Weekly Taxol for Stage 4
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Just wanted to echo what Shazza said. The longer I was on taxol more my side effects improved. It was as if my body adjusted to my medication and tolerated it better.
Shazza, There was some one on these boards who wrote that their mother had been on taxol and herceptin for two and half years.
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I just had week 4, doing well with few se's. I thought onc said 6 a week apart, and once a month for 6 months. Not. I guess I hear what I want, and am disappointed that it's 3 weeks on and 1 week off, after the first six. I don't know how long that lasts, I guess as long as its working and the se's aren't bad . Do you think I will ever have hair again?
Honestly, I am not complaining, if this drug keeps my cancer at bay, I will spend every Monday at UAB forever, gladly. I meet the nicest people, and am finding some of the same ones there each week. I met a man with bc, today. I would write a book, if I had a talent for that, because I really enjoy talking to people and find their stories interesting.
I regard my treatments as "doing something" to fight back. I hope to be around a long time to talk to you guys about it!
Wilsie
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Wilsie I got my hair back so I'm sure you will to. I had taxol 56 this morning and then a long shift at work. I'm starting to get quite tired with it again. I don't do the 3 weeks on 1 week off thing. I have had 3 weeks off taxol in the last 13 months and 2 of those were spent in hospital. I think I might talk to my oncologist next clinic about having a break between cycles. I quite like the idea of 6 weeks on 2 weeks off that Aoibheann has talked about.
I haven't had any news about my scans so I'm going to take it that everything is ok.
Springwatch how is Xeloda going. Do you think it's easier or harder than taxol?
Skylotus hope you are having a better time with things now the taxol Xeloda mix sounds harsh.
Brigadoon hope things are going ok with you too. Have seen your beautiful photos for a while
Everyone else hope you are having a pain free SE free time.
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Shazza,
I am sure you are right. No news on your scans is good news.
I am struggling with fatigue on Xeloda. It is worse than the fatigue I experienced on taxol. I am hoping it will improve like it did when I was on taxol. Also, more digestive upset. No problem with the lower GI but noticeable indigestion. I regularly have to take antacids at bedtime no matter how early I have dinner. On the positive side, no more weekly visits to the hospital and I can drive myself home as I am not full of the pre-meds I got with the taxol.
I had a quick trip to the hospital this morning to make sure my port wasn't blocked. I have been having some problems with it. We had to use urokinase to unblock it last time but today it behaved itself. Going back in tomorrow for my ibandronate and to see the onc.
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spring hang in there our bodies seem to adjust at some point
Shazza no news is good news let us know outcome of scan
My tumor markers have dropped 859 in August and 425 in September the taxol is working kidney function normal we are hoping after the next two cycles tumor marker will be close or in normal range scan in December or January
Taxol is a good drug I just deal with side effects still having issues with low magnesium I get IV mag and also taking slow mag
Hang in there none of this is easy there is light at the end of the tunnel
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hi All! Thanks Shazza, Spring and Wilsie, for your words.
My counts were soooo low this week I had to start peugene (spell?) shots. No wonder I was so wiped! Back at it again on Mon if my counts improve. Good news is, since I started this chemo combo, my tumor markers have dropped from 733 to 282! I know it's just a little golden nugget, but I'll take it! I miss my hair, and oddly miss my hair ties, but I did get a purple wig for fun! Either that, au natural or buffs. Every day is an adventure with this trickster. Here's to us all getting through!
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Sky, that's great about your counts, heading in the right direction! I am newly bald, have no scarf tying skills at all, but bought some headbands at Clair, that store for little girls hair assesseries and can manage to get something passable to wear on my head. I am not going to wigs I have 2, but find them uncomfortable.
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good to hear people's tumour markers are coming down that's great news. :-) and shows Taxol kicking butt.
Mine have always been 38 regardless of how things are going so we have to rely on scans for me.
Hope everyone has a great weekend
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ShazzaKelly: Taxol was working for me. My liver mets shrunk and some disappeared. Any tumors were either gone or decreased in size all over my body. The 8th treatment dripped in for 90 seconds and then I had a reaction to it. Now I am on abraxane. sp???
It is in the same family as taxol. So far so good.
Good luck to you and all who are on taxol! I had had no major SEs while I was on it and my onc was very pleased with my CT results!
Judy
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naturelover, The reaction must have been pretty frightening. As far as I know Abraxene and taxol are pretty much the same drug prepared slightly differently. There are less reactions on Abraxene but taxol is much cheaper so they tend to go with that first.
We have had several members join us in the weekly Taxol group who were on Abraxene.
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Hope everyone has been doing well and not suffering to much from SEs. I have had terrible Nausea for all of the last cycle. My brain CT came back fine and my bloods are all normal. They think possibly my body has just had enough taxol. I had absolutely no nausea for 18 cycles but the last one have taken anti nausea meds pretty well every day. The plan is to continue on at least until my scans due late December.
