Weekly Taxol group
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Rebamacfan123,
Thank for the info. I love epsom salt Have you ever used the stuff with Lavender added to it?. My neulasta is due to go off at 630 tonight. Can't wait.! I already have enough back pain for a surgery I had 1 1/2 years ago. I have some left over hydrocodone pain meds that I am ok'd to use. Might have to take advantage of them. I will do the bath soak though. Funny about the claritin, I used it the whole time I was on Taxol. So I should continue to use it? They gave me a Lorazapam (SP) I filled it and will wait. I really do not like taking all these drugs!
Hope things are going good for everyone this week so far!
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Bmac16--I think you will find Taxol a breath of fresh air after AC chemo. I had the same regimen. I had few side effects from the AC--just some tiredness and of course hair loss. After my first Taxol I didn't even feel like I had chemo. The Benadryl did make me very sleepy and dizzy the first time, but after they found I didn't have any allergic reactions they reduced the Benadryl considerably and no more problems. The steroids caused me to lose a night of sleep every week after chemo but I did get a lot done on those sleepless nights. LOL My best advice is to drink a lot of water (2-3 qts a day) and rest when your body tells you to. I iced my hands and feet to prevent neuropathy. I did not get any at all. I started feeling like myself about 2 weeks after the last treatment. Good news is that hair sometimes starts to grow back on Taxol. My head felt like a porcupine on about treatment #6 or 7. Good luck to you.
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Cdv4251982 your 1st diagnosis looks identical to mine now. It's scary to see you went through all this and had another recurrence. So sorry you're going through this again.
I just finished 9 of 12 taxol and herceptin. I've never had nausea or queasy feeling. I've had neuropathy, blurry vision, low back, rib, pelvic pain, bloody nose, constant running nose, blood clot port side. (Taking Eliquis now)Tired not fatigued. Acne breakout. Hair shedding so bad at day 23 I shaved it. 1 episode of high heart rate. Most of this was through week 4. MO didn't want my neuropathy to continue so he reduced my doseage on week 5 by 20%. Since then I have bloody nose, blurry eyes, rash on chest and neck day after, rib pain. I was told steroids cause the rash, herceptin causes runny nose. So all in all I don't think it has been that bad considering what some are going through. I have 2 or 3 days not that great but rest are ok. I said never on hats and scarves but these wigs drive me crazy. I'm looking into scarves at least. Haha never say never!
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seq24,
Can you please tell how you iced your feet and hands to prevent neuropathy? I had one taxotere treatment and I'm already feeling my fingers and toes are numb. Did you stick them into a bucket of ice water? Does the skinhave to be in direct contact with the ice?
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Tinker-bell, tomorrow marks 8 weeks (I think that's right) since my last Taxol and the neuropathy in my right / dominant hand was even worse today than while I was undergoing treatment. Oddly, the "puffy" feeling on the soles of my feet seemed better today.
Lyn
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Pam, I am also icing hands and feet. My center provides cold packs that are activated by movement. They tape two around each foot, one for sole, one for toes (bare skin) and I use one for my fingers, just punching into it. It's kind of like a little soft pillow. I keep them on just for the hour of infusion and start to move the packs around quite a bit toward the end to keep them cold. I've had three txs so can only say that so far, so good. I am also taking Metanx, a prescription strength B complex. Started that about eleven weeks ago and will continue for another twelve. And exercise. Keep the blood flowing.
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Thanks for all the support. I heard about the ice tricks before. I wanted to chew ice chips on the Cytoxan to prevent mouth sores and discovered my chemo place doesn't have an ice machine, so I took in my own popsicles.
Will take an ice pack today and hope it's still frozen or at least cold by the time we are done with all the pre meds
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Hello everyone, and thank you Shelabela for telling me about this weekly group!
I've been diagnosed with IDC right breast, i have 2 tumors, as well as a lymph node. I started chemo last February, dose dense of AC the first 2 months. i'm currently on 5 of 12 Taxol. Last Taxol is in June 16. Right breast masectomy scheduled for July 14. i'll have radiotherapy afterwards, then hormone therapy.
In addition to Taxol, MO added Carboplatin every 3 weeks. Taxol is much easier than AC. However the Carboplatin combined with the Taxol has worst SE than the AC: nausea, fatigue, dizziness, heavy legs, eyeball pressure, chest pain ...
Has anyone having Carboplatin? If so, what SE do you have?
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Pambc--I'd be happy to share. I iced faithfully during each Taxol treatment. Doctors will say there are no official studies proving this works to prevent neuropathy but some of my chemo nurses swore by it. My infusion center provided cold mitts and foot covers but I found they did not stay cold enough for the whole infusion so I made my own. Below is copied from a post I made at the end of January, right after I finished chemo. Please let me know if you have any questions. I'd be happy to help. Icing definitely worked for me. I did not have one bit of neuropathy at all. One thing too, make sure you are drinking lots of water. I believe that helped as well.
