Weekly Taxol group
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Eleonora: You can put your ice bags in a cooler or one of those grocery bags that are for cold stuff. That is what I do. The nurses at my place would probably help if someone asked but it isn't something they routinely offer. Also, for my favorite nurse (I go twice a week between infusion and port draw, so I've seen them 16 times now., and some are better than others and some are more friendly than others, but they are all actually quite nice where I am..), I've brought homemade cookies (baked by someone else, which I didn't want to eat) twice, a lot on a plate so they can share at the station, and I tell the nurse that they are for everyone but I wanted her to get to them first! Good luck!
Vizsla: I have a rash on the back of my head near my neck (quite large and visible as I have now shaved my head), and I had a bad arm rash for two weeks on both arms, when I discontinued Benadryl after 24 hours. It's definitely either from Taxol or Herceptin but Herceptin doesn't usually cause rashes and Taxol can. And, when I take regular Benadryl every day for the first 4 days, round the clock, and then at night thereafter, the rash does not come on my arms. I hope your heel stays fine. It stinks being bedridden, but the pain alone makes me stay off the feet and of course I don't want blisters and ulcers!
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LovemyVizla, you might want to check with your nurse or MO about a neupogen shot Wednesday. I was told no neupogen allowed the day before infusion.
I'm sorry to hear about those whose nurses aren't supportive of icing. My MO (at a major NCI cancer center) is now having all her patients do it. I would suggest scoping out your chemo suite next time you're there: do they have a freezer? Do they have an ice machine? If yes, you can either buy an ice bag at the nearest grocery store or make your own using their ice machine. All you need is some ziplock bags to put it in. Ice cubes in a bag last long enough for the infusion, but I'm not sure if gels would. And remember, you're the paying customer here, so you're quite right to make sure they accommodate you.
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Zoziana: hope yout hands/ & feet are staying managable and that you can swim again! How was the museum with your daughter?
Eleanora: I wish you had my MO and my pathologist, who is my boss at a sister Medical Center to the one down the street with a satellite of City of Hope that I go to. I am a Clinical Lab Scientist, who does the testing on blood and body fluids, maintains the machines, does QC and calibrations etc, as well as blood bank testing. The pathologist runs the lab and does the gross (as in size, not ickyness) exams of surgery specimens and reads the pathology slides and peripheral smears when they are stained to confirm disease states. I will be praying for you tomorrow, as I take my steroids on premed day, my next infusion (#5) is on Tuesday. Be Strong and Courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you may go. (Josh 1:9) GRRR, we are fighting cancer, and we are gonna win!!! blessings, ((hugs)) and prayers, A
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I have had 2 weekly Taxols so far and am finding I have a mini crash on Day 3 after the infusion. As Taxol is cumulative does this get worse with each infusion and does it last longer than one day as time goes on. I had a slight tightness in my chest area over my heart yesterday which made it uncomfortable to go anywhere. I was afraid to leave the house. I didn't have this on the first round. I took a Diazepam/Valium last night and this definitely eased it out. Today I am feeling much better. Just wondering what side effects others get on weekly Taxol. So far I feel it is much better than AC.
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Ladies, did anyone experienced sensation like with UTI when you peeing it is kind of painful. I had it on and off. I told my MO last week during my visit, they took a urine sample and it is not UTI. Then it stopped . Today i experience it again. It is kind of painful when you peeing in the mid of "the process" then it stops. I am drinking now more water. Hope it is not UTI . I have my #8 tomorrow. There no way I want to delay it because of some UTI or something. Anyone has same sensation? Any suggestions what to do? My MO doesn't let me use any supplements or vitamins besides Vitamin D I am taking.
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Victoryak, are you drinking enough fluids? I've had a little twinge of a uti feeling, but take it as a sign that I'm not drinking enough. Had a urinalysis run recently and it was fine.
It is my understanding that you can have neupogen up to 24 hours before your next infusion.
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what is neupogen? I just drank plenty of water and it feels better!
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Oh sorry, I was answering Maya15 about the neupogen. It is an injection that stimulates white cell production in the bone marrow.
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I had my crash day today. I slept all night last night but got up with the kids saw them off to school and then crashed on the couch and slept til 12. Lots of muscle aches and hip pain today. But I felt so much better after my nap. I find it always happens on Mondays since I have chemo on Fridays hence why I call it crash day.
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Numb - I pretty much crashed about 1 1/2 days after infusion from weeks 1-3. The fatigue seemed to get a little better as my hemoglobin count started going back up. Last time was much better after they reduced the decadron and benadryl. The fatigue hasn't lasted as long. I've had no other side effects. I have iced my hands and feet for 2 of 4 treatments to avoid peripheral neuropathy.
