Anyone on Taxol

Hi Lorraine

Well that is number 4 taxol done and dusted. Treatment went well apart from the problem of hunt the vein. Did request to have a port line fitted before treatment but still not fitted. Went for pre treatment assessment last Monday. Said at time could come not on Tuesdays as having chemo. Well got back in to find a letter asking me to come for 12 o clock today. To be honest with only having 8 more treatments I don’t feel it is worth having one now. Another thing once I have finished how long will it take for them to take it out. With it taking over 5 weeks to get an appointment to have one fitted could take just as long to have it taken out. They will be on no hurry.

Good luck for Thursday.

Linda

Hi Linda

It’s all a waiting game. Am glad today went ok.

I saw consultant today for catch up. Discussed scan and he said would not have one until complete another six weeks.

He was also very concerned about reactions I have had. He said to see how next few go and if still have reactions then will discontinue. This is stressing me out as if cannot continue that is one less option. Will have to see how Thursday goes.

Have actually just started a post asking if anyone else has had a similar experience.

Regards,

Lorraine

Hi Lorraine

I noticed you have put a section on reaction to taxol hope you get some useful information. Not sure what our next treatent is taxol does
For me if it does work I will go on hormonal therapy like tamoxifen. Wonder why they used up all your hormonal options before chemo. Would have been nice for you to have some easier options to choose from.

Good luck for Thursday. Hopefully it will without a hitch.

Linda

Hi Lorraine

Hope everything went well yesterday.

Linda

Hi Linda

Everything went well on Thursday. They gave me extra meds before chemo and no reaction thankfully. Been fine apart from inside of my nose is sore and has caused a few nose bleeds.

Yesterday my hair started to come out. ?

I hope you are doing well and that the cold cap is working for you.

Just got to live in hope it is all worth it.

Take care and all the best for tomoro.

Lorraine xx

Morning Lorraine

Pleased everything went well for you last Thursday.

Not sure whether cold cap is working as I have lost more than normal although I have a full head of hair still. I have got long hair so at moment no one would notice. Just have to wait and see. Not lost any hair anywhere else eyebrows eye lashes etc…

Back to see oncologist next Monday so hopefully she will arrange for me to have a scan.

Good luck for Thursday.

Linda.

Hi Linda & Lorraine
Just checking that you are coping with the paclitaxel at the moment. Have you had a scan midway through? I am hoping it’s doing the trick for you both. I’ve had 13 now, 5 to go. See onc on Wed for a chat about how it’s going. As I said last month, I’m not sure how long I can continue with chemo whilst 2 of the liver mets increase each time I am scanned though everything else is stable. How big do they have to get before we rethink? I feel pretty well most if the time for which I am thankful.
Let us know how you are.
Helen x

Morning Helen

Hope you had a great holiday.

Treatment not going to bad. Going to have CT scan this Wednesday. I will have had 7 treatments. When I got diagnoised with liver mets I have not had a biopsy have you? Alot of ladies on the forum seem to have one also I have known people whereby the receptor is different from the breast cancer so treatment won’t work. I asked that very same question last October was told no that does not happen.

My main side effects are fatigue joint and bone pain which is quite worrying as I have not had bone pain in the 9 years I have had mets. Mentioned the pains to oncologist last week I think that is why she has rushed an appointment through for CT scan.

If you have to change treatments I wonder what it will be?

Hope appointment goes OK on Wednesday with oncologist.

Linda.

Hi Linda and Helen

Things going ok for me now that they have sorted the reaction. Have aches and pains, tiredness and sores inside nose which bleed now and then. Got some ointment now. My fingers and toes are also a bit sensitive. Still managing to do every day things which is a bonus.

Linda - I hope your scan goes ok and you get positive results. Hopefully pains you are having are just normal side effects. Fingers crossed.

Helen - Thanks for your post. Hope your chat with oncologist goes well. Is always a worry waiting to see them. Not sure what other treatments are. I was told there were other chemos to try if this one doesn’t work.

I see oncologist on 18th and then will be referred for a scan.

Best wishes for you both.

Lorraine xxx

Evening Lorraine

Pleased your treatment is going well now. Yes I get bleeding from the nose when I blow it which I do alot with the constant watery eyes and runny nose. That seemed to start when I started cape last October. Did mention it last week when I was having chemo reply was you may have less hair in nose and on eyelashes. Advise try cucumber or tea bags. Do you have the same problem?

