Taxol Rarely Triggers Fatal Reactions

That is sort of like how it happened with my wife, ie nurses right by the chair and closely watching. They say most people who are sensitive get their reactions in the first 2 Taxol doses. She got the reaction (felt a choking sensation and extreme heat in chest and head, etc.) in the first dose and with less than 14 drops infused. The nurse was ready with a couple of syringes and I think she injected one of them very quickly in the drip. It was scary but the worst passed soon and she recovered in a few seconds. The oncologist recommended against continuing given the reaction was strong and early in spite of benadryl and decadron doses. Those few seconds tell you how fragile and small, yet important, our lives are. One pooof, it's gone.

I believe Taxol may have helped save my daughter's life. She did not have the adverse reaction at infusion that some women have experienced. However, I think it is important that women realize that at times reactions can be severe. 

I have friends who are actively going through treatment. Taxol is to start in two days and I wanted them to know to be careful as the infusion started and if there was an extreme adverse reaction for them to be aware that the infusion should not continue and also to have cardio tests done before the infusion and to have her heart monitored.

Perhaps you are right....don't worry about this because the reactions are rare...and yes, it can make you "crazy" to be more vigilant but I think there is some value in knowing about Taxol's side effects. Certainly, having the knowledge can make you more anxious and the anxiety, angst itself is not healthy. I do not know that there is an easy solution.

After the last AC infusion I was waiting for my daughter in the waiting room and a woman asked me how she was doing. I told her that she was going to start Taxol at the next infusion. She told me "when I had Taxol, within a few minutes it felt like my bones were crumbling. I screamed in a way my husband had never heard. Make sure she tells them to stop if she has a severe reaction." To be honest, I debated telling my daughter but I decided it was best that she know and when she walked back to the waiting room the woman was still there. I introduced my daughter and they chatted for a few minutes and the woman repeated her warning to her..

In the car, on the way home "honey, I know that was upsetting..I debated about telling you." "no, I am glad you did, Daddy. Always remember that I am viewing this through 'knowledge is power' glasses. I want to know"...and then she fell asleep..she fell asleep as she said "know"..my little girl was so tired and when we got home she sat next to me to watch a movie and she was asleep before I could work the clicker. I held her as she slept and thought back to the first time I fed her, in the pediatric ICU (she was premature..by weight..she was a twin and weighed under 5 lbs. her brother was over and she had to stay in the hospital) her first meal. She drank 1.5 oz. of milk and I was sooooo excited, as were the nurses. It was probably one of the nicest moments of my life. 36 years later, I thought back to that moment and as I held her I realized she would always be my little girl, no matter her age. Five years later, that is still the case and I believe always will be. I am very proud of the work she is doing as a middle school guidance counselor but the "little girl" feelings remain. Strange combo, in a way..but there it is. 

scared, I am glad you have confidence in your physicians and I certainly understand and value your point of view. Good luck to you and your wife..

I think the only "for sure" thing in all of this is that cancer truly sux.

all the best,

Steve

 

Each person is different and knowledge is the best tool you can have in the battle with cancer.