Taxol Chemotherapy

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  • BouncingBetties
    BouncingBetties Member Posts: 379
    edited March 2012

    Well, you enjoy your camping for me, okay? I'm a stage IV metser so no surgery for me. I did 6 months/18 weekly treatments and have been trying to recover so I can return to work. Unfortunately, having cancer at 40 means you're not old enough, or solvent enough, to retire. It really is nice not to have appointments all of the time, but it's strange at first. Make sure you have something to plan and look forward to. That will keep your mind busy and help you transition from active treatment to a "normal" life.

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  • annie3310
    annie3310 Member Posts: 111
    edited March 2012

    I had my first dd Taxol treatment yesterday and so far everything's great. I'm relieved because I have a big event tonight that I couldn't possibly cancel. Now I'm waiting to see if I'll have the bone and muscle pain so many of you have been experiencing. How many days after treatment does this show up for you?



    Wishing everyone well.



    Annie

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  • leslie612
    leslie612 Member Posts: 17
    edited March 2012

    Annie,  I had 4DDtx of Taxol in Dec & Jan.  My bone/muscle pain started 2 days after my first tx.  Unfortunately for me it was pretty darn painful.  However, the SEs from my first treatment were the worst and I found the last 3 to be manageable. Wishing you a SE-free Taxol experience!

    Leslie 

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited March 2012

    At work this morning and back for my 2nd Taxol/Herceptin this afternoon at 2.30pm. Strolled up to my centre and did my bloods yesterday afternoon and when I phoned them later they confirmed that my blood counts are OK to go ahead today.

    Does anyone on or who had weekly Taxol get total bloods done every week? I still only have an appt to see my MO once every three weeks and it appears that on the in-between weeks they only do the WBCs (whole blood count) and not the liver function tests etc. I was surprised and a bit nervous with this since my liver values have been raised and had caused withholding of my last cyclophosphamide dose...

    On a bright note, after my first tx last Friday afternoon I managed to work a whole day from home on Monday, a half day from home on Tuesday and then the whole rest of this week have been physically back in the office working whole days despite the weird muscle/joint pain and cramps.

    Gave my husband a giggle the other night when we were both in bed reading. Every five minutes I gave him an update on where the pain was: now it's in my left ankle, now it's in my right hip, now it's in my right thigh, now it's in both knees. This is sure some weird pain...

    Jenn

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  • NancyHB
    NancyHB Member Posts: 1,512
    edited March 2012

    Jenn:  You hit the nail on the head!  The pain *is* weird - it's not constant, it kinda moves around, and it just pops up in strange places!  I love that you gave your DH a play-by-play - I just told my DH to leave me alone.  Although, it did help when he massaged my shoulders and calves; it really made the muscle pain feel so much better.

    Annie:  How are you doing post tx?  Been thinking about you...

    Nancy

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  • Bonseye
    Bonseye Member Posts: 193
    edited March 2012

    The Taxol pains are weird! I get sharp pains at times....and terrible pain and weakness in my legs. Some days are better then others.....there are nights when i get in bed and can't keep my legs still. I tend to kick the covers off the bottom of the bed-drives my DH crazy but he understands. I go tomorrow for #10 of 12-two weeks I am going to dance through the chemo suite-starting to practice!! I want to be done with chemo pain!

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  • annie3310
    annie3310 Member Posts: 111
    edited March 2012

    Hurray! I got through my book launch tonight without a single side effect getting in my way. How odd for it to cooperate so well. Right now I don't even care if the pain hits tomorrow; I'm so relieved to have gotten through tonight. But, we'll see what I say if it actually does become painful.



    Nancy - thanks for thinking of me:)



    Next stop is a reading up in Milwaukee on Saturday. My sister will drive me, just in case everything goes south. Hope to be in good shape for that as well.



    Annie



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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited March 2012

    Well done Annie! Very glad to hear you got through your reading OK :-). Is your book available online through Kindle or somewhere?



    Jenn

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  • NancyHB
    NancyHB Member Posts: 1,512
    edited March 2012

    Yea Annie!  So glad to hear your reading went well, and that you're feeling good!  And I continue to hope that you have little or no pain with the Taxol - that would be even better!!

    I second Jenn - can we find your book somewhere?

