Weekly Taxol group
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Hi all! I'm new to this group but am in the Chemo March 2016 group as well. I started Taxol and Herceptin on Leap Day and had my 4th weekly treatment today. So far, not too bad. Worst SE's are constipation (which I finally got under control) and neuropathy.
DFWFLYGIRL, how much glutamine, lipoic acids, and Vit B6 are you taking? I had some neuropathy in my toes before starting chemo (don't have a positive diagnosis on why but know that I am not diabetic) and it sometimes is worse on chemo. I REALLY want to ward off the neuropathy, but it would be impossible for me to ice -- it just aches. I have enough trouble if my feet get cold. My MO isn't a huge fan of supplementing, but gave me the OK for 100 mg of Vit B6, 5g of pure L-Glutamine powder 2x per day. I didn't ask about Alpha Lipoic Acid. Are you having success with your regimen? I have found that if I actually DO my speedwalking (3 mi) everyday, the neuropathy is better, but still want to supplement to make it even better.
Anyone else doing any of this?
BTW, my MO said that Vit B6 can CAUSE neuropathy too. So he limited me to 100 mg.
Oh, the finger and toe nail thing scares the crap out of me! So far after week 4 I have nothing.
Also, having a port is so easy! Weird but easy.
Glad to be here with you sharing our experiences and helping one another.
Hugs to you all.
Jean
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my fingernails are turning dark, any suggestions?. I finished #8 last week. Thanks all, and good luck on this bumpy road...
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sally22: I have chemo spots on my hands too. One day I noticed them and thought my hands were dirty so I washed them and realized they were spots. My MO said they would go away on their own in a few months.
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Teaner-Good to hear you are tolerating your Taxol. I hope the neuropathy gets better. I have only had 3 rounds and just started the supplements regimen this past weekend so a bit early to tell. My doc prescribed 600 MG Lipoic Acids Daily; 10 Grams of Glutamine powder the first four days after Taxol and then 1 Gram daily thereafter with nothing on infusion days. He also said B6 100 daily. He then said I could take Aleve as needed. The bone and muscle pain the worst for me along with fatigue. I also am icing so hope it all helps:))
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Gabby- do your nails look infected? I heard to soak them for a few minutes in vinegar/water soak. That would kill any bacteria. Also, are you taking Biotin? I read that was helpful for nails also. Good luck with #9!
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nolagirl1126.they don't look infected. Just some dark on my thumbs. I have chemo tomorrow and will ask them to look at them.
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Gabby 56b, I was part of a study and iced my hands and feet during taxol starting 15 minutes before and ending 15 minutes after infusion. I had some discoloration in my toenails but never lost them. I finished Taxol a year ago and discoloration in big toenails is just about grown out. I also used tea tree oil, you can get it on amazon, on my nails as it is a natural anti-bacterial. Some people say to use black or super dark nail polish to protect them from light which reportedly contributes to discoloration etc. I started taking Biotin after my last chemo which helps with nail and hair growth. I think my MO advised against taking it during chemo. I am still taking biotin and hair and nails are doing great a year later. All the best, MJ
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Hello Ladies
I had dark come on my nail beds on my hands during AC. Just finished 2nd dose dense Taxol and they are no worse. Toe nails no change. But I use almond oil a lot, and coconut oil. Got the idea off one of the threads. Also my hair is definitely coming back on my head during Taxol.
The bone pain is horrible. Nothing works. I'm on b6, glutamine, i guess it would be worse if I wasn't. Narcotics only take the edge off, this too shall pass.
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Hi all, my turn to join you ladies. Just had my first Taxol/Carboplatin today, 1 down, 11 to go. I'm a little nervous about the side effects, I did pretty well through AC.
Thank you all for all the info!
~Kelly
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welcome Lifealoft!MJS1266- I had heard about dark nail polish, but I thought that was just to hide to spots...hadn't heard about it protecting against light! Ugh...I was painting with clear to give some strength and to see if they had any spots. 😕
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Today I got halfway through. 6 down and 6 to go. Very few SEs so far. A little grumbly tummy but I am sure if I ate better.... It's interesting. My mom or sis go with me. Mom was watching me today and said she can see the color fading as I go through treatment. I had makeup on and didn't realize it had faded. Barely losing hair. I lost more last year after my gastric bypass. Still taking biotin so wonder if that is helping?
Had a great nap afterwards today. Now I just need to stay awake to watch basketball. Hope you all are doing well
.
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Hey Ladies,
I just finished Taxol #3 and so far okay...but day of always decent with all the premeds. Deaconlady-woop woop on hitting halfway mark and I like basketball too..who is your team?
LifeAloft-you have your first one down.......how are you feeling?
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DFWFLYGIRL, I am a Duke fan, but pulling for the ACCBat this point. Not a UNC fan though, but I am from NC so feel like I should pull for them. Who is your team?
Hope you continue to do well! After they pump me full of Benadryl, Zantac, Zofran and steroids I feel like I should be up all night, haha!
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hi all!
Taxol # 10 today! 2 more to go! MO said the last 3 weeks are the toughest. Using the tramadol for pain and start the Medrol dose Pak tomorrow for 7 days to hopefully feel a bit stronger and less pain.
Came home and napped a bit and had some dinner. Time for the couch and Netflix .
Tea tree oil might be helping the nails but they are still looking sad.
Hang in there everyone! We can do this!
Sawyer
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Sawyer...another one down. .you are soo close to being done...love it!
