First Taxol w/Herceptin tomorrow

A "breeze"
Hi Margo...

After your AC treatments the taxol/herceptin will be a breeze. I've had 8 weekly taxol/herceptin treatments ... and the side effects you might have will be nothing compared to any you've had with AC. I would imagine you've lost your hair with AC ... so that might start coming back. "They" say the hair will "thin" with taxol ... and on day 15 I ended up with a handfull of hair so I had a friend shave it ... since I didn't want to be walking around leaving a trail of hair. Right now ... some is still coming out ... while some is growing. I sort of look like a Chia-pet. But .. I really don't care as long as there's no nausea ... and there hasn't been. My main "complaint" has been constipation ... bad! I'm still fighting that battle. I've also developed some itchy rashes ... but nothing that can't be dealt with by using a prescription the dermatologist gave me. I'm tired and my concentration is about down to zero ... but somehow I've managed to keep working full time. Well ... I'm not so sure about the "work" part as much as just showing up every day and asking the same questions 100 times and not being able to remember how to do things I could do with my eyes closed 6 months ago. Very frustrating. But ... as I said ... as long as there's no nausea ... I think I can handle anything.

After AC ... you'll be amazed at how easy this is. You'll do just fine!

hugs.
teena

taxol
Margo, I did have taxol after the AC and it was a breeze compared to the first two. Hair did start growing back, it was very fine, but hey! who really cares at that point? I did notice bone pain with the taxol, but they prescribed vicodin, and that helped. Don't know about the Herceptin, never had it. I worked throughout all of the chemo and radiation, it was easier for me than most, so if you did well with the first ones, you probably will do well on this. Good Luck and keep us up to date!
Cat

tommaseena said:

First experience
MY first Taxol w/Herceptin went fine but it is scary when others are having their second treatment with it and have reactions when you are having your first and then you wonder if it going to happen to you. I hope it doesn't.

They gave me Benedryl before the treatment and the nurse told me that I would sleep through my treatment--well I told her that I would not because Benedryl doesn't give me that effect and I was right--I talked through the whole treatment.

Margo

Taxol
I never had real problems with Taxol except for the bone pain, but that was pretty mild too, I also had the benadryl and it did nothing, we had a great "chemo group" so we chatted and watched movies.
Don't worry about your next treatment, you will do great!
Cat

JoyD said:

Neulesta shot the next day?
For those of you who had Taxol treatment after A/C. Can you tell me if you still need to get the Neulesta shot after each of the Taxol Treatment(s). Please advise. Thanks.

Joy

Neulasta
they told me it wouldn't be needed because the Taxol doesn't work so hard on the white blood cells. I only needed it the first time on the AC mix, then I was OK for the rest.
Everyone is different though, hope this helps!
Cat

tommaseena said:

Neulasta
If your treatments are once a week then NO Neulasta shot is given. If you have a Neulasta shot then you can only have treatment every other week. If WBC go down then one maybe given but that will hold your treatment for another week.

Thanks Cats_Toy and tommaseena
Thanks to both of you for the information in regards to the Neulesta shot. I will have my last A/C treatment this coming Wed - May 13....then will have Taxol for 12 rounds every week. Now I know what to expect and probably could plan to go back to work once i start the Taxol.

Joy