Taxol Chemotherapy

phgraham:  I have been seeing a chiropractor for two weeks now and I feel sooo much better with all my aches and pains.  I have been going 2x per week (this will be week 3) and next week I start once a week.  Our goal is to get to maintenance so I only go once every 6 weeks or so.  Anyway the point is that she "adjusts" my sinuses and I actually have good drainage, no sinus pain or headaches and I can smell.  The smelling thing sucks when it comes to the poopy diapers   But overall its been great!  I couldn't smell our fresh christmas tree the whole holiday, until after my visits and we started taking it down.  She charges $30 for when I am self pay and the insurance covers 12 visits per year.  I am so tired of meds and pushing my liver and kidneys, that finding a more natural solution is awsome! 

Its amazing how non-integrative some doctors are about different types of medicine.  The only reason I thought about it was because my girlfriend is a DO and has adjusted me in the past.  It does make a huge difference, my chiro was telling me today about how she adjusted a 38 week old pregnant women last week and her baby rotated out of breach position WITHOUT having to be internally pushed by the OB.  I really wish mainstream doctors were more open minded about this kind of stuff

I am happy to report I just finished my four rounds of AC and have a week off before Taxol. This last AC knocked me off my feet and really scared my family. I haven't been so drained and nauseous! I went for my Neulasta shot and had to lie down on the table while waiting....finally getting some energy today but lying low.......learning to let go. I ordered my groceries online and found a friend going by the store and will pick them up. What a great service! I am very anxious about Taxol but being guarded and hopeful. I have quite a celebration planned when I make it to treatment 12!! I really didn't realize how hard this all is and am just trying to ride the wave. Mastectomies done....AC done.....so happy to be moving along. When I look at the journey to date I didn't think I could make it this far and with the grace of God and the support of so many people I love I plan to stay focused. A dear friend was just diagnosed and I hope to ease her journey and help her down whatever path she is given.....Blessings to you all and may we forge on with strength!

Hi gals-- got back from a visit to my onc-- my insurance WILL cover navalbine for my stage3 cancer (normally used for stage4).  So I will get 3 more Taxol and go onto to 12 weeks of Navalbine.  I am happy since I am told and have read (although not much information) that navalbine is an "easy" chemo---hmmm wonder what easy chemo really means???? LOL  But at any rate, I am really done with this Taxol!!! #10 tomorrow!

Tappy-- I REALLY think that the SEs differ each week with Taxol. I was talking with another gal on this thread and it reminded me that on my  first or second one I too had low back pain-- excruciating-- right down to the bone. couldnt walk for some time. went to the chiropractor a few times which helped... in other words-- DONT EXPECT the same result each time.  You will get over through it!!!!

Hi Ladies- well taxol has proven to beworse so far than any of the AC treatments were..I just know something is wrong..I have been struggling for a week. my boyfriend tonight finally agrees that something seems amiss..we will be at the onc office when they open tomorrow at 9 to see her..she does not call me when I call, I only get the nurses who just take guesses at what could be happening..

Kim- good luck tomorrow- I pray it goes well and easy for you..I was told so many times that taxol was a walk in the park

Tappy- awesome on the nails..amazing how we can freak ourselves out about side effects..I was sure 2 hours after my taxol that the neuropathy had set in

I had my 9th of 12 Taxol treatments today.  Only 3 more to go!  Today went very well. Onc and I discussed supplements and she wants me on 2000 units of Vitamin D and to also take a Super B complex.   She is also checking into the TN vaccine trial for me and is very interested in me participating.

I also had an appt with an ENT about my sinus infection/irritation.  The ENT reviewed my sinus CT scan from last month with me and did a very gentle scope of my nasal cavities. He thinks that the infection is gone but agreed that the irritation is severe and definitely can be related to the Taxol. He wants me to use Neosporin inside my nose until it heals enough to use a saline spray.  Even if this doesn't work, it will hopefully prevent any further infection until Taxol is complete in 3 weeks.

I start FAC in February.  For those of you who are doing FAC or AC, how often (or how many) echocardiograms have you had to check your heart function? 

Thanks everyone and may your SEs be minimal!

Dear ladies,

T#3 down--25% done as of yesterday, yay.  Doc prescribed tramadol for any lower back pain (experienced it 2days after tx #2 last week) since I refused to take any oxycodone. I have 2 bottles from two other surgeries--I didn't use them those times either. Still hate the steroids but onc. will not reduce the IV dosage, so I have to give up that battle and choose another I guess. I am not taking any more oral steroids though, I had no problems with full speed infusion yesterday without any oral meds beforehand.  

I have great energy but the lack of sleep caused by the jacked-up feeling from the steroids is awful. I know I'm tired but can't relax.  It's not like me so I feel I've been robbed of who I really am, you know?

I guess I'm just finding all of this rather tedious anymore...how about you?  It's not particularly hard, nor easy-just downright tedious.  

