Weekly Taxol group
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Heather—congrats!! That must feel wonderful. I too hope you have something fun to look forward to.
Sister—I think most people would tell you Taxol/Herceptin was not too bad. Best wishes for minimal SEs.
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Volleyballmom, I am just a little ahead of you, a few days after my first AC, with similar SEs ... and I woke up with the outside half of one eyebrow gone. Seriously, body? You felt the proper response was to eliminate one half eyebrow? What, is it more efficient to march across my face from side to side?
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yellow—can't remember who it was who lost the middle third of one brow. :-(
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Oh, that is worse! No consideration from the brow hairs. None.
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😁😁 sorry yellowb, probably shouldn't be laughing, Idk but I can't help it 😁 I was asking the same question the other day in the shower: "seriously, body? Do I get to shave my legs each WEEK during the whole chemo??“ My brows are disappearing evenly from the inside - I mean starting from my nose and progreasing to the sides. ugh
Heatherautumn - congrats on finishing!!! And sorry about your feet! Please do come back sometime and tell us how it's getting better... I have it too and I'm only after 4th Taxol... I made a bath for my feet in Epsom salt yesterday and it helped a lot. I use almost cold water, since my soles were burning.
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JaBoo, you have to laugh at these things! There is so little that is humorous about this whole process, you have to grab it.
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Yellowb how is a/c. I am getting nervousus about that. I have done so well on taxol except for hair. Please keep us posted how you do. Both my brows are gradually disappearing. I shaved my head. I have some fuz, but I think w ac it comes out also.
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Heather - congrats on being done with chemo! I'm so looking forward to that day! I'm with you on the feet, mine have been numb/tingly since Taxol #7. I've been using Biofreeze twice a day.
I had to miss #10 last week as the DigniCap machine at the infusion center was down so I had #10 yesterday. So with the unexpected chemo mini-vacation, I went to Chicago on Tuesday, just for the day. Flew up at 6:00 AM and back at 5:00 PM. It was so wonderful, even though I had to wear a mask on the plane. But even better, was that the neuropathy in my feet seemed to get better with the break. We'll see how much it comes back with these last few Tx's. The other bonus was the improvement in my taste buds, woo hoo! Food really does taste good!
Here's to everyone surviving Pinktober and minimal SE's for everyone!!!!
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Volleyballmom, I am having a harder time on the AC, but it's not like a chemo patient in the movies or anything. I had the first AC on Tuesday, and worked Wednesday and Thursday. Today, though, I think the bump-up from the steroids ran out, and I stayed home. No nausea (if any nausea made it through this pill regimen, I'd be shocked), just exhaustion and strange muscle tenderness (as though I worked out far too much, and also got a sunburn).
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I had my first Taxol/Herceptin treatment today and it didn’t go as smooth as I was hoping. We opened and closed the cancer center. The Herceptin went well but I had a reaction to the Taxol. In 5 minutes of them starting the Taxol my face turned bright red and swelled plus I was having a hard time breathing. The nurses knew exactly what to do but I was terrified. I was doing better within minutes. My MO came out but to talk to me and gave me a couple of options 1. Conservative option: stop today and admit me to the hospital for next treatment 2. Try again at a slower rate and if a reaction occurs again stop and then admit to hospital for next treatment I elected for the second. They gave me additional Benadryl and Steroids and I did fine when they started again. I am praying that it doesn’t happen again. I wish I knew the likelihood of it happening again. wow I have have an amazing care team hoping SE will be minimal this week. I have teacher conferences so will have kids all day and conferences in the evening. I have only been back to work for 2 weeks since my bilateral mastectomy. you would think I would have have been energized tonightwith the amount of steroids I was given but not the case. I had finally decided to shave my hair next week prior to my next treatment on Friday I felt confident with this decision but now I’m not sure. I would just be lucky enough that my body can’t tolerate the Taxol and I would have shaved my hair for nothing. I just want to do it before it starts coming out on its own. I don’t want to wake up and feel as if I can’t leave the house. I’m not sure what to do
I hope everyone had a good week and that you have an excellent weekend!!!!!
Susan
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sisterstrong - what a reaction, I'm sorry! Hopefully you will be ok next time when they are prepared for possible reaction... The protocol at my cancer center is actually such that for the 1st treatment of Herceptin+Taxol patients are admitted to hospital and monitored. I opted out, so they just asked me to stay within reach for an hour after the tx.
