Taxotere/ Taxol Question.

Kat11
Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Just started to read the information my onc gave me. I have info on both Taxotere and Taxol. Do I get both of the drugs. I know I get Herceptin. Just confused on the other 2.
Thank for any info.

Comments

  • Jadie
    Jadie Member Posts: 723
    #2
    Hi Kat
    Taxotere and Taxol are sister drugs. You will get one or the other. I had Taxotere and the side effects weren't to bad. Hope you do ok with it.

    Jadie<3
  • CR1954
    CR1954 Member Posts: 1,390 Member
    #3
    Hey Kat.....
    I'm not sure, but i think you will probably get one or the other.

    I had Abraxane, which is kind of like a "cousin" of Taxol. I also had A/C to start with.
    Now just getting Herceptin.

    I know that others will know the answer to your question for sure.

    CR
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #4
    Taxotere
    I believe as stated, that they are one and the same.....had my first Taxotere and Cytoxin infusion 12 days ago........sailed right through it......Not the first bit of nausea.....none! YEAH!

    Hope you do well......
  • padee6339
    padee6339 Member Posts: 763
    #5
    Taxotere
    I had taxotere plus something else (forget the name - chemo brain) - they give you anti nausea iv before the chemo, and pills afterward. Felt very little to no nausea until the day after my last treatment. One little upchuck and it was done. Good luck to you on your treatments!
  • Moopy23
    Moopy23 Member Posts: 1,751 Member
    #6
    I had Taxotere
    Kat, if you end up with Taxotere, I will be glad to answer any questions I can. I just finished TAC April 28th. Lots of others have had one or the other; either way, you'll find lots of first-hand information and tips here.
  • cats_toy
    cats_toy Member Posts: 1,462 Member
    #7
    I had Taxol
    Kat, its not bad, your hair starts growing back while on it, but it does cause a lot of bone pain. Let me know if you get that one.

    =^..^=
  • confused123
    confused123 Member Posts: 251
    #8
    cats_toy said:

    I had Taxol
    Kat, its not bad, your hair starts growing back while on it, but it does cause a lot of bone pain. Let me know if you get that one.

    =^..^=

    I had taxol and got bone
    I had taxol and got bone pain the first time and the other three times just exhausted. I had it every 2 weeks, 4 doses but I know many people have it weekly. I wanted to finish as fast as possible. I hear your hair may thin but I was bald from A/C treatments. My hair actually started growing back on the Taxol. Good luck.

    Kim
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #9
    confused123 said:

    I had taxol and got bone
    I had taxol and got bone pain the first time and the other three times just exhausted. I had it every 2 weeks, 4 doses but I know many people have it weekly. I wanted to finish as fast as possible. I hear your hair may thin but I was bald from A/C treatments. My hair actually started growing back on the Taxol. Good luck.

    Kim

    Kat, I don't have to take
    Kat, I don't have to take chemo, but, I just wanted to wish you good luck on it!
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #10
    Jadie said:

    Hi Kat
    Taxotere and Taxol are sister drugs. You will get one or the other. I had Taxotere and the side effects weren't to bad. Hope you do ok with it.

    Jadie<3</p>

    Kat, just wishing you good
    Kat, just wishing you good luck with your chemo and hoping you have no side effects!
  • tjhay
    tjhay Member Posts: 655
    #11
    taxol vs taxotere
    Hi Kat
    I want wish you much luck and a easy time with your chemo.
    Jadie is right the two are sister chemos. I was suppose to do taxol but was unable to because of an allergic reation to the anti allergic meds i was suppose to take before hand. So they switched me to taxotere every 3 weeks for four treatments, had mild nausea, but a lot of bone pain.
    Be sure to let you oncono know if your nausea meds don't work well enough for you, and if you are experiencing pain let them know also. The idea is to save your life, not make you suffer. Don't just try to ride it through, make sure that you are comfortable, that is the quickest way to recover from your treatments.
    your in my prayers
    Tjhay
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #12
    tjhay said:

    taxol vs taxotere
    Hi Kat
    I want wish you much luck and a easy time with your chemo.
    Jadie is right the two are sister chemos. I was suppose to do taxol but was unable to because of an allergic reation to the anti allergic meds i was suppose to take before hand. So they switched me to taxotere every 3 weeks for four treatments, had mild nausea, but a lot of bone pain.
    Be sure to let you oncono know if your nausea meds don't work well enough for you, and if you are experiencing pain let them know also. The idea is to save your life, not make you suffer. Don't just try to ride it through, make sure that you are comfortable, that is the quickest way to recover from your treatments.
    your in my prayers
    Tjhay

    Just wishing you luck Kathy!
    Just wishing you luck Kathy!
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #13
    Moopy23 said:

    I had Taxotere
    Kat, if you end up with Taxotere, I will be glad to answer any questions I can. I just finished TAC April 28th. Lots of others have had one or the other; either way, you'll find lots of first-hand information and tips here.

