Come join others currently navigating treatment in our weekly Zoom Meetup! Register here: Tuesdays, 1pm ET.
Take our poll: Caregivers, what do you find most difficult about caregiving?
Weigh in: What are the best and worst gifts for people with breast cancer?

Weekly Taxol group

1…227228230232233…426

Comments

  • covered69
    covered69 Member Posts: 6
    edited December 2016

    Hi all, I've posted in the Dec thread

    Today was day 2 of Taxol--10 more to go. The first was without incident and today only belly ache due to the amount of water I've drank so far. Slight tingling in feet, a bit of loopiness--for lack of a better term but nothing else yet. Bracing for the hair loss, hoping I have until Christmas.


  • Keebee85
    Keebee85 Member Posts: 4
    edited December 2016

    hi ladies! Just started my weekly taxol, along with herceptin and pertuja and out of nowhere, my period has shown up two weeks early. Anyone else notice this

  • stephilosphy00
    stephilosphy00 Member Posts: 161
    edited December 2016

    My hair started shreddind after #4 Taxol.

  • vlh
    vlh Member Posts: 773
    edited December 2016

    Other than hiding dark nails, what's the logic behind painting one's nails with dark polish? Is it to protect the nails from UV rays? (Apologies if this has been asked & answered before...I couldn't scroll through more than 200 pages.)

    Thanks, Lyn

  • covered69
    covered69 Member Posts: 6
    edited December 2016

    Righ now I'm only on Taxol. Within the next two weeks my MO wants to began a trial chemo---can't remember the name willcome back with it later---he wants to add it with the Taxol. I'll be a lot more prepared to speak of the purpose of this trial chemo on my trip neg/brca1 positive diagnosis probably after my next round. Should write things down :-)


    So far I'm amazed and only slightly opptimistic😊 By the lack of side effects. A bit of fatigue but so far that's all. It's only 9 days out so I'm enjoying the calm.....for now....

  • positive2strong
    positive2strong Member Posts: 209
    edited December 2016

    IS Taxotere what you all are calling taxol

    They want me to take Taxotere and Cytoxan 4 infusions 3 weeks apart

    Anyone on that?

  • seq24
    seq24 Member Posts: 451
    edited December 2016

    Positive2strong--From what my MO told me, Taxotere is not the same as Taxol, although it is in the same family of drugs. Taxol is typically given weekly for 12 treatments and from what I've read Taxotere and Cytoxan are given together on the schedule you are going to have. I had 4 rounds of AC and am going to have my 8th round of Taxol this week. There is a website, Chemocare.com, that my oncologist office uses to provide drug information to patients. It is a useful resource for all types of chemo related drugs. I've referred to it often. This site might explain the differences between Taxotere and Taxol. Hope this helps.

  • covered69
    covered69 Member Posts: 6
    edited December 2016

    #3 infusion today. So far nothing but sleepy due to the Benadryl. Also started spotting last night. Scared me to no ends(I'm BRCA positive) I've never had spotting between periods. MO said it's normal but would like to know if anyone else experience this

  • aterry
    aterry Member Posts: 142
    edited December 2016

    seq24, thanks for posting about the Chemocare.com website. Also thanks to everyone who has posted on this thread. I've read the posts Nov--Dec and the information is really helpful. I'm in round #4 of AC. Next week my MO is doing tests and then deciding which drug to move onto next. Originally it was to be Taxol but last week she mentioned Taxatere. She won't decide until they do an ultrasound to see if there has been shrinkage of the tumor. She also mentioned Carboplatin. My AC experience was in line with what many of you have listed. I had fairly typical SEs. This round I have more fatigue. I hope I bounce back, at least a little, before starting the new infusions. Thanks again.

