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Weekly Taxol group

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Comments

  • JackyR
    JackyR Member Posts: 39
    edited September 2018

    Erin,

    With Taxol, my hair was definitely thin enough where you could see my shiny head! I finished 12/12 Taxol about a week ago and I'm now having more noticeable neuropathy and muscle pain than while I was on treatment. ncomfortable but tolerable.

  • asknomore2
    asknomore2 Member Posts: 43
    edited September 2018

    I have have gotten the confirmation I will be starting Taxol and Herceptin this Friday. I’m wondering how I will feel after the first infusion. I have an event to attend a few hours after the infusion? I have to make this event as I will not disappoint my grandson

  • Gingerobrien
    Gingerobrien Member Posts: 13
    edited September 2018

    My personal experience was good. I was hyper and felt great until Sunday. I also get my infusions on Fridays. My second one was completely different I was exhausted and went home and went to bed. Not sure if this helps I go for number 3 this Friday we will see what happens with this one.


    Ginger

  • ingerp
    ingerp Member Posts: 1,515
    edited September 2018

    asknomore I scheduled my T/H for Fridays specifically so I'd feel pretty good through the weekends. The premeds keep you going for several days, particularly the steroid. In fact--throughout, the only days I knew I'd make it to the gym were Sat and Sun. You should be good to go on your tx day.

  • yellowb
    yellowb Member Posts: 102
    edited September 2018

    asknomore, I'll just add that even after they stop the steroid, which they did after my second infusion, the bad days were usually the third or fourth day of the cycle.

  • asknomore2
    asknomore2 Member Posts: 43
    edited September 2018

    Thank you. This is reassuring. It’s a big night for him. I now will have to put on some makeup. I want to wear a wig I brought a few years ago but my grandson says I can not wear it. LOL. He and his brothers wants me to be natural. They don’t like when I dress up and look sexy. These are the same young boys ,who tell their baby sister they will be her prom dates.

  • ingerp
    ingerp Member Posts: 1,515
    edited September 2018

    asknomore be the cool grandma with a baseball cap. I’ve only done those (or bandannas when I’m at the gym) throughout. It’s not a bad look

  • ingerp
    ingerp Member Posts: 1,515
    edited September 2018

    asknomore be the cool grandma with a baseball cap. I’ve only done those (or bandannas when I’m at the gym) throughout. It’s not a bad look

  • yellowb
    yellowb Member Posts: 102
    edited September 2018

    Ha! I do like my wigs, but I only wear them a few times a week. Sort of like cute hats. Today, for no particular reason, I really thought red beach curls seemed fun.

  • asknomore2
    asknomore2 Member Posts: 43
    edited September 2018

    You are right it’s not bad look. I haven’t loss my hair yet since my first treatment won’t happen until tomorrow. I hate coming up with hairstyle, combing my hair is a trial. When my hair starts to fall out I plan to buzz cut it off and wear scarfs or hats.

  • yellowb
    yellowb Member Posts: 102
    edited September 2018

    That was my plan too, and I still follow it 4 or 5 days a week ... but sometimes (and only sometimes, based on who-knows-what) I get tired of seeing my illness reflected back at me from faces on the subway, or at the dog park, especially days I don't feel ill. So sometimes I find it is also nice to have a wig as a choice.

  • cccmc2
    cccmc2 Member Posts: 102
    edited September 2018

    Scaredso I managed to hang on to some resemblance of eyebrows all through treatment... I’ve been out of treatment over 3 weeks, and they decide to leave me now??? This was unexpected! I hope they come back soon! I’m in a wedding in 3 weeks!

  • ingerp
    ingerp Member Posts: 1,515
    edited September 2018

    Brows and lashes have their own timeline. I didn’t lose my lashes until about six weeks PFC—I think that’s not uncommon.

  • Taco1946
    Taco1946 Member Posts: 630
    edited September 2018

    I missed my eyebrows more than my hair!

  • asknomore2
    asknomore2 Member Posts: 43
    edited September 2018

    I have gotten the ok to start Taxol and Herceptin today despite my open wounds.It's finally has happen.I have been so indifferent about having breast cancer. I couldn't wrap my head around it. I asked about my Oncotype but was told it didn't matter because I was triple Her2 positive. I was going to need chemotherapy and Herceptin anyway. Wow I hit the jackpot. Don't mind my warp sense of humor. I have been in the infusion unitfor about an hour. I have had Tylenol, steroids, Herceptin dripping in slow. Waiting IV Benadryl's and the Taxol

  • MuddlingThrough
    MuddlingThrough Member Posts: 655
    edited September 2018

    cccmc2, my eyebrows and eyelashes didn't fall out until after my taxol treatments. They came back fairly quickly, but fell out again. And then again. However, the second and third times, not every hair fell out. Maybe that won't happen to you but it's not uncommon. My eyelashes are not nearly as long as before chemo but I'm glad to have them.

  • cccmc2
    cccmc2 Member Posts: 102
    edited September 2018

    thanks all Heart

  • JackyR
    JackyR Member Posts: 39
    edited September 2018

    My eyebrows seem to be leaving me post-Taxol too. Anyone having a lot of muscle/joint pain after completing treatment? Does that fade too? On a good note, I’m back to work on Monday. We’ll see how well I do with my energy. Radiation will start in a couple weeks.

  • Gingerobrien
    Gingerobrien Member Posts: 13
    edited September 2018

    went for my third taxol and herceptin treatment today. Did my hair before I went and my sink was littered with hair . .. everyone was right on the time line. I have my wigs set up just preparing for the loss of the hair 😞. I thought getting cancer was bad enough who knew all the crap that comes along with it.


