Weekly Taxol for Stage 4
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Thanks Shazza.I do not have neuropathy but I am having increasingly sore feet like I had with xeloda. Do you take any breaks in your chemo? I am thinking of taking one week off to see if that and the light sensitivity eases up a little. Bar
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Bar to start with I panicked about taking anytime off. In New Zealand they don't give us a week off between cycles so I did the first year with no breaks and was pretty sick by the end of it. I asked and was given 2 cycles off so 6 weeks off over the Xmas period which is mid summer here. I felt fantastic after the break and scans showed no progression so I had the same break the following year. I have also taken 3 weeks off to travel and had at least 2 other cycles off for various reasons. It hasn't done me any harm and I think has helped me cope with the treatment in the long term.
Shazza
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Hi Shazza. Good to hear from you. Glsd you are still doing well on the oral taxol.
Bar my friend has had problems with light sesitivity. She now has specs that react to the sun and she coping better.
I,ve just done my 33rd infusion and up to now have not been too bad. However during the last cycle I developed swollen, mottled and painful feet. Has anyone else experienced this. I have had my bone scan and ct scan. Get results on the 19th July. Hoping my TMs do not go up again.
Like Shazza I will ask for a break after my next cycle.I will have done a year on Taxol. Feel I need a rest.
Wishing all you ladies good results and pain free days. X
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Hi ladies, yes it was quiet here for a while!
Bar, I do not have any light sensitivity. But I do have increasingly sore and burning feet.
Shazza and mutherflush, so glad that you continue to do well. Mutherflush, sorry to hear about your feet. My MO suggested that I go to 2 weeks on 1 week off to avoid getting neuropathy. I'm thinking of doing that. You are both way past me with Taxol. I just had infusion #20 yesterday. May we - all of us - continue for a long time.
So today I will be going for scans. My TM's have increased and I have been getting some belly discomfort again, so my MO pushed the scans up a few weeks. I'm hoping and praying that they show stability. I really would love to stay on Taxol way longer. At least I want to get the summer out of it. I'm doing well on this chemo, finding it very doable. And the thought of possibly having to change and then get used to new SE and hope the new treatment even works is disappointing and scary. But of course, you all understand that! So we keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best.
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Hummingbird good luck today. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you
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Shazza, thank you so much. I should know today's scan results on Friday. Hopefully I can post good news! I'm scheduled for Taxol again on Tuesday, and I would love to be able to continue.
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Hi everybody.
I had to miss my last chemo as the haemoglobin had gone very low and I had an infusion yesterday. I haven't had this problem before. Has anybody else had it? Is there anything you do to help prevent it? Barb
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Barb, no I didn't have my hemoglobin drop too low although it did drop lower than it was. I don't know if it helps, but I am always cautious to include iron rich foods in my diet and after 8 years of not eating any meat at all, I do eat meat now - red meat too. I have been hanging in towards the bottom of the normal range for hemoglobin.
Well Ladies, I'm sorry to report that I am no longer on Taxol due to progression on last week's scans. I had Belly, Bowel, Bone mets and now I have added Liver mets. So after a lot of thought and discussion with my MO yesterday, I already had my first infusion of Doxil yesterday.
Thank you all for your wishes and support. I am hoping that you get to stay on Taxol for a long time with great results. I felt it was a good, doable treatment and I really hated to have it end. I will keep reading here to see how you are doing. Best Wishes!
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Hummingbird I'm sorry to hear Taxol is no longer working for you. Fingers crossed you get a good run on Doxil. Don't forget to pop in from time to time and let us know how you are doing
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Sorry to hear your news Hummingbird. I hope doxil does the trick for a good long time.
I just found out that I have Leptomeningeal mets (& liver). So I'm starting WBR next week, then maybe chemo next month- don't know what yet. I know it is so hard getting news of progression.
All the best.
Thinking of you ladies still on taxol too! I hope you have lots of regression & good news for a long time
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Shazza and kt, thank you!
kt, I'm upset to hear of your new mets. So sorry that you are dealing with this progression now. It's unfair - but what can we do. We go forward with our new treatments and go on enjoying what we can. Wishing you the best. Good luck with the WBR. Hoping it is very successful and then your next treatment takes care of the rest. You will be in my thoughts. Take care.
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Hi,
I just had my second weekly taxol infusion. I was a 16 year stage 2 survivor, and up went my markers in 2013. I did aromasin which put me in ned for 1 1/2 years. Then they creeped up-one bone met radiated it. Did falsodex, femara. Had progression. I have 7 bone mets. So now taxol. I am on day three and my only complaint is I could not sleep the night of the infusion. Steriods? When will my hair fall out? Is taxol effective for awhile? I had it my first time, but it was every three weeks. So eventually this will go to my organs right? I am a teacher and wonder will I be able to work. i just feel hopeless. Thanks for letting me vent.
