Taxol Chemotherapy

I am going for my 6 th treatment Friday--half way-- and so excited! As each week passes I seem to lose my energy and my muscles and bones aren't horribly painful but there is always pain. I am counting down to celebrate closing this chapter and getting my PICC line out. Oh the little things....can't wait to stand under the shower and not have to worry about my arm getting wet. I look at what people complain about and I have to bite my tongue. This is hard but we are all doing it one small step at a time.....hang in there everyone!! Blessings to you all<3</p>

My first night...awake from 1:30 til 4 or so, even with Ativan!  Oh well. I read and caught up on FB.

Has anyone had itching with Taxol? When I went for my Neulasta shot, the nurse said it could be the steroids, but I never had any itching with A/C and I am getting the same steriods. It came on the first time as well, but worse this time. Overall, my first day post Taxol was not too bad except for the itching. I was able to work and run some errands. I expect joint and muscle pain some time tomorrow but I pray not.

I pray that you all have a good night's rest. JulieLynn, I hate to tell you that I have not gained any steroid weight but I only get the steroids on the day of treatment. I have had so little appetite, that I am actually losing weight. I need to anyway, so I'm not complaining. I understand that the steroid weight is pretty easy to come off once you are off them. I hope you find this to be true!  I have always struggled with weight and was worried about gaining.

Off to an early bed, thanks to benadry. Itching relief is a wonderful thing!

I'm going to ask about the calcium/mag as a premed.  I do take a daily supplement of cal/mag.  Last week, the bone pain started tonight, and OTC meds didn't touch it... I took perocet to sleep on the worst night.

  I've been awake since 2:45am,  I'm pretty sure the bedtime steroid burned off the sleeping pill I took with it.  I still have one more steroid to take this week...I've got to get on a lower dose of these things!!

My skin has gotten very dry in the past few days...not my face, I've been using coconut oil on my face at night.   But no itching

So I know this will fade, but having a lot of joint/muscle pain yesterday and today...will probably start to fade by tomorrow. It stinks. Our son is home on spring break and I'm limited...but I will be better by Monday. Add to it diarrhea, hemmorrhoids, etc. and I'm tired. Only two more treatments to go and looking forward to the 4 weeks off between chemo and radiation. My itching has calmed down.

JulieLynn, I noticed my feet (heels especially!) peeling too. Never happened before! I didn't think of that being a side effect, but I guess almost anything unusual should be considered a side effect!

Hope you are all well. I know these hard days will pass and next week will be a better one. Just seems long right now. Anyone else there? My mind has never really gone where some others have with thoughts of other cancers lurking when I have pain here or there. And I'm thankful for that, but it does make me want to ask some more questions about recurrance and all that. I know my onc told me those things, but I can't seem to remember them...so much info to absorb at so many different times. It's been a while since we discussed it, so it's time to bring it back up!

Have a 'minimal SE' day! 

Had my first taxol one week ago followed by neupogen shots for a week..have had terrible muscle and bone pain sice then. Fever is also there and have to take Tylenol regularly to control it. Went to ER and they said blood counts are fine. So exhausted with pains and fever don't know what to do:(

My doc  has me taking Claritin with my Neulasta shot and I have had no bone pain with that throughout all of my txs. This is different and even while I'm on Claritin. I've tried advil but not Aleve. And I know what you mean about so many drugs in you! I'm sure this is directly related to the Taxol no doubt. I may ask about the steroids, though I have found that benadryl helps me sleep more than Ativan does. The steroids are only on the day of infusion, but it's a 3 day dose. Screws up my sleep and my blood sugars.

The baking soda idea is a good one! I tried the gel rinse and it made me gag. It did help, but yuck! I'll try the baking soda.

I have found having my legs elevated and a heating pad across my knees is very comforting for the aches/pains. Doesn't get rid of all of it, but soothes it.

Pratibha, are you taking Claritin with your shots? I have and it has helped. I only get the one shot the day after my treatment, but I think it is dose dense, like the chemo. Claritin doesn't work for everyone, but it may be worth a try. I hope you get some relief. I understand completely!

Hope we all rest well tonight.

Thanks for the good ideas and encouragement. Knew I could count on you guys! Hope you all rest well.

andimom

every treatment i get sore mouth and throat and then see the thrush coming up back of tongue. then i start diflucan and goes away. just a thought of what mine does caused by steroid day of tx 

Yes, I have had a mild sore throat after both of my treatments

Hi- Has had anyone had diarrhea as a s/e with taxol?  My MO says it is from the taxol I hought it was a S/E of herceptin.  Everything going through me!  TX

3girls, I have had loose stools since starting the Taxol. I'm 3 wks out and still do. My MO was worried I'd be constipated...no such luck.

Congrats Kelley, I'll be getting mine in a couple of months, so I'm curious to hear about yours. How long did it take, do you have drains, where'd they cut at, ya know, pretty much everything! Gentle hugs!

St Jude- no drains..feeling pretty good tonight but I have some pretty good pain meds too.  Not sure where the incision is as I am wrapped up for the next couple of days.  Will let ya know how everything looks when I take the binder and bandages off on Wednesday to shower.  Not really sure why anyone has a "boob job" just because.. I've had enough thank you very much!  The surgery took just a bit over an hour..

Hello to all,

Have a few question how was Taxol determined in your treatment was it grade or stage size of tumor or nodes? Did anyone have the AC then surgery. Just wondering I just finished my 4th AC have BMX with immediate reconstruction on 4/3 then maybe Taxol, I am not looking forward to that I just want to feel normal. Any advise as to how you all's treatment was determined. Thanks.

bayareamom - my suggestion 1 - phone the onc and tell him he/she can't expect you to suffer...



My suggestion 2 - take the meds prescribed. If you are that worried about it being addictive you probably don't have an addictive personality and a few days won't turn you into a "druggie" :-)



Jenn

bayareamom - I had take meds too :-/. Have tried to minimise what I take so know where you are coming from...



Jenn

lol. You are ahead of me! My first weekly taxol is next Thursday. Aware of the pain thing and very worried about it because I am still working full-time (albeit with generous sick leave allowance)...



Not sure what my MO will prescribe but will have serious discussion with her at my appt next Thursday - then won't hesitate to call into the centre if the first pain med doesn't work (I work just around the corner in a research unit associated with my centre).



Jenn