Who has experiences with Taxol?

pammycake
pammycake Member Posts: 35
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I am starting chemo Wednesday. I am going to be on Taxol for 4 cycles. I have read different effects women have had on the different chemos. I want to know what side effects someone has experienced with Taxol only. Any info given will be greatly appreciated.

Everyone have a blessed day!!

Pam

Comments

  • LorettaB
    LorettaB Member Posts: 51
    #2
    Hi, Pam!

    Glad to hear that it's only Taxol for 4 cycles.

    Taxol was brutal to me. But there are a lot of people in here who didn't have as bad a reaction as me.

    My feet and hands are still extremely numb and hurt and I had my last Taxol treatment 4 1/2 weeks ago. Most people have told me this may last for up to 6 months. I did not have nausea with Taxol: only body and muscle aches. They lasted longer after each treatment. I stayed tired longer with Taxol. Taxol wiped out what was left of my eyelashes and my eyebrows. One of my fellow chemo buddies lost her fingernails. It was pretty aweful for her.

    Before I had Taxol, I had 4 A/C treatments and they weren't nearly as bad as the Taxol. This stuff was just real poison to me. It hopefully killed what cancer was left but it was at a price.

    I hope this helps and there are many, many people who don't have this reaction so don't get too worried. I wish you a speedy recovery!

    Lo
  • DiO
    DiO Member Posts: 51
    #3
    I finished my taxol 5/04, so over a year ago. I had 4 AC prior to the 4 taxol, and found the AC much harder. My worst reaction to the taxol was the first treatment, and after that each one got easier. I'm convinced it was because the effects of the last AC treatment hadn't completely worn off yet. After the first treatment I had some mild bone pain and slight redness and burning sensation in the hands. The bone pain was about the same each time, but nothing an ibuprofen or two for a couple of days didn't take care of. The hand thing was just the first time. I had only a little fingernail/toenail changes and no nausea with the taxol, although they did change my anti nausea meds with the first taxol as I'd been having some problem during the AC. The main side effect I had during taxol was fatigue--spent most of the time in a chair reading, although even that got better with the last couple of treatments. Everyone has a little different reaction to everything, but that was my experience. Good luck to you with your treatments!

    God bless, Di
  • pammycake
    pammycake Member Posts: 35
    #4
    LorettaB said:

    Hi, Pam!

    Glad to hear that it's only Taxol for 4 cycles.

    Taxol was brutal to me. But there are a lot of people in here who didn't have as bad a reaction as me.

    My feet and hands are still extremely numb and hurt and I had my last Taxol treatment 4 1/2 weeks ago. Most people have told me this may last for up to 6 months. I did not have nausea with Taxol: only body and muscle aches. They lasted longer after each treatment. I stayed tired longer with Taxol. Taxol wiped out what was left of my eyelashes and my eyebrows. One of my fellow chemo buddies lost her fingernails. It was pretty aweful for her.

    Before I had Taxol, I had 4 A/C treatments and they weren't nearly as bad as the Taxol. This stuff was just real poison to me. It hopefully killed what cancer was left but it was at a price.

    I hope this helps and there are many, many people who don't have this reaction so don't get too worried. I wish you a speedy recovery!

    Lo

    Loretta,

    It's good to hear from you again. I am not looking forward to all the side effects of the chemo and I'm so ready to get it over with. I have seen another post about fingernails. I don't understand why it's going to take so long for the treatment. I was told that it's going to take 4-4 1/2 hours. Another thing I'm not understanding is most women do AC then Taxol. I guess it's not meant for me to understand.

    I do hope that all is well with you. Thanks for responding to my post.

    Pam
  • pammycake
    pammycake Member Posts: 35
    #5
    DiO said:

    I finished my taxol 5/04, so over a year ago. I had 4 AC prior to the 4 taxol, and found the AC much harder. My worst reaction to the taxol was the first treatment, and after that each one got easier. I'm convinced it was because the effects of the last AC treatment hadn't completely worn off yet. After the first treatment I had some mild bone pain and slight redness and burning sensation in the hands. The bone pain was about the same each time, but nothing an ibuprofen or two for a couple of days didn't take care of. The hand thing was just the first time. I had only a little fingernail/toenail changes and no nausea with the taxol, although they did change my anti nausea meds with the first taxol as I'd been having some problem during the AC. The main side effect I had during taxol was fatigue--spent most of the time in a chair reading, although even that got better with the last couple of treatments. Everyone has a little different reaction to everything, but that was my experience. Good luck to you with your treatments!

    God bless, Di

    Di,

    Thank you for the information you gave me. Did you lose any weight off of it? I'm going to get something for my nails. I barely have some now, but want to keep what I have.

    I'm not looking forward to the bone pain, but like you said ibuprofen should work.

    Thanks again.

    Be blessed!!!!

    Pam
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #6
    Dear Pam-

    I had 4 Taxol in 2004, finished 3/04. Unlike most other women, I did much better on A/C than Taxol. I experienced severe neuropathy of hands & feet and was switched to Taxotere to reduce the side effects. I managed to get through it, though. I hope that your side effects will be minimal. All the best to you.

    Jaded
  • Future
    Future Member Posts: 133 Member
    #7
    I had Taxol every other week for 4 cycles. Had no major problems - they had me take meds couple days prior to treatment and then gave me IV meds prior to Taxol on day of treatment. We all react differently - may want to talk to your doctor and find out if they will be doing any "preload" meds.
  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #8
    Future said:

    I had Taxol every other week for 4 cycles. Had no major problems - they had me take meds couple days prior to treatment and then gave me IV meds prior to Taxol on day of treatment. We all react differently - may want to talk to your doctor and find out if they will be doing any "preload" meds.

