Weekly Taxol group

home mom, I had a cough this past week...deep in my chest, coupled with an overall stuffy head.  My MO put me on an antibiotic and I also tool plain Mucinex.  It did. to supers the cough, it helped me get it all out.  Maybe a different kind of cough?  I also sucked on ricolas and cherry ludens and drank a LOT of water/tea.

I'll have to check it out. I don't think anything special happens where I am getting treatment. I don't even see that bell a lot of places have that you can ring when you're finished with your last treatment. This week is 2 of 4.

HomeMom, I had a cough through out chemo too. It's gotten better now but I think it was from sinus congestion which I had that varied in strength. Had and still have the stupid snoring.

Hi, I just finished weekly taxol number 3 on Tuesday.  I'm finding taxol much easier than AC, but am easily fatigued if I try to do too much.  I have developed a hypersensitivity rash on my arms and legs, not pretty for shorts and t-shirt weather, oh well, pants it is.  I have a prescription cortisone cream.  Has anyone else developed a blotchy, itchy,kind of scaley rash?  If so did you find anything that worked to reduce or get rid of it? I need help and can't get into see the dermatologist for two weeks. My primary care doc prescribed the cortisone.

About the cough and allergies, I had them too.  My MO allows me to take otc zyrtec and prescription flonase nasal spray.  Controlling the allergies really helped to get rid of my cough.

Jenwith4kids- congratulations!!! Love your head covering! I finished on Monday. Such a relief! No bell, or piece or jewelry or anything for final chemo where I go. 

Ladies- was wondering for those taking L-glutamine, what dosage are you taking? Also, has anyone developed skin discoloration on that back of your hands? (Not the palm side). I have what looks like really, really bad sun damage or sun spots but my MO and nurses say its discoloration from the Taxol (similar to what happens to the nails). They said it might go away but takes a long, long time. It looks horrible. 

Thanks linzer, I will try adding benadryl to the mix today, and hopefully this rash will subside. 

Congratulations to those finishing!

What do people take L-glutamine for? Neuropathy?  I am on b12 and b6...

I'm sorry about your spots, CMP.  I feel for you, I am battling rash spots up and down my arms and legs, on my hands too.  I wonder if the lotions for fading spots and evening skin tone could work on your hands?

HomeMom, you can probably take Claritin. I did. I had bloody noses too.

Cmp106, yep the discoloration is a normal Taxol side effect. Sorry! As to the L-Glutamine, most ladies take 30mg and take it in 10mg doses, 3 times a day.

I take the glutamine for neuropathy and as a pleasant "side effect" it has allowed me to not have to take Immodium - yahoo! I think each powder probably has its own dose that equals mgs. The one I take (Pure Encapsulations brand) is 3 grams per tsp. so I have to take 10 tsps. a day to get to 30 grams. I average about 8 tsps. a day, some days I chug down the 10 tsps. 5 morning / 5 night.

I'm taking the jar I have of glutamine with me tomorrow to treatment so they can figure it out. It says on the label that 4,500 mcg (45 mg)equals one heaping tsp and I was told to take 10 mg  3x a day. They told me that 10mg equals one Tbsp, that sounds like it is too much. 

Le sigh....up early tomorrow for round 2.  Get the tylenol extra strength ready!

Slept for 30 min in the chair today and I'm still sleepy. Met a nice woman next to me (Gator fan too!), she has Her2+ so different treatment. She will go on Thursdays to Winter Park for treatments, so I won't see her again.

I had a conversation with my MO about icing. She said if someone wants to do that and it makes them feel better, she will support them. Then she asked me a question. She said, do you think that the chemo is only going through your fingers and toes while you are getting the infusion? She said it flows through your body, including your toes and fingers, for the entire time between treatment. Otherwise you would get chemo everyday. Hmmm, makes sense to me. I asked her if the glutamine and B6 were to offset the neurapathy and she said yes. If I start to feel tingling I will let her know and they will adjust the taxol treatment. It is cumlative so I may not feel it until after the 3rd treatment ( I only get 4). 

Hi everyone - wow I did it - finished with A/C as of yesterday.  Never thought I could get through this.  Didn't have any real problems on A/C - maybe two days that I needed to rest but I sailed through pretty easy.  I am grateful!  Now I am petrified of what Taxol is going to bring - very scared of an allergic reaction.  Any one want to give me some insight - much appreciation!  Hope all of you ladies are doing well!  Thanks, VeraAnn

Thank you so much Briga, I really appreciate your reply! 

Thanks for the feedback on the glutamine. It's still confusing to me (powder vs. capsules) so I'm going to ask at tomorrow's appointment. Tomorrow I will be one week PFC (I still go for Herceptin and Perjeta every 3 weeks). 

My nails are a mess and my fingers hurt so bad. I can handle the discoloration since I know it will eventually grow out but the pain and sensitivity is another story. I've talked to my MO and she said she would prescribe Lyrica or Gabapentin for pain but I'm having a hard time determining if my fingers hurt from neuropathy or from nail changes. The meds will work for neuropathy pain only.  In the past week and a half, my finger nails have started to discolor starting from the tips working its way down towards the base. Does the discoloration mean the nail is dead? If so, are my nails sensitive due to the nail dying or could this be neuropathy? They only really started to hurt when the discoloration started so I don't know what the pain is from (which sounds crazy, I know). It hurts to do things with my hands and if I accidentally bang my hand (nails) it hurts. Also, two nails are lifting- does this mean I will lose them? 

I have some numbness in my feet and toes and just hope this neuropathy resolves itself. For those of you who are PFC and had some neuropathy issues, on average, how long until you noticed some resolution? I knew I wouldn't start to feel great immediately after PFC but I'm struggling with SE's getting worse each day before they get better. 

Hope everyone can enjoy the weekend...

Xrayalli - Go Gators!

I haven't had the first bit of tingling in my fingers or toes. Did you take Glutamine and B6? I've been taking the B6 for about a month now (two weeks before I started Taxol) and the glutamine is mixed with juice 2 times a day for the first five days. Not sure if that is why. I have just two more treatments - Sept 5 is my last one. Funny things - yesterday I decided to look closely at my legs with my reading glasses on and saw I had about an inch of hair! I never lost the hair on my legs apparently.  Then this morning I noticed I am growing eyebrow hair below my eyebrows. I almost have to pluck! I haven't had to pluck my eyebrows in about 4 years!