Peri-colace OTC works great for digestive problems...I'm icing my nails, eyebrows and lashes every week.  I do wish we had more privacy at our chemo center since I'm getting kind of tired explaining weekly why I'm sticking my hands into bags of petite frozen peas, and why I've got them plastered on my toes, and why I'm holding another bag to my face (I use one hand and switch out about every 5").  I'd take the nurses up on supplying me with ice, but it's easier to handle it myself and not have to wait on them for help in this task.

The looks that I get when I ice, though, are sometimes pretty priceless: mostly incredulous disbelief, or other patients joke about it.  No private rooms in my chemo place so I will be explaining the process 9 more times.

I'm still taking glutamine and b complex...other supps 2 days a week. My WBC was borderline in the lower range and so was my RBC, so I've got to eat more meat and start taking my astragalus again...My RBC has always been low for me due to my mostly vegetarian habits but I never suffered any ill-effects from it. I stopped taking the astra. during AC b/c it tasted like dirt and I was getting Neulasta shots then.  But it seems it's the best herb for upping WBC, and I don't want to be delayed in this journey. However, I don't have any fatigue or shortness of breath or infection/weakness/paleness or anything related to low WBC/RBC.  But my onc. is a numbers person: even if I feel and look great she won't infuse if numbers are below range.

Didn't mean to write so much--but I was thinking of all of you and it helps to know we are all out there together on our taxol journey. Namaste!

XXOO

C

Sorry, hit submit before I was finished.



Just want to wish all the ladies here well.



Laura

oops meant to edit that last--I meant I have a few less positive nodes than you, Laura, but enough to scare me to death when I think about it most days.

Well, I had my first taxol with Herceptin yesterday. Of course, the steroids kept me up last night and I'm wired today. Cannot concentrate on a thing! So far I feel fine, only thing I have noticed is my bright red face, which I believe is the steroid flush I got with AC as well. Those of you who have experienced side effects, what day do they typically begin? My Onc told me not to expect neuropathy during treatments 1-2, that it's usually cumulative beginning with treatments 3-4. (I'm doing DD every 2 weeks for a total of 4 Taxol infusions)

2 Questions-

Hi ladies- I have 2 questions for you.  The first question is about appetite. I was under the impression that once taxol started and the nausea from AC was gone that my appetite would return..well..my appetite has hit a wall..I can barely force myself to eat at all.  Is anyone else experiencing a total loss of appetite while on taxol?

The second question is about working- I am returning to work next week after 3 months off. I am wondering for those of you that are working, how do you fight thru the fatigue or just plain yuckiness an days that you arent feeling that great?

Thanks for all your help and support

Question for all Taxol ladies--

Most of us are in different places in our T infusion schedules. I just wondered if anyone is seeing hair regrowth yet?  I keep anxiously looking to see if it's happening to me since I know that hair can re-grow on Taxol.

Anyone?

C

Hi clairinez, I had 9 of 12 taxol/herceptin this week & after #7 i started noticing that light grayish fuzz I have seen many women mention in the "hair hair hair" thread. It doesn't seem like its really growing, its just more than I had on AC & I also don't see the new "hair" coming off in my hands in the shower or in my hats. I ordered nioxin system 4 & can't wait to start using it. Who knows if it will really work though. The gray color is a little alarming tho! I will color it as soon as possible

I've noticed a lot of questions about fatigue and my onco-physiatrist stresses the need for us to practice energy conservation within ourselves while on chemo. It is important that we rest, exercise, and choose carefully that which we will spend our personal energy resources on.  It may sound odd, but a daily walk or other mild exercise really helps with the fatigue! But don't overdo it - that will have the opposite effect. His and other helpful podcasts can be heard here: http://swedish.org/Institutes---Services/Cancer-Institute/Patient-Support---Resources/Cancer-Podcasts-and-Videos#Rehab 

As to appetite - mine came back with Taxol (and so did the weight!). It was not sudden or anything, just a gradual return of appetite.

And hair - mine is slowly returning. It began about 2/3's of the way through my 16 weekly Taxol treatments. I am now at the scruffy stage and keep my hats on all the time. It's exciting to have hair, though! I hope to keep my lashes and brows, but we'll see.

My nails continue to lift and are painful (but not overly so). I soak them every other day in warm water and Epsom salt to keep them clean and infection-free. It is helping and the odd odor 4 of them had is dissipating.

Finally, in regards to neuropathy, I take L-Glutamine twice daily per my oncologist's orders and while I do have some numbness and odd feelings in my fingers and toes, it is not too bad. I add it to my morning protein shake.

3girls, like you I continued to work throughout my chemo. I took the occasional day or afternoon off here and there as needed, but found the work to be helpful and distracting. If it is possible for anyone to get in a 20 minute nap, that might help get through the day.

Hope this helps.

Hang in there ladies!  We can do this!