Taxol Chemotherapy

I've just finished 3 x FEC. Horrible, horrible, horrible...



Hoping that I'm lucky enough to be able to tolerate taxol. Certainly didn't tolerate the FEC well.



Jenn

Jennt28,

Everybody is different and has different SE and severity of SE.  I'm at 6/12 Taxol/Herceptin.  The SE I've been experiencing are minimal.  In the beginning I was a little bit queasy but that was over quickly.  I've had some constipation issues and dry mouth and that's about it.  No neuropathy, nail issues or joint pain so far.  I've been taking some supplements of B complex and L-glutamine along with vitamin E, biotin (for the hair ) etc....

Dear Taxoladies-

I've now got 10 of these weekly suckers under my belt. Two more to go! My ANC wasdown again--at 2.0--okay for treatment, but I'm back to three neupogens in between txs just to be safe. I absolutely don't mind having to get daily shots for three days because it keeps me on track with my tx schedule.

I had lower back muscle pain once -- 48 hours after about tx.#2 or 3--I can't take (and refuse to take) Oxycodone.  I hate how I feel when I'm on it and it's horribly constipating. So--my onc. gave me a prescription for tramadol instead, like a very strong ibuprofen/naproxin pain reliever. I only needed it once...but for those of you who don't like the codeine-based derivative pain relievers, you might look into this. It doesn't get you nearly as stoned, and less digestive problems.

 For you newbies, you'll get through this. Yeah, it's uncomfortable, but it's temporary. Really.

For those of you finishing along with me soon--hurrah for us!

Claire

bayareamom,

I have my first (of 4) Taxol infusions on Friday, and today my onco nurse told me to take 2 Aleve twice a day (total of 4/day) for bone pain, if it occurs. My onc had also prescribed oxycodone, but I hate taking "guns" like that, if I can avoid it. I'd rather deal with the pain - I'm silly like that. And I also have two young boys that I need to care of, so can't be out of it, either. :-) 

Dear newer Taxoladies,

I think this has been mentioned before on this thread but it's a pretty long one by now. Claritin 24 hour non-drowsy formula helps a lot with any potential bone pain if you are getting Neupogen or Neulasta shots.  Take it the day of, the day after and a few days after that. 

Bayareamom, I teach at a university and have to keep my wits about me too...we have a drug-free policy on campus as well

Claire

Hi Everyone...just wondering if anyone on Taxol has had a side effect I am having.  Going to run it by the doctor today.  I know i am not sick...but seem to cough up a lot of phlegm, always clear, through out the day.  It is very strange.  It almost sounds "cold like" but I know it is definitely not an illness.  I know Taxol effects  mucus membranes and wondered if anyone else has this. I have the runny nose and am trying to get use to no eyebrows, eyelashes and no hair. Kind of feel like an alien-LOL. Also I have a lot of bloody noses...so not fun.  Treatment 8 tomorrow-Yahoo-4 more weeks!  Today my shingles is acting up again-this nerve pain is no fun. Without pain meds i can hardly use my left hand. I am looking forward to April, my month off between chemo and getting my TRAM flap. Done April 6th with chemo and there is a major celebration Easter weekend!  Hang in there everyone...just getting through it each day...we are all challenging our inner strength and winning!  

Ladies,

Peeling feet and/or hands can be hand/foot syndrome.  I had it on my last A/C and my first Taxol treatment.  There really is no cure and apparently it is a rare side effect.  Doctor's recommend Bag Balm and Udder cream to moisturize hands and feet and tylenol if it causes pain.  I go for my 2nd of 4 every other week Taxol treatments and my right hand is finally feeling better...I'll be interested to see if it flares up again...last time my toes hurt so much 2 days after the treatment I had to keep my feet elevated for the day.

Claudia

Congrats FLislander! You did it!! I still have to take antinausea meds now and again. Usually when I overdo it which isn't too often anymore. I'm learning to pace myself.

Andimom03 &claireinaz-thank you for confirming my symptoms. I knew it had to be related...only 4 weeks and I will be done-beyond excited!