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I'm having my 11th taxol treatment tomorrow. This past week I flew to Vegas with my family for my husband's 60th birthday. On the last day I felt my upper arm getting heavy and achy. Just wondering if flying may have caused this? I've been doing the massage that the OT taught me and the exercises she showed me how to do to strengthen and help with range of motion. I'm not sure I should continue the exercises and just do the massage. Also, two fingers on each hand are starting to hurt at the tips. Wondering if this is neuropathy? They do not tingle. Just when I use them or apply pressure to them there is a slight pain. (Like pushing on a bruise) I'm seeing a dermatologist on Wednesday for my rash on both hands, elbows, and now moving to the tops of my toes. Hopefully all of these side effects will go away in a couple of weeks after I'm finished with Taxol, however, after taxol I will have three or four rounds of AC that I'm not looking forward to.
mwr
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I have my infusion on a Monday, feel almost normal until I crash at lunch time Wednesday and can barely move until Friday afternoon.
I've had once or twice burning wee, but upping my water has cleared it.
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So it appears that most people on Taxol get a crash on Day 3 or thereabouts. I suppose one day of a crash is doable. This is probably the only side effect I am getting so far. I was fine yesterday and today so far. I did find I couldn't use my little finger on left hand for about five minutes one day, but then I started stretching all fingers and was able to move it again. I have no pain so far either. Do the side effects get worse as you do each round ?
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In my case, I had the Taxol on Thursday, felt fine on Friday, feel aches all over Saturday and Sunday with my fingers and toes got sore. This continue throughout this week but to a lesser degree and I thought it should go away. Lucky for those ladies who do not have any pain. I asked my OC if these aches continue with each round and unfortunately she said it shouldn't but everyone is different. I'm going in for blood work Wednesday and Taxol again Thursday. Just hope and pray that these pain don't continue.
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Numb- I found that the side effects either got easier to deal with or easier overall the longer I was on Taxol.
Soooo, I managed to keep my hair (cold caps), eyebrows and eyelashes (Brian Joseph gel) through Taxol/Herceptin, BUT just lost my eyelashes and eyebrows 5 weeks PFC. Literally, all in one week. I will admit, I ran out of my Brian Joseph gel at the end of chemo. Directions say to keep applying 60 days PFC...but I didn't. I am now on Herceptin only and hair loss is not a side effect. Any other Taxol only ladies have a similar experience?
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Nola, I managed to keep some of my hair, some of my brows and lashes through AC, and rough 8 weeks of taxol. Now my eyebrows are jumping ship, and I think my lashes are too. Probably too late to try Latisse.
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NOLAGIRLl - That's great that you didn't feel an accumulation of side effects. I am starting to lose more hair from my head. It had stopped for a few weeks, but now after Taxol 2 it is starting to fall out again. Eyelashes and eyebrows are still in tact.
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Hi ladies, I like to know if anyone goes to their dentists for dental hygiene during chemo? I have delayed mine since April due to AC but felt like I need to have it cleaned now. My concern is do I need to let the dentist or his staff know I have BC? or was that necessary with HIPPA. With my RBC and WBC running low during Taxol I'm worried that dental procedure causes bleeding. Thanks ladies for your inputs.-
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I was told to absolutely avoid the dentist during chemo. Taxol causes gum bleeding as it is, and MO said too much risk of infection/bacteria getting in where it bleeds. I haven't been since last October.
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Nolagirl, I am on taxol only. Had 7th treatment yesterday. I am also doing Cold Caps (Arctic). My hair were fine till last Friday when it started to shed a bit, but so far not as bad. However, this morning was a lot a front t but then stopped. But it might be also because my husband screwed up yesterday cold capping and forgot to remove headband that was supposed to be removed after he applied protections on forehead. He realized i still had it on after 3 hours. I am afraid i will lose my bangs now where that headband was. I am also using Brian Joseph. So,do I need to apply it for 60 days after? I read a lot of people on Taxol loose eyebrows PFC... like even 8 weeks after... that's scary.
As for dentist question, I went for xray yesterday because i felt i had infection and abscess . I took care of absess by gargling with warm salt water and coconut oil holding in the mouth and then spitting it out. But i still have infection inside my tooth where old crow is. I went to a dentist and since i can't do anything Dentist offered an antibiotic shot to last me through Taxol. After i am done with chemo I will have to get rid of that tooth. But I asked my MO first if I can do antibiotic shot. I was told it's ok. Going to get that tomorrow. I hope it will not give any side effects. Anyone had anything like it?
