Weekly Taxol group
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Having my 8th out of 12 Taxol on Thursday. I woke up Monday, so that would be day 5 after treatment 7, with all my fingernails and toenails being really sore. They still are today so I don't think it will go away anytime soon. I'll be asking my nurse about it this week. I do not ice them, they are not discolored. They actually look really good, they're just not growing and they're sore. Anybody else experiencing this?
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I wasn't aware that the fingernails and toenails could fall off. I thought that was only with Taxotere not Taxol. Am I misinformed? I really do NOT want to lose my nails. Yikes!
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Sinsin-I think it's the same chemo family, maybe u should check with your nurse?
You know what I discovered? Days 5-7 I am actually able to drink coffee! My tastes comes back enough to enjoy coffee again until the next treatment, I'm enjoying one now before tomorrow's tx.
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Xrayalli, Taxol and Taxotere are "cousins" so to speak. So yes, same family. Food hasn't tasted right to me since I started chemo but thankfully, I still enjoy my coffee.
I am drinking a cup right now. Only way I can get out of bed.I have been having really bad dizzy spells and lightheadedness, even when standing still. Anyone else experiencing this. Even as I write this, I feel weird and can't focus really well eyes wise. Kinda freaking me out. My blood pressure is good as is my blood counts so not sure what is up.
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Sinsin-I think the steroids can cause your symptoms, did you just have a treatment 2 days ago? I think the steroids can still cause effects that far after treatment.
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Hi all, I think steroids are the worst part of chemo. I am about to have taxol # 6 and luckily do not have them at all. I have a touch of neuropathy in my toes and my feet are pretty sore after work, but all in all chemo has not been too hard for me. I think working throughout A/C, taxol and radio ( next) has helped my physically and mentally.
Have a wonderful day
LIL
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I agree, Lil, steroids are awful! I hate the insomnia I get from it, and now, weight gain,ugh!
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Xray, I have my infusions on Monday and I'm still having the weirdness with my eyes and the lightheadedness. I haven't had any issues with the steroids before when I was on the Epirubicin and Cytoxan but for the first time, I had a hard time going to sleep that night. Don't know if it was from the Benadryl they gave me though.
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Steriods are the worst part. My last taxol was on April 11th. I am now sleeping better at night. I never got a good nights sleep on even the non steroid days on taxol. My taste buds were quite bad during taxol too. Now food is starting to taste good again. Hang in there..it will get better.
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Sinsin. Sorry you are going through this. Did you call the MO? Anemia can cause those symptoms. Whatever the cause I hope they can find a solution!!!
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Hi, SinSin,I would definitely call the onc office and ask for a nurse you trust. Dizziness for more than a moment after standing up is not safe for you, and surely can be addressed. Good luck with this tough process. Mame
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I told my onc when I saw her about the lightheadedness and weirdness with my eyes but she didn't seem too concerned. All my blood work came back fine, so I'm not anemic and my blood pressure was normal too. I don't know if I see her on my next infusion, but either way, I am going to see if I can talk to her and let her know that I'm still having it. It's really weirding me out. Hope everyone else is doing well!
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Sinsin, when I first started I had dizziness when standing, probably due to anaemia as my red blood count was dropping. This resolved later on. I have completed #10 and it really went by fast. So far, it's been pretty easy compared to AC. Minor SE's were anaemia when I had no appetite, the steroid high for two days, followed by fatigue. Mouth sores on two occasions which cleared up pretty quickly with salt water rinses. Diarrhea/constipation, never know which one it will be! Main SE is that neuropathy started around #6 and is getting worse (I took no supplements, my MO did not recommend). No numbness but tingling of fingertips which has now spread to hands. Toes not affected. Nails still intact. My MO cut down my dose twice, she is very pro-active re neuropathy, but I am worried that the dose reduction may make the chemo less effective. Anyone else had their dosage cut down?
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Deb, I think it more important to get the chemo over amount of chemo. I think that as long as you're getting it, then it should be hopefully doing its job.
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I am brand new to this board. I have had 4 treatments of A/C and had my first Taxol yesterday. The original plan was for me to have 4 Taxol treatments one every other week. There was a problem with the scheduling and they didn't allow enough time for me to get the entire 3 hour treatment so now I have three 1 hour treatments and then I have the option to finish the rest with 3 3 hour treatments. I am really confused about how to handle this. On the pro side, I would be getting finished with this by June 19, instead of August. However, the side effects, I understand, would be less if I went ever week and I read something that said in the long run it is better to have it over a longer period of time. Has anybody else had to make this decision? With A/C I had bad diareha (I can never spell that) and now my fingers a really dry and sensitive. HELP! Any input would be so appreciated.
