Taxol Chemotherapy

Gator:  I would plan on being there but plan on taking it easy.  I think the biggest SE I have heard of from the DD taxol is intense muscle pain and neuropathy.  The LGlut.  Should help with the neuropathy.  Are you getting neulastin (Sp) shots?  Read back through the thread a lot of ppl recommend taking claritin to help with that pain, I haven't used it but someone did give instructions earlier I think.  Ugh chemo brain   Anyway.  I am hoping you will be nausea and pain free, but regardless try to take it easy and get lots of fluids!   Big Hugs!

Quaatsi, congratulations! I can't even imagine how that feels! I hope you have a celebratory ride today.



Claire, you give me great hope managing to hike after tx.



Starting next Thursday, still a bit floored from the last AC, so I am so encouraged by your experiences.



In NJ so not the best weather for hiking but maybe a shotprt walk!



Good day to all, big hugs, Laura

Congratulations Q. Seacretgardn, im in Jersey too, with this dreary weather, but since recovering from AC in november, I have been taking long walks almost everythe day & feel a lot better. I want to work in some strength training, but am so sore from tissue expanders I'll probably stick with just walking until after exchange.

Q--Congrats on finishing Taxol. I have 2 treatments to go before I finish. You have been an encouragement to me!

thanks to all for the  well wishes.  I am not going to look back at this chemo but I wish that all of you have mild SEs!

Claire-- I know the Dry Creek area very well, long before all the consturction in that area-- I hiked up there many times. Well, if we go through chemo the same day, we hike together-- virtually.  And you can join me on my horse and ride into the mountains and desert.  

Dechi-- welcome and good luck! 

Q 

I was wondering if anyone had this side effect.....



I had my first Taxol last Friday. I did well until I got home. I started with a horrible pain in my back/shoulder blades like I ate something and it got stuck going down. The pain had me twisting and turning....took a Vicodin and it did absolutely nothing. I called the doctor and the doctor on call recommended steroids but later my doctor said I didn't have a reaction...it was a side effect. I do have Rheumatoid Arthritis which has all bets off with everything so far for me. I have had stabbing pains in my groin, legs, knees, one hand....all week! It all comes and goes but now 6 days later I have the horrible back pain back. I have been beside myself...despite 4 mg of Dilaudid I am miserable. He said I could take two pills so i now have 8 mg of of Dilaudid in me, staggered in time and am bearly comfortable. This back pain between my shoulder blades is horrible! I did find a massage heated pillow that seems to be helping me too....is all this normal?

Had my second taxol today. It's 1:30 a.m & I'm wide awake!! Darn steroids! I'm anxious to see If I experience the horrible bone pain I did after my first dose. I swear I'm getting sore already, but then I tell myself it's all in my head. Last time it was day 3 when the pain began. Going for Neulasta tomorrow & will try claritan this time......hell, I'll try anything! Lol. Even though I know I only have 2 treatments left now,and I should be grateful, I'm mentally drained. Very emotional, which is not like me at all. I sympathize with each of you that are going thru the same issues. It comforts me to know I'm not alone. I hope each of you finds comfort in our new found friendships and sisterhood as well.



*World wide web hugs*

Kim137, I have taxol/herceptin weekly x 12 and don't get neulasta with taxol, but I wanted to let you know that when I had the neulasta shots with AC, I found that taking Claritan the day before, day of, and day after the shot helped me much more than just taking it the day of (which I did for the first two neulasta shots). My chemo nurse told me to try this on AC and neulasta shots 3 & 4 and really helped.

Bonseye, I have last taxol next week and for the past 4 weeks or so have had horrible shoulder/back pain. I don't know if its the taxol, herceptin, if I pulled something, or if its the tissue expanders hurting my back. I have searched all over to see if shoulder blade pain is common from taxol and only find that it is related to liver and gallstone problems. Seems common taxol SE are more related to joint aches. My onc is not too concerned and thinks my back pain is releated to expansions. Have you asked your onc if he/she knows if shoulder/back pain is a common taxol SE?  

Gator, glad you feel good. Enjoy softball game! 

I have treatment on Wed and the pain in my knees, ankles and elbows starts Friday night and lasts through the weekends.  The pain was a little worse after the 2nd treatment..next week in #3..cant wait to finish this crap. 

Kim- good to see you..was worried after all the pain you had last time. I hope it is not as bad this time. I think something about Taxol affects us emotionally as Beth and I seem to be having the same emotional issues. Mentally I am beat up and just dont know how the days will ever end.

Beth- hope you are having a better day.  You are not alone.

Kim137 - I am a blood banker, worked in transfusion services.  Try to raise your hemoglobin (the number they are actually looking at to determine whether or not you need a transfusion, not your RBC number) by eating as much red meat (steak, burgers) and leafy greens (spinach, romaine, etc.) between your tx.  During TCH I flirted with a transfusion from the 3rd tx on - found I could get my hemoglobin above 8.5 if I loaded up on the red meat/greens. I know it can be a challenge to eat these things while receiving tx but if it helps it is worth it.  You were smart to skip the epoetin (Procrit) - too much risk.  If you do need to have a transfusion don't hesitate to PM me for some info that is important to know beforehand. 

Had my first Taxol yesterday. So far it's a breeze when compared to AC. No bone/joint pain at all, no nausea, no Nulasta shot. I hope it continues!

Still feeling good. The nuelasta shot sucked though. Burned like hell. Went to the movies with my girlfiends tonight and had a good time. Going to see the baby girl play ball tomorrow. So excited!!!

Here is to a SE free weekend, ladies!!  

Hi to forestgirl46436,

I too have FM, also OA, and RA , so getting DX with BC Nov 2011 has hit me pretty hard. SE from Chemo have been ongoing and hard to cope with day to day. I am in Australia and it is very hot here at present. Thank goodness we have aircon in our house, is pretty much a necessity here !!

regards Lynne 

I did 12 x weekly taxol in Aust, I only had IV methylpred 100mg as part of my pre med and had no problems with a reaction - no other steroid cover apart from that.

I had AC first and only took oral Dex with my 1st infusion, it gave me blurred vision and then my Onc was away and his stand in didn't prescribe it and I felt so much better without the steroid cover, even my nausea was better, so I refused it after that and did just fine with the IV methylpred and no Dex .

I found Taxol a breeze compared to AC, no nausea just a fatigue towards the end of the 12 weeks and my hair started growing back , by the time I finished I had an inch of thick fluff.
I never need Neulasted with any of my chemo my bloods always bounced back well, had a bit of a low HB with taxol but not low enough for a transfusion.

Lou