Hi All, this is the first time on this site. I was diagnosed with a TNBC on the 1/3/2017 post a routine mammogram. Age 52. Surgery on the 16/3 (wide local excision and 4 nodes taken). Thankfully no spread to the nodes and the margins were clear. Stage 1, 0 nodes, 0 mets.Chemo commenced on the 16/4. 4 x cycles of AC and 12 x weeks of Paclitaxel. I live alone so most of the everyday stuff needs to be done. I just had week 11 of Taxol yesterday. (Yeah, 1 week Left, so excited!!!!) I am finding that I am so fatigued now that I don't want to do too much more than sit on the couch.I did go back to work ( Oncology Nurse) for 5 weeks when I started the Taxol and was happily working 2-3 days a week. I then caught some virus, I think from one of my gorgeous grandchildren. Spent 2 days in hospital as I was febrile. Since then I have not re gained my energy and feel, what I call it "blah". I am feeling like a bit of a whinger, I just changed the sheets on my bed and I feel like Ive ran a marathon!!What are others experience? As I normally give chemotherapy to patients it is a very different experience on the other side, which can only make me a better Nurse.I have read radiotherapy can cause a lot of fatigue as well, another thing to look forward to. :(I know everyone's side effects can be dramatically different, however I would love to hear your experience. Any Ideas to help with fatigue.Cheer All, Brenda

Taxol and me did not get along. I was incredibly tired. I would walk up 4 steps to go to my chemo unit and I would be huffing and puffing by the fourth step. Found out after my 3rd cycle that I was one of the 1% of people to get shortness breath as a side effect if taxol. I also did cyclophosphamide and herceptin. It took about 4 - 6 weeks after taxol finished for someof my strength to return. Hang in there it does get better.

@PatsyN Ohhhh I have to agree, I was told Taxol will be much easier than FEC Ummm NO, it was different but I suffered bone, muscle and nerve pain right through and it was relentless with no reprieve in between the infusions, and not to mention our little friend neuropathy LOL. Everyone is different absolutely, thank goodness for that! Ive had to learn to walk again like you, whilst I can walk, I cannot fast paced walk anymore and definitely cannot run. Chemo certainly helped that LOL, caused a massive decline in bone density and osteoporosis in my lower lumbar and neck...but hey! Im not over 70 so can't qualify for my Prolia injections on the PBS pfffft! I have been on income protection since last year for 2 of my 5 days of work, thing is though, as its deemed a 2nd income Im taxed double!!!! and only get 75% of predisability wage. Whilst I used to think its better than nothing...it equates to next to nothing!!!! so much so I can no longer survive and have to work full time moving forward to support myself..but concerned how...I just try focus on each day keep moving forward as best I can with what is now the new me. Thank God I have a sense of humor!!! :D xx

I have had no 2 of cycle 2 of taxol and yes was told it would be easier on my body than AC....NO it just different, so that ever present neuropathy effecting feet, hands, mouth. Weekness in legs, can't do much exercising, breathlessness requiring oxygen therapy, then the meds take one to alleviate this and the another to combat that and so on...its a chore thats for sure.

Hi everyone, thanks for sharing your experiences. I have now finished my chemo only had 11 out 12 taxol as my neuropathy was getting too bad. No arguments from me on that decision

@Brenleigh welcome to the forum! I just put up a post earlier on fatigue - it hits us all at varying stages and more often than not more than once as we cope with diagnosis, surgery, treatment and those side effects! There is a information sheet on the website for fatigue, here it is! Hope it helpshttps://www.bcna.org.au/health-wellbeing/physical-wellbeing/fatigue/Hope you settle into the forum and the website as there is a wealth of experience and informationTake care and good luck with your treatment and management thereof! xx

