Weekly Taxol group

Hi Margun, I have been to restaurants and out in public places with no issues. My white blood cell count has remained pretty good. If my white count goes down I would be more cautious. They check my wbc each week before treatment. You could also make sure to eat food that is completely cooked and avoid anything raw. including salads. But in the long run it is better safe than sorry if you are not comfortable going out and people should understand. You have to do what is best for you.

Debbie

notdefined- the pharmacist told me that they will decrease dosage due to neuropathy if I can not do anymregular things such as button, hold files in my hand or walk in stable manner

Another neuropathy question--

I had my first Taxol treatment last Friday. Had a severe reaction in the middle where my face got hot, my chest felt heavy and I passed out. Woke up surrounded by nurses and drs giving me oxygen and more steroids. I felt better, so they just waited 45 minutes, started back up and finished the bag. The nurse told me my body will just take time to get used to it, but more than likely it won't be a problem. I was icing my fingertips and toes, and being the first one of 12, I wasn't really thinking about neuropathy. Today, however, I have a definite numbness and weird tingly feeling in my forearm, about half of the distance from the inside of my elbow to my wrist. Not sure if this is something I should call the nurse about tomorrow, or if I should wait until my next Taxol appt on Friday. Have any of you had this experience of neuropathy starting somewhere other than your hands or your feet?

BAMR - it could be muscle/bone aches and not neuropathy. I have had flu like symptoms (muscle/bone aches) as a SE. However, if you are worried, I would call.

Kitties - I am also using the Cryomax ice packs. I know that the manufacturer says not to use it without the cover but I wear cotton socks/gloves and slide my feet/hands into the covers. I like what you are doing though and I may have to go with that method

Hey everyone!

BAMR, I also had my first of twelve Taxol treatments on Friday.

I'm using cold socks and cryomax packs, nail strengthener, dark pokish and Brian Joseph's Lash and Brow gel. Hopefully my arsenal will help to combat SE.

My first Taxol treatment and SE have been uneventful. AC took a toll on many of my blood counts. My WBC and hemoglobin seem to be leveling out. Hopefully my RBC and platelets will rebound as well.

Hope we can go through the remaining 11 together! Talked to my friend today, who is an oncologist, about my "neuropathy". He says it sounds like I must have done something to my ulnar nerve. Neuropathy is bilateral, so if it doesn't affect both arms, it shouldn't be a problem right now. He asked if I had been on my computer for several hours. Duh! I've been reading this forum for the last 3 days. Haha! I'm just happy to know it's not from the Taxol.

Margun, I've been avoiding any restaurants and fast food places since starting chemo. If I can't see what their kitchen looks like and be positive that they will store and prep things right, I'm not taking a chance. Some of my favorite local places are little holes in the wall. I'll visit them once my chemo is over and my blood counts are back to normal. It will be a huge treat after 3 months. :-)

Update:

I've had 10/12 of my Taxol/Herceptin infusions as of this past Monday. It feels so good to almost be done. No neuropathy or nausea, thank goodness. I'm more tired though. However, my blood pressure has been all over the place .. from as low as 89/60 in the morning to 170/100, even with my BP medication. This has been so worried, which doesn't help. I've notified the NP and one of the MO's. I'm calling my PCP tomorrow to see what she says.

Margun, I was hospitalized twice for neutropenia while on AC and on Taxol I didn't take any chances. I did not go to social outings, I wore a mask if I had to be in any public places like the drug store (but mostly, someone else did all my shopping and errands and I just went to walk outside in big parks where I wouldn't be close to people). My idea of being risky was having a raw green organic salad on the day I had my lab work if my WBC were ok (they were pretty low throughout though so it was a rare treat). Otherwise, all veggies were steamed or broiled and I was super careful. I didn't want to risk getting sick - ecoli or c. difficile or norwalk could be fatal to someone going through chemo

Digmomrunner how many taxolleft for you? I hope you will finish all with no se. I noticed you are Her2positive as I am but not having Ac. While I am happy you are not getting Ac , called red devil for a reason, do you know why? Perhaps because your tumor is very small

ladies did any of you felt pain in the tumor while on taxol? Is it a good sign? Maybe chemo is killing cancer cells

BAMR, the replacements are easy to switch out. I could do it myself.

I also quarantined myself when my WBC was low. Unfortunately, that happened a week after each of my AC treatments.

I am curious to know why some her2positives get Ac and taxol - herceptin and some TCHP. Hopefully some wise ladies here know the di

Margun - you don’t have your diagnosis to view. So I don’t know if you are Er/Pr negative or positive, what stage, size and grade and whether you had lymph node involvement and if you are pre or post menopause. From what I’ve read and been told all of that factors into whether you whether you get chemo and/or targeted therapy and what combination. I am post menopause and the size was small enough my MO felt to try surgery first. I had the lumpectomy and no lymph nodes were involved. I got good margins also. So even though I am HER2 + I got the less aggressive treatment. Others here may have some more insight

Hello ladies! I finished my Taxol on May 2nd. I had on and off tingling in my feet and hands from infusions 7-10 then it became more consistent and the MO was concerned about permanent damage so they decreased my infusion, halfed it, for my last 2 infusions. I still had the neuropathy though it was slightly better. About 2.5 weeks after my last infusion my legs hurt so bad and i even fell. After multiple tests, including a CT scan it was determined it was neuropathy. This feeling in my legs lasted four about 4 weeks and i still have some residual achiness. Please let your nurses and doctors know if your having neuropathy, it's not something to mess with!! I didn't know about the icing so never tried it.

Best of luck to all you ladies at continuing to kick cancer's ass!!!!🥊🥊🥊

~Katie💗

ipenelope and notdefined, thank you both for the information. I talked to my NP today regarding weakness in my hands. She said it is a sign of neuropathy, but as long as it doesn't impact my daily activities, I shouldn't be concerned. Hmmm. Notdefined, I'm like you, I have a high pain tolerance, it's subjective. I guess as long as I have a loss of strength and not pain, I'm alright.