Is Taxol worse the Adriamycin?

I felt that Taxol was easier.  I didn't have that yucky feeling like I had on AC.  I did have a lot of pain in my legs during Taxol, but it would only last 2 days and then the rest of two weeks I felt like my normal self.  I used Vicodin to help at night, but it didn't help much.  The pain was pretty bad.  I didn't have nail issues, but I did have neuropathy in my fingers and feet.  My fingers are pretty much back to normal but I still have numbness in my feet that I don't think is going away.  I finished Taxol in October.

Good luck to you sweetie!

For me, AC made me feel flu-like and nauseous, but then I'd have some days of feeling pretty well (then it was time for the next dose, of course!) On Taxol I remember feeling less "sickly" but then I didn't ever get the nice days - every day was kind of crummy.  I lost both large toenails, but they grew back.  Most of my fingernails started to come loose, but they didn't fall off.  I have neuropathy in my feet (barely noticeable now, 2 1/2 yrs later) and just a tiny bit in my the tips of my fingers.

Some people have NO problems on Taxol, so don't let my experience bother you - I'm just putting it out there because I think knowing what to expect makes it easier in the long run!! I hated having side effects that no one warned me about!  And my friend NoSurrender told me "General Patton didn't worry about his toenails when he went into battle."   It's true - you are fighting the big war here, and you need the good ammunition.

Good luck to you both - go, fight, win!!!!!   You are half way through and you're almost to the finish line!!

Annie, one positive I had while on AC was that my finger nails grew and looked nice for the 1st time in my life.  My nails have always reached a certain point and would always break.  I never had 10 long nails at the same time until AC.  As soon as I came off AC- nails started breaking again.  It seemed strange that while hair falling out, my nails were growing.

What I really learned was that as women, we're stronger that we give ourselves credit for.  We just suck it up and do what we have to do.  These boards and a few good friends helped me stay sane.

SuperMujer, yes, my hair did start coming back while on Taxol.  It was just little fuzz.  eyelashes did fall out while on Taxol though.

If you made it thru AC, Taxol was more doable because SE's only last for a couple of days.  I read somewhere on boards that if you sip on ice chips during infusion, it cuts down on neuropathy.  Good luck.

booklady,

I just had to comment on this: "...I read somewhere on boards that if you sip on ice chips during infusion, it cuts down on neuropathy."

I think maybe you have two SE's mixed up.  The story is that if you sip on ice chips or hold ice chips in your mouth during the infusion, you won't get mouth sores.  I don't know if that works or not.  I'm getting Taxotere & Cytoxan, which definitely can cause mouth sores; but I haven't had any even though I just sip on cold orange juice.

OTOH, I'm not aware of anything that says sipping on ice chips will help with the neuropathy caused by Taxol.  There's no connection between keeping your mouth cold and protecting the ends of the axons that go to your hands and feet.

Sorry.  I wish it were true.

otter 

First off I'd like to say...Yea Nancy 3 years!  You girl give me soooo much hope it brightened my day...thank you.

I did 4 DD a/c and now am on taxol today I did my 9th one.  My fingernails are yucky, some may come off.  No real neuropathy but I'm waiting for it.  The steriods make me cry and rant for 24 hours after treatment .  I take 2 mg of ativan to try to sleep on monday nights and it doesn't really help.  My hair start growing back in during A/C and last week....it feel out AGAIN.  Ok that did piss me off.  Eyebrows are still here, eyelashes are thin but hanging on.  Body aches?  Oh yea I got those, they seem to worsen with each treatment but honestly not that bad really.  Take drugs.

So thats it in a nut shell....the short answer is I would gladly take 12 more of these bad boys over A/C.  A/C made me sick in ways that are hard to explain.  I felt so out of it and honestly it scared the heck out of me. 

Hang in there because A/C, taxol, or whatever you need to take to kick this cancer's butt is doeable...and you can do it!

Teresa

I had four A/C and am having my third (of four) Taxol this week.  The nausea is much less with the Taxol.  In fact, I haven't had any.  I take the Emend, but I wonder if I even need it.  I don't have to take any of the other anti-nausea meds.  The bone and muscle pain is quite bad.  It lasted two days after first treatment, almost four days after the last one.  I am preparing for a week of discomfort this time, but I am hanging on to the fact that after this week I'll only have one treatment left.  I haven't had any tingling in fingers or toes yet...does that come later?  Eyebrows are nearly gone, eyelashes are sparse.  I have fuzz on my head, but I don't think it's new growth, I think it's just what was left behind. 