Lisa
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lisjo welcome to our little group, As far as chemos go Taxol is considered one of the more doable ones. A lot of people do really well on it with few problems. The most common is neuropathy and that is something you should watch out for. Not everyone loses their hair I did but is usually grows back while on it. Fatigue is another complaint of most of us but it's not impossible I still work 30 hours a week.
I started on weekly taxol in September 2013 and I'm still on it although at the beginning of this year I started on a trial for the oral form Oraxol. Taxol has reduced my widespread mets extensively and kept me stable all this time. I'm more than a little in love with it.
The premeds for the infusion probably cause more issues than the taxol its self once you have a few infusions under your belt you Oncologist will be able to adjust them to suit.
Good luck. I hope you get the good run I've had. Keep us posted.
Shazza
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I have just completed my tenth week on taxol. I have only had three days where the joint pain kept me from moving about so not too shabby! Other than my hair loss you would not know that I have cancer let alone stage 4. I hope to keep up this trend of not feeling sick and rising white counts. When I started taxol I was around 2.4 and have 4 count now. Has anyone else experienced this? I have PET on Monday and hope liver and bone mets have responded as well as the huge lumpI in my breast has. I know I am new just wanted to pop in and say you guys are inspirational. Thank you, I know I have a different kind of cancer than most of you but I like thinking I could live as long on this as you have!
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Hummingbird, I hope all is well with you. I had mixed results on Taxol. I just had a CT scan last week and was given my results on Friday. My lung tumor shrank to 4mm, but my breast tumor is back to it's original size of 3.5 cm. This is where I started back in Dec. I started on Doxil yesterday. I hope that Doxil does the trick for us. I've been grieving the lost of my beloved husband so this may have added to the progression of my breast tumor. He was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer on 5/18 and past away peacefully at home on 06/12. This was totally unexpected. He was fine the day before. 😢
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Geeper, I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. I am choked up and just can't find the words to express my shock and pain over hearing that. I wish I were there to hug you and help you. I know it must be terribly difficult for you. Do you have family and close friends nearby? And to also have to deal MBC as you grieve. And progression and a new chemo. I'm just so sad that this has happened to you. How are you feeling after the Doxil treatment? I'm finding it much stronger than Taxol. Geeper, you will be in my thoughts and prayers. I hope you can find comfort and peace and do well on your new treatment. Please let us know how you are doing.
nrsteph, wishing you the best and a long success on Taxol.
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Hummingbird, thank you! It has been difficult for me and my two kids. My son was close to him, they were best of friends. We are still in a state of shock, numb, in a fog, and denial. I know he is in a better place. He was not doing well, he deteriorated really fast, had to be put on oxygen and I had to wheel him to his appts. He hated the hospital and said that if he ever died he wanted to die peacefully in his couch and that is exactly how he died. He had a beautiful smile on his face, eyes were closed with no sign of struggle, and his left hand was extended as if he was being guided by an Angel. We find solace in this and know that he is our guardian angel and watching over us, he has given us so many signs. We have our good days and bad days. He never missed my appts., he was my bestfriend, soulmate, cheerleader, protector, and my advocate. It's scary because my kids need me more than anything. I just want to be here for my kids and keep fighting, so progression is scary. My mom and sisters live 5 minutes away from me and they been awesome. They take me to my chemo appts. My in-laws have been supportive as well.
I'm doing well on Doxil. No side effects yet, except for a little flusterring in my face. I've been putting lotion on my hands and feet religiously because I don't want to deal with hand and feet syndrome. I already have neuropathy from taxol.
I am rooting for you and I and hope Doxil works! 🙏
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Geeper, your description is so beautiful - your husband's last moments were peaceful and he was not afraid. I'm sure that through your grief, the signs he is sending are a comfort. He is watching over you and your family. Yes, he will always be your Guardian Angel. I am glad that you have good support to help you through this very difficult time and to be with you for your appointments and treatment. I know that hearing of progression is very frightening. We have to believe that Doxil will work and then there are other options available to keep us around. Praying for strength for you and that each day the fog will lift more and more. Take care, Geeper. Sending gentle hugs.
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hummingbird, thank you! I believe that doxil will work for us. Praying for strength, comfort and healing. ((Hugs))
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So after 10 weekly taxol treatments I had a PET scan...no cancer detected. I had two large tumors in my right breast, lymph nodes, approx. 20small tumors in my liver and a small met in my illiac (sp?)bone. ALL GONE! The PET was all black, no lights so I get to move to maintenance which is three weeks on and one week off!
