Taxol

Annie S · Regular Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 18

Hello :),
I am looking for any information on what people did when they took Taxol as far as pain relief. I have started on my regiment of Taxol for hopefully 12 straight sessions. I've had my first cycle of Taxol on 3/14/05 and a shot of Neulasta on 3/15/05. It is now 3/19/05 and I am having bone pains. I've used a total of 7 xtra strength Tylenol's since the beginning of these new med's. I really don't want to put anymore chemicals/drugs into my body, but I hear this is cumlative and I may well need to take something stronger. I would appreciate any suggestions. I do have prescriptions in my home of Vicadin and Percastat (sp) but have a very hard time even wanting to take them. I have also heard that some people actually have taken liquid morphine to help them??? O gosh this scares me.
Stats:
50 yr.old female - infiltrated ductual carsinoma breast cancer
Nodes Clear
Margins Clean
Stage IIA
Lumpectomy 2-1-05
Tumor 3 cm
Completed 2/21/05 4 cycles AC with no problem's
ER- PR- Herneu2 -
Sloan 2nd opinion doctor suggests that 4 cycles of AC is NOT ENOUGH
Tumor was irregular and the size 3 cm, hence suggesting to do 12 cycles of Taxol.

Peace, Hugs, and Smiles <3 And a BIG THANK YOU!!
Annie S. Long Island, NY

Annie S · Regular Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 18

Sorry all, I meant to write on the Lumpectomy 12-1-04. Geeezzz chemo head!!
<3
Annie S.

sgishelly · Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2005 11:53 am Post subject: Re: Taxol

Oh Annie....I don't want to hear this...I'm starting on Taxol April 4. Having just finished adraimyacin and cytoxin, I thought I was through the worst of this crappy treatment. I'll be watching the responses for this question so that I can keep it in mind if I have the same problems.
_________________
Shelly
Dx Nov 1, 2004 at 40 y/o
Right MRM, Left Simple Mast. - 12/9/04
Stage 2A IDC -
Primary tumor 1cm
3+ / 14 nodes, ER/PR+, HER2-
34 rads - finished 5/25
chemo - AC and Taxol FINISHED 7/6/05
beginning reconstruction 2/06
brain mets 4/06 - now stage 4

FiddleDeDe · Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2005 12:20 pm Post subject: Re: Taxol

I've been hearing scary stuff about the Taxol, as far as annoying side effects. Any reason why your docs chose Taxol instead of Taxotere? I'm having the later and seem to be doing OK on it.
_________________
Age 37
dx 1/31/05
IDC 8cm
nodes+, #?
Grade 3
ER/PR-/Her-2-
miscarriage 13 wks
chemo 2/22/05 TAC, every 3 wks
masectomy planned after chemo

Marion · Experienced user Joined: 28 Nov 2004 Posts: 60

Hi Annie and Fiddle

I too am interested in this topic. I start on Taxotere next wed (3/23/05) for 4 treatments as the onc thought it had fewer side effects than taxol so am interested to find out about how anyone is doing on either drug, what to expect, and what to do to get through this. I've head bad things about both. Anyone have thoughts on either drug? Fiddle, what are you experiencing with Taxotere?

Marion
_________________
Age: 48
Dx 10/14/04
lumpectomy 10/26
1.6 cm
Stage IIA
SN biopsy 10/29
1/14 nodes +
4 A/C
30 Rads
Taxotere complete
Tamoxifen for 5 years

DiO · Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2005 7:35 pm Post subject: taxol

I went through chemo Jan-Apr of 04. Did 4 AC then 4 taxol, both dose dense. I found the AC to be worse than the taxol, and for me the first taxol was the worst. Maybe because I wasn't completely over the effects of the last AC as my treatments were every 2 weeks. The main effect I had from the taxol was extreme fatigue--literally dragged myself out of bed in the morning, showered and sat and read all day until I went back to bed for the first month of taxol. Took all of my energy to walk to the kitchen for something to eat--which I did regularly, by the way, appetite was not much of a problem!! I had only minor bone/joint pain, and took ibuprofen or Aleve the first few days after the treatment, which for me was enough to help. By the last 2 treatments I got some of my stamina back and was able to feel like getting out for short shopping trips, etc. Hope you find, as I did, that it doesn't get worse with every taxol treatment. Every AC treatment did seem to be a little worse for me than the last, both with appetite, fatigue, and general malaise. Good luck with the rest of your treatments!
_________________
God Bless, Di

IDC 12/03 at age 55
lumpectomy, SNB 12/18/03
2cm tumor, 1/6+node, stage 2, grade 2 er/pr+ her2nu-
4 AC, 4 taxol, dose dense
33 rads
Arimidex started 7/04