I am praying for all of us that we never have to do this again!

I am 42 and I am in menopause now.  I have hot flashes but not too bad.  I thought it would be worse. I don't know if it will come back after or not. 

I take nothing for nauseau, I took emends with the a/c but I do not need it for taxol, the dr told me I wouldnt and he was right.

the steriods are to help you not have a reaction to the taxol, same as the benedryl.  I know someone who decided to not take the steriods and she had a nasty reaction.  I think its just better to take it.  I get so dang emotional on it, its making me crazy

I am taking 12 weekly taxols so I think it makes my se easier.

Teresa

Hi Otter, thanks so much for letting me know. I had no idea. Your response helps a lot.

Heidi

I was told the steroids are to help the anti-nauseau meds work better.  I'm doing A/C x 4 and was given steroids only during my infusion, I took anti-nausea drugs for the first 3-4 days.   I was really nauseated the first 3 days.  I'm hoping next time (5/14) I'll get something stronger for the nausea.  Other than the nauseau, I've had no other se's.

I think truly everyone reacts differently to each drug!

Good luck to everyone!

I did a total of 6 A/C, 4 dose dense followed by surgery, and 2 more after surgery.  The only SE I had was some queasiness for a few days the week of my tx.  I had compazine for that, but it really didn't seem to do anything.  Eating actually helped that a great deal.  I was given Emend, with Aloxi and Decadron IV.  The Decadron didn't bother me, in fact I felt pretty darn good for a couple days.  Didn't find myself getting tired.

I've finished 6 Taxol with Herceptin every 3 weeks.  I got the joint pain days 3-5, and I started getting numbness immediately, but no tingling or pain in my hands and feet.  I was given Neurontin for the neuropathic pain, and that actually helped a great deal.  I didn't take it immediately after the first tx, since I wanted to get an idea of what my SE's would be.  On the 3rd day, I had weird, traveling pains through my legs and hips, almost like electric jolts.  After taking Neurontin, that went away, and I just had the usual joint pain.  The joint pain went away after about 3 days until my 6th tx, then my hips really got affected (I have some arthritis), and they still bother me after 2-3 months, but have gotten a little bit better.

Overall, the A/C was easier for me, since it didn't leave me with any problems after I finished - at least so far!  I still have the numbness and my hips still are stiff/sore since the Taxol.

So how are your treatments now... We were diagnosed around the same time and are currently both going thru the weekly taxol treatments so how are you doing on them currently?  I have some minor aches but nothing that extremely painful.... im just an emotional wreck all the time... i hope this subsides after all this...

I just finished A/C and I was suppose to have Taxol..they decided to give me Abraxene..they said it would be easier on my body..I had a horrible time with A/C..was in the hospital and this last one they wanted to transfuse me...

Has anyone had any knowledge about Abraxene..I have been told the s/e are very low..any info is welcomed

I am on a 3 week schedule...12 infusions an all...is there anything on being sick in the stomach..I just want to know what to expect with this..I am so glad A/C is over..this has been a real bear...I just want my energy back...grrr

I was allergic to the A/C so I had the WORST time with it. The se's weren't nearly as bad as the allergic reaction, which included tightness in my chest, laryngitis, insomnia for days, dizzyness, and so on. The only real SEs I had were some nausea (and beer really helped LOL) and occasional pain in my hips and legs from the Neulasta shot. By my third treatment, the A/C was hellish.

I had my first paclitaxel (Taxol) treatment on Tuesday and it was not nearly as bad. I had a nearly immediate but mild allergic reaction which the nurses nipped in the bud with some meds (kudos to them; they were keeping a discreet eye on me), and except for a day or two of mild laryngitis, I've been fine since. I do have a tiny bit of tingling in my toes occasionally, and I've been aching pretty bad from the hips down, but no insomnia like I had on A/C. It's still early in the "tree" part of my "tree"tment and I think the Pacific Yew must like me because I'm doing so much better (so far) on the paclitaxel.