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donnar's avatar
donnar
Member
14 years ago

AC side effects & Taxol

Hello everyone, I hope you enjoyed your xmas. quick message to introduce myself as I'm keen to hear what experiences you have had with AC and Taxol chemo. ( Early breast cancer, left mastectomy, lympnodes removed, stage 3) Hormonal- negative)  I've just finished my 2nd treatment of AC ( 22nd Dec) 2 more to go at 3 weekly intervals and then Taxol weekly for 12 weeks. I've been advised that AC is the one that will shake me up a bit with Taxol being a walk in the park but more inconvenient. My first reaction to AC was ok at the start and then come day 4,5,6 not the best. Nausea, aches in legs, very groggy, light headed etc. Feel like an outsider looking in. Then I come good around the 7th to 8th day onwards.. I'm trying to make sure I eat well and drink plenty of fluids and keep my excercise up ( walk for around 1 hour). sometimes feel like I'm preganant as I felt like mashed patatoes the other night!  I guess everyone is different in how they react. Any tips? I find when I sleep I feel blooming worse, croggy and all but rest is important too so trying to listen to my body. I've slowly got back to work with the option of going 3 day per week. early days I know but keen to hear your experiences. Really appreciate that a website like this exists. Donna xx

4 Replies

  • donnar's avatar
    donnar
    Member
    14 years ago

    Thank you Moira, its heartning to know support is at hand.  At the start you really need to just take it all in and then when the dust settles you start thinking, exploring. Yes, it would be nice to keep you updated on my progress. New territory for me. It will be at least a 6mth + journey and I'll need to open up!

    Best wishes, Donna x

  • donnar's avatar
    donnar
    Member
    14 years ago

    Thanks so much Alison, great to hear your experiences. I know what you mean about the mouth ulcers. Had them at the start so have started to gargle salt water etc. I have a tendancy to get them anyway so doing all I can to keep them at bay. They always come up around the areas where you need to chew! . Hmm yes, my white cells were low too last chemo treatment and was given Neulasta to inject the next day to increase the cells. It was quite daunting injecting myself but was quietly proud of myself for doing it! My oncologist has suggested this after each session of AC chemo.  I'm day 6 so slowly turning a corner and will pop into work for a few hours tomorrow. Thank goodness its quiet this time of year and its a short week!

    I know I'll have more questions as I go along so very appreciative that the support is there from you all. Thank you! Donna  

  • moira1's avatar
    moira1
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hi donnar, glad you found your way here, there are a lot of women and men on here who have and are going through different stages of BC, and that makes us one big family, with support and information right here at our fingertips. Although everyone reacts different to treatments, we all have the same thoughts and fears. so good luck with your treatment, and please keep comming back to let us know how you are doing. Regards Moira

  • Al's avatar
    Al
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hi Donna,

    I too had AC chemo( 4 rounds) and am now 10/12th the way through Taxol. The Ac was by far the worst. Yes nausea, light headed but I managed 3 days a week work. I also didn't sleep that well and was very lethargic. My white cells and neutraphils dropped quite dramatically. Mouth ulcers have also been one major side effect even with Taxol. Taxol so far has been a walk in the park! Still fatiqued but no nausea!   I  a lumpectomy, no lymph node involvement but grade 3 tumour and double positive - HER2 + and hormone - one of the lucky ones who can use herceptin!

    Good luck with your treatment and if you need anything just blog!

    Alison xx