Weekly Taxol group
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Cannoli, I'm doing the Taxol, but am doing it over 12 weeks. Should be less side effects. Maybe you can ask about that? Also, if I get any SEs that are stopping me from doing any everyday things, then my MO will stop the Taxol for a week to let my body rest, I guess. You can always start and see how you do on it.
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cannoli1,
I would ask about weekly taxol opposed to dose dense. Is there any reason why your MO is recommending the taxol dose dense?
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I was on rougher chemo first, Epirubicin aka The Red Devil and Cytoxan and am now on weekly infusions of Taxol for 12 weeks. I've only had one infusion thus far but I much prefer the Taxol over my first chemo regiment! The Taxol is a breeze thus far in comparison!
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So good to hear that, Sinsin!
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lonnie713,
I'm not sure why she prefers the dose dense. She never mentioned doing it less sparingly. The only thing she mentioned is that she could give me Taxotere (spelling?) instead....4 doses...once every three weeks. But, I soooo dread prolonging my chemo.
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I'm with you on delaying chemo, Cannoli1... but in my mind, quality of life is important when going through this nightmare. I had two opinions before chosing my oncologist - onc #1 told me that the DD taxol is harder than the DD AC... please re-consider.
My sister is one treatment behind me. She was also scheduled for DD taxol, spoke to her doc this week and switched to weekly with no issue... the dose is the same, just spread out so they are smaller and less toxic. My sister has a vacation planned, that's whey she originally didn't want to extend her chemo either. Her doc said she could skip that week...go on vacation and resume the following week.
weekly taxol is so much easier than DD.
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So what side effects is everyone getting from Taxol? Is anyone having back pain and hot flashes? I swear, I feel like I'm going through menopause! Also, has anyone's chemo affected their period? I seem to be on the never ending period.
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Sinsin,
I've completed my 12 weeks of taxol and continue to have hot flashes all day and night. My MO says it can get worse now that I am on tamoxifen. I haven't had a period since October when I started chemo. How long has your cycle been on? You must be miserable. So sorry you have to go through that. Mention it to your MO.
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My painful nails are turning numb and my pinkies and thumbs have been cold all day. But I have to say this last treatment I had very little stomach pain, that was a nice change. I haven't had my period since the first treatment, 8 weeks ago, but I had an ablation prior to that so don't base anything on me, I only spotted monthly until chemo.
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I'll be starting taxol soon, 1 weekly x 12. Should I expect to lose most of my hair during this, or will I be able to do without a wig. Just trying to plan ahead because I work in a hospital and don't want to look like a patient while I'm working. How long does it take to get a wig? Any help is appreciated!0
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I was able to purchase a wig "off the shelf" so to speak.... took me a while to find one I like - but that's because I'm cheap and tried to get away without spending $100s ... once I let vanity take over, I was MUCH happier with my choice. Go to a decent wig shop, you shouldn't have to wait.
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KCL, also check at your treatment center as they may have a boutique where you can get used and donated wigs and prosthesis for free or cheap. My hospital does it.
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KCL45 - most of the women posting on this board did AC first, before weekly taxol, and had lost their hair before they ever started taxol. I did only taxol + Herceptin, and my oncologist told me I would lose my hair for sure. I chose to use cold caps, and saved my hair - hardly lost any on my head, although I did lose hair elsewhere. At the time I was starting chemo I searched through the entire cold caps thread at BCO (in the "Help Me Get Through Treatment" section) to see if anyone else had used cold caps with weekly taxol, and noone else had at that point. In researching I saw vague references to weekly taxol being less hard on the hair than bi-weekly or tri-weekly taxol, but I couldn't find anything specific about whether or not some, most or all would fall out. Thus I went with the cold caps. In my September (2012) chemo group one other woman had only weekly taxol and did lose all her hair. Recently another woman had weekly taxol and used cold caps - she posted in the cold caps thread that she thought she lost about 30% of her hair even using cold caps (but was very glad she did use them). On the other hand, there are many on this weekly taxol board who have had hair starting to regrow while on taxol after AC - maybe some of them will chime in. I really wish there was more information out there about hair loss with weekly taxol, because it's being used more and more for early stage HER2+ based on very favorable research results. Please post what happens with your hair when you start your treatment - I am very interested!
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Thanks for the info and I will keep you posted.
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Sinsin: From weekly taxol, I have minor side effects, but heartburn seems to get worse as I go. I take Pepcid daily and get it and shot of it with my infusion. It does help. I also find that if I don't let my stomach get too empty, I don't have problems with my stomach having that burning feeling. Other than that, I find that a lot of my SEs are from the steroid, but I've been told I can't go without that. I have raging acne, and I seem to have a period every other week. Joy. Overall, however, I'd say my SE's are more annoying than anything. I have some water retention, too.
