Taxol & Herceptin

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Kitty3571
Kitty3571 Member Posts: 48
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hello all - Just feeling crapy today and thought I'd unload a little...Just had my fourth and last treatment of A&C. Starting Taxol & Herceptin every Friday in June. Got really sick over the holiday weekend. But at least from the A&C I kind of knew what to expect, my fear is what should I expect from the new chemo I'm going to get now? It's like starting all over again from the beginning. I should be happy that I'm half way through my treatments but it's difficult some days. I've been reading side effects of both Taxol & Herceptin and am not looking forward to any of it. Plus radiation after that for who knows how long (another-don't know what to expect-drug) I'm trying to keep a positive attitude but it's been hard. Not to mention I'm terrified of the bc coming back. Everytime I feel something that's not normal or a little pain here or there, I get really scared and want to run to the doc. I need to get over this feeling. I know I will in time but for now, today - I'm just grouchy about it all!!! Thanks for listening - God Bless everyone who has to endure the beast! Kitty

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  • LesleyH
    LesleyH Member Posts: 370
    #2
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    Hi Kitty,

    Oh, it is so good to be done with the A&C. That was the worst experience of my life. I didn't have Herceptin, but I did have Taxol every week for 12 weeks and had few side effects. After feeling like death on A&C, it was a welcome relief. I felt a little nausea every now and again, but never had to take anything. I walked 5 miles every day with no problems. It was so much easier.

    But there were some things. My fingers and toes lost a little feeling and I dropped things more. My nails lifted off the nail bed and some fell off. I am also terrified of the beast returning. I just do what I can. I live such a healthy life now that I know if it does come back...Well, I did what I could.

    Hugs.

    Lesley
  • Susan956
    Susan956 Member Posts: 510
    #3
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    Kitty,

    Just like Lesley said you are through the really losey chemo. When I had finished my last A/C... I really thought thank goodness their wasn't another one to go. I actually felt a good bit better with Taxol & Herceptin at least at the beginning. I happen to be one of about 10% of people who have a problem taking Herceptin. But it even wasn't a problem for the first 12 that was done with Taxol. My Doctor wanted me to do 52 weeks of Herceptin. We made it through 28 after having to stop twice due to my heart.

    I also had tingling in my hands and feet. But compared to A/C it was much easier. While I has taken me awhile to get back to normal (I did the same trip you are on (A/C, Taxol/Herceptin, Radiation, and now Armidex for 5 years), I really felt like things got easier after A/C, and for me radiation was a breeze.

    If I can help more I would be glad to respond to emails. I even kept a log of how I felt each week of treatment.

    Take Care... God Bless... and know that their is light at the end of the tunnel....

    Susan.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #4
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    Kitty,
    Ok, get ready for Suzi Sunshine....
    My AC experience was soooooo bad that I had decided to quit after #3. My onc convinced me to at least try the Taxol. I didn't have Herceptin. I had had 5FU with my colorectal cancer, so the 'Tingles' were nothing new.
    So, my secret. Because, believe it or not, 7 weeks post chemo...I HAVE NO TINGLES at all!
    I started drinking water...ALOT the day before my taxol infusion...and on the day of infusion, and on my 'magic day' the day after the infusion. I peed a river, but as I kept more hydrated, the tingles lessened. The Taxol was a piece of cake compared to the Adriamycin...I was sick as a dog on that. And now I am on day 14 of the rads....19 days left....
    I STILL keep very well hydrated...I found that ice water, the colder the better, in little sips, was HEAVEN.
    Hugs, and you are thru the worst in my opinion!
    Kathi
  • zoebeth
    zoebeth Member Posts: 1
    #5
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    KathiM said:

    Kitty,
    Ok, get ready for Suzi Sunshine....
    My AC experience was soooooo bad that I had decided to quit after #3. My onc convinced me to at least try the Taxol. I didn't have Herceptin. I had had 5FU with my colorectal cancer, so the 'Tingles' were nothing new.
    So, my secret. Because, believe it or not, 7 weeks post chemo...I HAVE NO TINGLES at all!
    I started drinking water...ALOT the day before my taxol infusion...and on the day of infusion, and on my 'magic day' the day after the infusion. I peed a river, but as I kept more hydrated, the tingles lessened. The Taxol was a piece of cake compared to the Adriamycin...I was sick as a dog on that. And now I am on day 14 of the rads....19 days left....
    I STILL keep very well hydrated...I found that ice water, the colder the better, in little sips, was HEAVEN.
    Hugs, and you are thru the worst in my opinion!
    Kathi

