Forum Discussion

Kat09's avatar
Kat09
Member
9 years ago

Next Treatment - Taxol/ Herceptin

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

  • melclarity's avatar
    melclarity
    Member
    9 years ago
    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 
  • Melsie97's avatar
    Melsie97
    Member
    9 years ago
    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
  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    9 years ago
    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.