Taxol no. 4 was 4 days ago and I have the crawlies in my legs again....
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SisterStrong - that must have been terrifying. Sounds like your team was really on top of it. I hope you can stay the course with those precautions. The more I read, the more grateful I am that someone found the HER2 protein and someone else found a way to "sap it." Herceptin seems to have been a game changer for many of us. On the other hand, 12 isn't really a magic number of taxol infusions, especially when there is no node involvement. I stopped at 8 with MO's blessing and haven't looked back. Hope your week goes better than you anticipate. I've been fighting for better FML for many years and still find it appalling that many can't take the time they need to recover.
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Thank you Jaboo and Taco. I’m hoping next week goes better. I’m glad to have one done. My oncologist keeps on telling me the Herceptin is the most important part of the treatment but I’m praying that I can continue with the Taxol. If I happen to have a reoccurrence I don’t want to wonder if not receiving the Taxol is the reason. I’m very grateful for my care team. My nurse played Champion by Carrie Underwood when the started the Taxol again at a slower rate. I’m feeling pretty good so far far today. Hope it stays that way.
Enjoy the weekend!
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For those with neuropathy...I had 15 Taxol infusions. Taxol is a cumulative drug. My neuropathy is very debilitating. It got worse after I was finished with the treatment. I have just completed 3 months of physical therapy which helped tremendously. I still have to use a cane when I walk, as my feet are numb in places and I get off balance. This has been going on for 7 months. I used Bio-Freeze, Aspercreme/Lidocaine etc. The burning was horrific. I couldn't sleep at night for a long time. I've come a long way, but feel it will be several months (if I'm lucky) for this to disappear. So, I feel your pain and wish you all the best.
Hope
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nonahope- I am so sorry to hear that your neuropathy has been so debilitating. I wish you the best and that it continues to get better
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I just finished my 4th treatment of AC on Friday and will start 12 treatments of Taxol in 2 weeks, thus joining this group. AC pretty much kicked my butt, so I am hoping Taxol goes a little smoother. I know everyone is different so reading sometimes gives me hope and sometimes doesn't, but I am just going to keep thinking positive. I live in a country area so have had my AC treatments done in a chemo treatment center that is not connected to a hospital, but closer to home. I have to travel father for my first Taxol treatment as I will be at our closest hospital with a cancer center. That way if I happen to be one of those that have a reaction they will be prepared to handle it. I am praying that I will be one of those that take it with no problem, so I am able to go the shorter distance for my following 11 treatments. I started loosing my hair after about the 14th day of AC. When I felt like crap anyway and took a shower and had hair all over (even though I had cut it really short) I told my husband to shave it. He shaved it with hair clippers not a razor so I had little pricklies all over. I kept thinking they would go away, but after all 4 treatments of AC my head it still prickly but has not gotten longer. I was thinking I would have this smooth head like my underarms and legs. So interesting. Maybe it will mean that my hair will grow back faster. One can always think positive right. I am older so am retired and that has been a blessing as I do not have to work and have no kids at home, just a loving an very supportive husband. Saying that I am also surrounded by my grown children, grand kids and friends that have given me much love and moral support. I am not shy about having cancer so am able to talk to people about it candedly. I play a weekly game of poker (when I feel like it) and have had such support from all of the other poker players. The first time I played after baldness and was wearing a hat all of the women players wore a hat in my honor. Brought me to tears. I went wig shopping with friends before going bald, and bought a very nice wig that matched my current hair. I have yet to wear it as I wear scarves and hats. It might have been a waste of money, but I figure it is my security blanket if I end up going somewhere where I will feel more comfortable wearing it. Hope all goes well with each and every one of you on this site dealing with all of the different things we deal with. In a way the 4 treatments of AC seemed to fly by (now looking back) so hopefully so will 12 treatmens of Taxol. Hugs to you all
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I have just had my 3rd Herceptin and Taxol treatment. I asked my Oncologist to keep my steroids going.So far so good. I do have the side effect of diarrhea. My nurse says it probably the Taxol and not the Herceptin. Imodium is helping. The heartburn remains. I carry a bottle of Tom’s everywhere I go. I ‘m noticing my neuropathy is a little worse. I was in the store today and I couldn’t grab a pack of cookies they kept falling out my hand. I notice ‘I’m tripping slightly because I’m not picking up my feet’s. What’s hard for me to distinguish,is it my MS symptoms getting worse or the side effect from the drugs.My hair is still intact but I planned a trip to the barber shop next Saturday to cut it off. My husband plans to cut his as well. What I’m finding tedious is applying dressings to wound on my left breast. The wound has gotten larger it’s about 4.5 “ wide and about 6” length. My incision opened after surgery and wouldn’t heal. Funny thing it’s not the breast I had cancer in, but it’s the side I the most trouble with when my MS likes to act up. Coincidence or related?
