How did you feel on weekly Paclitaxel

scram

I have finished 4 rounds of dose dense AC, I have managed but it’s been a tough ride.  I am about to start weekly Paclitaxel and wondering how others managed on that drug.  Did you feel okay for most part, were daily activities manageable, did you feel okay driving ?  Thanks for advice, I am hoping to manage this next bit better. 

Katie46

Hi @scram, I felt better on paclitaxel, much less fatigue and generally better, I went back to work 2 days a week, and was out and about a bit more. Daily activities were definitely manageable. After AC most people seem to find it easier.

I did start getting fatigue again around dose 8, I also got bad mouth ulcers despite doing all the right things, and had some peripheral neuropathy in my fingertips as well. They are fairly common side effects with paclitaxel, but my mouth ulcers were particularly bad. I had a 1 week break and my oncologist decided to give me a 30% dose reduction for the last 4 rounds to get me to the end.

Even with all the niggly side effects, for me paclitaxel was much better than AC.

Afraser

The general consensus is that Paclitaxel is easier than A/C. I didn’t find it so
but then I had few side effects with A/C - no
nausea or fatigue. With Paclitaxel I
lost my tastebuds, a nuisance rather than difficult, but none of the suggested ways of alleviating that condition - spicy foods for example- worked. Salads, eggs, avocado - ate a lot of those. My nose bloodied very easily, and got crusty and unpleasant. Never underestimate the usefulness of nasal hair, you notice when it’s gone! Nasal oil from the chemist helped. Both cleared up
really quickly after treatment stopped. 

Peripheral neuropathy can be triggered by Paclitaxel - affecting the nerve endings in fingers and feet. Often tingling and a bit of numbness, which will also rectify after treatment, but it can be more severe and linger. Let your oncologist know straight away if you have symptoms, there are ways of alleviating it if applied early. 

Best wishes - just count down the treatments, before you know it, you’ll be at six and half way there! 

scram

Thank you @Afraser and @Katie46, it’s helpful to know others experience. I am hoping to regain some independence and strength.

Afraser

For all the niggly problems, I worked full time during chemo. Which helped my sense of normal immensely.