Taxol Chemotherapy

The finger/toenail issues are interesting.  My thumbs and first finger nails are lifting, tender, and I just wish they'd come off.  I keep "forgetting" and try to use them, then I pay for it.  My big toenails are feeling the same way.  And yea, there's a little neuropathy in my hands and feet, but not much - it's liveable.  I have two more dd txs to go; will be curious to see how it all comes out in the end.

Jenn:  I'm having the same problem with my sinuses - and "checking" just like you do!  I carry around a pack of tissues with me and feel like I'm constantly wiping or blowing my nose.  One sinus always seems to drain clear, and the other sinus is very irritated and bleeds constantly.  Every once in a while my nose will simply start dripping like someone turned on a faucet - and I don't always notice (or catch) it in time.  I was sitting in class last night and that happened, and the poor girl next to me started to turn a little green.     Luckily she's a friend and I think she felt bad for me...I was just glad it wasn't "red" this time. 

Hi Ladies,

2 weeks PFC after 12 weekly taxol treatments.  I still have a little tingling in fingers and toes.  Ringing ears, and taste is still off.  Fatigue seems to be hanging on as well. 

Fingernails look weird, as though there is a line where AC ended and taxol began.  I did ice my hands and feet during treatments, even though I was told it was really for taxotere.  Who knows whether it worked   Also took L-Glutamine. 

For anyone else who took L-Glutamine during treatment, did you continue after treatment?  How much and how long? 

Thoughts and prayers for all of you still undergoing treament that it goes quickly, with minimul side effects,

Hugs, Laura

Nearly five months out of Taxol treatment and my finger/toe nails still look rough: slightly discoloured, prominant ridges.  They seem very thick too; they are hard to trim back.  Will they ever look normal again?   Anyone know?

It is always helpful for me to read everyone's posts.  Thanks for sharing.  I have #12 of my Taxol this Thursday and I can't wait for it to be behind me.  I haven't really worked the last three months - most of it I'm sure is chemo related and some of it was the crushing blow of a stage 4 diagnosis.

I've only recently started having problems with neuropathy. My legs feel like jello and tingle and I had some bad pain in my ankle this morning when walking. Worst has been the fatigue. Hyper on steroids and then two to three days later I can finally crash. I do take something to help me sleep on the night of chemo or I would be awake for 36 hours.  And I have noticed the energy on Fridays. I went off the decadron for a couple of weeks - but then broke out in a rash on my arm, face, chest, etc. and so am back on.   My taste buds are shot and I find myself eating more sweets because they're the only things I can kinda sorta taste. Nosebleeds every day - swelling - feet ankles, stomach, which comes and goes. No real nausea, but I do get heartburn - for which I take tums which seems to help just fine and also gives me additional calcium.  I haven't tried any of the suplements suggested above - I do take a claritin every day  - for seasonal allergies, and I have noticed the joint pain isn't as bad.  

Anyway... it will be over soon and then gradually I'm hoping the side effects will go away. 

I was beating myself up for not being able to work throughout this...but everyone is different.  I tried pushing myself to work some the first few weeks, but could barely think while at work and became so fatigued just from getting ready in the morning that it wasn't worth the effort.  

The worst right now is how bored I am at home and how tired I am of not feeling good and how much I miss my life.  Oh, and the hot flashes - some days lots and lots of hot flashes. I keep telling my friends at work that someday they will walk by my cube and see me sitting there in my undies.  I really wish everyone going through this well and few SE's.  Hey, we do what we gotta do and get through this day by day.

Chris

I'm a newbie...I am done my 4 treatments of A/C and had my first of 4 treatments of Taxol last week. Every 2 weeks. I had an allergic reaction to the taxol, kidney and back pain and could not finish the treatment. Not sure what they will change when I get my next treatment. I am a type 1 diabetic so have to deal with the side efects of the dex (steroids) as well as the taxol as well. Mostly joint and muscle pain, the runny nose thing and the discoloured and sensitive nails. Hoping with the diabetes that the neuropathy can be avoided. Have any of you taken extra meds to help avoid the neuropathy?

 Thank you,

Thank you for the information  . Looking over previous posts I saw reference to a vitamin B6, Acetyl L-Carnitine, and L-Glutamine to help with the neuropathy. Has anyone with Diabetes tried these, and was it a help? When do you take them....just before the taxol or for a time afterwards? I have had diabetes for 34 years and have no complications as I have worked really hard to keep things in good control. I am really nervous about getting neuropathy with the taxol after all these years working to ward it off.