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Nonahope, I, too, have neuropathy caused by Taxol treatment. Mine is not as bad as yours, but I am still using a cane at least some of the time, so I can sympathize with your difficulties with walking. I am doing therapy and have improved quite a bit from when I was at my worst, but I still wobble quite a bit when I start moving. (I look drunk, actually.) It is very frustrating! One of the things my therapist recommended is water exercise, so I am taking an "aquafit" class at my local rec center. If you have not tried water exercise, I highly recommend it. It is easier to walk with the support of the water, and, as a bonus, I don't feel the neuropathy as much when I'm in the pool! In any event, I wish you the best of luck with your continued treatment. May you achieve complete success!
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cowgirlsdontcry, I was on the same path that you are now. I had a tough time with AC too and was nervous about Taxol but did just fine with it. I hope you have the same fate. My hair also went with AC but grew back w/tx. Then my eyebrows went towards the end of Taxol. Still, the neuropathy wasn’t bad. I’m 5 weeks out and have muscle/joint pain. So take care of yourself even after treatment is done cause it ain’t over til it’s over
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Rockymountaingirl....Thanks for your support and suggestion. I am still not able to drive. Also, I'm not a "water" person. I walk around the house (very carefully) without my cane, but never when I'm out. Yes...I, too, look like I'm drunk. My right foot is worse than my left, so I look like I gallop when I walk. I sure hope, with time, this will keep getting easier. Best of luck to you, too!!
Hope
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Talk to your MO about the neuropathy. Some folks get relief with gaberpentin (sp?). I stopped taxol after 8 infusions with MO's blessing. Said if I had lymph node involvement she may have pushed me harder to stay the course but I haven't looked back. I had no SE from Herceptin, even with a 30 minute drip.
Be careful. It would be awful to fall in the midst of treatment.
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Nonahope, it sounds like you are where I was about six weeks ago. I could not drive -- I was too weak, and I didn't have enough control over my feet -- and the only place I walked without a cane was home, where I walked very, very carefully. And you should have seen me on the stairs! I had to have a death grip on the handrail at all times. I am now driving all over the neighborhood, and I walk (not very gracefully, I admit) for short distances in public without my cane. I don't try to drive or walk very far because my various body parts become clumsy when I'm tired, and I get tired easily. (I'm almost done with radiation, so maybe the tiredness will go away soon.) I'm trying to improve my stamina so that I can do more, but it is very, very slow. My therapist helpfully said that it was good to be active, but not to overdo it. It would be so much easier to make progress if I knew in advance how much activity is likely to turn out to be "overdoing it." I only find that out in hindsight!
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Hi all! Half way done with my 12 Taxols! My eyebrows are really getting thin! I’ve gained back the weight I lost during ac too! Was hoping that would stay off!
Cowgirlsdontcry-Welcome and hopefully you’ll do fine! I’m not having any neuropathy in my feet and minimal in fingers, but now that I’m icing my nails during the Taxol, that’s gone. My nails are very sore and have dark splotches, but icing them seems to help! I do take a vitamin B6 supplement every night, so idk if that has been keeping away the neuropathy.
Wishing everyone health and happiness!!
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Rockymountaingirl....I sound like your twin, as to the walking, steps etc. I'm not driving because I don't know if I can feel the pedals. However, I think my daughter is going to take me to the mall, when the stores are closed, and I'll drive around there to see how I do. I've never been one to drive long distances, but I want to be able to go to the grocery on my own, drive to the doctor every month, and, meet friends for lunch every now and then without depending on anyone else. I do my exercises that my PT therapist gave me to do at home. I think those will help me gain strength back. I improved so much with the 3 months of therapy. I hated for it to end because I really did enjoy it. But, I will see how things go. Hearing that you are driving is music to my ears! Hope I can sing a song soon!
