Weekly Taxol group
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Beeline I ditched my headgear a couple of weeks before I probably would have because I had a business trip and didn’t want to pack baseball hats. I figured I was going to be surrounded by professionals who could handle it. I say go ahead and go topless at your new job.
And I wore bigger earrings and necklaces when I didn’t have much head/face hair. Visual distraction is good!!
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Moongirl - I had to laugh when you said " The Taxol runs are real. (I learned not to trust passing gas!!!!)"
Before this cancer journey started, I have always told my kids (I have 3 boys) if there is one thing I have taught you that you need to remember for life, it is to never trust a fart!
I have always been chronically constipated, so I am curious to see if will have the runs with taxol. I have Taxol #1 on Wednesday (they pushed me back a week which I am glad for), so we shall see!
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I have never had the runs with Taxol (3 so far), but I have taken psyllium capsules for years. It helps both difficulties. Maybe four or five movements a day, but all soft.
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I haven’t had any bathroom problems (except #1 day and night from all the water I drink) with A/C or taxol (#9 this week). I do take one probiotic every day
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I didn't have any issues reg. constipation or diarrhea while on Taxol... Our bodies really are different
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I didn't have any bowel issues either, and I tend to run very fast. Had IBS since my late 20s, and tend to know where all of the bathrooms on my car journeys are. ;-)
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Ingerp Your post made me laugh. I too learned where all the bathrooms are but my learning came from raising my daughter (youngest of my 3) and helping out wirh 6 of 8 grandkids. Never fails when you need to go do errands someone always needs a potty!! Now those lessons are applied to me because I never know when the runs are going to hit. But heck I think I'd rather be loose than constipated!
My runs were hitting on days 3 & 4, then days 6 & 7 this week its6been almost every day since treatment on Thursday. DH is home today and he said "thanks I got your runs..." I didn't know Taxol runs,were a,a shared thing lol
As for accessorizing with scarves and caps I started wearing my earrings again and a necklace if I can find one to coordinate. Some times I look at myself in the mirror once dressed and giggle about my bigger earrings.... it's my window dressing lol
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I’ve been told that my hair will only “thin” on weekly Taxol (only).
I haven’t seen anyone yet that didn’t lose it.
Please let me know what your experience, advice and tips are...for hair and any side effect.
I start next week.
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Leee, right after #4 my hair started coming out in gobs. Too much of a mess to handle. Went to Great Clips Salon which shaves chemo patients for free, and they did a nice job, easy and fast. After #12 I've got a whitish peach fuzz, fine and thin. Having double mastectomy Jan 23 and as soon as I can lift my arms over my head I'm going to have it shaved again. It will be right at the time new healthy hairs come in. I also did some research and bought Minoxidil 5% liquid from Costco Online and will apply that 2x/day to stimulate hair growth. Will keep a very short cut. Top of my head, hair has really thinned and want it to grow back thick like it was. One has to keep using the Minoxidil forever to keep a thick head of hair but I figure with a short cut it will be easy. Then have to research to see if the 10-year pill MedOnc prescribes causes hair loss or thinning. Mess with hormones and there are consequences. I can live without breasts and hair though.
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I think most of us who didn't cold cap lost most/all of our hair. I did a long buzz after #3 (about an inch) and went down to about 1/8" after #4. I wore baseball caps or bandannas (to the gym) when I went out of the house. I started taking Biotin before dx (not even sure why--I think to help my nails) and I must say my hair has come back with a vengeance. Kind of funny to see all of the different stages--at first very soft and fluffy, nos coarser and definitely have chemo curl. I'm wondering when something close to my own hair comes back. In the meantime I'm keeping it very short--the tight curls were driving me nuts.
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Every time I draw my fingers through my already short hair, they come away with hairs. I am thinking about a short pixie, although it won't look much like a pixie, since it is already curly. Then if I only have a partial loss, I can still wear my headgear with some showing. I think my brother is going to teach my daughter to sew. Apparently he had a girlfriend years ago and they made some money with creative headgear. I made a 24-inch square scarf yesterday, and it looks nice. One of my favorite prints.
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Each Day—sending you positive vibes for your Taxol! It is a marathon but when you cross the finish line the happiness is REAL! I have a friend with Stage 3 BC (who I’ve actually never met) who a friend wanted me to reach out to because she was newly diagnosed and completely overwhelmed. She’s finishing her Carbo/Taxol now and I texted her that I had trusted passing gas and made a an um accident. . . She texted me back and said she had just done the same thing. Ugh! That happened on treatment day. Just so you know.
I finished 2 weeks ago tomorrow and I am feeling better everyday. My hands are waking up a bit everyday. I have a haircut on the 17th. I need to even this feathery stuff up. My hairdresser is huge on Instagram so think I might be her next big project.
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I went to the downtown barber shop and got it cut short. He wasn't afraid to do it, either, unlike the other shops. And he was very careful with my tender scalp. Hopefully if I have a partial loss, It will peek out from under my headcovers, and people will ask fewer questions. I like it, and I can ruffle up the curls and not look like hat-hair got me.
