Weekly Taxol group
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ok - Taxol/Herceptin/Perjeta #1 done - omg that took forever to infuse, and I didn't get the benedryl! My MO allowed claritin to be taken in the am. No allergic reaction, thank goodness. And I SEVERELY underestimated what cryotherapy feels like - yikes! But it was do-able so I will continue.
Does anyone NOT get diareaha with this regimine? My MO allows people to start Immodium preventively the day after the infusion just in case if one wants to. I hate to take extra meds if I don't need to?
Does it stay in your bloodstream 48 hours like the AC Treatments?
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ThePrincess, I didn't have Perjeta, just Taxol/Herceptin so I don't know if it makes a difference, but I more often had constipation than diarrhea with these drugs. I don't know if I would want to take Immodium without needing it first.
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Taxol causes consipation but Perjeta is known for bad diarrhea, so that's why they are recommending Immodium.
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KBeee, that explains it. I've learned something.
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For once in my life, I am NOT constipated. Diarrhea is a side effect of one of my meds but I don't have it. I am actually pretty regular now. Yeah.
MJS: I am happy to hear your hair started after week 9. I check my scalp like 3x a day for any signs. I keep thinking it looks like the little hairs are just under the skin ready to pop and get easily discouraged that they don't yet.
I am done with #4. Woohoo. Only 8 to go. I got the fabulous nurse today and I didn't think I was ever having her again based on seeing my schedule. She had switched me onto her schedule when she saw me on there and switched me for all of my remaining appointments on her day so yea! She is awesome. Not sure why she did that. I am guessing we have a lot in common to talk about since we both have kids around the same age. I think I am a bit high maintenance.
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Oh, that makes sense KBee - about the diarrhea....I'm with BB, always constipated on the Taxol. I was getting Kytril as an anti-nausea premed and asked to go without it 2 treatments ago (Taxol #8) & have been better since. I also cut back on the other anti-nausea steriod (can't think of the name, starts with a D) last week by 20% to try & combat the acne it's been causing. I had no nausea so they said they will cut it a bit more at Friday's infusion. Too soon to tell if it will help clear my nasty face.
I wear the cold caps during chemo and so far I still have hair - pretty thin but still there. For those wondering about new growth, I can see lots of new hair sprouting all over my head - short, tight curly hairs growing out of my otherwise straight hair. My leg hair has returned and my brows have filled back in although lighter than before. I do use Latisse, so not sure how much that plays a factor. My lashes have returned after losing the bottom ones a few weeks ago. Not very full but enough not to be noticeable. I wonder if I will be like you MJ and lose them after Taxol. Time will tell, I guess.
I too take daily Biotin, Silica and L-Glutamine as supplements.
Glad you got the nice nurse today Allison! It's those little things that can make such a big difference in otherwise a yucky day.
Good luck Leigh and stay away from reading those boards until after you've had Taxol
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Allison, so glad you got a good nurse! We are Taxol twins I had #4 today too
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After my last treatment I experienced a few new side effects, this is week 7 for me, so I am wondering if it is accumulative. During the evening, I saw stars, (like when you where a kid and did flips, then saw bright white stars). It only lasted that night, but the next few days my brain felt foggy and like depressed activity, and like a different person. I had to call in to work. I know that neuropathy is a side effect, but does this include the brain also? The last thing I need now is depression. UPDATE: Last night I had the worst headache of my life, it felt like my head was splitting apart and something was trying to push through. I have not had any major reactions to Taxol, is it possible to have delayed reactions? I am going in to see the doctor today.
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I had my 12th and final Taxol on Tuesday - hurray!!!. My bad day is usually Friday, but at least this time, I know that once I start feeling better, I won't have to take another hit. Overall, I tolerated the Taxol really well - minimal side effects,thin hair but no baldness, and some fatigue but still able to function. But I am so glad to be done. I still have 9 more months of Heraceptin and will start radiation in 3-4 weeks, but the chemo was definitely the part of the treatment that scared me the most.0
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Anyone get a rash with Taxol? I have a rash on my leg and I'm assuming it's from the Taxol. I finally recovered from my AC treatment rash and now this. At least it's on my legs so I don't have to cover up my arms all the time.
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Congrats JenH! What a great feeling to be done!
ninjamary, I haven't experienced a rash from the Taxol but I know others have according to my MO's nurse.
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Today is my day....First Taxol. Praying this is the easy part! I of course am nauseous in anticipation of being nauseous. I have felt so good for the past week and half, I really don't want to start feeling like crap again! I did not have bone pain with AC because I did not get neulasta thank goodness, but now I am scared of that! I plan to take this afternoon off of work for the infusion but I plan to come back tomorrow morning. Hoping I feel fine!0 -
Good luck Leighrh - and all others that are going today! I had first taxol/her/perjeta Tuesday and so far I feel ok! GOOD LUCK! You can do this - I felt the same way - I felt so awesome Monday I hated to go in on Tuesday but the other ladies are right, that yucky feeling from AC doesn't happen w/the taxol!
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Yea Jen for final Taxol!!! Congrats.
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Ninjamary, no rash for me. I only had the acne.
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Leigh, Taxol has pretty much been a walk in the park for me. Now that I posted that, something bad will probably happen. But really...I don't just feel good. I would say I feel great. Each week, I have actually felt better, the further out from AC. I had Taxol 4 on Tuesday.
