Weekly Taxol for Stage 4

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  • brigadoonbenson
    brigadoonbenson Member Posts: 412
    edited September 2014

    Yes, that is part of 140 acres we own with our sons.  Each of us has our own 12 acres and the shared land includes 1600 ft on Lake Champlain.   

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  • ShazzaKelly
    ShazzaKelly Member Posts: 909
    edited September 2014

    image

    This photos from last weekends girls trip away. We were fortunate enough to get a fine day.

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  • brigadoonbenson
    brigadoonbenson Member Posts: 412
    edited September 2014

    Shazza - Beautiful.  That water is gorgeous!

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  • skylotus
    skylotus Member Posts: 304
    edited September 2014

    Hi Ladies, I'm only a week in on the Taxol/Xeloda combo, and was feeling fine, until the nausea hit last night. I have the anti-nausea meds, just took one, and am waiting for it to kick in. I've read your posts and am prepared for all the other side effects, ie., bought a few buffs, udder cream and sheepskin slippers. I start radiation for my rt femur on Mon, followed by round 2 of Taxol, so I am going in my pajamas for both. Seems like a lot of toxicity all at once. So, I'm going to take it easy and lay low for a couple of weeks and just rest. I found B12 drops on Amazon, methylcobalamin is what you want to search for. The other is a cheap imitation of B12, cinco something it is called. Don't get that one. Hope everyone is doing well and hanging in there.

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited September 2014

    brigadoon and shazza. Great pictures. Fun to see where people are living and landscape. 

    Sky. It does seem like a lot of toxic but the tx will kill all they cancer. Sorry you were nauseous.  Ginger tea or ginger ale might help that. 

    My hair is coming in White/gray. Normal is brown. Fell out after 2 taxol and now growing even though stop on 3 weeks on 1 week off. Till December. No eye lashes and brows are scarce. I think it is weird my hair is coming in while on taxol. Lol. 

    Everyone take care. We finally dropped from the 100's to 90's. The desert is miserable in the summer but you can't beat our winters. Have a good weekend , rest and feel good. 

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  • ShazzaKelly
    ShazzaKelly Member Posts: 909
    edited September 2014

    Well the results are in. Drum roll please.... im still stable.  Another 12 weeks of Taxol and then more scans. So pleased I'm doing the happy dance. 

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited September 2014

    Shazza. Such great news. Woot. 💃💃. 

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  • brigadoonbenson
    brigadoonbenson Member Posts: 412
    edited September 2014

    Shazza-Great news!  Keep trailblazing.

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  • smiley47
    smiley47 Member Posts: 215
    edited September 2014

    Great news ShazzaKelly, you can now relax. I hate scans and the waiting for the results, I just got my results after going off taxol for 12 weeks break I had progression but taxol has diminished everything, so I will be on taxol for the duration. I still can't believe this is where I am at my age but my cancer is no longer responding to hormonals and chemo works.

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  • ADJ
    ADJ Member Posts: 226
    edited September 2014

    teach me about xeloda.

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  • SyrMom
    SyrMom Member Posts: 862
    edited September 2014

    Shazza ... soooo happy for you!!  Go girl!!Smile

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  • benjnate
    benjnate Member Posts: 174
    edited September 2014

    Shazza - so happy for you, Congrats!

    ADJ - I was on Xeloda for a year, are you going on it now?  I'm glad you're home from hospital and resting easy.  Xeloda takes a week or two to set up with a 'specialized' pharmacy so enjoy the break.  You should feel better except the hand/foot syndrome and you'll adjust to that too.  No worries, just lots of pills to take everyday as opposed to just 1 pill.  Any specific questions you have?

    Laura

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  • Aoibheann
    Aoibheann Member Posts: 555
    edited September 2014

    Great news, Shazza, delighted for you. Hugs xx

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  • ShazzaKelly
    ShazzaKelly Member Posts: 909
    edited September 2014

    I started cycle 18 yesterday infusion 52. I had a new chemo nurse yesterday who couldn't quite believe that number. 

    ADJ I'm afraid I'm no help with Xeloda  I had an extreme reaction to it only reported in 5 other cases world wide and only took it for 4 days. 

    Hope everyone is going well whatever treatment they are on. 

