Best Of
Let’s Talk About Taxol
I am in my dose dense AC era right now and looking ahead to starting Taxol.
My oncologist has given me the choice of 12 weekly Taxol or 4 dose dense Taxol every other week. I’m so wanting to get this over with. Has anyone has experience with dose dense Taxol x 4?
My understanding is treatment outcomes are basically the same, but that side effects - especially neuropathy - may be reduced.
Thoughts? Experiences? Feedback?
Thanks!
Re: how about drinking?
yep! The modular home floor plan we picked has only one floor and would have the laundry on the main level but I didn’t want to have a huge problem in case we had a water leak from the washer, so that will be converted to a pantry and the laundry will be in the basement. Already looking at paint colors for the rooms, not a fan of all white or grey walls.
Re: So...whats for dinner?
Carole, hope your anniversary dinner was great and happy anniversary!
DH and I will go for Vietnamese for our 31st anniversary (we'll go tomorrow but our anniversary is on the 14th). I think I'll order beef basil.
I made frozen pizza tonight.
Eric, glad to hear you can sleep in :-)
Re: So...whats for dinner?
My flight was cancelled. At least this time I received 24 hours notice. The last cancellation was made by the gate agent that arrived 15 minutes AFTER the scheduled departure time.
Re: So...whats for dinner?
We have a dinner reservation at Boulders restaurant in Walker tonight to celebrate our 55th wedding anniversary. We would go there more often but it's about a 40 minute drive. It has a relaxed elegance that we enjoy and is known for its cocktail menu. I plan to have their Cosmo which is beautiful and delicious.
The frozen pizza cooked "in" the grill last night was ok.
Now we know Sandy is doing well in her new circumstances. Still concerned about Minus down in Houston.
Re: Just diagnosed
Hi @vermonster,
We're so sorry to hear this news, but we're glad we can be here for you. Would you want to create a new discussion to introduce yourself and share your story in the Stage IV MBC forum, where others can welcome you and support you?
In addition, we're sharing these threads you might find helpful:
Also, we have some amazing members who join us weekly in our weekly MBC Zoom Meetups — we'd love if you could register and join us for face-to-face support from others in a similar situation. You can see the times/days and register here:
We hope this helps and that you find the support you need here — we've all got you!
—The Mods
Re: Just diagnosed
Just joined this club - never wanted to be here - still waiting on molecular sequencing, and as of yesterday the insurance pre-authorization for Faslodex and Kisqali. Waiting sucks.
Re: Just diagnosed
We're so sorry you find yourself here, @keepthefaith, we know this is a lot to process. As exbrxgrl mentioned, once you get a treatment plan in place, it DOES get easier. Many, many of our members have been living with MBC for years, decades even - it is not curable, but it can be treated.
We also moved your topic to our metastatic forum, where you'll be able to read about and connect with others who are living everyday with MBC. You are not alone! Take it one day at a time, we're all here with you.
If you're interested in additional support, we want to let you know we offer very supportive, moderated Virtual Community Meetups. There are a number of different groups and times, so if you're interested, please check them out here: Virtual Community Meetups.
We’re here for you,
The Mods
Re: Zometa side effects
Hi Marcials1 - Wishing you lots of luck next Tuesday with your first Zometa infusion! I'm only able to respond today, as I've had a week with lots of fatigue, and just not up to doing much that requires any energy at all. Not feeling "bad", just totally tired. The meds I take are fulvestrant, Verzenio, and Zometa. All of them cause unpleasant side effects for me, and like you say you are, I am very drug sensitive, and if there are side effects, I will get them. I imagine your last week or so of feeling lousy has been due to side effects of the drugs you are on already.
My first Zometa infusion was no fun whatsoever. I got it in the morning but by late afternoon/early evening I was starting to feel a bit off. By night and middle of the night, I developed bone shaking chills and terrible body aches (no fever however). It all lasted for a good three days. I couldn't remember the last time I had stayed in my pajamas all day, much less for three days in a row, but that's what I did. After the bad side effects went away, I continued to feel very tired and a little bit achy for days, but I could get out of my pajamas and basically function. My infusion was drawn out for 45 minutes at my request. I kept wondering what it would have been like if I'd only had the routine 15 minutes. Please keep in mind, that this is not everybody's experience at all, and many say that while the first one is bad, they have no trouble at all with the successive infusions.
In my case the successive infusions have not been as bad as the first, but I do have a reaction. My last one was my third and that time I had not only the 45 minute draw out, but also IV fluids too. I had no fever and only one very short and transient bout of mild chills, but I continue to have body aches and a lot of fatigue for several days after each infusion. I'm getting my next one (the fourth one) on the 25th, and I'm not looking forward to it. Every time I get one of the infusions, I say "never again", but then I do it. I have no idea if it's helping at all in any way. They just say it helps, but I'm not aware of anything noticeable.
Maybe you will really luck out and be like AJ and only experience a bit of tiredness after this first infusion, and then nothing more with the subsequent ones. That does seem to happen for a lot of people, so please don't just assume that you will have the kind of experience(s) that I and many others have had. It seems to be very individual. I really can't find any information about side effects beyond those acute first 3 days; the ones that everyone talks about. However, I am not sure that the Zometa doesn't go on and continue to add to general tiredness and body aches, along with the other drugs like fulvestrant and Verzenio. The trouble with this mess is that all these drugs cause similar and overlapping side effects and the cancer too, can cause some of these things, so there's just no way to know what is what and it drives me crazy.
I don't know how the low blood counts affect the Zometa, if at all. Yes, I think we do all have low red and white if we are on these drugs.
Again, I've got my fingers crossed that all will go very well for you and you will be one who deals with this in a very positive way with few to no side effects whatsoever.🤞 Let us all know how things go next week.
Re: Genetic Testing + Excisional Biopsy
I had my genetic counseling session on-line, a collection kit mailed to me, and then received my results in person over the phone.