Hi Folks,
I’m changing early from EC to Taxol-with-Herceptin because I tolerated EC badly and spent almost a week in hospital after the third cycle.
I had a compromised immune system due to Crohn’s disease before I got BC and also have fibromyalgia and osteo-arthritis of the spine so have plenty of joint/muscle pain to start with.
The Oncy has said that 3-weekly Taxol or Taxotere can cause a lot of joint pain and would probably floor me completely, so instead he’s going to do it weekly with Herceptin added in (to prevent my boredom) every third week. He has said that weekly Taxol has also been proved to be a more effective BC cure than a three-weekly hit and is also v. effective for secondaries. But it means I’ll feel like I’m living in the chemo suite.
I’m just wondering what to expect from Taxol - everyone else on here on a Taxane seems to be on Taxotere.
SEs could include:
Urticaria:
OMG I get massive urticaria blisters from insect bites or certain foods so I know what this can be like.
“Significantly less hypersensitivity is observed when paclitaxel is given weekly”. PHEW.
Neutropenia:
had that already; not nice
Fatigue, malaise and generalised weakness:
I have that with the FMS anyway.
Complete alopecia:
got the T-shirt!
Nail changes, such as hyperpigmentation and ridging, are common. A partial separation of the nail plate (onycholysis) may occur:
don’t fancy this and have started moisturising nails.
Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhoea:
Deep, deep joy.
Metallic or bitter taste:
got that T-shirt, too.
Hypotension and bradycardia:
got that with EC - I know the warning signs now.
Peripheral neuropathy:
Had that once with EC.
Arthralgias and myalgias affect 60% of paclitaxel treated patients:
ARRGHHHHH
“Arthralia and myalgia are infrequent and mild post-docetaxel” - makes it sound like Taxol is worse than Taxotere for this.
Colitis:
I that have anyway. Fingers crossed it doesn’t get worse.
Are all these SEs common or is the above a ‘worst-case scenario’?
TIA.