    Nancy

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  • annie3310
    annie3310 Member Posts: 111
    edited March 2012

    Thanks Nancy and Jenn. All of my books are available in print on Amazon (Anne Laughlin), though only Veritas is available as an ebook from there at this time. The new release, Runaway, is available at my publisher's web site as an ebook for the first three months, and then it goes on Amazon. I write crime fiction, but it's categorized as LGBT, I suppose because people seem to feel the need to categorize. If you don't put any weight on the fact that the protagonist is gay, then the books are like any other mystery/suspense novel. Anyway, don't want to hijack the forum. Thanks for asking.



    Annie

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  • Angelfalls
    Angelfalls Member Posts: 849
    edited March 2012

    Hello everyone! I just joined the club. Day 2 after my first weekly Taxol and no major SEs so far... Could I be one of the lucky ones, or will things change...?



    It's a beautiful spring day here in the UK. Hope it's shaping up to be a good weekend where you are and that you can enjoy it the best you can. Take care, Angelfalls xx

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  • Sandlake
    Sandlake Member Posts: 211
    edited March 2012
    Bonseye, I have the same SE's.  I feel very tired this week after #9.  My hands and feet tingle all the time.  Also I have that aweful taste in my mouth I had with A/C!  Can't wait to do my dance tooSmile
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  • dechi
    dechi Member Posts: 173
    edited March 2012
    Jennt28 - I get a full CBC when I go in for my treatment and full bloodwork every 3 weeks when I see my MO.  I just had 9/12 Taxol/Herceptin yesterday.  Yeah!!  Only 3 more to go.  Can't wait.  My feet are starting to do a happy dance!!Cool
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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited March 2012

    Thanks dechi, Good to know it's just normal bloods. Only 10 more till I can do that happy dance!



    Jenn

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2012

    Hi ladies,

     I finished with #12 tx of Taxol day before yesterday and am done with all chemo!  On to rads and surgery...

    The l-glutamine and acetyl carnitine seemed to do the trick for avoiding neuropathy and icing all my nails seemed to keep them healthy.  

    I can't believe I'm done but I am...and for those of you still getting tx, you will be done sooner than you think.  Hang in there!

    XO

    Claire

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  • Sandlake
    Sandlake Member Posts: 211
    edited March 2012

    Congratulations Claire!!! 

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited March 2012

    Yay Claire!!!!!!



    Jenn

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  • NCbeachgal
    NCbeachgal Member Posts: 181
    edited March 2012

    I'm crying a tear of joy and sweet relief for you Claire!

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  • Bonseye
    Bonseye Member Posts: 193
    edited March 2012

    so happy for you Claire!! Yay!!!!

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  • Wrongchick
    Wrongchick Member Posts: 36
    edited March 2012

    Annie..very happy to hear that your book launch went well. I'm gonna buy a copy when it becomes available...would I be able to order it from my local bookstore?



    Claire..congrats on graduating from taxol. And I want to send you a warm thank you about the supplements info. Your success with them pushed me to get off my butt and get to the health food store. It's funny how with BC I feel so hesitant to do things I know are probably good for me. So, again thanks.



    To the group... could use some advice. Next Friday is #2 of 4 dd. I have the choice of either the local hospital or my MOs office (she's in private practice). I did fine for #1 ( at the hospital) that is, no scary reactions during infusion. The nurses tell me that the chances of having something really tricky happen from this point on are " really slim." But part of me is nervous anyway. Yet I'm frustrated with myself, because really, having the dose at the MOs office is a more pleasant, less medicalized experience. And when I say more pleasant, I know you all know I mean not quite as crappy. On the other hand, going to the hospital feels more secure. I swear I was never the anxious type before dx. Would love to know other folks thoughts.



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  • Anko66
    Anko66 Member Posts: 302
    edited March 2012

    Hi all, haven't posted in a while.  Well, my latest side effect is hot flashes :( , I suppose this means an early menopause for me (I'm 40).  Other than that I have so numbness in the tips of my toes, and some loss of taste but no joint pain for a while.  I've now completed 10 weeks of treatment and I can't say that things are getting worse.   Went for a run today and felt good.  Sending positive wishes to all.

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  • annie3310
    annie3310 Member Posts: 111
    edited March 2012

    Congratulations, Claire, on your liberation from chemo! My partner and I are planning a trip to celebrate that day, though right now it doesn't seem possible it will ever get here.



