Weekly Taxol group
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5thSib~I'm doing pretty well. My only complaint is being tired. I even kept 90% of my tastebuds on taxol #1. I get #2 tomorrow (Friday).
I didn't have a problem with restless legs. Thank God. I got Benadryl & Decadron before treatment, and I'll get it for tx 2, then if theres still no reaction, I won't get anymore pre-meds.
I take the generic for Unisom. Orange box at Walmart , $4.00. It's a different drug than most OTC sleep meds. Most of those are Benadryl. On steroid days I also take 1 mg of Ativan and I sleep well and wake up in the morning without feeling drugged.
Blessings
Paula0 -
I don't remember if I mentioned this to you or someone else.... after I complained about the restless legs after having benedryl they stopped using it and give me Claratin pill during pre-meds. I haven't had restless legs since....last 2 treatments.
also you may notice that I'm sending this msg at 4:28 am - havn't been to sleep yet....damn steroids!!
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I use ambien and it works like a charm, its the steroids that keep us up
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I'm all hooked up for Taxol #2, but they're re-checking my WBC. Oh Lord, please don't let them postpone this tx. I want to stay on schedule.
Prayers please.
Blessings
Paula0 -
Prayers coming your way Paula. Hope you get your treatment! (Especially after you are all hooked up!!)
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Paula, I hope things are ok for you. I never had one cancelled, even when my WBC was .06. Good thoughts going your way (and a hug too).
I'm at the hospital waiting for a transfusion. My hemoglobin is too low. Still had chemo yesterday, though. My doctor is being very aggressive. Thank god he is.
Hugs,
Georgetta0 -
Restless Leg - I had this issue when my life was normal. It was darned annoying. I found that some tylenol and valarian (herb) helped immensely, but I am not allowed to take valarian during this surreal phase of my life. I also found that some of the medicated pads on the market can help, too. Just read the labels for stuff you may not be allowed to take. Generally, the ingredients are menthol and salacylic acid. I refuse to take anything that could be habit forming. For now, I have some topical inbuprofen-type cream I apply to my legs, which seems to help. If I get up and do some streaching that can ease things or cause fatigue to overtake the restless leg. I personnally avoid habit-forming drugs because I've lost family members who became addicted. I even stopped taking pain killers one day after each of my surgeries and only took tylenol--that's how deep my phobia is!
Soteria - You are going to get your treatment today! I demand it!
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I will take whatever to get through this. I have been having headaches continually for three weeks now. It feels like my head is in a vice and I am squinting all the time. I have restless leg and general pain in my arms and legs, I get short of breath a lot and just feel very tired much of the time. It is an effort to do much of anything these days. Is anyone else this miserable or is it just me? I want my life back! I will have my 8th Taxol on Monday then have 3 more months of ACF. I have to wonder if I will make it through it. I am stage IV so I must do this but I need to know if I am alone with these symptoms because from what I've seen so far most are doing okay on this one and say the AC is much harder. I am getting a MRI next Friday and find out my results on the following Monday. Right now my head hurts so bad I think I have a tumor! Paranoid!!! Please let me know what you all think! Thanks and the best to all of you! Debbiej
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I am now two weeks and 3 days out from my last taxol. I have some strands, mostly in the back of my head, but still no coverage all over my head. Also, it is coming in very blond or white, so it's harder to see. On these boards I learned it may take up to 3 months to have allover coverage. I might need to use some haircolor at some point too. I wish it would grow, I hate waiting...hope yours is growing in soon!
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Girls~I did get my Taxol #2 today. So relieved. I did not want to get off schedule. My neutrophils were 1.4. A bit low, but still got my treatment. I think I hadn't fully recovered from AC.
I did get a bit of restless legs today for about 30 minutes. I mentioned it to the nurse, and she said sometimes walking helps. I needed to go to the restroom anyway, and when I came back, no more problems.
Since I had no reaction from first 2 tx, I won't get Benadryl or steroids anymore. I just go in, get labs, and get Taxol.
Today was the first time since I started tx that I enough energy to stand long enough to cook a real dinner. Something that took more than a few minutes, ending with me going to my chair weak as a kitten.