Deaconlady -I am a Kansas Jayhawk fan and Kentucky but they got booted last weekend. Rock Chalk Jayhawk:))lol
I an still up after infusion today at 1249am lol
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DWFLYGIRL, I'm up too from my infusion today! Currently almost 2:30 and I have to be up in the early morning to drive back for OT to deal with post mastectomy problems. The real kicker is the one thing I can't stand on chemo is coffee so no caffeine boost for me. Guess these steroids better pull me through tomorrow!
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DWFLYGIRL, just starting day 3 and I'm doing ok, I was moody as heck last night, not sure what to blame that on 😝.
Sorry you ladies are having trouble sleeping, that's one thing that I don't usually have an issue with.
Off to get my Neupogen shot.
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Ladies
Day 5 after 2nd dose dense Taxol. Awful. No taste, pain is subsiding. MO said it's accumulative, so I can expect worse? Yuck. Have a wedding to go to tomorrow, hope I feel better.
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Sawyer you're almost there!
Treatment #9 was Wednesday. I have been so tired. The steroids kept me up that night as usual, slept maybe 4 hours. Usually have lots of energy on Thursday but not this time! Didn't do anything but get a shower yesterday. Haven't accomplished that today. Have been in bed, resting. My last treatment should be April 13, the ro will be at the treatment center and will do my scan for rads before chemo. I'll be getting 35 treatments. I had thought I could start right away but now I'm wondering about it. If I feel this tired, no way. The drive will be about 45 minutes, closer than chemo but still. Also, bone scan last week was good.
Valstim How often are you getting treatment and how many? Sorry if I missed it somewhere. Did you make it to the wedding?
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HI Ladyhumps
Thanks so much for asking. The wedding is tomorrow evening. Looks like I'll make it.Tried on a few dresses, with wigs and have settle on a choice. What will be good is it's the first time DH and I have been really out other than a quick dinner
. I am nervous about the questions: What stage? Answer: The stage that needs treatment. Prognosis? I'll tell them that life is the prognosis. I've been warned, folks ask really awful questions. One of the check in clerks at the Cancer Center gave me these tips.
The bone pain finally subsided either on it's own, or with the help of Tramadol.
I had 4 dose dense AC and will have 4 dose dense Taxol. I just had # 2 of Taxol. They explained with my IBC, they wanted as much chemo in me, before surgery as soon as possible, which will be around the end of May. My last Taxol is scheduled for 4/18. Hope there are no delays.
Believe it or not, I'm really positive about my outlook, though Triple negative IBC, lord is a doozy, especially on the Internet, but oh well. I'm a glass half full person.
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I had does #1 of taxol/Herceptin/perjeta today, only 11 more treatments to go lol. it went pretty well, but it took soo long to do these this first time. I did pretty good until right at the end of the taxol. I got a super dooper hot flash and my blood pressure shot up to 158/90 so we stopped for about 15 minutes until I was back to normal then finished up. I was so nervous today not knowing how I would react. I figure ill try to get some housework done before the steroid crash.
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Valstim52- Loving your "glass 1/2 full" outlook! Have fun at the wedding...sometimes I just pretend that I don't hear the cancer questions. I just smile, and walk away.
Sayer, Ladyhumps- wow, Time flies...you're almost there!
Deacon lady- I'm still right behind you...done with #5. Congrats on the 1/2 way mark!
Excuse me while I vent- but I started with discharge last weekend, and now am in the middle of VERY HEAVY period...to the point where I am scared to stand up too long. I called MO office...my MO is off today, so talked to MO on call. She said it sounded like a gyno issue. I told her no, I have always had 28 day cycles...now this one 10 days early and heavier than ever! Also...day 5 of heaviness. She told me to call OBGYN...I told her he does not see patients on Fridays and the on-call doc would tell me to go to emergency room...and what good would they do? She said, "I don't know what to tell you then." I was so disgusted. All I wanted to hear was some sympathy, and got none. Very upsetting. I know Taxol can make your hormones go all whacky...and I'm not a Dr.! I think I'm resting this weekend and will go into OBGYN early next week. I know there is a hormone shot they can give to stop the flow. Just scared of any hormones, especially since I am triple positive. Just thought I would have better/any info from the MO office! 😔
That's all! Back to being my positive self again! Thanks for listening :-).
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Nola, can you call their office now and leave a message that you need to be seen first thing next week? Of course as soon as you do that, the flow will decrease
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LovemyVizsla- I tried, but basically no answering machine. I'm kind of friends with receptionist, so will call at 8:30am on Monday and beg my way in.
Thank you!
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Nolagirl, ugh!! Sounds miserable. Hope you get some relief soon. I had a hysterectomy in 2008. Went off my estradiol this past September at dx. It's not as bad as I thought, I simultaneously freeze or hot flash at any given time!! 😁
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Valstim52 I hope you enjoy your night out and if you feel like answering questions I think you have perfect answers in your comment above. Otherwise, do like Nolagirl and pretend you don't hear. Twice at family gatherings I've had to ask could we not talk about cancer. I just needed to have a good time and be as near to normal as possible! I hope you plow right on through chemo, too, with no delays. Like the glass half full way of thinking, too.
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Hi Ladies
Had a marvelous time. I could actually taste the food. Seems like day 6 after infusion is the charm for my taste buds to come back. It was a beautiful wedding, and no questions, though a few asked how I was doing. It felt good not to be focused on me, and my Cancer.
Today, back to reality with tingling in my feet. Oh well... 2 more to go.
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Glad to hear you had a good time! Rest up today, seems to help the tingling some for me.
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Thanks Ladyhumps. Seems to be working for me.
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Is anyone else getting blurred vision??? I've been noticing all day today that I'm really sensitive to light and everything has a bit of a halo around it. My vision seems to blur on and off, like my contacts are dirty (but they aren't). It's definitely worse in my left eye.
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