Thank you for your good wishes regarding scan tomorrow. Least it is early 10.30 so I won’t have to starve too long.

Have you been offered a liver biopsy?

Still wonder why they used all options up on hormone therapy treatment. Suppose each oncologist has their own preferred treatment plan.

Good luck for Thursday. Hope it goes smoothly.

Linda

Hi Linda

Hope scan went ok. No have never been offered a liver biopsy. Sometimes I feel secondry means not worth spending money on you! I have always had CT scans where some have had MRIs.

My treatment went ok yesterday.

Best wishes for your results.

Helen - i hope your meeting with oncologist went well.

Regards,

Lorraine xx

Hi Lorraine thank you for your good wishes regarding scan results. Went OK apart from hunt the vein.

I agree regarding them not wanting to spend too much money on us. Another reason for them not wanting to spend money on me as I am now 66. Until this chemo I was plodding along nicely. Swimming and aqua fit regularly. Unfortunately not been able to do that in case I pick up a germ. Hopefully I will be able to get back to that.

Pleased your treatment went well yesterday.

Linda

Hi Linda

You mentioned bone pain. I have just started to experience pain in my right leg from my hip down my leg. I also have sore fingers and toes. Have u had any symptoms in hands and toes?

Lorraine x

Morning Lorraine

Can’t remember whether u have bone mets as well as liver like me. At moment my hands are OK but my bones and joints in feet hurt. My bones in ribs front and back tend to be the worse ones. I do get pains in left leg down as well. Falling to bits. I mentioned it last time I saw oncologist. She prescribed tramadol 3 times a day. Not keen on taking that strong a pain relief. I have been taking co codamal before going to bed if it is bad. Oncologist mentioned some patients get pain so bad they feel like they have been run over by a bus.

I think once I get scan results and hopefully it is working well I will start to feel less stressed.

I hope results are there tomorrow . I have asked whether she can go through the results on the computer.

Linda

Hi Linda

I have it in bones and liver. Sorry you are suffering so much with bone pain. I was once given Tramadol when I had pain in ribs near liver. I took one and was spaced out not good. Didnt take another. Different for everyone though.
Hope you get results soon. I hope to get a scan before end of month. Results here take at the very least two weeks if not longer. Dont know about you but are times I wonder if it is worth all of the pain. All we can hope for is positive results. Xx

Hi Linda

My treatment went ok yesterday. Am off to see oncologist later when will discuss getting a scan.

Just thinking of you and wondering if you recieved your scan results?

Regards,
Lorraine xx

Evening Lorraine

Pleased your treatment went well on Thursday.

Thought I might of had them last Monday when I saw oncologist but unfortunately not. Back to see her in 2 or 3 weeks. I have not taken the tramadol she prescribed dont want to feel spaces out. She did say depending on CT scan results treat ment might get stopped at 10 as opposed to me having 12. Don’t know whether your hospital you attend does tumour markers. Mine does and they have halved since starting this treatment which I suppose is good but I would still like to see scan results.

The weeks seem to be flying by no. 9 already chemo. Hope it goes well with oncologist and you get a CT scan sorted.

Linda

Hi Linda

I get my bloods taken at GP including tumour markers. Am happy to say mine have also halved. ? Oncologist said this was a positive sign but CT needed. Not counting my chickens just yet. Having CT in next month and then back for results in six weeks. Having a break next week so can have flu jab.

Must admit am having a bit of a hard time with painful finger nails and toenails.

Best wishes.

Lorraine

Morning Lorraine

That’s definitely a positive regarding tumour markers.

Regarding flu jab there is a shortage for me as I am over 65. It has been changed this year. I will ask when I go tomorrow when would it be the best day to have it.

Touch wood my toe nails and finger nails are fine. I do however have cal gel on my finger nails anyway. I get them done every 3 weeks…

It will be nice for you to have a week off the treatment.

Linda

Hi Lorraine & Helen

Just want to share some good news. Hospital rang with CT scan results. Liver tumour disappeared and bone is showing improvement. When they rang I was hoping for them to say don’t need to go rommow wishful thinking. Today went same as norm. I will be skipping in there for my last now.

Hope all goes well on Thursday Lorraine.

Linda