    I had taxol after 4 rounds of AC. The AC almost killed me so for me the taxol was a cakewalk. There is also a sister drug to taxol called taxotere which in some studies is shown to be more effective with less side effects, so you may want to ask your doc about that, and then there is abraxane. It came out 2/2005 also a sister to taxol. It is an albumin bound nano-particle paclitaxel. The albumin bound nano-particle takes the paclitaxel almost directly to the tumor itself without doing so much harm to normal cells. I almost took it this go round till I read that the albumin was a human blood by-product derivative. Now I know they screen for HIV and HEP-C, but what do they not know to screen for? cause 20 years ago we didn't screen for AIDS.
    Anyway, some things to think about, and don't be afraid to question your doc. If he resents your questions you best find you another doctor. At least that's my theory.
    hummingbyrd
  • DiO
    DiO Member Posts: 51
    #9
    pammycake said:

    Di,

    Thank you for the information you gave me. Did you lose any weight off of it? I'm going to get something for my nails. I barely have some now, but want to keep what I have.

    I'm not looking forward to the bone pain, but like you said ibuprofen should work.

    Thanks again.

    Be blessed!!!!

    Pam

    I lost approximately 10 lbs total during treatment, 4 AC, 4 taxol, then rads from 1/04-6/04. I have lost another 6 lbs over the past year which has onc a little concerned since I've been eating everything in sight! Never had that problem before, and am now almost down to the weight I always wanted to be, so we'll see what happens from here! I guess I'm lucky since so many seem to gain weight from the chemo and arimidex or tamoxifen.

    Good luck and God bless, Di
  • Ellison
    Ellison Member Posts: 68
    #10
    I am on Taxol and Avastin. I get T/A twice a month and Taxol by itself inbetween. I have one week off. I will know if this treatment is working next month. If so, I will continue on. I will have a total of 6 months of this.

    The first treatment almost did me in. Not sure why, I was not feeling good going into this treatment. My mouth was chemically burnt, kanker sores. I broke out with what I thought was shingles on my back but was not. My feet were also very sore. Hard to walk. I had labored breathing. I was wrapped with pain form the neck to the feet. I took pain meds and an anti anxiety pill on the third and fourth day. Symptoms subsided and I have never had that reaction again. Cancer has matasised to the bones. This is my second round with treatment. I am experiencing some neuropathy. My feet get blisters and peel. I have hair loss.
    Feel fatigued more on this treatment than the first treatment I had in 2003. I think maybe my little fingernail is going to lift. I understand that is one of the side effects. Also have some bone pain. Not as much as I had before treatment. Once a month I get pamedranate. Also called Arida. I understand this keeps the calcium in the bone. If it wern't for the fatigue, I would not be so bad. I think everyones experience is different yet the same in many ways.

    This is probably more info than you would like to know at this time.........

    Good luck
    elli
  • Kathy1108
    Kathy1108 Member Posts: 62
    #11
    I had A/C and Taxol treatments in 03 and the A/C was much easier for me. The taxol gave me numbness and tingling in my hands and toes. My hands are fine now but my toes are still somewhat numb. I still get tired too. With the taxol treatment a nurse is by your side for a while to watch for any reaction. When I was getting the taxol treatment I started to get an reaction on the third treatment. I started to get very red and flushed in my face and a warm feeling throughout my body. They had to stop it for a little while then proceed very slowly to finish it. They said that it if there was going to be an reaction it is usually between the first and second treatment. Now they know that they have to watch people until the third treatment at the place I had my treatment. Make sure that you drink a lot of water and eat some little snacks during and when you are home from your treatments. That will help you from getting sick. Good Luck with your treatments.
    Kathy
  • pammycake
    pammycake Member Posts: 35
    #12
    Kathy1108 said:

    I had A/C and Taxol treatments in 03 and the A/C was much easier for me. The taxol gave me numbness and tingling in my hands and toes. My hands are fine now but my toes are still somewhat numb. I still get tired too. With the taxol treatment a nurse is by your side for a while to watch for any reaction. When I was getting the taxol treatment I started to get an reaction on the third treatment. I started to get very red and flushed in my face and a warm feeling throughout my body. They had to stop it for a little while then proceed very slowly to finish it. They said that it if there was going to be an reaction it is usually between the first and second treatment. Now they know that they have to watch people until the third treatment at the place I had my treatment. Make sure that you drink a lot of water and eat some little snacks during and when you are home from your treatments. That will help you from getting sick. Good Luck with your treatments.
    Kathy

    I want to thank everyone who posted to my topic. I found all the information valuable and will keep all that was given to me in mind. It seems to be a pattern with the symptoms for everyone. I had my 1st chemo today and so far I am having just a little tingling. Hopefully that will go away with the fluids I'll be drinking.

    Thanks again everyone!!! Take care.

    Pam
  • keldogart
    keldogart Member Posts: 1
    #13
    Hi Pam!
    I am 3.5 years out and too was scared of Taxol after the 4 Adr. & Cytoxan cycle. Truly the Taxol was easier for me- mostly body and bone aching but no nausea like the 1st 4. I lost the hair and eyebrows that were trying hard to come back. My fingers and toes went numb, and I still have numbness in 4 fingertips. I also had a funny sensation in one of my teeth and gumline which the dentist finally figured out was nerve sensitivity to the Taxol. My friend had Taxotere (sp) and she had it much worse than I did on Taxol. Truly, your hair will probably start coming back in before your last treatment... mine did! I remember it taking 4 hours the first time because they have to give you an ample amount of steroids and they dose you slowly to make sure you don't have an allergic reaction to the Taxol which is derived from the Yew tree so some people are sensitive. If you tolerate it well the first time, the next 3 are infused more quickly.
    I'm sending you good thoughts! Let me know if I can help!

    Kelly

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