    Hi Kitty-
    I went throught the A/C and agree- that was the worst! Very sick for the whole time... Taxol was much easier to tolerate. I had terrible joint pain with it but not much nausea. Also lost feeling in my hands and feet- most of that has returned thankfully.
    Also had 36 rads. That was tolerable. Was exhausted through much of it though.
    I'm now on my last few weeks of Herceptin (every three weeks for 52!) Side effects from that I have are mostly sleeplessness; stomach issues (diarrhea for about 4 days after each treatment); watery eyes and nose; just kind of flu-like symptoms---still very tired. I usually come home after a treatement, take tylenol and benedryl and go to bed. I know of a few people that had NO side effects from Herceptin- felt like they weren't even on it. So you may be lucky with it... but the joint pain from the Taxol is pretty severe.
    Taking Tamoxifen also so some of my side effects could be related to that also.
    Good luck with your treatments! And- now that you've gotten past the A/C the rest is much easier!
  • Kitty3571
    Kitty3571 Member Posts: 48
    #6
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    Thanks to everyone for responding to my gripes! I really appreciate the information and advice. It truly helps to talk to others who are going through or already experienced first hand the same stuff. Take care and thanks so much! Kitty
  • Astrid
    Astrid Member Posts: 17
    #7
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    I completed 6 high dose (282 mg) rounds of Taxol (Paclitaxel) as a standalone chemo drug on a clinical trial. This was administered every two weeks. I had slight tingling which was helped by Glutamine for the first four to five days after Chemo. I had joint pain at night which was helped with a heating pad. I never took the anti nausea medicine except the first night. I took Adavan to help me sleep when the joint pain was bad and when the heavy steroids kicked in and I was wired. I also drank LOTS of water before, especially during and after chemo. Taxol takes 3-5 hours to administer. I was usually tired the first day and then 3-4 days after. So I had my chemo on Tuesdays and I usually had a bad weekend but then I felt pretty good. Try to stay active even if it is hard. I jointed the gym and did a palates class and walked 1 1/2 every day. I did cardio workouts on my off weeks. I start herceptin on June 14th.
  • Astrid
    Astrid Member Posts: 17
    #8
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    Herceptin is not chemotherapy. It is a monoclonal antibody (sometimes called biologic therapy). Antibodies are part of the body's normal defense against bacteria, viruses, and abnormal cells such as cancer cells. Heceptin targets cells that make too much HER-2. HER-2 is a protein found on the surface of cancer cells. 25% of breast cancers are HER-2+. HER-2 + cancer tumor are more aggressive and tend to grow back faster. My cancer was HER-2+. Herceptin binds to HER2-positive cancer cells and may block them from dividing and growing. It may also signal the body's own immune system to destroy the cell. Herceptin, a monoclonal antibody, zeroes in on cancer cells much more closely than chemotherapy drugs do, thereby sparing surrounding tissue. Because it's a monoclonal antibody and not a chemotherapy drug, Herceptin doesn't bring about the same side effects as chemotherapy drugs do, such as nausea and vomiting, hair loss, and increased risk of infection. And Herceptin is not an anti-estrogen treatment, so it doesn't cause side effects related to the lowering of estrogen levels, such as bone thinning or hot flashes. However, Herceptin does increase your risk of congestive heart failure. Although this risk is low, trials don’t yet provide long-term outcomes, so it's possible this risk could increase over time.
  • madbrat
    madbrat Member Posts: 3
    #9
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    Hello

    I did Taxol/Heceptin for 12 weeks every week. I had no problems at all. But I didn't have any problems with A/C either. I did radiation for 6 weeks everyday. Never had any problems with it either. I worked everyday. When I was doing A/C I would get it on a Thursday and I would be off Thursday and Friday and back to work on Monday. When I was doing Taxol and Herpceptin I was just off on Thursday, back to work on Friday. When I did radiation I would go at lunch or early in the morning and then go to work. I am currently doing Herceptin alone I have 3 more treatments of Herceptin. I haven't had any problems, I do go get the usually Muga.

    As far as the fear of bc coming back I think each and everyone of us, deals with that fear everyday. And when something hurts or we don't feel well, that is what we think.

    One thing that I can tell you about Taxol, is to watch your nails closely. Watch for discoloration. Try and keep them short, try to keep clear polish on them. And if they start looking funny, have a doc check them out. Taxol could make your nails fall off, no one will tell you this, but its is possible.

    You could develop nerve damage in your arms and feet, I didn't at the time I have developed tennis elbow and I have a problem with my wrist when I sleep at night. Now the tennis elbow had passed and I have problems with my wrist.

    Its one heck of a journey that none of us wanted to have happen to us.

    If you want to ask me any questions, please feel free to do so any of you ladies, I have been through it. It was easier for me than it might be for others. But I did discover that if you have something in your stomach it seems not to be so hard on the body. I am not a breakfast person, when I did chemo I was I ate breakfast everyday and that was oatmeal. Maybe not alot but something that would at least stick to my ribs.

    Hugs-Marianne
  • madbrat
    madbrat Member Posts: 3
    #10
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    zoebeth said:

    Hi Kitty-
    I went throught the A/C and agree- that was the worst! Very sick for the whole time... Taxol was much easier to tolerate. I had terrible joint pain with it but not much nausea. Also lost feeling in my hands and feet- most of that has returned thankfully.
    Also had 36 rads. That was tolerable. Was exhausted through much of it though.
    I'm now on my last few weeks of Herceptin (every three weeks for 52!) Side effects from that I have are mostly sleeplessness; stomach issues (diarrhea for about 4 days after each treatment); watery eyes and nose; just kind of flu-like symptoms---still very tired. I usually come home after a treatement, take tylenol and benedryl and go to bed. I know of a few people that had NO side effects from Herceptin- felt like they weren't even on it. So you may be lucky with it... but the joint pain from the Taxol is pretty severe.
    Taking Tamoxifen also so some of my side effects could be related to that also.
    Good luck with your treatments! And- now that you've gotten past the A/C the rest is much easier!

    I noticed that you come home and take Tylendol and bendadryl. When I get Herceptin the nurses give us that. Apparently alot of benadryl. Since everyone in the room is asleep, but not me. I have done herceptin for 12 weeks every week and now I do it every 3 weeks for 17 times, I will be done in July.
  • Dijon
    Dijon Member Posts: 3
    #11
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    Hello Kitty.
    Although I did not have Herceptin, I did have Taxol. First, then A&C. I had barely any reaction to the Taxol. Other than losing my hair, I felt fine, never got sick, and actually worked at my full time job through the Taxol with no difficulties. There were minor symptoms, like tingling or numbness. But the A&C killed me. So from my point of view, you've been through the hard part and hopefully you'll sail through the next batch. As far as radiation, I did burn severely, but as with anything one day at a time it was bearable. I went for 30 sessions, and the last 5 had to be delayed because of the burn. All in all it's 10 months after my mastectomy/ TRAMM reconstruction and i feel like myself again. so hang in there.

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