Starting Paclitaxol after AC

Thanks @Locksley. I have started to look at ways to help reduce the occurrence of PN, the thumb nails are a bit sensitive! 😀

Thanks @AllyJay for your message, it certainly sounds as though AC was not too kind to you. I have been advised about the PN. I was a grade 3 stage 2. I did have a pet scan when my pathology results came back as it had reached two of my lymphnodes, thankfully there was no sign of distant metastasis, and none of the other lymphnodes were involved. I will be having my remaining lymphnodes out and a double mastectomy before I start radiation. I just want to do everything to stop this from ever making a comeback! Thanks for taking the time to respond to my message 😀

The AC part of my chemo was a total nightmare for me. I was hospitalised for a total of 56 days over the three months for febrile neutrepenia, pancreatitis, rashes and more. My experience with Paclitaxel was much better. No hospital admissions. I did, however have a permanently dripping and bleeding nose and became the nanna with a tissue up each sleeve. I also learned not to trust a taxol fart as on two occasions, I got more than I bargained for. I had less of an issue with mouth sores, oral thrush and eliminated taste buds, but did find some foods and drinks unpalatable. I was still off coffee and didn't much fancy sweet things. chocolate tasted yuck, but I loved salt and vinegar crisps as they seemed to cut through the "furry" feeling in my mouth. I did start to develop peripheral neuropathy around dose seven, but persisted and completed the twelve doses. As I was Grade 3 and Stage 3 and couldn't have radiotherapy due to other medical problems, I knew that my only cards to play were chemo and surgery, and for me, I chose rather to continue with worsening neuropathy, and thus to gain the last drop of chemo to help in preventing the cancer returning. When the pathology report came in from the removed breasts and nodes, it said that I had had a 100% pathological response to the chemo and that no live cancer cells were found in any of the removed tissue, only the (quote) empty tumour beds. I still have neuropathy in my hands and feet, four years later, but I still stand by my decision to continue with the paclitaxel. I've grown rather fond of my wheeled granny walker and have named him Sam. He's a really good bloke who supports me when I walk outside my home, provides a barrier between me and hypnotised pedestrians fiddling with their mobile phones instead of looking where they're going, and very important, he doesn't piddle on the toilet seat. 

Hi I found paclitaxel easier than  ac chemo on my body. I was still very tired and had an upset bottom.  I also had constant runny nose. I had mouth ulcers too.  I did some ice therapy to help keep PN issues away.  My big  toe nails lifted.  I have PN in 2 toes and a couple of my fingers but they are getting better now.  Good luck with it.  There is light at the end of the tunnel. 

Thanks @Afraser for your response.  I’m wondering because Chemo has
a cumulative effect, that you may have had more annoyances. I will definitely be counting down the weekly treatments. Thanks so much for your note 😀

Having had a relatively easy time on A/C and several annoyances while on paclitaxel, I should note that I am in the minority - most people seem to find paclitaxel much easier! Tired and emotional may be an outcome of treatment, but it may be a perfectly reasonable reaction to bc and all it brings with it. Count down the weekly treatments, each one is one less! Best wishes.