Paclitaxel side effects and coping skills
Hi everyone. I start weekly paclitaxel soon and would like some advice on side effects experienced and how to manage them. Any suggestion or tips would be most appreciated thank you
Forum Discussion
Hi @Suzie82
Like all chemo, side effects can vary immensely. So it’s always hard to tell until you start. But paclitaxel or Taxol is hard on soft tissue - so short term problems with taste buds, noses (a bit bloody or crusty) or eyes (occasional blurriness) can occur. Those will usually clear up once you finish your course of paclitaxel. Standard advice for losing your sense of taste is to try spicier food - didn’t work for me but I had a handful of foods (happily all pretty healthy!) I could actually taste and for the rest it was just eat what you know may do you good even if it all tastes like cardboard! It passes!! The side effect to watch is peripheral neuropathy - paclitaxel can affect nerve endings in hands and feet, a tingling sensation is usually the first sign. It too will often improve as soon as you stop treatment but not always. Ice treatment, right from the beginning, can help and there are threads here about what to do - not all hospitals are set up to do it so reach out to those on the network who have used it. Keep your oncologist aware of any nerve problems. Best wishes for a trouble free run.
Like all chemo, side effects can vary immensely. So it’s always hard to tell until you start. But paclitaxel or Taxol is hard on soft tissue - so short term problems with taste buds, noses (a bit bloody or crusty) or eyes (occasional blurriness) can occur. Those will usually clear up once you finish your course of paclitaxel. Standard advice for losing your sense of taste is to try spicier food - didn’t work for me but I had a handful of foods (happily all pretty healthy!) I could actually taste and for the rest it was just eat what you know may do you good even if it all tastes like cardboard! It passes!! The side effect to watch is peripheral neuropathy - paclitaxel can affect nerve endings in hands and feet, a tingling sensation is usually the first sign. It too will often improve as soon as you stop treatment but not always. Ice treatment, right from the beginning, can help and there are threads here about what to do - not all hospitals are set up to do it so reach out to those on the network who have used it. Keep your oncologist aware of any nerve problems. Best wishes for a trouble free run.