Weekly Taxol group
Comments
-
Texas Thank you for the posts! I have felt lightheaded since treatment 5. I feel like I have aged 50 years because the most simple tasks will leave me dizzy, shaky and out of breath. I have fell down the stairs more than once (because I just can't learn my lesson and slow down!) My doctor said I probably feel it more because I am used to being so active and now being knocked out, I feel like a woman of 105 with a bad heart. I also have the sore throat and cough throughout. I agree, this is definitely not the easy chemo. I have chemo on Wednesdays and I swear every day is Wednesday. I have #11 this week. I can't wait to be done. I know it's not a magic wand and all the SEs go away immediately, but at least I can start to mend.
I really didn't lose any body hair. A little sparse in some areas and it slowed down growth wise. I lost it under my arms only to notice last week that it grew back, along with my errant chin and neck hairs. I had a couple of eyebrows grow back completely translucent. I wonder if the rest of my hair is starting to grow back. My nails stayed perfect. I only polished them once but I couldn't keep up. (I'm running after a 17 month old, too) I used nail hardener from South America (Quimera?) and rubbed tea tree oil into my cuticles twice a day.
0 -
I am doing ok with taxol but only have done 4. I have some annoying side effects like the slight cough and I wonder what I will feel like at taxol # 9 or #10.
Good to know taxol is very effective against breast cancer. I sure hope so
Nancy
0 -
Port placement was easy. My Taxol also went off with no problems since they left the port accessed during the surgery. I also got a,scrip for EMLA so next week should be easy as well. Love, Jean
0 -
DaniellaD- BLESS YOU for running after a 17 month old like this!! I can remember when my children were young how awful it was if I ever had a hangover after a party or event, so I can't IMAGINE (I hope my repeated references to hangover don't make everyone think I've spent my life drinking or anything. lol. I'm really just a social drinker who, like many, has had her moments!).
Ha- it's funny you say everyday is Wednesday. I've told my husband several times Taxol is like Groundhog Day every day.
The lightheadedness you describe is the bane of my existence these days. Lightheaded, shaky, weak... I GET IT! It makes getting exercise impossible, which is a shame, because that's exactly what would make us feel better. I change what I said above about it though... I actually DO think it's getting better and the FAC isn't keeping it going. It's tough, because the Taxol SE's wear off incredibly slowly. They wear off so slowly, in fact, the daily changes are almost imperceptible, so every few days you wake up and realize one symptom or another seems better. Regardless, the fact they're improving instead of staying with me is AWESOME.
Latisse- someone somewhere in the posts above asked about Latisse again. I used it religiously through Taxol on upper lashes AND brows, sometimes 2x a day, and they held on quite nicely. I could tell they weren't "my" lashes but instead due to Latisse, but who cares? It was great to keep them for so long. I've had 2 FAC, and they've really taken a beating, though I can see a ton of hairs growing in, so the Latisse is still doing its job; it's simply not keeping up the pace that they're falling out. I'll continue to use it, because all the new growth shows me I'll have lashes and brows again fairly quickly after my last FAC.
0 -
thank you al, SO much for posting. It will surely help! I am triple neg, but can't do adriamyacin
Due to heart issue. Did two rounds of taxotere/ cytoxen but had a horrific burn from it. Hands still peeling after 4 weeks
Last Friday started taxol. Started glutamine powder and B 6 yesterday thanks to you all. So far neck hurts, head ache body aches. Controlled nausea first two days.
I work full time, wondering how I will manage. May I ask a stupid question, what is FAC?
Is Latisse the prescription? My hair came out day 14 on taxotere, not sure if it is sprouting or not. Cotton caps have saved my hide under my wig. I may have said only one of my staff knows.
Legs feel weak, shaky. I have the cough too. Daniella, bless your heart. My DH and I have fraternal twins who are in college. I am glad they are not here as much as I love and miss them
Any other tips? Gentle prayers to all of you , we can and will fight this
Kath
0 -
Tobycc- what a mess to have to deal with those burns! I'm sorry and hope you're healing well. I've heard GREAT things about L-Glutamine. My dr wouldn't let me take it, but only bc lack of research (he said it's probably fine). I took B vits and Magnesium, combined with keeping all my nails painted black and strapping ice packs to my finger and toenails during Taxol. All I know is I came out of Taxol with perfectly healthy nails and didn't get neuropathy that bothered me until after dose 11, so something seems to have worked.
FAC is "AC" plus 5-fluorouracil (5FU). Of course, AC is doxorubicin (Adriamycin, A) and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, C)). FAC a very common combo at MD Anderson in Houston, but I've been surprised to learn it's not anywhere else! My dr gives 12 weekly Taxols, then 4 FAC over 12 weeks, which is backwards from the norm (and from other oncologists at MDA- I have NO idea why he does Taxol first, but he's been around a long time and is hilarious about doing things his way no matter what his colleagues are doing). I don't mind though... FAC is no picnic, but I'm happy to have Taxol behind me. Either way, I'm still getting them both, so I don't really care.
