Weekly Taxol group
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Hi everyone,
I amdone with #10 of 12 weekly taxols. My last will be on Dec. 26th. I have done well on these. My biggest issue is neurapathy in hands and feet. I am taking B complex.I don't think that helps much. Neurontin sucked so could not use that. Made me Atila the Hun. It made the tingling worse.
I use a swish used in rad treatments for my mouth and throat if I need it. I get nose bleeds if I blow my nose or in the shower. Hair is growing. It is thin but it's hair. Eye lashes coming in but not too much by way of eye brows. I stay tired. Seems it got harder as the treatments go on. Food tastes bad. I only like cream of wheat. I lost over 4 pounds last week. My nurse wondered if i was eating. I am but not much. Nails look checkered.
I landed in the hospital after my first Ac treatment. So i had dense dose changed to lower dose and every 3 weeks. It was rough. It got better around 3rd and 4th. Glad these were easier.
Anyway seems like most of us are getting through these.
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I'm so grateful for this thread, and all of you ladies who post here. I started AC on Friday 12/07/12. Getting 4 treatments every 3rd week, then on to 12 weekly taxols.
Thanks for all your input.
Blessings
Paula0 -
My hair grew back while I was on Taxol. About week 2 1/2, my lashes and brows went. They didn't during AC. The eyelashes started coming in right away. Many of us liken this to having the new lashes push the old ones out. About week 4ish soft downy fuzz came in and my hair grew from there all through the remainder weeks.
2 weeks post Taxol I had hair come out like I'd been to the salon and had thinning shears. I kinda thought I was going to lose it all again - but it didn't and just kept growing. Lashes thinned beginning of August.
Most people have lashes that are on a 3ish month cycle - so be prepared to have thinning and/or multiple losses every 3-4 months for a while until they get out of synch with each other. Just lost quite a few inner upper lashes last week - but not lower or outside upper ones.
Enjoy the downy fuzz if you have that. Loved the softness as did my husband :-)0 -
Hi Everyone,
I am doing my last 2 taxol treatments. My last will be Dec.26th. It has not been to bad on Taxol. AC was rough. I am growing back hair. I even have a few eye lashes now.
Rose
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Quick question ... Been waking up with a fever for 14 days now ... Usually 100.3 or so. Goes away With Tylenol. Did 12 weeks a/c and 9 of 12 weekly taxol and herceptin. 3 more to Go!!! Doc is checking me for TB of all things but he thinks its a menopause symptom. Anyone heard of that?
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Katharine, no such symptoms for me. I guess I never thought about whether hot flashes during menopause would actually cause the body temp to rise, but it seems logical. Are you having night sweats? I hope you find the cause soon!
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Hi all, Just found this thread. I'm done on my 9/12 Taxol and 3rd Herceptin infusions.
I will have my symptoms appear on the 3rd and 4th day from infusion. Muscle aches, bone pain esp lower jaw and back of the neck. 3rd day will be excruciating for me. I have this severe headache that can bring me to tears. Hot flushes is expected too.
But this is nothing as compared to A/C cycles. Even with Emend , i have nausea and vomitting. The 4th cycle, I landed in hospital (Emesis).
3 more taxols to go and I'm done with chemo. My lashes and eyebrows has totally dropped off. When I'm in an airconditioned room, I had to apply eyedrops.
My next appointment will be for another taxol /herceptin session next thursday and Muga scan the day after.
End of my Christmas whining....
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Katherine. I would be very concerned about the fever. Sounds like some kind of a bacterial infection. The Taxol can reduce your White Blood Counts, and that is your immune protection. After my first A/C in spite of the Nuesta, my count was .7. The chemo nurse gave me a stiff lecture.
"Stay away from crowds, especially children. No touching. wash hands or use sanitizer constantly. No raw foods. Everything cooked very hot. No mowing the lawn. Air full of dust and mold. No hands in dirt in the garden. You get a cold, you end up in the hospital"
Then I had five additional days of Nepogen shots ending with my WBCs on the high side. The oncologist reduced the dose by 20 % and the count never got that high again. I was to call the oncologist any time my temperature got over 100.
I talked with the cook in each restaurant we eat out in, and made them aware.
