any tips for surviving weekly pacitaxol

Hi @Spillsy.

I really did find Taxol a whole lot easier than AC.  Managed to work and do all my usual stuff the whole way through.  No problems with Neuropathy, fatigue or nausea.   Only issue I had was a weird skin rash so had to take cortisone throught it (that's not normal) and sunlight sensitivity which was annoying as I have a farm and am a real outdoors person. Hopefully you sail right on through it.
All the best
XOXO

Just found this and having my first round of Pacitaxol today! Didn't have many issues with AC, fingers crossed it will be more of the same with this! Hoping to work through it (I'm a teacher) but see how we go! 

Hi @Spillsy. I didn't have AC just 12 weeks of Taxol,then radiotherapy and Herceptin. I had heard about the side effects of Taxol, mainly neuropathy, so 'iced' my hands and feet over the hour. It was cold and a little painful at first but after 15 mins I couldn't feel a thing. I always had someone with me to be my ice buddy for the day and the ward staff helped out where they could.  Whether it was that or luck but I didn't get neuropathy. Rinse your mouth often to avoid ulcers . I used to get a rumbling tummy and loose bowels but Herceptin also gave me this.Nose bleeds and sores up my nose happened too but a bit of vaseline on a cotton bud helped this. I didn't work throughout my treatment. I had my treatment on a Friday and felt the worst on the following Monday . I was still exercising at home with the help of youtube but hit the the wall about week 8 and tuned into Netflix instead. Be kind to yourself and good luck with this next stage. I finished Herceptin a month ago and am feeling better everyday xox

@Spillsy

morning, 

I’ve not really worked. I’ve marked undergraduate assignments during Ac but I don’t really class that as work. You do what you can. I understand the wanting to plan ahead. Don’t push to hard. Be kind to yourself - something I’m trying to learn. 

Take it it easy and remember - this too shall end. Xxx

I had twelve weeks of diarrhea, definitely not fun and needed to be near a toilet. I didn't leave home much lol. Dry sinuses and bloody nose at times. Hand and foot syndrome also. Thought I'd dodged the neuropathy but a few months after finishing is when it developed. Better than ac chemo as far as fatigue, but each has different side effects. I never felt nauseous on either combo. Best of luck.

Taxol was so much easier for me than AC.  My infusion day was Friday which gave me the weekend to recover and I returned to work for Monday to Thursday.  After a couple of sessions, I realized that most of the issues I was experiencing were the steroids, so the dose was cut in half and it was much easier to cope.  For me keeping busy was the trick and exercising with daily walks.  My energy levels were good and it wasn't until the last few weeks that a little fatigue crept in.  Hope you travel through this with minimal issues Spillsy :-)   

I have had 5 taxols so far. At first I thought it was easier than the AC but this last wk it seems to have caught up with me. I feel like I have a constant cold, bloody nose on blowing, increased nausea and diarrhoea, can’t sleep. I have it on a Wednesday and I tend to have to take Friday off work (relunctantly).
hope you manage ok and don’t forget I’m in the city if you need a chat over coffee xx

I didn't like taxol. I had sailed through A/C (OK the likely side effect came after I had finished!) and taxol was harder. Mainly aggravations - bloody nose, lost my tastebuds. I had quite bad peripheral neuropathy - damage to nerve endings In hands and feet. Not everyone gets this and most get it mildly. On the other hand, I continued working throughout and I am not some sort of martyr - working kept my mind engaged on things other than cancer and I wasn't dragging myself to the office! So manageable. I had no fatigue or nausea on either chemo. My day oncology was near work so in for a couple of hours and on with the rest of the day. Must people find taxol easier than A/C , hope it is for you too! Best wishes. 

Great to hear from you, must be so good to finish. I am hoping to work as much as I am able, but obviously can’t predict how’s it’s going to be, but sort of thinking ahead, so I can keep work informed.
I have managed 2 weeks work, 1 week off on AC( checking emails and a few calls/ VC meeting etc) on that dreadful post chemo week. It’s been a great distraction, as my work mates are so lovely, and fun, and it’s means I stay connected, and get walks in etc. 

I finished paclitaxol about 10 days ago. 

On reflection, I think the fatigue is cumulative but compared to Ac it was not so bad. 

I didn’t  suffer much peripheral neuropathy. Just slight tingling every now and then. 

My mouth was fine. No sores etc.  

You have blood tested each week prior to treatment. Something to factor in to your schedule. So I had bloods every Thursday followed by treatment each Friday.

My hair grew back. 

The worst part was rocking up each week. It was a long slog but I kept asking myself did I want the alternate? So I put my big girl britches on - and went and finished it. 


I formed a good bond with the staff and I receive most of my clinical support from them. I’m a nurse and when I ask the harder questions they handle it. This decreases my anxiety. 


Now I’m immensely relieved and proud to have finished it. 

X