KCL45: I'm doing Taxol weekly over 12 weeks with a break week every fourth week, when I just have Herceptin. I lost my hair on my first break week, at 4 weeks. It started coming out slowly and three days later, there was little left so I had the rest of it buzzed off, went and got some hats and ordered a wig. I've found that the anticipation of whether I would lose my hair was worse than actually losing it, or maybe I had shed a few tears so that by the day of the buzz cut, I was actually relieved.
Best of luck to everyone!!
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Sinsin I have an achy back with taxol too!! And achy legs. Other SE's are My feet cramp out of nowhere, my eyes water which makes my nose run, my nails are achy and I'm tired. But I'm also anemic from the AC so I don't know how much better I would feel if my blood counts were normal. I had my period for 2 weeks in between AC #3 & 4. It was light but lasted FOREVER! I'm sure that contributed to my anemia!! It will end, good luck!!!
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KCL45-My chemo regimen is Taxol first and my hair started falling out by the fistfuls at about 2 and a half weeks. I could not keep up with the shedding and had to cut it down to about half an inch. Then it started to itch and my scalp was very sore and I had to shave it down. I have fuzz and patchy hair still, 9 weeks later. I also work in a hospital, I do mammograms and run the radiology department, when I don't wear my wig I look like a patient. It's hard and most patients don't say anything. Some patients are curious when I'm wearing the scarf and ironically with doing mammos we sometimes talk about the need for mammo and I sometimes tell people my cancer was found by mammo. I use it as a teaching moment. I figure I still have to live my life, work and move on. Our hospital has a clinic and a cancer center and was able to get me a wig so maybe your hospital does, too?
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Thanks all for your help. I will plan for inevitable hair loss and just feel fortunate that I won't have to experience the se's of some of the other drugs. Alli, thanks for suggestions. I just signed up for a Look Good Feel Good class at my hospital. I'm sure that will help.0
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Check out your local American Cancer Society for FREE wigs. Mine had quite a large selection in all colors, lengths and styles. I lost my hair on AC and it started to come back while I was on Taxol.
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Hi Sinsin, I've had 2 (tomorrow will be 3) weekly Taxol infusions (scheduled for 12 weeks total). I have experienced hot flashes and back pain like you describe, ugh!! Also, body aches and pains on Day 3, like the flu. I found starting my anti-nausea med and Tylenol on Day 2 thwarted the SEs for the most part. I didn't wait for my hair to fall out, I got it buzzed off last week. So far it's not falling out yet, but my chemo nurse told me "7 - 14 days after my first treatment" so I expect it to happen any time now. My stylist trimmed my wig to fit my face better when she buzzed my hair off but I haven't really worn it yet-I'm in AZ and it's already in the 90s here so I may just stick to the scarves. I have to say, I kinda like not having to fuss with my hair for 20 minutes every morning!
Going for my weekly blood draw in awhile, hoping my WBC will be good since I've had a bad cold since Saturday. I hate the idea of delaying/prolonging chemo. Good luck ladies!!
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I lost most of my hair on the Epirubicin and Cytoxan and so far, the bit I haven't lost is still hanging in there and even growing! LOL I had to get a G shot Tuesday after my 2nd Taxol infusion on Monday. Back still hurts like hell. 😔
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Anyone take Claritin for taxol bone pain?
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Jules_NY - I take a Zyrtec every morning. I haven't had any unusual pain so not sure if it is because of that. I have seen numerous posts about how it helps.
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TY brig! The Claritin really helped for the neulasta when I was on AC. I forgot it once and wish I didn't!
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I've taken Claritin for taxol bone pain ... seems to help. The way I figure it, it can't hurt.
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The Claritin isn't helping me sadly. I've been using my leftover Percocet from surgery to help take the edge off. And today I used one of those Thermacare heat wraps. I'm getting worried the pain isn't from the Taxol but from cancer.
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I'm curious as to what pain you guys are experiencing from taxol. I have a bit of neuropathy in my feet but I wouldn't say it was pain!
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The pain I get is 3-4 days following the infusion; bone pain, mainly in lower back. A known s/e.
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Pain from Taxol: Only the first two doses. I just had # 5 last Wed., and had almost no side effects, virtually no pain in bones at all, less fatigue, and less of that metallic taste. I took pepcid each day since then, which really stopped heartburn. It is hard to sleep, so sometimes I will use a .25 Xanax before bed. But not every night, as it isn't always necessary. I understood that chemo tends to keep on kind of grinding people down, so am pleased to have a window of relative wellness this week.
Hair is rapidly falling out, but the pixie cut I got on Tuesday is working still, no big bald patches yet. Maybe i can do the baseball cap thing and then scarves and wig. I do loathe losing my hair. No matter how it goes, its a tough tx. We will soldier on! Hugs to all, Mame
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MameMe- how many Taxols will you get and are they weekly? Did you get AC? Sounds like you are doing fairly well.
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