - it never occurred with the AC.
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Well it took forever yesterday--a full five hours with lab draw, oncologist meeting, premeds and finally taxol--but I'm done with my first treatment. I iced my fingers and toes and even tried as much as possible to ice my eyes, covering my brows (a kind of "cold cap" experient--I'll let you know). Still waiting for the other shoe to drop but I don't feel anything compared to my AC treatments. Only problem was I couldn't get to sleep till late last night b/c, I think, from the steroids (hate hate hate them). Luckily I had NO allergic reaction to taxol yesterday, although the slow drip for the first infusion went by like geologic time--it was glacially slow! I can now step gradually down on the steroids; by the 4th tx I should not have to have them at all.
I know the effects are cumulative, but my onc. told me this drug wouldn't be at all like AC, and that I'd have more energy, etc. I had pretty good energy with AC, so I'm encouraged. She even told me that b/c it's a weekly infusion and that my nails are already healthy, I wouldn't have nail problems, but I'm icing anyway (better to be safe than sorry).
Hope everyone else is doing okay.
Claire
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Just had my 3rd tx of taxol and it went fine. WBC was on the edge so the MO lowered the dosage. I feel good and waiting for the steroids to kick in. The steroids give me so much energy so I will be taking the tree down when they kick in. I am able to eat and food still taste good. That never happened with A/C. No hair loss, hair still coming in.
Hope everyone has no S/E this week -
shore1 - dragonfly1 had this same thing - kind of like melasma. I am sure she can tell you what she did for it, or what they said about it - find her on the TCH thread, or PM her.
TAPPY - a few of us had some vision changes that resolved after TCH. Mostly seems to be fuzzy distance vision.
claire - I was every 21 days and took the L-Glutamine for about a week following tx starting the day of. I also took B vits and Acetyl L-Carnitine. I got a little lazy and also a little fried by tx#5 and slacked on the L-Glutamine and I did notice more neuropathy at that point. It might have happened anyway, but I think it was too coincidental. I would recommend staying consistent, but I am not sure how you should dose it with weekly tx. It may be worth it to just take it the whole way through. I honestly did not find it unpleasant at all when mixed with hot tea, couldn't even taste it. I have continued with the B vits and Acetyl L-Carnitine since tx. All neuropathy (bottoms of feet only) has resolved for me completely, but it did take a few months.
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Mine took from 8:30 - 2 today. Made for a long day. Gave me extra steriods and nas meds cause I was nas today. Never happened before - Glad I packed a tukey snadwich and other lunch items (I hate the crackers and juice they offer, just have gotten sick of them)
I drove myself and it went just fine, but I live close by.
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I start Dose Dense Taxol on Wednesday..mostly what i've read here seems to be based on weekly Taxol treatments and not DD..thanks to the nurses I am very worried about allergic reactions and side effects from this regimin..I thought they were supposed to be supportive, not freak us out! Anyone on DD that can helpput my mind at ease as far as what to expect would be greatly appreciated..
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Hi, Kelley! I am on DD Taxol rather than the weekly. I've done 3 out of the 4 treatments spaced every two weeks apart, and I'm doing fine. Yes, some nurses tend to want to freak you out about the allergic reactions. I talked to a chemo nurse at a local cancer support center in advance who explained to me that if a reaction starts, which is unlikely, they will just turn off the infusion and let the body adjust to it by building up an immunity (or something like that). He told me that I would probably think I'm getting water in my IV! I think the reason the infusion center nurses worry us so is so that we will report any strange feelings immediately. I found it helpful to have a really good magazine with me and try not to think about the infusion. I don't remember if I asked for Ativan on that infusion or not, but I have with a lot of my tx. I made sure to eat before they started the Taxol so that I didn't have any feelings of low blood sugar that might be confused with a reaction.
The most common reaction to Taxol is the reddening of the face. I did not have this in the infusion, but I had it the next day and had to call (on T'giving, no less). They had me take some Benadryl at home, so you might want to have that on hand. However, they now think that the reddening was a reaction to coming off of the steroids rather than the Taxol since it wasn't immediate. I have had it the day after every infusion to some extent.
