Starting taxol just had last AC tx. Is there much difference in side effects

Daw3251d
Daw3251d Member Posts: 1
in Breast Cancer #1

Will be starting Taxol, just finished AC.  sideffects much different?

Comments

  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #2
    Taxol/ as well as its ugly cousin "taxotere"

    did a number in me. Besides the hair loss- i lost 3 toe nails.  I was fatigued and it was hard for me sleep (insomnia).  I ended up with low blood numbers - nose sores, you name it -- I suffered from it.  this does NOT happen to every Chemo Queen- 

    Keep a list of all side effecTs, and address your concerns with your Oncology staff & Doctor.

    My thoughts and prayers are with you !!!!

    Vicki Sam

  • Clementine_P
    Clementine_P Member Posts: 518 Member
    #3
    Taxol

    I think most people tend to feel a lot better on Taxol.  I had some neuropathy and some other small side effects but generally felt better.  I hope that you experience that as well! (I'm sorry VickiSam!).

    Best,

    Clementine

  • jessiesmom1
    jessiesmom1 Member Posts: 915 Member
    #4
    Taxotere Experience

    I think if you read other threads related to Taxol/Taxotere you will see that there are MANY of us who had a very difficult time with this part of the chemo regimen. Some like DoubleWhammy(Suzanne) have permanent hair loss and others like myself have permanently watery eyes due to damage to the puncta. 

    In 2010 I had 4 rounds of A/C and12 rounds of Taxotere. As is typical I lost my hair during the A/C rounds but otherwise did OK - nothing out of the ordinary. Taxotere was another story. My fingernails became ridged and discolored. Eventually 8 of 10 fell off. I also lost the toenails on my two big toes. The fatigue was pretty overwhelming. To undress, take a shower and dress again was the limit of my activity for the day on many days. I also completely lost any desire to eat. I just couldn't do it. I eventually lost 40 pounds. It was a good thing I was overweight at the beginning. My oncologist said it was far more important to remain hydrated than it was to eat. I drank on a schedule from a bottle with measurements on the side so I could make sure I was drinking enough. 

    The worst problem was, however, the watery eyes. Unless I was sleeping my eyes watered like a faucet. Here it is almost 2016 and they are STILL watering. I was told "Oh this is a just a well known side effect of the Taxane class of drugs." I was not satisfied with that answer so I went to an optometrist who finally determined that the Taxotere had damaged the puncta in my eyes. Those are the little holes in the inner corners of your eyes on the upper and lower portion. I was referred to an Oculofacial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon. She confirmed the diagnosis but said it could have been prevented had I flushed my eyes thoroughly before and after Taxotere was administered. The surgery to fix the puncta failed as they were more damaged than anticipated. Apparently when she did her fellowship at Johns Hopkins the Oncology and Opthamology departments work closely together.

    All that being said it IS almost 2016 and I am still here. I wish you the best of luck. You can do this.

    IRENE

  • desertgirl947
    desertgirl947 Member Posts: 653 Member
    #5
    taxol

    I did not have queasiness when I was on taxol.  So, I stopped taking the pills that were meant to keep me from vomiting. 

    I am not sure how much of this was taxol or whether it was the accumulation of AC and Neulasta, but these are things I noticed:

    • rough skin around the sides of my feet; because a friend of mine had real problems with cracks when she was dealing with the same thing, I made sure to keep an eye on that.  I used lotion
    • darkened toenails -- some lose them, but i did not
    • aching hips for a few days after an infusion
    • breathing -- I could breathe, but taking a deep breath -- or just catching my breath -- made me cough;  sometimes that was kind of bad for a few days.  My onc had me take an allergy pill, and that helped.  This cleared up quickly when I was done with chemo altogether
    • neuropathy -- not as bad as some, but two of my little toes on one foot are still affected

     

  • twnkltoz
    twnkltoz Member Posts: 169 Member
    #6
    Easier

    I found taxol much easier. No nausea, less fatigue. My neuropathy was very mild.

    Hang in there!

