Taxol side effects

I’m 3 weeks in and also have young kids to run around after. 

I was given a steroid (dexa) pre treatment which kept me up all night after the infusion. Just wide awake and the sleep deprivation really affected me the next day. I just had my 3rd infusion without the dexa and slept all night! Makes a difference.

I’m doing cold boots and gloves and have a little tingling for about 30 seconds occasionally.  No nausea for me. 

For me, I do get a lot of fatigue. I was pretty fit, loved the gym and doing weights so I’ve had to seriously adjust my expectations on what I can do. Honestly walking in to school pickup some days in this heat is exhausting. 

With the kids, plan down time after an activity to rest. I get out and do things with my kids and then will need to lie down for a couple of hours. I’m not someone who previously liked to sit still so but my body is saying slow down : )   Still plenty of good times in amongst the hard times. 

Everyone says that it hits people differently.  All the best with starting your treatment 

Hi Annabannana​.  I’m sorry you are going through this.  I was in your position this time last year and was so worried about the side effects.  Everyone is different.  I had fatigue that was quite hard a few days after chemo.  I did ice my hands and feet and managed to get through without any neuropathy.  I did lose my hair despite trying cold capping but it started coming back before I finished my chemo.  It was very hard at the time but I tried to eat well, move and walk when I had enough energy to and try to do my best each day.  Looking back it was a hard time but I am so grateful to have been able to have treatment and such good care.  I now have a head full of short hair with interesting curls that I am starting to get used to.  I now exercise most days and find I am much stronger mentally and more positive about the future on the days I do,   You will get through this.  I hope your side effects are minimal.  Take care x

Hi Annabannana​, thanks for posting your inquiry about Taxol side effects. Hopefully Afraser​ reply has given you lots of insight into what the experience could be like for you. I just wanted to pop in and say all the best with the upcoming holiday period - it is already busy enough and adding Taxol treatment onto this can make for a big load to carry, especially with all the kids commitments coming up. Please do reach out to us here in this community, or call the Helpline on 1800 500 258 when you need that extra bit of support 🩷

Hi

Side effects can range immensely and what affects one person can be a non-event with others, so be prepared for something out of the blue! Avoid neuropathy if you can, it's not uncommion with Taxol and while the effects can abate after treatment, they don't always. I've had funny feet (hands are fine) for 13 years and lately they have got worse. In spite of the quack 'cures', pain relief is about the only real treatment and I don't have pain, just abnormal sensations that affect my walking and balance. So discuss any tingling or pins and needles early with your oncologist, consider a lower dose or any other means of ameliorating possible damage.

Other than that, my main side effects of 12 weeks on Taxol were a bloody nose and losing my taste buds! I'd already lost my hair on 12 weeks of A/C( it all grew back, starting when I was still on Taxol) but Taxol can be hard on soft tissue (said my oncologist) and effects on eyes, mouth and/or nose are not uncommon. My nose got sniffly, bled (not a lot) easily when blown and then got unpleasantly scabby and dry. It was not very noticeable to anyone else and nose oil from the chemist (refined sesame oil) helped! The conventional wisdom about loss of taste buds is to eat stronger tasting food, like spicy food. Didn't work for me. The only things I could eat and taste were lettuce, tomatoes, eggs, bananas and avocados! All mild flavours, but at least healthy so I ate a lot of them. Alcohol tasted vile. Just a case of eating for strength and health rather than for pleasure. My eyes were fine, but some people can get blurred vision at times - if so, it's best to put off any treatment till you finish Taxol as, like my nose and mouth, it may be strictly temporary and clear up very quickly when treatment ends. 

I had no fatigue or nausea with either A/C or Taxol - worked and lived pretty normally throughout. This is hugely variable and you really can't tell if these side effects will occur for you until you start. 

Best wishes - count down each treatment, it's amazing how quickly it can all pass.