Weekly Taxol group
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Eyebrows are an art, and I am not an artist. Luckily, they are growing back, looking a bit weird and unnatural. They are all the same length. But at least I have a better outline to fill in.
Yeah, make sure to bundle up. When it is chilly and I go out with a too light jacket, I suffer from the chills later.
I have been told to avoid weight-bearing exercise-- too much walking makes neuropathy worse. I find the recumbent bicycle at the gym to be just what I need. 100 calories in 33 minutes. Tomorrow I might try for 150 calories.
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Just had #4 of 12 Taxol treatments, so far I have only had mild se's, On the day of treatment I have insomnia and sporadic bone and abdomen pain, I have also noticed that the further into treatment I get that my taste buds are all but gone, everything tastes pretty much the same (what I imagine eating a brown paper bag might taste like) oh yeah and terrible heartburn / indigestion ugh. Still working full time and still able to take care of "most" things around the house (admittedly the dusting has suffered). But when I do make it to the weekend well I pretty much cease all forms of movement for a good full day and just recharge my batteries as best I can. Hoping my luck holds out the full 12 sessions and sending warmth and positive vibes to all of you beautiful warriors.
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some have to take hormon therapy for 5 and some for 10 years. I do not know that depends on grade of her2 or the age of the person. Anyone knows the answer
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The need for hormone therapy is dependent on ER and PR status. Someone .like me, for instance, who is ER-,PR- and HER2+ would not benefit from hormone therapy. Herceptin and other therapies directed at HER receptors are the only therapies, other than Taxanes and other chemotherapies, in my case. I don't know your hormone receptor status, so I cannot say in your case.
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MCBaker, I'm triple positive. My BS said I would be on hormones for 10 yrs but MO said 5. Any idea who writes the prescription?🙄
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I would suggest to them that they seek mediation by a third authority. LOL! You don't write the prescription.
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I would love to get the 3 of them in a room together. BS, PS and MO.
PS was unhappy BS told me I was looking at a lumpectomy and MO was unhappy PS said I wouldn't need radiation.
Makes me wonder sometimes who actually has my best interests in mind. My money is on MO right now but I'm learning that can change awfully fast😊
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Maybe you need to give the three of them a lecture about teamwork. LOL!
Of course, the PS would want the patient to avoid radiation and would not want the patient to have just a lumpecctomy. Attractive results are more important than survival. That is a bit overstated, buy you know what I mean. I think the PS has his own interests in mind.
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MCBaker, my husband and I met with PS Tues. The office was everything I had ever imagined a plastic surgery center to be. I felt like I was in Hollywood instead of Virginia Beach and didn't enjoy the settings at all.
PS had to have stated "your breasts will be beautiful" at least 4 times. Then the dreaded "what size would you like to be?". I hate that question. I was becoming agitated and hubby was sensing it and finally said "she doesn't care about the size, she just wants the cancer gone".
PS has great reviews and I'm going to use him but he wasn't hearing what I was saying and his ego needs to be tuned down some.
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Typical personality of a plastic surgeon. My daughter at the age of 5 got tiny dog-nips all over her face, and a PS sewed her up. She so much wanted to become a plastic surgeon and make ugly people beautiful. She just switched majors from social work to city management because she also wants good pay with a bachelor's degree.
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Margum: the latest studies indicate that 10 years of tamoxifeno are more beneficious for woman with er/pr+ than 5. I don't know if it is related with the er/pr percent. I'm 95 % er+ so I'm afraid I will take it during ten years or eventually 5 of tamox and 5 of IA
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I am exhausted. I try to walk 5 miles a day but walked 6.5 Sat. Woke up after 8 yesterday and never even attempted a walk. Got up after 7 this morning and been dragging all day. It has to be the Taxol. I thought it was from overdoing it Sat but it can't still be. I fell asleep on the hammock in my yard and I can hardly keep my eyes open now. This is crazy.
I was very fatigued on AC and would nap sometimes twice a day but woke up feeling rested. I'm not feeling rested now even after sleeping all night. I'm hoping this passes. 7 weeks of this will be really hard.
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DawnS1962
I am exhausted on Taxol! Maybe it is that it is weekly as opposed to biweekly with AC, but I feel like there is no rebound time. I feel like all I do is go sit down. I have 7 more weeks too, don’t like feeling like this
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Im having a graduation party for my daughter Saturday. Not feeling it right now, but I'm going to have to pull it off. Maybe the steroid I get Friday will help. I was fine this Sat.
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I was taking vitamin b complex and while I was tired I was doing things. I ran out this week and since I was finished I didn’t get anymore.... all I’ve done all weekend is sleep. Needless to say I got more B. I’ll let you know if I perk back up......
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Dawn, remember that the SE with taxol are cummatlative, at least they were for me.
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PheonixCruiser, the cumulative effects is what scares me. I've read on these boards some not getting neuropathy until closer to the end of taxol. I was doing fine. Only SE I've had is intestinal but this tiredness is awful. I had noticed earlier this week that my morning coffee doesn't have the kick it did and I'm normally up before 6am without an alarm. Not the past couple of days though. I could've stayed in bed yesterday and today. Just feels like a wasted couple of days but I'm sure more are coming.
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Give your body what it needs. Don't fight it. My MO told me that neuropathy usually doesn't set in until after Taxol is done. If I hadn't had an extra five days between #11 and #12, that would have been true for me. Immune compromised, with a breast infection that responded to antibiotics without problems.
My neuropathy is bad, but that is because I already had neuropathy from another problem.
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McBarker, I won't fight it. I don't think I can. I was watching a movie and dosed off twice. I think I am going to try to get to bed earlier every night and see if that helps.
Are you on any medication for the neuropathy?
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I was already on gabapentin and venlafaxine. Now I have a pain cream that has amitryptaline, lidocaine, and another anesthetic in it that I put on my feet three times a day. Nice stuff. Of course, today I was pretty well off my feet with all the rain, but it does give me more pain-free walking time, although I have been warned to not abuse the privilege.
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Mary can you post the name of your foot cream?? Sounds like I could use it on my feet and hands.
Dawn yes on taxol it is cumulative but you can also use the healing power of your mind to get you through. I'll explain. I found out on this board all about the SE's and I was also on Herceptin with it. I allowed my body to experience the SE's but I also used my mind to get me through it and usually every week I had 2-4 good days , of course near week 9 I had to really stay on top of things but when I was tired I napped for about an hour and when I woke up I would tell myself that our batteries are recharged so let's feel better. Week 11 & 12 were really rough but instead of counting how many weeks I'd been on therapy I started counting down how many more to go. I know is the glass 1/2 full or empty thing... but being positive can do so much more for you.
Margun, I am triple + with ER 98 and PR 97 so I will be on hormone therapy for 10 years according to my MO. I trust him the most but then I've dealt with him the most too.
Tomorrow I'm calling the PS to get these stupid drains out. I've had them in since 4/1 with 2 surgeries (2nd one was 5/1). Tired of being unable to start radiation and I don't want to even THINK that even though the PET said NED I don't want this cancer growing. I know 1st hand how fast it grows being HER2+!! I feel like every week postponing radiation is just giving it the chance to grow. I believe the drains are still in because of the lymphedema.... the therapist and I have been teaching my body to redirect the lymph fluid into my body and I guess the drains and picking up that excess fluid 😭
Hooe you all had a great weekend 😘
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Dawn, are you icing your hands and feet during treatment? I got some wearable, reusable ice packs on Amazon and wore them during my infusions and have no neuropathy at all.
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Nanette, I agree that having a positive attitude does help. Some days are harder than others but we are both triple POSITIVE 😜. My blood type is B positive, so I guess I better be positive.
I hope you get your drains out soon and can start radiation. I had no idea they could stay in that long.
PheonixCruiser, I ice my hands during infusion. I don't ice my feet. I was hoping the walking would help with neuropathy.
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Nanette, It was a real hassle getting it. My insurance doesn't pay. I got it from a compounding pharmacy. The recipe is "neuropathy #45, 5-2-5%"
"amitriptyline 2%-ketamine 5%-lidocaine 5% in vanicream" 0 -
DawnS, I had a growing neuropathy during taxol, the maximun point was two weeks after finishing taxol. Sometimes I felt I was walking on glass, it was horrible and I was afraid it would be permanent, but one month after last taxol I hardly feel anything, so there is hope. Hang on it!
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Yndorian, I feel like I have almost an irrational fear of getting neuropathy. I've read so many sad stories here about it. So far, no signs but as always I know that can change.
Good to know yours only lasted a month after completing Taxol.
I hope all things keep improving for you!
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nannet- you need radiation even with bmx
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Has anyone with bone mets stopped Taxol after 6 treatment sessions?
My secondary effects after 5 and 6 have been horrendous.... I am normally active, strong and determined but have not had the energy to even sit up or get out of bed. Also had v inflamed stomach and not been able to even drink sometime s let alone eat. Today is rest day from chemo and I was only able to eat as much as a sandwich today.....
I have never been so unwell that thinking strong and capable does not work. If I try and move I am really unsteady and dizzy.....I can sit down to drink something and wake up three hours later..... have even fallen asleep on edge of bed getting in to it and wake up 90 minutes later. Even on the toilet....it's far more than normal fatigue and tiredness.
I also have neuropathy in both feet and hands and one arm.....
What would you do in my place please?
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Lily, I'm sorry you're feeling so bad. I don't know what to say. Maybe someone in bone mets thread would have any advice for your situacion? Any alternative tx to talk with your MO? I'm thinking about you. HUGS
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Thank you Yndorian my medico de cabecera ordered full blood tests and I get those results on Thursday...but I think I will ask for next week off too....it cannot be normal to have such a strong reaction surely?
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