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Weekly Taxol group

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Comments

  • Tpralph
    Tpralph Member Posts: 281
    edited October 2017

    Salasila I too missed my period last month. Definitely not pregnant. Had been fairly regular prior to chemo then just spotting. Had tubes tied off in past. Also haven't had sex since dx. I think she afraid of hurting me. Oh well I'll get us back on track after treatment.

  • brneyegrl6608
    brneyegrl6608 Member Posts: 16
    edited October 2017

    Travel - I actually had 45 lymph nodes removed, but this site only let's you go up to 40. I had an axillary dissection and now have lymphedema in my left arm. Wish I would have had a second opinion before going to surgery. My surgeon said if one of the sentinel nodes was positive then he would do dissection. Learned afterward that I could have just had the nodes closest to positive node removed. I had one sentinel and one axillary node positive out of the 45.

  • Brightness456
    Brightness456 Member Posts: 174
    edited October 2017

    I have a question about taxol and herceptin. I've had 5 weeks of taxol, 2 of which were also herceptin weeks. I was sick both weeks I had the taxol/herceptin combo, but not the others. I was told herceptin is much easier than taxol, but is it possible the herceptin is making me sick or maybe the combo of the two? If I'm going to feel sick every third week for the next year, I want to mentally prepare. Thank

  • bji
    bji Member Posts: 116
    edited October 2017

    Brightness456 - I had 12 weeks of taxol with herceptin and didn't get sick. What exactly do you mean by sick? I finished taxol/herceptin August 16th, continuing with just herceptin only every 3 weeks. The only thing I notice is more fatigue and achy the first week after, the second week better and by the third week great. Then do it all over again.

  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 1,279
    edited October 2017

    Brney- OMG why did your surgeon took out 45 lymph nodes when you only have one sentinel and one Axillary positive? How's your Lymphedema? Did you get the pump ?

    Brightness- I only have taxol alone, but that’s enough for me already. I am 12 mild dosage and I’m only on #5, and I can feel the fatigue already

  • Brightness456
    Brightness456 Member Posts: 174
    edited October 2017

    For several days after the taxol/herceptin combo I have flu like symptoms, achy, miserable, yucky. I also seem more emotional, although that could be because I'm feeling sick, therefore vulnerable. I'm generally more tired all the time since I started chemo, but other than the herceptin weeks, it's been manageable so far.

    I used to feel so strong and tough. Now I feel worn down and wimpy too often

  • peoy
    peoy Member Posts: 48
    edited October 2017

    Hi. I'm from Singapore, 54 years old. Saw BS when discovered lump. Immediately whisked to mammogram, ultrasound n biopsy the same day.

    9/2/17 Dx triple+ ER+ 80%, PR+ 70%, HER2+ grade 3+. Tumor 3.6cm. T2NxMo. Stage 2A

    9/13/17 Isoptope scan for bones, PET scan for CT thorax, abdomen, pelvis, MUGA for heart. Clear with bit suspicious, need do bone scan after 12 wk Taxol

    MO plan:

    Chemo 12 wkly Taxol + 3 wkly Herceptin/Perteja ➡️ Surgery ➡️ bone scan +/- Chemo (AC 12 wks) +/- Radiation ➡️ Herceptin + Hormone

    1st chemo Taxol/Herceptin/Pertaja 10/9. 2nd chemo Taxol today. So far side effects tolerable except sleep little. Nurse advised to drink 3L fluid everyday.

    I do not know if it's my imagination but a few days after 1st chemo, felt tumor softening.

  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 1,279
    edited October 2017

    Peoy - try to do your Dx in your profile, then your can select Public. That's good news your tumor got softer. I'm do taxol also and I am having a tough time. Today I'm having a tough day, used to be my good day 🙁🙁🙁 hope tomorrow will get better but I know it's going to be bad also.

    Brightness- BC took all my toughness I just wish this journey over soon. Not sure how much I can take this taxol!

  • T-Sue
    T-Sue Member Posts: 207
    edited October 2017

    Salasile, Wow! It IS a good thing you had a BMX to get that hidden tumor. My second tumor did not show up on my mammo or US, but was found by my MRI. Also, I too stopped having my period during chemo (it never showed up as expected in week 7 and hasn't returned 8 weeks PFC); I am 47. So glad you are feeling better! It gets easier as the end nears. 

    Peoy, glad you found this helpful site. We are with you.Glad your SEs are tolerable.


    Hang in there everyone! Hugs

  • salasila
    salasila Member Posts: 22
    edited October 2017

    T-Sue: Did your doctor mentioned if the period is supposed to come back or ....?

  • castigame
    castigame Member Posts: 336
    edited October 2017

    chemopause is the only benefit!!

    Last chemo 06/26/17 last period 04/02/17 my FSH and estradiol are really low. Many women have chemopause lasting as long as two yrs.

  • T-Sue
    T-Sue Member Posts: 207
    edited October 2017

    Thanks Castigame, that's good to know.

