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Weekly Taxol group

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Comments

  • sweetbanker
    sweetbanker Member Posts: 14
    edited December 2014

    Miscraw stopped the Taxol after 5 treatments I had too many se and brought my counts way too low. MO is fine with it started back today after 5 weeks off to heal (had pnuemonia too) now on with Herceptin which we are taking slow instead every 3 weeks going to do once a week and build it up and see how I react. so we shall see will take one day at a time. Start radiation in 2 weeks will be getting 28 treatments hope it goes quick.

    All the best

    Kathi

  • ladyb1234
    ladyb1234 Member Posts: 1,239
    edited December 2014

    Great news Miscraw!.

    Finished #6 of 12 on Wednesday. Not doing bad on the SE front, just bad tastebuds and GI tract which I now have a prescription for. I do have the joint pain that just moves all over, stabbing pains and fatigue. MO agreed to put me on part-time for work 24 hours a week due more to fatigue than anything else. As of treatment #6 no neuropathy. Most of my nails have turned purple/black but are not sensitive.

    Tobby, how is the new cocktail working out for you?

  • missingmercury
    missingmercury Member Posts: 156
    edited December 2014

    Miscraw, yay!

    Tabbygirl, the neuropathy was something I was warned about when I started the taxol.


  • lilyrose53
    lilyrose53 Member Posts: 120
    edited December 2014

    Tobycc, I developed edema during taxol. It was pretty bad, I gained about eight pounds...all in my legs and feet! MO put me on Lasix and potassium. I'm glad to report that it is now pretty much gone. But it still took several weeks after I finished the taxol before it got better.

    Missingmercury, I hope your feeling better. I have had two acupuncture treatments for my neuropathy and it has greatly improved. My hands are almost normal now, but my feet are still a problem. They were much worse, so I'm expecting they will take longer to improve.

    Wishing you all well, lilyrose

  • Kellogg2006
    Kellogg2006 Member Posts: 159
    edited December 2014

    I just finished taxol today! I did dose dense so every other week for four treatments. I am hoping the SE's are not to bad. In a weird way I'm going to miss going there, weird I know. But it got to know many of the nurses and patients and I'll miss them. But have lots of appointments between now and Christmas to keep me busy. Meeting with RO on Monday, even though I am pretty sure no rads for me, thanks goodness. Plastic surgeon follow up Thursday. Liver specialist and gyno the following week so in still busy with doctors!

  • nancy2581
    nancy2581 Member Posts: 408
    edited December 2014

    congratulations on finishing taxol Kellogg - I can't wait to be done. So over chemo, but I know what you mean about the nurses. I have had the same nurse for each taxol infusion and she's just the best.

    Nancy

  • Tobycc
    Tobycc Member Posts: 578
    edited December 2014

    Lilly did your legs ache?

    Kellogg, did you get to ring the bell???????? CONGRATS you warrior!!!!

    Kath

  • lilyrose53
    lilyrose53 Member Posts: 120
    edited December 2014

    Tobycc, Oh man, did my legs ache! I had terrible pain and muscle aches so bad they sent me for an ultrasound to check for a blood clot. I could barely walk between the muscle aches, fatigue and neuropathy. I was a mess! I finished Taxol the end of August and almost all SE's are gone. Yay! It does get better. :)

    I hope you are feeling better! Hugs, lilyrose

  • Kellogg2006
    Kellogg2006 Member Posts: 159
    edited December 2014

    Tobycc- there's no bell at my center. But my two nurses sang and danced for me. It was pretty funny!

    Lilyrose- did you loose your hair? I think you said your 8 weeks out. Is it coming back?

    Yes this is now my concern. I really miss my hair!

  • lilyrose53
    lilyrose53 Member Posts: 120
    edited December 2014

    Hi Kellogg! Congrats on finishing chemo! I had already lost my hair during my A/C... It never came back during Taxol. I'm actually 14 weeks out and feeling MUCH better! My hair is coming back, but slowly. It sticks straight up on top and lies flat on the sides. It's a weird color-brown and grey mix. But it's hair!!!! Lol

    Hope you are feeling well! Hugs, lilyros

  • nancy2581
    nancy2581 Member Posts: 408
    edited December 2014

    Shoot!!!! I am getting some slight neuropathy. I thought I would be lucky because it hasn't shown up until now. I have had 8 taxols and I have faithfully taken l-glutamine. It's not that bad more of an annoyance, but I have 4 more taxols to go and I don't know if it's going to get worse with each treatment. It's very slight at this point.

