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Tomobun's avatar
Tomobun
Member
3 years ago

Finished AC. Taxol next

Finally finished AC. It's been a journey since diagnosed with breast cancer in June. L side mastectomy, Oncotype then started chemotherapy. I have been through an emotional rollercoaster last 4 months.
I was given scary information before stating AC... I was told that I would be neutropenic, so I shouldn't work for a while. My oncologist gave me sick leave until January. They also said I shouldn't have travelled, too much risk, if I got any sort of infection, I would have to be hospitalised. so I had to cancel our family holiday in October etc., 

Actually, I kept my health and fitness during AC. Akynzeo well controlled my nausea and Ristempa boosted my neutrophil counts. I don't know why they didn't tell me that some people can get sick, but some don't. If they had told me earlier, it would have helped my mental health/anxiety. I was devastated when I started chemo. sleepless nights. Lots of tears. 

Just a piece of information for the people who are going through chemotherapy, medical technologies are so much improved, and your side effects may not be too bad. see how you go. If it's not going to be good, you can talk to your oncologist. 

I'm starting Taxol in 2 weeks. They told me about peripheral neuropathy. Also, they said that Taxol is more tolerable and I may be able to go back to work sometime soon. A nurse said my hair might come back... but on the information sheet, it said that loose hair. when she said that I had a cold cap on and I couldn't think properly at that time. I was just excited to hear my hair may come back....

I would appreciate it if you could some info on how you went with Taxol. 

Thank you.
  • Tomobun's avatar
    Tomobun
    Member
    3 years ago
    Hi Abbydog,

    Thank you so much for your reply and mentioned your occupation and having 10 months break from work through the treatment.
    I am also a nurse works at a busy ward in a tertiary hospital in Sydney. 
    As I tolerated it well with AC, my oncologist mentioned that I might be able to go back to work whilst I'm receiving Taxol treatment. 
    However, I've been lethargic lately and disappointed about it. I really miss my busy life. I may need to learn to used to the new pace....
    Sounds like you had breast Ca treatment in 2020. It would be scary for you to even go out back then.
    I hope you are keeping well and enjoying your post-treatment life.

  • Abbydog's avatar
    Abbydog
    Member
    3 years ago
    Dear Tomobun,
    There is a very huge range of experience with side effects, amongst all of us.
    I did use my income protection insurance and had 10 months off work.
    I did this because I could. I am a nurse working in a hospital, in 2020 Covid was new and scary.
    However I did come through that year quite well. I was warned of all of the side effects.
    It is important to be informed, we patients need to know what can happen and when to seek help.
    There is no way to predict who will get through well or not. The Oncologist could have said this.
    I had SMX with axillary clearance,EC x4 Paclitaxol x12 and R/T x 25. I was relatively lucky. 
    I had no nausea, minimal tiredness, minor Neutropenia and Anaemia.
    I did not lose my hair, as I was successful with the Cold Cap (a little thinning)
    On Taxol, I was similar. No peripheral neuropathy, although I do have a little in my feet, since finishing treatment.
    This is not enough to be a handicap.
    I experienced minor side effects that were manageable, eg taste changes, nail changes etc.
    My year was far easier than how it is portrayed in the movies.
    My best wishes to you as you continue your treatment. I hope that you have minimal side effects too.



  • Julez1958's avatar
    Julez1958
    Member
    3 years ago
    Hi @Tomobun I didn’t end up having to have chemo but I did have radiotherapy.
    When my GP discussed my diagnosis with me initially and we didn’t know what treatment I might need after surgery she said many of her patients had managed to work through chemotherapy and when I read lots is stories about side effects I thought she must be mistaken - but in fact there is a wide divergence of how people respond to it in terms of side effects.
    Take care and I wish you all the best.
  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    3 years ago
    @Tomobun

    Luck has a lot to do with it too. I worked throughout treatment and found it helpful to do so - quite apart from finances, it keeps your mind from dwelling on cancer and chemo. But it’s all a bit of a lottery, best wishes. 
  • Tomobun's avatar
    Tomobun
    Member
    3 years ago
    @Glemmis, you are very strong. Well done. Thank you for your comment. Appreciate it 
  • Tomobun's avatar
    Tomobun
    Member
    3 years ago
    @Afraser and @Cath62. thank you for your info appreciate it. looking forward to see my little baby hair soon :}
  • Glemmis's avatar
    Glemmis
    Member
    3 years ago
    My surgeon told me chemotherapy would knock me flat so I was determined to prove her wrong. I completed 4 rounds of AC and 12 rounds of Taxol & while it wasn’t great I worked all the way through. I had some neuropathy towards the end of Taxol but it resolved completely. I lost my sense of taste & did have a sensitive nose but nothing too bad. My hair started growing back a couple of weeks after finishing but I had been wearing a wig for work anyway so continued wearing it for a while. 
  • Tomobun's avatar
    Tomobun
    Member
    3 years ago
    @Afraser and @Cath62. thank you for your info appreciate it. Looking forward to seeing my little baby hair soon :}
  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    3 years ago
    Apart from peripheral neuropathy, most of the Taxol side effects I experienced were annoying but not terrible. It can affect soft tissue, my nose was most affected - a bit prone to being bloody and crusted. Nose oil (chemist) helped. I also lost most of my taste buds. Alcohol already tasted vile through A/C and most other things became quite tasteless. Very effective for losing weight. But both problems stopped pretty much when the Taxol stopped. My hair did start regrowing which I didn’t expect and was very cheering even if it looked like lambswool, but it was my lambswool! Best wishes. 
  • Cath62's avatar
    Cath62
    Member
    3 years ago
    Hi @Tomobun, well done getting through to this stage. It sure is a ride those first few months. I hope you celebrate each milestone. 

    As you know we all respond differently to the treatments. For me I was scheduled to have 10 rounds of taxol but only did 9 because of peripheral neuropathy.

    The oncologist reduced my dose to 90 percent to get me through.  My toes still feels numb at night even after 2 yrs. It did improve but this residual is what I am left with.

     My hair did get a tiny tiny stubble - hardly what I called growing. My hair started growing about 3 weeks after chemo stopped.

    Other than that I was fine and got through it all ok. Best wishes with your treatment.