Weekly Taxol group
Comments
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reflect, I think my worst day on Taxol was day 3. Effects of weekly Taxol are cumulative so I found I was more fatigued as it went on. Have a lot of hand sanitizer on hand at school. I got a cold from someone sneezing on me on a bus around week 4. The cold didn't go away until Taxol was done. All the best, MJS
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HausFrau: I have the same thing with the consti/diarrhea and haven't found a way to manage it super well yet. Trying somethign different every week but no effective plan yet. I also have a super "sensitive" (read: works poorly and has had issues over the years) GI system, so I'm not really surprised. Chemo hits those fast growing intestinal cells hard, I hear.
For rash, the fluocinonide ointment I got from Dr. is working; the hydrocortisone 2.5% did not help. Bumps are reduced and itching gone when I use it. It comes in cream, too I think, which may be better for a face.
Deacon Lady: Let us know how the Herceptin only part goes! I have heard anecdotally that it is very often well tolerated and "easy" compared to the other chemos, though I am sure than can differ amongst us. Happy it's good for you so far! I'm with Kymberly (congrads on being done with T!) and would like to know what to expect for the H-only phase, too.
I had #3 TH yesterday, and a bad night of diarrhea. Will see how today goes. So far, one hour post eating toast and berries, I am okay..but the true test will be 2-3 more hours from now. Hopeful for a good afternoon here in California! If it is a "home" day, then I will head to the garden with a book and lounge on my chaise!
Have a good weekend everyone!
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Hi ladies, I have my second Taxol scheduled for tomorrow. The side effects from my 1st treatment are body aches, insomnia, no appetite and really bad anxiety. Has anyone else experienced anxiety and depression from Taxol? That yucky feeling really sucks 😕.
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Congrats Kymberly! I'm finished with Taxol too! Meeting with MO this week to discuss Herceptin only phase.
Hi DanielleH- I experienced some depression, but don't know if it was the Taxol or not. ItComes and goes...like the hot flashes 😳
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I also have the same as hot flashes bad mood ,depression. I think it is not Taxol But more about the whole cancer thing. I am going for my 3rd Taxol on Tuesday. So far Not bad. But I would say I have too much appetite..eating like crazy. Not such a good thing:( No much muscell pain yet.DanielleH- do you have a strength to Exersise? I found it very helpful for my depression. I have been exercising every day Even when I had headache... and it lifts my mood. It makes me feel "normal" again. Makes me feel like I can do it like someone who has no cancer. I am not sure what next 10 times will bring but as of now I feel like more or less my old. Praying it will not get much worst as I read on forums....
My friends are actually all shocked I run 3-4 miles a day. I think it might be steroids;)
As for sleepless night I take Xanax first 2 nights after Taxol to sleep through the night..
I also noticed for depression it helps me a lot to be part of this forum and be able to share my thoughts and experience with women who go through the same thing as I am. We all here to support each other!
Best of luck!
V.
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I have been trying to exercise on the days I have more energy. You are right it does help with the depression. I think I will ask for something for the insomnia as I am sure that isn't helping my anxiety at all plus the anxiety is effecting me from not being able to nap/rest during the day. I am hoping my bloodwork cooperates tomorrow as I had alot of trouble during my first 3 dose dense chemos with neutropenia (sp?) So much that they scrapped my 4th and moved onto taxol weekly.
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I had taxol #5 on Friday. I never sleep well on Friday nights. The last 2 Fridays I have read 2 books. My nose at night gets quite congested when I blow my nose lots of blood. Today I have body aches but will go out for a walk since it has finally stopped raining.I cant believe this Friday will be 50% done. Its going by fast but easier then AC.
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My white blood count was too low for my 2nd treatment. So frustrating grrrr. Try again next week.
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Well two down, 10 Taxol to go! I am not sure how this week was better than last week but so far it is. Hoping this is the trend for me. Noticing more hair than normal coming out, but that is to be expected-shaving it this week. Weight fain for me was 3 pounds in one week. I am going to start knocking off a few of the pre-meds-the Ativan, so I can drive to and from, and then possibly the steroids due to the weight gain and overall puffiness I am experiencing. Not sure if there is much to be done, other than cutting back on those and upping exercise whenever possible. I know none of this is a big deal at all, and other have so much other stuff to think/worry about. I think about all of you ladies when I am sitting in that chair, hoping that your infusions are going well and that you are all well sooner than later. Have a great week!