Beth, wish we could walk together too... I feel nervous walking by myself due to feeling a bit "wobbly". I like to have company but hubby works long hours, kids are busy at school and university, and all my friends work too.



Had 10 of 12 Taxol/Herceptin today (Friday afternoon here). Last weeks one hit me very hard by Sunday when I spent the day in bed feeling like my life energy was dying. Bit scared about it happening again this week... Bloods have shown I'm slightly anaemic so have been eating steak on MO orders!



Jenn

Thank you for sharing your experiences Beth, wish I could walk with you too....it is so hard to push yourself when you feel like the EverReady bunnies have stolen every ounce of it from you! I will definitely try the finger and toe suggestions your oncology massage therapist suggested....it makes sense to keep the blood flow active to those extremeties!

 Good for you Jennt....you are almost done! Hope this weekend is better for you!

 Carolyn 

KCD and Denise G-thats right! You did it! I'm 5 weeks PFC and I have my smile back. I hope y'all are smiling too. Denise-plant those flowers! Plant a tree for heavens sake, and watch it grow tall!

I'm so happy for you both!

For those of you her2+, I iced while on taxol. Stuck frozen peas in insulated lunch bags and zipped them around my toes and fingers. Nails stayed great. I continued while on herceptin, even though my onc said there was no proof that it will help. I said there was nothing that said it wouldn't and until then, I was icing.



I forgot my stuff one time toward the end. I swear, ten days later, my nails were lifty in spots and really sensitive. So not sure if it was the fact that ice really doesn't work or that I forgot. I never lost a nail, but my thumbs lifted on the sides and the nail came off really low. I have been finished with weekly taxol since last June, and herceptin since the end of March. Every time the thumb area sarts to look better, it develops a crack, like it never attached again.



They don't seem to be growing well, break easily and are peely and soft. I am trying to take care of them, but the least little bump causes issues.



I am not sure what doctor to talk to about it, or if I want to as I don't want them to tell me they have to be removd in order to grow back correctly.



I had herceptin with my chemo for twelve weeks. Lots of hot flashes. Tried Pristiq, didn't helped. Weaned off. Finally, after misery of 3 or so an hour, I tried effexor. It has been wonderful for the past two months, but now I notice that I am starting to have serious flashes again. I am on the lowest dose and don't really want to increase it, but I may have to.

Fluffqueen01 - I iced all during Taxol/Herceptin and never had any nail or neuropathy problems.  But ready to start Herceptin alone this week, and never even thought about icing during Herceptin infusion.  Thanks for bringing this to my attention.  I shall continue.  What the heck...

I got lazy last week and pulled my feet out of ice prematurely.  One of my toenails this week has been hurting like crazy.  I've been pouring Rubbing Alcohol on it.  Seemed to help.

Denise

My hair has been growing for a few weeks now and it's growing quite fast with some bits nearing an inch! BUT it's sparse :-( There are these longish dark hairs spread out maybe 3/4inch apart all over my head and nothing in between. What the heck is up with that?



I had very dense thick wavy hair so I am so hoping I'm not going to end up with this sparse stuff that I will still have to wear a wig over - it's really not viewable for the public. I you watch a UK cable show called Choccywoccydoodah - the owner of that chocolate shop has sparse hair like mine is growing. Difference is that she looks to be in her late 50's/60's and I'm in my forties and not ready to rock that look. As an aside, I've always wondered whether her hair is the result of cancer therapy...



Trying to relax at home since I have been ordered off work for these last couple of chemos by my MO due to a racing heartbeat, raised bp and to see if I can finally kick this chest cold that has hung around for 3 weeks. Had a heart scan yesterday, RO appt today (28 days of Rads starting 18 June) and have to take the dog to the vet this afternoon - still waiting for the relaxing bit to kick in...



Jenn

Hi everyone, I thought I'd jump in here and ask a question.  I just had my first Taxol on Friday doing DDx4, so only 3 more to go.  My question is when will I taste food again and it be right?  I see or smell something and crave it, but when I take a bite disappointment sets in.  I can put up with the other SE's they only last a few days, but I haven't tasted anything good in months. 

Lostinmo- I had my first dd of taxol on Thursday and I'm still having very bad feet and leg pains!! Are you having any problem with that SE? No problem with taste buds in fact that's the only good part of this tx is that I can eat normal.



Anyone that did get the feet and body aches, how long did they last?? Day 6 and I'm still waiting for them to clear.

Thanks for any info. This is not fun!!!!! But only three to go.