Latisse is a prescription liquid that helps grow lashes. It's technically prescribed for upper lashes only, but long ago a nurse who'd been to several Latisse education classes told me, "Well, I would NEVER recommend someone use it off-label, but I can tell you I'VE used it on my OWN brows and have noticed LOVELY growth." Of course, this is code for, "It's completely ok for you to use it on your brows, but if on the off-chance you develop some unheard of reaction, I never told you to do it."
0 -
#2 of 12 down and #3 scheduled for this Thursday. I still have the acid reflux and back pain that started wtih AC. Seems the back pain comes and goes and is not constant but is noticable and annoyng when I have acid refulx symptoms (burping, bleching, acid, etc.) THis is the only SE that is causing me "heart burn" excuse the pun. Otherwise Taxol would not be that bad for me.
Got the OK from MO to start L-glutamine and B6/B12 for the neuropathy. MO isn't convinced the supplements would help since there is in her words "only anecdotal evidence no scientific evidence that it prevents neuropathy" but said go ahead as it couldn't hurt.
0 -
texas94- interesting your onc said no to l-glutamine. Mine said I could take it which I am, but she said no to vitamin B6 which a lot of folks take. She said she's not convinced l-glutamine will prevent neuropathy but she said it wouldn't hurt.
Nancy
0 -
The oncs at my med center also say they haven't seen convincing research on L-glutamine but they do acknowledge the anecdotal evidence being overwhelmingly positive. I took it religiously throughout my 12 weeks of Taxol and had nothing more than the occasional fingertips or tip of tongue tingling. Very mild, very brief. I also wonder if it helped my nails, as i took no precautions but had no issues at all.
0 -
So I have a small cavity in one of my molars
I am curious what the long time taxol users do for dental care? I still have 3 weeks of taxol plus I have a PICC line. I'm at risk for endocarditis with it in. Has anyone else has minor dental work on taxol?0 -
BUMMER!!! I was supposed to get TX #4 of Taxol today but I saw the MO first. #1 I was anemic so she wouldn't infuse me anyway. When I told her about my new SE, things came to a halt!!! I have developed shortness of breath with a dry cough. For me to walk down my 14 stairs, I may have to sit on the last stair to catch my breath. For me to make it to the kitchen to make a morning cup of coffee, I have to lean on the counter because I think I'm going to hit the deck and then only way to "catch" my breath is to cough. My MO said it can be a rare SE called chemotherapy pneumonitis - inflammation of the lungs caused by the Taxol. So I am booked for a CT scan tomorrow and an appt with a pulmonologist on Friday. If I do have pneumonitis, I will have to suspend Taxol and come up with another treatment plan. Just more fun!!!
Has anyone else faced this?
0 -
hello ladies, don't know anything about dental work or the lung issue. I've had eye issues and fatigue. My rib has started to really ache. Anybody else has rib aching? It's bothering me that it's not both. The aches are starting too. This wk will be 7taxol.
0 -
anybody have their BUN levels increase on taxol?
0 -
Nanc, what's BUN?
0 -
it's something they measure for kidneys along with creatinine (which mine is fine). My BUN keeps going up each week by 3 and is now one point out of the range. No big deal at this point but what if continues to rise? Ugh
0 -
they have not checked mine.... I need to ask for it. I am taking cranberry tablets , to avoid UTI and hopefully help kidneys
Day 5 after first taxol. Anyone have lag pain? Weak legs? Eye twitch? Boy I sound like a beauty
0 -
CJT511- I wasn't anemic but had all your other symptoms with Taxol, and they are FINALLY starting to fade 6+ weeks past my last dose (I'm on FAC chemo now). My dr listens to my lungs every appointment and even though I can't breathe in at all without coughing, he determined it wasn't serious (um, SEEMS PRETTY SERIOUS TO ME). I love my doctor and know he's focused on killing cancer, which I totally appreciate, BUT I read some of his clinic notes the other day that said, "Patient is feeling slightly lightheaded." Had I felt confident enough to get behind the wheel, I might have driven to his office and strangled him for seriously downplaying the drama that was my Taxol experience (I haven't driven since THE VERY FIRST TAXOL due to lightheadedness. July 18th. I am losing my mind, but I have to stop so often to hold onto something to keep from fainting, it simply hasn't been safe for me or anyone else. PLUS, my eyes are blurry on and off, so that doesn't help). Taxol is so fun it's like a party. I'm going to try to drive again tomorrow (watch out if you're out on the streets in Houston).
Nancy2581- The head pharmacist at MDA is actually the one that told my onc he couldn't say for sure L-Glut is ok to take. Both of them said it's probably fine, but they couldn't approve it.
dancingdiva- I didn't have rib pain specifically, but muscle and bone pain is so common and seems to happen all over the body, so my guess would be your rib just happens to be the latest victim?