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Leee - I was also told my hair would only thin but boy were they wrong. My hair started falling right after Taxol #2. I held off shaving until 2 weeks later when all the shedding stopped and I had maybe 10% of my hair left. If I wore a hat I would have some hair sticking out under it. That’s when I finally accepted reality and shaved it.
Since we were tired and my husband’s shaver wasn’t very good with hair, I had some stubbles remaining which stayed with me some weeks before they too fell out. Now at 6 weeks after Taxol #12 my hair is starting to come back. They’re at maybe 5mm now...
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Hey hey! Hope all are doing well. Just wanted to drop a line and say all is great. Had my 1st treatment last Thursday! Knock wood, no side affects. Next one is this Thursday, I’ll be in touch. Take care everyone
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That’s awesome Gigi71! Glad you’re doing well after Taxol #1.
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great job Gigi
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Anyone have anemia after 2 tx of Taxol (I also had 4 tx of e/o week A/C, but hemoglobin and RBCs were ok until 2nd Taxol)? Just wondered how prevalent this was... My onco is going to have me do weekly iron drips prior to infusion of chemo going forward. Tks! MB1
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I am taking omeprazole to settle my digestive system. I am afraid of gut-bleeds from the irritating nature of the Taxol. My scalp is soooo sensitive, and the balding spots are obvious.
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MB1--I ate a *lot* of protein through tx and my blood levels were really good. I had red meat 5-6 times a week and drank a protein shake every day. More protein might help.
MCBaker--sorry about the tummy troubles. I fully expected some but tolerated the Taxol pretty well. I'm sure you're getting Pepcid with your pre-meds?
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Yes, plenty of Pepsid. I think my premeds take longer that the real thing. However, I admit I am highly allergic.
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What were your side effects of Taxol?
I start on it in a couple weeks along with herceptin.
I waa on taxotere and carboplatin. The side effects were horrible. I had so many.
Glad my oncologist changed my regimen.
Any advice..
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Linda, everyone is different - just keep in mind that things do get better, promise! I was done with Taxol the last week of February.
My hair started falling out after the third treatment, especially when showering after several mornings of crying in the shower I decided to do something. First I had it cut short (was past my bra line) and then had enough and took out my husbands clippers.
Taxol for me was cumlative so take that into consideration in the beginning.
I was nauseous and had constant headaches which got worse with each treatment.
Nose - dryness, soreness, a lot of nose bleeds - get some nose gel if this happens
Weight gain from the steroids, ugh
I did ice my fingernails and toenails and I firmly believe that saved my nails. I used reusabled packs from Amazon. They were recommend on a sticky from this board.
I hope you have minimal side effect - just be good to yourself over the next several months.
Finished Herceptin at the end of Deecember after 13 months.
My hair is about 3 inches, really slow growing but it's been that way all of my life. I continue to wear a head scarf or a wig.
Good luck!
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thanks for replying.
I was so sick 1st treatment. I don't think anythg could be that bad. My hair was coming out after 14 days with taxotere n carboplatin. I had my daughter in law shave it all off. Got few hats n 2 wigs.
So, r u done with treatment now?
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God bless you.
Starting with taxol and herceptin jan 29.
Did one round of taxotere n carboplatin. Oh my goodness at the horrible side effects. So my oncologist changed meds.
I'm praying for easier time this go around.
I was also diagnosed with diabetes after they gave me steroids.
So are you finished with chemo?
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Hello everyone! Fixing to get the 2nd of 12 treatments! Knock wood, I had no side affects the first week! But, Everyone is different! Today is going to be another great treatment day!! Good luck everyone on your journey, I’ll keep U posted on mine!
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Good luck Gigi on your treatment...Hope you do well. I go for week #6 this afternoon I'm 1/2 way through the 12 8)
LindaChow welcome and sorry you need to be here. Hopefully you'll find Taxol/Herceptin combo much easier on you.
Mary, you're allergic to the Pepcid? Wow! Poor you 8(
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no not to pepsid. I am highly susceptible to unexpectedly developing allergies to anything, and more so now, with my immune system in an uproar. I just got my pre-chemo blood test results and everything is a go. Abstaining from benadryl for the week hopefully will make it easier.
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MB1–Not me, but I have a friend who is doing weekly Carbo/Taxol and she is anemic as all get out. She's been getting iron drips prior to her last 2 treatments. She also started on Zarxio shots. However, this week her labs looked great. Her platelets went from 90 to 350 and her ANC from 700 to 2500. She has 4 more to go.
Linda—my side effects from Taxol was body pain in my hips and thighs and lower back. Like someone whacked me with 2x4s. I started fasting and the pain went away completely so my only side effect was being tired. No other SE at all. I got done with Taxol 2 weeks ago today. I feel better everyday.
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Linda, yes after 13 months I am done. I want to keep my port for at least a year so I will go in every 6 to 8 weeks to get it flushed.
Please let us know how you are feeling.
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