Taxol Side Effects

reni

Hello Everyone,
I am interested in hearing about anyone (if anys) side effects with Taxol. I am scheduled to have 4 cycles after my Adriamycin/Cytoxan. With the AC I've been sick as a dog with nausea and weakness and I am living in hope that this will not be the same with the Taxol.
Please share.
Thanks Reni

maggie

Hi Reni!
I too took 4 cycles of Adriamycin/cytoxan, then 4 rounds of Taxol. The taxol gave me very bad bone and joint pain. My onologist gave me Loratab for the pain. At the time my baby was only 4 months old and I had to have someone stay with me during the day, when my husband was at work, because I could barely walk. I don't mean to sound so negative because everyone's treatment affects differently. I will say a prayer for you, just be strong. Maggie

webaur

Dear Reni...

Like the others and yourself, I had 4 rounds of Adrimycian/Cytoxin. It really threw me for a loop and I had periods of feeling yucky and tired, but I made it through. I then went to the radiation portion and will be having my third dose of Taxol next week. I am happy to be able to give you a bit more of a positive report. I have experienced some tingling and numbness in my feet and fingertips. It is more prominent in the first days after the treatment and then subsides before it is time for the next treatment. I had just started to get my hair back from the first round of chemo and then lost most of what had grown back about 2 weeks after the first Taxol. So far, I haven't lost it all and I am hoping that it will grow back without too much problem as soon as I am finished with the Taxol (well, about 5 weeks after, anyway). The tingling and numbness can become permanent at any time, or so my oncologist told me. He also told me I could try taking 10mg of Glutamine three times a day for 5 days after each chemo. If I understnad it correctly, the Glutamine is to help minimize the nerve damange done by the Taxol. The best way to get this dosage of Glutamine is by purchasing a container of it in powdsr form. Of course, you should check with your doctor first before doing this. It seems to have helped me. The tingling has seemed to not get any worse and at times it is almost not even noticeable. I have had very little joint pain from the Taxol. I receive a Neupogen shot every day for 5 days after each chemo. THAT, in itself, causes my bones and joints to ache for a few days. I take Tylenol to help with the pain. If the Tylenol doesn't help, then I take somw Vicodin and it really helps!! One word of encouragement, my soon-to-be 13 year old son has noticed how much more energy I have than I had with the other chemo. My advice.....talk with your doctor and have any medicines, etc. in place before you start the Taxol. It really isn't so bad, at least that is not what I have found.

Well, I must go. Please feel free to e-mail me any tiem with questions, etc. I'llhelp you however I can. (You can read all about my diagnosis if you go back to my entry on February 20. Hard to believe that in a few more weeks, my treatments will be over!!

Anyway, I hope that this helps a bit. As said, feel free to e-mail me if you have any quesitons. Until then, take care!!

Blessings.......Wendy in CA

lindysu

webaur said:

Dear Reni...

Like the others and yourself, I had 4 rounds of Adrimycian/Cytoxin. It really threw me for a loop and I had periods of feeling yucky and tired, but I made it through. I then went to the radiation portion and will be having my third dose of Taxol next week. I am happy to be able to give you a bit more of a positive report. I have experienced some tingling and numbness in my feet and fingertips. It is more prominent in the first days after the treatment and then subsides before it is time for the next treatment. I had just started to get my hair back from the first round of chemo and then lost most of what had grown back about 2 weeks after the first Taxol. So far, I haven't lost it all and I am hoping that it will grow back without too much problem as soon as I am finished with the Taxol (well, about 5 weeks after, anyway). The tingling and numbness can become permanent at any time, or so my oncologist told me. He also told me I could try taking 10mg of Glutamine three times a day for 5 days after each chemo. If I understnad it correctly, the Glutamine is to help minimize the nerve damange done by the Taxol. The best way to get this dosage of Glutamine is by purchasing a container of it in powdsr form. Of course, you should check with your doctor first before doing this. It seems to have helped me. The tingling has seemed to not get any worse and at times it is almost not even noticeable. I have had very little joint pain from the Taxol. I receive a Neupogen shot every day for 5 days after each chemo. THAT, in itself, causes my bones and joints to ache for a few days. I take Tylenol to help with the pain. If the Tylenol doesn't help, then I take somw Vicodin and it really helps!! One word of encouragement, my soon-to-be 13 year old son has noticed how much more energy I have than I had with the other chemo. My advice.....talk with your doctor and have any medicines, etc. in place before you start the Taxol. It really isn't so bad, at least that is not what I have found.

Well, I must go. Please feel free to e-mail me any tiem with questions, etc. I'llhelp you however I can. (You can read all about my diagnosis if you go back to my entry on February 20. Hard to believe that in a few more weeks, my treatments will be over!!