I'm hoping that holds tomorrow. DH, who rarely does anything to keep the house picked up promised to help me clean. If we don't do it soon, we'll end up on an episode of Hoarders!
Blessings
Paula0 -
debbiej,
I had A/C and taxol, the A/C is much worse. I had the same SE's you are having. Headaches, muscle aches and leg pains. Also, my legs have felt very heavy esp. climbing up steps. The worst for me is/was the fatigue. I am 2 wks PFC and it is a teeny bit better. My MO says it takes time. Sigh.................
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Paula, glad you made it through Taxol number 2! Other than the week I had the stomach fiu and the week I had the upper respitory stuff I feel decent. I have four left. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Do any of you have lympadema? I had cords post MX, did PT, they released me. I had a cord come back this week quick and painful. My right hand has been a little swollen. Don't know if it is from the cords, or something else....
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I have had weekly taxol#3 and now my scalp is very sore. I can hardly stand to wash my hair. Does this mean it is getting ready to fall out? Also, for restless legs, get them to cut the Benadryl in half. That fixed it for me.Only other side effects are the diarrhea and abdominal cramping. Gaining weight, even though I am trying to watch it.
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quick question about eyelashes/eyebrows... how soon after starting taxol do they fall out? Trying to be prepared...
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My brows and lashes held on during treatment but are very thin now 5 wks pfc. My lower lashes completely gone. Upper lashes are just stubs. My fingernails were fine during treatment and are now looking awful. Starting to lift and bruise. Otherwise I feel pretty good. Lol.
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So, I should see my hair start to grow and keep my thin lashes and brows during taxol. Then when I am all done I'll lose them. Yup, that is just cruel. Thanks cancer and chemo... you suck. LOL
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Two weeks and 4 days post A/C and 12 Taxol. No hair anywhere. This evening I walked twice around a superwalmart for exercise. That's more exercise than I've had since starting chemo. I feel much better, but as soon as I start moving around, tthe tingling and squeezing starts in shoulders, neck, chest, hips. No pain. I'm thinking that the tingling, etc, is the Taxol still in my body. Sour taste in mouth almost gone. Appetite back. Am anxious to get back to exercising, Am starting rads in less than two weeks, and I understand fatigue goes with that too. I had no energy at all the last two weeks of Taxol. I am sleeping a lot more now than before I started chemo. Ligght at the end of the tunnel?
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Hi,
I am 10 weeks post chemo. Food tastes better. Body is not in as much pain. I have pain from my bmx and implants from Feb.5th. I still have neurapathy in hands and feet. hair is growing... energy is returning. I am happy to see another season.
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I am questioning my decision to go forward with TAC chemotherapy treatment after the Terrible side-effects.
I'm also wondering if I should have just not done it at all especially since my initial PET/CT scan showed no evidence of disease after my lumpectomy and onc said I was in excellent health.. It is important to note before and after lumpectomy I felt great!!! The onc advised since my oncotype dx score was so high he was going to treat me very agressively!I'm so frustrated and depressed with my currect state and my frequent visits to the doctor the needle sticks for blood and the treatments I just want it to be over!! I just want a normal life. If I do have a recurrence and the doctor is treating me agressively now what are my options for treatment during reoccurence.
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Glady38 ~ You are not alone in feeling that way. Chemo sucks our energy, our strength, our vitality, and our spirit. It is hard.....and awful.....and temporary. Only you know what is right for you, but I want you to know you have been heard and you are not alone in feeling like you just can't take it anymore.
I hope that you have a good relationship with your oncologist and possibly a cancer counselor who can help you with your decision making. I'm glad you reached out to this group. I see it is your first post. If there is any information or support we can give you, please ask. And please know that many of us have felt exactly as you do.
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Hi Glady,
My treatments and such were as preventative. Hard choice to make. I often thought I was fine why am I doing this?
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Glady: I second all Nicole said and it is temporary. You have to make your own decision but let me share with you how I came to mine. I am 44, healthy, fit, strong, active. My BRAC tests came back negative and I am ++-, which is good for fighting cancer. I had a BMX/recon. A 4mm cell was found in the sentinal nodes. No cancer in the axillary nodes. The recommendation was chemo. Double dose dense of AC x4 followed by same of Taxol.
When meeting with my MO we asked, why are we doing this? The cancer is gone, tests all came back very good? He said, "I can't guarantee that a little cell is still out there waiting to attach to something else. If it were to attach to your liver, it would be a very hard fight to win." All I thought about was my 7 year old son and my husband and we knew I had to do it. Do I want to? No. Is it awful? Yes. I look at is I don't have cancer anymore, and this is preventative and temporary. Is there a guarantee it won't come back? No but my chances are far less by doing this. I try not to think of reoccurance because, well it hasn't happened. It's a bridge I pray I never have to cross. I don't know if this helps you or not but do know everyone on here is very supportive and have very similar feelings.
Good luck and hang in there.
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I chose to fight for the same reasons... Lets just make sure we are doing all we can to kill those sneaky little bastards. I don't want any cancer cells floating around waiting to attach themselves to some other part of me. I have a 10yr old boy. How can I NOT fight? I HAVE to be around for a long time. I have a very strong will to live. The TX and SEs are temporary.
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I guess I never really second guessed my need to do chemo. I am 33 and have a 10 year old and one a half year old. I need to be here, and I need to do everything I can to make sure of that. My 2 sentinal nodes were positive, and I had the rest removed. Am I tired, yes. Has this disruppted our lives, yes. I am ready to be back to normal. Everyone's situation is different, you have to do what is right for you.
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Glady38 - The doctors do everything possible to manage your side effects. As a matter of fact, that is about the only thing I ever seem to discuss with my MO: What are your side effects and would you like to manage them differently?
Not every day is bad, and you will have good days between treatments that you will cherish and enjoy.
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Hi all, I am done with my 8th Taxol and still having the blood pressure rising right after treatment and continuing through the week. I am taking BP meds to get it back down. My normal is 105/65 so when I have 145/86 I have a headache that won't quit. I have been told by the nurses that this sometimes happen with Taxol treatment. So I'm not sure if it is the Taxol or the Steroids that is causing it. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else this new symptom. My pee smells horrible! I can hardly wait to flush and get the heck out of the bathroom. I even spray the area with air freshner. My hubby thinks it's the chemo but I have never read where anyone else has had this. What do you all think????? I know it gross, sorry!
Hanging in there! Debbie
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debbie~Before starting chemo my onc told me that Taxol can be hard on the bladder. The first thing they told me was....AC can weaken the heart muscle......and Taxol can be hard on the bladder.
Be sure to stay hydrated, and mention this to your MO next time you go.
Blessings
Paula0 -
Has anyone had severe lower back pain with Taxol? Started last Wednesday -- was hurting when I had my treatment Thursday, but I didn't mention it to NP. Got worse that night and was so bad through weekend that I could not sit (had to lay down) and when I would get up I could hardly walk. Has been a little better since Monday, but still have issues sitting. Entire back hurts, but upper back is more like heaviness and tired muscles. Lower back much worse and painful. I thought about UTI, but haven't had any other UTI symptoms.
On whether to do chemo treatments -- my PET was clear after surgery, but my MO told me that the PET scan couldn't pick up the very small cells that might still be lurking. The chemo is for anything that might still be there somewhere in the body and radiation is to take care of the local site.
On SE's, I have had almost constant headaches with both AC and Taxol. Taxol has still be overall easier since no nausea. I did lose most of my lashes and brows after starting Taxol. Had not been having mouth sore issues on Taxol until yesterday (treatment # 8 tomorrow). Fingertips have been sore after every treatment. I now have two fingernails that are starting to lift from the nailbed. Fatigue seems to be getting worse with each treatment. I can only taste things the day before and day of my treatment. I seem to have less appetite the last couple of weeks, but that is probably because they cut my steroid dosage in half two treatments ago.
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5thSib, I ate Popsicles during each Taxol, brushed my teeth a lot and never had mouth sores. I had a little cooler I took to infusion in which I put crushed ice and Popsicles. It worked for me. Shoulder and hip aches with each Taxol, but no real pain. Tylenol helped.
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