Weekly Taxol group
Comments
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I have the lifting big toe nail too. Not oozing anything yet though but it's freaking me out and I'm scared I'm going to hit it wrong at the gym or running or whenever and it's going to jump ship.
MsBrompton, is your nail growing out and staying on? Looking at my big toe it looks like a little more than half of it is 'still connected' and it's kinda diagonally connected. Hoping that's a good sign that this will just grow out slowly and will stay put.
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My big toe nail looked discolored during my Taxol days too. For a little bit it looked like there was something oozing from there, at times it was a little bit tender, but no real pain. When it felt tender and I was worried I would accidentally kick something, I would wear a band-aid around my toe - at the advice of my husband, a podiatrist. Right now it looks like about half of it is attached too, and I'm hoping it will just grow normally and stay.
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For anyone that has silver hair and hates it - Ulta sells coloring glaze! I got the brown today - and it didn't color my hair brown, but it took the brightness off the silver, made it just a light light light brown? Anyway, I think it's better!
When can we color our hair??0 -
Back onto the toenail topic, my dark toenail is a very happy toenail now. It's just dark. Not falling off any more, not oozing. I have to resist the temptation to poke it and see if anything's going to come out :-).
ALSO, when it was bad and oozy I took a lot of B vitamins and I wonder if that made it get better....
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Hi everyone. I have my first taxol on Thursday and I am kind of freaking out about it. A/C was only hard on infusion three. I am also starting back to work on Monday. I am worried about side effects and how I will feel on Monday. Any tips please!!!
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Mamabear, I had Taxol on Fridays: Saturday I was hopped up on steroids, and Sunday or Monday was the day that I crashed, and if I had any gastric side-effects, it was then. But I was okay by Tuesday. So if if your experience is like mine, you should be okay by Monday. Good luck!
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Hi Mama Bear,
I have been on the same schedule as you only I am starting week 5. I found Saturday was my day to crash, Sunday tired and Monday thru Wed pretty good. I work M-Wednesday. The only major SE's have been fatigue, taste changes, and hair loss. Very manageable..Best,
Judi
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MsBromton and Yoshi... I just jinxed myself in my last reply. Was looking at my big toe to check out the nail just now and pressed it a bit. A nice yellow-ish liquid oozed out. SO GROSS. I'll be keeping it clean and putting tea tree oil on it a few times a day. Ugh this is annoying.
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Anyone else had issues with their port stopping constantly during taxol. Mine has worked fine on AC but since starting Taxol I can't move without it shutting down. It is driving us up the wall. I can't get it changed as i have the blod clot in the heart so looks like I need to be a staue for the last 8 infusions.
Karen
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Hey everyone! I am new here, been posting on the Young Survivor Coalition boards since my dx but thought I would jump over here as well! I will have my 4th round (out of 12) of Taxol this Friday. So far the only side effects I have had are insomnia, fatigue, and taste changes/metal yuck mouth as I call it. Also very mild neuropathy in my fingers. I am doing tea tree oil on my nails at night and so far no issues.
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Conclusion from the last 20 posts:
1. Weekly taxol is usually very bearable - it's not nice but it doesn't land you in intensive care.
2. Don't poke your toenail if it looks as if something squishy may be underneath.
:-)
WE CAN DO THIS, LADIES!
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Hey Julie! Welcome over here, I recognize you from YSC (jlove over there)! It's a great group of ladies over here, and definitely more active than the other boards.
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I just had my first of 12 weekly Taxol this past Monday. Tuesday I had the steroid high and today I am just tired.
Is this the norm and if so, what might I expect tomorrow and the next few days? I had a really rough time with the AC and I'm just
waiting for some really bad SE's to hit. When did neuropathy start for those of you who are experiencing it? I would appreciate any
info and advice. Thanks all!!
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mama26, I was tired days 3 and 4. Other than that, just taste and sinous issues. Remember, not everyone gets neuropathy, mine hit my toes between 4 and 5 and my fingers around 9. It wasn't painful but tingly and numb. I was definitely ready to be done at week 12. Six months later and I'm still dealing with it but MO discovered a B-12 deficiency so hoping taking B-12 will help the neuropathy improve. Even if it doesn't get better, I can live with it. Hang in there.
Forgot to mention I had chemo first and Taxol kicked my cancer's butt. There was no cancer left at the time of surgery, so the SEs in my opinion were worth it.
