Taxol Chemotherapy

Sleeplessinseattle, I had 4 AC followed by 12 weekly taxol/herceptin and get last taxol this coming Wednesday. My taxol SE have been minimal. Achiness started after #7 or 8. I take B Complex vitamin & 30g L-glutamine a day and haven't had neuropathy. Lot of trouble sleeping, but that probably due to steroids and stress rather than the taxol.



Does anyone know if nail problems with taxol are likely to occur after treatment ends, or would it just happen during treatment? I know lashes & brows are likely to fall out after taxol, but im hoping im getting lucky on the nail lifting thing I've read about. Thanks.

Oh the joys and horrors of that darn drug taxol , yes shore1 I find find I have nail problems during,  and just after for a time and it was interestingly enough my toenails which I don't paint or use any strengthening treatment on that dried cracked and split (cause my chemo belly etc won't allow me to reach them) wheres I find my finger nails are fine though a little thin if I ' tend them well. It doesn't happen to everyone or all of the time, it is just like the lists of other things they tell you or you reseaerch it is just stuff to be aware of!

When I had my first taxol treatment it was the killing strength and the tiredness, lack of strength /appetite/ aility to focus to long made me crazy and then there was the bone and hair pain along with hugging the porcolain at all hours! I have found that each person on a cancer journey re the same drug like Taxol are all different; they may all be having the same drug but because of their/our individual chemical make up it reacts each to his own more often then not so how it affects one person may not be how it affects you or most other people.

When I was on killing Taxol I was on a botlle that took between 6-10 hours to run through and now on the palliative dose it is half the strength and lots less time I have been told but in a very concentrated form! It dries my skin and even me out so especially with it being a hot summer here I have to inspite of my chemo brain remember to rehydrate  myself regulary and keep my skinn moist with the help of my wonderful nurses.

I found re the taxol sleeplessin that again via fellow taxol patients that the amount given only played a medium to small part in the difference in the strength of the side affects; the best way to prepare and take it on is knowing what it is and it can do but not letting it get to you because it can via the tricks that your mind can play on you and also if you have a side affect that can be dealt with deal with it so it is out of your hair because you hav enough on your plate to deal with. It is so important to deal with what you can and with what you can't put yor hand up for help or advice as you've done here and also in some cases be prepared for the fact that there are some things that can't be dealt with and have to be endured for the sake of you hopefully being one  to keep going using your journey to help others. It is a trip that knocks you down alot the journey with Taxol the trick is to pick yourself up and keep going I know it isn't easy and Taxol can be cruel but I have faith in you as I am sure others do too! Good luck ladies and be well as you can for you

Sleepless:  I am on weekly taxol (Mon will be on #10).  I think the biggest thing is the unpredictableness of the side effects.  I cannot say with any accuracy which day I am going to be the most tired that week or have the most achiness. 

Starting on week 3 or 4, the fatigue hit.  I would say day 3 or 4 is the tiredest for me

Then Starting on week 7 or 8 I have had some leg soreness.  it feels like I have done too many exercises, not debilitating just achy, thats only for a few days also.

Starting immediately was the thinning nose membranes so bloody boogers.   I have to be dilligent about my humidifier. 

I had hair thinning around week 3 by week 5 it looked its thinnest and by week 6 it stopped falling out.  Its growing now, but I cant tell if I am getting any fresh hairs.

My eyebrows have thinned a tiny, tiny bit but nothing noticable to anyone but me and I already have thin brows.

No nail problems either (cross your fingers).   In the morning when I get out of bed, the soles of my feet hurt to walk to the bathroom but it goes away fast.

I take a multivitamin with condensed veggies, L glutamine and acetyl L carnatine ( you will see the last to mentions over and over and over again here )  about 3 times a week. 

Basically no matter which method you take for administration, the total amount you get by the end is the same    So its how fast are you overloading your body. My onc at MDA said the weekly taxol outcomes are the same, though some members have said they heard DD (every two weeks) can be more effective.  Good luck.

I am calling my MO as soon as they open. This is awful!! 

I had number 10 today.  I am SOOO excited to be that much closer, but really anxious about the FAC.  My numbers dropped a little from last week, but they are still in the standard normal ranges.  I am wondering if its just from being really really stressed.  I am so excited my gf is getting married and I am in the wedding in Sept, but damn its really really really stressful doing this long distance and with 5 other bridesmaids, I only know 2 and I only know one of those well.  Oh well, just bitchin.    Big Hugs all! 

Gator I am so excited you made it to the game even though you were in pain.  I am sure your daughter felt extremely loved and blessed   I know I would.  

BTW:  ON the cold caps and such, I didn't use them.  Someone posted their onc wasn't a fan in another forums because the ice reduces the blood flow too that area, reducing the amount of chemo that reaches the appendage.  I thought about it because I loved my long hair, but I decided it wasn't worth the risk   I dont' have any articles to back that up, didn't look for them, the comment made sense to me.  May want to talk to your onc about it and see if hes ok.  Plus I have also read its a PTA to bring the frozen peas and such and keep switching them.  If you wanted to do it, I would be interested to see if frozen pea gravel holds temps well.  Kind of like those rocks you can buy to put in your drinks to not water them down.  Its a thought, maybe to not ruin all those yummy peas

Congratulations CCJJ !!!!!!



I'm right behind you, fifth one this wed

Hi ladies, I was going to begin my first tx tomorrow but am battling a fever and they had to cancel.



My counts were ok yesterday, but feels like a UTI. Waiting for the culture.



Anyone else have a bump in their treatment plan that can offer some reassurance?



I was to begin the first of 12.



Thank you, hugs, Laura

I just want to say Hallelujah!  12 of 12 Taxol finished!!!  Whew!  They lowered the last dose a bit because of the growing neuropathy in my hands and feet, but I finished!  I have an echo tomorrow and then a week off before I start FAC.  The week off is most likely due to the neuropathy AND the meltdown that I had in the onc's office week before last.  At this point, I'll take it.

Minimacsmom - I'm worried about FAC too, but I promised myself I will enjoy my week of vacation from chemo as much as I can!

Today was my 8th and final Taxol Treatment. Yeahhhh. I also had my first reaction during infusion. So crazy, never had a problem until today. Nurses were great, stopped the drip, waited 30 mins then started again very slowly.



Getting marked next week for radiation.

Hi Ladies, just finished 3 weekly TTaxol sessions of a so far unspecified amount of sessions, and the only real side effect I am noticing so far is acne.  Has anybody else had this, and if so, how did you manage it?

stjude10, thanks. I got a neupogen shot yesterday, will have another today, and my naturopath offered to give me a b-12 injection but I'm not sure I need it.  I am trying to look on the + side and see this drop as the chemo doing its thing and knocking out the bad along with the good.

Thank you for your encouragement. It means a lot and I hope the rest of us have manageable side effects till we're done with the big T...

XO

Claire

MMM, thanks for the comment on MDA's regimen. I didn't know it was used outside the US. There are days when I feel like a guinea pig instead of a patient patient.

Jacee, LOL!

I'm going for my second neupogen today.  I know iron influences RBC but not WBC; my RBC was great.  I take a B complex every day but chemo day; other supplements 3-4 days a week per my onc. and naturopath.

I'm boosting my astragalus intake and B complex; hoping that helps. If not, I'll go for the B-12 injection (oh boy! another shot!) after finding out about next Wed's labs.

Claire