Paclitaxel...... Need input please-----------------------------

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ElizabethB
ElizabethB Member Posts: 89
in Breast Cancer #1
I have one more of my present cocktail then i go for 4 treatments of Paclitaxel AM I going to need a break before i start this next four rounds. I am so weak from my last cocktail of doxorubician and Cyclophosephamide Yahoo only one more treatment of that cocktail. I am so weak and nausious for a whole week now I just pray that the taxel isn't as bad on me oh well one day at a time

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  • jendrey
    jendrey Member Posts: 377
    #2
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    ...
    I was very fortunate and didn't experience such severe side effects from this. I wasn't nauseous and send wishes that you won't be either. =)
  • emamei
    emamei Member Posts: 146
    #3
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    Paclitaxel...
    Hi there.

    I was on the same chemo protocol as you and finished one month ago. From my experience the first 4 rounds were the worst for side effects, weakness, fatigue, endless nausea, etc. My oncologist discouraged any break between the two regimens. The Taxol was bad for fatigue and bone pain, but nausea wasn't so bad. I wish you all the best, you're half way there.
  • ElizabethB
    ElizabethB Member Posts: 89
    #4
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    emamei said:

    Paclitaxel...
    Hi there.

    I was on the same chemo protocol as you and finished one month ago. From my experience the first 4 rounds were the worst for side effects, weakness, fatigue, endless nausea, etc. My oncologist discouraged any break between the two regimens. The Taxol was bad for fatigue and bone pain, but nausea wasn't so bad. I wish you all the best, you're half way there.

    Pclitaxel
    Thank you it is so much easier for me to know what to expect again thank you
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #5
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    Similar TX
    I had 4 A/C (Adriamycin[doxorubicin] and Cytoxan[cyclophosphamide]) 2weeks apart to start. It wasn't bad at all - only tired a bit 2 day with each infusion (not enough to limit anything I did even on thsoe 2 days) - no nausea, no pain - lost most hair, sense of taste and appetite. The 12 weekly Taxol (Paclitaxel), though, was horrible. For the 12 weeks, all I did was stay on the couch or bed because I was totally and completely EXHAUSTED but could not sleep - had to take sleeping pills to get any sleep. No nausea (I even decided to try not taking the anti nausea meds at #6 and didn't take them any more as I still had no nausea at all or pain with it either. I was told that is not unusual at all if you had no morning sickness with your pregnancies - I had absolutely none with either boy.)


    I did have a 5 week break between A/C and Taxol but 2 weeks after A/C, I had a mod.rad.mast. and started Taxol 3 weeks after that. I had no break between Taxol and Rads - I had the last Taxol on a Thursday and started Rads the next Thursday. Also started Femara 2 weeks after last Taxol (1 week after first Rad.)

    Don't know for sure but from what I read/been told if you're only having 4 Taxol they will probably be 3 weeks apart. I chose the 12 weekly Taxol because that was the most aggressive TX and as IBC is so aggressive I intended to do the most aggressive attack I could no matter how I felt - the option to do less (in my mind) was far too bad to not be as aggressive as possible. That time is past now and is just sort of a hazy memory. Surgery was 1 1/2 years ago and I'm doing great - Rads Dr never wants to see me again and now Surgeon doesn't either (as long as I see my PA every 6 months - not a problem - she been my primary care for 15 years). I see my Chemo Dr end of July - don't know what he'll say.

    None of us can tell you what it will be like for you on Taxol - we are all so different. A/C was easy for me Taxol definately was not - for some it is exactly the reverse. I tried to get as much info as possible but not expect any of it to happen - just to be know what might be "normal" and what wasn't.

    Susan

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