So far my nails are doing well. I was worried about that and the one oncologist explained to me thT my nails may get brittle by the cuticle and when they grow out I may have to just be careful not to bang them. They seek to be strong and growing well. I am just starting with tingling in my feet after 8 treatments...hope it doesn't get worse.



Very excited as I found a oncology nurse that tattooes eyebrows! She did all the nurses in oncology and what an amazing job! Mine were too thin before and I am going to do this for my birthday-don't like not having a face! Down the line may do eyeliner.....that is up in the air but eyebrows are a must! Happy Weekend to all!

Secretgard-interesting you mentioned ringing in your ears....I fell like my are full of cotton, no ringing. I tend to talk realy loud all the time. It is worse if I take pain meds. Very strange! I also have periods od what I call "restless legs" as i can't get them comfortable at times. My husband laughs because sometimes when we get in bed i can't lie still.

I have been so self conscience of losing my eyelashes but with my glasses I have had my best friends say they couldn't tell...now are they lying?? I always wonder when people tell me I look good if indeed they are trying to make me feel better.....so far with Taxol my numbers have come right up and no extra Neulasta or anything needed....

Hoping we all have a great weekend!

Secretgardn,

Hi...my WBC was really good at the beginning of taxol,then slowly began to drop. So I don't have to delay any more tx (already had one week added to my 12 weeks because my ANC dropped to .9 and I was untx that week), I'm getting 2-3 neupogen shots between weekly taxols now so I can complete tx.  I use claritin daily anyway to counteract the watery eyes, runny nose, stopped up ears thing, but I can tell you I've had NO problems with neupogen SE. Maybe because of the claritin, maybe because a lot of us just don't...

I think glasses hide a lot of lash and brow loss--I know that makeup artists suggest that if you wear glasses you're supposed to wear a bit more eyemakeup just to keep your eyes from disappearing behind glasses anyway.  I don't think anyone can tell what my lash loss is unless they get right up in my face.

Remember most everyone else in the world is like us--worried about how they look to others, and not scrutinizing other people's looks.  I doubt they'd notice what we see a lack of anyway.

I'm icing hands and feet (and brows and lashes when I remember). So far my nails are good and no complete loss of eyebrow or lash hair.

Claire

Thank you for your responses ladies. Claire I never iced my brows. Prob should have. Lashes are already pretty lean.



Andimom that's pretty much my pat answer. What else can you say? Thank you for the info on the Nov thread.



Blessings and a good day to all,



Laura

I cannot imagine 12 treatments of taxol. I had 4 AC and then 4 Taxol treatments. I am 3 weeks out and still very tired.

If you can go to a Look good, Feel better program, they are great! You get free product and you learn to draw eyebrows and line your eyes. I have never used eyeliner or browliner until I was losing mine from chemo. The eyeliner help hide the fact that I don't have eyelashes. I love the free product too. I wear my wig when I don't want to look like I had cancer. I wear a scarf and makeup when I don't want to feel like I had cancer.

I know Taxol is tough but we all get through it. I am finally coming back up on most days. Some days are better than others. Today has been majoy tired. I hope tomorrow is better!

KCD,

I worked out, hiked, practiced bikram yoga through chemo. I have 11 of 12 tx tomorrow.  My RBC was always normal, which makes a difference in stamina, I think.  You might take a look at yours when they do labs before your tx. 

And often I had to simply and stubbornly push myself to get out there and move.  I probably could have just stayed home, but I told myself I was saving my life.  I didn't really feel 100%, but I ALWAYS felt better afterward, even if  I didn't do what I normally would have pre-chemo.  I felt like I was pulling one over on cancer, you know?

My 2 cents anyway.  

Claire

KCD,

That's the spirit. I was wiped out mainly from AC txs--esp. the first 3 or 4 days..sometimes couldn't finish my regular miles, and was walking them pretty slowly.  But now on Taxol I have more energy and feel better than when on AC...which wasn't too hard, since AC was pretty tough.

Claire