What are the side effects of chemo: AC+Taxol?

Rosa_Aurora184161
Rosa_Aurora184161 Member Posts: 73
edited June 2014 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

Hi.

I would like to know the side effects of this kind of chemo: 4 AC + 4 Taxol in a dense period (every two weeks).

Did they tell you you would lose your hair but you didn't lose it at the end? When did your hair start to fall?

Any natural remedies to prevent or help with some of the side effects?

Many thanks in advance, girsl!

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  • lpc
    lpc Member Posts: 303
    edited July 2013

    Hi Rosa



    I did dose dense ac and just had 2nd dd taxol Thursday.



    I would get the ac on Thursdays and neulasta on fridays. If getting neulasta take claritin 12 hour to avoid bone pain. I developed heartburn almost immediately and needed a prescription but never had nausea. Saturday and Sunday I barely woke up but was ready for work on Monday. Drink lots of water and eat lots of protein. I began shedding hair day 12 and had my head shaved after 2 nd dose of ac. I initially wore wig and now nothing but ballcap. Wig was too hot for me!



    After 1st taxol I was great until Sunday when I had some muscle and bone pain. Am trying to avoid that this time by taking advil this evening before bed. Will know tomorrow if it works. I am also taking b6 b12 and alpha lipoic acid to avoid neurapathy from taxol. So far so good.





    Hope this helps and all goes well for you



    Lisa

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  • Rosa_Aurora184161
    Rosa_Aurora184161 Member Posts: 73
    edited July 2013

    Thank you Lisa. You have been very helpful.

    I wish you  that "advil" makes its function and you don't have any pain.

    Best wishes! X

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  • AryaS
    AryaS Member Posts: 131
    edited July 2013

    I just finished my 4th round of AC. I had different symptoms every time. The biggest being nausea. I kept up on my meds and have only thrown up once. This last round included a great deal of fatigue. I have been sleeping a lot and feeling weak.

    I take Claritin before my Neulasta shot and for five days after. I have had difficulty coming off of the steroid and needed more of a taper. I also had heartburn and was prescribed stronger meds for it.

    I got mouth pain on my second round and was prescribed a rinse (Duke's Rinse) by my ONC that really helped. They lessened the Adriamycin dose for the last two rounds and minimized mouth pain.

    I have also struggled with diarrhea during round 3 and found that Pepto Bismol really helped. I drank lots of chicken broth and rice during that time.

    My advice:

    Rest when you can.

    Drink lots of liquids.

    Be gentle with yourself.



    I am starting Taxol soon and plan to take L-Glutamine and possibly the B vitamins. I have also heard that ice packs on hands and feet during Taxol treatment help.



    My hair fell out on day 14 immediately after my 2nd AC. I had buzzed it short by then (about 1/2 inch long) so the mess was minimal. I have wigs but I really like my baseball hat with hair that velcros in because it looks cute and is very cool in the hot summer heat. I also started making slouch hats with my sewing machine because they are comfy.

    Hope this is helpful.

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  • AryaS
    AryaS Member Posts: 131
    edited July 2013

    Oh! I have also received acupuncture once a week. My acupuncturist puts little tacks in my pressure points to help with nausea and they stay in for a week. It's been really helpful.

    I have also received energy work aka Reiki at my local Breast cancer center that has been beneficial.

    Hope this is helpful.

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  • Rosa_Aurora184161
    Rosa_Aurora184161 Member Posts: 73
    edited July 2013

    Thank you for sharing your experiences.

    Best wishes to all.

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  • mmadrigal05
    mmadrigal05 Member Posts: 21
    edited July 2013

    Hello ladies!



    I'm a little over a year out from my chemo (mine was exactly as described above-4AC then 4 Taxol). My biggest problems during tx was fatigue and finger neuropathy. The neuropathy has completely gone away and my fingers are back to normal. I had radiation so the fatigue stuck around a while. In fact I'm still pretty fatigued. I have battled depression most of my life but with the horrible hormonal side effects I can't seem to shake it completely. I have good days, bad days, ok days, and days that totally suck! I have two young boys (3 1/2 and 2) so I don't get the luxury of pulling the covers over my head for the whole day. I am peri menopausal but my Onc says its still too soon to know if it's permanent. I actually had a regular period the first 4 months of this year (every 28 days like before tx) so we thought I was bouncing back. Then I stopped having my periods again, was completely exhausted and emotional (I cry over everything, and I mean everything:) ), hot flashes and the wonderful old insomnia. I'm heading in to surgery this coming Friday to start the recon process all over again so I'm sure that stress doesn't help. I found a natural non hormonal supplement at my local health food store to help with symptoms and I seem to get some relief. I don't like taking medications so I'm always on the look out for natural remedies.



    I don't want to upset anyone or freak anyone out. I'm simply just trying to make u aware of some things that may happen. My docs are great but they didn't warn me about everything. I love how these boards get info out there for us to share. BC can be a very lonely disease, even with the best support systems in place. Unless u go through it yourself it's hard to understand the feeling that come along with the dx.



    Good luck girls! I know you'll do great and kick some cancer butt!

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited July 2013

    I write a breast cancer blog and have written EXTENSIVELY on AC and Taxol.  I hear from hundreds of women.   I am now over a year past treatment.  It is rough, to say the least, but you make it through!  My best wishes are with you!   Denise

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