Paclitaxol side effects

[Jhmeyer]

Exhausted targeted treatments. Will be starting on paclitaxol chemo. Any advice? Have read about the possible side effects and the drugs they give you to deal with them but I was wondering if any of you have some advice from experience.

[Hidden]

Hi Jhmeyer -

I'm so sorry that you're facing a new treatment...that's always stressful...

I believe that Paclitaxel is sort of the same thing as Taxol? I did Taxol when I was initially dx, more than 10 years ago. Was it fun? No. But not nearly as bad as some of the other IV chemo treatments I did...And I believe that I've read recently that members of this community reported that it was much better than they feared. So I hope it goes well for you...

...I'll mention that I view that drug as one of the "big guns in our arsenal", i.e. potent stuff, so I do hope that it does a job on your cancer!

Wishing you the best,

Lynn

[Jhmeyer in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the support.

[Hidden]

I am on chemo but receiving Abraxane. I don’t know anything about Paclitaxol but if it’s like mine, my first treatment the nurse went through everything with me and they offered something for nausea before I started. Each month they check to see if any side effects occurred that they can treat. I hope it’s an easy chemo drug for you.

[Topcat2]

I have just finished my first round of Taxol and apart from feeling a little tired some days so far it has been a breeze. I did fast the day before and the day of the chemotherapy as I had read that it helped protect the good cells and reduced side effects so I don't know if that has made a difference but I will definitely continue as I feel great!

Hope it all goes well for you.

Amanda x

[Pollingxx in reply to Topcat2]

Hi I am starting Taxol 3 weeks on one off

What side effects have you experienced and did you use a cold cap .Thank you best wishes x

[Topcat2 in reply to Pollingxx]

No side effects so far. Yes I am using the cold cap. The first 10 minutes is the worst then I think my head must be numb as I forget I have it on! I still have all my hair so far but it's early days I have only just finished my first cycle. I would definitely recommend giving it a go.

Amanda x

[Pollingxx in reply to Topcat2]

Thank you 🙏🏻 x

[Jhmeyer in reply to Topcat2]

I haven't heard anything about fasting. Thanks for the tip.

[Hidden in reply to Topcat2]

Amanda, Thanks for bringing up the fasting, I've read several studies about this (for a friend whose husband just started chemo) and wish I had known this when I initially did chemo! Not only does it reduce side-effects, but at least one study showed that it also improved effectiveness! Although a long-term fast sounds challenging...but I guess there are good reasons to be motivated to do that..

[Topcat2 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I had read that it also can improve effectiveness so thought I might as well give it a go. Apart from feeling a little tired I haven't had any side effects from the chemo so far. I don't know if I would have been the same if I hadn't fasted so will keep fasting during the chemo just in case.

Amanda x

[Jhmeyer in reply to Topcat2]

Amanda, how long do you fast ? Is it day before or day of? How long do you wait to eat or drink after the treatment?

Joan

[fchrist]

I am on Abraxane, a paclitaxol with Tecentriq. I have been on it for 5 months - 3 weeks on 1 week off. I was told to take ALA and B6 to keep neuropathy at bay. I did lose my hair. I had very little nausea. I find my fatigue hits on day 2 after treatment. They have lowered my dose by half as I did get neuropathy in month 4. It has done a bang up job on my cancer - triple negative in chest wall, vertebrae, lymph nodes and veins. Mostly gone except nodes and chest wall. Half dose is a breeze!

I heard the same thing regarding fasting but I felt so fatigued doing it every week that I stopped. I used to 3 day fast all the time but at this time it doesn't suit me well.

Best of luck,

Frederica

[Jhmeyer in reply to fchrist]

Thanks for the info.

[Duffles in reply to fchrist]

I’m just on my 3rd Abraxane, and am glad to hear your success, I’m also triple negative now, so hope this works!

I’ve had some GI issues and achiness (maybe because extensive bone mets!) but much more tolerable than my original chemos 18 years ago! Trying different meds to control.

Good luck to all of you!

[MMMP in reply to Duffles]

Triple negative sucks but finally after 5 years they came up with a new drug treatment called Trudelvy- check it out I tried all the different treatments nothing worked but now I’m seeing regression!!!

[fchrist in reply to MMMP]

That's wonderful. I think for me the Tecentriq works since my pdl1 markers are really high. But it is so nice to know there are more options when it stops working! 4 years ago when I was 1st diagnosed they're weren't many options!

[fchrist in reply to fchrist]

How are the side affects?

[MMMP in reply to fchrist]

Super low white count!!!

[blms in reply to fchrist]

Try fasting mimicing diet 500 calories

[Dancer1000]

HI Jhmeyer,

I did Taxol for 12 weeks straight. It was my first line of treatment. For me side effects were all my hair fell out, my nails got dark and fell out, and extreme fatigue for the first couple of days after the IV. It shrank my tumors very well and one in my lymph node even disappeared. I stopped not because it no longer worked but because it was just so toxic to my body and I was afraid of something else falling out on my body like the hair and nails. I feel like its a good thing to have in my back pocket so to speak just in case everything else stops working.

[Jhmeyer]

Hi Dancer, I'm so sad it was so toxic for you. I really hope you found other treatments that are better for you. Infusion chemo was my back pocket go to also but now that I went through all the targeted therapies, it's my only option. I'm hoping I'll be able to tolerate it.