Weekly Taxol for Stage 4
Comments
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Frapp,
Not to get too personal, but constipation can produce the same feelings. How's the regularity?
Jennifer
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Regularity is fine. I think I've figured it out. I was is hospital for almost the whole month of February while docs tried to figure out what was causing the fevers. During that work up, it was noted that I have a couple of gall stones. I'll bet it's my gall bladder acting up. I don't know why I didn't think of that sooner.
Pat0 -
Sure hope that's what it is .... Sometimes it is just a simple answer!
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Will take me a while to catch up with everyone here but already recognise some of you from other threads. Quick update on me, I have recently had issues with pleural effusions. Had a pleurodesis in April on left side, but some fluid is building up again and too hard to remove as the talc means it settles in pockets. In last few weeks also have fluid in right pleura. Was admitted to hospital on Friday as struggling to breathe. Been on oxygen, steroids, liquid oromorph. Initial argument not enough fluid on right side, but onc put her foot down. Registrar thought he'd get no more than 500ml and managed to drain about 1litre. May have not helped with the test to see if I can get oxygen at home now as it's given such a relief. Upshot is as I've only recently started Femara and so symtomatic just now, agreed with onc that going on weekly taxol might have quicker results. Unusually she's going to combine with Femara. Also have now got liver mets but small enough not to worry about them too much yet.
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welcome Gail. Had my first treatment today...it went well once they got the orders for it! lol Glad you feel so much better after being drained.
Robin
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Robin, glad to hear first one went well. Does it take a couple of days for SEs to kick in. I remember I used to feel ok on Taxotere for about 3 days, then rotten for a few days and pretty good for last few days of cycle. Guess won't get so many good days if weekly taxol smooths it out. Chemo unit is busy for waiting list but hoping might be able to start sooner as an in patient so will have to tie myself to the bed here.
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Hi Everyone
I am officially a Taxol girl now....had my first treatment yesterday. The pre-meds took about 30 minutes and the Taxol drip was an hour...so, pretty much the same schedule that I was used to on Navelbine. I fell asleep in the chair during the Taxol, so the Benedryl had the same effect on me that it did in 1999. Zzzzzzz. I came home and had to nap for 45 minutes, I was exhausted but then felt better and stayed awake till 11pm. I didn't have any trouble sleeping, so maybe I won't get too wound up on the steroid pre-med. I do still feel "brighter" this morning, wouldn't mind this little buzz all of the time! lol. Did you find that the steroid effect is cummalative or been steady for you ladies?
Gail, I can't believe as an inpatient you are still waiting to get into the chemo unit! Oh, that stinks! Go back and read from the ladies about their experience with the steroid premeds and "crashing" on the 3rd day. I didn't get the "high" that they did yesterday and today (yet?) and will let you know how I feel tomorrow. It would be crappy to crash, it's my day off!
Spent the night watching The Voice and looking for wigs online. Sigh.
Hope everyone has a great day!
Hugs!
Robin
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Signed consent form today. Registrar thinks I'll get started tomorrow or next day. Probably won't get the steroid crash as I'm more or less permanently on them to help me breathe. Still trying to catch up on earlier posts. Hope you miss the crash too, Robin
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I've been on weekly Taxol (3 weeks on, 1 off) since February. It was really easy for the first 3 months, then it got more difficult. My blood counts started taking a beating and I got a flu bug 2 weeeks ago, which knocked me literally flat on my back for 10 days. I was seriously wiped out. Haven't had chemo now for 3 weeks and none this week either. I get short of breath dressing!! I was lying there thinkin I'll never get out of this hole, is this all flu or is it the lung mets? Anyway my xray looked ok and my onc says my lungs sound clear, and I'm on the mend again. Will go back for chemo next Tuesday again. I look like a bag of bones and feel about 90!
My best for Taxol nausea is Ondansetron. I take an extra Azor to sleep the first 2 nights with the steroid rush. Must also look into the vitamin B thing, sure my onc said it was a good idea to get the injections of Bcomp. They help give me a bit of appetite.
Welcome Aoibheann & Robin! Aoibheann, when I started Taxol, about the first 2 months I got vertigo. I get both vertigo and dizzyness and I think Latte is right that the dizzy could be low BP. The difference for me is when I get dizzy my head spins around and when I get vertigo the world spins around. Last year during chemo I got dizzy and fainted onto my tile floor at home and concussed myself. I had a lot of vertigo for quite a while after that. Happy to say that the vertigo has stopped now, but I still get dizzy. Have had to learn to get up slowly and sit down immediately if I get dizzy.
