Minimum and maximum Taxol treatments ?

Don’t know minimum for sure but we used it in 3 Round sets before rescanning so I’m guessing three. Max I was told was around two years but obviously that depends on how your body does with it and how it works on your cancer

I haven't had Taxol in the MBC setting yet but it's my next drug so I've looked into it.

At my center the normal cycle is three weeks on one week off, though a friend got it down to two weeks on two weeks off. I hadn't heard that there was a maximum number of cycles. This is not Adriamycin for which there IS a maximum number of doses. It's "as long as it works or as long as you can tolerate it"

Can you ask the nurses for explanations? Your cancer center probably has a protocol around this. Normally patients start on the protocol then change if there is need. It's a bummer you can't talk with your MO, but I've found that nurses know more about the practical matters anyway.

DId you stop in to the Weekly Taxol thread? They may be able to answer your questions too.

ShazzaKelly - That's great that you taxol was effective for you for 4 years. Were you on a trial for an oral version of taxane? How was the oral taxane from a side effect perspective? Did it appear to work as well or better than IV taxol? I'm currently on Xeloda, but may have to switch soon and am considering options.

What treatment are you on now? I hope that you are a long term responder to many treatments!!

Thanks! Theresa

Lily....I was offered the choice of Zeloda or Taxol because one breast tumor was going outside my breast to give me skin cancer. Wanting to avoid the chance of ulceration the ONC offered the following The tx was to be for just 3mos at 3on/1off.  ( I also have bone mets and a multiple small lung nodules, and cancer in the axillary node)  I was told after three mos.  I was to back on an anti-hormonal.

Well, at my three mo. scans I had fairly good results.   The skin cancer is still there but no more spreading. My breast tumor is less than half it's original size and the same for the axillary node tumor.  MOST of my lung nodules have been resolved and the rest are considerably smaller.  

Good news huh?    Well, there's a twist.  Taxol did nothing for my bone mets.  THe one's I had grew and there are now a couple new spots.  My ONC said chemo mostly does nothing for bone mets and wants me to see what radiation will do for me.

Oh, and the other thing which makes me upset (even though I know it's prob. for the best)  My ONC refuses to honor the 3mos only,  He keeps siting Standard of Care, if a treatment is working you stayon it.    The thing is the taxol has given me severe depression.  I've been on Zoloft for this for over 20 yrs,  but this depression was different.  Deep, dark, unrelenting.  I didn't even care of trying the tricks I've learned to help myself.  Dying didn't seem that bad a deal. (not suicidal, Faith way too strong for that)

Told ONC I could not stay on taxol   So he offered me a deal for 2/3mos (Gosh, I hate deals)    First, cut back on steroids because they''ve been known to cause depression. Second, he offered to cut dose by 20%.   Third he offered for me to try every other week chemo.   

So, I chose cutting the steroids, and every other week chemo.   He also put me on Trazodone, which is an anti-depressant but, in small doses helps you to sleep.  I was waking  up with panic attacks.  And I hadn't done that in years.   

Sorry for the long answer.  I talked way more than what you asked about Tily.   My excuse is chemo this am. Steriod high, and who else is up at 3am? to talk with.

But, time to go try to get some sleep.  MRI scheduled for tomorrow. 

Thanks for asking Lily, the session itself went well. I had it at a different treatment center and it was a totally different experience.  Very much easier.  Tomorrow, I go in and find out what the results are.  Luckily,, I don't have to wait for results.   HUGS