Refusing Taxol Treatment

I have decided that I will not do the 12 rounds of Taxol I am scheduled to start on the 25th. My Oncologist does not yet know about it but I have decided that quality of life is more important to me than living a little longer if that is even the case...how would anybody know. After I had the bilateral mastectomy and the had the lymphnodes removed I was dead set against chemo but let myself by talked into it. I have been miserable with constant pain and then every side effect the AC chemo had to offer. I just have had enough. There is no reason for me to worry about longevity I have nobody here who would really care so why put myself through all that. Just the thought of weekly Taxol treatments for three month while I am stuck inside my house with the walls closing in on me is just too much to even think about. I want to get over the last AC chemo and then start working on getting my health back so I can enjoy whatever time I have left. I am not able to find anything that actually says having Taxol after AC is a MUST HAVE for survival. 

Thank you so much for sharing Mike....you just made my day! I am so violently against any additional chemo that it would be impossible to get it into me. I will just take my chances and hope for the best. Once I get over the last awful side effects of the last AC treatment I will work full time on getting my health back and the rest will be out of my hands.

Renate,

I had only 4 rounds of AC.....not out of choice but because that was the treatment offered. During that time. I am certainly not advocating for that. Just letting you know. This was 2001, about 4-5 years before they named/specified "our" cancer as TN. I am not sure how much they knew then. I also only had a lumpectomy. Again...that is what was offered. It was only later that they realized what could be the aggressiveness of TN and upped tx to match according to studies. I always considered myself stage 1 but my tumor was 2cm....which some consider stage 2 and as most TN, grade 3.

I took glucosimine/chondroitin for probably the first year after tx for the aches and pains, had regular massage as well as accupuncture.

Renate,

Hi Renate!  I feel your pain with A/C........for me it was horrible!  The only good thing for me was my cancer center did not do every two weeks ........it was every three weeks so I was able to recover slightly before the next infusion and I did not have to take the neulesta shot which causes so much pain.  I had a lot of nausea and chemo brain.  Taxol was better as I did not have any nausea.  After all the A/C my tumor was shrinking but not that much........it wasn't until I was about half way through taxol that they said it had shrunk so I'm glad I took it........when I had surgery I had a pcr and I am now 4 years from diagnosis and most of it is just a bad memory!!  I only have slight neuropathy in my feet which has been improving gradually.  I feel good.  Naturally whatever you decide to do I understand and respect.  We all must decide for ourselves what we are going to do.  I do remember crying the morning of my 4th A/C and telling my dh that I'm not going to get the last infusion.  So he talked me into seeing the Dr. (I cried the whole way to the hospital).  Then I talked with the Dr. and cried.........then I said OK to the infusion........he did give me a new anti nausea drug which he said was old school and would make me sleepy and I said to him........if I could sleep the next three weeks I will be happy with that!  So I did the infusion and actually the 4th time was not as bad as the 3rd...........I kind of slept through the next three weeks!!  With taxol my chemo brain improved.  I did get a bit of fluid retention towards the end but that was nothing in comparison to A/C.  Good luck with everything!  I too wish we lived closer as I would love to be there for you like my Sister was for me!  Hugs and take care!