Weekly Taxol group
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BJI and Dodgersgirl,
Congrats!!!
Tpralph, I did DD taxol
Mimi
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Mimi, can you tell me how you found the experience of DD taxol?
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DodgrrsGirl - congrats to you too! Told my nurse about the port issues last week, she got it right away, no pain, good blood flow. So i think it was all related to nurse. In fact i did call the infusion ctr and requested she not be my nurse again. Right after i finished, jumped in the car and drove 3 hrs help my son in law with twins. My daughter is at a conference in DC til friday. Head back next wednesday for my herceptin only. Feeling so grateful finishing taxol with just minor issues, hoping the herceptin goes as smoothly. Hope everyone has a good week.
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BJI- hoping we both sleep tonight!!
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Dodgers girl. It's 1130pm, at my daughters house doing laundry, running dishwasher and anything else I can do quietly while everyone sleeps. Hope I can sleep for couple of hours, twins get up by 6. Taking advantage cause no more steroids.
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BJI- it's midnight. Watching a ballgame and just started dishwasher to be followed by laundry.
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Dodgersgirl
Congrats on finishing chemo! I pray that everything goes well with your surgery! I have 6 taxol left and then double mastectomy and all lymph nodes on right axilla will be gone. Are you doing radiation after surgery
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Tpralph and others: Dumb question but what does "DD Taxol" mean?
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Dawleswim- Surgery mid Sept followed a couple of recovery weeks, then 5 1/2 weeks of rads....with hormone therapy either right after surgery or right after rads (MO wants hormone therapy to start right after surgery while RO says after rads)
KB870- thanks!
Salasila- DD is dose dense. More chemo per session with half the actual sessions.
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DodgersGirl: So ... like, what I'm doing, i.e. once a week for 12 weeks <-- is this then considered "standard" dose? Gosh, I wonder why I wasn't even offered the DD --- might be nice to half the sessions, I would think? Plus less time out from work, travel, etc...
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salasila- yes, once a week fir 12 weeks is regular dose. As for why some MOs follow a DD Taxol vs standard 12 weeks plan, I don't know that answer.
I had DD AC (every other week can every 3rd week) but standard Taxol - once a week for 12 weeks
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comgrats BJI and DodgersGirl! Yes sitting on a balcony listening to waves sounds good! I managed to get a vacation in between end of Taxol and start of radiation. It was great for all of us to get away from all of this for a while
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salasilla I'm not certain but I think if you get DD Taxol, it may not cut the time down. You may get a larger dose every couple of weeks instead of a smaller does weekly. I had AC every 3 weeks for 4 cycles and then 12 weekly Taxol infusions.
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Dd taxol is 4 treatments instead of 12. My mo told me one infusion is like three weeks worth
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tonyaberryman- just wanted to wish you best of luck tomorrow with your next Taxol. Will it be Taxol 10?
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Hi gals - I'm finally back after four weeks in rural Illinois with no tv, wifi or internet. It was wonderfully peaceful despite the side effects, especially neuropathy (even though I iced through most of my treatments.) In fact, it had gotten so bad that my last tratment was cancelled. So, now I'm finished with chemo. Thank the good Lord that is behind me! I've been back at home for a week and so busy with appointments with my MO, RO, BS, and I also had a CT simscan and a PET scan. Today I received wonderful news...my PET scan is clear!!! Next is the removal of my port which is scheduled for the 22nd. I begin radiation (33 sessions) on the 28th.
I've been trying to catch up on your posts from the past five weeks...
DodgersGirl and BJI, congratulations on completing your Taxol treatments! I wasn't as excited as I thought I would be because of my concerns over my neuropathy and the results of my PET scan. However my husband (of 40 years) and I are now planning a trip to Asheville for a few days and a tour of the Biltmore before I start radiation.
hhuey, I also experienced shortness of breath, chest pressure and my heart occasionally skipping a beat. I was so concerned that the chemo was damaging my heart, but I was told that it is not uncommon and might have been caused by dehydration. My heart is fine now.
GlasgowGirl and Angelica25, I had fallen because of my neuropathy between Taxol #9 and #10 and had an open sore on my foot that became infected. My MO suggested I stop treatments because wounds do not heal well while on Taxol. How are you doing now?
fondue, I was prescribed antibiotics after treatment #8 for a salivary gland infection, and my MO suspended treatments until I had finished taking the antibiotics.
DodgersGirl, I'm so sorry to read of your husband's heart surgery. Isn't it amazing that when we are already dealing with so much that we are strong enough to handle whatever life throws at us. We are stronger than we think! I will be praying for his complete recovery. Also, can you tell me how to find the thread "starting radiation August 2017" created by Legomaster225? I've searched, but I'm just not very techie. Thanks!
Gals, I will continue to follow this thread to see how you are handling treatments and give encouragement you "journey" down the Taxol path.
Blessings, Donna
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I just realized that I didn't see any recent posts from HelenFaith. Is she fininished with Taxol? Praying all is well with her.
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Here is a link to the thread you asked for. And welcome back, donnajoan!!
Thanks for the well wishes. Hubby is at a rehab center as I couldn't do much to help him right now
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I've been reading along and now that I'm a few days out from my last AC I thought I'd jump in.
I had DD AC and on 9/11 I start DD Taxol. I too have done a bit of searching and have found few that are doing it this way. My MO chose it mainly as a convenience to me as I live 2 hours from the infusion center and it would be 4 as opposed to12 visits.
