Weekly Taxol group
Comments
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Paulette, I just rubbed it in the first week. It didn't really work, but it only hurt for a few seconds when she stuck me. The nurse gave me some clear bandage things to put over it from now on after I apply the cream, but she said ina pinch, Sarah wrap would work to cover the cream too.
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Paulettek--I used Glad Press 'n Seal wrap to cover the Elma cream as it seemed to "stick" to my skin enough to stay in pkace
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I'm using lidocaine instead of Elma cream but I believe they serve the same purpose.
1hr prior to planned infusion, I always apply a small amount directly on the circular "plate" right beneath my scar because I know that's where the nurse will poke her needle at. I had pre-cut some ziplock bags to size (or use saran wrap in a pinch) and just place one over the cream. Then I move the cream around. This way I don't have to touch it
I was advised that the cream is most effective 45-60mins after application. Since they ALWAYS make me wait to see my MO before I get treatment, I make sure at the 45min mark, I go to the infusion center and ASK for my nurse to poke my needle in so that I will not feel pain in the event the cream wears off because my MO is almost ALWAYS late for my appointments. 0 -
hello all, I've just got my first Taxol yesterday, it was along day as I started ( Taxol, Herception and Parjeta) so I spent a very long day in the hospital because they wait after some medicine for any side effects, I didn't have allergies so far, but I got home very tired because of long day. Today I woke up in a better shape than what I used to do while on AC so I hope it will continue to be easier. I hope this info will help. Will keep checking their thread for other experiences 👍
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Yesterday was treatment #6 -- yay to halfway done!!! Yesterday was also the most uneventful treatment day. It was short because I had a very efficient nurse and an almost empty infusion ctr, so that must helped.
Observation this morning: I think I've lost about 20-30% of hair on my head, and that is mostly sparseness on top of my head and along my natural parting line. The back of the head still has plenty of hair and growing out of its crew cut. Still no neuropathy (and I don't ice. I go to treatments alone and between getting my nap in and serving my hungry tummy, I do not have the capacity to ice) and my nails are still fine - no discoloration or lifting (yet). Hunger is still my worst enemy but at least I'm not in love with PEANUT BUTTER and KitKat anymore. I can now enjoy carrots with loads of ranch dressing instead
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Maryan - congrats on finishing your first Taxol treatment! The anticipation is hard and now you'll know how your body reacts. In my experience, the day after taxol was pretty good because I still had some steroids from the pre-meds in my system, so I had lots of energy. My (unsolicited) advice would be to take it easy today so you don't overdue it. Drink a ridiculous amount of water to flush out your system. And get outside for some sunshine and a walk. I really think the water and walking and healthy food was the best thing I did during taxol.
Salasila - Congrats on getting halfway through! Hang in there! I know it may seem that you still have to deal with 6 more, but take it week by week. I too had lost abou 20% of my hair by the midway mark. In my experience, by week 10 I had lost enough that I didn't want to go out bareheaded. In retrospect I wish I had buzzed it all off at that point rather than dealing with the shedding and the widening part/bald spots.
Have a restful weekend all!
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PauletteK I squeeze a quarter size dollop directly over the port site, don't rub in. I use glad press n seal to cover it. I try to apply 60 mins before my infusion time. Works everytime.
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Paulette - be sure to put it all over your port site. The first time I did it I put it over my scar (why? I don't know). When I got to the oncologist and the nurse said the cream was in the wrong spot, all my 1st time anxiety burst and I cried and cried! She sprayed some "freezing" stuff on it and, honestly, I hardly felt the needle. Those ports are terrific!
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BJI, salasila, DodgersGirl, and brightness - thank you for the tips, now I know what to do. All these time I just took the spray this time nurse suggested I should try Elma cream since I have sensitive skin.
Maryam - yay!!! Done with this tough journey!!! 🙌🙌🙌🙌
Sue always love to see you here for good suggestions
Salaila - AC took away all my hair, so I'm hoping taxol will leave my eyebrows alone.