Here are the links to the exact cold mitts and foot covers my infusion center used:
https://www.amazon.com/Elasto-Gel-Therapy-Mitten-1...=sr_1_16_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1485734681&sr=8-16&keywords=elasto+gel
https://www.amazon.com/Elasto-Hypothermia-slippers...=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1485735307&sr=8-2&keywords=elasto+gel+slippers (looks like these are not available)
As for the mitts I made, I bought these gel packs:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006GE79I/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (they come with the white cover for each one). I bought 2 packages of these for a total of 4 gel packs.
I purchased fleece off of the remnant shelf at the fabric store. It cost me 60 cents (LOL). I used an oven mitt as my pattern then made it a little bit wider and longer to accommodate 2 gel packs each and sewed them together. I made these without the thumb because I wasn't sure how to keep that part cold. I kept everything in the freezer and put them in a little cooler bag when I went to chemo each week. After the ones they provided were not cold anymore, I switched to these. 2 gel packs per mitt and I just slid my hand in between them. The foot covers they had stayed plenty cold, but I bet if your center does not have those, you could get a pair of men's size slipper socks and use the same gel packs to make your own. A friend of mine just took gallon size bags full of ice to her treatments and put one under and on top of her feet then kept another one in her lap and grasped it with her hands during infusion. (with my luck it would leak all over the place if I did that. LOL) Here are some photos of the ones I made. They worked great.
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DodgersGirl my experience from yesterday Taxol #1 was good. I had Aloxi and decadron as premeds for nausea which I got with the AC and then Benadryl and peptobismol. The Benadryl did make me drowsy, but I was determined to stay awake through the Taxol incase I got an allergic response, which thankfully I didn't.
I got home around 4:00 and fought the drowsiness. I still have Ativan and Compazine at home for the nausea. I was taking both for 5 days with the AC. The PA suggested 3 days this round and if I feel ok we will beck it off. I like taking Ativan the night of chemo as i think it helps counter the Decadron and I get some restless sleep.
With the AC it was Friday that I slept all day, so will follow up if anything happens today or tomorrow.
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bmac16 - thank you so much for your info. I am supposed to schedule and then conduct training classes in June and trying to figure what my good days will be. Taxol will be on Wednesdays
Best of luck to uou
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Hello, everyone. I'm new to this site and thread. I've had 4 weekly taxol/herceptin treatments so far. I had to skip this week because it was just thrashing my digestive system. The acid reflux was so bad that it tasted like battery acid in my mouth and I was always in pain. I had cramps everytime I ate and whenever I didn't eat. From one end to the other I was a digestive mess! I was down to eating saltines and oatmeal. The onc gave me a week off along with 40 mg prilosec daily, zantac twice a day and some sort of coating drink I haven't used yet. I am feeling much better! I don't dare eat anything spicy, fatty, or acidic because of the reflux and nothing with fiber because of the trots. Isn't this fun!
I just thought I'd share some things which have helped in case anyone else is sharing my joyful experience. I've started taking L-glutamine to help heal my digestive system, as well as B6 and B12. I've started drinking cinnamon/honey tea which tastes great and is suppose to help the old guts out. Any other suggestions?
Any thoughts on helping the blood in my nose gunk every morning? I'd love your input. Thanks everyone!
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welcome gginouves,
I did 12 weekly taxols with herceptin and perjeta every 3 weeks. I had bloody nose every morning, I actually got a prescription for a rose geranium oil that worked great. I used it in the evening. I also used a nasal gel that I would put in my nose all day. good luck! It is horrible feeling. I just had my first AC treatment and my bloody nose is still here. Hope it goes away.
I did not have much for tummy issues. I did get pepcid the day of and then I would take the pill pepcid daily, I also started taking a prilosec nightly. they are different meds so you can take them both. As for food I ate what I could taste which was not much. So I ate very little. Mostly made myself eat. I did drink a lot of Ensure type drinks.
As for the taste in your mouth are you rinsing with anything? I found if I kept a thing of Biotene rinse and rinsed often the taste would be very slight.
I you get time a your diagnosis and treatment so we can follow easier.
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Hello-
I am starting weekly Taxol tomorrow with Carboplatin every 3 weeks and I am worried about my nails. I've heard the Taxol can cause your nails to turn black or even fall off. I usually get my nails done every few weeks with a gel overlay to make them stronger. I am curious if I should have this removed and just keep my natural nails for the next 12 weeks? Is the damage to your nails that common? Thank you!
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gginouves, welcome to our community, and glad you found this great group! Do you use a humidifier at night? Here are a few basic tips to nosebleeds: Nosebleeds.
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Sam0623, I am on my 5 of 12 Taxol. I was told by a friend to use a nail polish rich in SILICIUM. it'll protect your nail. My nails have turned dark even with that polish, however I'm told it's not too dark because of the silicium nail polish. Also, it will prevent you from losing a nail. I bought the La Roche-Posay brand of Silicium nail polish online. I put it on every thrusday before my Friday weekly Taxol chemo.
Hope it helps. Good luck with your first session.
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Sam0623, I forgot to mention I have the same regimen as you, weekly Taxol with Carboplatin added every 3 weeks. I had 2 Carboplatin already.
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Thanks MCOlivia! I will order some of that tonight!