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Mama-I am on round 3 of Taxol, will get #4 on Friday. Take a deep breath, it is night and day different than AC! The worst SE I have had is the fatigue, like most I'm on a steroid high the day after and then tired. I get infusions on Friday, have my high on Saturday into Sunday, then crash Sunday afternoon. Monday and Tuesday are the worst days for fatigue and then Wed/Thur it is pretty much normal, just in time to start all over again! I started having mild neuropathy right away, only when I'm sleeping, I wake up with numb and tingly fingers and toes, shake them out and it goes away. After my second infusion I also started getting metallic tastes (and small sores on my tongue) the day after infusion and for about 3 days then it goes away and comes back each infusion now for the first few days. I also have mild constipation but nothing like I had on AC,it's manageable with OTC meds. Hope this helps!
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Nosebleeds are common on Taxol so don't freak out. They immediately stop when Taxol is done. Also, I learned that if you have a high grade cancer such as 3, you are more likely to get a complete response from chemo. I had grade 2 and still had some cancer when I had my surgery.
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I am new to this board but I started with a dose dense taxol for my first treatment but got neuropathy in my fingers and toes and also had a squeezing feeling in my calf so they thought it best to switch to a lower weekly dose. I just had that treatment on Tuesday so I am not sure what I will experience as far as SE. I noticed my face seemed to be really red on one side and wondered if anyone else had that. With the dose dense and this treatment means I have had 4 so 1/4 of the way there. Also I iced this last time and was wondering if anyone else does and if so do you use ice packs or put your hands and feet in cold water and ice. I am hoping this will help the neuropathy from getting any worse. The information on here is always so helpful.
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Duzy - I was in a study for the effects of cryotherapy on neuropathy with taxol - it works!!! I had almost none - which was just mild temperature sensitivity - no numbness or tingling! And my nails stayed healthy other than turning light brown.
my DRs office has the hand gloves and footies - as seen here:
http://www.amazon.com/Elasto-Gel-Therapy-Mitten-10...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443616249&sr=8-1&keywords=cold+therapy+gloves
They put a paper glove/footie on my then the cold glove - this is what the researcher thought most important - the gloves go on 15 MINS BEFORE taxol is started. my taxol was 60 mins - so at 30 mins into the taxol infusion, switch out the gloves to a second fresh cold pair and leave them on for 15 mins after the taxol (so 90 mins) - as I get premeds and the post work of unhooking you, it didn't make the total time take any longer.
The researchers were surprised by the results - no numbness/tingling/pain neuropathy in any patients. I had temperature sensitivity only, which is completely tolerable.
Now, those cold gloves are COLD. Uncomfortably cold for a few minutes but they do warm up- the little bit of discomfort is well worth it if it helps you avoid neuropathy - do check with your MO tho, I have heard that some do not allow it.
Good luck!
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I asked and while they don't have anything they provide they don't care if you do anything. I will have to look at the mittens and gloves. Thanks for the information. I just used ice packs on the tops and bottoms and then we wrapped tape to keep them tight against my fingers and toes. It was just a lot of work but well worth it if it works. The gloves seem like a much easier solution.
Thanks you for the information
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mama26, I finished up 12/12 Taxol last week. Days 4-6 were my worst...fatigue and body aches, but some weeks were much easier than others. Not everyone gets neuropathy, but i did...and it started on week 3 mainly in my fingers and hands. As time went on it became more pronounced in my feet. My MO held treatment for 2 weeks and it got better...she gave me the option of holding other weeks, but I wanted to push through and get done. In the past week the neuropathy has already improved, so I'm hopeful it will continue to! I've been taking B6 since week 1.
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I'm going for my 6 of 12 taxol tomorrow and I'm all ready to reach the half milestone! Just a word of caution for everyone who's experiencing some level of neuropathy.. I've been having numbness on my feet and hands, and when I'm not careful when I walk, I trip and twist my ankle. Sort of feels like the ankle gives way.. And I fell while I was crossing the road yesterday! No open wounds, just a slightly inflamed ankle and some embarrassment. And then I nearly tripped while I was on the stairs today. So.. Just wanted to remind everyone to be extra careful when you're out and about!
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Heading to the infusion center in a couple of hours for #6 of 12!! 27heart and I are on the same schedule and my guess is she is counting down just like I am.