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  • Wilsie2
    Wilsie2 Member Posts: 441
    edited September 2014

    I am starting Taxol on Monday, after progression on Faslodex. My  onc says it is similar to Abraxane, which I had good results with three years ago.  She did not mention xeloda , it that a common combination?  

    New progression shows liver mets and spinal mets.  I hate this stupid disease!  My retirement date is tomorrow, and I don't even feel like celebrating. I guess cancer gets to be my focus again. But I am thankful that there are  so many new treatments available.  I will be popping in to see toy guys now!

    Wilsie

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  • benjnate
    benjnate Member Posts: 174
    edited October 2014

    Wilsie - Welcome to our site, and you'll see that we have kind of mixed in Xeloda comments with Taxol as we couldn't part with our friends that went on to Xeloda. But NO, it is not a combination.  And yes, you do have many other treatments to go.  Taxol will really take care of the liver mets (which I have) and also the bone mets too - which I also have.  My bone mets were literally gone in 3 months, some left in liver, as I started Taxol in June 2014.  Wishing you the same good luck!  

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited October 2014

    Laura

    Welcome to taxol group. This chemo is working for me at the moment. Today i begin cycle 4 (#10) ; will go up to middle of December. My TM dropped 250 pts in two cycles and I avoided nasty kidney stents. Taxol cleared out some of the cancer surround ureters very quickly. Woot. Weird my hair on head stopped falling out by no eye lashes or eyebrows. 

    I pray this drug continues to work for all of us. 

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  • brigadoonbenson
    brigadoonbenson Member Posts: 412
    edited October 2014

    You gals have been busy! I have a lot of catching up to do.   I have had company and then fall family things, i.e. apple picking, packing up outside, planting iris. We are going on a foliage road trip today but took some pictures from our deck this morning I thought you might enjoy.  Love the sun progressing across the field.  We are having a spectacular foliage season.

    image

    image

    image

    image

     

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  • Wilsie2
    Wilsie2 Member Posts: 441
    edited October 2014

    Beautiful pictures.  We probably will not see color changes here for another 2-3 weeks  I am welcoming cool weather. Wilsie

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited October 2014

    We are looking for personal stories from our amazing members who are willing to share their experiences on being diagnosed with a recurrence or metastatic breast cancer, and would love some of them on the site by October 13, for MBC Awareness Day. What has helped you get through the initial shock, and make treatment decisions that feel right for you? What are some of your special and challenging moments, and strengths that could help to guide others. What has helped you when you feel anxious, uncertain, or overwhelmed? How has your diagnosis affected therelationships in your life? What words of inspiration would you offer others who are going through this journey, or have just been diagnosed with a recurrence or metastatic breast cancer? Please also provide your age, country where you live, and a high-quality image of you or something that represents you. We'll have a section of your stories in this section: http://www.breastcancer.org/community/acknowledgi..

    Thank you so much for sharing.

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  • springwatch
    springwatch Member Posts: 548
    edited October 2014

    Hi all, 

    Just popped in to say hello. I have had my family here for the last week and every moment I have had to myself, not that there were many, I have been napping or simply vegging out on the sofa. I will try and catch up with everyone's news in the next day or two but in the mean time I hope everyone is doing well. 

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  • skylotus
    skylotus Member Posts: 304
    edited October 2014

    @ Benjnate, I am on Taxol AND Xeloda, having started both on the 22nd of Sept, just finished one cycle, and it was no fun. I'm also getting radiation to my right femur for one more week.  I've had a lot of progression, so I think Doc is throwing the pantry at me.....

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  • springwatch
    springwatch Member Posts: 548
    edited October 2014

    It is 54ºF here and pouring with rain. I turned the heating on yesterday for the first time in months and I feel like I have a good excuse to curl up with a cosy throw and catch up. 

    skylotus, How are you coping with the Xeloda/ taxol combo? I think it would be too much for me to handle. I coped with taxol and am now coping with Xeloda, but add the two together and I don't think I could handle all that 'fun' at once. I had radiation to my left femur back in April and developed lymphedema in Aug from the rads. Keep your eyes open for any suspicious swelling. The quicker you get on top of it, the better the results from treatment. 