  • tsu
    tsu Member Posts: 37
    edited January 2017
    Hi, just had #17 of weekly taxol, hair thinned about #6 but started growing fine baby hair about #10. A few eyelashes fell out, then that stopped too. They are still sparse and eyes are watery sometimes. Just wish I could get rid of the feeling tired all the time.
    Be kind to yourselves!!
  • tsu
    tsu Member Posts: 37
    edited January 2017
    Yes at kgh, God bless them! Always looking out for everybody and making things go as smooth as possible. Couldn't imagine doing this anywhere else! Can't say enough good things about them
  • nayda985
    nayda985 Member Posts: 270
    edited January 2017

    Hi my Taxol friends:)

    I have 2 Taxol left...thought I had 3..lol...I lost count somewhere...I am just amazed at how time has flew ;by...I am thrilled to be almost done with Chemo....but now I am very scared about how having the surgery....I don't know how I am going to feel afterwards..both of my breast will be gone...wow....but I will be glad the tumor is gone..i know that...just afraid of the unknown again..like I was before I started chemo...but I know I will get thru it....:)

    Happy Hump Day ladies:)

  • Oasis2016
    Oasis2016 Member Posts: 26
    edited January 2017

    Just had #8 today, 4 more to go and can already feel some numbness on 3 toes on my right foot. I have been icing and taking vit B complex and L-glutamine. Is there any exercise that will help?

  • seq24
    seq24 Member Posts: 451
    edited January 2017

    Oasis--Not sure about any exercises for neuropathy. I was told by 2 different nurses though that drinking tonic water is great for neuropathy, both in preventing it and helping if it has already started. They said it also helps with leg cramps. It apparently has a great affect on the nerves. I will have Taxol #10 on Friday but when I was about on #6 I felt a slight tingling in the tips of 2 toes. I got the tonic water and after about a day and a half the tingling was gone and I have not had it come back. I drink one or two glasses of it a day. It tastes kind of yucky but I put a little Crystal Light mix in it and it helps a lot. I have never heard about tonic water, but the nurses both told me it is a tried and true remedy for neuropathy. I also take B complex and B6 and was told if I wanted, to take L-glutamine too, but I have not done that.

    Good luck. I hope this helps.

  • aterry
    aterry Member Posts: 142
    edited January 2017

    I had my first Taxol infusion yesterday (Wed 1/4/17). They gave me Dexamethazone and Benadryl as premeds and 2 others that I've forgotten. Day two, so far, is uneventful.

    On Tuesday I had an ultra sound. It did not show as much progress and we'd hoped for. There is minimal shrinkage of the tumor. The better news is that the lymph nodes look good. My MO had been considering adding Carboplatin to the Taxol because of the ultrasound results but in my last round of AC I had bruising on my left arm and on the last 2 days I had phlebitis on my right arm. She is holding off on the Carboplatin. I'm grateful for the reprieve from side effects (I gather Carboplatin SEs are closer to AC) but I'm a bit concerned about the lack of shrinkage. My MO said that it is good news that the tumor has not grown and we may see shrinkage from the Taxol. Also, she can add in the Carboplatin later. She did increase the Taxol rounds from 10 to 12.

    Also she is referring me to a geneticist and they may do a full genetics panel. The results of that would not guide the chemo decisions so much as the surgery decisions to follow.

  • aterry
    aterry Member Posts: 142
    edited January 2017

    Regarding the neuropathy risk with Taxol (any Taxane, I guess), my MO also mentioned the L-Glutamine as possibly being helpful. I'm planning to start on that today. My exercise routine is a daily walk and I hope that will help. I have not heard about tonic water. Here's a url for a summary of results of research at the University of Washington into L-Glutamine neuropathy issues: http://depts.washington.edu/integonc/clinicians/spc/l-glutamine.shtml

  • vlh
    vlh Member Posts: 773
    edited January 2017

    Nayda, losing your breasts, especially at such a young age, has to be disconcerting. Soooo close to finishing chemo though. Yay!

    I hope the neuropathy doesn't get any worse, Oasis. I've only had two Taxol and am feeling some numbness in my hand today so seem worried about what's still to come.

    Lyn

  • nayda985
    nayda985 Member Posts: 270
    edited January 2017

    my nails are almost completely black...glad I only have 2 infusions left...I have been experiencing a lot of sensitivity with my fingertips and pain also and a little numbness. My feet also are giving me a fit...the sole of my feet has turned black and my toe nails are half way black...my feet feel achy all the time now...will be very happy when this ends.