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nrsteph what wonderful news. Taxol can truely be a wonder drug. I've had 3 years of stable on it. I hope you get that and longer.
I'm still on the oral trial. It's been 6 months now. I think it is easier than the IV. Although my finger and toenails are starting to lift.
Hope everyone is going well.
Shazza
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hi everyone. Zarovka started a new thread in the stage 4 forums titled how many are we 2016. She started the thread last month. Z is attempting to count the number of metsters posting or lurking on our stage 4 threads. We are both thinking that folks possibly have missed the thread because they are only responding to threads marked as their favorites. If you don't mind bumping over to that thread if you have not already it would be much appreciated.
Thanks so much, Mary anne
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I had my 4th taxol yesterday. He reduced my steriods to 4mg. I still did not get to sleep until about 3am. But I am not shaky. Anyway, while I am on taxol can I still have progression to my organs? My markers went down 28 points after my second infusion. All the stats I read say 0nly 22% of met people live 5 years. I am in my third year. Bone only. I just cannot wrap my head around this. I was cancer free for 15 years. My doc says I will be around for awhile, but how does he know? I guess nobody knows. I just feel sad that I won't see my grandsons grow up. I look for God for hope, but I just cannot rid myself of this dark cloud. I am on Paxil and Xanax. I guess I need a pick me up from my met sisters. Love you all!
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Did I say or do something wrong? Nobody has replied. I just has my 5th taxol yesterday-again no sleep.
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Lisa I don't think you said the wrong thing. This thread has got very quiet lately as people move on to other treatments and I don't check it as often as I should.
To answer your question honestly just like any treatment you can have progression on Taxol having said that I have been on taxol for 3 years well over 100 infusions and I haven't had any progression it has kept me stable all this time.
Breast cancer is a bitch, some people live well for many years, well over 5 and others are taken quite quickly. Unfortunately we don't know which group we fall into and have to muddle along as best we can. I try not to look to far ahead but instead try and enjoy each day as it comes. Today I went for a 5km walk and will be meeting friends for drinks later. It's a good day. Chances are tomorrow will be too. I won't let cancer rob me of enjoying life while I still feel well.
Is there a councillor you can go and talk too about things? Have you tried Mindfulness a lot of girls in my local Stage 4 support group swear by it. Take Care. Let us know how you are going.
Shazza
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Lisa, don't pay attention to those statistics. Shazza wrote a good reply. Enjoy each day, but that doesn't mean you won't be here for to see your grandchildren grow up. There are plenty of success stories, and there are lots of treatment options when one stops working. .I hadn't heard of Mindfulness, so just googled it. I am going to look into it further and give it a try. I need to relax more, too.
I apologize for not getting my "stats" up yet. One of these days,
I just had my 2nd Abraxane IV. So far so good. My oncologist recommends 3 weeks on and 1 week off. I've heard others say they have gone 8-10 straight without a break. I'm motivated to kill these cancer cells, but also see the benefit of time off. I will see how next week's treatment goes to see whether I "push" to not take a break. Besides mets in some bones, it is in an eye nerve and now in my liver and blocked my duodenum (bottom of stomach), so I have been on a clear liquid diet for 4 weeks, and IV nutrition for a week before that.
Take care everyone!
Amy
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I finished my second round of Taxol today. I only had 2 mg of steroids today. Hopefully, I will sleep tonight. My liver numbers were good and my alkalline phosphate was normal. Is that a good thing? I get my tumor marker results next week.......
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lisajo6- I had a great deal of trouble sleeping once I started chemo. I was told how important restorative sleep is while on chemo but all my secondary onc kept telling me was to take benodryl or Tylenol PM. I really didn't like the idea of taking more drugs so I did a little research. I first got myself on an antidepressant which I know seems to contradict my previos comment but I needed to be able to shut off the cancer thoughts. Next I started taking melatonin. ..the tablets I got were 3mg and 3 did nothing. So now I take two tablets a night with some tart cherry concentrate. I also am down to .2 for the steroid. My primary onc said I could get off the benodryl and steroid! I hope next week to only get the half dose of benodryl and then only the anti nausea after that...I am nervous to go off that one. I hope this helps and you get some sleep! I used to check boards everyday but my heart cannot take the waiting for a response so now I just pop in once or twice a week! Keep posting and we will keep responding.
My nails are lifting. ..kinda painful while lifting but now only sensitive when I bump the affected ones...any suggestions out there??
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anyone else go off steroid? I have been reducing steroid over last few weeks. Yesterday was the first infusion without a steroid. My stomach doesn't feel great and lots of diarrhea today. I don't know what to make of it...just coincidence or because no steroid. ...any thoughts?
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I am down to 2mg. of the steroid. Next treatment is Thursday. I don't know what to think. I hope it is a coincidence.
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