taxol

[bubblystream]

Have any of you ladies had Taxol IV?

If so, what were the side effects ? Do you recommend it?

Pam 😊

[bubblystream]

IV meaning “intravenous”

[mariootsi in reply to bubblystream]

I have to agree with Shelly1009

[Shelly1009]

I had Taxol after my first diagnosis back in 2016. I started with Adriamycin and Cytoxan for 8 weeks and followed it with Taxol for 8 weeks. By the time I got to Taxol we were calling it chemo lite due to it being so much more tolerable than the AC. My hair started to grow back during it, I returned to work, and generally felt well again after feeling so crappy from the AC. It's on my list of meds too and I don't fear it based on how well I did on it the first time. Good luck❤️

[bubblystream in reply to Shelly1009]

This is so encouraging Shelly. And You are still alive and well. 😊 I was diagnosed the same year as you. What drug did they put you on afterwards?

Pam

[Shelly1009]

I was dx with mets in Feb 2020. I've been on Ibrance with Faslodex, Xeloda, and Verzenio. All lasted about 8-10 months each before I had progression. I just had my second cycle of Enhertu IV. It's been in use for a while for triple negative CA but was just approved for HER2 low. Fingers crossed that I'm able to get more time out of this one.

[Dancer1000 in reply to Shelly1009]

Hi Shelly,

We have similar stories. Dx in Jan 2020. First line of treatment was Taxol which I did for 12 rounds. Did amazing but in addition to all hair falling out, my nails turned black and was falling out too so I stopped. I still have it as an option since it worked so well. Then did hormone therapies (Ibrance, letrazole, verzenio, fulvestrant, and verzenio) all worked for several months then stopped. Ibrance/letrazole worked the longest - about a year. Just had my first round of Enhertu last week and praying I have a very positive and long response with it. So far I am super nauseated all the time. Had a pleural effusion also which was drained out the same week as I started on Enhertu so I am hoping I feel much better soon.

Bubblystream - Hope Taxol works for you! It did good for me. Also, always keep in mind, everyone is different in their response and side effects.

[bubblystream in reply to Dancer1000]

Thank you Dancer. (I love to dance 😊)

I hope it works well. Especially if I am going to loose all my hair. I hope it is worth it! 😆

[bubblystream]

Shelly, do you have many debilitating side affects with Enhertu? Did you loose your hair and eye brows?

[Shelly1009 in reply to bubblystream]

I'm only 2 treatments in. I had almost no SE with the first infusion. Very slight nausea, headaches, and a bit of insomnia. I had extreme nausea with my second infusion for almost a week about 4 days out from the infusion. I'm 5 weeks in total and haven't lost my hair or my eyebrows yet. I've noticed a bit more shedding so far but nothing extreme.

[bubblystream in reply to Shelly1009]

Thank you Shelly. I hope I can keep my already thinned hair like you did. I hope nausea is manageable.

[Figletf]

Taxol was my first treatment when my BC had metastisized to my bones and liver.

I lost All hair from my body and got neuropathy in my feet and hands.

Since then I have been on IBrance,Xeloda and presently take Verzenio with Tamoxifen.

My scans have remained stable but the latest treatment is causing great hair loss 😞

I don't know if the Taxol really did anything to the bone or liver lesions

as I was put on other meds after that? However the Nueropathy is quite a bother so had I known that I may have decided against Taxol .

Prayers that you find the correct treatment and have few sude effects❤️

[bubblystream]

Thank you Shelly, Dancer and Figletf.

I am encouraged that Taxol is do-able. Your reactions are each different. I don’t want nausea, 😞 or lose my hair 😞and eyebrows 😞 and definitely don’t want nails to turn black and fall out!😱

[valentinecalico]

Hi Pam - I am currently on paclitaxel, which is a form of taxol....not sure what you are getting? It is very tolerable with few side effects, at least for me. I feel a little tired the day of, and I have had a little neuropathy in my hands and feet, but so far it comes and goes and hasn't lasted. My hair has thinned considerably but no nausea or vomiting. I have a port so have the iv through that. Good luck!