    Nancy

  • Tobycc
    Tobycc Member Posts: 578
    edited December 2014

    healing prayers your way Nancy!!

  • dancingdiva
    dancingdiva Member Posts: 317
    edited December 2014

    my neuropathy comes and goes. But lots of nosebleeds now!! New SE for past two weeks

  • missingmercury
    missingmercury Member Posts: 156
    edited December 2014

    I had the morning nosebleeds, they went away after no taxol for two weeks.  I got leg aches.  My hair is trying to grow back.

    Nancy, the effects of taxol are cumulative, but if you are just getting neuropathy now, hopefully it won't get bad.  Mine started coming and going before next treatment, but feet got to where always slightly numb real quick.

    Kellogg, congrats!  After seeing my nurses since Jun I know them all.  I will be seeing them until next Sept due to the Herceptin. 

    Go see my surgeon today for my referral to radiation.

    mm

  • zjrosenthal
    zjrosenthal Member Posts: 1,541
    edited December 2014

    Hands have felt burnt since A/C. Some numbness in fingers and toes since #5 taxol. Also itching on back of hands, arms and ankles. Otherwise not too bad so far. 7 more to go, them just herceptin / perjeta every 3 weeks to finish out the year. Great granddaughter is due in less than a week. What a lovely Christmas gift. We are so excited and grateful. Love, Jean

  • nancy2581
    nancy2581 Member Posts: 408
    edited December 2014

    zjrosenthal - I have the itching on the back of my left hand. It's really odd as I get taxol every Tuesday and every Saturday night the itching drives me completely insane. So weird. Hubby got mad at me because we went to dinner on a Saturday night and I couldn't stop scratching lol.

    Dancingdiva- I too get some blood in my nose with huge bloody (sorry this is gonna be gross lol) boogers. It's disgusting.

    Thanks missingmercury - I hope your neuropathy gets better quickly for you.

    Toby- thanks for the good thoughts. How is it going with the CMF?

  • Gatomal
    Gatomal Member Posts: 418
    edited December 2014

    I was getting a strange rash on the arm each week. The same arm that they put the IV taxol. Not itchy, just red bumps. It stopped on week 3 though. Just GI issues. L-glutamine may be helping a bit, hard to tell.

  • zjrosenthal
    zjrosenthal Member Posts: 1,541
    edited December 2014

    Thanks gatomal and Nancy. I spoke to my chemo doc who said topical cortizone and benadryl tablets are fine. They do seem to help. Had a great nap today after taking a benadryl. Doc said we will just watch it. Love, Jean

  • zjrosenthal
    zjrosenthal Member Posts: 1,541
    edited December 2014

    BYW an itch hint. Don't scatch the itchy area. Gently scratch somewhere else and the itch subsides. I discovered this during my radiation treatment for Anal cancer in '08, when I was very burnt and itchy down below. I would scratch my leg or arm for relief and it helped. Love, Jean .

  • nancy2581
    nancy2581 Member Posts: 408
    edited December 2014

    good to know Jean I will try that

    Nancy

  • ilovepugs
    ilovepugs Member Posts: 12
    edited December 2014

    I'm scheduled to begin weekly Taxol on Monday, Dec. 15th and I've read a fair bit of info about what to expect. I've had a lot of side effects from my A/C treatments, so I'd like to take precautions to avoid common side effects of Taxol. I asked the pharmacist at the Cancer Centre about icing my fingers and toes during the Taxol infusions to prevent neuropathy, she said it's not necessary because Paclitaxel doesn't have this side effect. I've been reading many of your posts that clearly indicate the opposite. I'll have the conversation with my oncologist on Friday, but I'm curious about the experiences you've all had with neuropathy and icing, as well as finger and toenail sensitivity. I've read that some people say to use dark nail polish because the nails become sensitive to light. And others have suggested using a nail hardener.

    Any input is greatly appreciated.