NinjaMary, I do get a rash. After round 1 I had it on my chest and face. The last few rounds, just on my face. I had 4 people yesterday ask about my "sunburned" face. Sigh. No sunburn...just Taxol rash. MO does want to know if it gets worse so I can get steroids, but the rash does not bother me so I'd prefer a rash over steroids at this point.
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HAD TO SHARE THIS SHIRT I GOT!
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I hope everyone is well and experiencing minimal side effects. Quick question about port access. For about the last 3-4 treatments the nurses have had trouble getting my blood from my port. They have had to do two flushes to "get it going." Today she did three flushes and then a flush of some med (starts with an H) and let me sit for 5 minutes. My blood looked foamy. It was odd to me but the nurse said it happens and not to worry. She said it just gets "cruddy" sometimes. Anyone else know anything about this? I know she said don't worry but that is just silly!
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Carrie, my guess would be it was Heparin, the blood thinner, but maybe some others will chime in who know more.
With my port they had a problem once only, but it didn't get as far as giving me any blood thinners, I just had to turn my head different ways, cough and I don't remember what else, and eventually all was good.
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Carrie - Funny you post this today. I'm on my second port. My first one had a clot after two AC treatments. Went back under the knife had it removed and another port inserted on the opposite boob. I had taxol #6 today and it was completely clogged again. We did all the moves (cough, arms up, boobs smashed in a self hug, stand up, lay down, heparin) Nothing worked. I told the nurse put it in the vein, because I'm not having another surgery. After an hour of trying she went through my vein. It was easy. While doing the premeds they put a super heparin (no idea what it is called) in my port and let it sit there for 30 minutes. It reopened my port! Yea. I still have to go get a port-a-gram tomorrow (x-ray).
I think I'm just a clotter and clogged ports seem to be a pretty common thing on the internet. I also have high cholesterol and my internist doubled my satins and added a another med to lower my triglycerides.
The girl I sat next in the chair had her port fail on chemo #6 also. She fought (and won) getting it removed and she just does vein access for Taxol. The hospital prefers a port with administering chemotherapy.
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Yes, it was Heparin! They had me cough too an that finally worked.
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I had clogged port once and they used something to unclog it although I don't think it was Heparin as they said it wasn't a blood clot. The problem was only with the blood draw and not with IV. Anyway, it only happened once. Good Luck, MJ
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Mary, I'm so sorry you had to go through that! The nurse mentioned possibly using another drug where I sat for 30 minutes but then it cleared up. I have horrible veins and don't want to have Herceptin every 3 weeks for a year through an IV. Cancer sucks.
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well my port is in...took three iv sticks to get the iv to deliver the meds to put in the port. It's acessed and ready to go. 1st treatment is tomorrow. Wish me luck. Anything I should make sure to bring with me? My doc gave me scripts for compazine and lorazepam? Do I bring those with me?
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Tresjoli2, I brought my scripts along with me on my first 2 treatments but I never ended up needing them. The premeds they gave me were always enough. I always bring water, along with some crystal light packets, a pack of tissues, and a cozy blanket. Also, when they flush your port, I like to chew gum or take a drink of my Crystal Light lemonade to keep that weird taste out of my mouth. It wasn't bad the first few times but now I hate the taste the port flush gives. We have free wifi there, so i bring an iPad and a magazine or 2. Good luck!
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Tresjoli - I never brought my meds to my infusions. Ditto on what Angel said. Fluids, blankets books and tablet. You'd think you wouldn't need a blanket, but I've always found the infusion room on the cold side.
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Well... I was one of the lucky ones to have a reaction to Taxol! After pre-meds of Benadryl and Zofran and decadron.. they ran the Taxol very slowly. Nurse said to let her know if I was feeling flush... Well in 10 minutes I was seeing stars.. told hubs to get nurse... then I sat up my face started to feel like it was twice it's size and I started screaming,,. I CAN'T BREATH!! I am not a good patient when it come to emergency situations..LOL So lots of nurses rush over and push more benadrly and Ativan. Then I got a pain that started at my head and moved to my back then my hips. Then it all subsided. I did end up trying the Taxol again and I am assuming nothing else happened... because I passed plum out. Went home and went to bed and did not get up until this morning. I feel fine! I am at work. My face is a little flushed but no nausea, I am even having a cup of coffee and it taste good. That is def a first for me day after chemo. Here's hoping that is the only incident I will have on Taxol!0 -
Oh, gosh, Leigh. I am so sorry. But glad you are feeling well today. The day after is usually the best because you are hyped up on steroids. Very productive.
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Leigh - sorry you had the reaction, it's scary - I know. Glad they addressed it.
Mary and Carrie - I had the same issue with my port this week. They tried herceptin, and when that didn't work, used TPA. I sat for half and hour and that cleared the clog.
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Diarrhea, diarrhea, diarrhea...uggghhhh! I've had nothing but diarrhea for the past week and a half (and intermittently before that). Saw the NP yesterday and she said it's the Taxol and Perjeta. Immodim helps a little but the Rx Lomotil doesn't seem to touch it. It's just watery and constant - like I can't leave the house kinds of constant. Another couple of times today and I'll be finding myself a trip to the ER for fluids
Other than it being annoying (and uncomfortable) I get dehydrated really quickly and I'm definitely popping out more that I can possibly take in. It's only a matter of time. Maybe I can catch the infusion center today instead of having to go to the ER this weekend. Hmmmm...need to make a phone call.
Bekah
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