    Sad


  • stephilosphy00
    stephilosphy00 Member Posts: 161
    edited January 2017

    Will have taxol #8 tomorrow. The bottom of my feet start getting very itchy this week and today is worst. Any ideas how I can help myself?

  • SerenitySTAT
    SerenitySTAT Member Posts: 3,534
    edited January 2017

    steph - I got that itchy feeling near the end of my Taxol treatment. Then it would turn to a burning feeling. I started taking a daily antihistamine (Reactine) and vitamin B12 (1000 mcg sublingual). I was able to stop the antihistamine a few weeks after last chemo. I'm still taking B12. So far at 5 months PFC, I don't have lasting peripheral neuropathy.

  • stephilosphy00
    stephilosphy00 Member Posts: 161
    edited January 2017

    Thank you so much for your quick response. Seems like it is a very common SE. I will go get them after work today. :)

  • francineinbend
    francineinbend Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2017

    I had my last AC and Neulasta last Friday. My biggest issue was weakness. I got weak just talking and slept 15 hours at a time. I will start Taxol on Friday the 13th and I've been praying it will be easier. Personally I think the Neulasta was the worse. I never had a lot of nausea, didn't get the mouth sores or bone pain...but the fatigue was so bad that I got winded just talking or eating. So, I am hoping that I won't get neuropathy in my hand or feet from the Taxol. Most of the posts I read seem positive so I am hopeful. Take care!

    Francine :)

  • seq24
    seq24 Member Posts: 451
    edited January 2017

    Francine--you will find that Taxol is much easier than AC. It's a difference of night and day, a walk in the park, a breath of fresh air!!. I got through AC with no huge side effects but I know what you mean about the fatigue. By the end it was almost unbearable. I have my 10th Taxol treatment tomorrow. So far I have not had any side effects from it at all, except that my eyebrows have gotten very thin. There are a lot of things you can to do help with the neuropathy. I was advised to take B complex and B6 daily and to ice my hands and feet during infusion. I thought I was getting neuropathy a few weeks ago and a nurse told me to start drinking tonic water as that has a huge effect on the nerves. I drink at least one large glass a day and the slight toe tingling I had went away after the second day. For nail problems, I use tea tree oil every night. Good luck to you!

  • vlh
    vlh Member Posts: 773
    edited January 2017

    Nayda, what did the doctor say about the nail and skin issues? That sounds terrible. :-(

    Lyn

  • nayda985
    nayda985 Member Posts: 270
    edited January 2017

    They keep saying its a side effect of the Taxol and my nails may come off but they will grow back... Or if they don't come off I will get my original color back after I finish chemo😞

  • stephilosphy00
    stephilosphy00 Member Posts: 161
    edited January 2017

    Just had Taxol #8 this morning. My MPV count is always lower than normal and today it is 6.5L (normal range: 7.4-10.4). Should I be concerned about it? WBC is always at normal range.


    Thanks!!

  • vlh
    vlh Member Posts: 773
    edited January 2017

    I'm sorry, Nayda. I guess the doctor felt it was imperative to complete the treatment despite the side effects. :-(

    Lyn

  • nayda985
    nayda985 Member Posts: 270
    edited January 2017

    Thx Lyn.....i only have one more left.... Thank God 😁

  • seq24
    seq24 Member Posts: 451
    edited January 2017

    Nayda--Right behind you!! I have 2 more left!! This can't be over soon enough!! Even though I have had minimal side effects this has been the hardest and longest ride I have ever been on and one I pray none of us ever have to repeat! Good luck with that last one next week!

  • nayda985
    nayda985 Member Posts: 270
    edited January 2017

    Thanks Seq!

    And congrats to you also for almost being done with this train ride lady! You are so right about never wanting to ever do this again!

Categories

Join Us on Zoom: Upcoming virtual meetups. Read more...
Give your account some personality! Add a profile photo.