Weekly Taxol group
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missingmercury- As long as you're good about keeping your nails clean and dry (as I'm sure you are anyway), you'll have much healthier nails at the end of Taxol if you use the black polish. The theory is Taxol makes your nails very susceptible to light (no one seems to know why yet). My doctors have been totally amazed at my nails, since Taxol is typically so rough on them. One of them even made me take off my polish for our next visit to prove it had worked; he was SURE I had spots under the polish! Btw, I had a few people told me to try this, and they all kept their nails healthy too (which is why I tried it even though it sounded a bit silly). For what it's worth, I do think there are other chemos where the drs would rather you keep your nails polish free. I don't know the reason there either, but that's what I've heard.
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I am definitely getting my nails done. I'm a little upset no one on my onco team mentioned this might be an issue.
Kellogg, I get joint and growing pain like pains in mostly in my legs and hips a few days after my treatment. I just had my #7 and it has not gotten worse.
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I need help with dry mouth please. Biotene is NOT working for me. I have a persistent cough which I am beginning to think is because of my dry mouth. Do you ladies have any solutions? I'm going crazy! I havn't slept in 3 days and have moved to the couch so atleast my hubby can get some sleep. I cannot suck on candy all day or my dentist will have a conniption when this is all over
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Kerensa - my dentist told me pre-chemo to get the dry mouth drops that stick in your mouth and lodge it way up into my gum area. I haven't tried it yet because the dry mouth has come and gone. I do rinse a lot with the mixture of baking soda and warm salt water. I also drink about 124 oz of water a day - I just chug 16 oz at a time. I hate water so it's a real struggle. I hope this was helpful.
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Thanks DaniellaD, my dentist gave me some of those dots to try out. I tried one last night and couldn't get it to stick up in my mouth. I will try it again and see what happens. I drink 64oz of water a day and that's a struggle for me. I will try to drink more.
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Kerensa, my nurses say rinsing with salt water a couple times a day is important also. It helped me along with the biotene. Also make sure you aren't using mouthwash or anything with alcohol in it.
I got my compression socks this afternoon. This is the best my feet have felt in weeks. Neuropathy is not gone, but gentled.
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OK, here's my question. I have had 3 treatments, can feel that my hair will be falling out heavy by the end of the weekend. Question is, will it begin to grow back while I am on monthly treatment, or will it be after I finish? You'd think I'd know, since this is my 3rd time having chemo. I am ready with an assortment of head gear think I will skip the wigs this time
I am just so disappointed that I have to deal with this again. Am trying to keep a positive attitude
Wilsie
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Starting weekly Taxol, with herceptin/perjeta every 3 weeks starting a week from Monday. Hope it is easier than A/C. Love, Jean
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Hi Wilsie! I lost all my hair on A/C. I grew fuzz while on Taxol...but my hair didn't really start coming in until about a month after taxol. I'm 8 weeks out and starting to go without a hat. I can't handle the wig. I hope you don't have to lose your hair again.
Wishing you well, lilyrose
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Yeah, lost mine during a/c. Onc says not to expect it back until taxol is done.
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Wilsie I have had 55 weekly taxols in a row. I don't have a week off between cycles like most long term taxol users do. All my hair came out in week 3 my picture was taken a week ago. I have had my haircut a couple of times. I stopped wearing my wig or scarves about 6 months ago.
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For dry mouth and oral health I have used this product. No alcohol and I found it to help more so then biotene. It's a bit pricey though.
http://www.amazon.com/Prevention-Oncology-Mouth-Rinse-16/dp/B002J7HNLQ
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thanks doggiebytes, I will look into that.
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Halloween chemo today. I got looks, but I'm bald. I get looks anyway. I just forgot sometimes I was wearing a minion hat. The other lady is my bff and sil who goes with me to chemo every other week. She made the hats. A family friend made my earrings. He has a little pink ribbon on his front.
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love it!!!!
Taxol #5 tomorrow. Oy!!
For those using latisse, did you start using it while on chemo and before they fell out? aND did u use it on lashes and brows?
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missingmercy, I love the hats! Rock em' girl!
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Hi! I just did #9 today of Taxol. Doing weekly so 3 to go - Nov 19 target date - then 4-6 weeks for a break - then radiation.
Neuropathy is constant in my hands/feet. I I have lost feeling in my index, middle fingers up to first knuckle and thumb as well. I am dealing ok - trying B6/12 but not convinced it is working very well.
My nails are discolored - do you think it is too late for applying black nail polish? Does it really need to be black? How about a lovely dark purple? What is the other product - the base polish? Can I get that at CVS? I have serious chemo brain right now - literally just read the last page which said what if was but poof gone!
Lost my hair at day 10 of A/C but I now have fuzz or as my girls 6 & 8 call my baby chick fur. It started coming in about 3 weeks ago. Do have nose dryness and occasional nosebleeds - I can deal.
The worst days are days 3-5 post Taxol where the muscle pains and fatigue kick in. I walk like I am 90 - probably offended the spry 90 year olds out there). The fatigue is crushing but a solid 2 hour nap somewhat helps. Nausea is ok as I take Ativan on treatment night and the following night - plus I roll with zofram everywhere just in case. I drink a lot of water - I have kidney stones too just for fun! - which I think helps but who knows. The most annoying thing is my doctor husband asking if every little twinge/ache etc is normal - who the heck knows so I roll with a yes it is. I know he means well but I could do without it.
Although I found this group late in my treatment I am glad I am here!
