Paclitaxel side effects

Hi @arpha875, 

I also found taxol much easier than AC. With AC I felt like I was a nauseous zombie for 2 out of the 3 weeks and I felt anxious about the following AC knowing what I had already felt like in the previous cycle. Whereas with taxol, I almost felt like my normal self again.  

Hey there @arpha875
I am late to the party but @Abbydog was my cheersquad when I did 4xAC followed by 12xpaclitaxel with cold capping last year. I found the Paclitaxel “different” to AC. The AC cycles were easier to manage as they were longer, but knocked me around a bit more, because you know AC. But the Paclitaxel felt a bit more “relentless” as the cycles were shorter and basically took up 3 days of every 7 when you did bloods, onc visit and infusions on seperate days (learnt to try and get them in no more than 2 days ha ha ha). I also didn’t get to whack out my 12 consecutive as my WCC crashed and burned as it didn’t have the chance to bounce back - so I ended up with the WCC shots for three days out of every 7 day cycle too, so that o would be ready to go again… basically I found the Paclitaxel took a bit more of my head space. 

Dear @arpha875,

from jennyss in Western NSW

@Afraser @Abbydog thank you so much for the input ladies. Hopefully i will be alright with taxol. I have one more round left of AC - i still have my eyebrows and eyelashes, hopefully they stay on haha

I hadn’t heard that. Thank you

@Abbydog

My oncologist told me that peripheral neuropathy can continue to develop
for some time after paclitaxel treatment ends. Most other side effects clear up pretty quickly after the last dose. Best wishes.

Dear Alpha875,
I had EC(similar to AC)  X4 + Paclitaxol X12, R/T X 25
I feel I got off quite lightly compared to many other ladies here.
I definitely had side effects, but nothing that wasn't manageable. Ie reflux, taste changes, nail changes,
dry eyes and some joint pains.
No nausea at all was a big bonus. My WCC stayed quite good, no infections or hospital stays.
I did use my income protection insurance in my Superannuation, so no work stress.
Occasionally I had a rest, but not often. I don't look back on it as a difficult time.
I did just take it as it came, one step at a time.
I used the cold cap, with good success. But that still meant some thinning on top, where the cap didn't fit perfectly.
Sometimes we added a strap over the top, down to my chin, to bring the cap tighter on top.
I was more than happy with the result.
I lost my eyebrows ( they were thin before) and they have not grown back (2yrs later). I've had eyebrow tattoos now.
My eyelashes came back, and I almost have no body hair now.
I completed all 12 of the Taxol without major side effects.
But it is odd, that I seem to have a small degree of Peripheral Neuropathy of my feet.
This was more noticeable after treatment was finished. To me that seems odd.
I wish you all the best. I hope that you are as lucky as I was.

I also has AC that was tough now on taxel. Had some pretty bad side effects for the first 2 treatments and ended up in hospital for a week. Had 2 weeks off.  My dose has been reduced and last week was ok. Chemo day today. Current side effects are neuropathy, skin peeling on the bottom of my feet, metallic taste in my mouth and loss of appetite. 

No nausea at all - but then I didn’t with A/C either. I lost all my hair on A/C - head, underarms, pubes, legs, eyebrows and eyelashes! I was warned and it happened right on schedule - my eyelashes were the last to go. BUT my hair started growing back when I was still on Taxol. As I sighed over my last eyelash landing on my cheek, I realised I had perfect rows of the tiniest eyelashes imaginable growing back! It’s ridiculous how excited and cheered you can be by eyelashes almost too small to see. Best wishes. 

Thanks for the advice ladies, really appreciate it! Did you find you lost your hair/eyebrows/eyelashes? and any nausea?