Come join others currently navigating treatment in our weekly Zoom Meetup! Register here: Tuesdays, 1pm ET.
Take our poll: Caregivers, what do you find most difficult about caregiving?
Weigh in: What are the best and worst gifts for people with breast cancer?

Weekly Taxol group

1…284285287289290…426

Comments

  • vl22
    vl22 Member Posts: 471
    edited November 2017

    I'm in the midst of Taxol, weekly doses, and I get bone and muscle pain. Mostly on ribs and sides. Sometimes in legs or in strange places like my jaw. I take Advil - doesn't stop it completely, but dulls it. At first I was convinced it was mets, but I've settled down - can't live in fear

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

    VL, I think Jen had pain on her ribs, And I have legs pain. I usually massage my legs and use epsom salt to soak my feet daily.


  • nonahope
    nonahope Member Posts: 695
    edited November 2017

    Hi ladies...

    I will be starting weekly Taxol -- 3 weeks on with 1 week off. My onco told me to take Claritin for the aches and pains. Just the plain Claritin...not Claritin D.

    Hope

  • JenRuns
    JenRuns Member Posts: 299
    edited November 2017

    I did have some rib pain ... along with some restless leg and random “bone/joint” pains in my legs. I started taking Claritin again though and think it’s helped. (I used it with A/C... and forgot some people use it with Taxol too.)

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

    I completely forget about Claritin for joints pains, I should do it after lunch.

    Thanks Jen and hope.


  • FarAwayToo
    FarAwayToo Member Posts: 79
    edited November 2017

    mkn, I started with Taxol (now switched to Abraxane, but this is basically the same drug, just without solvent), and I'm in week 7 (treatment #8 coming this Thursday). I'm still working 24 hours a week, and mostly from home. Today I went to the office, and I'm just really tired - I have a different pace at home, where I switch between working and doing other things (going for a walk, meditating, taking a nap). I try to get out as much as possible, actually (with concern for somewhat low WBC, avoiding crowds), as I also feel like I'm going nuts when I'm home alone.

    My main SE is fatigue. Like I've been run over by a train, flu like feeling, but no fever. I find that the more I move the better it is. I'm still tired, but it has this good tint to it, like I've done a long hike/run. I try to walk at least 10K steps each day, and I do yoga occasionally.

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

    Hi faraway, fatigue is my SE also, I need nap everyday mostly in the afternoon. I try to do my walk in the morning when I have energy, then do little bit of house works. I’m hoping I gain my energy little by little each day. Today supposed to be my bad days, I’m trying to do things to make myself cheerful and I think it is working,


  • mkn86
    mkn86 Member Posts: 129
    edited November 2017

    thank you farAwayToo. I recently moved to the city to be closer to the hospital. but find it difficult to work from home on some days. I took the first two weeks of taxol off to see how my energy goes and what days i can give 100% to my job.

    It's a struggle the first two weeks. been trying to keep busy with more tv series and coloring books and meditation and sometimes i massage my feet and legs before i sleep. I also try to do lightstretches twice a day.

    I haven't been able to eat as healthy being in the city. which i also struggle with.

  • mkn86
    mkn86 Member Posts: 129
    edited November 2017

    ok... ladies did any of you have trouble sleeping after infusion? My infusion was yesterday. finished at 5pm. and i haven't slept a wink since. and it's already 9am where i'm sitting. =\

    any ideas that don't involve more meds? like asking a sibling to hit me over the head as an alternative. ;)

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

    mkn86-- for me, the steroids in the pre-meds made it nearly impossible to sleep the night of the infusion each week. It was a steroid high.

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

    Mkn - I had problem sleeping for the first 4 taxol infusions then I took Ativan with melatonin then I can sleep for few hours. The steroid gives so much energy .


  • Kimberbir
    Kimberbir Member Posts: 22
    edited November 2017

    It was the steroids for me, for that night and the next I was pretty alert and kinda energetic which was ok for me


  • vl22
    vl22 Member Posts: 471
    edited November 2017

    I just did infusion #7 - can never sleep well night one. Ativan and a long walk prior to bed help a little, but it is not a good night of sleep. I’m exhausted when I get home from infusion and usually take a big nap - cutting this out doesn’t make a difference either.

    So my WBC did a rebound, thankfully, so maybe I can finish up on time! MO asked if I wanted port out the same day as final chemo on 12/21 and I was like Merry Christmas to me! I know some people say the MO likes them to keep the port in for another year “just in case “ - it gave me areal happy boost to have her not say that.

  • nonahope
    nonahope Member Posts: 695
    edited November 2017

    Good morning...

    All went well with my first Taxol infusion yesterday. My oncologist was running behind (as usual)...my appointment was at 12:30 and it was 2:00 pm before I got into the chemo chair. With pre-meds and Taxol, the infusion was 1-1/2 hours. I got a bit "relaxed" from the Benedryl for a few minutes, then I was fine by the time all was over. Oh, I did get my X-Geva injection. I had my choice of arm or belly...I chose my arm. She injected very slowly and there was nothing more than a bit of stinging...nothing earth-shattering. I have no soreness in my arm today.
    My sister was with me and we went to Applebee's afterward. I felt fine. I did fall asleep on the sofa watching TV about 8:00 pm for about an hour. Then, woke up and didn't go to bed until 12:30 am. I was up at my usual 6:30 this morning. So far I feel fine. I will be guzzling water all day.

    I need to make a grocery run. And, pick up some Claritin...just in case the pains begin. I did take a Tylenol yesterday after dinner. So far, so good....praying things will continue in that direction.