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Teese: so about three days after taxol began getting a fair bit of aches from waist down. Didn't help that the dam neulasta shot was also causing me pain from the day before so I wasn't sure if it was the taxol. However it continued for about 3 days. My MO gave me some Tylenol 3s which really helped; however initiatially I didbnt get on top of the pain because was worried that I would run out of Tylenol 3s thinking the pain may last longer. My mo said pain would continue for 3-5 days. Didn't do much those days. kind of felt like labour in that you don't know how long it will last and just the dam aches. I even had a bit of abdominal pain but think part of that was from the constipation the Tylenol 3s were giving me. Will try again next week but will take some restoralax and take the t-3s as ordered. was taking them around the clock on day two and really helped. day three just needed them in am and pm and took Tylenol ES in afternoon.
Not looking forward to round two BUT if I have my pain meds would rather do 4 instead of 12!
How did you make out?
it was nice not to have any nausea (better than AC)
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Tpralph- are you doing DD taxol? I do weekly taxol so I'm not getting neulasta shot so I don't have to deal with more joint pains. I can let you know on my day 4, I just got my taxol yesterday.
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I know some of you have very long days at the infusion center and need to bring lunch. Please be aware of the fragrance of your food. I recall one day when my stomach was a bit queasy and the young woman next to me was eating a hard-boiled egg. I normally love eggs prepared in any fashion, but the smell of sulfur was very unwelcome that day. Another day, someone brought Chinese food. Again, a favorite cuisine, but not good if someone is dealing with stomach upset.
I didn't use a numbing cream. The chemo nurse used a numbing spray before inserting the needle in my port. The very minor pain was fleeting.
Lyn
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I covered my elma cream with a bandaid worked like a charm. Has anyone been experiencing reddness and burning on face and hands? Severely dry skin and swelling on these places also? Sore swollen throat and voice loss? If so what did you do? Thoughts and prayer to all of us battleing against this horrible disease!
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T-Sue, thank you so much, yes I will try to drink as much water as I can since my appetite is not as bad as it was after AC, I'm resting at home today and planning to go out tomorrow to refresh my self. Also healthy food what I started to follow since diagnosis, it is hard but I feel I have to do it to help my body to repair itself.
PauletteK, Yay finally starting the count down, since it is weekly I hope it flys faster , I have to do surgery still but at least I'll be halfway through treatment ending 🙏🙏.
Girls I hope you all Good health and long happy life after all what we've been through, Amen
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Kimber - my onco nurse said not to use a bandaid or gauze, because it can absorb the emla cream too much.
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tpralph - 48 hrs after my infusion the pains started in my feet, knees and ankles. Yesterday it almost felt like shin splints. Today only my feet hurt. This would make it 3 days of pain, hoping tomorrow I wake and it's over. I took Aleve at bedtime and regular Tylenol or Advil during the day if I needed it. MO gave me a script for Percocet but I haven't needed it. Fingers crossed. Found walking helped.
I had a couple light boughts of nausea, should expect it, my stomach is always my problem. But queasy drops did the trick. I'm sick of the meds to treat it and the SE from them.
After the steroid crash, feeling pretty good today. Probably because I slept well last night. Planning on an evening walk to help with sleep tonigh too.
Thank you for your update, it's good to here from another DD lady.
I think round two may be easier because we have an idea how long the pains will last, and how intense. I totally understand your worry about the t3's. I had that issue with my mastectomy. I doled out the narcotics because I wasn't sure how long I'd need them. I was only prescribed 12 pills after surgery. Only ended using 5. But I didn't know, in hindsight I should have used them for bedtime each night. Oh well, I survived.
Theresa
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VLH - hubby usually buy ToGo sandwich for lunch so far so good. Yesterday we have few ladies there so we ended up talked about food and ribs 😂😂😂
Kim - did you get this burning and redness from steroid? I know several people got red from steroid. My finger tips got dry and a little bit sensitive also. I don't know anyone got that problem.
