Paclitaxel side effects
Hi everyone, I have finished 3 out of 4 rounds of AC and still have 12 rounds of paclitaxel to go :( I get quite anxious and worried when i think of how many more weeks of chemo i have left to go t...
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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.
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.
The cold capping “worked” for me - overall I kept about maybe 40% of my hair during AC and during Paclitaxel it starting growing back in and fast and thick and very curly. The regrowth and thickness was thanks to cold capping.
With the Paclitaxel I also had more in the way of side effects with reflux (lots of meds, all the meds basically), nails (used good quality cuticular oil on hands and feet nails 2xday plus dense hand cream on both 2x a day but other times of day) and neuropathy (which has continued but I’m working on). I also found the chemo brain and lack of co-ordination real ha ha ha.
Also, after being excited that my eyelashes and eyebrows survived AC, they all promptly fell out over my second cycle of Paclitaxel. Apparently it’s really common for them to hang in through AC and fall out just after you finish. Lovely… traitors :)
but I did learn to draw them in that’s to “look good feel better”.
but I did learn to draw them in that’s to “look good feel better”.
Good luck as you head into Paclitaxel!