Hi Ladies, on Thursday I start my next phase of treatment 12 x weekly Taxol and 3 x weekly Herceptin ( 12 months ). I have made it through 4 rounds of AC really well thankfully. Tiredness for a couple of days afterwards, hairloss and my nails have darkened ( using nail strengthener and dark polish ) but that is the extent of my side effects and I do feel that I am extremely lucky on that front. I am however a little nervous about starting a new treatment and what that may bring with it. My oncologist is optimistic that I will again handle this new treatment well. I am worried about the nerve pain as I suffer that already with a back injury, I know there is nothing I can do to ward this off if it happens but I guess we all worry about the unknown. The posts that you have all made relating to this treatment, the side effects and how you have all managed them has been not only informative but really helpful. It makes Thursday a little less confronting, although being the control freak I am until I experience it I won't be ok with any of it " all the whatifs ". The one thing I keep telling myself is it makes me one step closer to getting better. Thanks for making this all that bit easier Kat

The general view is that Taxol is easier than AC. That said, and if you have suffered form nerve pain, ask your oncologist/day oncology staff what you can do to protect yourself as far as possible from peripheral neuropathy - the pins and needles feeling is how it starts. Any impact from this is very variable. Most of the other side effects I got were in the nuisance category - nose tending to being a bit bloody (no actual nose bleeds) - nose oil can be very helpful (from the chemist - slightly expensive, refined sesame oil!) or vaseline. Dry mouth - some people use Biotine -a colleague going through the same thing said it tasted like someone else's spit, which put me right off, but then again I didn't need it much. Lost a lot of taste buds though, but they all came back pretty quickly when I stopped Taxol. Most things tasted of cardboard, but curiously it was mild flavours I could taste best - salad, eggs, avocado, banana. Go figure! Good luck.

Hi @Kat09, I've just finished my 12 weeks of Taxol with 3rd weekly Herceptin continuing on until December. I found Taxol so much easier than AC. I suffered some nose bleeds and aches mainly in my lower back and hips. I made sure I took regular panadol everyday regardless if there was pain or not. I was lucky enough to only get a mild neuropathy in one thumb. My hair has started growing back on Taxol enough to make me comfortable going out without my scarf on. As for appetite, I've put on the 6kgs I lost between diagnosis and finishing AC. So no problems there. Good luck with it. Mel xx

Hey @Kat09 I think if you handled AC so well, I think you will handle Taxol fine to be honest as its not as hard hitting as AC. I had 4 FEC and didnt cope at all and then 8 TAXOL, my Oncologist did say that it would niggle at any existing injury that I had, which is lower back. I did suffer nerve, muscle and bone pain on Taxol, but not everyone does, unfortunately I couldnt take much for it and as the weeks went on I had no relief in between. I only suffered mild neuropathy in my feet which I manage fine now. I do think you'll be ok. x Melinda

I was miserable on taxol and found the weekly regime hard going as you didn't get the break that you did on AC. However I completed it. Most side effects resolved within a few weeks and 6 months on my neuropathy in my toes is almost completely gone (unless my feet get too cold ).Just take it week by week and adjust as you need. The beginning at least feels easier than AC and at least nausea isn't such an issue. Reflux was for me as treatment went on. I found the muscle and joint pain a real issue some weeks then hardly a problem on others. I needed additional steroids as slightly allergic to taxol so this result in additional weight gain and fluid retention. Fatigue becomes more of an issue halfway through. But...having said that...could I do it again if I had to?....yep. Lets hope I don't have to though. Kath x

Thanks girls for sharing your experiences as it does definitely help me knowing what I may experience. I really appreciate your kind wishes x

Next Treatment - Taxol/ Herceptin

Kat09
Member
9 years ago
Hi @Nadi, my treatment yesterday went really well thanks. I was a lot longer at the hospital than expected though as I didn't realise they gave a loading dose of Herceptin initially so other than being tired from sitting most of the day I've come away relatively unscathed so far. I did use cold gloves on my hands and feet though as a trial against Neuropathy and added nail damage ( I have darkening already caused by AC ) so let's see how they go and yes the cold on your feet is the worst but eventually settles. I wrapped a warm blanket around my ankles and that helped a lot. Oh @Rubygirl love the quip about those chin hairs !
Thanks again to all of you for your help and advice
Kat x
Nadi
Member
9 years ago
Hi Kat, the second treatment regime is usually better than the first. Hope it was ok today. It is such a good feeling when you have the last herceptin. It's a long road but you'll get there. Good luck!
Rubygirl
Member
9 years ago
@Smileyfrog I hope your first treatment went well. I didn't have AC.....just Paclitaxal (weekly for 12 weeks) with Herceptin and Perjeta (3 weekly). I found the treatment much better than I expected. There was diahhroea a few weeks in but I just pulled back on the probiotics a bit as I was overdoing the ones I had added to my diet. Not sure if it would have settled down on it's own. I was tired but only really noticed it from 8 weeks on when I needed to nap in the middle of the day. Good sleep and not looking at screens late into the night will help. I know I stayed up late on a few occasions and I really felt it for the next couple of days. As I mentioned above, I felt spacey right at the end and stopped driving myself around for about a week. All the best to you x
Smileyfrog
Member
9 years ago
Hi Kat,
I'm starting same treatment this Thursday too, with added Perjeta every 3 weeks. Then lumpectony followed by radiation.
So We may be able to compare notes!
Good luck. Xo
Smileyfrog
Member
9 years ago