My chemo takes 2.5 hours - wonder why it's so much longer over here - African time? Ha ha.
Frapp, good luck for the scan on the 26th, will be holding thumbs for you!
The pads of my fingers are slightly numb and my toes are numb and tingly - but I have no pain or discomfort - does neuropathy usually hurt? Sometimes my knees ache when I lay down, but otherwise no muscle or joint pains. The worst side effect for me is the bloody fatigue. Yes, being fatigued and bald forever - I also think that sometimes.
This is only my second time of being bald - last time I got thick, curly hair that I loved, does it grow back different every time?
Robin, I love your tag about bench pressing a Buick!! The other one is if God only gives you as much as you can handle, I wish he didn't have such a high opinion of my capabilities!
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Hi Carolben,
Chemo in winter is hard - all those nasty flu bugs going around! I hope that your friends are still dropping round food as it will help you feel better to eat and sometimes getting the energy to cook is hard.
I am glad your chest X-ray was good. The flu sucks but it is better than progression.
Taxol in Australia takes about 2.5 hours too (pre meds take up more than half of this time).
Touch wood, tiredness has been my main SE and this has not been too bad. I have only had 10 taxol treatments so I know that this could change at any moment. I also do carboplatin every 3 weeks and that really batters my liver. I have been watching my blood results like a hawk and try to make adjustments to my diet to compensate. It gives me the illusion of some control( when I know I have none).
Anyway, just wanted to give you my best wishes.
I also give my best wishes to the other ladies on this thread and hops that everyone gets a good and long run from taxol.
Gab0 -
Hi Carolben & Gab.....nice to meet you! Carolben....I have had no dizziness or vertigo. I did have vertigo on Femara, but that is gone now.
I did have a SE starting on Tuesday....the backs of my legs got all stiff and tight. I literally had to rub them with something to get some relief. Even during the night last night, I had to get up and rub them so I could sleep. Anyone else have this?
Hugs!
Robin
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Robyn - it could be dehydration. It has happened to me a couple of times - felt like cramps in my legs but it was only reasonably short duration. It did scare me the first time though (about 3 weeks in) - until remembered that I had danced for 3 hours on a concrete floor in high heels - ouch! ( I was at a ball to raise money for the royal flying doctors). It has happened a couple of times when I wasn't so active but I am pretty sure dehydration was the cause.
Gab0 -
thanks Gab! I'll be sure to make sure I'm drinking enough.
Gail...hope you got your first treatment of Taxol!
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Carolben, sorry you've had such a rotten time with the flu. Do you qualify for flu jabs. I get them free in Scotland as I have a qualifying condition. My OH also gets them as my carer. Vertigo sounds a bit scary there.
Gab, I think I've had cramps on every chemo and still haven't figured how to stop them. I always try to drink plenty of water but doesn't seem to help.
Robin hope the extra fluid gives you some relief.
I am finally starting on taxol. Sitting having my premeds. It's early evening here so I'll be bouncing off the walls with the steroids. My onc just updated me on a review of my ct scan and confirms some evidence of lymphangitis in right lung. Seems so slight it justified him missing it. Left lung seems clear except for the bits of fluid building up but can't be easily drained as it's in pockets after the pleurodesis. Also left lung restricted by skin lesions not giving much flexibility to expand properly. Fingers crossed that taxol is going to get me some relief with the breathlessness. Have now got home oxygen sorted out so hoping to escape from hospital early next week.0 -
Gail - I really hope that taxol allows your escape from the hospital and relieves some of your breathing nightmares.
Robyn - I was browsing the xeloda thread and they are co- incidentally discussing leg cramps - they recommend leg stretches and pedalite.0 -
Gab, I find my cramps pass quickly enough not to take anything at the time but might have a go at taking pedialite before going to bed if it flares up again on taxol. Looks like I might have to mail order it or find a similar product as doesn't seem to be on uk sites.
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Gail - it is just an electrolyte solution so there would be something similar in the uk. Most of my cramps have been fairly minor.
I hope you are recovering well from your first taxol and can get home soon.0 -
mine finally went away yesterday....legs just feel a little "jelly" like this morning.
Gail - hope you are breathing better and able to escape soon!
Robin
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Gab, I expect I'll be able to find a substitute. All seems to be on track to get home Monday subject to no medical issues over the weekend.
Robin good to hear you're feeling better.
I think I have a bit of constipation but otherwise feel ok so far.0 -
Well, got thru treatment number 2 of my first cycle. No issues falling asleep....but I do feel more peppy. Certainly not the race horse speed that some of you are experiencing, but it's anice little zing!
Gail, hope you are home and feeling better
Hugs!
