Weekly Taxol group
Comments
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yup to the hot flashes ... happen throughout the day, though I notice they are more likely to occur when I’m stressed, or after eating sugar. My poor bald head gets soaking wet with sweat (attractive). Oh well. Chemo-induced menopause maybe. (I’m 44
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I'm a little early to this thread as I'm only just past #2 AC. But I saw the article on this site's main page about using frozen gloves and socks to diminish neuropathy, and was wondering if anyone decided to try it. I imagine you'd just have to get some cotton gloves and socks, soak them in water, and throw them in the freezer. They replaced them after 45 minutes, so I guess that would involve bringing in a small cooler.
A distant relative who has the same type of cancer I do is having major issues with neuropathy as she is a cook and cannot feel her fingers. I'm wondering if there's something I can do to stave it off.
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Thank you for your responses, I thought the hot flashes were about to come when it will be time to start with Tamoxifen, I am TP, but the chemo is exemestane and I had no period since August so I believe I am in menopause now. I can handle those during the day, I felt it several times but I thought it came due to the anxiety, but at night I wake up like I cannot breathe and last night my youngest slept with me and there was no place to put my blanket, but I could not even touch it so hot i felt, so I opened the window and was relieved of this cool air coming, then I fell back to sleep. Later I woke up again feeling so cold, reaching for the blanket and saw that my youngest just hid herself under hers. Ok, now I know, this is normal.
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Hi Lisa, welcome to this thread, sorry you had to join us, but you will find this forum to be very helpful and supportive. About neuropathy, icing your hands and feet will not prevent it, according to my doctors nothing can prevent it except for discontinuing and then lowering the dosage. Some nurses told me that their experience says that adding B6 may help but there is no scientific proof for it. Icing can prevent your nails from lifting but I do not think that frozen gloves will stay cold for as long as 40 min but maybe some packs of frozen vegetables. I did not do any AC or other anthracycline but I am considering to do it, a long story, but I did not know that you can get neuropathy while on AC, I thought it was common for taxanes.
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Lisa, I use frozen peas for my hands and ice socks for my feet. Cherry is right, I’m doing this to prevent my nails lift. Not for neuropathy. I take B6&12 also L-Glutamine for neuropathy. When I finished #5 taxol, my fingers tip started numbness so MO lower 10% dosage on my last infusion and the rest. I handled the AC better than taxol I think. Another thing, taxol dry you up, your sinuses will be so dry up many of us have bloody nose.
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Paulette, I second bloody nose. Not uncommon in my dry climate even without chemo, but I never had it before. Now it's pretty constant. I'm also stuffy at night, although I don't have a cold.
Regarding menopause: sorry for TMI, but I need to ask this. Was anyone spotting on and off (if you were premenopausal prior to chemo) before periods went away? I'm only 3.5 weeks into chemo, had a period right before my first infusion, then one 16 days later (very light), and I'm spotting again. It's only been a week after my last ( light and early) period ended.
This is very unusual for me! I never had an early period in my life before.
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I'm 44 and I started chemo in June. I had a period in July but none since. Guess I'm in the chemo induced menopause. Dr says period will resume after chemo ends for some of us, while others may remain in menopause. I'm having hot flashes day and night. Just like all of you it happens pretty quickly. Mine are worse during the day because I'm in the surgery room all gowned up, surgery cap on my head, and I can't take it off! But I used to be cold all the time so now I know how my coworkers felt when i cranked up the thermostat!
I have a question: do any of you get swollen ankles? I've never had this problem before.
I had my #6 Taxol on Friday. I spoke to the nurse like I always do as they set up for the blood draw. And she asked if I was having any problems. I said yes my left arm is swollen and it's where my port is located. She refused to touch my port until I had ultrasound. Well my chemo was at 1:00 so I had to run to lab and get ultrasound done. That took until 3p.m. no clots! I ran back to chemo knowing they close at 4:30 hoping it was not going to be too late. They did blood work, while that was being done she manually pushed my premeds instead of using i.v drip which takes an hour. By the time she finished that my labs were done and chemo was started. I was out of there at 4:45. Why can't every treatment be an hour and 44 minutes!!
As for the swelling in my left arm and going up to my neck(lumpectomy and lymph nodes were removed from Right side) I have a ct of the chest scheduled for Tuesday. Even though ultrasound found no clots in arm. Anyway I think I figured out why it's swollen. We are remodeling our kitchen and on Friday I carried the new kitchen island countertop(5ft by 4ft) into the house. It was very heavy!!! I think I overdid It! Maybe it's wishful thinking but that's I can come up with!