Other than that, my SEs have been few and manageable. I have had leg cramps around days 3 and 4 following tx, tenderness in my thumb and first fingernails, minor fatigue, and now I am starting to have some nail changes. My appetite is back. This one seems much less stressful to me than A/C was. Knock wood and fingers crossed as I have one more to do next week.
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Hi Kelley, i didn't have DD, but on my 3rd weekly was when I had the allergic reaction. My s/e was an immediate rapid heartbeat. The nurses immediately responded, stopped the infusion, and things returned to normal in about 10 mins. They increased the benadryl, slowed down the drip, and no more problems. I did take a xanax before every tx.
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Mary625- thank you for your reply- you SE sound about like what most people are telling me, I think that for me the stress and anxiety of this whole thing is worse than the actual treatment. I get myself so worked up for days prior to each treatment and anticipating the start of taxol is no different. I have xanax which doesnt seem to do much for the anxiety..thinking of asking for ativan. I am also dreading the increase in steroids as they make me NUTS.
Jaycee- I have heard that all it takes is to slow down the drip and add more premeds..I have the benadryl at home as Mary suggested - how were your side effects? My onc nurse warned me about frost bite due to numbness as it is cold here this time of year..I swear she is like a tv commercial..listing all the worst possible scenarios..I would rather know nothing and deal with the worst if it happens
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kelly - I got Benadryl in the pre-med drip prior to taxane infusion. I also experienced the red face from steroids the next day, it goes away by the day after that.
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Thanks Specialk - im glad someone has heard of this. My onc is very unconcerned about it bc its not itchy or swollen. I will reach out to dragonfly1.
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shore - definitely contact her, she will not mind. Also, I believe that hers did resolve.
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Thanks SpecialK- I had the same red face the day after my A/C treatments from the steroids..this I am used to..I am more concerned about the "I cant breathe" allergic reactions..LOL
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Thank you Anandagram and others who responded about incontinence issues with Taxol. I definitely report everything to my MO and NP. Neither said that they had heard of this so they are sending me to a urologist. It makes me feel better to learn that I'm not as unique as they think I am.
I had #10 today. Neuropathy has increased in my fingertips so the MO reduced the Taxol by 12%. Hopefully, that will help. If not, he may consider ending chemo early. Of course, I have mixed emotions about this. He also prescribed Lyrica. Has anyone else used it? The last thing I want to do is to add another med to my list. Yuck.
I can't recall who mentioned this, but I did double check with my infusion nurse about the reason why steroids are given as a premed. It is for nausea. My doc also prescribed it (Dexamethasone) to take on the following days in case of nausea. I don't ever take it, though. Benadryl is infused to prevent allergic reaction. Personally I like it because it allows me to sleep during the Taxol in fusion. -
Have you read the information elsewhere on these boards on taking L-glutamine for neuropathy? You might consider it, if your oncologist okays it.
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Hello! I am so thankful to have found this board! I just finished my 4 A/C treatments and will begin my 4 Taxol treatments on 1/10. I want to know about possible SEs. I already have neuropathy in my fingers and toes from A/C. I am taking gabapentin for this. My Onc has given me the okay for Acetyl L Carnitine and Glutamine during the taxol treatments. Can someone share the amounts they take each day?
Thank you so much for sharing!
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Kellogg and Caireinaz,
I will be doing my 9th Taxol and yes, it is much easier than AC (not that I had AC for bc but I did have those and others for lymphoma). I didn't ice and don't have issues but I do take L-glutamine (30g) almost daily and 600mg NAC for neuropathy-- definitely helps. I take high dose Bvits especially for mouth sores which can get a bit problematic. Otherwise, good energy throughout...Q
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oh and forgot-- claireinaz
my first taxol everything started at 10:30am and I wasn't done until after 7pm --LONG drip. Now they tend to be about 3.5-4 hrs of chemo plus labs or whatever.
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Dexamethasone (steroid) is also given for allegeric reaction. the taxanes, due to an additive, are very susceptible to allergic response. so if after a few you don't get a reaction, you might want to ask your ONC to reduce or dc the dex...just a thought.
