Taxol-Anyone had experience with Taxol

[DinNorCal]

I have ER+ Her2- metastatic breast cancer. Tumors at in my spine, pelvis and a couple ribs. Up to this point in time I have been on Hormonal therapy regimens and the latest one (Orserdu) has failed. My Dr. is now suggesting Taxol (Paclitaxel) IV Chemo treatment. Anyone have experience with this drug? I’m a bit embarrassed to say the hair loss is so discouraging, along with the other side effects of IV Chemo.

Sure could use some encouraging news. Not sure I want to go to IV Chemo, but that is my only option left. Stopping treatment is terrifying also.

[Bettybuckets]

hi sister- I think I am similar in that I too am ER+ and HR neg.. and also just had to switch to IV chemo. Tough to agree to that… I think taxol is more frequent than doxil which is just monthly and I haven’t lost my hair. So you could. Hat with your onc about that option first. I wants to be free from treatment for the longest interval for as long as possible and my dr knows that so steered me here.

Hope that was helpful.

Beth

[Goga156]

My mom received 22 taxol. Now she is on Xeloda. Taxol was the best treatment for her, her hair only thinned out, she had no severe side effects and she had more energy than now. Don't be afraid.

[Autum1]

Hi. I started weekly Taxol six weeks ago as my second line of treatment as Ibrance and Letrozole stopped working after 14 months. I am ER/PR positive, her2 negative, with extensive mets to liver, lungs and spine. So far I seem to have tolerated it well, my hair has thinned but not gone completely. I feel a lot better than when I was on Ibrance and Letrozole, no more joint pain, and I'm not as tired, but do get a bit of nausea in the evenings. I was reluctant to have IV chemo but was told I had no other option (I'm in the UK). it's not been as bad as I was expecting. I hope all goes well for you.

[RachH20]

hi, I did 6 months of taxol without cold capping and my hair didn’t fall out, just thinned a little at the front. I found taxol very manageable in terms of side effects, drink plenty of water before, during and after. Good luck x

[DinNorCal in reply to RachH20]

Thank you for your encouraging reply. It gives me some hope.

Trying to decide on the cold cap

[fancydog]

Before I started Taxol I had all my hair buzzed off because I did not want to see it come out in clumps, well the joke was on me, I only tolerated 7 treatments had a bad reaction and had to stop Taxol and while I was on it my hair began growing back. But those 7 treatments cut my tumor load in half and I was able to go on Faslodex and am still on only it for 9 yrs now!

[DinNorCal in reply to fancydog]

Thank you for responding. Makes me think twice about shaving my head too early. Glad you are doing well on Faslodex.

[RachH20 in reply to fancydog]

Wow 9 years!!! Amazing to hear that!!

[POT2018ery in reply to fancydog]

Thank you. I’ve been treating bones only Mets for 6 years. I’m happy to hear that you’re still doing well. It gives me hope, too.

[Hazelgreen]

Please try ribociclib before switching to chemo!

[DinNorCal in reply to Hazelgreen]

Thanks for the advice. I may try Verzenio which is in the same class of drug.

But my Dr. doesn’t think it will work as I was on Ibrance a few years ago.

[Hazelgreen in reply to DinNorCal]

Verzenio isn't as effective as ribociclib in the studies I've read!

[Hazelgreen in reply to Hazelgreen]

My age (78) may be a factor in what works for me and other seniors may not work for younger patients.

[DinNorCal in reply to Hazelgreen]

Could you direct me to the studies on Ribociclib?

[Hazelgreen in reply to DinNorCal]

Cancers (Basel). 2021 Dec; 13(24): 6314.

Published online 2021 Dec 16. doi: 10.3390/cancers13246314

PMCID: PMC8699146

PMID: 34944934

Ribociclib Induces Broad Chemotherapy Resistance and EGFR Dependency in ESR1 Wildtype and Mutant Breast Cancer

Isabel Mayayo-Peralta,1 Beatrice Faggion,1 Liesbeth Hoekman,2 Ben Morris,3 Cor Lieftink,3 Isabella Goldsbrough,4 Lakjaya Buluwela,4 Joseph C. Siefert,1 Harm Post,5 Maarten Altelaar,2,5 Roderick Beijersbergen,3 Simak Ali,4 Wilbert Zwart,1,6,*† and Stefan Prekovic1,*

[Hazelgreen in reply to DinNorCal]

Overall Survival with Ribociclib plus Letrozole in Advanced Breast Cancer

Authors: Gabriel N. Hortobagyi, M.D. orcid.org/0000-0002-4873-4412, Salomon M. Stemmer, M.D., Howard A. Burris, M.D., Yoon-Sim Yap, M.D., Gabe S. Sonke, M.D., Ph.D., Lowell Hart, M.D., Mario Campone, M.D., Ph.D., +12, and Joyce O’Shaughnessy, M.D.Author Info & Affiliations

Published March 9, 2022

N Engl J Med 2022;386:942-950

DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2114663

VOL. 386 NO. 10

[Hazelgreen in reply to DinNorCal]

Ribociclib was associated with significantly favorable symptom-related quality of life scores compared with abemaciclib among women with hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer. oncnursingnews.com/view/fro...

[Kerryd22]

I had Abraxane as my second line after rapid progress on Letrazole.

When the scans came back the oncologist broke the news that I needed chemotherapy. My first question was about the hair loss and she confirmed I would lose my hair (or most of it). I wasn’t happy but then I realised it was vanity because hair grows again. My eyebrows and lashes aren’t as lush as they were before but they are back. And my hair grew back quite quickly. I bought a wig which I wore when I went out.

But best of all, the Abraxane brought me to stable within three months of starting the six month course. And I’m still stable 8 years later.

I was fearful of the IV chemotherapy but really it wasn’t anything to worry about. I’d have it again tomorrow if it was going to extend my life. I did end up with very minor neuropathy but it’s a bit of tingling on the pads of my feet. I had nine rounds two weeks on one week off but the neuropathy didn’t start until the end of the program.

The expectation is worse than the actual experience or at least that’s what I found.

All the best

Kerry

[DinNorCal in reply to Kerryd22]

Thanks for the encouragement. That’s great you are doing well after 8 years.

[Healthplus1]

Scared to death of IV chemo! I have been on oral meds for 3 years. Got one year out of Capcitibine. Osurdu did not work at all. I have now been on Trucap 3 months but as of now this is my last line of orals. Hopeful the FDA will approve Inavolisib in November. Otherwise Taxol is my next drug. I believe you must have the Pic3 mutation for both.

[chemohawk]

Hi, Sweetie... although I cannot tell you what to do, IF I were in your shoes, which I kinda am... and the doc suggested I do IV chemo... I'd do it. My thinking is that It might take that stronger blast to knock it out, and then I might be able to go back on an oral drug to keep the cancer at bay. At this point, I don't know your age... I'm 71... this all started when I was 47. Taxol saved my life the first go around.

[DinNorCal in reply to chemohawk]

Thank you for your insight. I’m moving towards the Taxol

I’m 74 and been on the metastatic journey for going on 8 years.