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Susie - I don’t have your problems, no swollen ankles, if I do might be retain water due to high blood pressure? But I heard of this SE from taxol, other ladies wore compression socks. Also you should let your MO knows. As far as your left arm i guess you guessed your reason why.
For infusion it will take good 4-5 hours for me because I have reaction from taxol. No way they will rush it.
Also from what I know if menopause due to medical reason, hot flashes will be stronger. I had hysterectomy my period stopped I had terrible hot flashes afterwards for good few years. Chemo brought back hot flashes also.
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I see many of us are having fun with hot flashes. Well, I’m five years post menopausal anyway, so I already suffer with hot flashes, now they’re just worse. Did you know the steroids they give us also increase hot flashes? I’m forever peeling the caps off my bald head while at home. Whew! When it happens in public, I just suffer.
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I didn’t know the steroid made us hot ...... lol flashes! I suffer also!
How are you doing Ms Robin
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FarAwayToo- I am with you on having a reaction every time. I am on weekly taxol, 6 done, 6 more to go. My SE has been manageable so far. But my weekly infusion time has been torturous. I had a reaction early in my first infusion. They stopped the drip, put more meds in IV and then started the drip at a half rate until the last 15 minutes. Back to normal rate, I had a reaction again, ponding heart, burning throat, bad smell in my nose , awful taste in my mouth and a vomit. It was after hours, so they decided to keep me in hospital overnight for more observation because they said sometimes people can have delayed reactions and they want to be cautious. They decided to slow my taxol infusion time to two hours. On my second infusion, my reaction and tears came and went quickly itself at the beginning. I always feel sick towards the end. I did try to get a bit longer infusion time. The nurses are all nice there, trust me. But the message I interpreted from their response is " toughen up, woman. We have done our best". LoL! So I just put up with these, hope to get out the chair and shuffle (too sick to walk) my way to car as early as possible. I feel okay a few hours after infusion.
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susie_2017, I got swollen ankles after my 6th Taxol, I wore compression socks to the infusion since that and have those on two to three days after removing it just during the night. And I try to elevate my feet when I can. I usually do not swell but it happened a couple of time last year during the summer and once I had very swollen ankles when we were on vacation three years ago but I have attributed it to us taking a boat ride and it was very hot.
FarAwayToo, do not apologize, this is not a time or a place to be shy. I had my period after my 1st Taxol infusion in the end of August and did not have any since that. No spotting but some very awkward vaginal discharge, never had anything like this before, but then on the other hand I never had any chemo either. Talk to you doctor. Chemo does suppress the ovaries I think, at least to some extent, but it is individual.
beauz, I am sorry to hear that Taxol is so hard on you, do you mean that AC was easier? Hang in there, it will be over soon.
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Faraway I too had spotting on and off now this month nothing no period. I was fairly regular up until chemo. I'm 51 sibi am assuming it's not coming back. One consolation.
Getting low abdominal cramping. Anyone else?
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Susie, I have swollen ankles. I was told they were likely due to fluid retention from the steroids. There are no other symptoms of blood clots (pain, discoloration, warmth) in my calves.
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Beauz - I have reaction on infusion therefore my time is long instead of one hour taxol infusion extended to three hours long. I feel fine after it slows down.
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I too have a bloody nose, I'm using a netipot to try to keep it moist and will plug in the cool mist humidifier at bedtime to see if that helps.
Regarding neuropathy - has anyone tried ALA (alpha-lipoic acid)? It's shown success with diabetes neuropathy and I've seen some comments here and there online that it helps with chemo-related neuropathy as well. I checked with my MC (who asked me to check with the chemo pharmacist) and he said that there was no contraindication of ALA with Taxol so to go ahead and try it. He said to NOT use it with AC because it will diminish the strength of the chemo and we don't want that!
I have Taxol #5 this week and so far no tingling, but I do feel like my nails are a bit bruised (actually I've felt this for about a month and it's no worse).
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I had two periods during chemo, last one starting September 10th lasting 10 days, nothing since. Hot flashes make me feel so old. At 45, I thought I had plenty of time before menopause. I always considered myself a young 45 - sometimes I get sad wondering if I can go back to that. So stupid when dealing with life and death, I know, but I just want to be me again.