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congrats on finishing AC! I had my last one yesterday! Beyond happy to have that behind me. From all the research I have done I woukd choose weekly taxol over dose dense any day. It seems the side effects are less and easier to manage and the results are the same. It takes longer, sure, but for me the year is already gone and I need some quality of life throughout treatment.
Good luck!
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Doughboy, I wasn't given a choice, but would have chosen weekly over dose dense based on what other pts say about the side effects of dose dense. My understanding from others is the dose dense has much harsher side effects because of the dosing; however, we all react differently. Good luck and keep us updated! I have number 23 coming up on Monday; then scanned the following week.
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What was the best way to mix the Glutamine? what juice? cold/room temp? does it alter the taste od the liqiod? is it smooth or grainy?
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Vicki - the glutamine doesn't have any taste to it. It doesn't really dissolve, so you have to stir, stir, stir until it's suspended in whatever liquid you're using, and then drink fast and stir some more. You can mix it in whatever you want - after a few tries with other things I ended up mixing it in an 8 ounce glass of Crystal Light iced tea with lemon for the duration.
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Congrats Jen on your last AC! You are so right about the weekly Taxol over dense dose, better quality of life and after AC, you need that...Good Luck Doughboy
I have my surgery date of May 23rd, I wish it were sooner, but PS will be on vacation.
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I just went on amazon to find l-glutamine... there are so many.... how do I know which to get?
I think I might go to the health food store this weekend....
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Doughboy, I just had my first Taxol today. I'm getting the weekly for 12 weeks. Even though it's a pain to go every week, I am happy that the side effects should be lessened. Today took a long time, but so far so good. I think I also read a study that weekly taxol had better outcome than dose dense?
Does anyone take claritin for Taxol pain? My sister went and bought me two containers of claritin because two women she work with swore by taking it during Taxol.
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I've been taking claritin since I started AC...I plan to continue through taxol - - good to know that there might be some added benefit.
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Hi Doughboy, I had 12 weekly taxol infusions which I believe is a standard protocol. There might be other taxol protocols and reasons to use them. Do you know what dose you will get per infusion? I was supposed to get 80 however my liver enzymes were too high after the first two or three infusions, so my MO oncologist lowered it to 70. Generally speaking I did not find taxol easier than AC, just different SEs.
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Jenwith4kids - I got my glutamine powder at GNC. My chemo nurse gave me some samples of packets called Glutasolv - conveniently 30 grams per packet (the daily dose). They are available on Amazon but pretty expensive, so I opted to go with a big tub from GNC.
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If you are ER+ be sure that the vitamin does not contain soy. Check the ingredients. If it doesn't state that it doesn't contain soy, I always assume that it does.
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I was wondering if anyone has chosen not to do the Taxol after AC. I completed my 4 DD AC treatments (every two weeks) 2 days ago, and now am I am scheduled for 4 DD (every two weeks) treatments of Taxol. I am terrified of the side effects. My ONC told me that the AC was the major part of my treatment (adds at least 10% to my bc not coming back), and the Taxol adds about an additional 4%. The radiation I will be having next (25 rounds) and tamoxifen I am scheduled to take will add a lot more than that 4%, so it makes me wonder if I should move on to something that will be more beneficial. I am terrified of having neuropathy for the rest of my life from the Taxol. If anyone has chosen not to do the Taxol after AC, please let me hear from you. I have also read that Taxol is not as effective on ER+/PR+ bc, which applies to me, so I would really like to start taking the Tamoxifen that would control my estrogen. Any thoughts?
Thank you!!!
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Hi Jenwith4kids,
Congrats on finishing your last AC...my last AC was 2 days ago!!! Yay!!
It seems as though we have very similar situations. I was wondering how you are coping with your tissue expanders. Mine are very, very uncomfortable, and my plastic surgeon said that I cannot have my permanent implants put in until 6 months after I complete radiation.
.
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Hi, I am have completed 4 rounds of taxon. I have 8 more to go. My onc took the decordron out of my cocktail this past week. I am having a horrible time with heartburn. I was hoping I would feel better this week without the decodron. I feel like I have a large pill stuck in my throat all day long! I am taking prilosec everyday and maalox as needed. Has anyone had problems with heartburn? Any suggestions? Thank you.
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hi cannoli, my TEs are not bothering me too much. Did you do any physical therapy? I think my pecs have stretched to the point that I'm just more comfortable now. I can sleep on my side, roll over without a problem and I can hug without wincing! Regarding the taxol, I would talk to your onc about not doing dose dense. Side effects are much milder when you do it weekly. My NP suggested calcium, vitamin b6 and l-glutamine to help with the nueropathy and nail problems. I wouldn't skip the taxol - throw the book at this beast....do everything! At least that's how I feel.
Cici, I had terrible heartburn in the beginning of my AC, I started taking Prilosec OTC every day, haven't had a problem since. Maybe try something different than Prilosec?
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