First Treatment-was quite an experience

skeeter1002
skeeter1002 Member Posts: 43
edited July 2011 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Well, my first treatment is over. For the most part it was just as many of you ladies described to me. The Benadryl didn't really affect me very much. So after the nurse talked to me about Chemo, filling my brain with all the information I needed to know, we got the Taxol started. She checked on me at the 10 minute mark. Everything was fine. Then about 2 to 5 minutes later, I began to feel very flush and suddenly I was hot from head to toe. I really felt like they were pumping boiling water into me! Then I couldn't breathe. This all happend within about 20 to 30 seconds. I had a lady near me notify the nurse because I couldn't speak. Talk about fast, 5 nurses were right there within seconds, stopped the Taxol and called one of the docors and he started me on more decadron.

Then when my doctor returned from the hospital, she came in and talked to me checked me out and later had them to restart the Taxol. I was nervous until after the 20 minute mark, after that I relaxed and finished the Taxol and Carbo without futher excitment.

All I can say is 'Whew, glad that's over with!'. Hoping the other 2 treatments are much more boring!

Comments

  • carolenk
    carolenk Member Posts: 907 Member
    #2
    There is something in the IV
    There is something in the IV taxol that causes this reaction. It isn't the taxol itself but the solvent that is needed to put the stuff into solution. You might do better on taxotere (sort of the cousin to taxol). If it were me, I would ask the doctor about switching. Taxotere kills cancer just like taxol does.

    One down & two to go. Glad you made it thru that experience & had someone to speak for you. You are meant to stay on the planet...it's not your time to go yet. You'll have a great story to tell your grandchildren.

    Carolen
  • Mwee
    Mwee Member Posts: 1,338
    #3
    exciting day for the chemo nurses
    and not the kind of fun they're looking for. I'm glad they caught your reaction so quickily. Now that you know what the allergic reaction feels like, you'll be able to tell them right away. You'll probably be given more premeds and they'll slow down your drip and monitor you very closely. Glad you got through and now let's watch that carbo/taxol do it's magic!
    (((HUGS))) Maria
  • antcat
    antcat Member Posts: 270
    #4
    Taxol reaction
    Hi, I had the same reaction with Taxol when I was originally diagnosed. I know it can be quite scary. At that time the oncologist decided he didn't want to continue with Taxol because of my reaction, so he switched to Taxotere, which is in the same family as Taxol. I was fine with that and even had it a 2nd time when my cancer returned. Now, I'm on Taxotere again, and so far I've been getting a low dose weekly and have it 3 weeks in a row and so far have not had any problems. I've been told that getting the low dose weekly helps with the side effects.
  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #5
    I'M NOW ALLERGIC TO TAXOL
    According to the doctor, anyway. Had carboplatin and taxol in 2000, no problems. During my recurrance in 2006, I had a reaction on the second visit with the Taxol, even though I have tons of meds before and during chemo such as the steroids and antihistamines. Anyway, it was an awful feeling - started in my stomach, like very warm but weird. It slowly moved up into my chest, then all over, then I couldn't breathe, and I was red all over. They stopped it, gave me more Benadryl, tried again, no luck. So, they used Taxotere.

    Hope it will be smooth sailing for you from here on! Take care!

    (((HUGS)))
    Monika
  • kikz
    kikz Member Posts: 1,345 Member
    #6
    mopar said:

    I'M NOW ALLERGIC TO TAXOL
    According to the doctor, anyway. Had carboplatin and taxol in 2000, no problems. During my recurrance in 2006, I had a reaction on the second visit with the Taxol, even though I have tons of meds before and during chemo such as the steroids and antihistamines. Anyway, it was an awful feeling - started in my stomach, like very warm but weird. It slowly moved up into my chest, then all over, then I couldn't breathe, and I was red all over. They stopped it, gave me more Benadryl, tried again, no luck. So, they used Taxotere.

    Hope it will be smooth sailing for you from here on! Take care!

    (((HUGS)))
    Monika

    Wow, Skeeter,
    you had quite an experience for your first time. Sorry it went that way. Aren't the nurses great? I always felt so cared for by them. I have an appt with my onc on Monday and I am going to stop by to say hi to the nurses in chemo. They played such a huge role in getting me through that time. There are so many people I feel I owe my life to. And just think, that is their everyday job. I know it's hard for them to see people suffer but how proud they must be to know they are helping those people get well.

    Karen
  • skeeter1002
    skeeter1002 Member Posts: 43
    #7
    It was a scary experience
    It was a scary experience but all turned out well. So far I'm feeling good. No nausea at all. My CA125 is down to 8 from 34.7 prior to surgery. SO that's going in the right direction. I saw my gynecologyst that did my surgery today and he is allowing me to return to work Monday. I had spoke to my oncologist about it and she is good with it since I have an office job and my boss is will to let me work reduced hours as needed. Her one requirement was to have germ-x on my desk and use it often and to ask everyone that came into my office to use it. So, I'm glad for that. I've loved spending the summer with my kids, but so ready to try to get back to 'normal'.