Annie S · Regular Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 18

Hi all,

I hope I didn't scare anyone with what I had previously wrote about Taxol and pain relief. You can goggle any of the brand names or just the word Taxol (paclitaxel) and read up on what to expect. I am also sure you can find the information suggesting why the 12 cycles. Yes it does have stronger side effects then the taxene's (docetaxol) but they tell me it is far more worth doing Taxol then to do the synthethics of the drug. Also I am seeing everyone respond so far with 4 cycles dose dense. With having no node's involved the doctors at Sloan and at my Oncol. office feel that [u]12[/u] sessions of Taxol is one's best choice. They have reports stating that the 12 sessions have shown a better and longer survivial rate then just the 4 dose dense or the 6 every three week cycles. Seem's that all our doctors seem to have diff. answers or ways of offering the chemo.

I hope all goes well for everyone here :))..Keep intouch if there are any suggestions of how to respond to bpne pain and the neuropathies that can be involved. Remeber if your extremities are numb have someone rub them so you can stimulate the the nerves. Or take a good lotion and do them yourself. I have been told it pas of in the long run.

Hugs and smiles :))
Annie S. L.I., NY

FiddleDeDe · Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2005 9:18 pm Post subject: Taxotere

Marion, I'm doing Taxotere with AC every three weeks. I haven't had problems with with bone pain nor neurapthy either. I had my WBC drop low the first time and waiting to see what happens this time. I had my last dose on Thursday and am feeling very odd. Don't know if it's some sort or anxiety attack after getting sore muscles from a long walk or my counts are getting ready to drop. Talked to the doc on call and he said it could be either.

I have been able to work on the 3 week cycles. My doc thinks the longer term survival rates are just fine with the reginime that I'm taking but should allow me to not have horrendous side effects.
_________________
Age 37
dx 1/31/05
IDC 8cm
nodes+, #?
Grade 3
ER/PR-/Her-2-
miscarriage 13 wks
chemo 2/22/05 TAC, every 3 wks
masectomy planned after chemo

sgishelly · Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2005 10:23 pm Post subject: Re: Taxol

I'm doing the 12 cycles of Taxol....actually for the first 6 weeks it will be once a week then once every other week for three weeks but double the dose. My onco thought that was the best dosage for me. I didn't have too much trouble with the AC (I did the dose dense) so hopefully Taxol won't be too bad. I'm doing the Taxol with radiation, so I'm kind of getting double whammied.
_________________
Shelly
Dx Nov 1, 2004 at 40 y/o
Right MRM, Left Simple Mast. - 12/9/04
Stage 2A IDC -
Primary tumor 1cm
3+ / 14 nodes, ER/PR+, HER2-
34 rads - finished 5/25
chemo - AC and Taxol FINISHED 7/6/05
beginning reconstruction 2/06
brain mets 4/06 - now stage 4

Annie S · Regular Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 18

Hi Shelly, Annie here. How many Taxol's have you taken already? How are you holding up? My doctor had mentioned to me that I could do the 12 in an 8 week period. I'd like to do that!! Yes I agree with most that the AC was harder then this is suppose to be but I am curious on the side effects since I handled the AC well. Now it seems I don;t want to get out of bed and I only had one cycle. :(...Right now I think the bone pain I am experiencing must be the Neulasta shot.
Here's another questoin ladies, anyone of you decide to do Chiropractor, massage therapist or accupunture to help keep the immune system stronger?
Hugs, peace and let the sunshine !!!! <3
Annie S. L.I., NY <3

sgishelly · Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2005 6:20 pm Post subject: Re: Taxol

Annie,

I start Taxol on April 4. I did have the Neulasta shot with my AC though and I didn't have any trouble at all with that.
_________________
Shelly
Dx Nov 1, 2004 at 40 y/o
Right MRM, Left Simple Mast. - 12/9/04
Stage 2A IDC -
Primary tumor 1cm
3+ / 14 nodes, ER/PR+, HER2-
34 rads - finished 5/25
chemo - AC and Taxol FINISHED 7/6/05
beginning reconstruction 2/06
brain mets 4/06 - now stage 4

Sharon · Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 1:25 am Post subject: Taxol

Hi Annie: I had dose dense AC followed by 4 doses of Taxol. I took Claritin for the bone pain which I was told affects 25% of patients. It seemed to help. My problem with the Taxol was neuropathy. After ;ny first dose I had numbness in four toes on my left foot. It progressively got worse with each treatment. I also broke out in a rash with welts on day four which required prednisolone for 5 days. The 2nd treatment I had Deadron 8mg daily x 5days and the last two I was back on the prednisolone. I am now a month out from the last treatment and am bothered by the neuropathy in my feet and hands. It seems like it is getting worse....or at least more sensitive to pain. I called the nurse practitioner as I thought I was crazy.....could it be getting worse.... She said sometimes this happens and it might be a good sign that I am feeling more sensitivity. However, she ordered Neurotin which should decrease the painful sensations. I am having hot flashes and insomnia at night and the Neurotin should help those symptoms as well.