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Hi, cherry- I heard you are thinking of doing AC or something similar. No, ac was not easier for me, just another hell in a different way. Best wishes for your treatment choice.
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VL22, same here, 45 years old, feeling younger, top form, exercising and now after all these treatments I do not know if I will be able to run a couple of miles again
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Tpralph, thanks for letting me know I'm not the only one. My spotting is non existent today, hopefully, it was just something odd yesterday.
Cherry-sw, VL22, I know the feeling. I'm 40, and this past year was very active: I ski, hike (climbed a few mountains this year), eat right. Then boom, I have what?! I have good attitude towards my chemo so far, but sometimes think what it will do to my body. I only hope that because I'm young and healthy, it will be not as hard for me to go through it all.
In other news, I'm bold and loving it. Seriously, I can't believe how relieved I am to get shaving done and over with.
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I hear you all about feeling smacked down by this disease. I've never felt my 47 years until this year. Not to mention that my hair is growing back in (hooray!) mostly grey (booo!). When did that happen!?! I've only colored it for a couple years but I must be in denial about how much grey there was before. And yes, my body has taken a beating. I try to just accept that walking and occasional yoga is enough for now. I'll get back into the swing of things next year.
FarAway, glad you feel good about the bald! I'm sure you are rocking it! I still wear headscarves out and I'm really starting to like the color and warmth of them.
Hope everyone has a restful Sunday!
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Good evening,
Happy Sunday night! I just started chemo this week and wondered if anyone who has taken L Glutamine during TCH chemo can share what their dosage was if they took it everyday during treatment or just a few days before and after? Appreciate it, thank you very much. My oncologist is on board but curious about the protocols
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I’m noticing a new SE today and I haven’t heard anyone speak of this yet. Yes, I’m battling neuropathy in both my hands and feet. Heck, I think even my lips feel a bit numb and tingly. My dose was reduced on Thursday because of it, but nothing feels less numb today. But now the skin on my hands and feet are starting to look a bit beat up, especially my hands. They’re red, blotchy, and stinging, just as if I went out for a long winter walk without my mittens. I tried putting on some Aveda hand lotion, and it just seemed to make it worse. I haven’t used any new soap, or anything like that. Is this simply part of the whole neuropathy experience? It almost feels like my hands are a bit burned. But then again, I often describe my mouth as always feeling as if I burned it with hot coffee.
Taxol, I’m beginning to despise you!
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msrobin,
I had reduced dosage on Friday, it seems to help me some. Yes all my fingertips are numb and I’m on day 3 now. I used to have rashes on day 4, so it might come out tomorrow. Either acid reflex or stomach gas acts up pretty strong, now I’m taking my regular acid meds along with Pepcid AC and it seems to help some.
Crossed my fingers for my mouth, prayed God no more new SE. hope my WBC won’t drop much also.
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Taxol was a lot harder for me. I was in agony the entire 8 wks. The only saving grace for me was reduced dosage every time mainly because my weight kept going down.
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msrobin58, I have feeling like the entire area about my mouth is much drier, it does not look dry but when I move my mouth it is like I have this sprider web around my mouth that streches. I am moisturazing but it has been there short after I started chemo
Cherry
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I had my #6 taxol last Friday with 10% reduced dosage so far I mange my SE. Fatigue more this time and I think my acid reflux got stronger and I thought I have nausea. Hands and feet are getting more numbness and I can see my bottom of my feet are red. Did this happen to you? Will soak my feet with epsom salt tonight and I hope it helps.
Cherry - taxol really dried up our whole body I used much richer cream and use Vaseline on my lip now.
Only half way there would I need to reduce more dosages?
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In the chair for 4th and final Taxol. Woot!!
It doesn't seem fair to have SE with last dose. Would be so nice to think it's all done.
I've used Burts Bee's night cream since I started Taxol plus I use the cream facial wash. No problems with dry face or scalp.
Also use Nivea cream all over, and my skin is great. Even the nurses mention it. could be something they say to everyone though. You know, like everyone who sees your scar always tells you it looks great. I always think "I bet you tell that to all the girls". Also I read this BC survivors blog once, very funny lady. Anywho she wrote that she told one Dr. " I get so many compliments on my scar, I should have had a breast removed years ago". That's how I feel.
So another leg on this journey done. Onwards and upwards
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Teese I’m so happy for you, wish you have minimal SE and send your the good vibes.
Love to have your positive vibes here make us feel much better on the moody days.
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