    Everyone at my clinic is so nice and kind. They nurses yesterday were so good all 5 of them were taking care of me when the reaction to Taxol started. Thankfully all was well once it restarted.

    Thanks to all for your comments, it's really helping me hearing from those who have been there and done that, so to speak.
  • AnneBehymer
    AnneBehymer Member Posts: 738 Member
    #8
    Taxol
    I had the same reaction to taxol on my first chemo treatment and it scared the crap out of me. they restarted me at a slower rate and then I did fine. My 2nd treatment is this thursday and I am scared of it I also am hoping all goes well thursady.

    Anne
  • skeeter1002
    skeeter1002 Member Posts: 43
    #9
    AnneBehymer said:

    Taxol
    I had the same reaction to taxol on my first chemo treatment and it scared the crap out of me. they restarted me at a slower rate and then I did fine. My 2nd treatment is this thursday and I am scared of it I also am hoping all goes well thursady.

    Anne

    Anne, sounds like we had
    Anne, sounds like we had parallel experiences LOL. I did fine once I got more steroids and restarted. I'm hoping that the second time around, in 2 weeks, goes smooth. Hope your next treatment goes smoothly for you with NO reaction to taxol this time.

    Wenona
  • oceanbam
    oceanbam Member Posts: 3
    #10
    skeeter1002 said:

    Anne, sounds like we had
    Anne, sounds like we had parallel experiences LOL. I did fine once I got more steroids and restarted. I'm hoping that the second time around, in 2 weeks, goes smooth. Hope your next treatment goes smoothly for you with NO reaction to taxol this time.

    Wenona

    OMG
    I just had my first and same treatment on July 15. I didn't have any excitement like that thank goodness. At least you know now. I just had to unplug and run to the bathroom every half hour all afternoon. God Bless.
  • AnneBehymer
    AnneBehymer Member Posts: 738 Member
    #11
    skeeter1002 said:

    Anne, sounds like we had
    Anne, sounds like we had parallel experiences LOL. I did fine once I got more steroids and restarted. I'm hoping that the second time around, in 2 weeks, goes smooth. Hope your next treatment goes smoothly for you with NO reaction to taxol this time.

    Wenona

    2nd treatment
    I finished my 2nd treatment today they started it slower this time and it went well no reaction at all my doctor was very please he was even please that I lost my hair only 2 1/2 weeks after my first treatment he said if you have already lost your hair then that means it is already killing the cancer cells so for him the hair lost was good for me it make me cry lol I will talk with you later Wenona

    Anne
  • skeeter1002
    skeeter1002 Member Posts: 43
    #12
    AnneBehymer said:

    2nd treatment
    I finished my 2nd treatment today they started it slower this time and it went well no reaction at all my doctor was very please he was even please that I lost my hair only 2 1/2 weeks after my first treatment he said if you have already lost your hair then that means it is already killing the cancer cells so for him the hair lost was good for me it make me cry lol I will talk with you later Wenona

    Anne

    Anne, so glad that your
    Anne, so glad that your second treatment went better. Excluding the reaction to Taxol, I'm hoping my next treatment follows the same pattern since I only had 2 really bad days of feeling absolutly no energy. I'm 10 days out now and I've not lost a noticable amount of hair. I have moderate hair loss due to my blood pressure meds anyway. I'm expecting it to really start coming out by the end of next week. In fact I'm going shopping with a couple of friends today and I'm thinking about getting it cut short today because I think I could deal with losing it better if it were short. Something about long strands of hair vs. short for me. But like your doctor said if the hair's going it's killing the cancer. I can't remember, how many treatments will you have in all? Take care!

    Wenona
  • poopergirl14052
    poopergirl14052 Member Posts: 1,183 Member
    #13
    skeeter1002 said:

    Anne, so glad that your
    Anne, so glad that your second treatment went better. Excluding the reaction to Taxol, I'm hoping my next treatment follows the same pattern since I only had 2 really bad days of feeling absolutly no energy. I'm 10 days out now and I've not lost a noticable amount of hair. I have moderate hair loss due to my blood pressure meds anyway. I'm expecting it to really start coming out by the end of next week. In fact I'm going shopping with a couple of friends today and I'm thinking about getting it cut short today because I think I could deal with losing it better if it were short. Something about long strands of hair vs. short for me. But like your doctor said if the hair's going it's killing the cancer. I can't remember, how many treatments will you have in all? Take care!