I have to remember I have been really lucky with SEs so far and just harden up.
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Where has everyone been hiding this past week? I hope everyone is doing well, please, jump back in with updates! Shazza, sorry to hear about the nausea, nothing worse. I hope it starts calming down soon. So far, I'm lucky enough to just have some ginger ale when needed and not need the nausea meds, yet...and NatureLover, I hope the Abraxane is doing it's job for you. I had Taxol this past Friday, and my liver has been gently throbbing since. It makes me a little concerned since TM's are slowly inching up.
Shazza, what is the weekly Taxol group? Is it through this website?
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I am starting to get very achy after only 5 treatments. I have # 6 today, then a rest. I hope it eases up. Shazza, I sure hope your nausea subsides. Wilsi
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Shazza glad to hear brain CT was good. Had been thinking about that.
Thinking this weekly taxol is tough. I added slow mag because my magnesium levels have been Way below normal which affects muscles (legs). It is like just when my body recovers here we go again. At least taxol appears to be working for us. Stable diease and dropping TMs make it worth the struggle. My side effects are the aches, occasional nausea, food tastes like cardboard, stomach ache general lack of mojo. My best days are steroid days. Lol.
#15 Wednesday. Then one more cycle into December. Then Pet/Ct scan. I haven't had a scan since July when my kidney function went down the toilet. Thank God that has improved.
Take care everyone. This is hard any way you look at it. Keep on. One day at a time.
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Shazza. Ginger ale or ginger tea might help nausea. Or toast. Hope you feel better.
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Hi Ladies, I'm heading in for #45 tomorrow and also having a ct scan. Fatigue and neuropathy are my main SEs from taxol but as long as it keeps me stable I'm trying to hang in there.
Shazza, so sorry to hear about the nausea you're suffering from. Glad to hear that your scan and bloods were ok.
Hope everyone is keeping well. Hugs
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Shazza, so sorry to hear about the nausea. I absolutely hate nausea & don't handle it well. I was wondering if a probiotic would help you - even yogurt. Chemo kills off our good cells and I know for me has been doing a number on my intestines, etc. Another thought is perhaps you need a couple weeks break as well since you've been on this for so long & then when you resume to have a break every 3 weeks.
Hang in there & I hope you feel better.
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I had chemo 58 yesterday all a bit of a disaster. I arrived at chemo at 8:30 as per my appointment card to find my appointment was for 2pm which doesn't work when I start work at midday. They agreed to see me early but my chemo still had to be made so it was 11:30 before we started and after 2pm before I got too work.
On the positive side they have increased my DEx dose which seems to be helping. I eat probiotic yogurt everyday and lots of ginger tea. Hopefully this cycle will go bette
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Shazza, oh, yes, forgot you had the dexa reduced - that could possibly be the whole problem cause it's suppose to help prevent nausea. Take care.
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Wanted to shout out to taxol peeps. How are you are doing? I don't want to lose this thread as everyone's experience helps. I hope you are all hanging in. I don't think this is easy chemo. All kinds of side effects. Most notably for me is the magnesium deficient. Even adding slow mag doesn't help that much. I am getting IV mag every week. Lots of aches and DiareahhA. But the chemo is working.
Still have duck feathers on my head. All other hair is gone.
I haven't had a scan since July but TMs have dropped 500 points. Still have threeore Taxols into December and then a scan. Kidney function acceptable.
Please hang in. I believe in chemo at this point. Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Best on decent scans and life.
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I had Taxol 59 today. I'm really starting to struggle with treatment now. Lots of nausea and so exhausted. I've become progressively more clumsy constantly dropping things, banging into doors etc. I just dropped a dozen eggs which we really needed for dinner. I'm to tired to think of an alternative so I guess we're having cereal.
Hope everyone else is doing well. Glad the tumour markers are coming down Diana
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I am so sorry. You have had a long run on taxol, and I hope you can be given something to get rid of those se's. I had a much better experience with abraxane, even though it's supposed to be much the same as taxol, maybe they can switch you to that. Only have had 6 treatment, but fatigue and aching are bad. Praying for you to feel better. Wilsie
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I'm sorry to read some of you are starting to have trouble with Taxol. I'm still doing well on it; in fact, probably my favorite med yet except for the ghastly way I look. But I feel really good for some reason. One weekend I did have nausea and it's weird how I can tolerate physical ailments, but when I'm hit with nausea I feel like it's the end of the world - I really don't handle it well either. And I also drop things like crazy a day or two after chemo. Car keys just will not stay in my hands! My friend bought me a facial and massage so we are going today - in the 14 degree weather here - to get them. Throwing a roast in the crock pot and taking it easy today. I'd love to hear from the other regulars too, are you all doing OK?