Peggy

[bubblystream]

very encouraging Valentinecalico. 😊 I will find out Tuesday morning all the specifics. I hope it’s the same form you are having. Wednesday they have me scheduled for Taxol. They said if Fridays liver MRI reveals something different they can easily change the type of chemo. If scan confirms the Dr feelings then it will be Taxol. But they haven’t discussed which kind yet. I will get back to you on this. 😊

[kokopelli2017]

hi Pam.

I too had the paclitaxol version of taxol. this was back in 2013 during my primary BC treatment. I had/have significant neuropathy in my feet. when it started getting bad towards the last few sessions of chemo, I asked to stop. they encouraged me to finish. if I had it to do over.....as my feet became very numb....I should have insisted to stop since this side effect has gotten worse over time and that was 9 years ago. the taxol was still easier to tolerate than the adriamyicin. and I do not recall nausea and my fingernails were fine. my hair had already fallen out from the adriamyicin chemo I had previous to the taxol, so can't comment on that one.

I have heard that in recent years, they have eased up on the dosages of some of these IV chemos to make them more tolerable. just sharing what I have heard. not 100% sure on that but hoping so🤞.

best wishes with all......

carole XO

[bubblystream in reply to kokopelli2017]

Thank you Kokopelli for taking time to share your experience with me. It is encouraging except the numb feet.

[kokopelli2017 in reply to bubblystream]

like Neverforsaken mentioned.....advise your medical team if the neuropathy becomes more noticeable. your body. you can always stop if you choose to.

best wishes XO

[Neverforsaken]

I had a few doses of Taxol in early 2018 but it had to be discontinued due to neuropathy. Sorry I have no good information on it’s effectiveness.

Advise to tell your oncologist if you experience worsening numbness in your hands and/or feet. Good luck and God bless you through your treatment.

[Iwasborntodothis]

I have been on Taxol since March - please read my post(s) about it. My doc has me taking L Glutamine daily and I have had no real neuropathy problems My response has been nothing short of astounding. My CA15 3 was 800 and it's now 50. The side effects for me (3 weeks on 1 week off) are predictable and a lot of them due to the steroids I take the night before and the day of IV. I did have an allergic reaction the one time I did not take steroids the night before (because we had dosed down and things were fine) and that was a scary event that I don't care to repeat.

[bubblystream]

you are so encouraging! Thank you! I hope I do as well as you! I want to “follow” you. 😊

[bubblystream in reply to bubblystream]

one more thing. Did you lose your hair “I was born to do this”?

Pam

[Iwasborntodothis in reply to bubblystream]

Yep after 4 weeks but it is growing back now - cute little white fuzzy baby hair. I bought a wig in April because I work and most people don't know

[bubblystream in reply to Iwasborntodothis]

are you all done with Taxol? If so how long were you on Taxol? What are you taking now? Are you stage 4 ? I am stage 4 diagnosed DeNovo Jan 2016. It now increasing in my liver. So onc decided on real chemo now instead of chemo pills etc

Pam

[Iwasborntodothis in reply to bubblystream]

I am stage four denovo I have/had liver bone and lung (clear) mets over the three years of treatment. This is my first IV chemo after: Ibranae/Letrozole, Faslodex, and Xeloda/capcetibine. I am on this until it stops working. Doc doesn't like to stop it even though my CA15s are close to normal range - he says it will lurk about and come back more resistant if that makes sense. He says I can take a chemo "vacation" if I need to for more than a week so that is something I would look foward to. I am looking to have a scan soon to see how my liver is doing since that was the main concern. appointment and Chemo today after my week off so I feel pretty good but I am all hopped up on steroids.

[Contrarielle in reply to Iwasborntodothis]

great news. I started weekly , had 5 doses as of this morning. No neuropathy or hair loss yet but ive got a nice wig. I'm on it til it stoos working too. 3 weekly tumour marker, 3 monthly cat scan

[bubblystream]

I am in Same place as you. I have Mets to bones and liver with low tumor markers.

I started Taxol IV last Wednesday. It is a hard pill to swallow.

Today I am getting a port today.

Pam 😊

[Contrarielle in reply to bubblystream]

good luck! Goid luck to us all Taxettes