  • missingmercury
    missingmercury Member Posts: 156
    edited December 2014

    I have dark polish on.  I didn't ice, because it keeps the chemo from those areas and really, the cancer can come back anywhere.  That is my paranoia though.

    The doctor did a chest scan.  I have a spot on my lung they saw before and she wants to see if it is bigger or just from living in the upper Miami Valley.  We have conditions here that, for natives, you would find a spot on most lungs.  If it is not changes I don't have to see her again for 6months.  This is my surgeon.  Of course I see my oncologist monthly as I am still in treatment.

    I am waiting for radiology to call.  Surgeon said she is pretty sure I will do radiation due to type of bc, lymph involvement and decision not to have ALND.

    Question, did anyone who had neuropathy that got better have lots of pain in those areas as it was getting better?  My toes have been so hyper sensitive to the point of pain and I don't know if that means it is getting better or part of the se.

    mm

  • dancingdiva
    dancingdiva Member Posts: 317
    edited December 2014

    Tomorrow is tax 11. I had more nail sensitivity with AC than Taxol. I iced my fingernails for 10 taxols so far and I do have tingliness that comes and goes. I also wore dark nail polish. My toes I did nothing for. After the 6th taxol my toe started to hurt and I noticed a spot that was turning black. It stopped hurting though right after and it hasn't got darker. I put vitamin B on them occasinally. Honestly don't know what works or doesn't.the nail polish is coming off and I'm too lazy to replace it, and so far no pain

  • ladyb1234
    ladyb1234 Member Posts: 1,239
    edited December 2014

    Finished Taxol #6 of 12 today. Fatigue after last round was really a BEAR. Other SEs for me are insomnia, nails turning dark on hands but no sensitivity and feet are fine. So far I have tingling only in my left foot that comes and goes but not consistent. AC SEs were easier for me -- they knocked me out but you could recover and have some good days. The Taxol SEs are more physical and are hard to manage and there is no recover between treatments and just keep building up -- or as they say are cummulative. Appetite is still not there either so I have to make sure I eat. I finally went part-time due to the fatigue, got prescription sleep aid, and have decided to be more proactive with the pain meds for the achiness in muscles and joints after treatment. Now I am off to sleep -- had a great nap during treatment, when I got home slept for about 3 hours and hope I get some sleep tonight.

  • ilovepugs
    ilovepugs Member Posts: 12
    edited December 2014

    Thanks MissingMercury, DancingDiva, and LadyB for sharing your experiences.

    I hope the chest scan shows no changes, MissingMercury. I hope the rest of the Taxol infusions are easier on you, LadyB. DancingDiva, how many more treatments for you?

  • ladyb1234
    ladyb1234 Member Posts: 1,239
    edited December 2014

    MissingMercury, hoping there are no changes and that it turns out to be nothing with your chest scans. Keep us updated.

    ILovepugs, I have 5 more and anxiously counting down!

  • zjrosenthal
    zjrosenthal Member Posts: 1,541
    edited December 2014

    Yesterday was a mess. I was so fatigued that I felt numb. Also very emotional and hungry. I finally realized that this was day 2 after my Taxol and of course the Decadron had worn off. So I just went with it pigged out, napped and had a good cry. Anyone else here getting hungry, fatigued and emotional from the steroid? Hope to get to curves this morning, nap then hubby and I are supposed to meet friends for dinner and a Christmas concert. Still waiting for the arrival of my great granddaughter. Due date is Sunday! Love, Jean

  • nancy2581
    nancy2581 Member Posts: 408
    edited December 2014

    yes I get very emotional Jean when coming off the steroids. I just had taxol on Tuesday and had a good cry yesterday. This happens every week. I am always starving during the early part of the day too. I made dinner last night and I was completely exhausted. I am so ready for this to be over with.

    Nancy

  • Gatomal
    Gatomal Member Posts: 418
    edited December 2014

    the steroid do make me prone to mood swings. Usually teary day 3 after, but this round it was the Morning after. Crying about early menopause and AIs even though it's like months away. How exciting to see a great granddaughter! Lots of luck

  • zjrosenthal
    zjrosenthal Member Posts: 1,541
    edited December 2014

    Nancy, thanks for confirming the fatigue, hunger and emotional stuff are from the steroids and I'm not losing my mind. 6 more to go! Love, Jean

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