Forum Discussion

Fern88's avatar
Fern88
Member
5 years ago

First cycle of Paclitaxel dose dense

@Locksley So starting my premedication last night with 5 Dexamethasone & 1 Famotidine and then the same dose this morning plus 1 Loratadine 60min before treatment starts, totally dosed up ready,  I had an appointment with my oncologist first to talk about possible side effects and how I'm going so far. Then had my Paclitaxel without any allergic reactions at all such a relief it did take a lot longer than getting AC 3.5 hours compared to 2 hours but that's ok as its one of my few outings. So I'm hoping it's a sign of how my next 3 cycles will go.
Hope everyone's going good in their treatments.
xo
paclitaxel
treatment
  • Ween's avatar
    Ween
    Member
    5 years ago
    I have had my first treatment of 12 weekly Paclitaxel with no reaction at the clinic. Only side effect on the third day I started to get sore joints and muscles in my legs. Hopefully this will pass. 
  • ChezaH's avatar
    ChezaH
    Member
    5 years ago
    Fern88 said:
    Hi @ChezaH sorry I've misread your last post (chemo brain lol) I thought you were coming up to your last cycle. Yes the steroids are great for that. I'm going public for radiation. I'm counting down also 3 more to go, my toes are a bit tingly today.
    xx hugs
    Looking forward to 3 to go lol
  • Fern88's avatar
    Fern88
    Member
    5 years ago
    Hi @ChezaH sorry I've misread your last post (chemo brain lol) I thought you were coming up to your last cycle. Yes the steroids are great for that. I'm going public for radiation. I'm counting down also 3 more to go, my toes are a bit tingly today.
    xx hugs
  • ChezaH's avatar
    ChezaH
    Member
    5 years ago
    Fern88 said:
    Thank you @Afraser, 
    Hi @ChezaH I can't wait for the feeling of that last cycle ending. I also have to have radiation & 5years tablets  I've been getting very sore hips/lower back pain on and off for the last 2 weeks. Hope your RT goes well for you & look forward to hearing how your going with it.
    Hugs xo

    Hi Fern  Yes some of the side effects I have had, has been bone and muscle pain, nerve pain some shooting from my temple down my jaw.   My oncologist has given me some tablets and that has certainly helped. I have spoken to a few people about the medication and they highly recommend it, very happy with it. Had chemo yesterday, and no sleep until 5am for a couple of hours, its the steroids, but i usually catch up after tonight.
    Are you having you radiation public or private? I have decided to have it public, as no difference in anything except you have to pay with private. Glad i did the research. Not sure when I will start radiation yet, but great to say only 7 more chemo sessions to go, at least I am counting down LOL   sending hugs xx Cheryl
  • Fern88's avatar
    Fern88
    Member
    5 years ago
    Thank you @Afraser, 
    Hi @ChezaH I can't wait for the feeling of that last cycle ending. I also have to have radiation & 5years tablets  I've been getting very sore hips/lower back pain on and off for the last 2 weeks. Hope your RT goes well for you & look forward to hearing how your going with it.
    Hugs xo
  • ChezaH's avatar
    ChezaH
    Member
    5 years ago
    Hi I am now into 7 weeks of this one to go. Had a terrible time on AC only could tolerate 3 of the 4 rounds before it knocked me to the wall. This one has been heaps better for me . Still seeing the oncologist weekly before my chemo as I did worry him with my reactions. It feels good to be on the down hill run with this, even though I have radiation then the 5 years of the tablet medication. But I am focusing this as a positive for me So good this site, hugs xxCheryl
  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    5 years ago
    Dose dense is a more intense (stronger) infusion. Research seems to indicate that a more concentrated hit every two or three weeks is more effective than a weekly (milder) dose. Often patients found a weekly taxane based chemo easier than A/C, possibly because it was a reduced strain on the body. Best wishes. 
  • Fern88's avatar
    Fern88
    Member
    5 years ago
    Hi @Abbydog and @Locksley yeah mine is fortnightly I to don't understand either, all I know that mine is dose dense, maybe it comes down to pathology results? I'll put that on my questions list for next oncologist appointment ☺
    Hugs xo
  • Locksley's avatar
    Locksley
    Member
    5 years ago
    Thank you for letting me know.  Hope all continues to go well.   I also don't understand the timing difference.  Makes it a little hard to work out.   Sending hugs xx
  • Abbydog's avatar
    Abbydog
    Member
    5 years ago
    I'm at a similar stage. Although my paclitaxel is weekly for 12 weeks. Each week I have a premed of antihistamine, cimetidine and dexamethasone. I didn't get the dreaded 'allergic' response and my Dexamethasone has been halved from 8mg to 4mg. I don't understand why some people have this drug weekly and some 3 weeks apart.