Weekly Taxol group

Does the nausea seem to be as bad in taxol as it was in the AC treatments, for those who have done both?

EmilysMom: No nausea at all from Taxol.

I am glad (well, not really!) to hear of others having issues with neuropathy. It is reducing my fear to see that my experience is not terribly unique.   Plus knowing that some of you had dosages reduced gives me some hope my MO will do the same with the dose dense.  I do not want to switch to weekly because I don't want to be done with chemo. 

My nail beds are really uncomfortable.  On a positive note: DH did a lot of the house cleaning today because I kept ramming fingers into things and uttering expletives.

Njlane ~ My naturopath also suggested adding in alpha lipoic acid, though she told me that you CANNOT take this one within 48 h of chemo administration. It's a strong antioxidant, and will also really support the liver's health, so you're better able to finish the scheduled regimen as prescribed.

Wishing us both luck with a hard decision!

Ok, less than 40 hrs till starting taxol and only one trip to target moving up now. Aside from vitamin b6 and b12, what are the essential items to have for se's?

I am not looking or ward to this neuropathy, although from what I know, the weekly treatment is somewhat less intense on that se? Agreement there, or misperception?



What is up with icing one's hands/feet... Is that for neuro symptoms or for nail issues?



Ideas for nail issues?



Thanks....

C



Happy Easter and Passover!

After 8 weeks of AC and six doses of Taxol, my wife had her seventh cancelled.  She has an infection in her reconstructed area that is not good, so the onc and surgeon agreed to cancel the seventh.  So what are the chances that they will just cancel the last 6 doses, as the onc said that the most important chemo was the AC?  She was doing well with the first 4 doses, but things have gotten pretty rough lately, with alot of SE.

She had stage 2, triple negative, with bilateral mast. in early November.

Emily's Mom - I took and still take 30grams of L-glutatmine per day. Get the powder - not capsules. 30 grams is a much bigger dose than it says on the jar - but it is easy to take. I iced for both neuropathy and nail issues - but more so for the neuropathy. 

ywheels - I had my brows up until this past week (3 weeks post taxol) - I am now 4 weeks post taxol and still have my eye lashes. It can take some time for the brows and lashes to go, but I have heard that they always go - but the good thing is that they grow back fast - at least I hope they do.

Zorina - I had excruciating pain in the nail beds of my thumbs and pointer fingers - but it didn't last long at all. Just a couple of weeks after each treatment. I never got any pain in the other three fingers at all. I also got pain in the large toe nails but it was only after the first taxol.

Mareluna,I was told to take 100mg. of B-6 three times a day to prevent neuropathy.  Am hoping that will work.  I suppose we all have different side effects from these drugs.  I also receive Herceptin with the Taxol.  I understand that the effect will be cumulative as the weeks go by.  I was also told to use baking soda and salt to rinse and that combination does help with the sores.  Am just so tired but not as miserable as with the AC, thank God.

Thanks for responding back to my question pertaining to the leg pain.

Adagio - I wish I had been lucky as you.  Yesterday the nails were really painful.  I am glad it is warm enough to be sandal weather here or I wouldn't have been able to leave the house.  I put some ice on them last night, and it felt good. Maybe it even made them feel better today.  I'll try a round of it again tonight. It cannot hurt if it feels good, right? 

YWheels - I still have brows (mostly blonde that cannot be seen at any time!) and lashes despite four A/C and two Taxol.  My lashes had thinned, but seem to be thickening now.  I have fewer bald spots on my head, so it does feel like I have more hair even though it is just stubble.  If you kept those lashes and brows during A/C, then you may have a decent chance of keeping them through Taxol, so don't sweat it too much.  I think you will prove that nurse wrong!

Has anyone else noticed tooth sensitivity?  My teeth seem to recoil at anything that is remotely chilled. Heat causes no problem, though.

Getting ready for #1 of 12. I am ready to start the final battles...

So I got 25mg of benadryl and I have no idea how much dex. I was pretty hammered with the benadryl  so I really didn't care about much after that!! No reaction to the taxol. Just sleepy from all the other stuff... Taxol #1 is officially over. Now for a flush... then I get to go home.

Glad you both  did not have any reactions.

I have surgery in morning. Goodbye ovaries and tubes...Almost done...

Reaching the finish line soon.

Kickin cancer's sorry butt!

Skigirl and EmilysMom, Glad to hear that you are done with Taxol #1!

My MO prescribed Dexamethasone and asked me to take 5 tablets (20mg) twice before my first Taxol. Hope my first Taxol next week will be uneventful as well.

She was saying something like that. I was pretty sleepy and not speaking clearly so I will ask her about that again next week BEFORE she drugs me. LOL I am not having a problem so far with the dex. I didn't have to take any before today and it was only a little vial. no bag. I don't have any prescribed meds to take, but, I still have the compazine if I need it. They said I would feel like I have the mild flu without a fever in a few days. They really didn't make a big deal about any nasty SEs. They said people do really well on this. And as I was leaving, the nurse thanked me for not having a reaction to Taxol. LOL I said your welcome.

EmilysMom- Glad your #1 went well. I would have been drooling on myself if they gave me 50mg. I was a mess on 25mg. LOL

Mareluna - good luck with your surgery tomorrow.  You are almost at the finish line!

Re eyebrows/lashes - I never lost my eyebrows at all (I only had weekly Taxol, no AC).  I lost lower lashes on one eye, but didn't even notice until I saw the new stubs that were all one length (and one long hanger-on).

I had pre-meds each time (only in the IV, none that I had to take in pill form).  I did get my MO to cut the steroid in half after the first 2 or 3 infusions, which helped with the sleep issues.  Otherwise, none of the pre-meds bothered me.

Emilysmom, I don't think nausea on Taxol is very common at all, so hopefully you will not have any problems.

Emilysmom~~Dex (Decadron) is a steroid.



When I was getting AC, I got 2 pills each of Zophran & Decadron, and a small IV bag of Emend just before chemo infusion. I was given compazine to take at home as needed, and took decadron on days 2, 3, & 4 after chemo. I have never opened the compazine as I've never had any nausea. Thank God!



Some people (rarely) have a reaction to taxol. Sudden onset of back pain, flushed face, severe headache, and difficulty breathing. That's just during the first 2 treatments. The nurses stay right with you and have epi-pens and a whole emergency kit if needed. It usually isn't needed.



My only SEs from Taxol so far are minor joint pain that comes & goes over a couple days, loss of taste for a day or 2, and tiredness, but nothing compared to AC.



I'm amazed at how much better I feel.



I hope I answered all your questions. If there's anything else, I'm here for you.



Blessings

Paula