taxol/taxotere

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florence
florence Member Posts: 12
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Are these the same? Has anyone taken taxotere, I will be starting it soon and would like to know what symptons to expect. I did have A/C and Taxol last time. I now have a recurrence of breast cancer. Thanks.

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  • tyler3
    tyler3 Member Posts: 1
    #2
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    I am not sure if they are the same but, I too am just experiencing a recurrence. I opted for weekly taxol after a bi-lateral mastectomy. I am in my sixth week of three months of taxol and than i will be doing three more months of another chemo. I sure would like to hear how you are doing . So far I amdoing okay fatique is starting to set in and Losing hair daily. But seem to be holding my own.
  • Snookums
    Snookums Member Posts: 148
    #3
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    tyler3 said:

    I am not sure if they are the same but, I too am just experiencing a recurrence. I opted for weekly taxol after a bi-lateral mastectomy. I am in my sixth week of three months of taxol and than i will be doing three more months of another chemo. I sure would like to hear how you are doing . So far I amdoing okay fatique is starting to set in and Losing hair daily. But seem to be holding my own.

    I had 12 rounds of taxotere and they were once a week. i could have gone the 4, 3 weeks sessions but my doctor decided the 12 would go easier on me so . .
    Symptoms- I lost most of my hair and shaved the rest it was so sparse. I had no mouth sores but I did have the nails that turned dark and felt like a 50 lb weight was dropped on them. I experienced a rare sideeffect of blisters (large) coming up from the inside on my hands and feet. it caused me to stop work and Chemo for 2 weeks to cover my hands with liquid Vitamin E and take B complex vitamins. I finished with almost no taste to anything. Weekly I lost sweet tastes, then some metallic but mostly nothing had a taste. i read here to try Cherry coke and I did enjoy cherry diet cokes at Sonic and LOVED icees. i did find the fatigue was cumlative as with all chemo. it took a couple of days to hit so I set mine up for Wed pm and by Sat i was a couch potato! By Mon I began to feel better and Tues went well. Chemo lasted about 1 1/2 hours and that afternoon I was able to run my weekly errands thanks to the steroids. So, now 6mths later- everything but the watery eyes and nail ends dying off has subsided. Hopefully this helps but as with all things it seems to hit differently with each individual in some ways. Good Luck and may this time banish the cancer for good! God's Blessings- C Oh seems like someone her told me to go to taxotere.com and I read up on it there? ?
  • ahop100196
    ahop100196 Member Posts: 1
    #4
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    i've had taxotere and it effect each person difference. my exper. with it landed me in the hospital for 7 1/2 day. what happen was that it was to strong. when they drop it down to 150mg. it was ok,but it left me with the numbness in the feets and hands. but they said that it would go away.
  • jeancmici
    jeancmici Member Posts: 665 Member
    #5
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    They are both from a yew plant - taxol is the oldest discovered here - taxotere was developed by the French. There was a report recently in the papers after some studies and determined that taxotere had a slight edge of several percentages being more effective but generally was more difficult in the quality of life issues.
    However, to reassure you, I know a woman in her late 40's who had taxotere after AC and just sailed thru without any problems worth mentioning. It's so individual. good Luck!
    What kind of recurrence are you having, if I may ask and not seem too nosy ;-)
    Hugs, Jean
  • lsimpson
    lsimpson Member Posts: 1
    #6
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    I had 4 A/d & then began taxotere I had a reaction to it I had blisters in my throat my hands turned blood red,swelled and broke out I also broke out on my legs and I itched terribly so after a round of steroids my dr changed me to taxol the only problem with it is tingling in my hands & feet
  • BlueDolphin
    BlueDolphin Member Posts: 1
    #7
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    No hun,they are not the same.They r diff drugs.
  • chemoqueen1
    chemoqueen1 Member Posts: 50
    #8
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    Taxol and Taxotere are in the same family of drugs. It works by stopping the cancer cells from separating into 2 new cells, so it blocks the growth of the cancer. I was on Taxotere and Carboplatin and never got sick or fatiuged. I never missed a day from work. Each person is differant and reacts to the drug in differant ways. I can tell you that Taxotere seems to be gentler than Taxol.

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