Taxol

Hi There,
       I just got my 2nd of 12 treatments today and my onc nurse said some women have tried teatree oil on their nails to help prevent them from falling off, I wondered if any ladies had a problem with their nails and have tried this remedy. I'm hoping not to have this side effect but hear it can be quite painful so if there is anything I could do to ward it off I'm in..So far I seem to be tolerating taxol ok mostly tired and some headaches..is this pretty much standard for those that have had this treatment? thanks Kathy

Hi Kathy,

I am getting my 4th a/c on Thursday and have tolerated it fairly well, except for my big toenails.  They started acting up last week.  I am a bartender and on my feet for long periods of time.  I plan on asking my onc about the booties.  Where do you girls get the tea oil? I have to work and need to try to head off problems now before its too painful to be on my feet...  who knew that stubbing your toe could hurt so badly....

I am almost 3 weeks out from my last Taxol infusion and I was really lucky in that I did not have any nail changes or neuropathy. The only thing I did was rub Burt's Bees Lemon Cuticle Cream on my nails every night, which is something I do anyway.

Today I completed taxol treatment #11. I also met with the surgeon to discuss and set my surgery date. My surgery will be on Aug 7th. I elected a full mastectomy of the left breast w/o reconstruction. My boobs are tiny anyway. The surgeon will also remove my axillary lymch nodes since the cancer has spread to that area which was confirmed by Pet scan and biopsy. Luckily, the Chemo side effects have been minimum. I have only two issues, my nails looks terrible and I have BAD hot flashes and night sweats. Millie

Hi There,
        I just had my 10th taxol treatment today and I have mild numbness in my fingers but my nails are very sore ..still there though. I asked my onc nurse about it and she said a lot of people just can't finish the treatments and just stop..her words by the 10th one you have gotten the max benefit and the last 2 are a bonus. I'm afraid to stop although I'm very achey and fatigued at this point ..I can hardly take it but my family and I too feel I just need to see it thru it's only 2 more. Has anyone else felt so wiped out by the end of taxol and does your body pretty much recover after you stop..I don't want to have any regrets later if I stopped 2 short. Also I get 146 mg of taxol since I started ..I noticed some people seem to get a lot less ..not sure if I'm reading that right.I appreciate any feedback as you all can relate in a way my family and friends cannot..thanks Kathy

I am proud to say I finished Taxol in November 2009...all treatments!  Finish your treatment!  I can't stress that enough not unless your oncologist tells you otherwise.  Taxol was very unkind to my fingernails.  It didn't affect my toenails but my fingers swelled soooo bad I couldn't button my clothes and they were starting to peel back so my oncologist rolled my last two treatments into one big bolus so I could finish before they came completely off and developed an infection.  My clinical trial nurse suggested I use epson salts to soak my fingers and I used that for a while.  It did help with the pain but my nails continued to get worse.  Everyone is different I will agree with that commitment but please continue with your treatment.  I wish you the best and to anyone who feels like giving up...I will tell you there wasn't a visit I did not beg my oncologist to stop treatment while I cried .  Just know this to will pass!  I had to keep telling myself this or I would have quit.  I also had to think about my children and how I had to be here for them as well as my husband and to show them what a fighter really looks like.  A fighter is not the people who received millions of dollars for getting in the boxing ring.  It is us!  We are the fighters! Now go out there and beat this!  I hope I never have to go through it again and my heart goes out to each of you going through treatment.  No one can understand what you are going through if they have not had our type of chemotherapy.  We understand each other because we are sisters in this fight!  You can do it!  You can do it!  I did it and so can you!

I'm happy to report that so far (knock on wood), nearly 4 weeks from my last Taxol, I have no signs of neuropathy in my hands and feet. I think the frozen booties and gloves may have done their job. Although who knows, maybe I would have been one of the lucky ones anyway.   Did loose two toenails, but that started with the AC. My thumbnails are weird, but no other issues. I still continue to use the tea tree oil on toenails.

Hi Kathy, knowing that you can do it gives me strength as well! I have Taxol #8 tomorrow morning! We are strong women and we can do it!!
Love to you,
Roewater

Kmwhope,