Weekly Taxol for Stage 4
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Patsback ... hang in there, mine also went just about the same time. Am just now getting use to using brow pencil and eyeliner (never have prior to this) and my close friends told me they hadn't notice until I said something. So, new normal ...
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Unpleasant experience during infusion today. This was #16. The first infusion I reacted poorly to the premed benadryl, got real dizzy and couldn't walk or stand. So my dose was cut from 50mg to 25mg. However, I was still having hours of sleep following the 25mg, so they further cut it to 11.5 mg and I have been fine until today. Today, I reacted as if I had had the 50mg!! It was awful and I was frightened. My first thought was they gave me the wrong dose, but this was checked out and not the case. Why this happened after no problems for 14 infusions, who knows. They gave me more saline flush and the symptoms calmed down and I was o.k. to have the taxol. What the heck. Already worried about next week!
Anyone out there this sensitive to benadryl?
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number 24 for me today. We must have different premeds in New Zealand as I don't think they give me Benadryl. I have an antihistamine tablet I take at home before the infusion as you weren't able to drive after whatever they give in the drip and I have to go to work after. Once I got both by mistake and was high as a kite for the rest of the day. Lucky I wasn't needed at work. Getting completely exhausted and a bit over the whole thing really.
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Shazzakelly, your counts must be staying up to have no breaks - 24 - wow, just can't believe it. Did you have your scans yet or are they coming up soon? Even though I was happy with the liver mets getting smaller and no new ones, was disappointed they hadn't disappeared completely.
I do have someone drive me because I get real loopy, so that's not an issue; but don't want that reaction. I've thought about trying to go without it, but if I started having a reaction, the first thing they do is bolus you with benadryl! So that defeats the purpose! Will ask for slower drip and maybe more diluted.
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I'm due for scans now but haven't had a date yet. There is a big waiting list at the hospital here. Apparently my blood work hasn't moved at all the whole time which is good. I am seeing my Onc on Monday but I doubt he will change anything.
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Shazza ... do you take any supplements, vitamins or anything? What is your diet like? I'm trying to figure out what you do that works so well. wow!
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I don't take any supplements. My diet is pretty good but nothing special. I don't exclude any food groups, make the bulk of my meals from scratch and try to be good food wise 80% of the time. I think it is just luck more than anything. The chemo I tried before taxol was Xeloda and after 5 days on it I was hospitalised completely paralysed a very rare complication to the drug that only 5 people in the world have had. Perhaps it's just my turn to have a lucky break SE wise.
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Shazzakelly ... I'm very glad you got a break, esp. after the xeloda experience. My experience with xeloda was nothing like yours, but not pleasant just the same. Had severe hand/foot syndrome, ruined my QOL all last summer and did zip for the cancer (actually progresssed while on it)! Glad it's behind me. You continue to be an inspiration to me.
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Finished taxol #18 today. Little bit discouraged cause my TM didn't drop, the first time since starting taxol. I'm worried it might be a sign I've built up a resistance again. Also, my fx foot refuses to heal, been a stress fx there since Oct. - guess the chemo interferes. I'm not a candidate for surgery. Bums me out because I love to walk. Oh, well.
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Hi Syrmom - on week 18 for me my makers only dropped one point. They had been dropping a lot more each three weeks before that. My oncologist said that they slow down and that they may even rise a little bit. I don't have them taken again until the first week as April I also hope mine are still ok!! Sorry about your foot I hope you get a solution sorted for it.
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taxol 26 for me yesterday and scans today. My Onc does check my tumour markers but they started in the normal this person doesn't have cancer range and that was with multiple lung, bone and node mets and haven't moved either way so very unreliable in my case so we only have the 3 monthly scans to go on. Thekiwikid have you had any neuropathy? Are you stopping at 18 or carrying on? I know it is very uncommon in New Zealand to do more than 18
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Thanks Thekiwikid and shazzakelly, reassuring - will try not to worry so much!
