have you stopped weekly taxol before 12?

erin_t · May 2019

I actually talked to an oncologist friend of my father's today who said he would support my stopping taxol at 8 instead of 12. He said that the AC part was more important and I already did that. I desperately want to stop. I can't stand the fatigue anymore.

Of course there are no studies or anything but if you were on weekly taxol and then stopped before 12 for some reason, could you please post.

beeline · May 2019

Hi Erin, I stopped after #6 due to neuropathy. I didn’t want to, but my team said much the same as yours — that I had done all the AC and there are no studies for fewer than 12 taxols. Also that endocrine therapy is more important for ER+.

That said, I would def have done more if I could have though I also hated the fatigue! I would try taking them one at a time. Instead of thinking about it as 4 more, just decide you’ll do one more and then you can make the decision about the next one after that

Good luck! There are no easy answers.

erin_t · May 2019

Thanks beeline. I sort of did that last week, deciding about the next treatment, and this week I'm deciding no. I'm going to talk to them though, i have to go in to get my lupron anyway.

Nanomom11 · May 2019

I think we are very close in our treatments. I am one ahead of you. I had to have my dosage lowered 2 weeks ago (#8) due to fatigue and muscle weakness and my nurse said it will take a while for me to be able to tell. Honestly I have barely moved this week so I am also going to ask about stopping. I have some neuropathy but muscle weakness is my major complaint. I will talk to my dr on Thursday and let you know what his opinion is. When I brought it up last time is when he did a small reduction but didn’t really give a firm answer for what if I stop. This time I’ll get a little better explanation. I would be interested in what your doc says when you talk to him if you don’t mind sharing the info.

erin_t · May 2019

Nanomom, what did your doctor say?

My own MO was not thrilled with the idea of me stopping. He wants to see me get to 10 at least. He said we'd decide next week. I'm undecided. I think one of my depression meds has been contributing to the fatigue, and I can stop taking that, so if it is that maybe I can manage the last 3-4? But I don't know. I think I'm just done.

kickingcancersbutt · June 2019

I had to stop taxol after 2 rxs due to bone cancer fracturing my femur.No chemo for 5 weeks before surgery so no chemo after surgery cause I had rads to femur.Pet after rads showed widespread mets to liver,lung and bones. New onc( retired but returned to help out) started me on affinitor-not a common breast ca rx.Also exemestane.3month later pet showed tumors gone from liver,lungs and all but 2 small spots on bones. Minimal SE’s but worth it for result

erin_t · September 2019

Follow up for anyone considering this. My MO was okay with my stopping at 8, so I did. None of the issues resolved quickly, but I suppose a month quicker than they would have.

I had an axillary node dissection a few weeks later and there was no cancer found in the 12 nodes. Also no evidence that there had been cancer there (treatment effects) but that isn't conclusive.

My MO said that meant it had been ok to stop when we did.

mightlybird01 · September 2019

I am interested in that question too. My MO said today that after #9 we could stop if side effects were to emerge now. I have not had any major side effect while on taxol, so from that point of view I could keep going, but if there is no real benefit, I wonder if I should just stop after 10.Probably won't though as long as everything proceeds as it currently is.

Kamboka · September 2019

I was on dose dense. First infusion was taxotere. Had a reaction and changed to taxol. Had two infusions of taxol. All three caused really bad side effects. I didn't really have fatigue as I was too busy dealing with massive bone/muscle pain and neuropathy. I am supposed to do my last infusion tomorrow but told the MO that I was opting out. The bone/muscle pain is pretty much gone but I'm left with some leg weakness and severe neuropathy in my hands and feet, especially at night. I know this could be a long-term side effect and am sad about that thought. I read somewhere that if you could get 85% of your infusions, that was good. My three DD infusions are the equivalent to 9 weekly. I make 85%--now I just have to hope and pray that the nerve pain goes away.

It's not an easy decision to stop treatment. At the end, for me, it was 'quality of life' that helped me to decide.

Whatever you decide, just do it and don't second guess yourself.

have you stopped weekly taxol before 12?

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