Weekly Taxol group

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  • Nicole32
    Nicole32 Member Posts: 21
    edited March 2014

    Thanks for the support Summer70.  I appreciate it.  Its just such a frustrating process to go through.  My mother in law took the kids for the weekend so I am currently on the couch for the whole weekend getting as much rest as I can.

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  • Deblc
    Deblc Member Posts: 479
    edited March 2014

    Did anyone get erythropoietin (EPO) instead of a blood transfusion to treat anaemia? My doc says that would be her recommendation, but I have read that there is a higher risk of reoccurrence with that drug (I believe that's the drugs athletes use to illegally boost their RBC)

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  • kayezzy66
    kayezzy66 Member Posts: 116
    edited March 2014

    Please ,please,please,let someone know if you get numbness in your Toes or the end of your fingers.I finished taxol  Nov.26,2013....and started with the numbness and tingleing in my fingers,and toes,and ive still got it.Everything else is ok...finished radiation,2 weeks ago.Another thing ,if you can get an  American Cancer Society toll free number,call for a class on Look Good,Feel Better class.I went to one last week ,and they were so helpful on makeup,and etc.Really made me feel good.Now i know the meaning of being a survivor!!!!!!!

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  • PatinMN
    PatinMN Member Posts: 920
    edited March 2014

    Deblc, I didn't have AC, just the taxol + Herceptin, so I was starting from a better place than those of you who had AC.  I was never really fatigued, just got out of breath easily, particularly when climbing stairs.  I walked 30-40 minutes on the treadmill 3 or 4 times a week - that may have helped me maintain my strength.  For some reason walking was OK, it was stairs that did me in.  I did get weaker as the treatments went on, but eventually I sort of hit a plateau and stopped getting weaker.  I do think that having AC first makes taxol much harder to take.

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  • SyrMom
    SyrMom Member Posts: 862
    edited March 2014

    Finished taxol #18 today.  Little bit discouraged cause my TM didn't drop, the first time since starting taxol.  I'm worried it might be a sign I've built up a resistance again.  Also, my fx foot refuses to heal, been a stress fx there since Oct. - guess the chemo interferes.  I'm not a candidate for surgery.  Bums me out because I love to walk.  Oh, well.

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  • alycallie
    alycallie Member Posts: 32
    edited March 2014

    Hello everyone! I am a chemo newbie. I had my 2nd Taxol treatment on Monday. I will be receiving a total of 12 weekly treatments. Then 4 doses of FEC. In reading everyone's posts, it seems as if most of you had a different treatment before taxol. I haven't experienced any major side effects. Just some minor fatigue and diarrhea. I can't sleep well and don't have much appetite. Nothing too bad! I had a dose of benadryl with my first treatment but not with the second. Not sure why. I haven't seen any changes in my hair besides my scalp being a little itchy... Thank you to everyone's posts. I've learned a lot and enjoy reading them.

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  • Nicole32
    Nicole32 Member Posts: 21
    edited March 2014

    Hey girls.  I need some advice.  Have any of you received Neupogen shots with Taxol.  My neurophil count keeps dropping and I have to keep pushing my treatments back.  Ive had to do this twice already and Ive only had 3 Taxol treatments.  I went yesterday and my neutrophil count was better but still very low.  They gave me a treatment anyways but now I have to do Neupogen shots 3 days a week to keep my counts up so I can finish with my treatments.  Have any of you needed to get Neupogen shots?  If so, what were the side effects?  I want to do anything I can so that I can get through treatment, but now Im worried of the side effects of the shots on top of the taxol. 

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  • Deblc
    Deblc Member Posts: 479
    edited March 2014

    Hi Nicole32. I didn't get neupogen on taxol, but I had it when I was doing the AC. I got shots for the 7 days after each of 4 AC treatments, and of those 28 days, I had maybe one or two days where I had pain in my back and leg, which was easily treated with Tylenol. I did start taking Claritin in the beginning, as I had read that that helps with any pain. But after the first few days, I didn't take anything at all and had no problems whatsoever.

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  • Septmom
    Septmom Member Posts: 150
    edited March 2014

    Nicole,

    Last week my neutrophil counts dropped last week and had to take a neupogen shot 24h before my taxol. I had blood work done before starting taxol and my counts went up significantly. That was taxol #8. I get weekly taxols on Fridays.  Now this week I had blood work done Monday to check my counts and it dropped low again. I had the neupogen shot on Wednesday and Thursday and it still didn't go up above 1.0.   My MO cancelled my taxol for this week. I got a third shot on Friday afternoon to see if my counts go up. I go for blood work on Monday morning to see if 3 shots helped it go up. I have been getting fevers on and off and am on antibiotics for a week. I had no problem with counts until now. My haemoglobin also dropped this week. It was a bit low to begin with. I am trying to eat a lot of iron rich foods to avoid getting an transfusion. The neupogen shots aren't bad. I felt a bit achy in my lower back and legs but nothing unbearable. It's nothing like the neulasta shots I had with AC.