Tobycc- I took cranberry tablets too and didn't have UTI issues. I only noticed sometimes I'd have to concentrate a bit in order to empty my entire bladder. I found out later that issue plus weakness and twitches are all part of neuropathy. I didn't know any of this until I started having numbness in my fingers and started researching. I was so surprised and wish I'd known sooner! The good news is EVERYTHING from Taxol has begun to fade. My SE's are fading VERY slowly, but at least they're fading. I would say my Taxol SE's have improved 50% over the past 6 weeks, and they seem to be fading faster as of this week.
0 -
Had my first Taxol/Herceptin /perjeta a week ago Monday. It went ok with no allergic reaction. It was kinda scary at first. Had a port put in last Monday and my second Taxol. No real pain with the port but sore and hard to sleep. Last night was finally better. No bad reactions to the Taxol so far thank God. It does seem a little easier than the A/C. Hope you are all doing well today. Grateful for these drugs that are saving our lives. Love, Jean
0 -
tobycc yes I had the eye twitch. I just did taxol #5 and I don't seem to have the twitch anymore. I am definitely achy though in odd places. I get really tired too - usually am asleep by 8 or 8 30.
Nancy
0 -
ugh severe lightheadedness, racing heart and pulse. What the heck? I am on the couch laying down
Nancy
0 -
Nancy2581- I'm sorry. It sucks. As you're laying there, try to remember Taxol is a monster when it comes to killing breast cancer!!
0 -
thanks texas94. I have called the oncology nurse. I think I am ok sitting down but can't get up. I hope the taxol is killing cancer cells because at this moment it is killing me. I was doing pretty good until today. Not happy
Nancy
0 -
My heart goes out to you Nancy2581. I'm incredibly grateful for the effect Taxol had on my cancer, but it is by far one of the hardest things I've ever done. Keep your eye on the prize.
0 -
thank you texas94 for talking to me. I was really scared. I talked to the onc nurse and she thinks I overdid it this morning (walked my dogs for an hour, floor exercises, ran several errands, put air in my tires blah, went to the grocery store). Stupid on my part, but I just want to be normal again. I also had a huge glass of iced tea and she said that was a diuretic so probably a combination of the two. My husband is always telling me to slow down ha.
Thanks for being there. I am now telling myself taxol is kicking cancers butt. I sure hope so. Gee only 7 treatments to go. Boo
Nancy
0 -
nancy, take it easy!!! I'm lightheaded too. Can't move too fast or things start spinning. I just have to do things more slowly.
0 -
I know and I learned my lesson. That scared the bajeebies out of me. I am feeling better now. No more running around like a lunatic sheesh
Nancy
I'm sorry we all seem to be experiencing the lightheadedness so not fun.
0 -
Nancy are you taking your blood pressure at home
0 -
Had #3 of 12 yesterday. I feel better the day after treatment than the day before. Must be the steroids. The two days before my tx I was sooo, sooo very tired and slept almost all day. Finally received prescription for acid reflux and it is helping a lot, although it hurts to swallow so they believe my esophagus may be irritated. Will wait to see if it clears up if not they will do additional follow-up. Back does not hurt as bad today -- again not sure if it is the steriods easing the pain. Hopefully fatigue will not set in as bad but I hearit is cumlative
0 -
tobycc - yes I take my blood pressure at home. I bought a BP monitor from Costco a while back.
Ladyb1234 - I also feel better the day after treatment. I actually look forward to that day because for 1 day I feel like myself - most of my aches and pains go away on that day. Hoping you get through the week with none or very few minor side effects.
Nancy
0 -
Nancy - I feel exactly the same way after I do too much - which is most of the time. The odd part is that I really felt worse after number 7 and 8 then I do now after #11. I am counting the minutes until the last infusion on Wednesday.
I found that the weeks that I felt the worst were the ones when it rained and I didn't get outside to exercise. Also, when I didn't drink enough water, I definitely felt worse. I aim for 120 oz a day but towards the end, too much water will make me throw up. I kind of hate water so I have to chug it to get it down. Sometimes it doesn't stay down.
Fingernails fine - I used nail hardener and tea tree oil twice a day. No nueropathy although I am lightheaded and feel like my equilibrium may be off at times. I was diligent in taking 30 mg of l-glutamine, B6, B12, D3, Zinc, silica, magnesium and iron everyday. I think it helped. I also do at least one green juice a day with yogurt and chia or flax seeds. Now I can't really stomach the juices so I drink one in the morning when I feel best.
Can't wait to finish. I hope no new SEs come with this last treatment and I am on the mend to feeling back to normal afterwards.
Hope everyone is having a minimal SE evening and feeling alright. XOXO
0