Side effects of taxol | BCNA Online Network

25 Replies

primek
Member
8 years ago
Great to hear you are feeling better.
Brenleigh
Member
8 years ago
For some reason I lost half my post, not the first time!! Anyway it’s been 4 weeks since last chemo, feeling much better. Started back at work, and start radiotherapy next Wednesday. I’m am excited to see the end of this year and start fresh. In 2018. Take care Brenda
Brenleigh
Member
8 years ago
Hi everyone, thanks for sharing your experiences. I have now finished my chemo only had 11 out 12 taxol as my neuropathy was getting too bad. No arguments from me on that decision
primek
Member
8 years ago
I said to my oncologist...Taxol is not easier...just different.
Jenv
Member
8 years ago
I have had no 2 of cycle 2 of taxol and yes was told it would be easier on my body than AC....NO it just different, so that ever present neuropathy effecting feet, hands, mouth. Weekness in legs, can't do much exercising, breathlessness requiring oxygen therapy, then the meds take one to alleviate this and the another to combat that and so on...its a chore thats for sure.
melclarity
Member
8 years ago
@PatsyN Ohhhh I have to agree, I was told Taxol will be much easier than FEC Ummm NO, it was different but I suffered bone, muscle and nerve pain right through and it was relentless with no reprieve in between the infusions, and not to mention our little friend neuropathy LOL. Everyone is different absolutely, thank goodness for that! Ive had to learn to walk again like you, whilst I can walk, I cannot fast paced walk anymore and definitely cannot run. Chemo certainly helped that LOL, caused a massive decline in bone density and osteoporosis in my lower lumbar and neck...but hey! Im not over 70 so can't qualify for my Prolia injections on the PBS pfffft!

I have been on income protection since last year for 2 of my 5 days of work, thing is though, as its deemed a 2nd income Im taxed double!!!! and only get 75% of predisability wage. Whilst I used to think its better than nothing...it equates to next to nothing!!!! so much so I can no longer survive and have to work full time moving forward to support myself..but concerned how...I just try focus on each day keep moving forward as best I can with what is now the new me. Thank God I have a sense of humor!!! :D xx
PatsyN
Member
8 years ago
@Brenleigh I started AC chemo in June and loved it. It was like being at a 24 hour party, I must have been insufferable, lol. I loved the steroids, even with the ghastly side effects, they made me look 20 years younger.
Then started the Taxol. I woke up the very next morning and started to cry before I had a chance to get the sleep out of my eyes. I cried at every opportunity (whenever I was alone) for the next week. I've got number 8 coming up this Friday with only 4 more to go. I am now so slow that I don't leave the house, even though I can still drive short distances. I can't walk further than a few steps at a time before my thighs and hips start to burn. The beach is 2 blocks away. An impossibility to walk to. But I can wobble around my house. Mostly I lie on my swinging couch. Some days I have been too tired to talk. Crying has become too much exertion as well.

And they said Taxol would be easier - how different everything is for everyone.

I've still got surgery and radiation to follow.

Keep me posted.

Cheers
melclarity
Member
8 years ago
@Brenleigh I'm 21 months post chemo now and whilst I consider myself quite good I still suffer with fatigue, it can take up to 2 years to recover. Radiation also causes extreme fatigue as it accumulates so not unusual 2-4 weeks after it to really hit. I have had to basically rebuild from the ground up. I couldn't walk to the letterbox I was so ill on treatment, so I can pretty much walk 45 mins now, and do most household chores, I do tire so its about learning the balance. I also have an Exercise Physiologist which has really helped alot get me on my feet again. I also take Vitamin D, Magnesium, Caltrate everyday. All of it helps, though I'd wait til Chemo was done and dusted before starting supplements. I'm still working 3 days and havent been able to return to full capacity even now and unfortunately will have to change jobs next year out of the high demand Autism Specific School I work in.

Be kind to yourself, listen to your body, rest when you need to and go when you feel good...it will slowly come back together but dont push yourself as you will go backwards, too much too soon is counter productive. Slow and steady...:) Hugs Melinda xo
Brenda5
Member
8 years ago
It's all an ordeal not just the chemo so it can get the better of you at any time and fatigue will set in. I take Vitamin D3, Magnesium and all important Vitamin C every day. This winter I did not get any infections at all.
Jensen
Member
8 years ago
Hi @Brenleigh. I'm also on week 11 of 12 weeks of taxol and working as a nurse! The tiredness is getting to me too, so am only working 3 short days a week. So happy for it nearly to be over.
Good luck and hugs x