Forum Discussion

Christabel03's avatar
Christabel03
Member
4 years ago

Five rounds to go and today treatment couldn't go ahead...

Hello everyone :)
I was due to go in for my 8th round of out 12 weekly Taxol rounds today and after sitting through the awful cannula insertion and waiting for bloods to come back, it was then decided by my oncologist to skip this week due to neuropathy being quite bad in my hands and feet and also the Taxol rash I have on my chest and hands. While I am completely shattered and probably a break is good, I am feeling so upset because instead of being 4 to go it will still be 5 to go next week and I feel really flat :(  There has been no talk about not making it through the whole 12 weeks either and finishing early. 
Just wondering if anyone else has had to have a break in treatment? I completely normal to be feeling this way?! 
  • Ausmum2's avatar
    Ausmum2
    Member
    4 years ago
    Hey @Christabel03

     I am so sorry to hear your treatment didn’t go as planned. 

    I was a “delayed sister”. I had a couple of weeks of this Paclitaxel. One session was off for two weeks (and that would have been after session 4 I think) and then I had a number of others delayed a week. I did get all 12 in, in the end, but I did need to do the three white blood cell shots post treatment (one per day) for the last 5 cycles to get them through and done. On the end my 12 Paclitaxels took around 16 weeks or so to achieve. 

    Once things started to slow down for me, the infusion nurses did tell me that many patients don’t get all 12 Taxols in… especially after AC (which I had had) and the oncologist did also tell me this also. 

    I found just going one session at a time, rather than trying to look too far ahead, let me just live in the day. It was also how I coped with having a needle jabbed in me 6 days out of every 7 (between bloods, WBC
    shots and chemo) and I had a port. 

    Will be cheering you on! 


  • Christabel03's avatar
    Christabel03
    Member
    4 years ago
    Thank you @Ausmum2, I appreciate you taking the time to respond. 
    Wow 16 weeks that is massive and what a warrior you are, all those jabs!!  I did the AC four rounds prior to this 12 week block as well. I guess I have tried so hard not to look too far ahead but when you think you are close to the end I kind of can't help but count them down as I want it over so badly and whether or not it sounds ridiculous, I am wanting to get to surgery. 

    Appreciate the cheering very much ;). xx
  • noosa_blue150's avatar
    noosa_blue150
    Member
    4 years ago
    When I was on taxcel I developed neuropathy -numb toes that I still,have today Over 12 months later. My hands escaped any lasting effects. Oncologist dropped dosage to 75% for two sessions and then 50% for last session.  Tumour still regressed and was almost gone at surgery . It’s hard because you want to do all the treatments but they need to try and not leave you with PN that will affect you in years to come.  Good luck with next few weeks, you’re almost finished the chemo now 
  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    4 years ago
    Echo what @noosa_blue150 says - I still have Taxol induced neuropathy in my feet after nine years. So
    probably for life. It doesn’t rule my life but avoid it if you can. 
  • Christabel03's avatar
    Christabel03
    Member
    4 years ago
    Thank you both @noosa_blue150 and @Afraser, appreciate you also taking some time to reply. 

    You are so right you do want all the treatments but the PN for life would be hard to manage. My first two toes are bit numb but I think it feels worse in my hands as we speak. They have reduced the dose twice now already I think so it will be interesting to see what happens next week when I go back. They are hoping the week off will give things a chance to simmer down I guess.

    I have my scan in mid April prior to surgery and that will be the first time since diagnosis that I have had any scans so I am probably panicking that there won't be a change :( Almost gone at surgery @noosa_blue150  that must have been a good feeling.

    Perhaps I will feel a little more human this week coming! 
  • EFF's avatar
    EFF
    Member
    3 years ago
    Hi Christabel,  I did 4 cycles of AC and was then put on Paclitaxel. This has been stopped after 3 cycles because of  PN and it is too early to stop.  2 weeks of no chemo and I next week I am recommended to go on Docetaxel (which sounds awful).  Like you, I am disheartened that the break will blow out the treatment course and delay my radiotherapy.  Naturally, we all just want it finished so we can start to recover and get on with life.  Good luck.
  • Cath62's avatar
    Cath62
    Member
    3 years ago
    Hi @christobell, I didn't finish my taxol because of neuropathy in my toes. That was 2 yrs ago in September. I still have some numbness. I had 3 AC and was due 10 taxol. I made it to 9 taxol but after 6 I had a reduced dose. I think it was 85%. At one point my oncologist did suggest we talk about a break but the reduced dose was the way we went because of my pathology ie aggressive high return rate. My oncologist said that the reduced dose was still effective so I was happy to reduce. Good luck with the rest of treatment.