Taxol Legs

babs49242
babs49242 Member Posts: 193
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I have the after effect of 'taxol legs' is it ever going to end?

Comments

  • LesleyH
    LesleyH Member Posts: 370
    #2
    If by taxol legs, you mean that horrible tingling and numbness in your feet and hands, then I can say that it went away and then came back when I started tamoxifen. (I finished taxol about 3 months ago.) My nails still look awful. My toe nail finally lifted right off. I read that vitamin B6 may help the tingling. Anyone else heard of that? I take so many supplements already that I'm not sure if I need another one.
  • babs49242
    babs49242 Member Posts: 193
    #3
    Thanks Leslie,Yes that wonderful tingling/numbness. I am not on Tamoxifen but Arimidex and it has been a year now. guess I'll have to live with it.
  • Susan956
    Susan956 Member Posts: 510
    #4
    I don't think you really do have to live with the tingling. My last Taxol treatment was Nov 1st and it has slowly gotten better. My fingernails have finally gotten to the point I don't feel like I have to keep them painted. But both of big toenails are only 1/2 grown out. I lost essentially all of them. Another lady who had even worse problems than I did with taxol has been taking B6 shots about every two weeks and it does increase nerve redevelopment. So you may want to talk to your Doctor about them if your hands and feet aren't getting better.

    Since mine has been better...all but slowly...my doctor has beleived in a wait and see attitude that seems to have worked in my case.

    Today was the first day I managed to open up a simple Coke can without having to get a knife to pry it open. My nails are finally strong enough to do it.

    I only have a very little tingling in about 4 toes and only 4 of the tips of my fingers had it. Much better than in November, where the whole bottom of my feet tingled and the top joint of all of my fingers hurt....

    Hope both of you find some relief.

    Take Care.... God Bless...

    Susan
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #5
    Yikes! I thought it would stop after the last taxol (next week). Tamoxifen reactivated it?
    Anyway, I find keeping SUPER hydrated helps quite a bit, as well as multi vitamins (it has B6 in it, all B's supposably good for nerve health, but too much can cause hot flashes). I'm a newbie to this, so I'm grateful to you guys for the info.
    Kathi
  • LesleyH
    LesleyH Member Posts: 370
    #6
    KathiM said:

    Yikes! I thought it would stop after the last taxol (next week). Tamoxifen reactivated it?
    Anyway, I find keeping SUPER hydrated helps quite a bit, as well as multi vitamins (it has B6 in it, all B's supposably good for nerve health, but too much can cause hot flashes). I'm a newbie to this, so I'm grateful to you guys for the info.
    Kathi

    Hi Kathi - Good to hear from you. Done with that chemo yet? How are you feeling?
  • krkath
    krkath Member Posts: 72
    #7
    Hi Babs,
    I'm at 9 months recovering from chemo with Taxotere (of which I hear most of the side effects are the same as Taxol) combined with A/C. My legs still hurt. It's getting better and some days are worse than others. The replies I've had from most women that were on Taxol (still have not found anyone who has gone through the same regimen as myself..with all 3 drugs at each infusion) are simliar. Our bodies are all different and it does affect us uniquely. I've given into the "about a year" range. At least I don't shuffle these days like I did in the beginning. I still have a hard time walking without pain but it DOES get better. I think the response of keeping real hydrated is a great idea. I do take Curcumin the herb, do Acupunture, hot baths on bad days and have one of those TENS units that has little sticky pads that you put near the sight of your pain and it sends little electrical impulses. I think it's called a "Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator". Hang in there. Maybe in a year, I'll be able to share more on this website and have more good news. Plus, I think it depends on the dose. I have a friend that was on a "Maintenance of Taxol" weekly and she was able to walk every day. So, it just depends. My treatment was very aggressive so you may start feeling better in your legs earlier than you'd expect! Do all you can to take care of your body.
    WE ARE STRONG! ((HUGS))
    Kathy
  • planetstrands
    planetstrands Member Posts: 7
    #8
    krkath said:

    Hi Babs,
    I'm at 9 months recovering from chemo with Taxotere (of which I hear most of the side effects are the same as Taxol) combined with A/C. My legs still hurt. It's getting better and some days are worse than others. The replies I've had from most women that were on Taxol (still have not found anyone who has gone through the same regimen as myself..with all 3 drugs at each infusion) are simliar. Our bodies are all different and it does affect us uniquely. I've given into the "about a year" range. At least I don't shuffle these days like I did in the beginning. I still have a hard time walking without pain but it DOES get better. I think the response of keeping real hydrated is a great idea. I do take Curcumin the herb, do Acupunture, hot baths on bad days and have one of those TENS units that has little sticky pads that you put near the sight of your pain and it sends little electrical impulses. I think it's called a "Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator". Hang in there. Maybe in a year, I'll be able to share more on this website and have more good news. Plus, I think it depends on the dose. I have a friend that was on a "Maintenance of Taxol" weekly and she was able to walk every day. So, it just depends. My treatment was very aggressive so you may start feeling better in your legs earlier than you'd expect! Do all you can to take care of your body.
    WE ARE STRONG! ((HUGS))
    Kathy

    hi all. i am 2 years + my last taxotere treatment and i have relentless limb pain, which is worse in my legs. i am on the strongest vicodin available.. about 4 doses per day. i was on neurotin, and am now trying cymbalta, which i have to give a bit more time, to see if it will work. i am a dancer and doing pt for a hip resurfacing, but exercise does not really help. i often get sore on top of the constant aching pain (which feels like growing pains)... and it's not typical post-workout soreness... it is much worse than that. this started halfway through my taxotere treatments. i am also suffering tremendous fatigue. my oncologist tells me that he has not seen anyone get over this at this point. has anyone out there experienced relief 2 yrs. or more beyond treatment? it is debilitating and i want to be free of it!!! thanks! best, adele
  • planetstrands
    planetstrands Member Posts: 7
    #9
    planetstrands said:

    hi all. i am 2 years + my last taxotere treatment and i have relentless limb pain, which is worse in my legs. i am on the strongest vicodin available.. about 4 doses per day. i was on neurotin, and am now trying cymbalta, which i have to give a bit more time, to see if it will work. i am a dancer and doing pt for a hip resurfacing, but exercise does not really help. i often get sore on top of the constant aching pain (which feels like growing pains)... and it's not typical post-workout soreness... it is much worse than that. this started halfway through my taxotere treatments. i am also suffering tremendous fatigue. my oncologist tells me that he has not seen anyone get over this at this point. has anyone out there experienced relief 2 yrs. or more beyond treatment? it is debilitating and i want to be free of it!!! thanks! best, adele

    i started lyrica and it HELPS!!!! my pain from taxotere is gone. neurontin worked for a while, but then stopped. i am SO relieved!
    adele

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