Taxol Chemotherapy

KCD, I'm on week 9 of 18 weeks Taxol and still running.  Some days are (much) harder than others but I still do have good runs.  I find I run for longer now as I need a good 45-60 mins just to properly get going.  When it gets really tough I switch to walking until I feel I can run again (usually when uphill).  Sometimes I run for up to 90 mins but afterwards I need to recuperate by lying down and sometimes sleeping.  I also get very cold very quickly after running so I change out of my running clothes and have a hot shower as soon as I get home.  Actually for me, when I'm running it's the only time I feel like I'm on chemo.  I'm determined to keep going as I think it's helping me manage the side-effects.  Good luck!

I happily happened upon this board, and just registered so I can contribute.  I just last week finished an ACT regimen to treat a BC recurrence.  Worked throughout, horrible AC side-effects, not too bad with the Taxol.  Except yesterday I was horrified when I discovered how much I now weigh!!  I am fairly active with exercise, etc, or at least try to be.  I furiously searched the web to understand if the weight gain was a Taxol side effect and learned that between that and the steroid, it certainly can be.  Hair starting to grow back - I look like some kind of white dandelion at this point.  Eyebrows/lashes are spotty.  Nails very painful.  Certainly understand that I need to be healthy and pray that I don't get this yet a third time, but the vanity part is difficult also - I really don't want to LOOK sick. I really appreciate reading about everyone else's experiences with these drugs and side effects; helps a lot.

Anko66, its TAKING me longer to get my miles in...I'm not necessarily feeling good enough to run longer, but my mile time has stretched out!

First Taxol tomorrow - nervous...



Jenn

Good luck Jenn!

Jenn-- Its alright to be nervous-- to be expected.  When or if at times, it becomes overwhelming, take slow deep breaths.  Maybe a mantra of some sort would help as you breath.  Don't run away from it all, face your fears-- because that will make you stronger-- but don't build them up or ruminate on things that have not yet happened, may not happened, have happened in the past.  Try to stay present and in the present.  It will make each moment you have more enjoyable.

It is a practice-- so practice. and it will get more useful as time goes one.  hugs-- Quaatsi 

Jenn

I was so nervous first taxol, but they give you a lot of bennedryl and other things and will relax you almost to a nap. They watch over you carefully the first one and you will see it will be fine. I did not ice my fingernails and I had DD taxol and did not lose any nails, taxatore is a little rougher on nails. I used gloves to clean and do dishes and put tea tree oil ointment a few times a week on finger and toenails. I wore crocs shoes the whole time and it saved me from stubbing my toes many times and keep finger nails shorter to keep from knocking them.

I go for Taxol # 9 tomorrow and my hair is starting to grow back. So excited to be almost done...the side effects i had were severe muscle pain on occasion but really the last two treatments made me tired too. I slept 8 hours yesterday...guess i needed it. It is so much better then AC for sure! No nail issues....and I didn't ice them. My nails seem harder then ever! I am starting to get happy feet to start dancing as the end nears......3weeks/4treatments.



Best to everyone

KCD

Yes my liver enzymes shot up also, I just started drinking a lot more and they came back down. I was reading the sheet on taxol they gave me at the beginning and it said something about liver enzymes going up. I should have read the paper before I took it better, now I'm finished and checking if I got all the SE.

Jenn--I was nervous about all of it. The benadryl does relax you and it goes okay.

Everyone who exercises---were all of you active before your treatments? I am trying to walk each day but get so out of breath that I cannot do much. My ankles have been swelling a lot too. Do you have someone who works out with you or have you motivated yourselves? I have neuropathy in my fingers and feet. Do your expanders interfere with your workouts. I seem to be the poster child for everything that can go wrong. I had a fill yesterday and I hurt so bad today. It hurts down my left side and I have shooting pains behind the expander. I am going over to the TE pain board for help with that one. I really need to know about the fatigue and the exercise. Also swollen ankles----Help me please. I really want to be in my "new state of normal!"

Hi there,

I'm pretty sure that drinking water, while a healthy thing to be doing, does not have any significant effect on liver function. Avoiding foods and drinks that overwork your liver would probably be more helpful ie: avoid alchohol and fatty foods.

Jenn

First Taxol and Herceptin done! 11 more to go...



Arrived at 2.30pm and finally left at 6.30pm. We were the last there!



My port is definitely fixed after it not working for my last FEC and having to have it "draino'd". The Taxol run was ok but I did get a really strong abdominal cramp about 1/2 way through so they got me a heat pack and stopped the infusion for 10mins. Apart from that no other effects during :-). Before they ran the T and H they gave me oral Kytril and an antihistamine ranitadine (Zantac). Then iv dex and iv ranitadine.



During the Herceptin I got quite nauseous so hey ran some iv maxalon, but still felt blah all the way home. Came home, ate FOUR pieces of pizza and feel asleep before 8.30pm.



It's 2am and I'm awake - but no ther SEs as yet.



Jenn

Just noticed this read in active topics and had a brief read. I just wanted to tell you that I found the 12 weeks of taxol a breeze.

I didn't get any SE until about week 6, then I noticed MILD bone pain on day 3 but well controlled with over the counter analgesia.

I did get numb finger tips and sore feet but soon went once I finished. My only issue with taxol was that my big toe nails lifted and I ended up with an infection under one, I didn't ice my nails - fingernails were fine.

The best thing about taxol was no nausea and my hair started growing back, so by the end of taxol I had a good inch of thick fluffy hair, but it did do a number on my eyebrows ans lashes.

Hang in there girls and don't believe taxol causes everybody Major SE, I found it easy and managed to work and exercise through it.

Lou