Taxol Chemotherapy
Comments
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Laura- I did not have any mouth issues on taxol but several others have. My bone/joint pain was so random..my jaw would hurt then I'd get a sharp twinge in a rib..it just seemed to travel around. The only consistent pain was in my knees..they would ache day 3-5 and my legs would feel very weak. You will make it! I promise!
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Laura, I had some minor issues with burning mouth on Taxol. I also had joint/bone/muscle pain. It was worse after the shot. My knees still bother me and I still get back spasms here and there. The fatigue by far was the worst thing. I am 2wks since last tx and still take naps almost everyday. I am trying to build up my stamina, but it's taking its sweet time. Hang in there!
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Laura: I had #11 out of 12 of Taxol today - One more to go. The 12 weeks will go faster than you think! After I stop the steroids, which will be Wed, by Thursday afternoon I notice weakness/fatigue/aching in my legs and occasional but short-lived numbness and sometimes tingling in my hands or feet. I ice both the hands and feet during the dose of Taxol which I really think has helped for the neuropathy and for my nails. I also get occasional pain and weakness in the knees and ankles. My sinuses have been a complete mess since I started but I'm not sure if that's the Taxol or the Herceptin. I was going stir crazy this past week and decided to clean out a very large section of book shelves. All the up and down, sitting, standing, and climbing, my legs finally gave out and I fell flat on my face....Part of that I'm sure is that I have no endurance but part of it I relate to the Taxol. Overall, though, I have to say it's definitely better than AC....at least no real nausea, just queasiness. Hope this helps! Hang in there - You'll be done before you know it!! AND, my hair is growing back very, very slowly on the Taxol - not fast but at least it's something! Can't say that for the brows or lashes yet...
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Kelly, StJude and Julie, thank you so much for your replies and your encouragement.
You give me courage and hope!
Julie just one more for you, I hope this week goes quickly for you and you feel well.
Hugs, Laura -
I just started A/C today. I was a bit loopy from the benadryl but i think they told me the other bag was Taxol. Anyone else taking them together> I have a pump for the A/C, a drip of benadryl, a drip of anti-nausea, and a drip of just liquids. I opted not to take the steroids.
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Thanks Laura!! I'm excited about finishing one more step but also a little anxious about finishing that step. There's some comfort knowing that something is actively being done but I'm also ready to move on! Good luck with the rest of your Taxol - You'll be surprised how fast it goes!!
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I'm on day 6 after my first Taxol. They are every 2 weeks for 4 treatments. I had the A/C first and this is easier overall. But the leg pain surprised me. It is definitely better but I feel weak in the legs, and SO tired. My knees still ache and I couldn't get comfortable last night. Flipflopped between my recliner and the bed and needed a heating pad and pain meds still. It is better today, but the fatigue...I agree! Just so tired. And my nausea hits in the evening. Have sort of a lump that won't seem to go down.
Nothing really appeals to me foodwise. Anyone else? I've heard so many say their appetite comes back with Taxol. Not mine, so far. But what I do eat tastes more normal again. And it doesn't hurt me to lose some weight, so I'm not complaining! I'm trying to eat wisely and healthy when I do eat.
No matter how you cut it, it is a LONG journey and we all deserve a round of applause and a big hug for making it as far as we have. Right now, it seems extra long, but we're getting there. Sleep well, my friends!
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Laura--seacretgardn I have a sore throat with a Taxol treatment. It only lasts one day but it is uncomfortable.
I was in the ER last week to be checked for blood clots. I was short of breath for a couple of days. Everything checks out fine after a CT scan with contrast and blood work.
I am supposed to have my last Taxol tomorrow if everything is okay. Everyone asks if I am excited about it and I will be after the joint pain is over but I will also be sad. My life has had some order in it and I think I may feel like I am free falling. I am not sad to be over chemo and I still have the TEs so I need fills every two weeks. I just don't want to ever hear the words, "You have cancer" again. This is my 2nd time and I want it to be the very last.