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Hi all;
Thought I would say hi and let you all know how you will feel about 4 weeks out from the last Taxol
The nose bleeds are almost completely gone now !!!! They were still happening until about a week ago.
Hair under my arms, lower legs, and "down there"....is coming in like soft baby hair LOL....so I guess its back to shaving.
The muscle pain and joint pain is manageable; at this point the MO thinks it is more related to deconditioning after so much sedentary non activity.
The steroids did do a number on my joints though; flaring up some old bursitis and tendinitis after they wore off...so there is dealing with that.
No more "sick" feeling. Not feeling 100% by any means but no longer having a sick feeling or any need for nausea meds.
Port is out. That was a bit weird. Having the site checked tomorrow as its sore and swollen but likely related to having just been in there so long.
Finger nails are still discolored and some will fall off but they are hanging on for now.
Radiation a bit stressful right now; just getting used to the daily routine; its different then the chemo schedule....that you had a week off; now its daily with the weekends off.
Still a bit tired but not nearly as bad as with Taxol. Rads is supposed to make you tired as time goes on but i am not there yet.
Hope this helps you see it will get better!
Sawyer
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Sawyer-Thanks for the update and tips! Good to hear you are moving past the effects of chemo and while not 100% still moving in a positive direction and radiation underway. Did your nails start discoloring before chemo ended or after? Hope each day/week gets better....many of us are right behind you on schedule
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Sawyer, Did you use icing for nails? I am on the way to # 3 now and my MO suggested to ice my nails, which I did for last 2 times.
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Hey ladies,
I'm also on weekly Taxol - this Friday is #4 of 12. With my initial four TC doses, this means that Friday is my 8th infusion of 16 so I'm counting it as halfway through chemotherapy. [We should celebrate when given an opportunity, right?]
I'm also a part of a study on cryotherapy and weekly Taxol - icing my hands and feet before, during, and after infusion to hopefully lessen the likelihood and intensity of any neuropathy from the Taxol. We'll see how that goes - the icing is a pain in the ass but I'll try it in case it helps. For those of you that are further along .... when did you notice any neuropathy - if any?
My biggest side effects so far include some leftover Hand/Foot Syndrome from the AC treatments (so I'm putting cream on my feet and hands twice a day to help minimize the damage). Nose bleeds when I blow my nose (but not lasting). Hair loss - I lost my hair day 17 of the AC treatment and am expecting that will remain gone until after chemo is all finished. Anyone else feel like Varys from Game of Thrones? Weight gain - the most unfair side effect of them all (at least it feels that way sometimes). I'm officially heavier than I've EVER been in my life. Sleep issues especially Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. I expect part of that is the steroid in my pre-meds. I've had occasions when my teeth ache and toenails ache (anyone else have this?). But by far the side effect I feel the most is the lack of energy. I know I'm now anemic and that will continue until treatment is finished.
I'm probably forgetting some but those are the biggies for me.
Hang in there everyone!
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I had also forgotten to mention that I believe that my second treatment went so well due to starting Acupuncture. I wasn't too sure about it to begin with, but I am telling you it works!
S
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I have also been doing acupuncture weekly since January and swear by it. It really has helped me manage side effects or intensity of them:))
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Yesterday was #7 for me. I asked about the steroid I was on. Decadron. ON said I was on 20 (not sure if she said grams or miligrams. She said that is a high dose. Anyway, I said I wanted less due to SE'S. MO dropped me down to 8 and said I can go even lower if I want. Last night had no insomnia or a single night sweats. I had been having 4-5 sweats every night.
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TheWonkaTonka: Congrats on being half way through! I totally agree, take any chance to celebrate! I just completed 11 of 12 on Monday. I did not do any icing at all. So far, I do not have any neuropathy. I do however, have fingernail pain. It started with my thumbnails a few weeks ago, and now every single finger nail feels like I hit it with a hammer. My feet and toes are completely fine. I'm curious to see if icing helps people not to get fingernail pain. Although, I feel like again, everyone reacts differently to these drugs.
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TheWonkaTonka
I am very interested in your cryotherapy study. I will be doing 12 weekly taxol starting in June and would like to try cold therapy to prevent neuropathy especially in my fingers. I have read various threads and advice from women but am especially interested in an official study and what they are recommending. Would you please share the protocol? How are you icing? I've read about frozen peas etc. but how do they stay frozen long enough? Are you wearing anything to protect the skin like latex gloves? When do you start and how long after the infusion do you continue? Are you also icing your toes? I am currently cold capping and having success saving my hair, so I do believe cold therapy works. I am doing my last A/C tomorrow then move to Taxol early June. Not sure if I can tolerate a cold head and fingers, but if its only 12 days out of my life, I'll try anything.