    Good luck to you. Hope we both get our counts up and stay on track.  

    Septmom

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  • Deblc
    Deblc Member Posts: 479
    edited March 2014

    Finished  #3 Taxol/Herceptin and my RBC is holding up. No numbness or tingling, but my fingers/ hands are really shriveled and dry all the time, like when your hands are in water for a long time....anybody else have this? My MO says just to moisturize a lot, but it doesn't help. Also, is anybody having more pain with their port as time went on? In the beginning I had no problems at all, but now I notice a dull ache a lot more often.

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  • patsback
    patsback Member Posts: 40
    edited March 2014

    I go for #10 this week (had to miss last week due to blizzard...ugh).. having more pain as I go on, and I have also noticed that the port is more "tender" or "sore" compared to when I first got it.  

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  • mareluna
    mareluna Member Posts: 282
    edited March 2014

    Deblc I have that problem with my finger and toes plus neuropathy. Good description of it. Never could describe it. Had it ever since taxol. I finished it in Dec. 2012. No sign of going away.

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  • Deblc
    Deblc Member Posts: 479
    edited March 2014

    Hi Patsback, sorry to hear you are having more pain. Do you take anything for it? Also has your doctor said anything about doing something about the pain from the port, or do we just have to live with it?

    Oh No Mareluna, I am not happy to hear that. Is there anything you did to help moisturizer the hands/fingers? I am constantly putting lotion on it but it doesn't help much. My MO says this is not a reason to adjust the taxol, she is more concerned if I develop numbness, but I feel that this is a precursor.

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  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited March 2014

    Deblc I had that, long shriveled wrinkles in fingers. I am a few weeks post Taxol & fingers have filled out.

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  • Ejjtmurr
    Ejjtmurr Member Posts: 6
    edited March 2014

    I start weekly taxol tomorrow. I'm anxious and just want to know what to expect. I had ac first, like many of you. I have 2 kids and a husband who works nights, so is not able to help much. I know everyone is different, but will I still be able to get my kids to/ from school, practices and games? With ac I could sometimes, others not. I'm really nervous. Any advice I could get will be super! Thank you for help. 

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  • Mersee
    Mersee Member Posts: 35
    edited March 2014

    Hi Allycallie~ Welcome...I am fairly new here too but just had my 8th taxol treatment. It has gone rather quickly but I am hoping it goes even quicker to #12! Thankfully my side effects have been minor or what I consider minor. I believe the decadron, a corticosteroid kept me from getting a good night sleep but my dose has decreased to 4 mg which has been helpful. I do get sweaty at night which for me is the worse because I love to bundle under blankets at night.Good luck to you : ) 

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  • Mersee
    Mersee Member Posts: 35
    edited March 2014

    Hi Ejjtmurr~I just had my 8th taxol treatment on Friday. I also had AC first. I consider myself very lucky and I am so thankful to have handled AC fairly well, and I am doing even better on the Taxol, but as you read this forum, everyone reacts differently. My MO and the nurses in infusion all told me that Taxol is generally tolerated better, but they always follow up with "but everyone can have different experiences". I have all my treatments on Friday, this way I had the weekend to chill. They started me with a fairly high dose of Benadryl and Decadron in the beginning but have decreased with each treatment since I had no reactions.

    Good luck to you, and I will be praying for you.

    Maria

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  • Deblc
    Deblc Member Posts: 479
    edited March 2014

    Hi VintageGal...was there any cream or lotion you could use to relieve the dryness?

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  • Ejjtmurr
    Ejjtmurr Member Posts: 6
    edited March 2014

    thanks mersee. The only problems I had with ac were fatigue and low white counts. A couple times my red went low but not enough to transfuse. I took my meds and had little nausea. I'm hoping to be more functional on taxol. 

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  • MaryFox
    MaryFox Member Posts: 121
    edited March 2014

    Anyone else not hungry?? 

    I'm two weeks PFC and I can't remember the last time I felt hungry.  This is a relatively recent issue. My taste buds went dormant during chemo so I didn't eat much anyway but I'd sometimes get hungry, but now I'm eating even less and I eat only because it is time to eat. 

    Anybody got any clues???

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  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited March 2014

    Deblc

     no hand creams I had seemed to help. My hubby swears ob O'Keefe's for his terribly chapped cracked work hands.

    I just had to wait it out, Taxol seemed to suck all moisture out of my body.And then did a number on my nails too.