Hope.
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Please forgive the cross postng -I posted most of this in the September group but tis about taxol so also posting here
This week was my 7th taxol
I'm having a less-than-thrilling-time.
10/2 infusion - severe allergic reaction then spend entire week coughing
10/9 infusion come down with bronchitis and go on antibiotics. Spend entire week coughing
10/16 infusion. done with antibiotics. spent entire treatment session coughing. like a full hour of hard core bronchitis choking asthma cough. Every muscle in my body hurts. I feel like I ran a marathon. I don't look like I ran a marathon however since I gained 10 pounds since chemo started on 9/4.
And I seem to have a cervical bulging disc that my doc said is probably "benefitting" from the additional systemic inflammation and is pinching a nerve . leading to numbness up and down my left arm.
Three cheers for Taxol .. the :::cough::: "easy" chemo- my behind.
On the bright side I my super sexy crew cut (i seriouesly love it)still covers my head, thinly but completely. My doc was shocked that i still have this much hair. so there is that. And by some stroke of weird lucky my eyebrows are thinning in the pattern in which i naturally shape them so they actually look good. I take wins where i can get them
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Nonahope, we do sound like twins. I think my neuropathy is not quite as bad as yours, but the effects that we both have are certainly very similar. So probably your experience of driving with neuropathy will be somewhat like mine. One thing I can tell you is that you will not know whether you can drive safely or not unless you try it -- in a safe place, of course -- so going to the mall when the parking lot is empty is a great idea. My feet are partially numb, but I can feel where they are, so being able to tell whether they were on the pedals or not was not a big problem for me. What was a problem was having enough physical strength in my feet and legs to be able to push the pedals down, and having enough control over my feet and legs to be able to push them down with control. When I was at my worst, I did not have either adequate strength or adequate control, and I did not feel that I could drive safely, so I didn't. (I'm sure the world appreciated that.) I have been working very hard for weeks on regaining strength and control, though, and now I feel confident that I can drive safely, at least for short distances that won't tire me out. So far I've kept my trips to 10 miles or less. That distance is enough to get me to the grocery store and other essential places, and I can handle driving that far without any problems. If you are getting better at walking, then you are developing strength and muscle control, just what you will need to control a vehicle. I'm sure you will be able to manage driving very soon, and being able to drive even short distances is SO liberating! Good luck!
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Wow pcranky,
I like your outlook despite the complications. Hopefully they will go away and not return. I have had 3 Taxol treatments and I find my neuropathy is getting worse,especially my right hand and foot. The diarrhea is getting to be a pest. Heartburn persist. I too have a new buzz cut. My grandson didn’t take it well. He took one look at my head looked sad and walked away. I told him this means the Chemotherapy is working. It’s hard to see my family reactions.
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For those of you who are struggling with diarrhea - I found if I made certain I was "emptied out" before taxol, I did OK. I was never a daily "pooper". I continued the prunes and probiotic I had been taking before BC and added miralax daily (I mixed mine with lemonade). If I hadn't had a bowel movement the day before I took a stronger laxative. The post-Taxol constipation, cramping and diarrhea stopped.
The neuropathy is tough. I stopped after 8 taxols (with MO's support because I had no lymph node involvement) because it was so painful.
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Thanks Taco. I usually have chronic constipation but since Taxol anything I eat starts the diarrhea. I live on Imodium. I don’t do dairy. I skipped the ice cream and cake yesterday for grandson birthday celebration. Fish, beef, chicken ,bread, applesauce,fruit, rice, toast, soup doesn’t stop the diarrhea. So I slipped ginger ale to help stay hydrated. Water gets boring after awhile.
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My advice for anyone with bowel issues....go online and order a spray bidet that attaches to the top of the toilet just under the seat. Immediately. It's amazing. Soothing gentle water spray feels so clean and refreshing. It also helps to get things going by helping your sphincter muscle relax if you're constipated. If you have diarrhea is gently cleans. Not kidding...it was life changing for me!!!
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