Aches and pains on Taxol

I as diagnosed it breast cancer on 30th November 2013, I have a family history, my mum and her 2 sisters all have Breast cancer and my cousin is going through it at the moment as well. I have had the defective gene test and it came back as inclusive. I had my 6th Taxol yesterday (Friday 13th June) and I have been having the worst pains and burning feelings in the legs since after my first treatment of it. My oncologist has told me to take Panadol Osteo, Fish Oil and Glucosamine. She has also given me Sleeping tablets as the pains are worst at night, but she told me that they may not always work, and she was right. The pains are really really bad through my whole leg to and including my hips, but the worst are the out of the blue stabbing pains, they can cripple me over sometimes. I can't take a lot of pain killers as I'm am allergic to codeine which is in most of them. And Sally you are right it is hard to explain the pains to someone, the stabbing ones are easy to explain, but what I have tried to explain the pains and burning feeling as really really bad growing pains. My hair has started growing back... Yaah My body is so very tired all the time, I can't walk as fast as I used to, my husband and son have to slow down for me. I have been off work since January 2014, but I have a really fantastic boss, who has put on job on hold and he has told me not to think about coming back until all my treatments are over, I have to have six weeks of radiation (everyday) and I'm feeling better which I'm hoping will be October 2014. Fingers crossed. I get very depressed sometimes cause I'm so sore and tired, but by reading all these post I'm not alone. Hope all you Ladies are getting through this.

Hi Deanne. It is really nice to know that what I am feeling is "normal" and that I am not alone. Walking is just so difficult and the lack of energy means I can't keep up with everyone else. We have just had lunch at a lovely cafe so that with nice. Thank you for your encouraging words and support.

Isn't it awful when you cannot enjoy a holiday with the family? I cannot tell you anything that will magically make you feel better but I can tell you that you will start to feel better pretty soon in the weeks after you finally finish. I felt like one of those marathon runners who kind of wobble to the finish line and collapse when I finished chemo. It took a little while but soon I was leaving those side effects and the tiredness behind me and it felt so good to know that I did not have to have anymore chemo! I went away with my husband 21/2 weeks after my last chemo but like you found it a bit depressing at how little I was able to do. I could barely manage to walk the short,slightly uphill, boardwalk to our accommodation. I felt a bit scared at how worn out I was but just 3 months later I was back walking 3km a day and swimming 500m most days. I am fitter now than I was before chemo and am enjoying most of the activities I used to do before. This will be you soon! Meanwhile feel free to vent how miserable you feel on here because we really do understand. Take care. Deanne xxx

I only have one more dose of Taxol to go. The pain is still there and the numbness in my feet and toes is driving me insane. My toe nails have all lifted and a couple of finger nails have started to do the same thing. I can't wait to get this treatment over with. Basically I am just feeling miserable. I am still getting over a cold that I got 3 weeks ago so that doesn't help. My energy levels are low and I get so exhausted doing simple things. I am missing treatment this week as I am having a holiday with my family. I was really looking forward to it however now that I am away, I just want to go back home. I feel so lame and not able to do the same things that I would normally do on a beach holiday. I am feeling so down and I can't seem to snap out of it. My family are great but they just don't get it.

