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Weekly Taxol group

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Comments

  • Graceembraced
    Graceembraced Member Posts: 86
    edited October 2012

    Congrats vballmom!

    I have two more Taxols to go...then rads and completing Herceptin, so I'm following close behind! How quickly does that Taxols leave so the SEs go away? I know the neuropathy can linger for a while, but want to get rid of the insomnia, bone pain and dry skin and nose fast.

    I'm also having nose bleed and problems with cuts healing...I think it has to do with my platlets. Anyone know how quickly your blood counts recover?

    Enjoy the beautiful fall colors and brisk weather...

  • teeballmom
    teeballmom Member Posts: 56
    edited October 2012

    Just finished Taxol #6 yesterday!  Yay!!!! Only 6 more Taxol to go and completing Herceptin (either weekly like now or ever 3 weeks)!!!!

    Take care.

  • vballmom
    vballmom Member Posts: 153
    edited October 2012

    I wish I could tell you when it gets better, but I am not there yet. I am only just over a week PFC, but started Herceptin on Monday.  The neuropathy seems to be getting worse and I am nauseous and have a bad taste in my mouth. Could those be the Herceptin?  Taste buds are still whacked. I am still in disbelief that the chemo portion of my journey is over - it's very surreal.

     Teeballmom - half way!!! You go girl! They go fast.

  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,022
    edited October 2012

    My last week after chemo, I had some nauseau as well. That was the Taxol.  My neuropathy also got worse and I had swelling in the feet and ankles.  The feet and ankle thing went away at about a month or so. The neuropathy is still here but better (I take alpha lipoic acid for that).  No nauseau. Took a long time to regain my strength.  I am 4 months out from chemo and get Herceptin every 3 weeks.  The Herceptin makes me very tired for a few days.  Small price to pay. 

    Anyone else see their cholesterol drop after Taxol?  Mine is down by 28 points which is a miracle.

  • vballmom
    vballmom Member Posts: 153
    edited October 2012

    Thanks, gritgirl.  I am hoping it is still the Taxol.  I also have some swelling in my ankles.  I haven't had my cholesterol tested (that I know of!).  Mine is so low, I can't imagine it dropping any more. Don't ask me why - I am 25 pounds overweight.

  • doctorG
    doctorG Member Posts: 6
    edited October 2012

    More than halfway through Taxol, Avastin, Zometa weekly regime (12 down 6 to go). Treating secondary mets in peritoneum. CT scans last week. Doc says "situation is stable." That's not what I wanted to hear! Shouldn't we see shrinkage of the tumors by this time? Tumor marker dropped 100 points since chemo began back in July. Need to know if I'm expecting too much at this point in the treatment? He also mentioned lymph node involvement in the peritoneum but nobody says anything about surgery. Seems like the tumors will just keep moving (they've already metastasized in the bones). Please, if anyone can give a positive spin on this, please write!

  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,022
    edited October 2012

    doctorG, I'm so so sorry to hear about your partner. mets suck. i am mets to liver.  as my Imerman Angel Nancy, who has been living with estrogen positive bone mets for 9 years, tells me, no one dies of mets to the bone.  stable is good.  i am mets to the liver and am damn lucky that the Taxol reduced my tumor load, or I wouldn't be alive.  do not pay attention to statistics.  each case is individual.  every cancer is individual.  mets folks live for years going from therapy to therapy.  the tumors don't necessarily move.  some folks have it one place for years.  i am hoping that the mets will go to 0 in my liver and the one spot on my bone, i personally don't care about. it won't kill me unless it spreads. 

     my philosophy is to keep fighting no matter what. the sayig goes,"While I breathe, I hope." and I plan on breathing for a long, long time and hopefully, so will your partner.  she is damn lucky to have you.

  • mgdsmc
    mgdsmc Member Posts: 28
    edited October 2012

    Doctorg

    I'm so sorry to hear about your partner. I don't know anything about what you are asking but wanted to say your partner is very lucky to have you!

    I'm aware that many women live very long lives with mets and I'm sure woman on here will have answers and thoughts for you. Just be patient.

    Good luck to you and your partner

  • Madelyn
    Madelyn Member Posts: 24
    edited October 2012

    Mgdcmc



    Thank you for all your informative posts. Congratulation to being done!!! I just had Taxol #7, did you find the Taxol were cumulative. Did they get harder towards the end?My big toe just turned dark last night. No leg pain yet. Taxol has been tolerable, but I wonder if it will get harder with treatments 8-12. Any insights? Thanks. Also, I noticed some peach fuzz on my head today...yay.

  • mgdsmc
    mgdsmc Member Posts: 28
    edited October 2012

    Madelyn

    I did start having minor SE around #10. My fingers and toes were constantly cold but never painful. My nail and toe beds were already discolored from the AC but never lifted or fell off. My energy was normal until # 11 and 12, was so sleepy the day after but returned to normal the thrid day.

    Two weeks after my last treatment feet still are cold most of the time, no pain, fingernails still discolored but getting better, no pain. Peach fuzz getting thicker eyebrows and lashes too. Energy is normal and able to actually lose weight now since no decadrone anymore, slow but that's ok at least it's happening.

    Congradulations on your peach fuzz! :)

  • doctorG
    doctorG Member Posts: 6
    edited October 2012

    Hi gritgirl and mgdsmc,

    Thanks for the kind and supportive responses! Yes, stable is good news. Best wishes to you both.

    G.

  • Graceembraced
    Graceembraced Member Posts: 86
    edited October 2012

    I finished Taxol yesterday!

    And on the same day got fitted for radiation therapy!

    I too found Taxol to be cumulative. I found hair fuzz week 8, and tingly toes that progressive spread to on both feet, to the balls of the feet and now the whole foot, worse at night. Trying to manage with extra Vitamin B6 and diabetic neuropathy lotion.

  • teeballmom
    teeballmom Member Posts: 56
    edited October 2012

    Graceembraced:  Yay!!!!!  Did you keep your hair fuzz?  I just finished #7 and noticed a lot of hair fuzz this morning.  Just wondering if it'll stay put.

  • JennL
    JennL Member Posts: 17
    edited October 2012

    Hi ladies, I finished my treatments July 31st.  I had AC every other week followed by taxol weekly.  I had peach fuzz around tx 9 and now I have about an inch on top and about 1 1/4 inches on sides and back and thick!!!   Eyebrows and eylashes are back also!!  Also feel pretty much back to normal, just had visit with my oncologist and all blood counts are good:)  I didn't have to many SE's on the taxol, would get tingly fingers and face for a day or two then would go away, the fatigue is better now I have been working out 4 days a week so that probably helps.  I am on tamoxifen and really not experiencing many SE's with that either, I guess I should consider myself lucky.  Just wanted to let you all know it gets better, life starts seeming normal again and your body does recouperate, just give it some time.  Good luck to all of you, everyone on the boards is in my prayers always.

  • teeballmom
    teeballmom Member Posts: 56
    edited October 2012

    JennL:  Thank you and Congratulations!!!!

  • whaevah
    whaevah Member Posts: 282
    edited October 2012

    Taxol #8 next week...glad to be closer to the finish line

    JennL...that was an encouraging post!

  • timbek2
    timbek2 Member Posts: 64
    edited October 2012

    Thank u and congrats. I need hope now. Thanks for that.

  • Graceembraced
    Graceembraced Member Posts: 86
    edited October 2012

    Teeballmom, I still have my fuzz hair and hoping it keeps growing! I'll take any kind of hair on my head or eyebrows. I'm okay if it stays off my legs and underarms tho :)

    Hang tough ladies, we will survive and thrive once again.

  • Madelyn
    Madelyn Member Posts: 24
    edited October 2012

    so Tellballmom and whaevah...


    Whose cooking us Thanksgiving dinner since all three of us finish the day before? lol

    JennL- thanks for the encouraging news! Did you do radiation?  If so what lotion/cream did you use?  

  • JennL
    JennL Member Posts: 17
    edited October 2012

    Madelyn - I did not have radiation I had a BMX so didn't need it.  Check out lotion from Brian Josephs (www.brianjosephs.com)  I used lotion for my face and body from them during chemo and it really helped the dry skin.  They have an oil for people having radiation that is supposed to help.  Good luck:)

    Thanks everyone for the congrats:)  

  • teeballmom
    teeballmom Member Posts: 56
    edited October 2012

    Madelyn: I'm hoping miraculously Thanksgiving dinner will just appear on the table. In fact if a pumpkin pie with Cool Whip is all that miraculously shows up on the table, I am good. And congrats on getting your port out soon. Since I am on Herceptin, I have to keep mine a little longer.



    Take care everyone!

  • whaevah
    whaevah Member Posts: 282
    edited October 2012

    On my way to #8, but I fear it will be postponed.Frown Mouthsores...one huge one popped up mid week and while I use salt/baking soda, biotene and magic mouthwash from the pharmacy this one slipped in. Geez, no issues on Taxol  1-7, counts are fine. I am bothered for sureYell

  • Waitingforthenextstep
    Waitingforthenextstep Member Posts: 124
    edited October 2012

    Hi Jenni and weekly taxol group

    •                I will be having my 3rd A/C on Tuesday.  One more and then on to taxol.  My MO thinks I will do better on the taxol.  I've had some pretty severe SE's on the A/C, especially 2-5 days after.  I have a question, I have heard that hair growth begins again while on taxol.  Is this true?  How soon after beginning the treatments.  I am counting days till I am done with A/C.  I really need something to look forward too. Thanks.
  • whaevah
    whaevah Member Posts: 282
    edited October 2012

    Waiting for the next step; After I did 4AC, taxol is much much easier. Plus my hair started growing on last AC week, right now I have plenty. That said, they are white and fuzzy, baby hair or *gulp* grandpa hair. Lashes are black stubs mixed with long black. Eyebrows are slowly filling in as well.

    You have much to look forward to! Ok off to bed, benadryl is making me sleepy Tongue Out

  • Waitingforthenextstep
    Waitingforthenextstep Member Posts: 124
    edited October 2012

    Thanks for the encouragement. Today my wbc was good, no neupogen shots, 3rd A/C Tuesday, 4th in 2 wks. Your post is the best thing I've heard since this whole thing started.  You made someone very happy today!

  • Graceembraced
    Graceembraced Member Posts: 86
    edited October 2012

    Teeballmom and Waiting, I finished 12 Taxols last week, got the gray fuzzy hair around week 8 and its still here! Neuropathy in feet is still around and is more painful at night, but the other SE are fading...good luck ladies, you can do it!



    I begin radiation on the 30th ...from every other week to every week, now on to every day!



  • Waitingforthenextstep
    Waitingforthenextstep Member Posts: 124
    edited November 2012

    Question:  Are neupogen shots part of the taxol treatment?  Do taxol treatments get delayed because of low wbc's?  Thanks.

  • ashley2
    ashley2 Member Posts: 24
    edited November 2012

    hello Waitingfor, you receive neupogen IF your wbc are low. I was low on AC, I received 10 neupogen shots, and the AC treatments were delayed twice. but never during taxol ; I had low , but IN limit my wbc.

    good luck

  • PatinMN
    PatinMN Member Posts: 784
    edited November 2012

    Waiting for..., I'm in the midst of weekly taxol (had #7 of 12 yesterday) and the WBC is holding up great. My understanding from the onc is that usually WBC is not a problem with taxol; if anything it's the hemoglobin. My hemoglobin is lower than normal but well above the danger zone. If it gets below 8 they would do a transfusion. BUT, taxol is my only chemo; I did not have A/C or anything else previously. So that may make a difference for you. FWIW, my side effects have been minimal and I am able to work every day except the infusion day (I am there all day long doing cold caps).

  • susanhg123
    susanhg123 Member Posts: 257
    edited November 2012

    yes. Am part of the weekly July chemo group. Am now on weekly Taxol and herceptin. Had to miss a week due to low whites and neurtophils. Am now on neupogen the three days after chemo. Keeps my counts just at the OK state.

    Susan 

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