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Shazza - I had no neuropathy at all just really sore finger nails that have gone a horrible colour. I thought they may fall off but have not and have stoped hurting now as well. I just keep them short and painted so you cant see how horrible they look! Number 26 well done to you I was ready to stop at 18!! My oncologist always said 18 maybe 24 but she did not think I would need to go up to 24 so I was always only expecting to do 18. I have Herceptin also so am lucky to have a maintenance drug now the chemo has stopped.
SyrMom - it is hard not to worry so much given our circumstances I try to stay positive and not get to far ahead of myself but it is hard sometimes!!
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taxol 27 today. I guess the fact that no one has contacted me about the scan I had on Wednsday and they went ahead with chemo means it was all good. Guess I will find out at my clinic appointment next week.
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so I'm Stable Mable. Still 1 liver met and multiple bone and lung mets but no change to any of them and nothing new. I'll take it. So another 12 taxols booked for me. That will take me to 39. Anyone else still going?
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Wow, Shazzakelly, good for you! No new mets! How many liver mets did you start with?
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I've only ever had the one small liver met. It's remained stable. The biggest improvement since I started taxol is with my lungs. They improved greatly once I started chemo. My bones and my one little liver met have stayed the same.
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Shazza ... fantastic. Always great to hang with "stable boy!"
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T minus 2 days until I get my scan results checking on my taxol. Oh, and yet another dose.
Anita
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Good luck with your scans results ADJ
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thank you, Shaz
Anita
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ADJ ... good luck with scan results - keep us posted. Did you say you've had a change with your dose?
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Syrmom, I did have a dose reduction of abraxane early in Jan. my counts bottomed out and I felt poisoned. Taxol does seem easier in me than A. I am learning what a rich source of support is here. Thank you all.
Anita
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After 38 Taxols My hair is growing back but my eyebrows and eyelashes have decided to desert me.
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Wow, Shazza, that's quite the head of hair! Beautiful! Think you will make the medical literature between having 38 doses of taxol, virtually no side effects and hair growing back! I will admit, I've noticed some hair growth myself, after completing #19, but nothing like that!! Keep it up!
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HI all, I just had my 22nd weekly taxol. I did 6 on/one off for 12 cycles and now am on 3 on/one off. The last three treatments the se's have been more intense, much more fatigue, loss of taste, more neuropathy. Yesterday I had brain/head mdi; bone scan; ct of abdomen, liver, chest. I'm meeting with my onc on Tuesday for results and don't have any more treatment scheduled for now. The side effects are definitely cumulative. I have liver and lung mets along with the bones so I'm not sure if I should be hoping that my onc switches me to an AI or continues me on Taxol as it appears to be working so far. I don't know if we all get the same weekly dosage, I know it is based on weight and I get 137 (not sure what the units are). I hope the taxol continues working for all of you.
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Welcome Clare ... good luck with your scan results, keep us posted. Yes, taxol se seems to be cumulative, for sure; heading into #20 on Monday, myself. I also have bone & liver mets. The good news is the liver mets have been responding, so I would love to hear the buggers are out of there!! My weekly dose is 125mg, I'm approx. 120#. Hang in there!
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Hi all - looks like my 22nd Taxol was my last, at least for now. Scans showed no progression from December so onc switched me to Letrozole and Lupron along with the Zometa. I didn't realize that the scans were up for interpretation, my onc disagreed with the radiologists interpretation of both my liver mets and my bone scan. I'm believing the onc. So I'm hoping for a really long good run on Letrozole, 15 years would be good! Clare
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Clare, Wonderful news and 15 years does sound good!
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Hi and bye Clare64 good luck with your new treatment.
SyrMom are you and I the only ones left doing Taxol long term?
After all these weeks my toe nails are finally getting really manky looking and I'm scared my big ones are about to fall off. Otherwise things are pottering along as usual.
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