Taxol Chemotherapy

Phyllis, I think I read that taking the supplements you asked about can help to reverse neuropathy...do some research or maybe others here will confirm that.  But if you are feeling it now, I'd start it and hope that taking the ALC and L-Glut will keep it from getting worse over time.

Claire

Quattsi- there are several Navelbine threads which you might have already read. Some aren't very active, but there may be some helpful info there. Most are in the Stage !V forums, and have Navy Bean in the title....of course the nickname for navelbine. Just search "navy bean" and you should be able to find them. Yes, support is important.

I've never heard about the dispersing action of Taxol. I had AC first, then Taxol....so now I'm wondering...were there cells that need mopped up? Or did the AC take care of them before Taxol? Can never get my mind around this disease and it's treatments!! So many variables.

I looked up Taxol on the Mayo Clinic site and here is what it says about how Taxol works:

"Paclitaxel (Taxol) belongs to the group of medicines called antineoplastics (anti-cancer). It interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed."

I like that, interfering with growth + destruction!

Jacee--I hope that the Taxol doesn't work as described above by Qaatsi! otherwise my tx (4 DD AC then 12 taxol) was the wrong order and decision since I'm having Taxol last....but I'm not going to second guess the expert advice and directive of two oncologists, my own and the second opinion I got from one at MD Anderson. They both prescribed, for my ILC dx, AC first then Taxol.

I did discuss this protocol with the MD Anderson onc., who said that the order of chemo drugs like ACT or otherwise is pretty much a geographic decision--the east coast docs do it a bit differently than the west coasters--with slight differerences in the middle states.  The result of these three chemos no matter what the order is the same. Mopping up what surgery doesn't do, or shrinking what's there before surgery. More clean-up when appropriate with rads and maybe surgery.

At this late date (5th taxol coming up this Wednesday for me) I'm not going to go down this particular road. I am going to believe that the order of my chemo was right for me.

Phyllis-- regarding supplement use. Taxol can cause neuropathy and nail problems no matter when you get it in your schedule.  If you want to find out how to counter the effects of the nail problems, search for Taxol and nails/icing and you'll find out what to do about those possible SE too.  

Q- Please don't beat yourself up. This is one place where you can say exactly what you think or feel or believe to be true. We all speak through the filter of chemo, surgery, depression, anxiety and just pure shock of having BC!! So, no apology needed. That's the great thing about this place....if someone knows something different, they usually come along and share what they know. Then we all benefit!! I can't tell you how many times I've shared things with my Onc & BS that I heard on here, that they had no idea about. Differing ideas actually make us all more aware,  challenges us to do more research & brings us to think about situations that we had no idea about.

So sorry you are down. We are all here to help in those times so share anything you need to & chin up. Hugs!!

Claire- I, too had a small, grade 1 tumor that had spread to 3 nodes.  It happens more than we realize. I no longer put alot of faith in the grading/staging system that says grade 1 is the least aggressive!! I would say a 7mm tumor that spread to 2 different sets of lymph nodes is pretty darn aggressive!! Anyway, I suppose that's another topic.....back to Taxol  

Claire, I found your December thread about supplements and icing.  So far no trouble with my nails, thank goodness.

I'm really tired this weekend but have been slowly working toward getting some healthy meal ingredients prepped for the week.  All my good eating habits seemed to go out the window with the taste changes but I'm trying!  I can barely look a cooked veggie in the face now and those were my favorites.  If I wait until after I get home from work during the week I won't prep or cook and that leads to very bad choices!.

I try to get out and walk on my chemo and steroid days, but  mainly I'm just flat out tired. 

Phyllis

Phyllis:  I am on t-FAC   I start my FAC Feb 20th after my checkup at MDA.    If you are starting after me, I'll let you know how it goes!

Another taxol SE question. Quaatsi, thanks for your reply to my earlier question about ankle pains. Hoping someone can tell me if aches & pains caused by taxol are usually just in joints or can they also be in thighs, back, ribs, shoulder blades, neck? I just feel overall aches & pains and don't know what is normal after 10 weeks of taxol and what would be cause for concern. Tissue exexpanders also hurt so I suppose that could be hurting my back too. I've never had any scans because my onc doesn't do them for early stage without node involvement or specific symptoms, so of course im worried all these pains could be mets. I see onc Wednesday and will ask about all my pains but would love to hear anyones experience with where taxol pains commonly show up. Thanks so much.

Shore-- I guess the question would be "where would you feel comfortable getting your answers?"  If it is the doctor and some imaging tests, I would definitely go there. I can tell you my body hurts alot and somehow, I kinda know when it is time to call the doctor.  I did have...do have pain in my thighs often, calves, arms...but I had a BMX and my right arm does not move easily, despite constant stretching...so the source?  I don't know.  Taxol is weird for me-- different every time.  Seems to be getting easier???maybe?  Maybe that is hopeful for you??? Q 

Phyllis--all through AC I lived on greek yogurt and saltines. I loved salads and couldn't even think about eating them for the most part.  I was one of the ones who wound up with a hyper-acute sense of smell (already acute!) and we didn't cook in the house for about a month.  The food smells were awful to me.  I had to be careful what I ate--e.g. peanut butter, which I love--I tried to get a pnb sandwich down post chemo one afternoon and it made me sick; then the association of pnb from that point on--just thinking about it still makes me kind of sick at times.  I found I couldn't eat anything at tx because I would associate it with feeling bad, and then the food would make me sick from that point on--just thinking about it. Well, TMI here!

Q--weird.  I knew the minute I felt my lump (found it randomly) that it foretold something BAD. I got a wave of fear and dread that washed over me from my head to my feet. There was no reason at that point to feel that feeling--yet I did.  I called my PCP right away...she got me in the next day...couldn't even find it with her exam!  And then told me it was normal breast tissue when I showed her where it was...but she was wrong.  

And here I am.

C

ClaireInAz- not weird-- I felt my lump as I was taking off my blouse. It was not small. But I have had fibrocystic lumps before. This time, I KNEW.  I called my pcp and she got me in immediately and tests immediately-- all in one day. I think she knew too.

Funny about the smells-- I have always had a senstive olfactory system but WOW, it is so wildly active now.  Fortunately or unfortunately, I still have the ability to eat ---anything.  Tastes are not so full but still OK.  Hence, the  middle spread I did not have.... 

I feel thrashed, mentally and emotionally as well as physically right now myself.  Just feeling pretty gray and beat up today.

Claire

I remember posting one time about feeling like a mack truck hit me.  I think it was an early Taxol infusion-- hurt all over and that always affects me emotionally as well does lack of sleep.  I hope that these infusions get better for you both as they go along.  warm hugs to both ..to all. Q

I know there's not the nausea with taxol. But with AC, I had the worst nausea & vomiting. None of the meds helped. But my onc had me take a xanax during those extreme bouts. He said it actually relaxes those muscles used for vomiting, as well as helping with anxiety. I hate taking meds to sleep, but a xanax does wonders, and I think we've all earned a good night's sleep !!