    Ginger

  • llupp
    llupp Member Posts: 11
    edited September 2018

    I will be finishing my Taxol cycles on Monday. My question when will my hair start to grow? Get my taste buds back? Start feeling like my self again? I will be having surgery on 3 week after the last infusion would like to spent a evening out with hubby before the double masectomy and enjoy my dinner.

  • ingerp
    ingerp Member Posts: 1,515
    edited September 2018

    Llupp—the recovery from my last Taxol followed the same schedule as the other ones. I was feeling pretty good a week afterwards, and close to normal a week or two after that. Three weeks out you should be just fine. There are several hair threads with lots of pics of hair regrowth. I first saw tiny little all-over sprouts about 5.5 weeks PFC. I'm now eight weeks out and am close to getting rid of the ball caps/bandannas. I don't have a lot of hair yet but I'm just waiting for my scalp to be a little more covered. It's very individual but I think 9-12 weeks PFC is typical for at least having your head covered.

  • cccmc2
    cccmc2 Member Posts: 102
    edited September 2018

    This photo is me 4 weeks post AC AND TAXOL treatments. I was bald. There's quite a bit of white coming in but hair is hair! I think maybe 3 weeks or so I'll be comfortable losing my wig.

    image

  • jaboo
    jaboo Member Posts: 368
    edited September 2018

    Thank you for info regarding hair, Ingerp.

    Cccmc2 your hair growth is just great!!

    I had Taxol 2/12 on Tuesday and felt tingling and stabbing and burning in the soles of my feet Thursday and Friday., today too, but less so. Hands a bit too. I am cooling my hands and feet during I.V., taking the recommended supplements... and still this shows up only after 2nd treatment 😞 I wonder what comes next. Otherwise no other SEs so far.

  • ingerp
    ingerp Member Posts: 1,515
    edited September 2018

    cccmc2 you are doing great! I had a brainstorm earlier today—maybe I should get a bunch of tattoos and then my haircut will look intentional. ;-)

  • mLghtn
    mLghtn Member Posts: 68
    edited September 2018

    Jacky R --I still have muscle pain and joint pain after AC T and I'm 10 weeks PFC. It has gotten much better though, the joint pain is only in the mornings, like a stiffness now that goes away. The muscle pain seems directly related to certain activities but its steadily improving. Its mainly in my lower back and leg muscles. Sitting for long periods gets it going in my lower back, but more active days, going up and down stairs a lot, or longer walks with the dog makes it worse too. I've never had issues with back pain pre chemo, and I was a very active/fit person in general. During chemo I had generalized muscle aches even without activity. My MO concluded that I don't tolerate taxanes ( tried taxol and then abraxane), stopped after 8/12. starting rads in a few weeks too.


    Jaboo--I had neuropathy that started in my right hand by the second tx, but it was on and off and would go away sometimes for longer periods in between treatments. After #8 it felt like my thumb was always cold and my fingertips hurt and it was constant. Also the left hand had numbness, my teeth hurt, and my feet hurt. At that point my MO stopped the chemo. Its all completely gone now, but it took at least 6-8weeks for everything to go back to normal. I also took a lot of recommended supplements (which I still take), but I didn't ice.



  • asknomore2
    asknomore2 Member Posts: 43
    edited September 2018

    Hi Ginger,

    I totally understand about all the other stuff that’s goes with the cancer diagnosis. I was just in the store trying to something warm that opens down the front so I can be Warm during my infusion of Taxol and Herceptin. I was freezing for my first dose on Friday. I was sitting under a vent that was blowing out cold air. I had heated blankets,my own throw over me. I had emotional meltdown. I told the nurses I wasn’t coming back next week to freeze. It didn’t help the situation that I had nurse who irritated me to no end. She wouldn’t listen and she over talk you. She wasn’t sincere

  • asknomore2
    asknomore2 Member Posts: 43
    edited September 2018

    I made it threw my 1st dose of Taxol and Herceptin. I had slight upset stomach, but it was mild and didn’t last long. The steroids was the best boost. I was able to clean and rearrange my closet. Lol I’m kinda sad to hear about losing eye brows and eye l. I don’t have allot eyebrows to start with and my eyelashes are minimal,so I won’t have any by the time I finish treatments.

  • Gingerobrien
    Gingerobrien Member Posts: 13
    edited September 2018

    asknomore,

    Wow that’s horrible! I find I am freezing all the time now. I am kind of lucky I am in a small infusion center and have the same nurse each week and she is awesome. I bought button down flannel shirts and use blankets too. I am icing my feet during taxol so I do get cold for that hour! Hope your next infusion experience is better.

    Ginger

  • yellowb
    yellowb Member Posts: 102
    edited October 2018

    Taxol pushed me into menopause -- so not cool, Taxol! -- but it does take care of the being freezing part. For the first time in my life, I am overheating.

  • kdrake1007
    kdrake1007 Member Posts: 55
    edited October 2018

    Had Taxol 9/12 on Thursday. I'm SO looking forward to being done! Neuropathy on the bottom of my feet started a couple of weeks ago - tingly/numb toes with some shooting pain. My MO reduced the amount of Taxol I was given by 10% and the shooting pain has diminished fortunately. I am icing hands and feet (and cool capping) taking vitamin B supplements and using Biofreeze twice a day on my feet.

    I know I read that some people had discolored nails and a friend had some lifting of a couple of her nails from the nail bed but she didn't actually lose any nails. Has anyone else had this happen? Fingertips have been on and off tender the last couple of days.

    Thanks!

    Kim