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Weekly Taxol group

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Comments

  • susaninicking
    susaninicking Member Posts: 121
    edited May 2013

    Hi 5thSib, 

    I'm just now jumping into this forum as I will be starting Taxol shortly. I wanted to ask about your nails lifting and whether or not you iced during infusions? My first cocktail was EC and I'm for sure losing a nail on one big toe which they tell me is a rarer SE with EC...so now I'm super worried about my nails with Taxol. My dead nail does not hurt anymore but it is no longer attached on the sides so it is lifting and is a big problem in shoes. I see you are from Alabama....I'm from Tennessee but I live in Germany where it is cold most of the time and I need to wear shoes! Thanks much for any advice....

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

    Susaninicki~~I finish 12 weekly Taxol tomorrow. I did nothing at all for my nails. I've had zero issues so far. I did notice about a week ago that the 2 large toenails were loose, but I've been fighting nail fungus in those 2 for years. I went this morning to a podiatrist and had them cut way back. He was a really nice guy, but had no mercy. He cut them almost to the quick with no numbing at all. I yelled ouch a couple times, but it wasn't horrible.



    My toenails (large ones) had started to curl under at the sides. He told me its genetic and we will eventually have to remove them.



    I've been unable to trim my own toenails because they were so curled. They were so long, I could dig ditches with them. Lol



    Blessings

    Paula

  • PatinMN
    PatinMN Member Posts: 784
    edited May 2013

    Susaninicking, I had no problems with my nails during 12 weekly taxol. I did not have any other chemo though. I did not take any precautions such as icing. Now, however, my fingernails are thin and chip or break very easily, which I'm sure is due to the taxol. No noticeable changesmto the toenails.

  • jayjayc
    jayjayc Member Posts: 31
    edited May 2013

    Hi Susan,

    I also just had the 12 weeks of taxol (no other chemo) but I did have nail issues. Sometime around my 10th or 11th treatment I got red spots and what looked like bruising under 5 different finger nails. It appeared suddenly and didn't appear to get worse but was really ugly..... The problem areas are still growing out over six weeks after my last taxol......

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

    Susan... I did not do any icing. Even though I'm having these issues the weird thing is my nails are stronger than they have even been. Ive always bad thin nails that I could never grow out. Now I keep having to file them down and that hurts somewhat. I keep dark polish on them because they look horrible.



    Had my first rad treatment yesterday. I got my little tattoos. They said they would look like freckles. They look like blackheads.

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

    I'm getting final Taxol today!!! Whoo Hoo!!!!!!!

  • caitlin61
    caitlin61 Member Posts: 33
    edited May 2013

    Congrats Soteria!! Feels great doesn't it? I had last dose dense Taxol yesterday. Now just have to get through a few days of anticipated bone pain, then it's onward and upward!

  • adagio
    adagio Member Posts: 713
    edited May 2013

    Soteria and Caitlin - Finishing taxol is such a milestone!! Celebrate, celebrate - this stage of the game is behind you now. Now just allow yourselves to heal. It takes time - I had my last taxol on March 1st and have never looked back - I feel just fine. The nails are still weird looking, and the hair is taking its time to come in - but I am grateful that I feel OK.

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

    Caitlin & Adagio~~Thank you both. I celebrated at the Spaghetti Warehouse after tx. I had Shrimp Alfredo, and brought home a piece of Lemon Cream Cake for later.



    My only disappointment was....The nurses came in with pink pom poms, cheering, and clapping, and gave me a certificate. I wanted HOT FIREMEN & CUPCAKES!!!



    The ladies in the front office told me to fake a heart attack, and when the firemen show up, tell them, " Oh, I feel so much better now!!!"



    Paula

  • Lee100
    Lee100 Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2013

    Well done Soteria excellent!!!

    I was hoping to find out from the wonderful ladies who are now done. I finished my last taxol 9 days ago and boy I thought I would be up and about running around back to "normal" but I am struggling, my feet are now sore and ache I feel sore every where especially my stomach the tingling in my fingers that I never had before is awful and my toes that ache, i sound like a stuffed drain but I really want to know is when do all these SE start disappearing. I thought I handled most of the treatment very well but this last one really hit me BIG time.  Last question, when and did anyone cut the "fluff" hair off while waiting for the "real" hair and how long after the taxol did the "real" hair start.  I know I sound impatient but I guess I am happy to be through it but feel like I am not yet:(  Any advice would be great Smile

    Oh please for the ladies wanting to start , to be honest looking back this treatment is doable!! and you do get through it even though there are good and bad days, the days are mostly good

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

    I have a BCO friend who is 6 weeks pfc. Her head is covered with real hair, sort of like a military cut. She had it trimmed 2 weeks ago.



    Check out the Hair Hair Hair thread. They have lots of pictures too.



    My friend said, as soon as her head was covered she buzzed the duck down to get rid of the bits of chemo hair. Some people just let it grow natural. Mine has been coming in very sloooooooooowly during Taxol. I actually look like an old man.



    Paula

  • mareluna
    mareluna Member Posts: 275
    edited May 2013

    Congratulations to those ladies who have just finished Chemo!!! And I hope that those still doing it are doing okay.

