Weekly Taxol group
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Mncteach, I’m also experiencing a more difficult time with Taxol compared to AC. Developed a terrible chest cough with flu like symptoms and low grade fever from the 1st round. Just had round 6 last week, and am still struggling with chest cough. Which is increasingly getting worst. On AC I could go to gym 2x a week and still feel almost like myself.
But, today, just walking from the parking lot to the store entrance, I’m winded. Can’t catch my breath or breathe easily without coughing up my lungs. MO seems to think it’s an infection. 2nd round of heavier antibiotics this week to no avail. Phone appointment with MO tomorrow, to follow up on how antibiotics are working. Since these also are not helping, it’s time to see a pulmonary specialist. Hope she agrees this time.
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Angie I'm so,sorry you've gotten sick!! Please take care of you and hopefully the lung dr will find something and treat it. I had breathlessness from taxol and 5 weeks put it's just getting better and I can walk across my very big yard without getting too winded. I made all the day around the craft store yesterday ...it's huge...and nothing... nice to start feeling normal again
Tina Marie, welcome and sorry you are here. I got bad neuropathy too. I had it in my mouth in my lips and both hands and feet. Mouth and lips are good now but my hands and feet drive me crazy especially when I'm tired. Where in upstate are you?? I was born and raised in Poughkeepsie and Hyde Park....
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Nanette, I can’t wait for the day when I start to feel normal again. 1/2 way done with Taxol. So now, looking forward to counting down.
Glad to hear that you’re beginning to feel better. Even just walking across the yard without feeling winded sounds so nice right now. Hopefully, after tomorrow, will get the necessary medicine.
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Nannette7fl: phew.. I did not know that you can get it in the mouth and lips... pain level in my feet right now is pushing an 8. hoping they can give me something more than just the gabapetin.
I live in a suburb of Syracuse, called Baldwinsville. we are known for the An-Busch plant here!
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tina marie, I’m having a tough time with Taxol, so can only imagine how difficult it must be to endure it indefinitely. Sending you lots of positive energy.
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numb lips? I was sewing, opened my mouth , and several pins fell out. I had forgotten that I had parked them between my lips.
more gabapentin. I understand that it is difficult to get off of it. Wouldn't want to try I am on 2100 mg a day. Maybe lyrica?
Angie, hope you get relief from your lung problems soon. That has to be tough for you.
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Kkmay - 12 weekly doses of taxol and carbo after 4 AC is my schedule. I just completed #8 of 12.
Tolerable, yes. Easy, no.
Easier than AC in some ways. Less nausea. But the length of treatment is wearing. I had to start Neupogen shots to boost my white blood cell growth. Annoying, but not a big deal. I found the immediate fatigue stronger, but bounced back post chemo ok.
I’ve iced my hands and feet during Taxol infusions and so far avoided neuropathy.
FWIW, I’m doing chemo prior to surgery and my tumor has shrunk from 6cm to not palpable in an exam. So when considering the SEs of chemo, consider the primary effect, too. It can suck, but it can work, too!
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Nanette— my mom was born in Poughkeepsie too!
Tina Marie— I cant imagine being on any chemo indefinitely, so sorry, but glad you are here.
Angie— I have been winded throughout this whole process, it does suck! I’m happy when I can do a whole flight of stairs without stopping. I hope they find the cause of your ailments.
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Another SE I hate from taxol is this horrible anguish I feel in my chest all day long. I can't handle it without clonazepan. All this cancer treatment sucks!
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Tina Marie maybe a vit b and ALA complex should help you with neuropathy. I hope you get better
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I’m down to my last two Taxols. Still shedding, but have hair, thanks to my Cold Caps...how long after my last treatment will I keep shedding? I’m worried about my eyelashes and eyebrows going, too. Those are both looking pretty sparse
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I am new here and this is my first post. I had my last taxol treatment almost 4 weeks ago. I had A/C every other week for 4 weeks then I had taxol for 4 weeks every other week. I have neuropathy in my finger tips and toes and I am still very very fatigued. I'm just wondering if I will start having more energy soon. This is really getting me down and I don't see a light at the end of the tunnel. I didn't have a lot of nausea during treatment, but I am having stomach issues, nausea and heartburn, which is very surprising to me. Is this "normal"? I don't feel like my treatment team is answering my questions honestly and when I ask these questions they say everyone is different. Any help someone can give me would be really appreciated.
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All of your side effects are common, and go mostly away with time.just be patient.
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Tina...I take 900 mg. of Gabapentin -- 300 mgs. 3x a day. With my morning dose, I take 30 mgs. of Cymbalta. My pharmacist said it is a good combination.
Hope
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I am having my first ever chemo treatment tomorrow, weekly Taxol and am very very nervous, probably sounds wimpish to you old hands......I have cold socks and gloves but thats all....what is ALA please?
Can Berberine be taken in conjunction with Turkey Tail mushrooms?
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ALA es ácido alfa lipoico, ayuda con la desintoxicación hepática y la neuropatía cuando se combina con vit b6 en dosis altas. Escuché que la cola de pavo mejora la inmunología. Buena suerte con tu primer taxol mañana! Besos
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Mncteach, I am also finding taxol to be worse in some ways than AC. I have only had 2 but the fatigue from the second one just will not quit, and am very achy. However i only had nausea the first time and only for about a day.
