Working during weekly taxol?

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Septmom
Septmom Member Posts: 150
edited June 2014 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After


I was wondering if I will be able to work through weekly taxol. I finished 2 rounds of AC. I go for my 3rd and 4th rounds on Dec 12th and 26th. I start my first weekly taxol on January 10th which is a Friday. Would I be able to recover over the weekend and work on Monday? I have taken a short term leave of absence from work during AC. I have found the biweekly dose dense AC to be a bit rough for 4 days. I take my anti nausea pills and feel run down for a few days. By day 5, I start feeling better and get my appetite back. I feel quite good the remaining days. I do take occasional afternoon naps once in a while but have been able to stay active. Was wondering how the side effects of taxol compare to AC. Thanks Ladies!

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  • BreezyH
    BreezyH Member Posts: 21
    edited December 2013


    I finished my 4 dose dense AC treatment 3 weeks ago and just had my second weekly taxol. MUCH better. I haven't experienced much nausea. It's been considerably easier on my body. Sounds like I had a similar down days like you-first week was rough, second week better. Taxol is pretty tolerable so far, but they told me SE can be cumulative, so I may get more tired as I go. But I will take that any day over my "hang over/morning sickness" combo feeling I had with AC! Good luck with your last 2 AC treatments. Watch out for your 3rd-that was my toughest!

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  • Septmom
    Septmom Member Posts: 150
    edited December 2013

    Thanks BreezyH,

    I hope I do well enough on taxol to start working 4 days a week. I am dreading my third AC which is day after tomorrow :(  

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  • LizzyinMI
    LizzyinMI Member Posts: 43
    edited December 2013


    I did the same treatment with 4 A/C then 12 weekly Taxol. I worked the entire time. My taxol treatments were early in the day on Thursday and I would come home and work all afternoon. The only time off I took for the taxol was for the actual treatment time. I do work from home though which definitely had it's advantages during the chemo treatment i.e. the afternoon nap. I didn't set an alarm for the morning and let myself get as much sleep as my body dictated. I found fatigue to be my worst SE.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited December 2013

    I did not have a 'go to' job during A/C or Taxol - on A/C I could have but on Taxol NO WAY could I have.  12 Taxol basically put me either in bed or on the couch in front of TV the entire time other than to get to the next infusion.  My 4 DD A/C were not bad at all and really didn't slow me down.  It seems, from reading posts, that those of us who don't have major problems with A/C, will have with Taxol and visa versa.

    Get appetite back - that never happened at all for me until long after end of rads.  Hubby had to call me several times a day to remind me to eat something.  I still have minor issue with remembering to eat almost 4 yrs out.

    On Taxol, I slept through all my infusions.  As soon as they started the IV Benadryl, I'd go 'nighty night' til about 20 mins before end of infusion.  I also had to have one of the glassed in cubicles with it's own thermostat and have heated blankets because keeping mymtemp up was an issue.

    We are all so differemt!

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  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited December 2013

    I have been working through my AC treatment - three week cycle - and weekly taxol. Just had my 8th taxol infusion two days ago. I get the infusions on Thursdays. While on AC I took the day of the infusion and the next one -Friday - off. I continue taking every Thursday off while on taxol and work from home on Friday. By Monday I am always fine and can handle 8-9 hours at the office in rather high stress environment.

    In terms of what is easier it's hard to tell. Taxol has been hard on my blood counts and liver too. I already had a blood transfusion while on taxol and may need another one soon. My dosage was reduced because of high liver enzymes. The effects are certainly cumulative so this is not a walk in the park - at least not for me. May be a matter of age too - I am 55.

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  • amgsc
    amgsc Member Posts: 16
    edited January 2014

    I can not compare AC to Taxol but I did get the 12 weekly treatments of Taxol. I worked the entire time except for the day I got the treatment. The Benadryl they give you does knock you out! I have had other drugs and I think Taxol was the easiest for me. I hope it does well for you Smile

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