Shut toilet when flushing and wipe most things at home with sterilizing wipes.By the way, my brother is a dentist, and one time one of his patients was on chemo with a reduced immune system and didn't tell him. When the dentist injects novocain, it thrusts germs from the mouth into the skin. This led to an infection in the patient. I think my brother would have started hin on antibotics first had he known. I was told or read to get my teeth checked before starting.
Does your oncologist know about the fever?
What about your GYN?I havent cought anything yet, but we have been very carefull--even wearing masks on the plane on a recent trip.
I don't think the fever is a side effect of the Taxol or menopause. Have you googled fever and its causes?
We all hope you are feeling better soon. Hugs and no SE0 -
Just to share what my doctor always say all the time
....in case you have fever, quickly admit to hospital. That's because of low immunity during Taxol treatments. They have to check ur WBC.
Fever is not a symptom of menopause. Its more to hot flashes.
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Thanks all!
Last week doc took six vials of blood and tests were all negative. Going for lung X-ray today to check for TB of all things. Ive always been a bit OCD about germs and hand washing so being careful. Plus I don't leave the house much. Good news is that I woke up with no fever this morning! Doc thinks its viral so maybe he was right. I'll keep you posted ... Thank you for the help!!!!!!0 -
I hope that you are feeling better.
Rose
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Katherine, my Dad ended up with TB many years after exposure to it -- during the Korean war, 1950ish and ended up with TB in 1988/1989. When your immune system is depressed, it can rear its ugly head from exposure many years ago. Hopefully that is not the case for you. If I remember right, he was on antibiotics for 9 months. Wishing you the best!
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Thank you Pinky! Haven't gotten results but will let you know. Fever finally broke last night so feeling better today. Hope everyone has a great holiday!!!
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Hi,
Today is my final Taxol treatment.
12 . I had 4 AC treatments. Getting my port out on Feb.5th when i have my Bilateral Mastectomy and direct to implant surgery. Wishing you all well as you do your treatments.0 -
So sick and tired of being sick and tired. Went thru 12 weeks of A/C and now on taxol/herceptin .... Only three more to go! Then six weeks of radiation. I'm a VERY positive person but it got to me today. So I've given myself 24 hours to wallow and then I'll try and be positive again. Guess I needed to vent. Hubby and sons have been great today trying to cheer me up. Some days are just harder and darker than others. Chemo tomorrow ... Then only two more to go!
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Hi Katharine,
I know what you mean. The last few Taxols have gotten to me. I really wanted to blow the last two off. Well I did not. I hope you can muddle through them as I did. I rang the gong yesterday.I did not ring it too loudly. Did not want to disturb the other patients. I just was glad to get the heck out of there.
You did twelve weeks of AC? Maybe that is more tolerable? I did my Ac 4x at 3 week intervals. The first one was dose dense and landed me on a 4 day hospital stay. I could then not do it at 2 week and at that dose. My Onc changed the dose and timing. I would have been done around Thanksgiving. Instead I ended yesterday. All good.
I have neurapathy in hands and feet, very tired and food tastes nasty. Hoping that passes soon. Take care,
Rose
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Hi ladies,
I'm gonna join in with ye. Have completed 6 of 12 wkly taxol, they gave me this week off because of the holidays (merry xmas to you all) and I'm back in next wk to start the next half. I completed AC treatment in Sept and had my MX shortly afterwards. I was given 6 wks off to heal (which is the norm in my hosp) so I had major hair regrowth when I started Taxol, unfortunately it is now beginning to fall out again but honestly I have a full head of hair in 6 wks, so don't worry about hair loss too much, it will grow back! My only side effects on Taxol have been a runny nose & a change in my tastebuds. Hoping it'll stay that way for the next 6. Hope everyone is well xx
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Yes .. I did the 12 weeks of a/c ... Every three weeks. Made me really sick. The neuralasia shot was the worst part. Hated that damn thing! I actually think the taxol/ herceptin is easier. Nurse told me that radiation will be easier. Fever finally broke!! I don't have TB and antibiotics worked. Feeling better. Hair is growing back too although my teenagers say I look like smeagol's mother from lord of the rings .... Lol .... So mean!! I'm gettin there. Just got home for chemo so only have two more to go!!! Wahoo!