Blessings to every one who has treatments this week!
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Andimom - I have a little stomach queasiness the first few days after Taxol but no real nausea and then I eat like crazy - which I'm blaming on the steroids. I'm up 12 lbs from my original weight before BC but I had been down about 8 lbs from the AC so there's been a lot of weight gain with the Taxol and steroids. But, I get Taxol every week for 12 weeks...only one more to go. I can't wait for my weight to (hopefully) go back to normal! Hope the next one is easier for you!! Did they give you any antinausea meds to take for a few days after the Taxol? I take Zofran so that might be making the difference for me.
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Beth, prayers and blessings to you as you complete your last taxol and happy your CT scan checked out fine.
I also have TEs and look forward to having them out!
Sleep well everyone, Laura -
Hi everyone. I've been lying low for a quite a while as my little grandchildren have been keeping really busy every day..Its been nice to have them with me while I've been going through all these SEs over the past 8 chemos.
I wanted to know if any of you have had any kind of rectal bleeding during your taxol treatment. Something new that I've been experiencing for the past 2 days and I'm just on my way out to visit my MO regarding this.
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Curlymommy, I have had a terrible flair up of hemorrhoids since my first tx. And I bleed with them, but only when I actually 'go', which is frequently the first few days after tx. Then things settle a bit, and they begin to heal..just in time for the next tx! I hope your bleeding is as simple as that. It's annoying but manageable for me. SO glad you can enjoy your grandkids! I don't usually feel like much company for quite a while!
JulieLynn, (what a pretty name, by the way), I have several anti-nausea meds I can use and they definitely help. I had much more nausea with the A/C. I mostly get a little queasy in the evenings, but so many have said they are so hungry all the time. I am definitely not. Maybe the steroids affect me differently or different doses or something. I have very little appetite and not much appeals to me, most days. I am diabetic, so the steroids affect my sugars a lot. I have no choice but to be careful. But my appetite? Just not there. Certain things are consistently good (Cottage cheese and fruit, of all things!) But not much. I have dropped almost 20 pds since the beginning, with no effort...first time in my life for that!
There's no doubt this wreaks havoc on us physically and emotionally. Just different in some ways for each of us. Taxol is definitely easier. But the fatigue just wears me down. Overwhelming at times. I am praying that my counts are good this Saturday so I can stay on track. Don't want to cope with another delay!
Sleep well everyone. I slept 8 hours straight last night for the first time in months...it was a treat!
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Thanks Andimom03! It really freaked me out as this is something I haven't experienced. My MO told me that it is one of the common SEs and gave me a laxative to take everyday for a week...so looks like I'm going to be stuck in the loo for a while everyday
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jacee, Didn't read all the post here but I want to respond to your post about abraxane. My insurance just approved it after I had an allergic reaction to taxol. I have had 5 taxol infusion and will use abraxane for the next 7. From what I read it is about 4 times the cost of taxol (4000 an infusion). No need for steroids or benedryl....sad it is not the first course of treatment.
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Curlymommy- glad to see you back..had the same issue with bleeding. Saw the colo-rectal doc yesterday and she said it is a fissure which I guess is common during chemo due to the dryness of tissue and constipation..was convinced I had colon cancer though!
Andimom- my appetite was a mess on taxol..I had about a week of time I couldnt get anything down..lost about 8 lbs that week. Then my appetite got better but nothing really appealed to me, I could just get it down easier. I still have what feels like a pit in my stomach, like food is not digesting, the onc thinks it is anxiety related, but I am convinced it is stomach cancer..lol. I plan to give it a couple weeks and then if its not better have it checked.
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curlymommy - welcome back!
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I had my last treatment yesterday. I too have rectal problems for about 3 days after a Taxol treatment. I am waiting for the awful joint pain to hit and then I am going to try to get back to normal. Whatever my new state of normal will be. Take care and I'll be checking back often!
