Weekly or 3 weekly

[SuSue]

Hi Ladies

I’ve just been told in clinic that I am too high risk for the trial I was offered so my options now are weekly taxol or 3 weekly carboplatin and taxol can anybody help me with the decision

Thanks Sue x

[Lindaura]

Dear Sue,

I have not had to face this decision, but I am going to weigh in anyway.

The first thing I think you should ask your team, is will you be eligible for a PARP inhibitor, such as Olaparib, if your treatment is successful.

If you will only be eligible after Carbo/Taxol, then that’s the way you should go.

You know that this treatment is the big guns and you know how hard it is, bone pain, taste buds wrecked, exhaustion, and losing your hair once again, but they can lower the Taxol portion to keep neuropathy at bay.

So, I think you need to check on what the plan is for your future, and if necessary, choose the big guns.

Hope this helps,

Laura

[SuSue in reply to Lindaura]

Thanks for your reply I have been on a parp for the last 3 months but unfortunately it did not work. I’ve just been in clinic and my onc said in terms of success there is no difference between weekly taxol or three weekly Carbo/taxol. It was really a matter of whether I wanted to go weekly or three weekly. I remember the horrendously long 12 hour days when I had Carbo/taxol before as opposed to a couple of hours just taxol. Desicions decisions xx

[Lindaura in reply to SuSue]

Oh, what a shame...

Hopefully you will hear from others.

I find it hard to believe that Caro/Taxol is not more effective.

I will take a moment to research this...

Best wishes,

Laura

[Lindaura in reply to Lindaura]

My research shows that in recent studies (2016-2018) shows that weekly Taxol IS just as effective as the monthly big guns.

Sigh....

Hugs,

Laura

[SuSue in reply to Lindaura]

Thanks so much for taking the time to look into this for me

Love Sue x

[Hidden]

When I was on 3 weekly Carbo/Taxol I really looked forward to the symptom free days, I could plan outings and visits from friends and relatives. Would you get any respite at all with weekly Taxol?

[SuSue in reply to Hidden]

I have researched on this site and ladies that have been on weekly taxol seem to have tolerated it quite well. I’m going to confirm that weekly I can have my bloods done on the same day as I know 3 weekly I will have to go two days as they do bloods the day before because the treatment is so long x

[Hidden]

I think they are both effective treatments, it just depends on how the regime suits your life. I live on a farm a reasonable distance from the hospital so I always choose the longer time period over weekly (now on monthly caelyx). I found with 3 weekly carbo that I had at least two weeks where I could more or less forget I was on treatment. I think you have to choose a treatment schedule that suits your psychology and what else you are trying to do in life.

Good luck with the new regime, Dawn xx

[Pryced]

I’ve been on weekly Taxol and have had 18 sessions, I’ve managed to work full time throughout, I’ve had a few complications with bowel obstructions but otherwise side effects have been ok, tiredness, slight neuropathy, but nothing like when I was on the 3 weekly Taxol. Also because the Taxol only takes a hour to go through I’ve been using the cold cap and haven’t lost any hair, so would definitely recommend the weekly treatment. Only down side is two trips to the hospital every week, one for bloods and picc line flush and one for treatment.

Good luck with whatever you decide x

[Hopefulgal1]

I recently had 18 weeks of weekly Taxol and it was definitely bearable for me.. and I did get out and about a bit towards the end of the week.. xx good luck with the decisions x

[Catseyes02]

Hi I am on weekly toxal had 3 so far just had my week off start again on Thursday. I had 3 carbo before Christmas that didn’t work . I must say the side effects I have not really had many I’m able to get out and about most days . It’s still a long day as I’m up at clinic in the morning and chemo in the afternoon but with little side effects it makes it a lot better . I decided to get a picc line in with it being weekly. Good luck with your decision x

[bluepeterella]

I've had both .... the answer is I don't know which is better or which I'd opt for if given the choice.

Weekly taxol is easy, with few side effects until around the 12th session when it starts to build up a little. I used to drive myself home afterwards quite happily. However, I find the whole chemo unit and needle thing stressful, and one day out of each week leaves little time to be un-stressed by it. I was more than happy to opt for 3 weekly when it was offered - but this of course is harder and I would lose a week out of each cycle from feeling unwell.

Sorry if not helpful but I think it depends a lot on how you feel about being in the chemo unit!

[Coutance]

Hi Sue, I started weekly taxol/avastin at the beginning of December and have found it very manageable. The downside is having to go to the hospital every week to have it and this is very tying. I have had some side effects - blocked sinuses, taste changes - but I am not sure whether these are related to the taxol or avastin. I have had none of the side effects I had during the first week following carbo/taxol - aching limbs, fatigue, slight queasiness etc. The upsides for me over carbo/taxol - no follow up steroids/anti sickness meds which means no constipation to manage, using the cold cap which only adds an additional one hour to the one hour of treatment and 30 minutes of pre meds and has been very successful for me, the general lack of side effects which means every week is virtually the same rather than week one being a bit of a wipe out. I have had no problems with my bloods/delayed treatment so maybe it is less harsh in this respect. I guess I just feel a bit more 'normal' with this treatment and especially having been lucky enough to keep my hair. They are hoping to give me one week off in four starting in April so this will mean I can have holidays etc. Good luck with whatever you choose xxx