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Quattsi--my first T tx appx 8:30 (labs, doc meeting) then premeds, then taxol...got out a little after 1 p.m. No reaction, so I'll reduce steroids I take the night before every week now, by the 4th tx I'll not have to take them the day before at all, hopefully, and they'll slowly increase the drip time each week as well. Cancer can simply be boring sometimes! Sitting in those chemo chairs for hours...ack.
I'm going to keep icing nails (safer than sorry, I figure) and do my brows and lashes too, to see what happens--if it helps keep them. Might not work but it's worth a try.
I also take 30 g. of glutamine broken into two doses a.m. and p.m., mixed into water with some lemon squeezed in. No weird taste that way from the powder. 100 mg of B complex; am going to order the acetyline carnitine as my naturopath gave me a white paper on the benefits of protecting nerves from the taxanes.
I don't seem to have a mouth sore problem (knock wood) but I've gotten them during my life for other reasons (stress) and found that the best supplement to take is L-lysine--clears them up right away.
Claire
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Has anyone tried accupuncture and/or a chiropractor. I started seeing a chiropractor last week and I feel much much better, I will start seeing an accupuncturist next week as I have heard that is supposed to help with neuropathy also. I don't have any neuropathy (have #6 tomorrow) but I did have tingling in my fingers, it ended up being a pinched nerve in my shoulder. I am taking b6, LG and ALC as recommended on the forums but I am not very good about it
Interested in other peoples thoughts. -
MiniMacsMom-- I am an acupuncturist/Oriental medical practitioner so I treat myself-- can't recommend it enough but... I am biased!!! LOL
q.
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What a great posting! I just finished 4 DD AC, starting DD Taxol every 2 weeks & Herceptin January 12th. I had quite a time with nausea, fatigue and constipation while on AC.....and weight gain! UGH!! I am so thankful to be able to read your posts so I can prepare myself for things to come.
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Kim 137- congrats on finishing AC..it really feels good to be done with that crap..good luck next week on the taxol..I start tomorrow..fingers crossed
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You both will be fine on Taxol--you made it through AC!!!
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No doubt Taxol is better than AC....but 5 days out and I still have bone pain. Advil or Aleave wont touch it. It is truly worse at night and I really dont want to live on lortabls for a week.
My eyesight is also taking a hit with this....
Hope all you other Oct gals are hanging in there.
I am so tired - but am still working, it does me good to get out of the house and think about something else. I still have a good cry fest every few days...I am so pissed that certain people in my family dont step up....but I think I am just super sensative...I mean do I have to ASK when I need help...I have a hard time doing that.
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Claireinaz, I do take Glutamine but neuropathy continues to increase. I started taking it during AC.
The side effects have become so cumulative that I told my husband today that even my teeth hurt. Still easier than AC, but I'm so ready to be done. -
Quaatsi- thanks for the vote of confidence! scared to death this morning!
Tappy- bad news on the bone pain..I'm not too proud to take pain meds though..bring it on! My eyesight is crap today but I think it is from th superman sized dose of steroids last night pre taxol.
edyem- AMEN to that! Done cannot come fast enough.
So ladies I am planning to attend a local support group tonight but I hesitate because I fear all I will do is sit there and sob the whole time..I have watched my incredibly positive, go-get-em attitude be sucked right out of my very soul this past few months! I know you can relate
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Good luck today Kelley!! Let me know how the support group goes. I've thought about joining one in my area, but I can't decide if it would be helpful or just hurtful.....I guess I could just go and find out....but that is yet another decision to be made. Oh how I miss the days when all I had to do was decide if I wanted to eat out or take my lunch to work. Lol!
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Off for Taxol #2 right now, 45" drive. Edyem, you must be so frustrated with this side effect. I hope you can get relief soon. I'm afraid myself of neuropathy because I don't want to have to reduce my dose. I'm ready to be done and I've not even gotten truly started yet.
Taxol affects eyesight? I wasn't told of that side effect last week. What exactly should I expect?
kelleysgroi, I have that feeling a lot. I think considering what we have been through and are going through it's expected at times and very very normal. My favorite mantra when I feel that way is a quote I heard when Gabby Giffords (our congressperson who was shot a year ago in Tucson) said during her first TV interview: I'm beaten up but not beaten." I'm thinking of getting it put on on a t-shirt.
Good luck ladies. It will be over for us soon...but it doesn't feel like it now.
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