    Yesterday, day 3 of my first Taxol, I went from feeling great to feeling like I'd been hit by a truck. I had crushing fatigue, worse than anything I remembered on AC. And the pains started mid-day and got steadily worse. I'd say they got to the uncomfortable but not horrible stage. Despite the fatigue, I had a hard time getting to sleep last night and ended up taking a pain pill.



    This morning the fatigue is still there and the pain is starting up. I'm probably going to cancel my Milwaukee reading, which I feel terrible about. I just can't see three hours (round trip) of driving and standing up in front of a (small) audience. It feels overwhelming.



    Does anyone else have this crazy fatigue from Taxol?



    Annie

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  • bethu77
    bethu77 Member Posts: 320
    edited March 2012

    Annie-I had a lot of fatigue with Taxol. I had treatment on Tuesday and by Thursday, the joint pain would begin. My chemo nurse warned me and suggested I start on pain meds before the pain got too bad. She was also correct when she said it would be gone by Sunday. The more treatments I received, the longer it stayed but the pain was not as intense. Will you have 4 DD treatments? I am 4 weeks out from my last treatment and still deal with fatigue. I am hoping it gets better as I get stronger.

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  • annie3310
    annie3310 Member Posts: 111
    edited March 2012

    Yes, 4 DD treatments. I'm glued to the couch. Every time I get up I feel woozy. It's fatigue and it's also feeling 'chemo sick,' that feeling that's hard to describe other than to say crappy. I'm not feeling as much pain today, so maybe that will hold off. Thanks for letting me know your experience. It helps to know the pain is only around a few days, even if the fatigue is longer.



    Annie

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  • grateful33
    grateful33 Member Posts: 58
    edited March 2012

    Annie I also had that crazy fatigue with the first dd Taxol (now on day 1o of first cycle) with the weird bone/muscle pains all starting on day 3 and slowly improving by day5.( by day 6 I was definitely more functional) Glad your first reading went well and hopefully you can reschedule your second one. I am looking forward to buying and reading your book!

    Claire-Congratulations! Can't wait to be where you are now :)

    bethu77- glad to hear that the pain gets less intense although lasts longer. I am worried about the cumulative effects of Taxol.  I have numbness in my fingertips and am worried about permanent neuropathy.  Am taking glutamine and B vitamins.

    Does anyone know the dose of Acetyl l carnitine daily?

    Hugs to all

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  • Peacock
    Peacock Member Posts: 86
    edited March 2012

    Yes, lots of Taxol fatigue, but it became predictable and it passes suddenly. Go with it, don't fight it, I think that makes it worse.

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited March 2012

    Annie, my sleeping day seems to be day 2 after my treatment - which is today. I just find that I have no energy and need to lie down and have a snooze regularly. Is there any possibility of having a limo or friend drive you if you thought you would be ok for the actual reading?



    We are due to go out for a class reunuion dinner (casual at a pub) tonight for our daughter who has special needs. Am hoping I can sleep all day and then cope with it. It will be nice to catch up with the other parents if I can stay awake...



    Jenn

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  • NancyHB
    NancyHB Member Posts: 1,512
    edited March 2012

    Annie, I'm having that intense fatigue with the Taxol, too, but for some reason it's different than the fatigue from AC, can't really explain why.  Maybe it's just the cumulative factor?

    My pain is finally, really, truly gone (I was sore and stiff yesterday).  I've developed some balance problems recently, though.  I keep "falling" to the right.  I always feel like I'm leaning and if I stand too long I simply start to fall over.  Not concerned; could be my ears or something else, but if it continues I'll mention it next Thursday.  Only five more of these nasty treatments to go!

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  • annie3310
    annie3310 Member Posts: 111
    edited March 2012

    Nancy - I'm glad you're pain is gone, at least. And I hope you get your sea legs. All that listing to port will make peope think you're drunk. I agree the fatigue is different from AC. In my case, it's definitely worse. I'm also more aware of my stomach than I ever was on AC and really don't have much appetite. Some here have said the fatigue lightens up after a few days, and that would be a blessing. I'm getting very bored with doing so little. Tonight I got into bed at 7:30, just because I was sick of lying on the couch! 

    Annie 

      

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  • Tvaliente
    Tvaliente Member Posts: 7
    edited March 2012

    I'm just wondering if anyone has been on taxotere. Is it the same as taxol? I just finished my second ac treatment and have 2 more to go before I start 4 taxotere. I'm so worried about permanent hair loss with the taxotere. Does anyone have any info? Thanks in advance.

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