Is it normal to have random hot flashes, burning sensation in hands and feet ( off and on) and some amount of nose bleeds ( minor) during paclitaxel regimen? I think these are expected symptoms but when is the point one decides to go to the emergency?
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Hello sms,
Thank you for posting.
It’s understandable that you have questions about the side effects you are experiencing whilst having paclitaxel.
Having paclitaxel can be associated with a wide range of possible side effects.
Women commonly report hot flashes associated with different breast cancer treatments. We do not know how old you are, but if paclitaxel or other treatments have caused your periods to stop then hot flashes are a common side effect of this. You may find our tips for coping with hot flushes helpful.
Paclitaxel can affect the number of platelets produced in your blood, this can lead to nose bleeds, bruising more easily or bleeding gums when you brush teeth. If you are experiencing nose bleeds, we would always suggest that you discuss this with your treatment team. It would be helpful to record how often they happen and how long they last. Generally, you would only need to attend hospital as an emergency if you had a nosebleed that you could not stop, or you had lost excessive blood. Your treatment team will be able to explain this in more detail.
It is not uncommon to experience intermittent burning sensations in your hands and feet when receiving paclitaxel. This side effect may be caused by peripheral neuropathy. This can vary from mild to severe and it is important that you tell your treatment team about this at your appointments as this can get worse over time, and it is sometimes necessary to adapt doses of the drug. If your treatment team do think you have peripheral neuropathy you may find our information about managing peripheral neuropathy useful.
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Mandy
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