It gets discouraging at times, as I thought I would be feeling much better and stronger by now. I still get tired. I am starting radiation on Monday for six weeks and then all of the demanding treatments should be done.

My hemoglobin is finally coming up. It stayed in the 10 range despite the injections of Arasep during treatment.

This isn't an easy journey and we are all so different, but is so helpful to learn about oher's journey and what is helpful. If anyone has any suggestions for neuropathy it would be appreciated. I am taking L=Gllutamine.

Hugs and blessings, Sharon
_________________
DX: October, 2004,age 59
Lumpectomy with Sentinel node
Sentinel node + with 5mm lesion
ER/PR +
HER2 -
Invasive Ductal with 8mm primary lesion
Dose Dense AC x 4 with Taxol x4
Radiation x 6weeks

Annie S · Regular Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 18

Good morning ladies,
Well I went to have my 2nd cycle of Taxol on Monday only to find out that because my oncol. gave me a shot of Neulasta last Tues that I COULD NOT do the Taxol within two weeks of the Neulasta. My #'s were at 17.7, range is 4.2-10.2 so I seems I never needed it and when I went yesterday they did my WBC and my #'s are now 90.9 kinda off the charts wouldn't you say. So now I know why my bones hurt so bad. It was all the Neulasta which kept me in pain regenerating my cells. So I was obviously TICKED off. Here I am set back a week already of my 12 sessions and I just started. I can understand taking a week off if my body needed a break but for him to screw up as my doctor was not in the plan. :(
Thank you for writing and sharing. :) I'll write that down on the Clariton.
As far as the neuropathy make sure you rub your feet alot or have someone help you, to keep the nerves stimulated. I have heard it does take longer to get the feet back. But excersise them as often as possible. So sorry you have to go thru that. Maybe you need to have the dose lessened and taken over a longer time? I hope your doctor isi fully aware. I had thought mine and I were on the same field too. See sometimes they just don t know, or see or think because maybe they too are overwhelmed. Hard enuf with my chemo brain working against me too.
Well ladies and gents have a wonderful day, keep on smiling :) another day is akmost here. 5:16am EST Long Island, NY
<3 Hugs all
Annie

ann hollis vail · Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 7:56 pm Post subject: Re: Taxol

Hi Ladies,
I feel like an idiot since I declined chemotherapy and still worry that I have made a wrong decision. Annie, I go to an accupuncturist and find it very helpful. You will need to find a very good one, and one that will work with your doctor... I was able to go through radiation without any fatigue and I continued to work full time. Accupuncture is the process of balancing energy, but you need to find an accupuncturist that gives you herbs to drink as well. The herbs are the most important part of the treatment. I only do the herbs because my doctor told me the AD/ Cyt were poision. Being holistic in my approach I am sticking with the herbs for now. I still worry a great deal, and especially when I read that most all of you have done the reccommended treatment. Hollis

Annie S · Regular Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 18

Well Hello again!! Good to hear from you A. :)
Well to get down to the point here, since I am doing a chemo I can't be taking any herbs. This would only counter act upon making the cells stronger where as the doctors are trying to radiacate them instead. Incase there is ONE in my body somewhere. Believe me, there would not be any chemo if they hadn't scared me enough to do the strong treatments of chemo drugs. I also will have to do the 6 weeks of radiation. And for the record A I have to do 12 cycles of Taxol not just the few my oncol. had mentioned. The dr, from Sloans was very conviencing.
As far as what you decide to do for yourself, well I am sure you and your doctors can make the best possible solution for your health. Are you being blood tested or overseen by an oncol. besides your accupuncturist? Even with the best of care and the most aggressive chemo can't tell us that we will not re-ocur or have a new cancer. Its a mind game that we learn to live with. But it is also very treatable now adays and I much rather not look back and say why didn't I do that when I had the chance and was in the flow of it all.
Again I am glad to hear from you, hi Shelly :) hope your all smiling and doing well tonight.
<3 Love and hugs and always Peace :))
Annie S LI NY

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