Weekly Taxol for Stage 4

Hi all, I have had 6 cycles this time, and have previously done taxol in 2009 and 2012. The thing is, I was not at all tired last time, but now, I am shattered and can hardly get out of bed- I am just exhausted. My nails have also gone brown in the middle and they hurt.

Has anyone got advise about the lethergy- it is preventing me looking after my three kids as well as preventing me enjoying my adopted London town- there is too much to do, and I don't want to stay in bed for it all.

I have my last Taxol scheduled for next Tuesday - doing happy dance! Its been a relatively easy ride, hair growing back, nails lifting slightly at the tips, only those that I'd let get a bit long, but no discolouration - am keeping them painted dark. Have gained weight & bar being really ready for a good nights sleep at the end of days 3 & 4, I'm even managing getting back on the treadmill.

Besides a hardness around where the tumour is attached to the skin, its shrunk pretty much down to nothing.

Onc is planning a 3 week break after that next infusion & is still deciding which tabs to put me on. I'll stay on monthly zomedron for now & of course zoladex implants every 3 months.

Really looking forward to that new normal!!

~K.

Thanks everyone. After having a 2 week break (5 weeks from last chemo), I start weekly Taxol tomorrow (2 weeks on 1 week off).  I don't feel as good as I thought I would, Im still having lots of pain and weakness from the Taxotere.  Im a bit frustrated because I thought I would feel better, but maybe its a blessing in disguise since I start again tomorrow lol   I was unexpectantly emotional last night about having to do start again, but I will be strong and go do it.

I hope everyone had a nice long holiday weekend !

that's awesome Karz !

I was given 1 more week off because of side effects of Taxotere. I am starting to feel better finally. Maybe I can be a bit stronger before starting the Taxol on Thursday !

it's been pretty quiet in here. Hope everyone is doing ok. I have been in hospital with a port infection so no chemo for me. I'm home on oral antibiotics. I have my regular scan on Monday so the usual scananxity has started. Hoping for stable again as I have a trip overseas to visit friends in late July.

How is everyone else going?

I'm finding the weekly Taxol to be doable. Its not without its issues but its better than the Taxotere. Im figuring out the pattern of side effects and bad days and so far Ive managed pretty well.  I scheduled my port placement for the wrong week so they will have to search around for a vein to use one more time. I have a brain MRI scheduled for Friday that I'm getting really anxious about. Its "routine" but after having a brain tumor and cancer for that matter, no scan is "routine". 

Shazz I hope your infection is clearing !

Karz after the last infusion I can definitely see the value in eating more than a few bites before infusion. I will definitely eat more from here on out.

Dunes how are you feeling?

hi KT it's you're favourite stalker here. Welcome to the thread. Your first treatment will be quite long as they run the taxol very slowly I think about 3 hours altogether. Once things are running to plan it's about 2 hours long 1 hour for the taxol the rest is premeds and flushes.

Most people find the worse day is 2 days later as you have a big steroid crash. I have chemo on Tuesday and always find Thursday the hardest although since I have had my steroids dropped. They usually give 10 mg of Dex I have 2mg I don't find it so bad.

Nausea is usually not a biggy with taxol. Fatigue would probably be the biggest complaint along with neuropathy and nail problems. I keep my nails painted a dark colour which definitely helps. Haven't really had neuropathy problems but when I did get some a reduction in my Taxol dose did the trick.

Good luck. I have had nearly two years success with taxol and I have heard of people getting 3 years plus.

Kt so far taxol isn't too bad except for the hair loss, nails seem fine. I get my infusion on Fridays. Saturdays are full of energy (steroid) Mondays my hip aches and I take a nice nap. My doctor has me taking alpha-lipoic acid supplements for the neurapathy, have only been taking the supplement for about 2 weeks. Doctor sid it might take as long as 5 weeks to see an effect.The neuropathy is just tingling like my foot went to sleep

Thanks girls

So far so good. The infusion went well, just a wee hiccup with a reaction, but more meds, a break & I was good to go again. I'm taking the domperidone regularly as instructed so no nausea. Hoping that it won't be an issue at all and can stop that, maybe after later infusions.

Do you all take anti nausea stuff just in case or have you been able to drop it?

I slept well without the steroid high prob because of the extra meds during infusion- had trouble keeping my eyes open after dinner. I'm certainly not full of energy right now. So much for getting lots of stuff done! Maybe next time

hello Ladies,

I have even offline for a bit, but have done the occasional "stealth reading" here to check up on everyone! I am doing ok, hair still holding but thinning. Still have energy and working full time, so no complaints. Did my liver biopsy for signs of receptor change on June 5, still waiting on results- that said, I haven't had an appoint since last week when we didn't have results yet. I have my first Taxol CT Scan on the 22 nd so fingers crossed that it is helping.

My thoughts are with you all, keep keeping on!

Maureen

I hope you get your results soon Maureen, and get good news re the scan when that's done.

Hoping for good results for you too on your brain scan Laura. Sounds like you're going to be busy.

I'm off to the beach for a weekend break with family this afternoon. I'm looking forward to a change of scene. Unfortunately the weather forecast is not so great, so might not get much walking in. (Definitely no swimming as its winter here!)

Mind you, my energy levels are still quite low, so a quiet weekend is probably good.

Have a good one all

kt

Laura, I wish I could get a handle on the up days and down days, but it continues to baffle me. Thanks for asking how I am. I'm doing ok. Today was not a good day, but I pushed too hard at the gym yesterday. I won't be doing that again, hopefully. I'm nervous about my onc appointment Wednesday. I'll find out whether or not this treatment is working and wha twe do next if it isn't working. Pleeeeeze don't let my TM go up.

Hello ladies,

Thanks Lauralind, it is a loong wait, I have a CT Scan on the 22nd, will probably get both results at my appt on 30th. The doctor did contact me and let me know that they got a good sample and confirmed breast cancer (in liver), but not if receptors have changed (I am strongly ER+ HER2-) so not sure what to wish for...I guess HER2+ would give me a few options. Good luck on the move too!

kt- enjoy your your time away!

Shazza- great news! 2 years that's a goal!

Dunesleeper, I hope you get great news too. Praying! i had an achy, flu-ish day yesterday and I am sure I pushed too much as well. We need to learn to listen to the signs, I guess.

Karz and NYC thanks for the info and updates- it really helps to hear how everyone is doing on taxol!

Take care, wishing everyone peace of mind for as long as possible!

Maureen

it was nice to see you at chemo today KT it really is a small world.

After over 80 infusions I finally had one in my hand as my port is out of action for one more week. I didn't enjoy it at all. My veins are terrible. One blew during the infusion and I'm still sore and bruised. I don't know how people without ports cope.

Great news Laura. Hopefully there will be good news for everyone else waiting too.

Hi all

I've had 3 taxol's now. Hopefully different premeds next time so I can drive myself to & from treatment, tho my daughter is still keen to come with me

(It's nice when teenagers suddenly grow up & like to help!)

I was just wondering did you all lose your hair on this? Wondering if it's a slightly smaller dose than for earlier stage BC?

No sign of hair loss for me, although the hair on the back of my head is hurting at the roots..?!

Thanks for any response! Hope you're all going well- hence the quietness here