New side effects from Paclitaxel

Hi there @Koukla I had the nail issue and found the acrylic ones put on for about 3 months and that helped heaps stopped them from chipping and breaking away them swapped to the gel polish which I still have done now 14 months later. I only have one dodgy looking nail left and that’s almost grown out now. I got the neuropathy only I my hands and  after the last dose of taxol oct last year and it lasted til around July this year and they were more stiff than anything and we’re better once they were warmed up. And as for the bloating I didn’t have that but had awful reflux with taxol which I’d never had before and has to take double doses of nexium but I also had some sensitivity to some foods as my taste was affected and that sometimes caused me to feel blah and bloated/gassy so I took nexium and coloxyl and senna and that worked a treat and ate pretty bland food too which helped. Margie xx

@primek, I am glad to know that I am not the "weird" one to have gas issues, as when my Oncologist told me that she had never heard of such side effect from chemo it makes me worried if I have another health issue to worry about apart from cancer.

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

My nails became incredibly brittle which took 12 months and a multivitamin to resolve. I had awful gas issues  (I did on AC too.) I developed lactose intoletances and didn't do well with bread either. I still can't have dairy and limited bread without excessive gas and frequent loo trips. So I've pretty much elimated it from my diet. 

That's all good news. My fingernails weren't too bad - looked like a bit of nicotine staining (and I am not a smoker) but my toenails were something else. Black, brown, grey, chalk white - splitting like a bit of veneer left out in the rain! When I went swimming I felt I needed a sign saying "No, I don't have a fungal infection, just getting rid of cancer",  - but thought better of it!!  The nails all stayed on though, and while it took for ever for the mess to grow out, it finally did. Patience is definitely a virtue in this game. Good luck with the gas.

@Afraser thanks for your advice. I was given Vitamin B6 since I started Paclitaxel, I believe B6 helps because my tingling sensation did not start untiI the 3rd cycle and they come and go and do not really stay long.

I have just finished 5/12 of Taxol yesterday and my nails have changed colours as the image below.

Now it is just the gas in my stomach that is difficult to get rid of.

Dear Koukla, 
Thanks for your post. Besides being a help personally to share side-effects and experiences; it is very interesting to see the info mount up about side-effects and tips.And thanks Afraser - so that's what caused the blood noses LOL.
Best wishes from jennyss

Oh the manifest joys of Taxol!  Tingling in the finger is is peripheral neuropathy - it may get no worse than this, but then again it may. Talk to your oncologist about what may deter any development. I found vitamin B helped a bit. My oncologist said that Taxol was particularly hard on soft tissue - so eyes, nose and presumably the mouth too. I got somewhat tired eyes and a bloody nose (all cleared up fast once I stopped) but not mouth problems, but I think one or two others have reported a bit of numbness around the mouth too. Best wishes.