Weekly Taxol group
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I get these weird aches and pains all the time. Sometimes it will be a gradual build up and then achy all day or sometimes it will just hit me like a sudden wave. It's usually in my spine and my knees but I do get occasional achiness all over the place.
I'm starting to get concerned about the nausea that I'm still having. Seems like I shouldn't be having it as bad as I do on Taxol. Of course it makes me jump to thinking I have a brain met! But seriously, nausea and occasional dizziness. I mix up my words all the time and I'm hoping its just chemo fog.
Bekah
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reelepac maybe mention to your oncologist?
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Hi. I start weekly Taxol tomorrow morning. I discussed it with my oncologist and due to my anxiety and her giving me the choice I opted out of the 4. I know it will be longer but from what I've read there are less SE and my oncologist said studies show the weekly treatments are slightly more effective.
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Leighrh - I have had 4 also... and yes I'm putting on more makeup. I can't handle wigs though. I wore one the first time around at times and it drove me nuts. Hot and picky. I wear a lot of caps. I was scheduled for #5 today however they canceled on me because my neutrophils were below the required 1.5 sigh. I found out this week I may be on Taxol indefinitely.. another sigh. I at least want 3 -4 weeks off for Christmas. Was thinking if oncologist's don't want me to stop maybe switch to Taxotere short term? It was my other possible choice for chemo but only every 3rd week. I hated it last time, very sick first few days, tin taste and severe bone pain but I'm already on heavy pain meds.
Kbeee - I'm with you.. eye liner.. and some color shadow and I haven't had but a few eye brows and so fair you can't see them since my first chemo in 2010. I did have some jaw pain also and was wondering.. however its gone now, hope yours goes too!
Pennysgal - They weren't giving me one off till they had to.. but I'll take it. Yes nice to have a little more appetite too.. hoping I do continue to have it get better. Force feeding (diabetic) it not fun. Still having the issues with only one bowel movement weekly (ugly) and that keeps me having nausea and vomiting. However doctors are laying some heavy duty treatments for that so has to get better soon.
Wishing everyone good days and happy moments filled with love and joy!
Cathy
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Rhannon 426 - Welcome to the club... hope it is kind to you!
Cathy
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I have had slight bone pain but now it's mostly gone. What I do have is in my jaw, too. Very mild.
Tres: I totally get it about your period. I felt the same way when mine stopped after my first AC. I think it's just the feeling of abnormal that is upsetting about all of it.
I can't comment on the hair since I lost mine on AC, too. I forget if you mentioned why you were not taking AC?
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rleepac - I get exactly same thing and was told it was chemo fog. Lets pray that it is all it is.
See the fog is still there but not as bad today.. almost forgot you.
Cathy
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Bekah, I get the brain fog too. It's like I know the word I want to say sometimes and it just comes out as something different... weird right?
Anyone else have sight issues? Now I know I am 42 and sight starts to go... but I have always had great vision. But now I can hardly read my phone... have to hold it far away! LOL I have tried out the readers at Walmart but even the lowest ones hurt my eyes to look through. And putting on these damn fake eyelashes.. when I am putting the glue on them I can barely focus on those little suckers....LOL. I was a 40 yr old who felt 20... Now I am a 40 yr old who feels 60...... BLAH!!!!
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It is very common to start using readers between 40-45. It might not be chemo related at all. I had Lazik about 4 years ago so I have used readers since then. I use a low number, usually 1.00.
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Leigh - I've been wearing glasses and contacts for long distance since I was 25. When I wore contacts (before BC) I had to wear readers to see close up since I was about 47. Since taxol I need readers just because (i'm 49). The other day at work I got out a magnifying glass! Yeah..talk about feeling old!
Brain fog....It's daily. People tell me stuff and I have no recollection. Maybe "they" (kids) are just messing with me too. lol.
Regarding eyeliner. My face likes to eat my make-up. I put it on and it's gone in 3 hours. I bought an Urban Decay eyeliner pencil, I think it's waterproof and it stays on all day. It was $16 which is pricey, but worth it. I used to rub my eyes all the time when I wore mascara (sigh) now I rub my "eyebrows". I can't win.
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My vision is definitely worse after Taxol. I've worn contacts since I was 18 and my prescription has been steady for at least 10 years before this. I mentioned it to my MO on Wednesday and he said if it's not better in a few weeks it probably won't go back to normal, and I should go to the eye doctor for a new prescription. Awesome.
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Bekah - I have the brain fog as well. My husband tells me something and I have no recollection, or I'm talking and the wrong word comes out. I've also had low level nausea on Taxol - does yours seem like food aversion as well?
Leigh - yes on the eyesight. I find that my readers are not working as well, but I'm having a hard time concentrating on any reading at all. I may switch to audio books, but I think those will just put me to sleep!
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I am SO TIRED. NO IDEA how I will get through EIGHT MORE OMG.
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My nausea is low level most of the time (but it's constant) but sometimes it really kicks in worse and I get the watery mouth thing too. Food doesn't seem to make a difference.