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Hello Ladies
Just wanted to give you something to look forward to. I had my last taxol on 10/2/12. I put previous post about getting tired I think with the last 3. My hair continues to grow daily. Did lose most of my eye brows a few weeks after but they are back. Finger and toe nails are back to normal, never lost any. The black areas are only at the tip now by the next cut should be all gone.
Not sure if I ever mention this but I would get a soapy taste in my mouth every now and than. Felt like I took a bit of a bar of soap. Gum or hard candy took care of that.
I know it seems like it won't end but it will. I'm still in shock that I have been done with chemo almost 3 months! Never thought the day would come.
Hang in there ladies remember its a small price to pay for living. Lots of us are waiting on you guys with welcoming and open arms! See you soon 😊0 -
Katherine, I did four A/C and now 4 Taxol with 8 to go. Ugh. Hang in there. We all feel that way sometime. Hugs.
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Good afternoon ladies,
Today is day 2 out from the end of chemo. Yesterday was busy. My boyfriend had a F/u appt. post surgery. Has to get an ultrasound because something was going on in the last one. Looking to see if it is a tumor or not. He had a bunch of surgery in August. So last night I was worried and got only 3 hours of sleep. I also had the effects of the steroids keeping me up. So I decided to take my free down at 6am.
I am dealing with the neurapathy. worse today than yesterday. Took a water pill because of swelling in hands and feet. Trying to rest a bit. Noticed my hair is coming out a bit, after it came in. Oh well... I guess time will tell. I am happy the chemo is over. Going to see PS on Wed. to sign consent forms and ask a few questions about my reconstruction.
Have a good day...
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Mareluna, congrats on finishing chemo! I'm now 21 days PFC and feeling well except that I have a numb big toe. :-/. I didn't have much neuropathy during taxol, and what I did have was kept in check with B6 and l-glutamine, so I assumed I would have no further problems. I'm visiting family in Illinois and started noticing the toe problem after I got here. I wish I had continued with the glutamine and B6 longer than I did after my final chemo...
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Katharine, join us ladies on the Triple Positive Group. We all are going through or have been through what you are dealing with.
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/80/topic/764183?page=466#idx_13970
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Thanks everyone!
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Congrats, Mareluna for completing the chemo rounds.
Going for my 11/12 taxol this Thursday. Now , my eyelids are burning , have mouthsores aside from usual muscle ache and bonepain/fingertip numbness. Gotta keep on the fighting spirit.
After chemo,I decided not to undergo Radiation Therapy.
i had enuff treatments.
I gave my nurse a fright on my last herceptin shot. I suddenly felt heaviness on my chest. Found out to be heartburn (gas can't escaped). They advised a Muga scan next week and its not cheap.
I noticed my shoulders are flabby. Gotta exercise after my chemo.
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yes,thanks for starting this post start taxol in 2 weeks! been good on ac.....will stay in touch best wishes for 2013 for all of my sisters! hugs
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Hi friends,
I have been resting as much as possible for the past 2 days. These last chemos have been rough. Feeling a bit better this evening. My boyfriend is on his way to take me to dinner.
Pixienel I hope your last two chemos go well. I was going to do radiation. But now I won't as I have decided to do the bilateral mastectomy. I was not going to but as I am BRCA 1 I need to do the surgery.
Patin I bought the L Glutamine capsules and started taking them. I was doing B complex during chemo. Hopefully it helps.
Have a good evening.
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Mareluna, the recommended dose of l-glutamine is 30 grams per day (broken up into 2 or 3 "installments"). If your capsules are 1,000 milligrams, you'd have to take 30 of them per day. I started off with capsules but then bought the powder instead. In Illinois I went to a GNC and bought capsules, and have been taking 15 grams worth per day, and still have the numb toe. When I get home tomorrow I'll go back to the powder, as I still have some left.
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PatinMN & Mareluna, The PA at my MO's office said not to use the capsules -- only the powder. Might want to check with your MO's office. The reason was that all testing was done using the powder, they could not stand behind the capsules. If you check, it would be interesting to see what your doc says.
o PatinMN wrote:
Mareluna, the
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Hello, I start 12 rounds on jan. 4th. Nervous. Reading the posts here is really helping me know what to expect. Thanks to you all
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