    Just wishing you good luck
    Just wishing you good luck with your chemo Kat!
  • tgf
    tgf Member Posts: 950 Member
    #14
    Noel said:

    Just wishing you luck Kathy!
    Just wishing you luck Kathy!

    taxol
    I had 12 weekly infusions of taxol and herceptin and very, very few side effects... all of them very manageable. The one thing that sort of surprised me was that the oncologist said I would NOT lose all of my hair but it WOULD thin. Well ... I thought "thin" meant that it would be a few hairs here and few hairs there ... but on day 15 after my first treatment I ran my fingers through my hair and ended up with a hand full of hair. I did it again ... and more hair. I had a friend shave my head that night. It DID thin alright ... but it "thinned" in blobs ... and I didn't want to go around with a bald spot here and a bald spot there.

    I guess I'm one of the lucky ones because I didn't have any pain or discomfort ... and NEVER, NEVER had any nausea. (constipation yes ... nausea ... no)

    Another thing I am very thankful for is that I had a port "installed." I am a real chicken when it comes to needles ... and I wasn't even sure I could handle being stuck once each treatment without passing out ... but ... I have grown to love my port. The person who invented it is a genius. I put my EMLA cream on the port spot one hour before my appointment ... and when they put the needle in ... I honestly don't feel a thing.

    Oh ... and ... they don't just give you taxol and herceptin. They also give you a benadryl drip and some other stuff before they give you the taxol and herceptin. Being the anxious chicken that I am ... I always took a xanax before my appointment ... so with the xanax and the benadryl ... and my relaxtion CD playing in my ears ... I was usually asleep before they started the taxol. :-)

    As I said ... I know I must be one of the lucky ones ... and I hope things go smoothly for you too.

    hugs.
    teena
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    #15
    tgf said:

    taxol
    I had 12 weekly infusions of taxol and herceptin and very, very few side effects... all of them very manageable. The one thing that sort of surprised me was that the oncologist said I would NOT lose all of my hair but it WOULD thin. Well ... I thought "thin" meant that it would be a few hairs here and few hairs there ... but on day 15 after my first treatment I ran my fingers through my hair and ended up with a hand full of hair. I did it again ... and more hair. I had a friend shave my head that night. It DID thin alright ... but it "thinned" in blobs ... and I didn't want to go around with a bald spot here and a bald spot there.

    I guess I'm one of the lucky ones because I didn't have any pain or discomfort ... and NEVER, NEVER had any nausea. (constipation yes ... nausea ... no)

    Another thing I am very thankful for is that I had a port "installed." I am a real chicken when it comes to needles ... and I wasn't even sure I could handle being stuck once each treatment without passing out ... but ... I have grown to love my port. The person who invented it is a genius. I put my EMLA cream on the port spot one hour before my appointment ... and when they put the needle in ... I honestly don't feel a thing.

    Oh ... and ... they don't just give you taxol and herceptin. They also give you a benadryl drip and some other stuff before they give you the taxol and herceptin. Being the anxious chicken that I am ... I always took a xanax before my appointment ... so with the xanax and the benadryl ... and my relaxtion CD playing in my ears ... I was usually asleep before they started the taxol. :-)

    As I said ... I know I must be one of the lucky ones ... and I hope things go smoothly for you too.

    hugs.
    teena

    Thanks I do remember the
    Thanks I do remember the doctor talking about benadryl. It's so confusing and I have information sheets. Doctor gave me Xanax and antinausea and I just remembered she did not give me a script for the Elma cream.
  • Jeanne D
    Jeanne D Member Posts: 1,867
    #16
    Kat11 said:

    Thanks I do remember the
    Thanks I do remember the doctor talking about benadryl. It's so confusing and I have information sheets. Doctor gave me Xanax and antinausea and I just remembered she did not give me a script for the Elma cream.

    Kat
    I just want to wish you good luck! I know the chemo came unexpectedly

    as a part of your treatment, but, you will get thru it! We will support and help you in

    anyway that we can! Hugs, Jeanne
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    #17
    Jeanne D said:

    Kat
    I just want to wish you good luck! I know the chemo came unexpectedly

    as a part of your treatment, but, you will get thru it! We will support and help you in

    anyway that we can! Hugs, Jeanne

    Thank you all once again. I
    Thank you all once again. I am not afraid really anymore about the chemo. I could do with out, but thats not in the cards for me. I know where to come if I need to.

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