Weekly taxol

[Mlowery]

Just started weekly taxol 3 weeks 1 off. Any stories of good response would be appreciated.

[Hidden]

Hi Mlowery. No doubt you will gets lots of positive responses today as many of us have gone through chemo and come out with no evidence of disease (NED) on the other side. I had surgery May 2017 and chemo from June - October. Chemo was tolerable (I had to have it every week for 18 weeks), but there were definitely down days (no energy, not feeling right, etc.), the loss of hair, some neuropathy, etc. Blood counts fluctuate and sometimes you need a booster to keep your numbers in line. Treatment may go easily and "as planned" or you may experience some difficulties, challenges or temporary setbacks.

I'm now 10 months post treatment (stage 3C ovarian and 2C endometrial cancers with spread to the lymph nodes) and still NED. That's one in the "success" column for your response request.

You're going to get through this and have our love and support. Ask us anything and someone here will help with answers, shared experience, etc.

Hoping you have a good support team (family and friends) and also that you have a good medical support team. Be sure to make your needs and feelings known and these folks will rally to get you what you need to recover and heal.

Wishing you well on your journey and hope to see more posts from you soon.

[lesleysage]

Hi Mlowery,

I had weekly taxol & carboplatin after the second operation for recurrence. My body coped better than with the 21-day cycle of this combo after the first op. By better, I mean fewer times when my white cell count was really borderline as well as other blood readings the medic look at holding up better. I did need an extra week off between cycles 4 & 5 as was feeling 'low', but not because the bloods were struggling. That week off enabled me to 'put my best foot forward' for the final two cycles. Yes, I felt utterly 'floor-clothed' by the end, but if I need chemo again (& fingers crossed I may not as almost at five years remission) I'd certainly ask out a weekly regime.

Good luck & agree with all Almalyffe says about 'nourishing' the support from those around you and being utterly honest about how you feel and what you're thinking. Me 'taking the lead' on these things made a ton of difference to me getting through.

Warm wishes, take care of yourself and really hope this works for you.

Lesley

[ScardyCat40]

May I ask why 3 weeks on and 1 week off? Is this a trial? I have been offered weekly taxol as my next treatment and I have been told it is every week for 18 weeks. I also had this bacck in 2015

[Mlowery in reply to ScardyCat40]

Hi

I believe it’s to help my body recover. Just finished caelyx/carbo January this year. This is my 2n recurrence. Best eishes

[Di16 in reply to Mlowery]

I had 3. weeks on &1 week off with Taxol in 2014. I understood it to be the norm for weekly Taxol, didn't realise some people had it every week for the 18 sessions. Di

[Cropcrop in reply to Di16]

I did it every week for 18 weeks in 2014 funny how things can vary. Maybe it depends on the ovarian cancer type and stage? I was 1c3 clear cell 🤔❤️Xx Jane

[Di16 in reply to Cropcrop]

Mine is gct - granulosa cell tumours, initially 1c.

[lesleysage in reply to ScardyCat40]

Hi,

The pattern of 3 weeks carbo/taxol (days 1,8 & 15) + I was also infused with Avastin on days 1 and 15. So, as Mlowery suggests, I think a week off is planned when the oncologist, for whatever reason, thinks the body needs that 'kindness' to help it cope steadily? I was never aware it was formally due to a trial....but I suppose it could have been.

So, maybe chat with your team? "Keep as well as you can" was the mantra of my CNS.

Warm wishes, Lesley

[BeeWild]

Hi Milowery I’m on weekly taxol and just setting off to have No9 so half way today yay! I don’t get a week off though!

It’s been very tolerable and I’ve stayed working full time . I’m doing the cold cap so have kept my hair too x

I’ve felt a bit tired in the evenings but that could of been the heat we had and had a few hiccups with diarrhoea or constipation so managing bowels has been a fine act but I’m on a trial so that could be the trial drug too! I had week 4 cancelled as I had a diarrhoea and vomiting bug so not chemo related and my bloods are holding up fine to date x

Before the trial drug was added in, the taxol brought my Ca125 down from 1993 to 345 and then to 54 so it is definitely doing a good job, so much so my onc cancelled my half way CT scan as he felt we didn’t need it!

The only negative is my neuropathy to my feet (hangover from 1st line chemo) started to get a little worse so the onc has allowed me to start Vit B Complex which has helped x

Good luck with your treatment xx

Sending a big hug

[Boot1947]

Had weekly carbo/taxol back in 2014 for stage 3A OC. Lost my hair, bloods were a bit iffy, and still have some neuropathy but have been NED ever since. Best of luck! Deb xx

[Maryjl]

Just to echo what beewild said. I’m about to finish 18 doses of taxol (three weekly doses then a break of one week). It has been easy to tolerate and results are positive. Do get tired and have neuropathy - but all manageable.

[ElayneZ]

Hi - I’m doing week one carbo/taxol then weeks 2&3 Taxol only - weekly chemo - no break. Today was chemo # 6 so 12 more weeks to go. Ca125 was over 3000 before surgery in May 2018. Last week it was down to 7!! Fatigue is evident and managing bowels are key but doing okay. Had to start granix injections 2x a week post chemo days - for boosting white blood count. Hoping other blood counts don’t go lower so I can stay on schedule. 🙏Also when or how bad is cumulative typically hit? Was told current side effects are intensified. Has that been true for any of you? Sending healthy and healing thoughts to all!!