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Shazza
I am so sorry you are feeling poorly. Can your onc give you a month vacation off chemo so your body can recover ? Or even drop the dose down a little. Sending you a hug.
I also drop things. They fall out of my hand. Cant zipper things. I guess the neuropathy. Boo.
This is my off week. I get my next chemo wefnesday before Thanksgiving. Will have sister here from frozen tundra minneapolis. Steroids will stimulate my appetite. 👍 lol.
Please all take care. Hang in. Keep on. Cereal for dinner sometimes is a nice switch up Shazza.
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Shazza, so sorry to hear you are struggling. I hope you talk to your onc ... maybe a chemo break or reduction in dose or regular breaks? 59 is a whole lot of infusions - your body is calling out for a break, I think. Also, they have to have something that will help ease your nausea. Can you take a break from work? Go out on disability for a while?
Hang in there .... thinking of you!
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Hi Shazza, I'm sorry to hear you are feeling poorly. I wonder would your onc change your schedule to a more spaced out (ha ha) one like mine - one week on, two weeks off? I couldn't function on the weekly or fortnightly schedule but I am managing on this one albeit with SEs like fatigue, neuropathy etc. but nothing like how awful I felt when taking it weekly. I take stematil and valoid for nausea which still hits me about three or four days after treatment. Benjnate, I hear you, I hate feeling nausous.
Perhaps you could take a break from work or reduce your hours for a while and get more rest? I hope you have support both emotional and practical. Take care, Shazza, and be kind to yourself. Do whatever is best for you. Hugs xx
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Hello Ladies:
I will be starting weekly taxol next Tuesday, and have been reading all your posts over the last little while.
I have lobular bc with bone mets and now abdominal and stomach involvement. Femara kept me stable for 4 years, until last May. Since then I have tried Aromisan for 3 months with more progression, then on to Tamoxifen with no luck.
So, I wanted to introduce myself and join your dialogue. I'm scared and apprehensive about this new line of treatment. I just celebrated my 65 birthday last Saturday and that was my goal when originally diagnosed, now I'm kicking myself for not making it 70!!
Regards to all,
Florence0 -
Hello hihopes, and I'll bet you make it to 70! It looks like you are stage IV from the start so a few suggestions: start looking at and buying a wig or two, and/or purchasing hats, scarves, etc. Buy some cans of ginger ale just to have if needed. I have a 'treatment' bag that I take when I get Taxol that has a neck support thingy (name??) that I use during my benadryl naps, some reading material or paperwork I need to catch up on, my electronic tablet, and a little ziploc of hard candy as my throat gets really dry during treatment. I also have a little throw up dish (again, name?? lol) - the kind the hospital gives you - in there more for psychological reasons; haven't needed it yet. Oh, and most importantly, warm footie socks as the infusion room is always freezing. Tell anyone that takes you to really dress in layers.
Boy, you can tell I had treatment today - can't remember anything and I'm dropping stuff like crazy. But anyway hihopes, I hope to hear from you often on here with updates.
Laura
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Welcome Hihopes. Benjnate has some great advice.
Dont take too much notice of my moaning. Ive been doing Taxol for over a year non stop and its mostly been kind to me and has kept me stable which is the main thing.
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Hello Hihopes. this is a pretty active thread and when i first started taxol very helpful. next wed (before Thanksgiv ing) i get taxol #16. it has gone fast; i think getting chemo every week makes the weeks feel like they are moving along quickly. I have mets to belly; around kidneys and ureters; my TM was up in the 800 's and all set for kidney stents as i had kidney failure. after two taxols; the cancer lost some of its grib on my kidney function and kidneys started to improve. my TM is down to 380 and i get another TM when i go in this wed. taxol has been good to me as far as fighting cancer; some of the side effects i could do without...but. i am glad my cancer is responding to the taxol. i should have a scan either dec or jan; to take a look. i haven't had a scan since july when the cancer was finally seen. so will be interesting to see how things look in the next month.
shazza i think about you; and send you good wishes. like i said; i think this is hard chemo (maybe because i am 62) and getting it weekly is hard. the week off is to recover. hah. then we go again. at any rate; as long as it is working and keeping us stable or killing cancer; i am good with it. i have made some "adjustments" i was an avid cyclist and tried to get back on the bike but i can't right now. too wobbly . the neurpathy seems to get worse the more taxol you do too. i bought some Milkweed Balm. google it and see what you think; i think it is helping my pain in feet and fingers. i also use it on my elbows because i have bursities. lol
Have a Happy Thanksgiving. my sister will be here in the desert from frozen tundra minnesota. thinking she will be thawing at the pool. lol take good care and hang in there.
diana
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