taxol

jessiesmom1 said:

My Chemo Experience

First let me commend you for coming to this site for information and support. Even though my own husband is a cancer survivor himself, I do not think it occurred to him to come here. Knowledge is power.

I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer 3 years ago. I had surgery and then came the chemo. I had 4 rounds of Adriamycin/Cytoxan given 2 weeks apart and then had 12 rounds of Taxotere. Those came weekly. Taxotere is in the same drug class (the taxanes) as Taxol. I had been told that in general Taxotere is more easily tolerated than A/C. Unfortunately that was not true in my case. I had a lot of side effects including watery eyes (which continue to this day), loss of most fingernails and 2 toenails, fatigue, nausea and vomiting as well as lack of desire to eat at all. I did not have bone or muscle pain or neuropathy. While it was most certainly an awful experience I did get through it and did not miss a single round. I had to be given fluids twice because I became dehydrated but my blood counts permitted the chemo to continue.

Obviously everyone reacts differently to their chemo regimen but there is so much that can be done to help minimize side effects. You and your wife should make sure her oncologist is aware of her difficulties. There is medication available for nausea, neuropathy, mouth sores, skin reactions, etc. This doesn't mean she won't continue to have issues but perhaps the edge can be taken off so to speak.

I wish both of  you good luck. This is tough for both the patient and the caregiver.

 

IRENE

Thanks Irene, everything you've mentioned sounds like my wife. We're hoping for a break if they think she can stand it. She's made progress with the tumors so I think there're a little afriad to stop any because of her progress. Were coming up on a year.

she is taking all the meds to help with the side effects and as you say there are times it just doesn't work.

Thanks again and God Bless!!