Anyway, I hope that this helps a bit. As said, feel free to e-mail me if you have any quesitons. Until then, take care!!

Blessings.......Wendy in CA

hi, reni...everyone is different with the taxol, some cannot tolerate it at all, and some found it much easier than the AC, I had a relatively easy experience with it, I didn't have any tingling or numbness, and my hair started growing back during taxol...I've described my Taxol experience in detail on my web page...[too long for here]if you want to know more...lindy

jmears

I took 4 AC and 4 Taxotere which I call the French cousin to Taxol. (It's very similar in how it works but is produced by a French Pharmicutical Co.) My Oncologist beleives the side effects and alergic reactions to be far less with the Taxotere than the Taxol. I had no nausea and medium aches and pains ... I took Tylenol and felt relief. I did take Decadron (a steriod) with the Taxotere to prevent side effects as well. When I saw so many taking Taxol I surfed around the web to compare Taxol vs. Taxotere and actually found one study that said it was 100 times more effective in one of the ways it acts on the cancer than Taxol so you can take lower doses. I wish I could find the article again. You may want to ask your Oncologist ... he may beleive Taxol is more effective as my Onc. thinks Taxotere is ... but I don't think I had as bad a reaction to it as many have had to Taxol. Wish you well,
Jamie

jeancmici

jmears said:

I took 4 AC and 4 Taxotere which I call the French cousin to Taxol. (It's very similar in how it works but is produced by a French Pharmicutical Co.) My Oncologist beleives the side effects and alergic reactions to be far less with the Taxotere than the Taxol. I had no nausea and medium aches and pains ... I took Tylenol and felt relief. I did take Decadron (a steriod) with the Taxotere to prevent side effects as well. When I saw so many taking Taxol I surfed around the web to compare Taxol vs. Taxotere and actually found one study that said it was 100 times more effective in one of the ways it acts on the cancer than Taxol so you can take lower doses. I wish I could find the article again. You may want to ask your Oncologist ... he may beleive Taxol is more effective as my Onc. thinks Taxotere is ... but I don't think I had as bad a reaction to it as many have had to Taxol. Wish you well,
Jamie

Hi Jamie,

I read that same study awhile back, but I don't remember where either. It is newer than taxol but if it had to be taken for a long time, there is a side effect of fluid buildup which requires heavy doses of decadron/cortisone.

I was in a clinical trial comparing the two - taxol and taxotere - but was randomized to get the taxol.

Jean

bethski

Hi,
I had 2 cycles of A/C and then 12 weeks of taxol and herceptin. Side effects of A/C were terrible compared to taxol. I had weekly infusions of taxol/herceptin and would feel flu like about 2 days afterwards tx. But nothing like the nausea and weakness from a/c.

debw

AC made me sick as a dog. Taxol didn't bother my tummy at all - they did give me stuff and it worked. The pain in the legs, arms, etc was annoying. Vioxx helped. I finished the taxol last July 2000 and still have peripherial neuropathy in feet and just a touch in my hands. Debw

Becky23

maggie said:

Hi Reni!
I too took 4 cycles of Adriamycin/cytoxan, then 4 rounds of Taxol. The taxol gave me very bad bone and joint pain. My onologist gave me Loratab for the pain. At the time my baby was only 4 months old and I had to have someone stay with me during the day, when my husband was at work, because I could barely walk. I don't mean to sound so negative because everyone's treatment affects differently. I will say a prayer for you, just be strong. Maggie

It was so comforting reading your response. I have just finished with the same treatment cycle you had for breast cancer. I am 4 weeks out from my last taxol treatment. My feet and hands ache everyday. The Dr. prescribed loratab and I usually take 1/2 a tablet every afternoon to help ease the pain. I am just wondering how are you feeling now. I want to feel better now that this whole nightmare is over. Will I ever get there?

Thanks Becky

Stellamary

webaur said:

Dear Reni...