Thank you!
ILoveArt (I typically only post on cold capping thread)
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ILoverArt, let me share my experience with icing. I am at MSK Hosptial in NY that is consider to be one of the best in US. They do a lot of research. My MO also one of the top one in a field. He is the one who recommended icing. And I believe they already done a research on this before, otherwise it would not be recommended. But he didn't talk about preventing neurophaty but he said it might prevent nail damage. I explain how it is done. Right before the chemo starts, still I am on premed, nurse brings 4 ice zip locked bags. She puts on each on palms of my fingers holding my fingernails on the top . And same on the top bottom of my toes. I wear socks. Those zip lock begs have an opening (it is like double sandwich zip lock beg) and i slide my feet and hands in the opening. Bags with ice not touching nails but palms and toes. I hold it during chemo only. So far too early to say if it works. I just did my #3 yesterday.
I also do cold caps and yes it is very cold but you can do it!! I mostly half asleep all the time. Benadryl plus Xanax ( i take before chemo to have less stress). So for me time goes really fast in this sleepy stage. My chemo regiment is only one hr but it flies so fast because of all sleeping meds.
Let me know if you have anymore questions.
VK
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Hi Viktoryak,
Can you clarify for me? The bagged ice is on your palms, so not touching the fingernails, and on the bottom of your feet, not touching your toenails. Is that right? I am starting Taxol tomorrow and I really appreciate you sharing your technique! I want to avoid neuropathy and nail problems. Thanks!
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Yes. ice is on the palms not touching fingernails but i try to deep my fingernails in the ice to, even though nurse puts it on the palms. As for toes also it is attached to bottoms of toes not touching toe nails. I will make a picture next Tuesday when at treatment and post it if you would like.
I would also recommend to ask your chemo nurse about it if they offer it at your hospital. Sometimes they do not offer unless asked.I hope this information helpful.
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Thank you so much! I understand it now. My MO said OK if I want to use ice but I'm sure I'll have to do it myself. My hospital is quite...behind the times.
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I spent 5 hours in the ER yesterday. I noticed a bump under my elbow but I thought I had banged it yesterday I had my husband feel is it felt like it had a bump in it. Went to the ER where I got to sit in the ER waiting room with everyone my husband said cant she wait somewhere else she has cancer and a lower immune system. The nurse told hi. To grab a mask. Seriously. Saw the doctor he thought it might be a blood clot.i had one 2 weeks ago just outside my PICC line. He sent me for ultrasound. Yes it is a blood clot. He basically told me I have 2 choices I can either continue with the PICC line for the next 6 weeks but go on blood thinners or have the PICC line removed. I go to see my oncologist this morning. I am really hoping to have it removed.
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Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear that. Wishing you good luck with everything. I hope they find an easier solution!
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saw my oncologist today. Tomorrow after chemo we are pulling out the PICC line. The chemo makes your blood thick so I am now on daily blood thinner shots for 8 weeks. I have a nurse coming to do it tonight and she will show me how to do the shots myself. I can do this for 8 weeks.
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thank you everyone for specific information on icing. I am starting weekly taxol on Tues ar City ofHope annex. Gonna ask for ice, or bring ziplocks myself. seems like a super simple thing to protect nerves & nails. good to know what to do0 -
I did not ice my nails. My MO suggested tea tree oil. It helped with the pain that started during chemo but didn't prevent the nail dying. I have 4 that will likely fall off. They don't hurt anymore but they are yellow and black and thick....
Sawyer
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I was part of a study and they used neoprene gel filled mittens and booties. They put them on 15 minutes before changed them half way through and I kept them on 15 minutes post. I have some mild neuropathy but was able to do all 12 treatments. Most women in the study had no neuropathy. Hope this helps, MJS
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had number 6 done today 50% done with chemo. The nurse removed the PICC Line she was all excited thinking it was my last chemo she was more bummed then me when I told her I had 6 more to go. It went really quick and easy removing it. I did my second blood thinner shot by myself while the nurse watched. I went a little fast she said one more appt with the nurse and then I can do it myself
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pease send me your positive vibes that my blood counts cooperate so I can receive my 2nd taxol 😒
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