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Allison, can you take anything for the nausea? That sounds horrible.
Princess, your exhaustion is likely from that horribly low hemoglobin. You may want to have it rechecked. You are nearing transfusion range.
Thankfully I notice no vision changes yet and little brain fog. I do a crossword, a Sudoku, and s jumble every day and try to read something to challenge my brain each day. I am not sure if it helps, but it hasn't hurt.
Cathy, I hope they can address your bowel issue, , that makes me cringe! I hate that you may have to be on this indefinitely.
Until now I have been having about : minor bloody noses each day. Today I have had 2 gushing ones. Yuk. I just tossed my shirt in the trash... Am not even going to try to wash it. Time to get out my collection of old ratty t shirts from the bottom of my drawer do I can wear them and pitch them if needed. Hoping this is a 1 day anomoly and not a new trend. New surprises await each day, don't they???!!!
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well I finished taxol and carboplatin #1 today! Still in the chair though bc my hemoglobins were 7.9 this morning and they said they'd only do the treatment if I agreed to the transfusion either today or this weekend. I said lets get it over with today. I think I still have another hour left. I didn't realize two bags of blood takes so long!! Geez!!!
But hopefully this will make me feel less tired too. Cross your fingers!
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Karen.. I have had a little blood in my nose in the mornings but nothing that really comes out. That makes me really nervous.... I have never in my life had a bloody nose and I am sure I will freak when blood pours from my nose.. LOL Can't wait
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I have had quite a few bloody noses since starting but not too bad. I can usually stop them pretty quickly. I face down and pinch my nose. I originally thought it was due to the blood thinners but now I realize probably not.
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I finished my 1st Taxol treatment and had no reaction. The nurse was great she watched me like a hawk for the first 10 minutes and asked me questions about my family. She knew I have issues with anxiety and when I am talking about something else I'm not focusing on what makes me anxious. So I am happy it is over for this week. 11 more to go!
Thank tryn2staycalm so far day 1 I'd ok. One day at a time. That for me is the hardest part. Not knowing how you will feel the next hour or day. I will get there and I will finish this course and I will bang the milestone gong at the cancer centre!
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I swear, when I got my first Taxol, they barely even glanced twice at me. I was scared because of hearing all the stories but they acted like it never happened.
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Allison, When I had my first Taxol, I am not even sure they had any idea it was my first. They did not watch me any differently than any other day. I did bring my cousin, a nurse, along with me though. Maybe they were watching more than I knew, but I didn't notice it and no one asked how I was feeling.
Rhiannon, Glad the first Taxol went well. I noticed very few side effects at all until about infusion 5 or so.
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Nice to know they are on top of it all, isn't it?
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I spoke too soon my hands are tingly and the bottoms of my feet are warm and pins and needles. Hope it doesn't get worse. Yes Trvler it is I was glad when it was over.
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no AC for me because my tumor was only 1. 5mm plus some micro invasion in my dcis. The only reason I did chemo at all is because I wanted the herceptin for my high level her 2 expression plus 40+ more years to have a recurrance. Recent research out of Dana Farber shows for my type of tumor treating with taxol plus herceptin appears "curative" taking the risk of recurrance close to zero. So I did it. For some reason they won't give you just herceptin. I'm glad I made the choice. If i had been her2- though I don't think I would have done it.
Period never showed up today. Sigh...
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Rhiannon
Are you taking L-glutamine? I have some numbness in my toes as well.
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Rhiannon, I take L Glutamine, B6 and I ice my hands and feet during infusions. So far, no neuropathy, but I do still have 5 to go. You want to clear any vitamins or supplements with MO though. Luckily, mine was all for it and said the l glutamine helps with the muscle pain as well.
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think I'm losing a toenail..... That really sucks. It's hanging on but not by much. Taxol really staring to suck ! Usually today is a pretty good day for me but feeling really tired and this toenail business pisses me off.... Like I need another cosmetic thing to go......just when you think you're coming out of the bad parts of this something else pops up. 8 more.........
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I hate to say this, but Italy and Special K posted info about glutamine causing cancer cells to grow. I have continued taking it but only one dose a day. I had tingling last week but I don't seem to be having much at all this week.
I know what you mean about the toenail. I feel twinges of pain sometimes (who knew toenails could hurt?) but so far, they are all still in tact. I felt like my fingernails were lifting a bit. My MO said to keep the nails short and I have kept them pretty short to avoid them getting caught on anything and pulling off.
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thank you AnewBeginning and KBee I will talk to my oncologist at my next appointment about taking those supplements. My hands and feet feel good today. Heartburn is acting up though. I have prescription acid reflux meds and tums.
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There also is a lot of research that says that glutamine is naturally present in our bodies in such high amounts that there's always enough for cancer cells to get what they need and our healthy cells are the ones that get starved. That's why they give it IV to some cancer patients. I think though that the bottom line is they really do not have any idea, so like anything else, we just need to be cautious! I take it on infusion day and the 2-3 days after, instead of every day and as soon as I'm done with Taxol I'm done with it! I wish there were more studies to know definitively!
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