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Congrats Beth! I hope you get to feeling well soon. I finished mine a couple weeks ago. I feel ok, but sooo tired. I nap often. Also curious about what that new normal will be.
Wish me luck gals, I have a mammo on the old boob tomorrow. This is the first one since being dx on the other side. A bit nervous I have to say.
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Beth, I hope the joint pain skips this last round for you!
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I never saw this section till tonight! I've been on Taxol since 8/31/11. I get it once a week for 3 weeks, then off a week. (I also get Zometa once a month for my bones). First, I agree that each person responds differently. This is my experience only: hair loss, in last 2 months food tastes strange for the most part, neurpathy in my feet - primarily when I'm in bed at night. I'm not sick, though I occasionally have days when a period of super-tiredness comes on.
My cancer - somewhat strange, I thought: First found cancer in June'11 in my uterus. While waiting for a hysterectomy, a CT scan was done - found that most bones in the torso were loaded with cancer - neither of these path. reports were able to identify a "source of origin", as they said. Not till after hysterectomy and a bone biopsy did I get a diagnosis(from both reports/different pathologists)....breast cancer that metatasized to the uterus, the ovaries, the cervix, and all those bones - so a stageIV from the get-go - no lump, nothing to show on my mammogram.....but my experience with Taxol is showing that my cancer markers are going down; and the last PET scan showed bones being strengthened(from the Zometa) - and I feel good.....the bottom line, so far!
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Well, ladies, I was able to have my #8 tx today altough my ANC# was 1.5/WBC 3.0. This confounds me because I feel great. Truly. Normal very active physical activity yesterday, teaching, student conferences, etc. No feeling of sickness or tiredness at all.
I have a standing order now for neupogen shots on Th/Fri and Mon (my txs are on Weds). My onc. also upped the dosage of the injections I'll be getting--more than last week's doses. She asked me if I had bone pain--I said no, but that I'd deal with it if I did. I told her "whatever it takes". I must get through this. After taxol it's just radiation, and since I've been chemo-ing since Nov. 3, I'm pretty weary of it all.
Anyway. Thought I would share; I'm secretly envious of all of you who've finished ( well, now it's not a secret!) but will still send a big cyberhug and congrats to the ladies who are DONE WITH T!!!! Yay! Me too, soon.
Claire
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I had 6 months of weekly Taxol (18 txt total) and managed to keep most of my hair by using cold caps from icewraps.com but lost all of my lashes, my eyebrows and hair in general. I took my metoclop when I needed to and controlled my nausea, and because of the pre-drug cocktail necessary to help prevent an allergic reaction, I was often my most energetic the day of treatment. I did feel very fatigued for a few days after but the neuropathy didn't start until part way through round 5. It did get quite bad over the past month but is easing up finally. My onc warned that the neuropathy gets worse before it gets better. Considering what I expected, my chemo was managable. I couldn't work but I don't think 6 months of weekly chemo with any drug would change that. The first 3 month check showed a great response but my next follow up 3 month showed I was stable from the previous scan. I'm hoping the Tamoxifen will not only keep this monster at bay but will put me into remission.
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Had my last taxol yesterday! Last Neulasta today! Waiting on the lovely side effects to kick in, but know I can make it thru like all the times before!!!! Already have my appointment with the RO next Wednesday to do my CT simulation. Rads will start in 2-3 weeks.
I'll be checking in on this board still. It's one of my favorites! I've "met" many great women who I'm greatful for sharing this experience with. I couldn't do it alone.
Love to you all!
Kim
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BouncingBetties, good luck on the Tamox. I start mine next Tues. Not sure what to expect. I did join the thread for it and there's a lot of good info there.
Congrats Kim! I also plan to continue on here. Hoping to be a help for the newbies. There's nothing like the feeling of that last Neulasta shot!