    VL22,,,,When I had my first port inserted, my onco suggested I keep it for two years. I'm glad I did. Having all the blood work done with the after-visits, was wonderful having that port. I kept mine for five years. The only nuisance was having to have it flushed every couple of months and my onco insisted on every six weeks.

    Wishing all a good day/weekend.

    Hope

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

    Hope - prayers that you are feeling well each infusion, it sounds like you are doing well!

    VL22- that’s such a good Christmas present, I still have my port will flush it every six weeks. It is okay with me will ask how long he wants me to keep it around,


  • Taco1946
    Taco1946 Member Posts: 630
    edited November 2017

    I plan to keep my port. Had a hard time when they put it in. As long as it's not a problem, I plan to keep it in case I need it again.

  • mkn86
    mkn86 Member Posts: 129
    edited November 2017

    thank you ladies :) glad to know it's not just me who can'f sleep. i was surprised because my first infusion i didn't have this problem. and only couldn't sleep after the second infusion.

    maybe i'll use lavender oil in a diffuser and maybe that will help. :) i'll ask my MO about the steroids too

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

    mkn - I still have sleeping problem, I didn’t have this problem it happened after I Dx. I’ve been using Ativan and I’m going to try to stop using Ativan and I hope melatonin can help me out.


  • JanetMara
    JanetMara Member Posts: 147
    edited November 2017

    Hi Paulette,

    Chamomile tea helps,maybe you can try.There's no side effects.


  • travelhound
    travelhound Member Posts: 63
    edited November 2017

    mk- I gave up worrying about sleep the first night. I take a sleeping pill, get 4 hours out of it and get up and get on with that one energetic day a week. Then go to bed early the next night.

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

    JUA - thank you will give a try on the tea. I forgot to look for it today.

    Mkn - when you’re doing chemo, good night sleep is important. I took Ativan and melatonin, now I finished chemo, I’m trying to cut Ativan out and take melatonin only.


  • msrobin58
    msrobin58 Member Posts: 23
    edited November 2017

    I’m about four weeks post chemo, and feeling a lot better. Eating is no longer a chore, and my tastebuds are recovering. Some things still taste a bit off, especially sweets, but much better than it was. But I want to keep all the weight off, so I’m still eating lightly. It’s easy now because I’m used to it.

    One big difference is that I’m sleeping SO much better! For awhile, I thought that the steroids given to me during pre-meds were causing continual insomnia, but I found out that Taxol itself causes it. By the end of my treatments my sleep habits had become so poor, and my mind would whirl night after night. It wasn’t all bad though because it really seemed to stimulate my creativity. Now I’m back to sleeping soundly eight hours a night, sometimes more. I often wonder if I’m making up for all those sleepless nights. Last night I slept nine hours and still took an hour nap! Maybe I just need some healing time.

    My neuropathy isn’t getting any better though, but I understand it can take months to heal. I’ve already been started on hormone therapy, taking Arimidex daily. My MO warned me about bad hot flashes, but I’ve already been dealing with that for six years, and I don’t notice any increase.

    Radiation starts Tuesday, and I already have tape covered X’s on my breast. I thought it would be tattoos instead, so I’m glad to know these are not permanent. My RO impressed me right from the start because he knew my entire history. He was very reassuring, and said I should breeze through this with only fatigue and skin irritation. Even he admitted that I had a rough go of chemo, so I hope he’s right about radiation.

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

    MKN, I agree with Paulette, sleep is so important during chemo (well, anytime for that matter). It's perfectly acceptable to use prescribed meds for the 2-3 nights after chemo day to help with sleep while the steriods are coursing through your body. I used Ativan. My MO did warn me that if I used it daily, the effect would wear off. On other nights, I took Tylenol PM if I didn't get to sleep within an hour. I wish you lots of rest!

    Ms. Robin, so glad to hear that you are feeling better! I am 12 weeks PFC and I can tell you that each week I feel a little bit better. I hope you continue to recover well! Best of luck with radiation kick off this week!

  • nonahope
    nonahope Member Posts: 695
    edited November 2017

    msrobin...You sound like you are on a wonderful road to recovery! May those good days continue!!

    I just began Taxol (only) last Thursday, after Ibrance/Femara failed. So far, I've had no problem sleeping at night. If I do have a restless night, Ativan comes to the rescue (0.5 mg.)...so far, so good. But, who knows what each infusion will bring. I try to take a nap in the afternoon, but it only lasts about 20 min.

    Hope

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

    Hope

    When I was in taxol, after five taxol, my afternoon nap could turn into one hour or more. My body was so wore out. Now I’m trying to cut down on my nap but I still love to take my nap when I do my flexitouch pump.


  • beauz
    beauz Member Posts: 113
    edited November 2017

    Hope- sorry that Ibrance/Femara failed. i hope taxol will work for you for a long time.

  • nonahope
    nonahope Member Posts: 695
    edited November 2017

    beauz...Thanks for your support. I'm doing my best to stay positive. My doc says I will be on this treatment for about six months...I just pray it works and the side effects remain minimal..

    Anybody suffer from constipation from Taxol? If so, what's your remedy?

    Hope

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

    Hope I didn’t have constipation from taxol, I have used Miralax before it works well. Also I used smooth move tea at night it worked.


  • travelhound
    travelhound Member Posts: 63
    edited November 2017

    Hope. I get constipation on day 2 every week. I take magnesium 500 mg once at bedtime and that takes care of it.

  • nonahope
    nonahope Member Posts: 695
    edited November 2017

    Paulette...Thanks! I've been trying Dulcolax, but am always up for other remedies.

    Hope

Categories

Join Us on Zoom: Upcoming virtual meetups. Read more...
Give your account some personality! Add a profile photo.