  • Sunrunner
    Sunrunner Member Posts: 3
    #7
    jessiesmom1 said:

    Taxotere Experience

    I think if you read other threads related to Taxol/Taxotere you will see that there are MANY of us who had a very difficult time with this part of the chemo regimen. Some like DoubleWhammy(Suzanne) have permanent hair loss and others like myself have permanently watery eyes due to damage to the puncta. 

    In 2010 I had 4 rounds of A/C and12 rounds of Taxotere. As is typical I lost my hair during the A/C rounds but otherwise did OK - nothing out of the ordinary. Taxotere was another story. My fingernails became ridged and discolored. Eventually 8 of 10 fell off. I also lost the toenails on my two big toes. The fatigue was pretty overwhelming. To undress, take a shower and dress again was the limit of my activity for the day on many days. I also completely lost any desire to eat. I just couldn't do it. I eventually lost 40 pounds. It was a good thing I was overweight at the beginning. My oncologist said it was far more important to remain hydrated than it was to eat. I drank on a schedule from a bottle with measurements on the side so I could make sure I was drinking enough. 

    The worst problem was, however, the watery eyes. Unless I was sleeping my eyes watered like a faucet. Here it is almost 2016 and they are STILL watering. I was told "Oh this is a just a well known side effect of the Taxane class of drugs." I was not satisfied with that answer so I went to an optometrist who finally determined that the Taxotere had damaged the puncta in my eyes. Those are the little holes in the inner corners of your eyes on the upper and lower portion. I was referred to an Oculofacial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon. She confirmed the diagnosis but said it could have been prevented had I flushed my eyes thoroughly before and after Taxotere was administered. The surgery to fix the puncta failed as they were more damaged than anticipated. Apparently when she did her fellowship at Johns Hopkins the Oncology and Opthamology departments work closely together.

    All that being said it IS almost 2016 and I am still here. I wish you the best of luck. You can do this.

    IRENE

    watery eyes

    Thank you for the recommendation about eye drops.  I have one more AC to go and will start taxol.  I've pretty much learned how individual every one's reactions are, but especially appreciate the hints on the more unusual ones. 

  • kakennedy
    kakennedy Member Posts: 37
    edited August 2016 #8
    Sunrunner said:

    watery eyes

    Thank you for the recommendation about eye drops.  I have one more AC to go and will start taxol.  I've pretty much learned how individual every one's reactions are, but especially appreciate the hints on the more unusual ones. 

    First Herceptin/Taxol treatments this week

    Hi there,

    I just completed the first two days of my treatment plan - so far so good...I will return for the next 11 Fridays to be infused with Herceptin and Taxol.  My initial doeses were considered loading doses to ensure I was not going to have adverse reactions to the drugs.  The oncologists explained the side effects are minimal doing the first dose over two days. However, they indicated I will more than likely lose my hair.  I was infused with herceptin yesterday and taxol today.  Thursday evening prior to the taxol, I took 5 steriod pills (decadrode) at 10pm and then 5 more  this morning at 6am.  I hope the info below helps you.  I keep a log of the drugs I receive just in case I need the information and so I can help others.  Happy to chat with you more if you would like to....my email address is kkenn59@aol.com.

    August 18, 2016 Treatment #1 (Herceptin only – Nurse Jazabel)

    8:30 – arrived; oncologist did an exam around 9:15

    9:45  – took 2 tubes of blood

    10:10 - Tylenol – 2 tablets of 325 each

    10:11 - Benadryl 25mg in IV

    10:30 – Herceptin (Trastuzamab) Loading Dose 285mg

    11:05 – 12:05 – just sitting and waiting for any side effects so I can be watched

     

    August 19, 2016 Treatment #1 Taxol

    8:30 – arrived; met with oncology nurse; cardiogram was fine; 

    9:30 – saline and premed drugs to include benedryl 25 mg in IV; Pepcid(antireflux med) in IV

                steroid (decadrode) and Zofran (nausea med)

    10:52 - 138mg of Taxol – 90 minutes

                  97/59 to 101/60; 90 pulse: 117/64 pulse – 90; 115/72 Pulse 91; 113/68 Pulse 91; 110/61

    12:40 – Heparin to flush the port

    I copied and pasted this info on another discussion board and there was a lot of file info so if that happens, please just ignore it.

    :) Kathy

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