Weekly Taxol group
Comments
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Hi Ausbear. After my first Taxol, I felt like I had a sinus infection the first week. It was better the second. I never lost my hair but it thinned. Now, almost 2 months after Taxol, I'm losing eyelashes and eyebrows on one side. Too funny. ...
Hope you feel better soon!
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I went for taxol #10 today, got my labs drawn. Went upstairs to wait for an infusion room, still not knowing whether my insurance approved me to switch to abraxane. They called from my MO's office, wanting to know what I wanted to do, take the paclitaxel, or switch to protein bound paclitaxel (abraxane) and risk having to pay the difference out of pocket if insurance doesn't approve it. Meanwhile, my husband got tired of waiting and called our insurance. He got an automated line that said it had been authorized. So I called back downstairs to let them know.
Bonus: abraxane is only 29ml, compared to 148 of paclitaxel, so instead of an hour to infuse, it's only 30 minutes!
Two more to go!
Congrats Blamom!
Hebrews, I haven't had any nausea, but I have powers through the fatigue by continuing to go for dog walks with my husband. I probably go 5/7 days a week. Exercise is supposed to help with side effects, so I try to keep going. And then I come home and nap.
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Thanks Deaconlady.
I'm mostly curious about it as right now I am rocking a mohawk - so there is not a lot to lose! Im dreading eyelashes and nose hairs falling out the most. The eyelashes because I love mascara and the nose hairs because I heard it makes a runny nose unbearable!
Hugs C
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Ausbear: I just did #6 weekly taxol, my hair started falling out last week. Still have brows, lashes most body hair. Pubic hair been falling out for a couple weeks now. So random and weird.
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I'm checking here late, but wanted to express thanks for all the posts and for your response Labscientist. I hope you infusions are going well. I have been Icing away, and now the medical assistant at the infusion room at least know a little bit of why I am doing it. I have to say, actually, other the the medical assistance the nurse seem less than curious as to the whys and wherefores of icing, which only confirms to me that this place is, in my words, backwards. My nurse last time offered to help make some "adjustments" to my ziplocked bags if needed, so things have improved there.
Each week I get a bit better at putting together my kits...really just a lot of ice and zip locks at this point. I am concerned that my large toe seems browner and I DO wonder if I should be keep all my toes INSIDE the bags (they get so cold like that!) rather than on top of frozen gel packs.
Any thoughts on that would be appreciated. I don't wanna get frostbite! Best, Ellie
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SUGGESTION FOR HOT FLASHES - FOOD/ or CAPSULE Form of Apple Cidar Vinegar
I started getting hot flashes last July due to perimenopause/ menopause and researched a natural remedy. I found that Apple Cidar Vinegar is a commonly used one. I can't stand the taste of vinegar, so I bought the capsules on Amazon. They almost completely elminated the hotflashing when It was "just" a menopause issues, and now I have some I *think* are chemo-related, but the are minor and upping my number of capsules
(two capsules of my brand are 500mg, and I upped to taking four or so a day) The MO didn't mention having a problem with this supplement. She is a bit blase about reviewing the supplements and nixing anything. I really think the Apple Cider Vinegar has helped me both before and now during Chemo (I am just in early menopause).
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Eleonora23, check my pictures earlier how they put ice on toes and nails at Sloan Hospital in NY. They do NOT put toes inside the beg!
I was told Sloan did study on icying and actually nurses place ice begs on me. Before each treatment they ask me if I want ice or not. It is optional but offered to those who would like it.
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hello
I have not been here in ages. I finished 12 weeks of weekly Taxol May 2. I am feeling good. I still do not have all my energy back. I lost my hair and it is starting to grow back...just fuzz right now.
I started doing radiation May 25. Not fun!! I have large breasts and under my breasts where skin meets skin it is raw. It is really sore. I am almost done. I have 8 more treatments left.
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Hi Viktoryak, Thanks for the offer, not sure where to find your pics! I did find a set of pix on here a while back and the toes seemed to be in the bag. Would love to see them...link?