Good morning Lovelies, I have completed my 4 AC treatments and had my 4th dose of Taxol last Wednesday 15.01.'14. Since beginning Taxol, my right nostril has been internally bleeding and have headaches when I am not normally a headache person. Last night, (Sunday 19.01.'14) was so achey and sore in my joints that no massaging seemed to help, so I took two panadiene forte tabs before sleep. I had taken 2 panadol osteo tabs at 3pm which didn't really help but topped up with panadiene forte, I slept like a baby and woke up pain free. Had 2 more panadol osteo tabs before giving bloods at Day Unit. This combination worked for me as I had stopped all pain killers after completing AC I was also told that Taxol would be "easier" on my physical body. Didn't know how grievous the joint pain would feel. My nails are thriving on Revitanail nail strengthener. Best they've ever been in this lifetime. My hair is growing back too. I didn't even notice with all the other distractions happening. Beautiful Vanessa from Optimal Intimates will visit this afternoon to drop off my 2nd Rosalie bra. Vanessa is extremely patient and shows such vigilance in finding the exact,perfectly fitted bra and prostheses. If you're in Sydney, please contact Vanessa as her true compassion and experience means your fittings, in own home, will lift your spirit and maybe even ease some of your pain. It did for me. Took the pain away completely until yesterday. I now know I can have the pain killers after speaking with Chemo nurse, Carmel. Carmel said, "It's okay to have them occassionally." They just gave the panadol osteo a boost, as I stopped panadol osteo completely 5 weeks ago. Dr Oz reckons that chamomile tea helps relax our whole bodies down too. I have ginger tea so will try this suggestion as well. Am using Neat Feat morning and night to prevent dry, cracked heels and feet. All is well, all is well, all is well. Happy Big Peace Day, always posted with love and gratitude from Swami Shoonyananda Saraswati. :-) <3

Hi All Smiles,

I had my 6th dose of Taxol on Thursday and the aches and pains have come back as usual.  I have spoken to my Oncologist and he is lowering my dose of Taxol by 20 mls from this week.  It will be interesting to see if that helps.  I am half way through and I can't wait for this treatment to be over.  The bone pain is awful and it is so hard to explain to people. 

You are a help, just writing back to me.

Good luck with the rest of your treatments.

Sally

Hi Sally, I had my 4th Taxol today . AC for me was extreme nausea for 2 out of 3 weeks so at this stage anything is better BUT - I find the bone pain is awful too - can be aches from ankles to neck or sometimes it's just stabbing pains mainly around the ribs. No neuropathy yet although my oncologist said usually this starts around the 6th dose- so I'm waiting .. I am back working 2x6 hour days but am finding this is enough with the fatigue. Ugh when will it all end for all of us !!!! Sorry I'm not much help - I take panadol osteo and long baths. Hope you feel better soon xxx

Hi Louise,

Thank you for your reply. 

Oh no, I think that my symptons are getting worse each week.

I agree that AC was horrible, but for me Taxol is worse.  My Oncologist told me that it would be a walk in the park, but it isn't.  I also have the fatigue, my toe nails are lifting and I do have some numbness in my toes especially.  This seems to be gradually getting worse also.

Looks like I have a way to go with treatment finishing around end of January, 2014.  I guess I will just have to grin and bare it (oh, and take lots of pain killers).

I can't wait for it to pass and to finally feel better.  It certainly is a journey.

Sally xxx

 

Hi Deanne,

I will ask my Oncologist about the Fish Oil.  I am willing to try anything that works.  The aches and pains are really wearing me down and no one really understands unless you have had them yourself.  I will let you know how I go. 

Thank you so much for your help.

Sallyxx

Hi Sally, I had the same regime as you, AC then Taxol. I had the impression from most people that the AC was the worst then taxol was easier. AC was horrible, but for me taxol was a steady decline, each week worse than the one before. Achy, fatigue, neuropathy, nails blackening and lifting, dry skin, nose bleeds, rashes, decline in teeth and gums. My side effects increased each time and the last dose was cancelled. I was so relieved, but am sorry to report that for me the side effects continued to get worse for about another 2 months.

I returned to work (thinking id feel immediately better on finishing chemo) and was wearing a head scarf for about 4 weeks, then went with my very short hair. I found returnng to work very difficult for a few reasons, I really just wanted to curl up in a ball and hide.

My hair did start to return with taxol though which was nice. But the eyebrows grew straight out at first and the lashes were slow. I completed taxol end of Jan 2013, my lashes are almost back to the long length they were, the brows have been great for months now and my nails are all back, but still with ridges. I find cuticle oil very good for nails.

I managed pain like you, with pain killer meds and continued activity because I believed if I kept walking and eating right i would eventually come good. And I have. But it took about 3 months to feel really well again.

Keep reporting your side effects to your team, but remember it WILL pass and you WILL feel better. Time does heal in this instance.

Hugs your way, I hope you get pain under control, XXXLouie