I started feeling slight tingling after #4 but this past week it's been a little more pronounced and I've had some slight numbness in my fingers and toes but it's come and gone. I'm asked every week if I have any of these symptoms including falling. My MO has told me numerous times that it's very possible we might have to stop for a week or so if I need a rest but all I can think of is powering through!
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Thanks all for the info and tips. Today I am feeling fatigue. Much more than yesterday. I hope it gets better before I go in for #2 this Monday. My MO doesn't do the ice for neuropathy. I'm not sure why. I will have to ask. Hope everyone has mild SE"s!!! Take care.
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I have to admit that I've had very few SE through this entire process but the fatigue has definitely been an issue and has been worse since I started weekly taxol. I am still working full time so there's that but sometimes I think that has actually helped.
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Just came home from week #2 Taxol. Small episode of diarrhea and short of breath. I am waiting to see what happens with my neuropathy . I already had moderately severe idiopathic neuropathy before I was dx with bc. My MO doesn't know if it will get worse or nothing will change because I am so far ahead with symptoms.
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i am surprised how much I ache today and have felt sick to my stomach. I am two days out from my treatment. Is this normal? I hope these SE don't last the whole time. Hope everyone else is managing ok
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I developed neuropathy in my fingers and hands after treatment #10. I told the nurse that my hands and fingers were numb. I toes were slightly numb, and my lip was numb. They went ahead with treatment number #11, and put me on Garapentin. I got the infusion on Wednesday, and by Friday I was experiencing facial numbness- it was even in my throat, and it scared me to death, so I called the office. They told me to increase the amount of Garapentin I was taking. I found something called benfotiamine, and I'm taking B-12, and a B complex as well as D-3. I am going to go get some B-6., Anyway, I opted out of #12, and wondered if anyone else has NOT completed the 12 taxols, and was it your experience? I was a Stage 1-A, Grade 3. My surgeon cut the tumor out, got clear it all, and got clear margins. I was given the chemo because I had a high Oncotype 47.
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Shanann, While I didn't skip any, I think it is fairly common not to do all 12. Maybe someone can weigh in here.
Mama: Does your doctor know you are experience shortness of breath? Please make sure he/she does? That can be a symptom of something more serious like a blood clot.
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My infusion passed pretty uneventful today, PTL! I think if grown resistant towards Benedryl.. I don't get as much high from it, I didn't even fall asleep today! Maybe I'll ask the nurses not to water it down the next round. Sigh I think im missing my "past life" so much, I'm getting kicks out of getting high out of chemo! I turned on the radio this and the steroid-me started dancing in my room! Gosh I miss those days before cancer struck a like lightning into my life. ;'( Okay enough whining! Today is a happy day for both me and maximum! ^5 on making the half-mark!
I record my SEs (and mood that goes with them) in days:
Day 1 (infusion day): lots of steroids induced energy. Happy!
Day 2: girl on steroids can take over the world! Pew Pew! Happy!
Day 3: girl coming down from steroids. Energy level lowers. Contented
Say 4: back ache.. Diarrhoea.. Mild fatigue. Feeling meh.
Day 5: mega backache, mega fatigue. Even standing hurts. Very moody and wishing I didn't have cancer while curled up like a worm.
Day 6: feeling much better! Diarrhea. Normal functions! Happy to not be suffering!
Day 7: normal functions except for diarrhea! Happy! This is my treat-day where I head out to have food that I love!
Day 8 (infusion day): poke, sleep, infuse, repeat!
So I plan my days around my SE schedule. It helps me to anticipate what's coming, whether I have any new SEs / infections, and most importantly helped me get through the worst days (3-5 for me) because I've managed my expectations on my body functions for those days, and also have prove that these sufferings will get better. It helps my mind stay strong and positive! Mind over matter is a very true thing. With a strong mind, we CAN give the f*nger to cancer.
Neuropathy is unfortunately something that I experience on a daily basis. I've read that some of you drink L-glutamine, I'm gonna request for some of that from my onco next week. The vit bs don't seem to be working much for me. Hope it doesn't get worse. Don't wanna end up rolling down the stairs!
Ride along! Weekly infusions pass really quickly.
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I LOVED steroid days. I got so much done. I wish I could be on them all the time. lol
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