    Brigadoon, I am so jealous of the views from your deck. Keep the pictures coming. They are stunning. 

    Diana, My last taxol was on the 11 Sep. My hair is growing back (everywhere) and I have the beginnings of some eyebrows again, but still no eyelashes. My hair started growing back on taxol but it wasn't until I stopped it that my eyebrows started to reappear. 

    Wilsie, Welcome. I am one of those which may be causing confusion as I started on taxol and have recently moved to Xeloda after progression to my liver. I am still hanging around here as I feel this board is my 'home'. Good luck with the taxol. It is a very doable chemo and I wish it had lasted longer for me. 

    Shazza, Congrats on your clean scans and getting a year plus out of taxol. I hope it continues to work well for you.

    Aoibheann, I am pleased you checked in with us. I was wondering how you were and how you were doing with your pain management. 

    Anita, I see you are starting Xeloda. I guess that means you have recovered after your recent stay in hospital. I have only had one cycle of Xeloda so far but didn't find it too difficult. Some fatigue and loss of appetite due to mild nausea. No evidence of HFS, yet. I am still dealing with neuropathy from the taxol and am hoping it will clear up soon. I have some in the fingertips of my left hand and my right big toe is still effected by it. It is worst in the lower part of my left foot. It has gone from numb to pins and needles, which I hope means it is heading in the right direction. 

    Sorry if I missed anyone. 

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  • benjnate
    benjnate Member Posts: 174
    edited October 2014

    @Skylotus - Forgive me, I didn't realize Taxol and Xeloda were doable together!  A lesson learned, I should investigate further before speaking (writing!)  And radiation thrown in on top - wow.  Please take it easy and be gentle with yourself.  I hope this is the combination that gets you back on track.

    Hey Brigadoon - What I love about the photos is that your home is on top of a mountain?  As the views are always looking down and out and just so beautiful.  How do you get any work done?!  I wouldn't be able to stop gazing...

    For me, I completed my 19th Taxol session last Friday and for the first time was quite ill over the weekend.  I think I overdid it with the fruits/veggies/fiber trying to avoid severe constipation.  I'm starting to think popping a daily laxative pill is the gentler way to go.  My tumor markers went up 1 point, and I almost had a meltdown right at the nurses station! They said that is just a human error as markers are in a general range.  All I could think of was that once markers start climbing, they don't come back down.  Someone please tell me that their markers went up and then came back down.  I can't believe I flipped over 1 stupid point, but was caught in a weak moment, I guess.  Crazy steroids have my emotions all over the place.

    Have a good week, everyone.

    Laura 

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited October 2014

    Laura

    My TM went up 80 points the second cycle of taxol BUT then dropped 250 the next cycle. I get TM the beginning if each cycle.  I think they can move around a little till the chemo settles in. I will get my next TM end of October. Thinking they are still going down. Apparently once taxol starts it kill mode the marker can initially elevate but once the chemo settles in and if it is working you should see a drop of TM. 

    My # 11taxol is this coming Wednesday. My hair is thin and looks like duck feathers. Just call me duck head. 

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  • benjnate
    benjnate Member Posts: 174
    edited October 2014

    Thank you Diana, I feel better.  I sometimes feel like I handle the big bad news much better than the minor stuff...

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  • Wilsie2
    Wilsie2 Member Posts: 441
    edited October 2014

    In the chair, waiting for my first taxol treatment .  Looking forward to kicking cancer's butt! 

    Wilsie

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  • ShazzaKelly
    ShazzaKelly Member Posts: 909
    edited October 2014

    Wilsie I'm in the chair waiting for number 53. Hope you get as many as me. I love taxol its treated me pretty well hardly any SEs 

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  • ADJ
    ADJ Member Posts: 226
    edited October 2014

    spring, 

    just to let you know that I am not doing xeloda nor any other chemo now, went back to AI's aromasin/exemestane,  as  I don't  have any active disease. Still stage 4, with bone, neuropathy, lymphadema, issues, peeking in for advice.

    Love across the miles,

    Anita

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  • Wilsie2
    Wilsie2 Member Posts: 441
    edited October 2014

    Shazza I would love to have 52 more treatments!  I had abraxane two years ago and did really well  Willing to be bald forever if this works!  Wilsie

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