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Eleonara, I think I erased these pictures from my phone, but if you look up my postings in this group there should be a picture and posting done by me while back that shows how they do it in my hospital. Toes on the top of the ice not inside, but nails I actually deep in plastic bag with ice. No direct touch to ice.
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Praline, glad your hair is growing back and you are gaining energy. I'm afraid I'm going to have the same radiation issues as you. How many zaps are you getting total? Can you put a soft piece of cloth where skin meets skin
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Hi all -
I'm having a hard time finding the right thread.
I will soon start AC every 2 weeks for 2 months followed by weekly Taxol for 12 weeks.
Advice? What can I expect?
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Hi all. I finished Taxol at the end of May and NOW the neuropathy and side effects are setting in! My brows and lashes have fallen out again, my two middle fingernails are in horrible pain and look bruised underneath, and my middle toes are going numb.
Also, I can't tell if this is nerve damage from the ALND or Taxol, but I seem to have nerve pain all the way down my right arm--starting up in my armpit--and my fingers (especially ring finger and middle finger) are tingling. During the night my arm and hand have started going completely numb, as if I had fallen asleep on it, but I'm sleeping on my back. Has anyone else experienced this?
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missBee
I have numbness in the tips of some of my fingers. I finished taxol last Thursday. I can't open a can of pop have to get my kids to do it. My nails feel numb too. My eyelashes I think maybe I have 6 left for both eyes. My two big toe nails are starting to change colour
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I have it. Had dose dense Taxol, finished 4/18 and it's really kicked in. Exactly as you described MissBee. Especially after my masectomy
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I have burning and tingling all down my arm from the ALND. It doesn't respond to normal painkillers but they've given me gabapentin and that's made a huge difference. Before that it was so painful it woke me up at night whenever the arm came into contact with sheet or clothing.
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I see several posts on people with neuropathy. Have you tried supplementing with vitamin B12? It may be worth checking with your MO on B12 injections. I'm not sure if the nerve pain down the arm would be fixed by this, but the finger and toe pain might be.
Just today I read an article on peripheral neuropathy resulting from a B12 deficiency. The deficiency could result not just from simple malnutrition. For example, taking proton pump inhibitors, like one I was on to prevent acid reflux, could result in malabsorption of B12.
Here are some links:
http://home.kpn.nl/hindrikdejong/chemo-B12.pdf
http://peripheralneuropathycenter.uchicago.edu/learnaboutpn/typesofpn/systemic/nutrition.shtml
I'm halfway through Taxol with no peripheral neuropathy, but I've stopped taking the PPI since I had reflux just once. I also plan on eating more B12 foods. I do have numbness in my armpit from ALND, but I don't have nerve pain down my arm. I am on Lyrica for sciatica already.
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everyone with neuropathy: take L glutamine supplement it helps a LOT. I take one scoop twice a day in liquid or protein shake or yogurt. Its made a big difference in my pain this week. I ordered it from Target.com
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I started L glutamine 10 grams 3 times daily after my first taxol and it stopped the fingertip pain and tingling. Have had four treatments and only had issues with my first one. It was recommended by my MO. Ordered Seeking Health brand off of Amazon. Also started a B12 supplement a little over a week ago. Take care everyone.
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I got a lot of swelling starting last week after Taxol #9. Did Taxol 10 yesterday and asked my MO to lower steroids. He said No. He doesnt want to have a chance to get allergic reaction and screw up whole chemo. I can't see myself in the mirror, hate it. Anyone else experiencing swelling? How long does it last? Any remedies? I also gained 5lbs in 2 weeks , I assume it's water retention to, since I eat good and Exersise..... When will it go away?
Mo said yesterday that vanity is bad...well...I don't know we r still women sick or not we do want to be somehow attractive, aren't we?
P.s. 1am steroids keep me up. Took half of Xanax pill hope to fall asleep.