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  • Joma
    Joma Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2014

    Hello everyone. I have one question if someone can help me. I am sorry if my english is not so good. My mom is on her 15th taxol, doctors planned to give her one more. Last one she had 2 weeks ago. After her 3rd Taxol therapy she noticed tingling and burning in her feet, but after some time has passed her symptoms always disappeared. After her last Taxol, she was feeling the way she felt after every chemo, but approximately 8 days after, her feet were getting worse, every day, her legs under knees were cold and felt tingling and burning. Now, 2 weeks later she is in her bed and can not move her legs, especially her left one. There are some times when she succeeds in moving her legs, but she is now practically paralyzed. Her urine smells terribly. In 2 days she will have some test in hospital, I was just wondering if someone heard of this symptoms, I know that these are neuropathy symptoms, but i have never heard that someone became practically paralyzed. Thanks

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  • Deblc
    Deblc Member Posts: 479
    edited March 2014

    Joma this sounds very serious, what is her doctor saying? Seems to me that this is an emergency situation.  If it were me I would go to Emergency or be insisting that I be admitted to the hospital immediately to find out what is wrong. Again what is her doctor saying? My doctor has told me to advise immediately of any neuropathy symptoms which they have to monitor very carefully.

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  • Joma
    Joma Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2014

    She was in hospital 2 day ago and thay made some tests to see if she had something wrong with her spine, some fracture or something, because 2 years ago she had fracture because of methastasis, but everything seemed ok. They asked if she wants to stay in the hospital, but said no furthermore test will be made until tuesday, so she can go home and return on Tuesday, when her neurologist will make all tests needed. Our hands are tied, we can just wait- Have you ever heard of someone having such serious symptoms?

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  • Deblc
    Deblc Member Posts: 479
    edited March 2014

    Joma, I have never heard of paralysis from taxol, only that numbness can be permanent. I am so very sorry to hear about your mother, sending prayers your way.

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  • Joma
    Joma Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2014

    Thank you for your support.Wish you all the best

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  • Septmom
    Septmom Member Posts: 150
    edited March 2014

    Hello, I am scheduled to have taxol 9 this Friday if all goes well with my counts. Finally after 3 shots of neupogen my counts have gone up and my haemoglobin went up so I avoided a transfusion. I just feel so fatigued. I have a good appetite but just even going up the stairs makes me tired. The first few weeks of taxol weren't as bad as this. Is there anything I can do for the fatigue? Is it going to get worse the next few weeks. I have 4 more taxols left and at times I wonder how I am going to get through them. 12 weekly is quite rough. I feel the body gets no time to recover. I guess I am just venting. Was wondering if anyone had anything to share how they over came the fatigue.  Thanks !

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  • ShazzaKelly
    ShazzaKelly Member Posts: 909
    edited March 2014

    hi Septmom thefatigue with taxol can be quite overwhelming. I know some of the girls are prescribed Ritalin for their fatigue. I haven't tried that myself. I'm still working 5 days and go in after my taxol on Tuesday but find Thursday and Friday hard work. I'm trying to organise Thursdays off as a recovery day. Otherwise I just accept I can't do all the things I used to and try and take things easy. I've had 27 weekly taxols and will likely continue on for at least another 12. Can't imagine how I will be feeling by then. 

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  • mrsparsley
    mrsparsley Member Posts: 20
    edited March 2014

    Septmom....I  get number 8 tomorrow. By thursday afternoon I am beat. I only work 3 days a week now bc of the fatigue and pain. The pain is bearable but I deal with the  public and well I'm sure you know that its hard to be nice all the time when you don't feel good. I used to work full time but just cant do it anymore. Each week for me does get worse. I had done ac every two weeks and did okay with it. I would usually go home early on friday and recover ove thw weekend, then have a week off before another treatment. I also have xanax to sleep, bc I just dont anymore. I have noticed that even when I feel bad  I I get outside, if its nice, and move around I sleep better and feel better the next day. My honest opinion,  if the weather would stay nice I think id  feel better even on bad days.

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  • mercedes60
    mercedes60 Member Posts: 171
    edited March 2014

    hi guys, well I'm almost 4 weeks post chemo and feeling better a little more energy, i feel better, however, i still have muscle weakness in my legs so i do excercises every day to strengthen. My surgery date us April 22nd it was decided that i will have a mastectomy and no plans for recon yet. 

    Joma, so sorry for your Mom, this is not normal side effects, taxol is very hard on the muscles and joints, i had a hard time after #9,10,11 and 12 very tired sore legs, itchy burning skin, but no paralyses. 

    Maryfox, i don't get hungry either, but my taste buds are coming back thk god and i am gladly eating stuff i couldn't before i actually gained a few pounds Oops! Had to buy some new jeans that fit last weekend. All my other ones were too snug. LOL.......don't worry it takes at least a month fir all chemo a d steroids from decadron to leave your systems so its normal that our appetites etc. are screwed up. 

    Septmom. Not much you can do for fatigue, remember taxol is accumulating in your system just eat well and rest, rest your body needs it.

    Take care. Cheryl

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