    To Lee, It took a good 2 months or so to feel better. My oncologist told me 2 to 3 months. And she was right. I still have the neuropathy in my hands and feet. Maybe a little bit better or I just have gotten used to it. I drop things constantly.

    I had my revision of dog ear removal on Tuesday in office. That went well and was done with local and in less than 30 minutes.

    Take care,

  • Skigirl72
    Skigirl72 Member Posts: 180
    edited May 2013

    Mareluna- May I ask if how bad was the dog ear removal?

  • mareluna
    mareluna Member Posts: 275
    edited May 2013

    Skigirl72,

       It was not painful. They inject you with numbing stuff. That burned a little but numbed fast. Then the PS makes an incision that you wont feel. Then they cartherize the area and do internal and external stitches. They  put steri tape on and you can go. I was in there 30 minutes. I had both breasts done. I was talking and almost was laughing with my doc and his 2 assistants. NOT a big deal at all.  I went to work the next day for 8 hours. Just use tylonol or advil for discomfort. And it I do not have much discomfort at all.

    You getting ready to do it?

  • Skigirl72
    Skigirl72 Member Posts: 180
    edited May 2013

    I just have a dog ear on one side of my belly. He also needs to do some revisions to my one breast, maybe both to make them 'match'. That's scheduled for august. I was not real concerned with the breast part because I have zero sensation there. I was more concerned with my belly. It hurt so bad when I was recovering the first time. I was hoping it was going to be easy... Thank you for putting my mind at ease.

  • mareluna
    mareluna Member Posts: 275
    edited May 2013

    Well Skigirl I don't know about the tummy dog ear. I did not have that. The breast ones I did. I had an oophrenectomy in april. That was not too bad.

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

    Paula & Caitlyn -- congrats on your last treatments.

    Lee100 -- I just let my fuzz grow and now I have a good bit of hair 5 weeks post treatment. It started growing back a few weeks into the Taxol treatments. Each week that passes, I feel better, but I still have little SE's here and there that I attribute to Taxol.

  • lmcclure4477
    lmcclure4477 Member Posts: 37
    edited May 2013

    So tomorrow is my last day of dose dense taxol. I am happy it is over but yet scared of reoccurrence in the future. I already have a fear because I have had pain in my back that started after my 2nd taxol treatment. It is a muscular pain the hurts when I bend over and reach my arms down to my toes. It feels like a pulled muscle and is tender to the touch. It is on my cancer side very close to my tissue expanders and it feels like a heavy/swollen feeling. I know the pain is probably from taxol/tissue expanders but I am still freaked out that it is bone mets. I just don't want to live in fear for the rest of my life!

  • dltnhm
    dltnhm Member Posts: 420
    edited May 2013

    Jayjayc & everyone,



    I had 4 DD AC and 12 Taxol. I simply did not have a problem with AC. That might be unusual but it was not just my experience. I refused to call chemo 'poison' or that particular cocktail the 'red devil'. Ran through all my weeks. Was never sick. Left directly from 4th infusion to trek to FL for nephew's wedding, Easter, and cruise. Climbed the rock wall, ran the deck, walked all over the ports of call, swam in the most beautiful water.



    Few side effects with Taxol - no neuropathy ( did not take supplements) My major complaint was that I gained weight on Taxol - despite running 25-30 miles per week. Could only imagine how much I'd have put on if I hadn't been running.



    All of our experiences are so different. But I am certain that keeping up with my running and daily water intake were essentials.



    You did NOT do lightweight chemotherapy. Don't even go there.



    Hugs,

    Diana



  • morwenna
    morwenna Member Posts: 204
    edited May 2013

    I've had 7 of 12 last Wednesday. On Friday I swam 6 lengths before my deep water workout class, then I went for s 5k walk in the afternoon. Yesterday afternoon, I went for a little lie down and slept for 4 hours! Despite that I slept quite well, and had a hard time getting up this morning. I've been dragging myself around all day, and feel yucky!



    Now I don't know whether I'm paying for going a little crazy on Friday, or whether its simply going to be harder for the next 5 treatments. I really want to keep some activity going each day, and feel deep water workout is really good...... a bit of cardio and core and general strengthening to boot!



    Any thoughts?



    Oh I've also been eyeing my white, old man's hair and wondering whether to shave it. I look like my brother!! A few stumpy eyebrows growing, and a scant handful of lashes hanging on in there ..... Certainly my hair is growing on the taxol, but its not particularly attractive!

  • pamelakay
    pamelakay Member Posts: 6
    edited May 2013

    IMcClure, I have had the same freak out about having back pain this week. Didn't help that the MO got fussed about it, but I'm going with "It's the same old back pain I've had for years," and trying hard to ignore it.



    Two hallmarks of bone mets are that the pain is worse at night (keeping you awake) and resting, but better when you are moving. This is the opposite of what I'm experiencing now. Nonetheless, there's still that little part of my brain screaming at me in fear.



    I know what you mean about always worrying. My mantra is that I will just keep going and take things one step at a time. Today I will deal with what I need to do today. What happens tomorrow is for tomorrow, and I will deal with it when it comes. Not always easy to accomplish, but it helps keep me sane.