Kat09 said:

Hi Ladies, on Thursday I start my next phase of treatment 12 x weekly Taxol and 3 x weekly Herceptin ( 12 months ). I have made it through 4 rounds of AC really well thankfully. Tiredness for a couple of days afterwards, hairloss and my nails have darkened ( using nail strengthener and dark polish ) but that is the extent of my side effects and I do feel that I am extremely lucky on that front. I am however a little nervous about starting a new treatment and what that may bring with it. My oncologist is optimistic that I will again handle this new treatment well. I am worried about the nerve pain as I suffer that already with a back injury, I know there is nothing I can do to ward this off if it happens but I guess we all worry about the unknown. The posts that you have all made relating to this treatment, the side effects and how you have all managed them has been not only informative but really helpful. It makes Thursday a little less confronting, although being the control freak I am until I experience it I won't be ok with any of it " all the whatifs ". The one thing I keep telling myself is it makes me one step closer to getting better. Thanks for making this all that bit easier
Kat
Smileyfrog
Member
9 years ago

Rubygirl said:

I finished a 12 week taxol with 3 weekly Herceptin/Perjeta regime just a few weeks ago. Came through it feeling quite good and with very few side effects. Drove myself to the hospital and back home each time - although I would probably get a friend to help me with the final two weeks as I did feel a little bit spacey towards the end. No anti-nausea medication required, just a general feeling of tiredness. Now that the taxol has been finished for close to 3 weeks I feel my energy returning but I'm still taking it easier than normal. Surgery is coming up next month - just taking one day at a time at the moment and not thinking too far ahead.

The cold cap saved my hair (poor old eyebrows are just hanging in there. Those 2/3 chin hairs won't budge which I find ironic !!

All the best for your treatment.

Hi @Rubygirl, Im about to start the exact treatment you just finished. I did pretty well with the AC. Dr said I should cope well with this next treatment.
Just wondering if you can offer any advice! I've been working through AC. Did you work through Taxol /herceptin/Perjeta?
Anonymous
9 years ago
Hey Kat, sounds like you're doing okay......no matter what chemo just sucks. As PrimeK says, just take it 1 treatment at a time, and discuss how to manage your side effects. I had docetaxel and it gave me joint and muscle pain, however I did not have the nausea from the previous chemo. I used the pain killers recommended and laid low. It does pass, so just take it one day at a time. Sending you a big cuddle, Trace
Rubygirl
Member
9 years ago
I finished a 12 week taxol with 3 weekly Herceptin/Perjeta regime just a few weeks ago. Came through it feeling quite good and with very few side effects. Drove myself to the hospital and back home each time - although I would probably get a friend to help me with the final two weeks as I did feel a little bit spacey towards the end. No anti-nausea medication required, just a general feeling of tiredness. Now that the taxol has been finished for close to 3 weeks I feel my energy returning but I'm still taking it easier than normal. Surgery is coming up next month - just taking one day at a time at the moment and not thinking too far ahead.

The cold cap saved my hair (poor old eyebrows are just hanging in there. Those 2/3 chin hairs won't budge which I find ironic !!

All the best for your treatment.
Kat09
Member
9 years ago
Thanks girls for sharing your experiences as it does definitely help me knowing what I may experience. I really appreciate your kind wishes x
primek
Member
9 years ago
I was miserable on taxol and found the weekly regime hard going as you didn't get the break that you did on AC. However I completed it. Most side effects resolved within a few weeks and 6 months on my neuropathy in my toes is almost completely gone (unless my feet get too cold ).

Just take it week by week and adjust as you need. The beginning at least feels easier than AC and at least nausea isn't such an issue. Reflux was for me as treatment went on. I found the muscle and joint pain a real issue some weeks then hardly a problem on others. I needed additional steroids as slightly allergic to taxol so this result in additional weight gain and fluid retention. Fatigue becomes more of an issue halfway through.

But...having said that...could I do it again if I had to?....yep. Lets hope I don't have to though. Kath x