AC has hit my GI system hard with the 3rd one the worst. Very glad I only have this last one on Mon to contend with. Praying taxol will be better.
Tptalph I'll be right behind you.
Theresa
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- Hi Ladies, I just finished with Taxol #11!!!! I can't believe I've made it this far ! My main issue with Taxol just in the last week has been neuropathy . I finally called my MO and they called me a script to help me through it, I'll let y'all know if it helps. I also found some neuropathy oil at Walgreens and soaked in the bath last night with epsom salt. I'm Benadryl drunk so time for a nap, I hope all of you ladies are having an easy time with SE. Hugs!
Dodgersgirl - 1 more to go!!!!!! Hope hubby is doing better! Hugs0 -
Hi, I will be starting my Taxol weekly x 12 on Monday. Anyone who is doing just weekly Taxol? I am very nervous, I live in Europe. I was only prescribed nausea pills and no cortisone. Instead they want to observe me during the two first infusions giving me some betametasone (cortisone) 30 min before they start with Taxol. When I asked why they referred to the protocol. The following ten times I will be given the pills to take the day before infusion. I appreciate all advice and support, thank you in advance, Cherry
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Update on neuropathy meds, NO PAIN AT ALL!!!! Such a relief and oh so happy!! Nail beds, fingers and feet are pain free! Hope it will help one of you ladies !
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Hi Cherry, I am also on low-dose, weekly Taxol. My 12th and final Taxol is on Monday. I also was prescribed nausea pills and receive a steroid (cortisol) by IV before my Taxol. My understanding is that the steroid wards off any potential allergic reaction to the Taxol. They watched me closely during the first two infusions. On the third infusion, the oncologist halved my dosage of the steroid but did I continue to get it before every Taxol.
I have not had any nausea on Taxol. However, the steroids make it VERY difficult to sleep. My oncologist suggested I take one of my nausea medications (ativan/ lorazepam) to help me sleep for the 2-3 days that the steroids are in my system.
I know that this is a scary time. You can get through it!
Hugs from Colorado!
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Hi T-Sue,
We met at triple positive thread. I have been told that Taxol weekly is standard treatment protocol for the early Her2 positive cancer both in US and where I live. But my tumor is 1,5 cm, grade 3 and has high Ki and I wonder if I could be a borderline for Taxotere. I mean I am not looking forward to any chemo. But if I have to do it I probably have to do the one that is stronger. I am sure I will be knocked of by Taxol SE too. I am just so worried if I am doing enough or have enough knowledge and understanding about my condition. My onc told me: if we take 10 women with this diagnosis what we know is one of them will recur despite the treatment, seven of them probably do not need any treatment in the first place and two of them do in order not to recur. What we do not know who of those 10 are in need of the treatment and therefore we have to treat everybody and we cannot give any guarantee but Taxol is still a pretty heavy treatment. How was your treatment? Any unusual SE? Hugs from Sweden, Cherry
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tonyaberryman- what's the med that helped you with nail bed pain? I can hardly use my fingers today
Thanks
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Hi Cherry, yes, I understand that's weekly low-dose dose Taxol plus Herceptin is standard treatment for early stage BC. My oncologist recommended this treatment and I trusted her judgement. Honestly, I was so shocked that I was needing chemo at all that I just put a lot of trust in my doctors and didn't thoroughly research. (Before my second tumor came back HER2 positive, I was planning on lumpectomy and radiation only.)
My experience with taxol has been tolerable. Fatigue has increased as treatment continued, some gastrointestinal issues, but overall not awful. I posted a couple weeks ago with lots of details about my SEs if you want to look that up.
I cut my long hair into a very short haircut before chemo and I'm glad I did. My hair didn't start shedding until week 4 and even then I didn't need to wear a headcover until week 9. At week 11 I'd say I've lost 80% of my hair.
If I remember, you also have a child at home. My 9 year old son took it hardest at the beginning when I was so upset all the time and my prognosis was unknown. After my mastectomy and "no lymphnodes involvement" report came back, he felt much better about everything. He has been very understanding of my fatigue during treatment. My mostly bald head scares him, so I keep it covered. Kids are resilient.
Hang in there!
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T-Sue, I will look up your post on the SE, thank you. Was it on this thread? I was also told before the surgery that I will only need radiation but before I met the surgeon to discuss the pathology report I already red a lot on the subject and dreaded an aggressive tumor so when I just saw on the paper in front of her Her2 positive my blood pressure just went up I could hear the pulse in my ears and I knew at once it would mean chemo and Herceptin. I got so sad she went out to contact a psychiatrist. I have also cut my hair short, like a short bob, and so far we have not said anything to our youngest girl. She knows that something is wrong, in the beginning she was asking us what is it but we just told her that I was sick, we never could mention the c word. This is one of the worst things with bc that our loved ones especially small children have to go through this. Thank you for your support. 9 years old, you must be relatively young to. Cherry
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Dodgersgirl - It's Gabapentin 300 mg AND I bought some Frankincense Myrrh Neuropathy rubbing oil as well. It is awesome stuff!
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tonyaberryman- thanks!! After Taxol 12 last Wednesday, my nails are so sore this weekend
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thanks for starting this group. I just had my first round of Taxol after AC. Maan, the next day numbness and tingling in my feet! Oh, it got painful! I had to call my doctor and he gave me nerve pain meds, and now I have to have a nerve test done.
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