Reaction to Taxol

Shell bug
Shell bug Member Posts: 76
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
I just tried to have my second treatment on chemo. At my cancer center, when Taxol is started, it is dripped very slowly for 20 minutes and then the rate is increased. As soon as the rate was increased, I got really red and itchy and my heart rate dropped. The nurses were there in a second and took care of everything, but it was really a scary feeling.

I tolerated the carbo fine.

My doctor thinks we should try it again with a slow drip.

I have grade 3, stage 2 endometerial cancer, adenocarcinoma (sp?)

Has anyone else had any reactions? I value your opinions very much. I do not want to die from the blasted chemo.

Thanks,
Shell Bug

Comments

  • CindyGSD
    CindyGSD Member Posts: 190
    #2
    Taxol....bad ;o)
    I think this is a fairly common reaction to Taxol. During my first infusion of Taxol, within seconds, my face got hot, my lips went numb, I had a tightness in my chest and found my room full of nurses and a doctor all asking me if I could breath. They stopped the transfusion and tried again the next day after giving me benedryl exactly one half hour before they started the Taxol. From then on, I've had no problems.

    I've had three rounds of chemo, 25 days of radiation, 3 rounds of brachytherapy and at the end of the month I start another three rounds of chemo. Fingers crossed that I will have no more Taxol reactions, because yes it is scary.

    Take care,
    Cindy
  • daisy366
    daisy366 Member Posts: 1,458 Member
    #3
    CindyGSD said:

    Taxol....bad ;o)
    I think this is a fairly common reaction to Taxol. During my first infusion of Taxol, within seconds, my face got hot, my lips went numb, I had a tightness in my chest and found my room full of nurses and a doctor all asking me if I could breath. They stopped the transfusion and tried again the next day after giving me benedryl exactly one half hour before they started the Taxol. From then on, I've had no problems.

    I've had three rounds of chemo, 25 days of radiation, 3 rounds of brachytherapy and at the end of the month I start another three rounds of chemo. Fingers crossed that I will have no more Taxol reactions, because yes it is scary.

    Take care,
    Cindy

    I had same with Carboplatin
    Yes, scary!! They added more premeds and did slower infusions which worked!!

    Good luck to you Cindy.
  • Pat51
    Pat51 Member Posts: 130
    #4
    I also had an allergic reaction
    During my first chemo treatment I had allergic reactions. As part of my premeds I had benedryl, which I had a reaction to because the IV drip was too fast. Then the taxetere was put on and within a couple minutes I started to get hot, my chest got tight, it was hard to breath and then had stabbing pains in my back (kidney area). The IV was taken off and I was given steroids and the taxetere was started again at a much slower rate. They also gave me a shot of lorazipam just before starting the taxetere. I was able to tolerate the taxetere with extra steroids. I agree that the allergic reaction to the drug is a very scary experience. The taxetere was the drug that seemed to give me the most side effects. I did finish all 6 of my chemo treatments (carbo/taxetere), although I only had half of the usual amount of taxetere during the 6th chemo treatment because of neuropathy.

    Good luck to you and I hope that you will not have any more scary reaction to the chemo drugs.

    Pat
  • Shell bug
    Shell bug Member Posts: 76
    #5
    Pat51 said:

    I also had an allergic reaction
    During my first chemo treatment I had allergic reactions. As part of my premeds I had benedryl, which I had a reaction to because the IV drip was too fast. Then the taxetere was put on and within a couple minutes I started to get hot, my chest got tight, it was hard to breath and then had stabbing pains in my back (kidney area). The IV was taken off and I was given steroids and the taxetere was started again at a much slower rate. They also gave me a shot of lorazipam just before starting the taxetere. I was able to tolerate the taxetere with extra steroids. I agree that the allergic reaction to the drug is a very scary experience. The taxetere was the drug that seemed to give me the most side effects. I did finish all 6 of my chemo treatments (carbo/taxetere), although I only had half of the usual amount of taxetere during the 6th chemo treatment because of neuropathy.

    Good luck to you and I hope that you will not have any more scary reaction to the chemo drugs.

    Pat

    Thank you so much for the
    Thank you so much for the replies. I feel much better about the whole thing. I am sure my doctor will figure everything out for the next time.

    I wish all of you the best.

    Shell Bug
  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member
    #6
    Shell bug I too had a reaction to taxol
    I agree it is very scary to have a reaction to the drugs. I had a reaction to the taxol with my first infusion also. It is so reassuring that the chemo nurses know how to handle reactions, and handle them so quickly. I had to have my taxol given over 5 hours. Every time they tried to increase the dose I would have problems. With the slower rate I never had another reaction to taxol. I had 6 treatments with my first go around, 7 treatments with my 2 time. I will probably be starting a 3 rd session soon.

    I also had a reaction to carboplatin and needed it to be given over two hours instead of one hour during ny first round of chemo. After 9 carbo treatments I was switched to cisplatin due to a severe reaction with the ninth treatment.

    They just change the pre meds or slow the rate to try to get the drugs in. Good luck with your other treatments.
  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    #7
    Sorry you are having a
    Sorry you are having a reaction. But at least you can get it slow. My reaction was immediately as soon as they started the drip. They changed me to Gemzar and Carbo. Everything was fine after that.
  • JoAnnDK
    JoAnnDK Member Posts: 275
    #8
    Kaleena said:

    Sorry you are having a
    Sorry you are having a reaction. But at least you can get it slow. My reaction was immediately as soon as they started the drip. They changed me to Gemzar and Carbo. Everything was fine after that.

    Chemo nurses
    I really believe that there is a special place reserved in heaven for chemo nurses. I go to two different places and have met many of them, plus a good friend of my daughter's is a chemo nurse. They are a breed apart - caring, thoughtful, calm, knowledgeable, and reassuring.

    JOANN
  • Songflower
    Songflower Member Posts: 608
    #9
    Ro10 said:

    Shell bug I too had a reaction to taxol
    I agree it is very scary to have a reaction to the drugs. I had a reaction to the taxol with my first infusion also. It is so reassuring that the chemo nurses know how to handle reactions, and handle them so quickly. I had to have my taxol given over 5 hours. Every time they tried to increase the dose I would have problems. With the slower rate I never had another reaction to taxol. I had 6 treatments with my first go around, 7 treatments with my 2 time. I will probably be starting a 3 rd session soon.

    I also had a reaction to carboplatin and needed it to be given over two hours instead of one hour during ny first round of chemo. After 9 carbo treatments I was switched to cisplatin due to a severe reaction with the ninth treatment.

    They just change the pre meds or slow the rate to try to get the drugs in. Good luck with your other treatments.

    Some Other Ideas
    I get neuropathy from taxol; I wish I had told them to stop but I soldiered on. I know some people take gemzar with carboplatinum and that works well. Might want to discuse with your Doctor. It seems to work well.

    Love, Diane

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