Chemo - any one with experience of Taxol??

caroline26
caroline26 Member Posts: 4
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi there!
My Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer in May, and has just come out of hospital after having the lump removed, and the lynph glands as a precautionary measure. They have now found that the cancer had spread to the lymph glands, and have recommended chemotherapy, and then radiotherapy after that.
The thing is she has been offered the chance to take part in a clinical trial. We are from England, where Taxol (paclitaxel) is not used at the moment - but I've read that it is new standard treatment for some women in the US for early stage breast cancer. This drug will be involved in the trial along with other drugs, and we were just wondering if anyone could tell us anything about their experience with it?
Any replies very much appreciated!!

Comments

  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #2
    Been there, done that! Diagnosed 6/00, lumpectomy w/ 13 out of 27 + lymph nodes. Treated with adriamycin and cyclophosphomide x 4 then taxol x 4. Is your mum's tumor by any chance HER2neu + ?
    I ask because I currently take Herceptin 1x/week for bone metastasis.
    Here by the grace of God, and the chemo, and the surgery, and the radiation, and the positive attitude....but mainly by the grace of God! Hope this helps. hummingbyrd
  • JKAlley
    JKAlley Member Posts: 84
    #3
    hummingbyrd said:

    Been there, done that! Diagnosed 6/00, lumpectomy w/ 13 out of 27 + lymph nodes. Treated with adriamycin and cyclophosphomide x 4 then taxol x 4. Is your mum's tumor by any chance HER2neu + ?
    I ask because I currently take Herceptin 1x/week for bone metastasis.
    Here by the grace of God, and the chemo, and the surgery, and the radiation, and the positive attitude....but mainly by the grace of God! Hope this helps. hummingbyrd

    Caroline, I'm currently taking taxol once a week. I'm also in a study for her2neu pos with weekly herceptin for 1 year. I started treatments with adriamycin/cytoxan once every 3 wks for 4 wks. Those were tough, put me in bed for 3 to 4 days after and took about a week to get over. I also lost my hair during ac. I have now started taxol and herceptin, once a wk for 12 wks. Have 4 down, 8 to go, and so far taxol is MUCH easier. I feel a little queezy for a day or so, but don't even have to take anything for nausea. I do feel some stiffness and achy in my joints and muscles, but nothing to serious yet and Advil takes care of it. My biggest complaint is the typical tired and weak, but really that's it. I've even started to grow hair back!!! They tell me it's because of the lower dose once a week, and I still may loose my hair again - what little I have - but I'm believing it's going to stay. Right now I look like I have a 5:00 shadow on my head. Anyway, taxol is not too bad, at least in the lower weekly doses. Obviously, I can't tell you how well it worked because I'm still a work in progress myself, but I feel good, try to stay positive and keep a good attitude. That's all we can do. Good luck to you and your mum, and God Bless. Judy
  • heavenlee
    heavenlee Member Posts: 113
    #4
    Hello there,
    After 5 rounds of AC I had weekly Taxol. I did get Nueropathey from it. All my major joints hurt..all my fingers hurt..More annoying than anything. Lasted a few months after treatment was over. That is the only thing that happened to me. Hope this helps some..
    Take care
    angel
  • pijunsis
    pijunsis Member Posts: 3
    #5
    Had 4 doses of taxol after 4 adriamycin.
    Had bone pain for 2 or 3 days and some nueropathy.
    Tingling in feet and slightly in hands. Not as hard to take as Adriamycin. Symptoms disappeared within 5 weeks after chemo.
  • jfsnowflake
    jfsnowflake Member Posts: 15
    #6
    Hi! In 1995 when I was first dx. with early stage breast cancer, they used adrimyician and cytoxin.
    When it came back on the chest wall in 2000, I was given Taxol. Taxol was much "friendlier' than the A/C...I did experience some of the bone pain for a couple of days, but the pain killer they gave me was effective. I did lose my hair with it, but none of the nausea like with the other chemo. Praying that all goes well for your mom.
  • caroline26
    caroline26 Member Posts: 4
    #7
    Thanks everyone who has replied to my message here. My Mum's having 8 chemo sessions altogether with 3 week gaps in between. The 1st 4 sessions she's having Epirubicin (does same job as adriamycin but apparently less side effects - don't think available in U.S. at present?) and Cytoxin, and then she has 4 sessions of Taxol. So fingers crossed all goes well! Thanks so much again - you've all been very kind to take the time to reply,
    Caroline x

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