A/C - about to start Taxol

This sounds like my treatment plan- 4 AC + 12 Taxol. I was scared to go every week too! But it was easier on my body than the first part and my nurses were reassuring as well. I think the biggest thing for me was to stay hydrated. I downloaded an app to track my water intake and that helped a lot. I also ordered some ice socks and held little ice packs on and off during the taxol treatments to help prevent neuropathy. I finished May 20th! Thinking of you and praying for you as you continue on this journey.

Of course! One of the other parts of this treatment for me was the Benadryl with my premeds for the Taxol portion. This made me super sleepy. I started bringing a little pillow and made a worship playlist on Spotify to listen to. I asked friends and family for their favorite songs. This always brought me a lot of peace as I drifted off to sleep. -Laura

I started with Pembro (Keytruda), Abraxane (I was allergic to Taxol) and Carbo- every three weeks. I got three out of four rounds in, with Abraxane in weeks two and three. I do not have a large bowel, removed 20 years ago, due to UC (Ulcerative Colitis). The Keytruda and perhaps the Abraxane literally destroyed my small bowel with uncontrollable diarrhea. Was hospitalized for 5 days. I am not going to start AC tomorrow. I was taken off the Pembro-Abrax-Carbo regimen. I am hoping for a better outcome from AC chemo- four rounds - one every other week. I am triple-negative, Stage 2- spindle cell metaplastic ( NOT METASTATIC).

I was diagnosed triple negative, stage 2, in April. Starting in May, I had carbo/taxol/ketruda for the first 12 weeks, weekly. Side effects included some fatigue, neuropathy in hands, feet and face (clearing up slowly, 1.5 months later), hair loss (but kept my eyebrows and lashes), easily sunburned (my hands were absolutely cooked in week 1, and are only now starting to look normal!!). I had bursts of energy the day after chemo, and could not sleep at all (hello prednisone!) but then crashed and slept a lot the next day or two. Thanks to the effectiveness of the pre-meds, I only had to take anti-nausea meds at home once or twice. I was able to work almost full time (very flexible schedule, though!). It was not fun, but manageable.

The AC is much tougher on me, and I am so thankful they spaced it every 3 weeks so I can recover between. I've had two doses (with Keytruda) and my third is this Friday. It helped me to learn what is "normal" and what others are going through, so I didn't panic with every new symptom. Share all symptoms with your oncologist, but don't be afraid! This is what I've experienced:

* Nausea meds are my friends, especially in the first 5 days; I even take one before I arrive for treatment. They prescribed Ativan to take as needed for anxiety/nausea; because I am anxious about the treatment, I take one before I go in, and that has helped.

* Diarrhea (severe, painful) was a problem after the first round. Immodium took 18 hours to have any effect, so now I have a second med on hand if it comes back. Strangely, I had no diarrhea after the second round.

* Neuropathy from the first chemo type has lifted except in my right foot, which seems to be getting a little worse. If I stand on my feet for long, long stretches, my feet and ankles swell and the neuropathy makes me feel like I have clumsy club feet.

* Nail beds (hands and feet) are extremely sensitive, and fingernails especially are looking brown and splotchy (oncologist says there is a possibility I will lose the nails, but they will grow back. Ew!).

* Extreme fatigue is an issue, and I made the mistake of not slowing down much at first. I am finally giving in, cutting work schedule some, resting a lot. I think it will help.

* Heart palpitations and dizziness hit me after round 2, and they return if I "overdo" and don't rest often enough (even yesterday, 2.5 weeks after the last dose). Sometimes my heart rate is above 100, which makes me feel off. An echo showed things as normal, but we're keeping an eye on it because AC can do heart damage in some rare cases.

* Sometimes I get chills, and I am bundled up/covered up while my family ready to turn on the air conditioning. This comes and goes.

* My eyebrows and eyelashes are almost gone, and I think some of my hair stubble is gone, too (hard to tell).

* Sometimes at night I get painful foot and leg cramps.

* Everything tasted metallic for about two weeks after the first round. Second round that was only true for about 5 days.

* I don't eat much at a time because I get indigestion really easily. I think I've lost some weight but it's hard to tell just by looking. I was overweight when I started, and I'm still kinda puffy from prednisone given with the AC/ketruda each time.

* It is a struggle to find motivation and energy to keep moving, but I know that is important for circulation and general good health. Rest is super important, so I'm trying to stop acting like Superwoman, letting some things go, and allowing myself to nap or just rest during the day.

I hope this info is helpful to you and others! This forum has been such a blessing to me. I've "lurked" but not posted before today, gleaning wisdom from those who have gone before me in this journey. Praying that your treatment is /was successful and that you allow yourself plenty of rest and recovery time!