Like the others and yourself, I had 4 rounds of Adrimycian/Cytoxin. It really threw me for a loop and I had periods of feeling yucky and tired, but I made it through. I then went to the radiation portion and will be having my third dose of Taxol next week. I am happy to be able to give you a bit more of a positive report. I have experienced some tingling and numbness in my feet and fingertips. It is more prominent in the first days after the treatment and then subsides before it is time for the next treatment. I had just started to get my hair back from the first round of chemo and then lost most of what had grown back about 2 weeks after the first Taxol. So far, I haven't lost it all and I am hoping that it will grow back without too much problem as soon as I am finished with the Taxol (well, about 5 weeks after, anyway). The tingling and numbness can become permanent at any time, or so my oncologist told me. He also told me I could try taking 10mg of Glutamine three times a day for 5 days after each chemo. If I understnad it correctly, the Glutamine is to help minimize the nerve damange done by the Taxol. The best way to get this dosage of Glutamine is by purchasing a container of it in powdsr form. Of course, you should check with your doctor first before doing this. It seems to have helped me. The tingling has seemed to not get any worse and at times it is almost not even noticeable. I have had very little joint pain from the Taxol. I receive a Neupogen shot every day for 5 days after each chemo. THAT, in itself, causes my bones and joints to ache for a few days. I take Tylenol to help with the pain. If the Tylenol doesn't help, then I take somw Vicodin and it really helps!! One word of encouragement, my soon-to-be 13 year old son has noticed how much more energy I have than I had with the other chemo. My advice.....talk with your doctor and have any medicines, etc. in place before you start the Taxol. It really isn't so bad, at least that is not what I have found.

Well, I must go. Please feel free to e-mail me any tiem with questions, etc. I'llhelp you however I can. (You can read all about my diagnosis if you go back to my entry on February 20. Hard to believe that in a few more weeks, my treatments will be over!!

Anyway, I hope that this helps a bit. As said, feel free to e-mail me if you have any quesitons. Until then, take care!!

Blessings.......Wendy in CA

Stellamary: Hi Wendy, I experienced pain in feet after second infusion of Taxol. I had three infusions, then had to go on Taxotere. I finished chemo October 27, 2003 and started radiation December 1st. I was able to drive for four weeks; then it happened; I could not put pressure on my right foot; I have neuropathy in my left foot but I can put pressure on that foot; my right foot is bad; I am using crutches. I saw someone's comments to take B6 and L-Glutamine. Amino Acids buffer nerve endings. I have a feeling I will have this for close to a year. I work from home, so I elevate my feet; knees above my feet and I feel better. I put a heating pad on my feet. I am going to try feet massage. I don't know what else to do.

Stellamary

webaur said:

Dear Reni...

Like the others and yourself, I had 4 rounds of Adrimycian/Cytoxin. It really threw me for a loop and I had periods of feeling yucky and tired, but I made it through. I then went to the radiation portion and will be having my third dose of Taxol next week. I am happy to be able to give you a bit more of a positive report. I have experienced some tingling and numbness in my feet and fingertips. It is more prominent in the first days after the treatment and then subsides before it is time for the next treatment. I had just started to get my hair back from the first round of chemo and then lost most of what had grown back about 2 weeks after the first Taxol. So far, I haven't lost it all and I am hoping that it will grow back without too much problem as soon as I am finished with the Taxol (well, about 5 weeks after, anyway). The tingling and numbness can become permanent at any time, or so my oncologist told me. He also told me I could try taking 10mg of Glutamine three times a day for 5 days after each chemo. If I understnad it correctly, the Glutamine is to help minimize the nerve damange done by the Taxol. The best way to get this dosage of Glutamine is by purchasing a container of it in powdsr form. Of course, you should check with your doctor first before doing this. It seems to have helped me. The tingling has seemed to not get any worse and at times it is almost not even noticeable. I have had very little joint pain from the Taxol. I receive a Neupogen shot every day for 5 days after each chemo. THAT, in itself, causes my bones and joints to ache for a few days. I take Tylenol to help with the pain. If the Tylenol doesn't help, then I take somw Vicodin and it really helps!! One word of encouragement, my soon-to-be 13 year old son has noticed how much more energy I have than I had with the other chemo. My advice.....talk with your doctor and have any medicines, etc. in place before you start the Taxol. It really isn't so bad, at least that is not what I have found.

Well, I must go. Please feel free to e-mail me any tiem with questions, etc. I'llhelp you however I can. (You can read all about my diagnosis if you go back to my entry on February 20. Hard to believe that in a few more weeks, my treatments will be over!!

Anyway, I hope that this helps a bit. As said, feel free to e-mail me if you have any quesitons. Until then, take care!!

Blessings.......Wendy in CA

Stellamary: Hi Wendy, I experienced pain in feet after second infusion of Taxol. I had three infusions, then had to go on Taxotere. I finished chemo October 27, 2003 and started radiation December 1st. I was able to drive for four weeks; then it happened; I could not put pressure on my right foot; I have neuropathy in my left foot but I can put pressure on that foot; my right foot is bad; I am using crutches. I saw someone's comments to take B6 and L-Glutamine. Amino Acids buffer nerve endings. I have a feeling I will have this for close to a year. I work from home, so I elevate my feet; knees above my feet and I feel better. I put a heating pad on my feet. I am going to try feet massage. I don't know what else to do.