Taxol Treatment

I'm also doing that cold cap, has anyone had any success

Well I'm tnbc grade 1 it did not get to nodes. So I'm happy about that. They are doing a trial at st Luke's here with the cold cap. I didn't ask for it. I don't know how good of a team they will be. This is crowded NYC. So that is making me nervous. She said with my pathology she thought this would be a good choice. She also had , she said, another choice for me but it would take longer. I just want the right chemo. If I lose my hair I lose my hair, I'm ok with that. I don't want to dal with this cold cap if it's not going to be managed by a good team and I don't have a lot if faith in this hospital. Also is there a weight Gain issue with taxol? That I don't need

Edited by Jgari - Mar 01 2014 at 10:46am

Jgari, Someone just reported on the "penguin cap".......do a search and check it out. As far as the chemo drugs........they affect everyone so differently!! Once you get started just see what symptoms you have and I'm sure you'll find others that can assist on what to do. Also do a search and you'll find plenty of advice. I know when I started I had been on a lower carb diet for 3 years prior and I did not want to gain weight and slide backward. The problem......meat tasted terrible and all I wanted was mac and cheese and ice cream!!! I really had to let go and just do what I needed to get through it all. It's kind of interesting......some gain weight and some lose weight while doing all this. I was in the gain weight category. Kind of like when I was pregnant!! LOL The good thing.....my white cell count stayed good..... once you've got your plan in place.......find some good comedy movies....laugh a lot......relax about it all......think positive thoughts and before you know it the weeks will just go by and you'll be through it all!! Losing my hair did not bother me so much....losing my eyelashes did!!! LOL

Dear Jeanne,

Mary, do you know when you will be starting rads?  We might be finishing up around the same time.  I don't have my rads start date yet.

I think most of us here on the forums feel that the bone pain is from the Nuelasta injections we go back for the day after Taxol. Hated that pain.

One thing is for sure.... Everyone on chemo responds so different, while the fear and anxiety is the same for us all.  My onc scheduled me for 4 rounds of AC followed by 4 rounds of DD Taxol.  Fortunately, I have never had to deal with nausea or vomiting, but it seems I have every other side effect possible instead.

Before my AC was completed, I developed what my onc called hand and foot syndrome. Sunburn like pain, swelling and eventually peeling skin. Ive lost both big toe nails and my fingernails look to follow suit. The slightest touch on my fingers or toes felt like a hammer strike. Once the peeling finished and my AC was over this lessened some but the damage to my nails was done.  My hair was coming out so much that I chose to shave my head. For me it was much less traumatic than the daily handfuls of hair coming out. The mouth and throat sores the first few rounds of AC were horrible but the magic mouthwash along with salt water/soda rinses helped tremendously. I never had a change in taste or smell but my hearing and eyesight definitely took a hit, sounds seemed so loud and my vision could double or go blurry if I tried to do too much.  Dry mouth, runny eyes and nose seem never ending.... until I got a cool mist humidifier. For me it works like a charm. As long as I keep it running these side effects almost stopped completely. Pain and fatigue seem to be my norm, thankfully my doc got the pain under control with pain meds, the fatigue keeps me in bed or on the couch.

I had hoped to tolerate the Taxol better.... I am two rounds in and the pain and fatigue are 100x worse than I experienced with the AC. I blamed the neulasta shot and since my numbers were way up my onc agreed we could discontinue the shot. Especially since I told him I was basically a hermit staying away from public places and keeping my home as germ free as possible.....he was okay with foregoing the shot for now....

Since starting the Taxol, I have had little or no voice, sounding like I have rocks in my throat. Thankfully there is no pain but not being able to talk half the time is really frustrating. I lost my hair with the AC, but it was the Taxol that took my eyebrows and lashes. During this time I had several painful styes. I found that putting Vaseline on my eyebrows helped keep them from getting in my eyes when they fell out.  Due to increasing tingling and numbness in both my hands and feet, I had to skip a week without my 3rd dose of Taxol and will have a 25% reduction the last two treatments..

 This Monday I go back for my 3rd dose of Taxol and while I am dreading it, I am also excited to be nearing the end of this portion of my treatment plan.  The pain and side effects are all temporary and one day will be a distant memory as I get many more years with my children and grandchildren.  My intent is to inform and I hope I don't scare anyone away from treatment with my story.

Words and thoughts have power. Faith and belief imperative.

 Every day I have, I am thankful and believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that our bodies can heal themselves given the right medicines and nutrition.

peace and blessing to all!!

Unfortunately a plan is already in place for my time between chemo and rads.... during my scans I discovered my gall bladder is "slap full of stones", the doctors words not mine.  Which comes as no surprise since I have had many health issues over the years that I turned a blind eye to again and again.  So as soon as I recover enough from chemo, I am due to have it taken out....then rads, then maybe recon. I haven't  really decided yet.

Ah, but you can bet I am planning a trip to the beach as soon as I can. Daydreaming about my vacation when all this is over helps me ride the rough spots. Well, that and all the meds I take to treat my symptoms help too.  The struggle is real, chemo-brain and chemo-pause is no joke. The hot flashes followed by shivering spells that leave me dizzy and weak take my breath away and I was always forgetful before, but this fog over my brain takes the cake.

Kellyless our story is much the same, I too was pre-menopausal having my last period during my first A/C treatment and have not had one since. definitely a bonus. The hot flashes are nothing new but they are WAY more intense now, (  I am thinking having your period back does not mean you dodge the hot flashes)  I am blaming it on being bald in the winter having to wear a freaking cap all the time. I have NEVER been one to put a hat on...ever.......Oddly enough my hair is growing back. I didnt lose all my eyebrows until after my first Taxol but by my third treatment, my hair is coming back in..... I can say I sincerely miss my nose hairs, though. Those I want back first not last!!

 The A/C was brutal  but this Taxol is a whole new monster but it has been easier since I stopped taking the Neulasta shot. The pains are still there  but not nearly as intense with the shot. I am optimistic all this will improve will once I am done with chemo, and look forward to when all this is nothing but a memory. 

 My family is putting up with my hyper vigilance about hand-washing, changing clothes and taking their shoes off, sorta...my 9 year old granddaughter lives with us so with her it is an every day reminder....I consider it my lesson in patience...

I can see the light at the end of this tunnel and this site has been a huge help with all the info and insight I have gained since coming here. My husband and oldest daughter heard my doctor tell me to stay off the discussion boards because all they would do is frighten me. I had to assure them that while there are sites out there that shock and awe this one does not. It reassures me that there are many women out there just like me who have gone through this before and not only survived but THRIVED!!

Just as I indeed on doing myself!!

peace

nancy