Hi I have just completed 4 three weekly cycles of AC and am so happy they are over. I had 3 hospital admissions including bilateral lung clots so have found it a little challenging. Next on my treatment plan is 12 weekly cycles of Taxol to commence this coming Thursday 5/4. My oncologist assures me these treatments will be easier on my body and mind than the AC. I would dearly love to hear from anyone who has experienced Taxol, especially weekly doses similiar to mine. I am feeling very anxious about starting a new chemo cocktail especially the possibility of having an allergic reaction as it is administered. Really hoping to hear the about the good, bad and ugly of Taxol. I know everyone is different but I like to know what I could expect. I hope everyone has had a relaxing weekend. It has been a beautiful weekend here on the NSW central coast. I took our new old caravan out for the first time to a local van park on the beach. This morning I had a lovely breakfast with some baby magpies then a fox joined us till the littlies nearby chased it away. I spent time dangling my feet in rockpools full of tiny starfish. It was great to have a weekend where the C word didn't get mentioned once. Look forward to hearing from those who have experienced taxol Mel xxx

I too had AC ( same regime as yours) and 12 weeks of taxol/herceptin combined. After AC I found this much easier to tolerate. I also had some reaction to the AC - very low neutraphils which lead to a hospital stay of 8 days! But other than that the Taxol was a walk in the park compared to AC. Very few side effects - fatigue, mouth ulcers and dry mouth about the worst. Diarrohea was a bit of a probelm at times too but manageable. I finished Taxol on the 6th Jan this year and have just finished 35 rounds of radiotherapy, on 15th of March. I also started taking Tamoxifen in Jan. So far so good. A few hot flushes and night sweats but not too bad ( average 3-4 per week) My hair has grown back - very straight and white!! Take care and if there is anything else you would like help with just blog away. This is a great site!! My saviour! Thinking of you when you start your new cocktail. Hopefully it will be ok for you too. Stay positive - this really helped me! Alison xxx

Hi Mel, Forgot to say that I'm still on herceptin until Oct ( 3 weekly) as my cancer was HER2+. Heart scans every 3 months but apart from this things are good. No obvious side effects from this and it also very quick - 1 hour total in the chair.Take care, Alison xx ( Perth)

Hi Al Thanks so much for your reply. Sounds like I am having nearly the same treatment as you. My cancers were oestrogen positive... I Havnt heard my oncologist mention herceptin... If you don't mind me asking did you have a lumpectomy or masectomy. I had a bilateral masectomy as I had ductal, lobular and one other type of cancer in each breast. Can't remember the other type. I had a choice at first to attempt a lumpectomy on one breast but it had 3 cancers and I thought both off was the way to go. My surgeon agreed with me but still allowed me to make my own decision. I feel much better about Thursday chemo... Still anxious... Had heard so much negative stuff about taxol... Still uptight about having a reaction when it's administered... It's worried me from day one. I try not to worry but my bc was diagnosed after I had a dream one night telling me to have a mammogram... I had no lumps or bumps... Just a strong feeling to follow my dream... Thanks again for your reply Mel :)

The good,the bad and the ugly of Taxol

18 Replies

Gayle_Taylor
Member
14 years ago
I can relate to the awakeness!!! Its now 3am, been up since 2am, rearranged the notes and bills under magnets on my fridge! lol Ill nap again soon in the reclyner. Strange days ahead :) My USA mates on Facebook are good at tis time for a chat! lol
Gayle_Taylor
Member
14 years ago
I have a bad reaction to Endone too now, i use to be ok, but it spers on a nasty vomiting headache migraine for about 3 days, that and morphine, nasty stuff! I have the PEG injection after my FEC 5FU chemo, that makes my bones and hips ache, heavy legs. Hope i never have TAXOL tho! Good luck , stay strong xx
Stella_Horse_Me
Member
14 years ago
Hi Pam

Thanks so much for your reply. I am so sorry to hear of your progression. You sound like a fighter so am sure that you will not let it beat you. My pain in the legs has gotten worse and saw the GP today. Am having a bone scan next week so fingers crossed it is only the Taxol. Funny how you are only really told of the short term side effects of chemo and not the long ones.

Take care

Mel ox
pamjau
Member
14 years ago
Hi Mel, I had the pain in my legs for quite a while after treatment, I had 4 rounds of taxodere every 3 weeks,. Hate to tell you this but it was bout 2 years but reduced over that time.I can remember walking to my radiotherapy sessions,(which was straight after chemo finished) it was all up hill thinking I was never going to make it Saying I'm stronger than this, I have also got arthritis in my hip, but it was a diffrent pain than that. I didn't take endone as i have a bad reaction from it, I did a lot of exercise to keep fit as i was also waiting for a reconstruction. I had the tingly feeling in my feet for a while after as well. i had 5 nodes positive, i was very aware of any other type of pain in my bones after that as I was put in the high risk of recurrence. In May it has been 10 years since i was first diagnosed, but in 2010 i did have a different type of pain in my hip that i didn't think was arthritic, my doc sent me for scans just to rule out any thing, but unfortunately I was diagnosed with metastatis in my pelvis But I feel great, except for the bone pain, but I'm still here and fighting fit.