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Viktoryak- week behind you, I did lose a lot of my hair-shaved it, but it's growing back already. Still have Eyebrows, all of them and eyelashes. No icing here, so I would say it is working for you. Week #8 coming up and I am so tired, was fine until week 7. reflect I had the same problem with numbness and tingling as well, up to the thigh area. It is very concerning, so much so they dropped my Taxol dose by 10%, on visit 5. It has helped quite a bit, but still some left over tingling in toes and overall feeling of wearing a stocking off an on. I am moving forward one treatment at a time! I see the Doc now every week due to this Neuropathy, they are monitoring it pretty closely. What they seem to use as a gage for me, is if symptoms only lasts a few days after treatment, and is intermittent and not always there = it is not permanent and will go away (who knows for sure though). My attitude is starting to decline as now that I am so tired it takes longer to do things, and workouts are slowing to 2x a week. Just tired overall of the routine as well, staying positive is a something I have to remind myself to do daily. This site helps me to do that!
Thanks,
Slapp
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Hi ladies. I started posting in the Starting Taxol June 2016, but it doesn't seem very active compared to this one, and I've found all your posts and information really valuable!
I completed two weekly doses of Taxol, then last week my first major set-back. While I had sailed thru dose-dense AC, Taxol has other plans for me. Like most of you my symptoms started on day 3 and were gone by day 5 (most of them). I had stabbing joint pains, irritable bowels, sore fingernails (that one has hung on and some discoloration in thumb nail), all manageable, but the most concerning is facial numbness (apparently a rare form of neuropathy) that hasn't wavered or subsided in over a week.) I do, and have been taking the glutamine. My third infusion of Taxol would have been Monday, 6/20 but my OC wanted me to hold off and monitor the neuropathy. She gave me a shot of B12 and sent me home. She said if it didn't get worse we would tack the extra treatment onto the end of my 12 weeks, and reduce the concentration of Taxol by 15%. I'm now freaking out about the effect of missing a dose, the effect of reducing the concentration, the possibility of not being able to continue at all, the possibility of permanent facial numbness or worse. Ugh!
Thanks for letting me vent. It helps to "talk" to women that might understand my fears.
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rubyslips- I feel your pain with the Taxol. I have soreness on the hands and toes but that last after few hours on the third day. But the nerve pain muscles ache started third day but linger on less and less on to the fifth day. Overall so far I feel better with Taxol than AC if only I don't have the muscles aches. I just hope cut does not continue throughout the whole 12,weeks.
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RubySlips-I also had facial numbness, my tongue and mostly chin area. It was pretty scary! It did go away once they did the reduction by 10% on the Taxol. I am staying at this dose for the remainder of my treatment, they have mentioned taking it back up, but this is where I am comfortable- balancing treatment vs. side effects. My Onco says still effective treatment with reduction. I also had an MRI (head) just to make sure there wasn't something else going on, that was all clean. I hope your symptoms subside and you are able to continue with treatment. Best wishes to you!
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Well, they aren't sure what is causing my rash, but just in case, my MO is going to try to change me from paclitaxel to abraxane. It is mixed in albumin, instead of an oil. Albumin is something that is already in our bodies. My insurance has to approve it, so it will start next week. Meanwhile, here we go with taxol #9.
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My legs became swollen....Right more then left. It also feels a bit numb where toes are...Anyone had similar experience? Is it steroids? Anything to be concerned about?
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hi Girls just have the final lovely Taxol cocktail on Monday next week and this whole chemo madness will be over
16 treatments cannot believe:) I still have my hair its growing and almost 1,5cm long (lost it with AC), have my eyebrows also. Im feeling well the only thing is fatique and sometimes short of breath on D4 and 5. Toenails look awful. Luckily no tingling or numbness. MO wants me to take Tamoxifen for 10yrs I said no. Wish power and all the best to all of you and a huge thank you for all the useful and helpful info and support you gave me here 
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congrats DDaisy on finishing chemo.
I had my 11 Taxol today. One more to go and then onto radiation for 4 weeks. My finger nails look horrible, toe nails are fine. Eyelashes I have a few left eye brows are hanging on but have thinned out. Looking forward to see how my hair grows in. The doctor wants me to come in to see her end of July to do blood work my liver counts have been all over the place but she thinks it's from the chemo. Can't wait for the Runny nose to leave. should have bought stocks in Kleenex. I can't believe chemo is almost done
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blamoms: huzzah, whoot, whoot, hat's awesome that you are almost done! Hang in there, you can do this!! Interesting that they are not doing A/C on you, I will have that after my 12 weeks of taxol. (next Tues is #6!) My finger nails are sore, but look ok. got one big toe turning black. Have had bloody nose every day, not to bleed all over my face, but make my sinuses hurt and bloody the kleenex. Never thought I would be shoving aquafor up inside my nose! Just had my blood drawn today, checking tumor markers again. blessings to you! A
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Victoryak, the numbness sounds like neuropathy. Not sure about the swelling. I know my doc asks me about it when she sees me.
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