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Sam 0623,
I did 12 weekly Taxol, I had a little lifting on my nails but that was it. They did not turn dark, I do my nails at home with a gel overlay so not sure if that helped.
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I believe that using ice packs during the chemo part of the infusion helps with nails as well as neuropathy. Apparently it constricts the blood vessels so that most of the chemicals don't reach the toes and fingers. After four sessions of TH, I have very little tingling and no nail problems.
Thanks, shelabela, for the suggestions. I'm trying aquaphor now, but will look into the nasel gel/geramium oil.
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sam0623
On nails I am using a Frenchproduct called Evonail. My nails look ok so far (I am on #7 out of 12 taxol and am icing too). Hope this helps?
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gginouves--most definitely icing helps the nails as well as neuropathy. I iced during every Taxol treatment. No neuropathy at all and the only thing I noticed with my nails was a small dent in one of them. That has since grown out and nails are as good as new. Good luck!
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Taxol kicked my butt this last week, after getting off to such an easy start. After listening to my litany of complaints, the powers-that-be let me take the week off and I only got Herceptin yesterday without the addition of the fourth Taxol. The plan is to pick it up again next week at a reduced dosage. Also reduced steroids, yay! I am so happy for the flexibility on this. As has been said by others, it's a marathon, not a sprint and the goal is to finish. My biggest complaints are back pain, particularly bothersome at night and swelling in legs. The NP suggested elevated feet, above the heart, and heat for the swelling. If that doesn't help,they will give me water pills. I already eat high potassium diet, lots of fruits and veg with a diuretic effect, low sodium, etc. I am loathe to add more drugs to the regimen, so I'll give the heat and elevation thing a serious effort.
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I'm sorry for the rough week, bareclaws. I hope the heat and elavation help with the swelling and no additional pills are needed.
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bareclaws.
Hope you bounce back soon. This AC that I started is kicking my butt. I have been sick since Friday AM. Feel like I'm getting the flu. Do not like
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First one done Thursday. Everything going as expected, Thursday very sleepy during, IV benedryl knocks me out. Friday I had an appt with the PS so I wasn't at work, but I felt pretty good so working won't be bad. Yesterday I was just tired as I expect to be today. The big issue is constipation. I took a colace as a prep, and each day after so far, but I guess I should take 2 instead. The ed sheets have senna listed but I am concerned about the potential harshness. Also I would prefer something that works overnight. We are assigned breaks and lunches at work and are not allowed to leave our desks otherwise
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cdv and shela, thanx! Laying on the couch now with feet resting up on a milk carton and a heated electric blanket around my legs. And it's only 10am. Legs just feel like lead.
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I realized that I haven't posted here in quite awhile. Someone (several pages back) asked about my neuropathy. Hands were swollen, red and very painful rather than numb. Like needles constantly being stuck in my skin. I had much less of a problem with my feet. Looked like the pictures one sees of shingles (and gabasentin - spelling isn't right -is also used for shingles according to the packaging). My MO never talked about icing and I have never seen anyone do it at my chemo center. When I thought about it after reading about it here, the logistics seemed overwhelming where I get treatment. If there is a next time, I certainly will try it however. With MO's blessing, I stopped after 8 infusions and I'm not second guessing myself on that.
My worse days on Taxol were two and three. Then my energy went up gradually until the next infusion. I had bad insomnia the first night so dragged through the next day. Also really constipated by day 3 although I learned how to get ahead of that. Never lost my appetite so with the steroids I did gain weight but have dropped it again with a return to exercise.
Six weeks post Taxol, all SE of that are gone except I am still balder than bald. (Hair was all gone by week 4 for the person who is worrying about her social calendar for the summer.) No SE from herceptin but am already having trouble with hormone therapy after 5 days. Lots of joint and leg pain. It's a journey alright and I know mine has been easier than many but...
Although a friend's daughters had given me all her wigs, I've done scarves from the beginning. It's already hot here in AZ and scarves have worked for me. Anne had lots of pastels and I'm more of a jewel tone person, but I've found lots in local thrift shops for a dollar or two. I have a couple big floppy hats that I wear when I'm outside. DH thinks my "bald is sexy" so I wear nothing on my head at home.
I also realize that the decision to go with hats and scarves versus wigs is probably related to how public one is about one's diagnosis. I have been very open from the beginning but I also live in a senior community where most of us have health issues of one kind or another. My choices might have been different had I been working or had young children. Some of the ladies in my "starting chemo Feb 2017" have had great wigs they've modeled.
I've rambled on too long. I won't be such a stranger in the future.
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Has anyone who isn't taking hormones having problems with hot flashes? I'm triple negative so no hormone therapy for me and menopause was over a decade ago. I've been throwing off bed covers despite keeping it 68 degrees at night and periodically feel too hot intermittently throughout the day. No fever or indication of infection. I'm 8 1/2 weeks out from my last Taxol.
Lyn
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Taxol #2 down, 10 to go. SE have been mild so far. I've been drinking lots of water and walking everyday. I think the walk really helps with everything. Hope I can continue with those throughout treatment. Felt really lousy day two after treatment this week , but was much better the third day. Second day seems to be the most foggy, by third day gets better. Hope everyone is doing well this week.
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