Keep that chin up ,

Pam
Stella_Horse_Me
Member
14 years ago
Hi Mel I finished my chemo just before christmas and my story sounds very similar to you although I was stopped after 3 Taxols. All I can say is there is light at the end of what can seem like a long tunnel. Don't appologise for crying as this can be a long and sometimes lonely road. Glad to hear the nurses looked after you.

All the best for next weeks treatment.

Mel (as well!)
Stella_Horse_Me
Member
14 years ago
Hi Pam

I just wanted to ask you about your pain following Taxol. I had 2 doses of Taxotere and Cyclo of which I had very bad anaphylaxis so was changed to weekly Taxol (only needed 3 doses luckily) but my legs have constantly been aching since finishing it last December. I had an episode of polyarthritis before starting chemo, of which I had never had arthritis before (being 41). I had clear nodes and a clear bone scan last Sept and am sure that the pain is from the Taxol. I am taking Endone but hate putting more drugs into my body. How long has/did your pain last for. I am wanting to get active again but the leg pain is holding me back. Hoping you may have some tips!

Thanks

Mel
Melg
Member
14 years ago
Hi I got a call Thursday morning from the hospital saying my neutraphils were too low and I needed more blood taken. My count was .8 3 weeks after my last AC. I had bloods taken and was 1.2 so had my first taxol at 2pm. I was very anxious still and burst into tears walking down the corridor to the ward. Nurses were great though and I soon relaxed. When the premeds were through I got teary again as she released the taxol but I was fine. I had a very hot sole of my foot and really hot hands the first night. Touch wood feel good now. I know the next few days may be different. I'm sure next week I won't be so anxious. Happy Easter to everyone. I hope the Easter bunny fills your baskets with lots of choccie. Mel xxx
Melg
Member
14 years ago
Hi I got a call Thursday morning from the hospital saying my neutraphils were too low and I needed more blood taken. My count was .8 3 weeks after my last AC. I had bloods taken and was 1.2 so had my first taxol at 2pm. I was very anxious still and burst into tears walking down the corridor to the ward. Nurses were great though and I soon relaxed. When the premeds were through I got teary again as she released the taxol but I was fine. I had a very hot sole of my foot and really hot hands the first night. Touch wood feel good now. I know the next few days may be different. I'm sure next week I won't be so anxious. Happy Easter to everyone. I hope the Easter bunny fills your baskets with lots of choccie. Mel xxx
happylittlevegi
Member
14 years ago
Hay Mel Its normal to feel anxious about your next chemo. This entire journey isn't exactly a barrel of laughs. I found taxol to be quite debilitating for me. But everyone is different. My experience was horrible bone pain to the point of being imobalised. Morphine (endone) didn't do anything (other than make me a drooling zombi in excrusiating pain) It makes me so mad when oncologists try and sugar coat things. I personally hate surprises and was lucky to have a straight forward oncologist who prewarned me, although it was still hell for me. BUT again everyone reacts different. I applaud women that can work through chemo! Not all of us can. I hope your experience will be just as your oncologist describes. Wishing you lots and lots of healing vibes. Eat well, rest well and most importantly take good care of yourself :)
Melg
Member
14 years ago
Thanks for your comments. I'm feeling very anxious about Thursday's chemo which I know is silly.. I like to know what to expect but understand everyone's reaction is different. I am already taking nexium the week after chemo due to bad heartburn do will start it up again now. What did you use for pain relief for the aches and pains. I was told by oncologist to use endone if needed... I can't take nurofen due to being on blood thinners. I have MS so am worried about the possible nerve damage though am used to tingling, heat etc. my oncologist has admitted she doesn't know how my already damaged nervous system will go and that's a bit of a worry but living with MS won't kill me but the bc could so I just stick out the chemo recommended. I had lots of problems sleeping after the dex going through my drip but eventually asked for some mild sleeping tablets which I took for the 3 days after chemo. Have to admit I'm also worried about not greeting more than a week between chemos... I just feel nearly human and they knock me down again. My oncologist seems to sugar coat alot of things so we will see. She said lots of women go back to work on this treatment and it's a breeze compared to AC. Want to tell her if it's not a breeze she has to join me and have it put through her veins. My Portacath has been a little weird these last two weeks. I'm very aware of it and it's like that bugs under skin feeling ony chest. Hope everyone is smiling and feeling ok Mel xxx