Also dealing with depression probably kicked off by the lupron. Another couple weeks till the antidepressant starts to work.
I told my work today that I probably needed to go on disability as every time I stand up I feel immediately like I have to lie down. I am fortunate that they are being very kind about it. But I can't imagine doing nothing for the next 12 weeks except lying in bed.
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ALA is Alpha Lipoic Acid - a supplement that some say helps with neuropathy.
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I have completed 4 A/C and will have my 7th Taxol tomorrow. The neuropathy in my feet is awful but the feeling has come back somewhat in my fingers. I do finger exercises, take Vitamin B, knit and anything that can get my hands moving. I did fall due to numb feet.
I, also, had a reaction to Taxol and then Herceptin. I now take Ativan before chemo and get some more before I start taxol. It knocks me out, but I don't have the horrible back spasms or breathing problems. I did develop skin toxicity from the taxol. I swear if it is listed as a side effect, I will have it. My skin looked like a cross between a sunburn, measles, and leprosy. I have been on a heavy dose of steroids to try and clear it up. My MO reduced my dose and that has seemed to help the fatigue and other SE's.
To treat the indigestion, my MO started me on a protonix. It has made life so much easier.
Bio-Freeze? I had not heard that. I will try it!! The burning in my feet keeps me awake.
Annie
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Hi Ladies!
what do you mean by icing your hand and feet during treatment? I keep reading this everywhere and I’m not sure what is it?
And is the neuropathy from Taxol temporary? Will it resolve after treatment on its own?
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Kkmay, I did the cooling of hands. It's supposed to help against neuropathy and against nail damage. by getting cooler, the extremities receive a bit less of chemotherapy. My MO said I can try it, although no one in her care has done this before me. I had simple gel packs that are sold everywhere and are used with sports injuries. quite cheap. I had a few and put them in a freezer. I brought them in an insulated picknick bag and cooled my hands and feet during Taxol infusion. don't forget to wear thin socks and gloves so as not to get frostbites.
I found some inspiration in this thread https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topics/864046?page=1#idx_23
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Kkmay--I'd read a lot about icing here but did not do it. I *did* make a point to keep my body cool during treatment--wore sandals, and didn't take any blankets or anything. I ended up with a bit of neuropathy on the bottom of my feet but none in my hands. I think it's very slow to go away since it involves the nerves healing. I'm about eight months PFC and still notice it occasionally but really not much any more.
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I am having a harder time with Taxol than I did on AC. I am about to have my fourth Taxol out of 12 and the last one I developed the shakes and weakness in my legs so bad my nurse had to help me to the bathroom. I was so uncomfortable having to have help but they were afraid I would fall. She was so sweet though. On my worst days I feel like a weigh a thousand pounds. My doc is talking about reducing my dose, but I really hope to power through it. Next week I have to be checked for steroid induced stomach ulcer from all the stomach issues I’m having. I think it may be Taxol side effects not steroids. Only 8 more to go and I am marking them off on the calendar.
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Sorry you are having bad issues with taxol. I completely understand you, hating taxol more and more. Do you have some gastric protector? My MO gave me a prescription from the beginning. Chemo can be hard for stomach. I hope you get better. Send you kisses
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I think most people get Pepcid with their premeds. And I have posted often that I really pushed protein while I was getting Taxol. I know it helped my blood levels and believe it helped with SEs.
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I just started something called sulcrafate from my doc. I have high hopes for it. I get Pepcid for my premed but didn’t have much luck. I was on Zantac at home with a prescription Prilosec but no luck with those either. I haven’t tried to push protein but I definitely will try it. I have been doing the BRAT diet the nurse suggested
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well this is week one after finishing my Taxol. I had a Pet scan & CT scan today. After I was allowed up I could hardly walk. I was so afraid of falling & was walking like I was drunk. I was wearing loafers & because of the neuropathy in my feet had a helluva trying to walk straight! Neuropathy is the worst side effect I’ve had from all the chemo. It’s terrible for me!
Doris
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Nanomom…. Just an idea...my first two taxols were fine during the treatment...my third one was close to what you described. My legs felt shaky, achy and I kept fidgeting, it was very hard to sit still. On my 4th treatment, I told my Onc about my experience and said that the only difference in the treatments, that I knew of was the benzoyl. The first two treatments, they gave me pills and on the third treatment they gave me the drug thru an IV. I asked if this could effect my legs. She said YES, some patients cannot tolerate Beneezol in IV. I was changed back to pills. My legs were fine on my next treatments. Could this be your issue? Wishing you all the best and sending great big HUGS
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Doing #3/12 taxol today. Anxiety is bad but i saw a psychiatrist yesterday who gave me Clonazepam which helped take the dread away, so now i feel like i can get through the day at least. Still teary. Very tired but no neuropathy (yet?)
15 days till Lexapro should work, 70 days till end of taxol. I have a countdown app on my phone. I recommend getting this if you don't have one because it reminds you no matter what, the time is gonna pass.
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Erin t. I' m also in clonazepam. The anxienty gets worse with each dose of taxol. 4 to go. But you are right, time will pass and we will leave all of this shit behind. Kiss
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