    Wenona

    I guess that is why we need steriods
    as it helps decrease the chance of a reaction. Glad to hear you are feeling better.Hope your next chemo is uneventful..val
  • AnneBehymer
    AnneBehymer Member Posts: 738 Member
    #14
    skeeter1002 said:

    Anne, so glad that your
    Anne, so glad that your second treatment went better. Excluding the reaction to Taxol, I'm hoping my next treatment follows the same pattern since I only had 2 really bad days of feeling absolutly no energy. I'm 10 days out now and I've not lost a noticable amount of hair. I have moderate hair loss due to my blood pressure meds anyway. I'm expecting it to really start coming out by the end of next week. In fact I'm going shopping with a couple of friends today and I'm thinking about getting it cut short today because I think I could deal with losing it better if it were short. Something about long strands of hair vs. short for me. But like your doctor said if the hair's going it's killing the cancer. I can't remember, how many treatments will you have in all? Take care!

    Wenona

    treatments
    I will have six of the taxol/crob so two down on that one then 10 months of advastin so one down on that one. today was a hard day because I am having the bone pain so badly this time around and can't find anything to give me some peace from it I will be calling my doctor tomorrow to see if there is anything he can add to it. I don't have a bath tub or hot tub so I can soak in a tub for relief. I had my hair cut short for the same reason you are I had long hair and thought it would be easier. yours may not fall out as fast as mine did I hope you don't because even short it was still hard to see it falling out good luck you are in my prays

    Anne
  • AnneBehymer
    AnneBehymer Member Posts: 738 Member
    #15
    poopergirl14052 said:

    I guess that is why we need steriods
    as it helps decrease the chance of a reaction. Glad to hear you are feeling better.Hope your next chemo is uneventful..val

    :)
    thanks val I am hoping the same that each treatment go with no problems I love the pic of you and your dog to cute
  • lulu1010
    lulu1010 Member Posts: 367
    #16
    AnneBehymer said:

    treatments
    I will have six of the taxol/crob so two down on that one then 10 months of advastin so one down on that one. today was a hard day because I am having the bone pain so badly this time around and can't find anything to give me some peace from it I will be calling my doctor tomorrow to see if there is anything he can add to it. I don't have a bath tub or hot tub so I can soak in a tub for relief. I had my hair cut short for the same reason you are I had long hair and thought it would be easier. yours may not fall out as fast as mine did I hope you don't because even short it was still hard to see it falling out good luck you are in my prays

    Anne

    I had the same reaction!
    Yes it does scare you to death but I continued and never had another problem with it. I am now finished with chemo. Was glad to hear the Drs happiness over the loss of hair. I too felt awful when it fell out and was glad to hear the Drs perspective. If I ever have to do it again (please never again!) I will remember the Drs words!
    Dont be afraid of furthur treatmens. You can see the nurses know what to do. Chances are good you will have no more problems and the drug will do its work. If you do have problems there are alternative meds. Good luck to you!
  • skeeter1002
    skeeter1002 Member Posts: 43
    #17
    AnneBehymer said:

    treatments
    I will have six of the taxol/crob so two down on that one then 10 months of advastin so one down on that one. today was a hard day because I am having the bone pain so badly this time around and can't find anything to give me some peace from it I will be calling my doctor tomorrow to see if there is anything he can add to it. I don't have a bath tub or hot tub so I can soak in a tub for relief. I had my hair cut short for the same reason you are I had long hair and thought it would be easier. yours may not fall out as fast as mine did I hope you don't because even short it was still hard to see it falling out good luck you are in my prays

    Anne

    treatments
    Anne, I'm only having 3 treatments so I've only got 2 more to go. The bone pain is bad. I took Tylenol and my nurse told me to take zyrtec which I couldn't tell any difference. Hopefully it will only be for a day or two. Mine was really bad only 1 day and moderate 2 other days.

    This morning I had hair all over my pillow and tons came out when I brushed it. I balled it up and put it in a box. Not sure why I felt like doing that but it's there for now. then this afternoon I got my hair cut short.

    Hang in there! You're in my prayers as well.

    Wenona
  • AnneBehymer
    AnneBehymer Member Posts: 738 Member
    #18
    skeeter1002 said:

    treatments
    Anne, I'm only having 3 treatments so I've only got 2 more to go. The bone pain is bad. I took Tylenol and my nurse told me to take zyrtec which I couldn't tell any difference. Hopefully it will only be for a day or two. Mine was really bad only 1 day and moderate 2 other days.

    This morning I had hair all over my pillow and tons came out when I brushed it. I balled it up and put it in a box. Not sure why I felt like doing that but it's there for now. then this afternoon I got my hair cut short.

    Hang in there! You're in my prayers as well.

    Wenona

    thanks Wenona I a glad you
    thanks Wenona I a glad you only have to have three treatments I will keep you in my prays that you never have to go through this again

    Anne

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