Taxol Chemotherapy

I just had my first Taxol infusion, the first of twelve, last Thursday. Tomorrow I am scheduled for round #2. The first went surprisingly well...soooo much better than the A/C. I found that on Day 3 I was fatigued and exhausted, but without the severe aches and pains like I had with the A/C. And I wasn't nauseous at all, which I gotta say was a very pleasant surprise.



Now....my concern....like you, chapter4, I have numbness in my face. It showed up on Day 6. It feels like I've had a novacaine shot that is just starting to wear off. It's just in my chin. What IS that? Since I'm so new in the Taxol game, I'm a bit alarmed and concerned. Of course, I'm going to ask my doctor when I see him before my next round tomorrow, but I wondered what you all may know before I head in,and if this will in any way derail my current 12-step program.

My doctor wasn't too concerned about the numbness, either. He gave my mouth a good once-over to check how my teeth &j jaws were faring, and just said to keep an eye on it. He mentioned something about the mental nerve that goes down the jaw line, and that it may be affecting that, or I could be having some "normal" jaw and teeth problems that is doing it (I have notoriously bad teeth...began 2012 with a root canal. Sheesh....shoulda known 2012 wasn't going to go well). Like you, it comes and goes with the severity as well. Like at this moment, it feels just fine. Bizarre.



Congrats to you on nearing up the end of your taxol!!

Tweetyb422, I am in the same boat with you (and I'm sure many others!)!!  I've never been so down, weepy, and overwhelmed in my whole life!  I will be on my 2nd round of DD Taxol this Wednesday and I think it's soooo much harder than DD A/C!!  The nausea was horrible on A/C but that's about all I dealt with.  Now I deal with debilitating bone pain, (at times) overwhelming sadness, extreme fatigue, and insomnia, to name a few.  My Onc team claimed Taxol would be "sooo much easier!!"  I meet with them before my 2nd round so I will have a few choice words for them!  On A/C I would be knocked down for 1 week, then I'd have a whole week to feel good and normal.  It took over a week and a half to feel even partially normal and now I'm starring down the barrel of another Taxol treatment in 2 days... NOT FAIR!! 

I'm trying so hard to take each day as it comes... because when I think about what is coming up in a couple of days I just want to quit.  But we can do it!!  My new motto (thanks to a fellow chemo patient), "put on your big girl panties and deal with it".   

Need some more input from everyone.  Couldn't finish my 12 treatments of Taxol.  Had 3 blood transfusions and my neuropathy got worse.  Did complete 8 of them.  My doctor is recommending a month for my body and mind to heal.  My neuropathy has left me with loss of motor control, weak muscles, burning and tingling hands and feet.  Some loss of vision too.  I need to know what is out there working for you with shoes and relief for symtoms.  Also, what is working for you when it comes to hormone therapy.  Pros and cons.  

Taysmama - I was right exactly where u are now, feeling the same way. I finished taxol last week & I do feel better. The emotional roller coaster ride was the worst for me especially after infusion. Taxol is known to depleted the neurotrsmsitters in yur brain that regulate the emotions, but they will level off. My second infusion was the worst emotionally.. it will get better but it totally sucks along the way. So many woman have talked about everything leveling off once they are done..it is the getting done part that takes the longest. My onc office also told me taxol would be easier, but it wasent for me either, just a different bag of se. Hand in there, u can do this!

Quick question for those that have had neuropathy with their hands and feet.  I just finished my fourth Taxol infusion yesterday, and noticed that I'm getting the pins and needles tingling in my feet.  Is this the beginning of neuropathy, or do I just need to stop sitting so funny?  Apparently, I'm a criss-cross-applesauce sitter.  If I get up and walk around, while it's painful, it does eventually go away.  Just wondering if this is the beginning, or if I just need to change my sitting habits.

Lauren,

I had A/C before Taxol, and lost my hair at....about 15 days!  I noticed it when I would tuck my hair behind my ears, and it fell out in my hand instead.

I didn't lose my eyebrows/eyelashes with A/C, but now that I'm on Taxol I'm losing those.  I counted 23 eyebrow hairs yesterday morning, and now 16 this morning.  I'm currently 22 days out on Taxol.

Hope that helps. 

Hi Hopeful,

My first and second blood transfusion was during my third, and after my fourth A/C treatment.  Had four treatments. Every other Thursday.  My last blood transfusion was during my Taxol.  After my fourth treatment.  Was going every week for Taxol.  Had to take a week off because of my blood count going down.  I was able to recoup and continue without another transfusion.  Only made 8 treatments because of the neuropathy.  My doctor was afraid the damage would become permanent.  

Just hang in there.  Everyone is different.  Hopefully you won't go through the same thing I did.  Will add you to my prayer list.  Actually everyone with cancer and dealing with chemo and treatment are on my prayer list!  

Hi  My onc has assured me that Taxol would be a breeze compared to the nightmare I experienced with AC--I was bedbound with severe fatigue and  stomach issues for 11 out of 14 days.

My onc has said that neither taxol or herceptin are immuno-suppressive chemos so I was wondering why the need for the blood transfusions.  Also, for those who are experiencing low blood counts with taxol, did you also have that problem with Ac?

Thanks in advance

I just finished my last of 12 Taxol cycles yesterday.  My hemoglobin dropped from 12.8 to 9.0 with the Taxol.  My oncologist said that count could continue to drop for another several weeks before stabilizing.  My hemoglobin dropped from 14.0 to 12.8 while on the Adriamycin/Cytoxan.  My white count and platelets dropped on the A/C but they stayed within normal limits while on the Taxol.  I had Neulasta with the A/C but not with the Taxol. 

Interesting to see that I am not alone. During AC my WBC went down, but managed to get though without Neulesta. Rbc dropped a little but remained stable. Weekly Taxol made my RBC drop from 10 to 7.2 in five weeks. My WBC is low but stable with Taxol.

I too get those cramps in the early days. They are way low in my gut and almost feel like menstrual cramps-sometimes they are sobad I cann;t stand up straight. I use heat and take Tlenole and just wait them out. Sorry I can;t be more helpful but I know jusy what you are talking about

I haven't had any adverse side effects from the Taxol, which I started 1st on April 12, 2013. I'm on week 6 of 13. Going every Friday. I've been energized and feeling better than I have felt in 1-2 yrs. I do start having rib pain one day prior to next chemo. Most of all the posts are doing Taxol after the Cytoxan & Adriamycin. Not sure why my onc chose to do it 1st. Has anyone else had this regime? My hair started falling out rapidly after the 4th session of Taxol so I had it shaved. Now 2 weeks post baldness I have folliliculitis, which is tiny red bumps all over. My chemo nurse said its because I shaved it before it all fell out. And it's also due to the chemo. Any suggestions for getting rid of the bumps? She rec OTC hydrocortisone cream.

I was told to that Alra hair conditioner is the way to go. My local hospital carries it but it is available online for a few dollars more.

NoteRed—you should re-post this over in the Weekly Taxol thread. This one has been dormant for five years.