Robin
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Hi ladies
So now I'm on taxol week on week off until it stops working or I can't tolerate it anymore. I had my meeting with the onc last week and he is against my taking any supplements to help with se. He also wouldn't prescribe ritalin as he said I would need other drugs to counteract se of ritalin and so on. My DH asked what my prognosis is and he said probably 5 years maybe 10. It feels so hard but I know from reading here that the outlook can be more positive.
Palliative care team want me to continue taking Lyrica rather than Gabapentin and although dosage has been increased I think the neuropathy is getting worse. I've been prescribed serc for vertigo but so far no change. Thanks for the heads up re blood pressure but they checked it and it's ok. Guess I'll have to see another specialist...
Mainly though I'm so tired of feeling tired. QOL seems to have gone out the window. I just lie around feeling exhausted, no energy to even read.
I meet very few people with stage iv here but one lady I met while hooked into chemo last week has been on weekly taxol since last June and has been well and able to keep working and living a normal life. Her tumers have shrunk and some disappeared. So hopefully, Robin, taxol will suit you too. Some people have described it as a walk in the park compared to other chemos!
Take care
Aoibheann x
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Well peeps, it looks like I'll be leaving our little group because after a short 4 months my cancer has figured it's way around the taxol. I wish you all a good long ride on this treatment.
Pat0 -
Ah Frapp, I'm sorry to hear the Taxol didn't help. What are your options now? Dammit!!
I had a 4 week break from chemo - the week off, then got a flu bug and ended up flat on my back for 10 days, saw my onc last week and he said to leave it another week, so yesterday was the first one back.
Was having huge anxiety all week last week and it's gone now that I've done the chemo - didn't realise how much I've been dreading going back. I got such a fright at how quickly I got sick and just how it flattened me so badly physically! And I was worried that maybe I hadn't gotten totally rid of the bug and the chemo would knock me back and all those fears.
Anyway, chemo went fine yesterday - just normal, headachy, tired, warm and rosy cheeked from steroids, it is kind of nice, after feeling so physically flat for a while, to have at least the illusion of extra energy! I went to a yoga class this morning and it was just lovely. Wish I could get to more classes, but Thursday afternoon I always crash and that's the only other day, apart from Tuesday, which is bloody chemo day. I'm so grateful I can still do yoga, it's a really gentle class, lots of focus on breathing, good for me and those lung mets.
And now there are only 5 more left, thank God, then a scan 3 weeks later, then I'm going over to Israel to visit my son for a couple/3 weeks in September, which I'm so looking forward to. The plane trip should be easy, no stop overs or changes, an overnight direct flight.
We all need something good to look forward to.
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Gail, I hope you were able to get home? Hospitals are not nice, hope you're feeling better!
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My heart goes out to you, Frapp. Cancer just sucks! I hope your oncologist has a brilliant new strategy and has let you know your next treatment (I find the limbo in waiting to hear unbearable)
Carolben - good to see you getting over your flu and active again.0 -
Oh Frapp....sorry to read that Taxol isn't working. Oh, I hate this disease. Keep in touch....Ipray your next one kicks it to the curb and is very gentle to you.
Hugs!
Robin
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Aoibheann....so sorry to hear that you are so tired from it all. I'm glad you got everything checked out...maybe your body will get used to Taxol and you'll have some more energy. It's so hard to be sick and tired of being sick and tired. Hang in there!
Carolben.....wow, did you get sick fast! How scary! So glad to hear you are doing better and back on schedule! Your trip to Israel sounds wonderful. We are heading to the West Coast in September for 10 days. Looking forward to that too.,
Hugs!
Robin
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Robin good to hear 2nd taxol went well. Your holiday sounds great so good to have something to look forward to. I just had mine and am waiting for patient transport to take me home. I also finally met a fb friend I knew was a patient here but had never met yet in person.
Got home from hospital on Monday but it's reassuring having oxygen.
Aoibheann sorry you are struggling just now. Hope you can get used to the week on week off regime. My palliative care team has also changed me to lyrica from gabapentin. Not sure it makes much difference so far.
Pat i'm so sorry taxol hasn't worked out for you. Please let us know what your next treatment plan is going to be.
Carolben it must be good to see the end in sight and to have a holiday to look forward to as well.
Gab the waiting in limbo is the worst feeling. At least when there is a plan you can start to deal with it.0 -
Gail....so glad you are home and getting back to your schedule!
Hugs!
Robin
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I am going into a trial with navelbine and hercepton. My solid tumors are her2- but my circulating cells arenher2+. So I'm hoping the hercepton will stop this c in its track.
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