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Ok, I've made it to the end of ACT with only hair loss & thinning of my eyebrows. Last dose was yesterday and today I'm missing the bottom row of eyelashes on one eye!!!! Seriously?!? couldn't they hang on a little bit longer...ugh!!!! I'm wondering if all my eyelashes and eyebrows are going to fall out now before new growth can begin??? Anyone experience last minute lashes and eyebrows loss like this?
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Hi ladies, just checking in.
StJude wishing you great results with your mammo.
Annemoloney, that is great news about your markers going down. So glad you are feeling good.
BouncingBetties, so glad to hear your neuropathy is easing up. Wishing you the best with the tamoxifin.
Claire happy to hear you were able to get #8. Getting closer!
Kim congratulations! Sorry finishing also brought missing lashes. Most of my bottom lashes are gone, but it was more gradual. I hope your SEs are surprisingly mild.
Prayers and blessings to all,
Laura -
Hello Everyone!
I was hoping for minimal (Okay, NONE!) SEs but I couldn't escape. I got the worst ones! My throat was sore on Thursday before I went to bed and by morning, I had blisters in my throat and it hurt to swallow! That evil drug Taxol. I didn't take antibiotics after treatment and it got me! Joint pain, sore throat, neuropathy in hands and feet and my nails are soooo ugly!. I hope my new nails are prettier! They are looking good anyway. I have gained so much weight--30 pounds. I am trying to walk as much as possible and when I feel like it. I know this will come off too. My onc said it would be 3 weeks for my immune system to build back up so I am going to take these three weeks and do for me. I may get my sister to drive with me from Indiana to Virginia Beach so we can visit a cousin who has had breast cancer too. We'll see....
Annemoloney--I'm sorry you didn't find this board sooner. We have been through a lot together. You will find a lot of great information and encouragement here. It has been so helpful to me. You have been through so much. I hope you continue to feel good!
Claire--How many Taxol treatments do you have to get? Are they every other week or every three weeks. I don't understand how the oncs decide how many for what. I had 4 A/C every 2 wks and 4 Taxol every 2 weeks.
Kim---YEAH!!!!!! When we started this scary chemo journey, the end seemed so far away didn't it. We made it through together! My lashes and brows were thinning so I plucked the brows (It didn't hurt but I don't recommend doing this)and I would gently tug on my eyelashes. They were falling in my eyes and you know how that hurts!
It snowed here last night and my daughter is the Winter Guard director for a local school. I think we will be traveling to see the show and then who know. I know I will be carting my pain pills with me.
I hope everyone has a great weekend.
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Beth I'm so sorry this last one was so harsh! You sound good though, planning trips and outings.
Hoping your throat heals quickly, neuropathy and joint pain subside.
Hugs- Laura -
Kim- yup..my lashes crapped out right after my last treatment..my brows are down to about 10 hairs each..Ive been told they will all fall out within 2 weeks of finishing treatment and then they will grow back..I look like a fuzzy uncle fester..or a white chia pet as my new growth is all white for some reason..it is so stupid.
So glad to see alot of you finishing up..hard to believe when 6 weeks ago many of us thought we'd never make it! I'm feeling very frightened these days of a reoccurrence, just wondering if anyone else is as scared as I am. I never gave this a thought when I started this journey, just figured..cancer is gone..end of story, but now that I am nearing the end with only exchange surgery and Rads left I am silently freaking out!
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Kellysgroi - Your brows and mine sound about the same - just a few hanging in there. I call myself Uncle Fester all the time - I want to take a pic with a black turtleneck and a lightbulb before too much grows back.
I will finish Taxol on Monday but will still be on herceptin. The closer it gets to finishing the Taxol, the more terrified I am of a recurrence....completely silently freaking out here too. Glad to know it's just not me. I should be thrilled that the chemo part will be done and then just the H and finishing reconstruction but I'm having a hard time being excited about. I'm usually a half-glass full person but the last couple of weeks, that seems to be a struggle. Hang in there! Six months from now, we'll look back, be much more relaxed, and wonder why we did this to ourselves!
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