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ILCMom, see if your onc will allow you to take L-glutamine. It comes in powder form that you mix with water or juice. I have used it religiously and have no neuropathy other than brief tingles in my fingertips at times. It is an amino acid that won't harm you.
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I also #9 yesterday. Thankfully my SEs are just fatigue and achy like I was hit by a bus, headaches, runny bloody nose (good Halloween scaring trick or treaters) the big D, nausea set in after last treatment, no appetite, and today my eyes seems blurry. Also, dry skin with acne which i found is not like truw acne and needs to be treated different. I use an oatmeal yogurt wash that I make myself. Sort of make mask out of it - sometimes I mix in honey when I use it as a mask.
I have had no nail issues, neuropathy although I am very lightheaded and times, and my body hair has thinned but hasn't fallen out. I have my hair but I am using cold caps. I started latisse before treatment and noticed some thinning but that is all. No one else would notice. I rubbed tea tree oil into my cuticles twice a day and used a serious nail hardener.
After my last treatment all the SEs got much worse and I didn't ever start to truly feel 100% whereas before I was feeling good by post 4 days chemo. I'm anticipating much of the same this week. Trying to get a walk in before the fatigue sets in.
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I go for taxol #7 today.
My hair is growing back!
I've had no nail issues.
I've got mild neuropathy and get some shooting pains in my legs and arms.
The worst is mid upper back pain. It started at the end of AC with an acute spasm. It has gotten better, just not 100%. Told my onc and my gp. Had a chest X-ray. All clear. Stretching my neck and rubbing my shoulders helps. It seems to flare a couple days after chemo. I wonder if taxol flares old injuries and they never get a chance to fully heal? Feeling pretty good today...
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Starting my weekly Taxol on Monday. Hoping it will be easier than the A/C. I will also be getting herceptin / perjeta every 3 weeks. Love, Jean
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ILCMom, My nails became discolored too. I'm about 9 weeks out from Taxol. The discoloration is completely gone on all but one thumbnail. (It was the last one to turn color-after I finished taxol) My nails are all growing in normal now. My RO had me on the B complex and calcium and magnesium. He said it has helped some of his patients. But sadly, not me.
I also have neuropathy in my hands and feet. My feet are driving me crazy, but just in the last few days I can feel my big toes again! so I have hope that it will eventually go away. My fingers aren't as bad, they are getting better too, only the top joints are numb now. Most all other SE's have disappeared. It will get better!
Wishing you well, lilyrose
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missing merc, Love the hats!!!!
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ILCmom, feel like I could have written your post, except my neuropathy isn't as bad and my nails are not discolored yet. Of course I am a few weeks behind you. I had #7 this week. I thought I bought black polish. Turns out it is really dark purple. I hope it works. I don't want to lose nails. My nurses said a patient came in a few weeks out of taxol and had lost a nail. I also walk old due to joint pain. My doctor got me a temp handicap for my car. I hated having to do it, but I need it at work for sure. If I have the energy to go to the store I can usually get close enough to not use a designated spot. The compression sock definitely helped the foot hypersensitivity/pain that seems to go along with the numbness. I got two pair on amazon for $6. Really thin knee highs with pretty color patterns. Have a voicemail on my phone. I think it is for a radiation consult in Dec.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JXDHY68/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Have a happy Halloween all!
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hi ILCmom, we seem to have similar dx except I'm IDC, 2 kids 2 and same ages and we started at the same time. U are 4 taxols ahead of me. I'm supposing u had dense dose AC. I've learned more stuff on this site then anywhere else. I figure it's never too late to start, it won't harm for the polish. Mine is dark purple too, just used what's had. I take vitamin B complex for neuropathy and I think it helps me. I also ice the hands during treatment.
Not sure if I've already mentioned this on this thread and I'm too tired to go search, couple of weeks ago I started seeing spots in my central vision in left eye and lots of spots in peripheral vision in let eye. Finally seeing ophthalmologist on Monday.
I'm getting a BMX though in feb after chemo and then rads.
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Hi All, I am new to this thread and started my first weekly Taxol on 10/29. This weekend I slept a lot with body aches. Took Tylenol and a Norco last night which helped somewhat. I am trying to catch-up on the last few pages of post to see what can help with the body aches and headaches. Also, after my last AC I started to get upper back pain, which is not constant but just annoying. It starts in my back, neck is stiff and down my arm and I think I also feel it in my chest. It is just an annoying pain but is bearable compared to the body aches. I have checked with my MO and they believe it is referred pain from the terrible Acid Reflux that I have dealt with on AC as it does feel worse after I eat or have to burp.
Question on the nail polish, does it have to be black or just dark? Does a grey work also?
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ladyb
I had the same thing happen to me on my last AC. It happened in the middle of the night. It's gotten better but still lingers. It flares every week with the taxol. Hoping it finally hawks when it's over!
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with regards to the nail colour I've kept my nails through 56 weekly taxols by just using a dark color. I have them done every 3 weeks as a treat. I get the Gel colours that dry hard under the UV. I don't do anything with my toe nails and they haven't faired Nearly as well as my fingernails
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This thread has me terrified of decadron. I already have insomnia and am irritable. Is decadron necessary or is there something with less awful side effects?
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hi: I finished #2 of 12 Taxol on Thursday and also Herceptin. Was really tired and flu like on Saturday. Sinus pain this am and fatigue-some nausea. This afternoon was better but a little back pain. Too early for hair loss and nail issues. My heart goes out to those who have young children or elderly parents to take care of while going through treatment.
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