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Weekly Taxol group

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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 942
    edited March 2013

    I will be getting Taxol 4 this Friday. This is day 4 post taxol #3. So far I still have my tastebuds. Last week I lost them on Sunday, but they were back to normal by Tuesday. I had the joint pain yesterday. It doesn't usually stay more than 36 hours. I mostly get it in my knees.



    My neutrophils were 1.1 on Friday. Had they been under 1, I'd have had to reschedule my tx. I so very much want to stay on schedule.



    I think fatigue is my biggest complaint. It's not as bad as with AC, but still here none the less.



    No nail problems yet. I did have a day or 2 of mild neuropathy, but none this week.



    Blessings

    Paula

  • ywheels22
    ywheels22 Member Posts: 74
    edited March 2013

    Paula: thanks for keeping us posted. I have AC #4 then start Taxol. How many Taxols are you getting? I will be getting 4 every other week. Good luck with your blood work!

  • Eric7935
    Eric7935 Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2013

    My wife is getting her sixth dose of Taxol this week.  Things have been so much better than AC!  Our sons have her taking Alpha Lipoic Acid to try and keep some side effects away.  She is uptight at night, has trouble sleeping, but her strength is getting better since she quit AC.

    Not working yet, but she is a Personal Trainer, so that might still be a stretch.  Her blood tests were good enough that she can now go to church and shopping, etc.  She is even doing easy workouts.  Only 7 more doses, then maybe her hair will be back?...ha, ha. 

  • colt45
    colt45 Member Posts: 383
    edited March 2013

    @Soteria205: Thanks for the kind words.



    My wife does Taxol #7 Thursday.

    So far, some achiness and some tenderness with her nails. She sees some lines on them.



    Other than that, she's ok. She has gotten Neupogen shots following some but not all infusions.

  • Cindi74
    Cindi74 Member Posts: 69
    edited March 2013

    I am four weeks past last of 12 Taxol.  No hair.  Yesterday, energy began to come back.  I am finally feeling better.  Less and less of that needles and pins and squeezing feeling at throat, shoulders, hips.  Not much appetite.  Have lost about 15 lbs post A/C and Taxol, mosrly because of not eating because of sour taste in mouth and no appetite.

    Fatigue better, but a long way from where I was a year ago.

    Start rads tomorrow.  Oh yes, three black small toes.  I think the nail may come off.  Don't know whether that's a SE of A/C or Taxol.  Kept ice on fingernails during all of A/C and some of Taxol.  Nothing bad there. 

    Hang in there.  This too shall pass.

  • mareluna
    mareluna Member Posts: 275
    edited March 2013

    Cindi,

       Hi I think it is Taxol. My friend had that black nail thing going on with her toe nails. I did not. She also had the nail lifting issue. I did not. Just keep your nails cut short.

  • adagio
    adagio Member Posts: 713
    edited March 2013

    cindy - prayers are with you tomorrow for your first radiation. Let us know how it goes - I am waiting for my start date. Glad your energy level is starting to come back. Sorry that your appetite isn't good - but that will return in due course.

    I agree with Mareluna - the nail issue would be the taxol - I have heard of it a lot - so far I haven't got it. However, I am just starting to lose my eyebrows and no doubt the lashes will follow and that is 2 weeks post taxol/ 

  • 5thSib
    5thSib Member Posts: 119
    edited March 2013

    When you are on these boards you realize how unique God did make all of us. We are all going through the same thing but none of us react in exactly the same way. I'he finished #12 and I have had hair growing back in for weeks. My granddaughter says it feels so soft like her Teddy bear. Eyebrows are coming back too. Problem is it's all gray, which is probably a good thing for brows right now. I have little, short hairs sticking up in all directions! So I'm glad they aren't visible yet.



    Finger nails are very sore and have at least three lifting. Both big toes have gotten sore this week. Back aches continue to be an issue, especially when I work. By noon I am usually hurting.



    Hope everyone has a good day.

  • colt45
    colt45 Member Posts: 383
    edited March 2013

    @5thSib:



    When did you start having certain SEs? After how many Taxol Txs?



    My wife does #7 this Thursday.



    Some achiness and nail tenderness, but not much more. I'm just trying to anticipate what might be inevitable----even though it's been not too bad thus far.



    Thanks.

  • timbek2
    timbek2 Member Posts: 64
    edited March 2013

    I think your wife will be just fine. She's half way. I'm 7 wks pfc and doing well. Radiation now. Post chemo nails a wreck and hair coming in and falling out. Tell her we are praying for her. Best of luck. :-). God bless.

  • colt45
    colt45 Member Posts: 383
    edited March 2013

    @Timbek2:



    Your 'post chemo nails are a wreck'.... WHEN did they get that way----DURING or AFTER treatment?



    Thanks... and bless you for reaching out.



    Prayers to you. I love your signature.



    Wishing you a long, happy life with your beautiful family.

  • adagio
    adagio Member Posts: 713
    edited March 2013

    5th sib - congratulations on completing your taxol - is is such a relief, isn't it? Do you need to have radiation? Sorry to hear that your back is still bothering you! Have you tried taking 2 extra strength tylenol and 1 extra strength ibuprofen - this combination really worked well for me for pain. I recently read a study saying that this combo was more effective that tylenol 3's. 

    I am two weeks past my lst taxol, and I am just starting to lose my eyebrows - the lashes are still there, but I fear they will also come out. My nails to indents in them and slight discoloration - but so far no sign of lifting.

  • adagio
    adagio Member Posts: 713
    edited March 2013

    timbek - how is radiation going for you. I will be starting any day now - just waiting for the phone call. I am not looking forward to it!

    Have your eye brows and eyelashes started to grow back yet?

  • timbek2
    timbek2 Member Posts: 64
    edited March 2013

    So glad to be able to try to help others. If I'm going down this path the least I can do is help others! My nails mainly changed after chemo. Thought I had escaped it. :). No such luck. Just keeping clear growth polish on them for now. Waiting patiently for them to grow out. My brows n lashes thinned but then fell out after chemo. Now they're all growing back in. Like a rebirth. Starting all over again. Lol. Rads is going ok so far. Doc says takes until 15 to see changes. I will have 28 so almost halfway done. Thank The Lord!

  • mareluna
    mareluna Member Posts: 275
    edited March 2013

    Wishing you all well as you are doing your treatments.

    I am 11 weeks out from my last treatment. Feeling much better except for the surgery pain.

  • 5thSib
    5thSib Member Posts: 119
    edited March 2013

    Colt -- nails got sore after first treatment but only for a few days. At about treatment 9 nails started staying sore and some of my nails started lifting from nailbed. Aches are lasting longer and being more constant. I'm sitting in chair getting #9 now.

  • colt45
    colt45 Member Posts: 383
    edited March 2013

    @5thSib: Thanks for your reply. Bless you. We're all with you in spirit getting #9.



    My wife is getting #7 momentarily.

  • adagio
    adagio Member Posts: 713
    edited March 2013

    5th sib - sorry - I thought you had finished with your taxol. You are on the home stretch now - just 3 more after today's treatment. Good for you.

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 942
    edited March 2013

    My neutrophils were only 1.1 last Friday. They told me, had they been under 1, I'd have to postpone tx. I'm praying they're up tomorrow. I really want to stay on track. Taxol 4 is in the morning.



    My hair is coming back very sparsely. I finished AC on Fe. 8, and started Taxol 3 weeks later. So far, I have no big issues with Taxol, just a couple of days of not tasting, a bit of joint pain for a day or 2, and I'm still tired.



    Blessings

    Paula

  • nicole503
    nicole503 Member Posts: 99
    edited March 2013

    Soteria ~ wishing you well with your neutrophil levels.   My liver enzymes were still up (even after I reduced the glutamine) but not as high as the last time.  My oncologist did the green light for this treatment but told me if they are still up on my next blood draw, she might decrease the dosage of my final taxol treatment.  I'm trying to figure out how to walk the fine line between taking as much glutamine as I can early in this 2 week cycle and then when I need to quit in order for the levels to be significantly lower before my final treatment.

    Question for all of you

    Today during my 4.5 hour treatment I met Pat, a woman with ovarian cancer who was getting treatment in the cube across from mine.  Now that is a scary cancer.  She lives on a block that has 7 people affected with cancer, all different kinds.   She said her neighbor tried raising a fuss but no one seems interested.  She just confirmed my belief that environmental toxins are the cause of so much cancer, and who knows what kind of toxins we are exposed to every day???  I know that some women with breast cancer choose to have their ovaries removed because having had breast cancer may put us at higher risk for a future ovarian cancer.  Both my surgeon and my medical oncologist are of the opinion that this is not something I strongly need to consider.   After hearing Pat’s story today, I think I want to do more research and have another conversation with my oncologist.  What are your thoughts about this??

    Pat lost her husband to a brain tumor 5 years ago and had a wonderful grace that I see a lot in people who have suffered.  She was full of cute little sayings like “God won’t call you home until he has made up a bed for you, so I tell him to stay out of my bedroom!”.   She and I bonded quickly, and I will think of her when my side effects start in on Saturday night (the same time as hers do even though she has a different chemo).  We made a little pact to think of each other when we both start to realize that we’ve been “hit by the chemo bus” once again!  Fortunately for me the taxol chemo bus is a lot smaller than the AC bus was!

    I appreciate your thoughts about whether or not to consider oopherectomy after breast cancer.

    Best,

  • Cindi74
    Cindi74 Member Posts: 69
    edited March 2013

    Nicole, there was a woman at radiation yesterday that I spoke to, and it turned out she had been treated for bc, and now they found ovarian cancer.  I'm wondering how common that is.  My oncologist pointed out those stray cells can go to brain, bones, etc. and that the chemo was to kill them.  Also,  I've met a lot of survivors, so obviously everyone doesn't have other cancers.  but it does make you wonder.

    Yes, I think a lot of causes are in the environment.  I think mine was caused by the heavy estrogen in the early birth control pill I used, and the pills my doctor encouraged me to take when going through menopause.  "Protects your heart, and bones, no hot flashes."

    Never bothered with hot flashes and good heart, but my mother had osteoporosis, so I was worried about bones.

    Now this--with no other factor risks.

    Talk with your doctor.  Hugs

    Oh yes.  4 weeks after 12th Taxol and I felt a lot better today.  More energy.  Pet scan and 2nd Rad not too bad.  On my way out of the cancer ward I hope.

    31rads to go.

  • mareluna
    mareluna Member Posts: 275
    edited March 2013

    Nicole,

        I will be having the oopherectomy on April 2nd. My mom died of ovarian cancer in 87. I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. I went through genetic testing. I have Brca 1 mutation which increases my risk for more breast cancer and or ovarian. I am recovering from the bmx and implant surgery.  You may want to ask your onc if you need genetic testing. I needed it because of my mom's history. 

  • nicole503
    nicole503 Member Posts: 99
    edited March 2013

    Thanks Mareluna.  I did genetic testing and I was negative for BRCA1 & 2.   I wonder if it is only women who are positive for these genes that are getting prophylactic oopherectomy??

  • bcfree2013
    bcfree2013 Member Posts: 19
    edited March 2013

    Nicole,

    Great you are BRCA negative! My genetic counselor told me that even for BRCA positive women, it's not common to have both breast and ovarian cancer. But removing the ovaries and tubes are recommended to BRCA positive before 40.

    I am going to start my weekly Taxol in about two weeks. I wonder if any of you have low blood counts during weekly Taxol. I have a small skin cyst on my back that needs to be surgically removed and I may need to get it done during chemo. If my counts are low, it may not be safe because of potential infection.



  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 942
    edited March 2013

    bcfree~~I'm getting Taxol #4 tomorrow morning. Last week my WBC was 1.1. If it had been lower than 1, Id have had to reschedule. I'm praying good in the morning. I want to stay on schedule.



    Blessings

    Paula

  • adagio
    adagio Member Posts: 713
    edited March 2013

    Cindy - good to hear about your rads. I start on Monday March 25th and am feeling somewhat apprehensive about it! Did they get you to do the deep breathing technique to shift your heart of the beam of the radiation? 

  • bcfree2013
    bcfree2013 Member Posts: 19
    edited March 2013

    Paula, hope your WBC will bounce back quickly!

  • Skigirl72
    Skigirl72 Member Posts: 180
    edited March 2013

    I plan on pushing for a hysterectomy and oopherectomy. I am done with my factory... I will be on tamoxafin for 10 years and I am seeing an increase in problems with the reproduction parts. Also ILC and 95% positive ER/PR, So I say take them out.

  • nicole503
    nicole503 Member Posts: 99
    edited March 2013

    Taxol #3 finished yesterday without a hitch. One more left to go on April4th and then I'm done! Laughing

    Now I'm in the grace period between the infusion and the onset of side effects (save for the outrageous steroid red-face I'm sporting this morning). I'm going to do some Easter basket shopping while the girls are in school, hit the gym, and try to get some work done on a newsletter. I'm hoping the last of steroids see me through my abitious to do list today!

    Wishing you all well!

  • politicomama
    politicomama Member Posts: 52
    edited March 2013

    I'm planning on having a hysterectomy and oopherectomy in about six months.  I am BRCA negative, but I refuse to allow anything to fuel the cancer.  My MO was kind of either way about it, but my fam. doc, and my obgyn both recommend.  I trust them.  I am only 33, but my cancer grew while nursing baby number 2.  

    I get a little sad about the finality of that part of my life, and a lot of my friends are still having babies.  Just will have to snuggle theirs :)

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