Late/delayed effects of taxol and filgrastim (neupogen)?

[microferret]

Hi all. Mum finished her 3rd line of treatment - weekly Taxol - a couple of months ago now. She had regular injections of filgrastim to keep her white cell count high, and although it worked, it gave Her terrible aches and pains.

Her last scan was good and we were told the next one would not be needed until June. However she still suffers from headaches, bone pain, digestive problems, sporadic nausea and fatigue.

I've just come back from visiting her and she looked really fed up this time. It was hard to see her like that. Has anybody experienced effects so late after finishing treatment, if so how long did it take to improve, and have you got any tips, advice or comforting words? I'd very much appreciate any of the above.

Thanks,

Sara x

[Sunfleury-UK]

Hi, I had to have the injections throughout my chemo due to very low neutrophils and it took a long time for the WBC levels to return and stabilise (nearly a year!). A couple of months after finishing chemo, I shared some of the side effects that you mention your Mum has. My GP did a very, very thorough blood screen and I had a couple of rogue levels... (I've just checked the post I did and it was vit D & parathyroid healthunlocked.com/ovacome/...

It might be worth seeing if you can get a blood screen just to check?

Chemo effects can also take a longer time than expected to recover from generally and for some people the emotional impact can also kick in unexpectedly after treatment finishes.

I and many others have found this article helpful: workingwithcancer.co.uk/wp-...

I also found this book useful as it has practical advice as well as sections for those nearest so may be helpful for you both:

livebetterwith.com/products...

Also the PennyBrohn Living Well course also helped a great deal with my recovery: pennybrohn.org.uk

Recovery takes a while though and is different for everyone. Thinking of you and your mum, Sx

**edited***

Sincere apologies as I skim read and so missed that this was your Mum's third line... I'm going to leave the comment above up as there may be something in there that's relevant- if not to you then to someone else reading. Sorry again Sxxx

[microferret in reply to Sunfleury-UK]

Thanks Sunfleury, no worries that it's not your third line, the resources you've linked to are super helpful!

Mum's bloods are - ironically - better than ever, but she just feels awful. She's breathless too, which could be a side effect of chemo, heart damage caused by the chemo or from the filgrastim.

Anyway thanks so much for the helpful links and kind message

[Eriksendi]

I finished my chemo at the end of November 2017 - 5 months ago. I also had filgastrim throughout due to neutropenia sepsis after a bowel perforation after chemo 2. My last scan was end of Jan and no active disease. My ca125 is at 10 from 1261 last tested 4 weeks ago but like your mum I still don't feel brilliant. I experience all the symptoms you mention too. The bloating in my stomach is not good but it's not persistent and sometimes goes away completely unlike when I had ascities at diagnosis. It felt really bad at my last scan but I'm told there is no fluid present. Sending big hugs to your mum and let's hope things slowly improve x x

[microferret in reply to Eriksendi]

Thank you so much. It's very reassuring to hear that others are feeling the same effects, although at the same time it sucks that you have to endure them too. Wishing you lots of positive healing vibes, and thanks again for making me feel better xxxx