    Salasile, my oncologist said that the menstrual cycle returns for some women but not for others. No way to tell I guess,; not throwing out the supplies yet 😉. I always had some acne right before my cycle so I'm happy that that has stopped! Silver lining 🙂

  • brneyegrl6608
    brneyegrl6608 Member Posts: 16
    edited October 2017

    Paulette- my lymphedema isn't too bad. I was on top of exercises after mastectomy and when I noticed swelling I got into physical therapy with lymphedema certified therapist right away. I have a pump too that insurance paid for and a sleeve and gauntlet that I wear when exercising. I should have got a second surgeon opinion, but I was so anxious to get the cancer out I didn't take the time to think. I had more than one mass and one of them was 3mm above my pectoral muscle.

  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 1,279
    edited October 2017

    brney - from what I known the pump works great, that will be a great helps. I submitted request for pump also, hopefully I could get approval also.

  • dodgersgirl
    dodgersgirl Member Posts: 1,902
    edited October 2017

    paulettek-- who did you ask to see if you could get a pump? Breast surgeon??

  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 1,279
    edited October 2017

    DodgersGirl- lymphedema pump, lymphedema PT requested that for me

  • dodgersgirl
    dodgersgirl Member Posts: 1,902
    edited October 2017

    paulettek-- thanks. I wasn't sure who to ask but I am interested in the pump after reading about it from Castigame.


  • Pei128
    Pei128 Member Posts: 10
    edited October 2017

    Hi everyone, I hope everyone is well. Mom went to see her oncologist yesterday. They did blood work and the doctor said her tumor markers have gone down from 350 to 250. Mom hasn't even started Herceptin yet, but really soon! We have just gotten the medical assistance funding for it. Her lump has also gotten smaller...and this is just Taxol only. I'm just happy that she is responding well to the treatment. It seems to be working.

    In another hours time, I have to bring mom to Dental for dental clearance. I hope it's just a scaling and polishing work, then she can resume her chemo asap.

  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 1,279
    edited October 2017

    I asked my MO for lymphedema PT so he submitted to my insurance for PT approval, after I visited PT she was the one suggested me for the pump? Did you have your lymph nodes removed??

  • dodgersgirl
    dodgersgirl Member Posts: 1,902
    edited October 2017

    paulettek- yes. And will be fitted for sleeve and gauntlet soon. I have been told I am at risk of lymphodema so would like to use the pump daily to help draivage

  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 1,279
    edited October 2017

    DodgersGirl- you should ask for the pump, it works so much better than the manual nodes drains. If you work with your PT they will ask the pump tech to come out and do the measurements then they submit to your insurance. This year I met my deductible if my insurance approved I will not need to pay anything.

  • castigame
    castigame Member Posts: 336
    edited October 2017

    dodgersgirl and Paulette.

    Regards to pump, I intially got one for bad arm only. Turned out I was able to get one for good arm zero copay where only 2 nodes removed. Sentinel node biopsy was clear.

  • Tpralph
    Tpralph Member Posts: 281
    edited October 2017

    So I'm a go for last taxol DD on Thurs then will have my PICC removed same day! Can't wait to ring that f$@#ing bell! Will be starting tamoxifen in 4 weeks. Not looking forward to the taxol we even one more time but no other option. Gotta do what we gotta do.

    Hope everyone else is not delayed and are doing ok

  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 1,279
    edited October 2017

    Tpralph - send you my prays and good vibes!!! Last one!!, woot !! Woot !

  • Kaybe925
    Kaybe925 Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2017

    Hi. I’m new here. I finished my AC two weeks ago and just had my first dose of Taxol today. I’m having such bad leg pain and nausea. Did anyone else experience these side effects? They seemed to come on fast. Any suggestions as to what to do to help the leg pain

  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 1,279
    edited October 2017

    Kay - I was good on the first 4 taxol, I’m doing weekly. On my #5, I had nausea, fatigue and rashes. My appetite is down a lot also. Leg pains I heard you can take Advil.

  • ubeeee
    ubeeee Member Posts: 15
    edited October 2017

    Hi all, new here and figuring this forum out. Thank you for your stories, it's really helpful and encouraging!

    I finished Taxol #4 of 12 today (after 4 DD AC) and I've been feeling ok. I have low grade nausea pretty much constantly but as long as I keep something in my stomach it's manageable. Having said this I've gained 10 lbs (which I lost with the AC) and the nurses today say I can attribute some of that to the steroids. My only other repeatable symptom is my sternum and shoulder blades get sore from days 3-5) and I get a wicked headache on Days 4-5). Bizarre.

    Looking forward to getting to know you all. :)

  • ubeeee
    ubeeee Member Posts: 15
    edited October 2017

    Yay you Tpralph!! That's awesome!!

    I might be looking forward to having the PICC removed more than the end of chemo (ok maybe not!).

  • Tpralph
    Tpralph Member Posts: 281
    edited October 2017

    Kaybe. I am in DD as well and take Tylenol 3s for about 3 days after taxol which helps as well as Epsom salts baths and heating pads. For nausea I take stemitil

  • JenRuns
    JenRuns Member Posts: 299
    edited October 2017

    I find Aleve helps with the pains... I’ve been getting muscle pain around my expanders with Taxol (dang it, thought i was done with that!) and some insomnia...

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