Taxol side effects? |
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daughter858 
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Joined: Feb 21 2009 Location: United States / Cleveland Ohio Status: Offline Points: 24 |
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 Topic: Taxol side effects?Posted: Apr 03 2009 at 5:02am |
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It's time for my mom to make her decision regarding her dosing of Taxol. She will be receiving her last AC treatment this week (AC x4 every other week). Her doctor is letting her decide if she wants to take the Taxol X12 weekly or X4 every other week. I've read the articles posted here comparing the every three week dosage vs the weekly dosage, and see that the weekly seems to benefit TNs. Unfortunately, there have been no studies to show that weekly is better than every two weeks, unless I've missed something. My question is, her decision is basically coming down to side effects. Reports seem to indicate weekly dosing seems to lessen side effects. What do you women think with your experiences? How have your side effects been on weekly or biweekly taxol? I know everyone responds differently, but I just wanted to get an idea. Thanks for any advice.
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Amy
My Mother Laurie DX 2-6-09 at age 55 Invasives Ductal Metaplastic Carcinoma (metaplastic part is very rare) TNBC / grade 3 2.5cm - 4cm ?? BRCA?? |
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Krys
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Joined: Nov 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 38 |
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Posted: Apr 03 2009 at 12:10pm |
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Hi there,
I had Taxol 4 x every 2 weeks. I asked my oncologist the same question. She said that the research has only been done to compare every week versus every 3 weeks. She felt that the dense dose of every 2 weeks would be fine providing the side effects were tolerable and I could decide.I had a preference to get it done as quickly as possible as long as it was as effective. I found the first 2 doses difficult - feverish, a bit of nausea, very tired, but by about day 4 could return to work. I have numb fingers and toes as well as the soles of my feet, and fingernails coming off and it is 5 weeks since my last dose. I have to say that AC that I had prior to Taxol had more side effects and I was generally more miserable. |
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Mastectomy 20th Oct 08
4 tumours 1x2, 2x3 + 1x4 cm Grade 3, stage 3 Clear margins 2/26 nodes +ve Scans clear 20 Nov start 4x2 weekly AC then 4x2 weekly Taxol 30 Rads starting Mid march 09 |
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ChrissieD
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Joined: Dec 30 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 131 |
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Posted: Apr 03 2009 at 12:11pm |
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Hi - I had taxol every 2 weeks 4 cycles. I had what I think are typical side effects. Slept on and off the day of infusion because of the Benedryl and other premeds. By the time the infusion was done (very very long day) I was feeling fine unlike with AC. I had severe fatigue that lasted nearly the 2 weeks between cycles. This may not have been just from the Taxol as I was anemic and all chemo has a cumulative effect. I had minimal neuropathy (took a lot of supplements to combat this), lots of dry peeling skin. Hair started to come back while on Taxol but eyebrows and eyelashes went.
All and all it was not really too bad on dose dense. I have not seen any studies comparing dd weekly vs. every other week with regard to effectiveness.
All of the best to your mom and you. Just feel at peace with the decision you make.
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trip2
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Joined: Jun 03 2007 Location: Under Palm Tree Status: Offline Points: 8549 |
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Posted: Apr 03 2009 at 2:05pm |
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I had Taxol once every three weeks and found the side effects very painful. The leg aches were bad!
I say go with the one with the least side effects. Sending my best wishes to your mom.
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Stage 2 2003
Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
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base
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Joined: Feb 11 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 29 |
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Posted: Apr 05 2009 at 9:49pm |
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How is your mom doing? I did four sessions of DD and it sucked but got through it.
Another option worth asking about is to see if it is possible for her to try DD and if it is too miserable, switch to weekly. I have heard of some people doing this.
Good luck to you both.
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dx 6/06 @31
Stage IIIA, grade 3, ER-/PR-/HER2-, 5cm BRCA1and2 negative 6/06 4 dd A/C, 4 dd Taxol 10/06 lumpectomy, SNB 12/06 radiation |
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julie
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Joined: May 11 2008 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 40 |
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Posted: Apr 06 2009 at 3:10am |
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I had to do every week for 12 weeks for the Clinical trial I was in. I would say that it was pretty rough towards the end and if I had to do it over I would choose the 4.
I had symptoms from the start and they kept building up to where towards the end of treatment the symptoms had gotten so bad that I had to skip a couple doses. The Dr. lowered the taxol by 20%, but that didn't help and I had to quit 2 weeks early. I am very sensitive to medications, so I had pretty much every symptom you could think of...aches and pains, I threw up, sores in my mouth, etc..., but they were tolerable. The sores on my feet were what they were concerned about. They said it was toxic build up from the taxol, so we had to stop treatments early. Julie |
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37 years old
dx 3/15/08 4/15/08 Double mast/expanders stage 3a, grade 3 Triple negative,in 4 nodes dose dense A/C, Taxol, Radiation, Avastin |
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Nancy
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Joined: Jul 23 2007 Location: Altoona, PA Status: Offline Points: 3814 |
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Posted: Apr 06 2009 at 8:10am |
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Julie,
OK here goes again...last post went in to cyberspace.
 If you think the effects from the chemo is over...think again. Lori told me last night that she is developing the neuropothy in her feet and toes once again. Last chemo...day after Thanksgiving, 2007. Taxotere is the culprit...and what horrible chemical is in this chemo that the side effects could possibly last this long?
Of course then they tell you that you cannot take any vitamins/supplements while on the chemo...as that will reduce the effectiveness of the chemo. Right! They don't know that as there have not been any stiudies to prove that.
Nancy
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Nancy
DD Lori dx TNBC June 13,2007 Lumpectomy due to incorrect dx of a cyst mastectomy July 6 2007 chemo ACT all 3 every 3 weeks 6 tx Aug-Nov 28 rads ended Jan 2008 |
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julie
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Joined: May 11 2008 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 40 |
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Posted: Apr 06 2009 at 9:12am |
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I agree with you on that! I am not that far out of from the taxol. I was done in August (I think). I still have quite a few side effects and I know other people that are further out than me that are still having side effects.
I guess the important part is that I am cancer free for the moment, right? Julie |
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37 years old
dx 3/15/08 4/15/08 Double mast/expanders stage 3a, grade 3 Triple negative,in 4 nodes dose dense A/C, Taxol, Radiation, Avastin |
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