Need some advice

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ktamp
ktamp Member Posts: 81
in Ovarian Cancer #1
I need some advice from others who know what I am talking about. I started out on dense dose taxol. We had to nix the taxol after 2 rounds and swtiched to taxotere because of severe neuropathy. I'm talking fiery razorblades in my hands and feet and fiery tingles all over my body. Started neurontin and vit b6 and the neuropathy got much better. I did 3 rounds of taxotere and the neuropathy has gotten worse again. Not as bad as before but it is at the threshold of what I can bear. If it gets worse, I won't be able to stand it. I have one round left and I want to refuse the taxotere and just do carbo for the last round. I'm terrified of the neuropathy getting worse, knowing it may not ever go away. I am a stage 1C. If I was staged higher, I would probably suck it up. Everyone around me is telling me it's just one more, but they don't have to live with the damage to my body. It wouldn't be worth it to me to beat cancer for the second time and live with severe pain for the rest of my days. Not to mention the chemo nurse said it could affect my ability to walk someday. I can hardly stand to put shoes on these days and my hands are tingly all the time again. What do you think?

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  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #2
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    HOPE THIS HELPS
    I know what you're going through. Neuropathy was no picnic for me either, as I'm sure it is't for anyone. However, if the neuronton and B-6 is working for you (B-6 worked for me), I would try to get through your last one or two treatments. Continue the neurontin and B-6, and in time the symptoms of neuropathy will subside. Of course, this is only my experience, but I still take the B-6 and I only have brief episodes (lasting maybe 1 or 2 miinutes) only every few months or so. Most side affects of chemo do go away in time. My arms, hands and feet were the worst.

    I'm sure you'll decide what's best for you. Keep us informed.

    Hugs and Prayers,
    Monika
  • carolenk
    carolenk Member Posts: 907 Member
    #3
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    mopar said:

    HOPE THIS HELPS
    I know what you're going through. Neuropathy was no picnic for me either, as I'm sure it is't for anyone. However, if the neuronton and B-6 is working for you (B-6 worked for me), I would try to get through your last one or two treatments. Continue the neurontin and B-6, and in time the symptoms of neuropathy will subside. Of course, this is only my experience, but I still take the B-6 and I only have brief episodes (lasting maybe 1 or 2 miinutes) only every few months or so. Most side affects of chemo do go away in time. My arms, hands and feet were the worst.

    I'm sure you'll decide what's best for you. Keep us informed.

    Hugs and Prayers,
    Monika

    Another opinion
    I would ask them to drop the dose for you or give you a week off. Everyone is different.

    I really suffered on the dose dense protocol and had to quit it. In retrospect, I would have been OK if I would have waited a couple of weeks between doses...I couldn't clear the stuff out of my body in a week and what happened to me was a lot worse than neuropathy.

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