Thank you all the ladies for the Elma cream tips I made my mind up for ththe cream since I'm going to have 11 more infusions plus my skin is kind of sensitive. Yesterday the nurse pull my port hard it even hurt, today I removed th bandage she put and some of my skin turned red and hurt. I sound like a wimp but it never happened before.
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Paulette, I don't know where its coming from, they thought it was a reaction to the perjeta but that was removed. I had taxol and herceptin last wednesday and my throat, face and hands are so swollen,dry and burning along with the aches I tell you this really sucks. Maybe I need them to lengthen the infusion time, I am ready to try anything!
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Kim 🙁🙁🙁🙁 sounds so frustrated at first I thought you are doing taxol only. Hugs !!!
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Paulette - instead of a bandage after the infusion, ask for a gauze and a wrap. It takes a minute longer but it doesn't leave a the red mark on your skin from the bandaid. (I got that too.) It always cracked me up that after getting poison pumped into my body, they put a little bandaid over the port. Should have at least gotten a gold star too!
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Sue - they put gauze with two bandages I didn't have problems before but this nurse she sure didn't do well. When she pulled my port I already cried out "ouch" then the way she put her tape was so close to my port opening. Next time I will say something and make sure they won't tape close to the opening.
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paulette, yes I'm trying to do DD taxol. only had one so far and had three days of fairly bad aches and pains from waist down. still on the dam neulasta. I should be thankful though, haven't been ill with a virus since starting this. did have two abdominal wound infections from the diep but hopefully (fingers crossed and God willing) that is done.
Teese, my pain was three days too. I was told not to take any NSAIDS (ibuprofen, naproxen) during my chemo, however the pharmacist had said that when I was starting AC. I prefer ibuprofen to acetaminophen. Three more to go! We should count down together!
Teresa
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tpralph- absolutely, also I think since there are so few DD ladies who post, if we keep up with posting about our experience it'll help someone else following behind. You infuse on Friday right? I follow on Monday. Woot! We will be at the halfway point, that just boggles my mind. Feel like we are finally getting somewhere!
Anyone have a post chemo celebration or weekend planned? That might be something to think about this week, even if it doesn't come about it will be pleasant to plan. My first choice is the beach, Sanibel Island in particular. That'll be too far for me for a weekend but the Outer Banks are close. Daydreaming....
Have a good day ladies! I have a super early appointment tomorrow that's a couple hours away, hubby and I just didn't want to get up at O dark 30, so we're going up today and going to spend the night nearby. To be honest, I don't want to do this today either. Sigh, tired of the constant appointments and other junk, oh well, must carry on.
Theresa
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Teese, they have switched me back to Thursdays starting this week. Cant wait to get this PICC removed. Hoping they will do it immediately after #4! Hope your appt. goes well. I agree, I am tired of all of they appts too. Just want my boring life back....
Good luck everyone with the taxol this week!
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Teese and tpralph - the taxol DD girls 💪💪 good luck!
I keep my weekly taxol I doubt I can handle the DD.
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What is DD Taxol?
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Dose Dense taxol done every two wks
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Teesa - I am looking forward to my post-chemo celebration with my husband and son. We are heading to Lake Tahoe next month for lots of R&R. By then I will be 2 months post-chemo. Glad we didn't schedule it any sooner as I still have plenty of lingering fatigue. It was nice to have a trip to anticipate during my summer of chemo!
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I started taxol Thursday (with herceptin). Both yesterday and today I had to take a nap. I was feeling so yucky but after a nap I do feel better. Is this normal? I'm not normally a napper.
I'm really struggling with fear and sadness about being alone too. I have family and friends, but I live alone and feeling sick and tired and burdened with this disease is weighing on me. Is this normal and will it pass? I feel like everyone is busy with their fun active lives and then there's me, struggling along alone
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Brightness - napping is normal, when your body feels tired sleep will help. Most of us have good and bad days, physically and mentally. Hang in there
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