Neuropathy with Taxol
Hi,
I was diagnosed with 3cm Hormone positive, Her2 negative, ki67 of 40% breast tumour with no nodal involvement in June. Because of size and my wish to avoid mastectomy I went with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. First I joined a trial for palbocyclib and letrozole but after 1 month, though tumour didn’t grow, 3rd biopsy showed I was in the control as Ki67 was still the same, so my oncologist swapped me to AC-Taxol. 2 weeks into AC, my hair fell out and nails started to change colour. The latter is unusual according to specialist. I got plantar fasciitis week 4 and had to stop walking for 2 weeks : a huge blow - but the rest helped.
By the end of AC my toes were so sore! Then I started weekly Taxol. I could barely walk because of my sore toes and residual PF. I keep both finger and toenails very short and finally (when shops opened again) bought a bigger pair of runners! Lovely. With the neuropathy I feel like I’m walking on crushed glass even when I’m lying down, toes numb, toenails very sore, fingernails and fingertips v sore, but the brown cuticle appears to be growing out.
I was diagnosed with 3cm Hormone positive, Her2 negative, ki67 of 40% breast tumour with no nodal involvement in June. Because of size and my wish to avoid mastectomy I went with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. First I joined a trial for palbocyclib and letrozole but after 1 month, though tumour didn’t grow, 3rd biopsy showed I was in the control as Ki67 was still the same, so my oncologist swapped me to AC-Taxol. 2 weeks into AC, my hair fell out and nails started to change colour. The latter is unusual according to specialist. I got plantar fasciitis week 4 and had to stop walking for 2 weeks : a huge blow - but the rest helped.
By the end of AC my toes were so sore! Then I started weekly Taxol. I could barely walk because of my sore toes and residual PF. I keep both finger and toenails very short and finally (when shops opened again) bought a bigger pair of runners! Lovely. With the neuropathy I feel like I’m walking on crushed glass even when I’m lying down, toes numb, toenails very sore, fingernails and fingertips v sore, but the brown cuticle appears to be growing out.
Other side effects: anaemia - Haemoglobin of 78 instead of 110-160 (was given blood transfusion last week), wheezy cough, tight chest (ecg and X-ray clear), muscle aches and pains, fatigue.
I was so tired after yesterday’s treatment (Taxol week 7) I conked out after dinner, but the wheeze was getting to me so I went for a walk on the beach... and felt better! 😅
I’m worrying about how much of the neuropathy and wheeze is too much? How do I know if the Taxol is causing permanent damage?
Yesterday the oncologist says it is my call about how much more Taxol I want to submit to given my side effects, but I’ve no idea how to judge my neuropathy symptoms and wheeze, and am worried about changing to CMF for the 5 remaining weeks.
