Weekly Taxol group
Comments
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Politico: congrats on being done! I can't wait for my turn to be one. 3 more Taxol to go. I hope they are not too bad.
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ywheels, I hope the few weeks go quickly for you with little se's as possible!
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Politico: how were your Taxols? My first seems ok. Did you find all 4 to be about the same?
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I used ahr saline gel for nose during taxol nosebleeds. It helped with dryness.
My results from tissue samples from oophoectomy came back fine.0 -
ywheels22 ~ For me, Taxol SE's did not vary tremendously from treatment to treatment (yucky mouth taste, increased stomach ache, deep fatigue and muscle/bone aches day 3-4) except for the neuropathy. That definitely got more pronounced and lasted longer after treatment 3 than treatment 1. I had to cut the glutamine which may have been part of it. Even though it got worse, it did resolve even before my last treatment. I am 1 day out from my final taxol and have barely perceptible tenderness in my fingertips. I expect this to change over the next week as SE's set in. I remain hopeful that since I have a pattern of the neuropathy resolving that this time will be no different.
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politicomama CONGRATULATIONS!!! Doesn't it feel both great and a little weird to be done???
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Politico mama...
Way to go on being done! Hooray! Who is the one who said they get to ring a bell in the infusion room....? Wish my place had that.... Maybe I will just bring my own. Eleven weeks to go.
Anyone doing twelve weekly taxols who can speak to side effects being more cumulative as one goes through it... Or does it tend to stay more even keel throughout? I felt like AC got worse for sure as I went through it.
Trying to predict a little bit of timing.
Peace and havea good weekend.
C.0 -
I had Taxol #6 today. So far, my SEs haven't gotten any worse at all. I have a bit of joint pain that last about 36 hours, but comes & goes during that time. Taste bugs go for a couple days, but I don't get the "Ass Covered Ass Taste" that I got with AC. I'm tired, but that's better too. No nail issues at all yet, and very minimal neuropathy.
Dryness may be part of the nose bleeds, but I've had those kind before chemo. These were gushers. I packed one nostril with Kleenex for about an hour to slow the bleeding. I think mine was in part to the 2 blood thinning injections I take everyday.
Blessings
Paula0 -
hi all,
I had my last weekly taxol on tuesday ......... yippeeeeeeeeeeeee
so I'm done with the bad chemo ..... I've started calling the taxol and herceptin weekly treatments "bad chemo" so that I could say I'm done with something even though I continue herceptin every three weeks for the year. all my red blood readings were low on treatment day (but nothing like some of you have had), so I'm really tired today and the neuropathy and nose bleeds SUCK..... I wonder when I'll start feeling like a human being again..... does anyone know how long it takes for taxol to get cleaned out of your system??
Then I had my radiation mapping, CT and tattoos....and I start daily radiation for six weeks on April 15th.... pretty fast start since it's only two weeks after my last taxol. but on the other hand will I EVER be done..... my RO talked about SE's and mentioned skin issues and fatigue(YIKES)..... but then he said people like me coming out from chemo don't seem to feel as much fatigue..... i.e. we feel better every day we go away from chemo.
I'm actually starting to think about hair..... and maybe even having it again someday. I plan to start using nioxin and taking biotin but was wondering what dosage to use... ideas???
wishing minimul SE's to all...0 -
Jayjayc, congratulations! The worst is over. I had 33 rads but didn't start until almost a month after last chemo - I went out of town for the holidays and started in January. Going every day for rads does get tiresome, but each treatment only takes a few minutes. The doc, nurses and techs were all great, and from what I've read on radiation boards that seems pretty much the case for most. I had no skin issues to speak of. They will watch you carefully. I went through a couple weeks early on where I was more tired than usual, but nothing I wouod call fatigue. As for when taxol leaves the system - I'm not sure but it takes a while. I had very little neuropathy during treatment but developed a numb big toe about 2-3 weeks after my last chemo. The nurses said it is common to get neuropathy after finishing. If you're taking anything to help with neuropathy, keep taking it for a month! I took B6 and glutamine during treatment but ended too soon. My big toe is finally almost back to normal.
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Nicole,
You deserve a fantastic bottle of pinot to celebrate with
, let the countdown begin! I'm so glad I saw your post about glutamine tonight. I've been taking it 2x daily and I was not aware that it could cause liver #'s (alt?) to go up. I've had to miss several doses of weekly taxol because my ALT's went from a healthy 17 to 185, they then started to come back down and went back up. Drs are trying to figure out what is causing it, so I'll mention this next week. Thank You0 -
Nicole, good and weird. You go ever week for what seems life forever and then they don't want to see you for a month! I'm glad to have this phase behind me, but nervous for what the future holds. I think if I had not seen what my mom went through I would be a little more mentally stable with the situation!
Emilysmom, I feel like my SE's changed as I went through weekly Taxol. The first couple of weeks I had no SE. The middle weeks I had some bone and joint pain, nosebleeds, and loss of brows and lashes, the last few weeks it was just fatigue. I still worked and took care of the kids, I was just done at the end of the day.
ywheels, my mom did dose dense taxol like you years ago, and her SE's stayed pretty consistent, neurpathy and fatigue. She continued to work through treatment though.
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Thanks all. I will be bummed if the eye lashes fall out. It seems to be a strong possibility. I took Zofran a Few times a my stomach felt off. That did the trick. Definite aches tat one and go. I am day 4 so I hope things start to settle down by tomorrow.
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Yew heels, can't recall... R u on weekly or dose dense?
Hoping the best for your lashes... I can see in the pic that you have beautiful long ones.
They do grow back in, right? I will hope they don't come out! I read others say that their hair startedcoming
IN while on taxol!!!!!!
Here's hoping!
C0 -
Nicole – I remember back in December when I began watching every one of your posts. You were a week ahead of me (now two), and the fact that you were able to keep going kept me going. Feeling groggy from Taxol #3 and waiting for the physical discomfort to kick in, but I know I can keep going.
YWheels - My MO said the SEs don’t change a lot during the course of Dose Dense Taxol treatment, and I tend to agree. I am finding that while they improve, they hang on a little longer. Fatigue is my constant companion because my HGB remains in the 8 range, but my MO said that we’re just going to keep running towards the finish line because in a few weeks my body will resolve this on its own.
Re: Nosebleeds. Put an ice pack on the back of your neck. It stops it more quickly than anything I have ever seen. I haven’t had one since, knock on wood.
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Emily: dose dense x4. I had #1 on Wednesday. Feel very tired and aches on Friday and today (Saturday). Hoping tomorrow is less so.
Zorina: Thanks! My HGB is through the roof but we will see how it is when I get blood work on Tuesday. No Nuelasta shot as of now and I am praying it stays that way.
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Zorina ~Thank you for your kind words. The physical discomfort from Taxol #4 was waiting for me when I woke up from a nap just now (usually hits me on the afternoon of the 2nd day after Taxol) and it's nice to have your words waiting. I've got about 48 hours of this discomfort/mental fogginess based on past experience and then I will be free of this particular roller coaster.
Last treatment my neuropathy peaked one week after the infusion so I've got a little ways to go but it all feels manageable and full of the promise of being DONE!0 -
I have felt a little worse after my last treatment (#11) than previous ones. Terrible headache and blurred vision Thursday and Friday. Saturday started out pretty good but that afternoon the muscle aches hit with a vengeance. Also my fingers and toes were so sore that I couldn't stand to walk or use my hands. Finally took a pain pill and went to bed. Better so far this morning.
I dreamed I had pretty thick eyelashes again last night -- was disappointed when I woke up. Oh well, hopefully soon! I just use a lot of black eyeliner. I decided I didn't want to mess with fake ones.
My taste buds go haywire the day after chemo and stay that way until the day before. I get two days where things taste kind of ok. Watermelon is something I have found tastes good even when nothing else does.
Thursday will be my last chemo. Yea!0 -
Shirley/5thsib...
Hooray for Thursday being your last Tx! way to go,girl!
Funny thing u mentioned watermelon.... It is the only fruit or vegetable I could tolerate during AC and I continue to eat it now. Was eating lots of chocolate pudding otherwise....
Time to get back to watermelon or I can't fit into my pants!
Congrats .5thsib. Way to go... And those eyelashes will comeback in, so keep hanging in there on them. Hugs to you.
C.0 -
I am on day 5 of 1/4 Taxol. Friday and Saturday there was aches and pains, especially in my legs. Kinda like the flu. I took Tylenol and Advil, which helped but it didn't totally alleviate it. I was also very tired, especially on Friday. Today is Sunday and I feel a bit better. I have 3 tx's more to go and I am done. From what ya'll said, the SE's should be about the same. I hope it is not any worse. I am struggling with getting through this. There have been times I have seriously considered stopping tx's and saying the hell with it. My husband won't let me but it has crossed my mind. This is wearing me down. I want my life back. Best to all.
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Ywheels, I am a day behind you on dose-dense (first Taxol last Thursday) with almost identical SEs. Feel flattened with fatigue plus zapping bone/joint pain started yesterday. Hoping this will be last day of it - definitely worse than anything I experienced on Neulasta. Also have a rash on my hands (phoned on-call doc and they suggested hydrocortisone cream). Don't know about you, but I'd still take this over AC.
I've never considered stopping treatment because I know I don't have a choice - but like you wish I could get my life back - some hair would be nice too! Just 3 more and we'll be done, in time to enjoy summer!0 -
Anyone having any hearing issues with taxol? It seems my hearing has been dull. Kinda like the day after an indoor concert feeling...
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Hang in there Nicole! In two weeks, I will be where you are, and I can hardly wait. This is despite the fact that I am in the throes of TX#3 side effects.
Ywheels - I am day 4 of my D taxol #3, and, knock on wood, my pain is a lot less than previous treatments. The only thing that I did differently this time is drink a lot of (diet) tonic water. Someone suggested it, and I figured it couldn't hurt. The question is whether or not it actually helped. If my pain doesn't increase over the next two days, I may have to call it a cure. In the meantime, I am expecting the pain to show up sometime.
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Ywheels... I did AC in treatments of every other week... Heaviest dose to my understanding. Wondering what has the docs choosing dose dense taxol over the weekly...l wondering if u r able to choose between the two choices of weekly versus three more treatments...? I have no idea... I have just wondered why I am doing weekly and it came to mind that some docs might allow either.
I had very aggressive mets, with 12 nodes filled.... Found it in the nodes, to in the breast... That is how far advanced it was... Didn't see it in breast until three MRIs later, then confirmed with biopsies. I wouldn't quit, but I get it. Run it by your MO about weekly. Who else on here knows why weekly vs dose dense taxol?
Good luck ywheels.... Hang in there!
Ski girl, I did have hearing loss issues. I already have hearing issues but not wearing aids or anything, so it seems to be dulling my hearing as well. I have had sore throats and sore esophagus area and thyroid are since AC, and it seems to continue with taxol on and off. When that happens, I feel my hearing getting dull, as u described.
Hope it goes away for u soon.
Caitlin.... Apparently, we all have a choice in our treatment.. I don't think I would personally opt out of mine, though, due to the severity of it... I need to be here to watch my kid get married, after she graduates and all that jazz.... I will do anything to buy time for her and with her.
Hang I there. Hope your rash goes away soon!
Peace everyone....
C, aka: emilysmom0 -
YWHeels/EmilysMom: My MO was more than willing to give Taxol weekly--that is what she encourages. Being stubborn and willful, I demanded dose dense because I wanted to get this over with before my 50th birthday in May. MO shook her head and rolled her eyes, but also said that if I had had issues with DD, she could switch me over to weekly at any time. FYI: One DD is equal to three weekly treatments.
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Hi, I was given a choice on the four dose dense taxol or the weekly. My onc said to go with weekly because life on dose dense would stink. I did the 12. I finished dec.26th. It was not so bad. But food was nasty for half of it and a month out. I had the nose bleeds usually in the shower. Had the leg pains, felt like I had weights attached to hips and legs. I had the fatigue, I still have neuropathy in hands and feet.
Feeling a bit better. Just recovering from the bmx and implants and the oomp. Starting to feel like celebrating. All my tissue was clear.0 -
Zorina, the standard weekly dose is 80 mg per meter squared of body area. From what I've read the standard bi-weekly or tri-weekly dose is 175 mg per m2. My MO told me that 3 times the weekly dose would be toxic.
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Caitlin: The nuelasta shot killed me. I had to take pain meds for it and on top of the SE's from AC I had a much harder time. Taxol, as of now, has been easier in some ways. I did not need to take any pain meds. I don't think the nausea was worse or better but I was in an anti-nausea case study while on AC so that is probably why the nausea was not bad. It's funny how we all react differently to the different chemo drugs.
Zorina and Caitlin: I asked about weekly and was told no because I am only doing four treatments of Taxol. If I had to do more, based on my pathology, he said then it would be weekly. It was not an option for me and since the thought of doing more treatments didn't appeal to me, I didn't argue. One half dozen the other....it all sucks. I have heard the dose dense SE's can be more pronounced than the weekly. Zorina: it's good to hear you are doing okay on #3. I am praying I am just like you!!!! I will add the diet tonic water to my regiment. Right now, Taxol is, overall, a better, if that is even possible on this shit ass journey. I am still very anxious about 2-4....Did I mention I hate this!
Emilysmom: I don't know either other than he said, based on my pathology and what not, it would be DD. I had a 17mm tumor in right breast and a 4mm in one sentinal node. No cancer in the axillary nodes and none at all, anywhere on the left side. I am ER/PR+ and HER-, which is supposed to be good for beating this. Maybe that is why they load it up. I really don't know.....anyone?
I can't quit...I know that and my husband said no way and my friends and family would also drag me bound and tied to treatment if I tried not to go so it's not an option. I have a 7 year old I have to be here for too...like many of you, there are loved ones who need us around. That's what I try to tell myself on the bad days. Tomorrow is day 6 and I am hoping the SE's are at bay by then.
Thank you all for listening and being here!
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All -- I truly think it is just doctor preferene. Cleveland clinic (my insurance pays for them to gather all my records and films and give a second opinion) said they do the DD Taxol. My MO said weekly was easier to tolerate especially after coming off A/C so he chose to do it that way. I think you end up with the same amount of medicine.
Anyone have little bumps scattered over your body (like small insect bites) during Taxol? NP has no idea what it is. They are mainly on my legs and arms right now but they have been all over. They don't hurt or itch. Also I have been saying I have not had neurothopy just sore fingertips a few days after treatments. Well now they are constantly sore under the nails but also a little numb feeling on the tips. Does that sound like neurothopy?0 -
Shirley~~I have a reddish rash on my arms from wrist to elbow. It comes and goes. It was very visible yesterday, but gone today, and may be back tomorrow. It doesn't itch or hurt, but there are no bumps.
I'm so glad I'm getting weekly Taxol as opposed to DD. that seems to be so much more difficult to tolerate. I just had #6 on Friday. So far the SEs have remained the same since #1.
Blessings
Paula0