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Victoryak, sorry you are going through that. I haven't had steroids since week one of taxol. I've even lost 8 pounds due to lack of appetite. You on,y have two more to go, right? Hang in there.
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lovemyvizla, how did you get your MO to reduce your steroid or not given them to you at all? While others drs. Refused. I don't think I needed them but on what basis can we say we don't need them and let these Dr. Know. So far I'm on third week Taxol with minor body aches around my legs, thigh, third day after chemo, and feeling cold all the time. I don't eat Alot of meat, just chicken, then tuna, and salmon. Just yesterday I read that feeling cold is part of anemic and they suggested dark chocolate, bought that and so far so good. But the aches go away Wednesday so don't know about next week. Im hoping if I don't feel cold then I don't feel pain neither. PS. I started to use the hot tub in my master bathtub and it's a really a good all over massage. I don't think it takes away the aches but about 20%. Hey anything helps.
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Houston, I had read from others on here, or maybe in some literature, that if you are going to have an allergic reaction, it is going to be in the first or second taxol. The reaction is an infusion reaction, meaning shortness of breath, racing heart, etc. my nurse stayed in the room for about ten minutes the first time, and gave me decadron and benedryl. I was fine. The second week, they dropped both pre meds and the nurse stayed in the room for about five minutes to make sure I was okay. No problems, no pre meds.
I made sure I told them that I don't function well on benedryl. At all.
If you are cold, you could be having fevers. Every afternoon, I get the chills, and sure enough, a slight fever. My MO doesn't see too concerned about it because it doesn't go over 101. This has been going on for about 6 weeks.
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Thanks for your reply, I feel cold but not chills so it's not fever because my temp is always at 98 at time of infusion. My RBC has been low but hemoglobin is good so I'm suspected it from that. I just need to beef up my iron and see from there.
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Houston, I feel sometimes chills a day after. Sometimes i have chills or mostly hot flashes. Nights are horrible. I wake up all sweaty so many times during the night. I also have very red face next day after infusion.
I also have a bit low iron. My Hospital has website where I can look up my tests results and I do it regularly for myself. So I noticed I have low red blood cells and hemoglobin which are signs of low iron. I stoped eating red meat as soon as i found out i have BC. But there are some other food that has iron in it. Chicken liver, sardines, oranges, spinach..etc...
As for steroids, I don't know why but my MO (who consider to be very good in his field) doesn't want to low dose. He told me reason is allergic reaction. But it is not the same reaction as LoveMyVizla talking about. Anyways, I will continue to be some fricking seal or elephant for the next few weeks... Hope once they stop water retention will go away fast.
All the best, ladies!! I am off to try to sleep.. well doubt it will be real without any xanax today.
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I'm cold all the time, too. And get chills and fevers some afternoons. And the hot flushes in the night.
Right now it is a lovely 22 degrees (71F) and I am snuggled under blankets! It's crazy
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I have not eaten red meat since day one and everyone I talked to said red meat and liver. Well, my blood work shows RBC going down little by little but Dr. Said hemoglobin is acceptable level. I'm not fond of red meat so I read and eat dark chocolate with oranges for better iron absorption. Let's see if that improves. My feeling cold comes with the body aches sometimes and that usually the weekend after Thursday taxol. This month is the first month I have no period so hopefully menopause kicks in. One good thing is I have not experienced hot flashes or anything like that. But if I do I would drink Korean ginseng. It is even recommended by American Cancer society. You ladies should try it.
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Has anyone else been experiencing headaches on Taxol?
I've been getting headaches, but not sure if it from the Taxol, or whether I just need to drink more, or if it is from my aching shoulder, chest and neck muscles.0 -
Nope, no headaches for me. Plenty of other stuff though
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Yes BlueKoala, headaches like the flu that go with body aches. This week bad sinus headaches with nose bleeds 2x a day. Also sometimes my scalp hurts, and my brain hurts like when you been outside in the sun all day @the beach.. I am on weekly taxol.
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