    Morwenna, I'm still on AC, but I have experienced the steroid buzz. I get chemo on Tuesdays, then am hyped up and going 100 mph on Wednesday and Thursday, with a sharp drop on Friday afternoon and over the weekend. I'm learning to pace myself through the buzz so I don't have such a sharp drop on the weekend. Not sure if it will actually work that way...



  • lmcclure4477
    lmcclure4477 Member Posts: 37
    edited May 2013

    Pamela kay: My pain in my back is fine when I am sleeping or resting. It only hurts when I twist a certain way or bend over and reach to pick something up. Thank u for telling me that fact about bone mets. My anxiety level is going down!



    Today was my last taxol! Woo hoo! I am done with chemo! I am on a steroid high right now. Playing outside with my kids, cleaning, I have all this energy!! Tomorrow is nulesta (yuck) which means Wednesday and Thursday will suck! No scans for me now that chemo is done. MO says they will only do blood work and breast MRI's so I am gonna trust I am cancer free!!!

  • dltnhm
    dltnhm Member Posts: 420
    edited May 2013

    http://www.yalemedicalgroup.org/stw/Page.asp?PageID=STW014868



    This link gives great information regarding bone mets.



  • gailani
    gailani Member Posts: 8
    edited May 2013

    Hey there BC sisters, I just finished my 1st round (of 12) of Taxol/Herceptin last Wed. Thank God AC is over! Does anyone know if my hair will continue to fall out during this treatment or does it start to grow back during Taxol? I still have some lashes and a bit of eyebrows left...I do have some joint pain although not as bad as with the neupogen with AC. The metal taste is almost gone and so far the nausea is gone to..Also last night I had a major nose bleed. I've never had a bleedy nose in my life so this kinda freaked me out! Anyone have this? Thank you everyone for your post. 

  • gailani
    gailani Member Posts: 8
    edited May 2013

    Hey there BC sisters, I just finished my 1st round (of 12) of Taxol/Herceptin last Wed. Thank God AC is over! Does anyone know if my hair will continue to fall out during this treatment or does it start to grow back during Taxol? I still have some lashes and a bit of eyebrows left...I do have some joint pain although not as bad as with the neupogen with AC. The metal taste is almost gone and so far the nausea is gone to..Also last night I had a major nose bleed. I've never had a bleedy nose in my life so this kinda freaked me out! Anyone have this? Thank you everyone for your post. 

  • dltnhm
    dltnhm Member Posts: 420
    edited May 2013

    Didn't lose lashes or brows until Taxol - about 3 weeks in. They started growing back in about week 5. My hair started to grow on Taxol - about 4 1/2 - 5 weeks.



    Some of us on AC/T find that we lose lashes a couple to few or more times. Eyelashes are on about a 3 mos cycle so if they all come out at once, it often takes a few cycles for them to not all go at the same time.



    I lost quite a few upper and lower inner lashes the second time. Three mos later was prepared for that again, but not too many went - for me the inner upper ones and seemed to go more. They are a bit more fragile than before. I've held off on trying any supplements, but might try them just to see if there is a difference.



    My hair has ways grown fast and it is still doing that.



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

    gailani~~I finished weekly taxol last Friday. My hair has been growing very very slowly thru taxol. I have no lashes, but enough brows so that a bit of pencil makes them look natural.



    I've had 4 fairly heavy nose bleeds on taxol. It's a rare SE. I didn't get too much joint pain, never had nausea, (but I didn't have it with AC either). I only lost taste buds for 36 hours or so and not to the degree that I did with AC.



    All in all, taxol is a breeze compared to AC. My biggest complaint is the fatigue.



    I hope your SEs are easy for you too.



    Blessings

    Paula

  • mareluna
    mareluna Member Posts: 275
    edited May 2013

    Gailani,

      Yes I had nosebleeds during taxol. It occured mainly while showering or blowing my nose. It was almost daily. I bought AYR saline nose gel and it helped with the dryness. About one week pos tfinal chemo I no longer had nose bleeds.

      I grew hair during taxol clear duck down type hair. My lashes and brows fell out completely during Taxol. My last chemo was dec 26th. By Valantines day I had lashes and brows. I am losing them again I think. This can happen a few times post chemo.

    Good luck with your treatments.

    Rose

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

    Mareluna~~I so do appreciate your checking in to update the rest of us with your progress. It always helps to touch base with those who've walked through the valley ahead of us.



    Blessings

    Paula

  • NantucketYogini
    NantucketYogini Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2013

    New here, and I just wanted to say hello. I'm on weekly Taxol/Herceptin, and just did my 9th out of 14 neoadjunctive infusions. I've had relatively little nausea, but lots of bone and joint discomfort, and folliculitis. The worst SE for me has been what we assume to be neuropathy in the nerves that innervate my bladder! At first I thought it was repetitive UTIs, but I test negative for leukocytes in my urine, and cultures grow nothing.. So, I'm on anti-spasmodics 3x a day, every day, to help me function normally. It's a real drag.

    Has anyone else had urinary issues?

    Thanks.

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