Taxol Side Effects?

Options
whippetiggy
whippetiggy Member Posts: 49
edited December 2017 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

I'm on Week 6 of 12 Taxols. I get Dexamethasone before the Taxol. I have chemo brain, neuropathy, severe weight gain, ankle swelling in both ankles and extreme fatigue. The night of chemo I get jittery, sweaty and heart palpitations which I understand is from the steroid. Does anyone else experience any of these symptoms with Taxol?

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Pipandor
    Pipandor Member Posts: 157
    edited February 2017

    Hi Whippetiggy. I had palpitations after my first infusion of Taxol, probably because of the steroids, but not after the following ones. If it persists, I would certainly mention it to your oncologist. I got used to not sleeping much the first two nights after the weekly infusions, and always planned to have plenty to read and watched Netflix. I also started to gain weight because the steroids actually increased my appetite but controlled weight gain by watching what I ate and by walking an hour every day. It's counterintuitive, but some exercise really helps you get through chemo. I iced hands and feet during taxol infusions and compared to the ladies who didn't I had less neuropathy and kept all my nails. Hope some of that can help you make it through treatment.


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited February 2017

    Whippetiggy - Did you join a current chemo thread? I found the best information came from people going through the same thing at the same time I was. You cld read the thread for the group before (like maybe winter 2016 or january chemo) and then jump in with whatever group is about where you are.

    I did taxotere, but had all the same side effects except weight gain. I had severe diarrhea and lost 60 lbs that I couldn't afford to lose.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • whippetiggy
    whippetiggy Member Posts: 49
    edited February 2017

    I'm on one thread - Starting chemo Nov 2016. I didn't see anything there specific to my Taxol questions. I'm told the Dex put all this awful weight on. I feel terrible but I think it's because I'm carrying so much extra weight!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bravepoint
    bravepoint Member Posts: 404
    edited February 2017

    whippetiggy - Another great thread is the weekly Taxol thread. I just finished week 9 of 12. I only 8mg of dexamethasone and SEs have been minimal. I get achy in my hips and back on day 2 and 3 post chemo. Extreme fatigue all of the time too. I find the night of treatment that I can't sleep and also have night sweats.

    Gail

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • whippetiggy
    whippetiggy Member Posts: 49
    edited February 2017

    bravepoint - that sounds like me. I'm going to ask if I can get the steroids cut back this week. I almost think they make me feel worse than the actual Taxol. Now I'm going to try to find the weekly Taxol group. I didn't know there was such a thing. Thanks!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited February 2017

    whippetiggy - a lung cancer patient made a suggestion about how he handled steriods. I wanted to take them because I got through everything with not even a twinge of nausea. Anyway, I was prescribed 2 pills the day before chemo, 2 pills the day of chemo and 2 pills the day after chemo. This friend suggested that the day after I take only one and then take the last one the fourth day. I checked with my MO and he said sure. It was a game changer - no huge crash, just a gradual increase of fatigue. Much easier to handle.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • janetlane
    janetlane Member Posts: 5
    edited March 2017

    Is there anyone out there that has neuropathy after taxol treatment? I finished the chemo about 2 months ago and suffer from it very badly. I cannot be on my feet very long before they ache. Thanks so much for your input. Janetlane


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • joaniekat
    joaniekat Member Posts: 3
    edited May 2017

    I had side effects from taking dexamethasone. with Taxol. It really caused me to become anxious and could not sit still. What added to it was the benydril given with the steriods and taxol. I will be having my 2nd tx. on 5/23 and will have abraxane instead of taxol and without the steriods. After 5/23 I will have 4 txs. left. I have had some neuropathy in feet and finger tips but not bad, leg aches and body aches, and some nausea. But it subsided after 4 days and probably until my next tx. joaniekat

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Pipandor
    Pipandor Member Posts: 157
    edited May 2017

    Janet, I too had very sore feet after Taxol. It took several months, but it did get better.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Diagnosisbreastcancer
    Diagnosisbreastcancer Member Posts: 10
    edited June 2017

    I'm on week 8 of taxol; they had to hold 2 weeks of treatment due to neuropathy that was getting worse in my hands and feet. I'm regaining some function of my fingers/thumbs and my feet are not as sore now- after the 2 weeks off, we re-started taxol at a reduced dose. I can't garden now (it hurts for days after I pull up weeds) and am walking just 20 minutes/day (vs. earlier in chemo treatment during AC and then with taxol & Herceptin, I walked over an hour/day with my beagle mix rescue dog).

    Yesterday my oncologist told me that a patient of his with neuropathy swears by Lipoic Acid; that has really helped her and her neuropathy was due to taxol. I bought some and will start taking it today. The person at the health food store selling Lipoic Acid ($20 for 60 capsules) said it often takes 1-2 months for it to help with neuropathy. Worth a try...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited June 2017

    I would suggest you see a neurologist. Neuropathy is definitely a side effect of Taxotere & Taxol. My neurologist told me in might get "better" in two years. The problem is the definition of the word "better". She said I might see some improvement (better) but would likely would never get back to where I was before BC. Check out some of the long running neuropathy threads on BCO.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Nhlady
    Nhlady Member Posts: 2
    edited December 2017

    Thank you for your advice!!! How did the hair loss go? Hugs

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories