Weekly Taxol group
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rainnyc, I also thought Taxol was easier the last few, but wondered if I was imagining it since I hadn't heard anyone else say so! I wondered if I was just running on adrenaline by that point, so excited to be close to the end.
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Molly, I think it definitely has gotten easier. Gastric symptoms weren't as pronounced, but the most important thing was that I'm not as tired. And hair is growing back, though slowly. I really wonder if the body adjusts--though that makes me worry that the cancer cells are adjusting, too.
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Taxol #3 for me. I had to take a week off because I had strep throat and it is the HARDEST thing to make myself go back in the chair. I am starting to feel "normal" again and I am so scared and sad that I have only just begun T. I have been having second thoughts and have decided to finish with my treatment as planned. I cant live with what ifs.
I have also recently gone through a break up. FML....
I need some inspiration, some hobbies, some thing to make this time go faster and easier. It has become very lonely and boring around here. I am moving into a different house, so that will keep me occupied for a bit. I try and sleep 12 hours a night so my time is cut in half!
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Leigh - I was ready to quit after #9. I was just done. You get through it, but it is hard.
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Sherri - Welcome to the Taxol group. Dose dense is still Taxol. Where is your pain? I'm guessing bones as that was my most painful. I think your MO can give you something stronger than T#3's. Keep asking him if your still in pain. Let us know how your doing. Most of us here are weekly and yes it gets to be a bit much.
Cathy
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I am better today.. prob because it's Friday, which is my steroid high day and the only day I feel pretty good! I really cried through the whole chair experience yesterday, I was just DONE!!! My MO told me yesterday that if we can get through # 10 then that is 85% so I could quit if I wanted. I am not of course.... I don't want to kick myself if this shit comes back and I didn't do 2 more!
Hopefully this week will be better. My SE's seem to have gotten worse so that's what makes me hate moving forward but maybe I'll be like some of you and feel better with these last 4, Here's hoping!!!
I guess I should consider myself lucky.... in addition to very little head hair, my leg, armpit and down under hair are still all gone! Haven't shaved in I can't remember how long... lol! That all can stay away as long as it wants! Eyebrows and eyelashes went at about round 2 of Taxol.... and the do not look like they are coming back rt now either, I see some fuzzy blonde hairs but my eyebrows were way dark and those are prob just fuzz that didn't fall.
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sitting in the chair for a reboot of #7 ( they are not counting last week now). I did get steroids with abraxane, but not iv. I also got 1mg of Ativan for nerves. I start soon. Please dear god no more allergic reactions...
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Tres, praying Abraxane goes fine!!! I am sure it will!!!!
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I used to get sick to my stomach just walking into the infusion room. It was the most depressing room to me. It looked so nice when I first went in there. Sunlight (180 degrees of windows) a huge patio garden, you could see fountains in the distance. Yeah, sounds nice. Somewhere in the midst of taxol I couldn't take it anymore. Sometimes I was the healthiest looking person in the room (that includes companions of other patients) I would see people that were close to 90 years old getting infusions. I wished they had tents/curtains in there so I could disappear and not deal with the reality. Looking from the back of the room at everyone getting infused started to resemble a bad horror story, but I think I was just mentally done with chemo.
I am glad I did not quit, though it was tempting. Very tempting.
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It did not occur to me that all the places don't have private rooms? Mine only has private rooms? I do not think I could handle a big open room.
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Tres: Please report back. I am thinking of you today.
Princess: I am with you. I am happy we have private rooms.
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my place had a couple private rooms; mostly a lot of recliners in an open room though. The private rooms are usually people who are very sick or there all day. I have always felt good, so I get a recliner that is closeto the bathroom as well as the snacks.
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hooray for abraxane! No allergic reaction! I felt so much better during the infusion. Even on my "successful" infusions, I always felt like my body was at war with itself in the chair. I didn't feel that way at all today.
We have private rooms and chairs. I used to sit by the window...but I got moved to the principals office today ( right by main desk) because of last week.
Very tired though. They doubled my Ativan because I had such anxiety,. Off to sleep. Interestingly I still needed huge doses of steroids. Reducing my steroids is what set off the taxol chain reaction.
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Tres: Great news! Take it easy. Enjoy the Ativan.
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YEAH !!! Tres!!! So glad it went right for you this time.
My infusion center has little cubbies... not really out in the open, when you are in your cubbie you can't really see anyone else!
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Tres, so glad to hear it all went well.
I alternate between two infusion centers, one near the oncologist and one near my home. They both have private rooms, but the doors are usually kept open, so you can see what's going on. There aren't any open areas with recliners; it's all semi-private.
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Leigh - I'm with you (and everyone else!) on just being done with it. I had #10 Wednesday, then spent last night in the ER with fever and bronchitis. They sent me home with antibiotics - very glad not to be staying.
Kara - I'm so glad to hear you are continuing with treatment. Sorry to hear of your breakup and move.
Tres - glad the Abraxane went well.
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Hey All, I have a new SE! i just had Taxol #3, came home and was in my usual coma. I woke up and my feet are swollen, red and feel like I ran 3 marathons. And my heels are numb... I have drank about 100 ozs of H2O and I take all the neuropathy supplements. Just gave myself a foot rub (I am alone). I am going to go soak in Epsom salts if I can make it to the tub. It's that bad. Anyone else have this? Any suggestions?
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i had that happen last week ( not the numb heels, but the swelling) I ended up with a blister on my foot because my shoes were so tight. You should call you MO office. Do they have after hours nursing line?
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yes. I am going to call first thing when i get up. Poor footsies
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I was having swelling everywhere so they think it was the sterpods. But they told me taxol can cause swelling like that that is severe in hands and feet. Please keep us posted.
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I do not have the swelling, but my heels are completely numb (but not my toes). I would call today
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Agree, call the doc. My heels are fine but bottom of toes are numb. About five weeks into Taxol, I did have the swollen and very itchy feet. It did go away after about two feet.
One of the things I keep reminding myself is that it's okay to ask the docs/nurses for help. I also find the chemo nurses--the ones who do the actual infusions--have seen it all and know more than anyone else about SEs.
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Hi Everyone,
Lieghrh - Awesome - bet your some relieved!
Karabesque - Sounds like an allergic reaction to me. Do check ASAP.
NinjaMary- I think we all get to that point with chemo. Glad your hanging in there.
Tresjoli2 - Hurray! Such a relief huh?
So I went for my chemo yesterday covered in hives. No chemo for me. Kept me awake the night before as they are so itchy. My hands are the worst. red swollen and so itchy and hives up my arms and behind my ears. Even my throat is some swollen. I was put on Hydroxzine , suppose to be much stronger than Benadryl. So that may be the end of Taxol for me. My MO said he's done some research and he thinks Taxol is causing my bowel issues (finally got relief with that) and the hives that have come and gone but now worse then ever. He said it is too dangerous to give me another Taxol. He is seeing me on Thursday and will let me know what is next. The chemo nurse said I may have to take a break from chemo till I get scans done. However they booked me for another chemo after the appointment with him in case I'm ok to do it. Not sure what kind, doubt that it is Taxol.
Cathy
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Cathy, that sounds scary!Maybe they can switch you to Abraxane too.
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This week coming up is #5 out of 12 for me. Yay! So far the worst SE has been horribly bruised nail beds on my fingers and toes. It's quite painful and has prevented me from running (my sanity saver) a few times because it just hurt to wear shoes.
After a nasty reaction to the 50 mg (!) of benadryl, I convinced the doc to cut it out completely and I did great! Whew! I love not feeling like a space cadet during treatment and for hours after. I also got him to cut back the Decadron to 8 mg from 12. The steroids keep me up and I usually get like 3 hours of sleep for the two nights following treatment. On the bright side, I get a lot of stuff clean around the house! Hahahaha!
Hair wise, I think it's starting to grow back, but it's hard to tell. Losing my hair was the hardest thing for me. It was nearly down to my butt. I laughed to read about some of my fellow east coast girls whipping off their do rags because of the heat (and hot flashes)...that's been me, too! And I'm super self conscious about my bald head, even though everyone tells me what a beautifully shaped skull I have. Ha!
We are getting there, girls. Yes!!
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Cathy definitely talk to doc about abraxane. It worked well for me last week (though I am still on 20mg of steroids). And I had a really bad hypotension reaction with hives on taxol
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Helplesslyhoping, I got them to cut the Benadryl, too. No luck on the steroids, though. One of the chemo nurses did confirm that some people really do get high on Benadryl, it's not just sleepiness that makes it difficult. Chemo nurses: the world experts on SEs.
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well, one thing is for sure. abraxane kills your appetite and makes you sick to your stomach, at least in my case.
That's a new one for me. I took compazine yesterday but it didn't work. Odd that the same drug in a different format causes different side effects. 0 -
Sorry you are sick Tres
Maybe it will be for this week only and your body will get used to it! My biggest complaint now is these damn fingers and toes... I can see my toenails lifting and my fingers just HURT!!! Makes me ragey when there is nothing I can do about it!!! School started for my boys this week so I am not looking forward to the craziness. the summer has been nice not having so much to do. Now I can look forward to our 3 hours of homework at night Karen and Allison.........this is the week right?? # 12.... ALL DONE!!!! So excited for you two!!!
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