I was diagnosed with Secondary Breast Cancer in my bones in Jan 2023. I have been on Palbociclib & Letrozole since & have remained stable.
My last CT scan showed that the cancer had progressed to my liver. I am now to go on weekly Paclitaxel ‘indefinitely’. The Oncologist said that it is urgent. After having 3 years of ‘normal’ life, I have been thrown into turmoil yet again.
Has anyone else had weekly doses? How did you cope? Any advice? I have decided not to cold cap.
Thank you
Hi there, so sorry to hear this.
I have Inflammatory Breast Cancer, I had weekly Paclitaxel chemo for 12 weeks..
It was much more manageable than the EC combo.
Recommend icing feet and hands (cold cap for feet and hands especially Toes and Fingers) to manage the Peripheral Neuropathy and better quality of life, my experience is that this Chemo reduced the Cancer almost immediately, it’s good at stopping it in it’s tracks to the stage of NEAD for you.
Big hugs to you
That is positive news, thank you. I am really very scared at the moment so need to hear positives.
Do you mean icing while being treated?
Hi @carols89 sorry to read that you are here again. Like @fp_flint I also had 12 weeks of Paclitaxel. My side effects were very manageable (unlike the EC I am currently receiving!). Some hair thinning (I did cold cap) and eyebrow and eyelash thinning….I used compression socks and gloves to avert neuropathy, which I believe has helped. Some tiredness, but really much better than I was expecting. Hope it goes well x
I don’t know if dosage is different for secondary, but thought I’d reply anyway as it might help.
I’m on weekly Paclitaxel (9 sessions) and my hair is actually growing back after it fell out from EC. I sometimes used compression gloves but sometimes forgot to take them, but so far haven’t had neuropathy issues. I found some weeks a lot harder than others, my suspicion is it’s because I’m still using periods, although they are erratic now, so hormone fluctuations were having an impact too. I also found that though I had some joint and muscle pain after the first two, it didn’t persist or get worse and actually I’ve had some weeks with very little pain. The tiredness is building up for me now but I have two little girls so I can’t always rest when I need to!
I hope it goes well for you and is manageable
@carols89 I’m so very sorry, that is truly horrible for you.
I’m on weekly Paclitaxel (for primary breast cancer so the dosage might be different) but so far it’s been very manageable.
I was due to receive dose dense fortnightly Paclitaxel, but after much research I asked my oncologist to put me on weekly (they don’t usually offer this at my hospital due to resourcing and cost).
Everything I read indicated that weekly dosage was better in terms of reduced side effects but without compromising it’s effectiveness.
I ice my hands and feet half an hour before the infusion starts, during, and an hour after the infusion finishes. This ties in with the timing for the cold cap anyway, so I’m there regardless. So far I haven’t had an neuropathy.
I ice my feet and hands using Suzipads from Amazon. If this is something you think you want to do then I’m happy to answer any more questions.
In terms of side effects, I’m pretty much ok. Very tired for the first couple of days but then I get my energy back.
It’s nowhere near as bad as EC for side effects.
If you’ve got any more questions please just ask x
Thank you ladies for all of your messages, advice & good wishes. They are all very reassuring.
Another question - how long did it take? Thanks
For me, because I was using ice packs Vs compression garments ..was about 2.5hour with retesting of bloods..15 mins before chemo, place hands and feet in ice packs, then 15 mins for steroids and antihistamines (they took their time to allow body to prepare) then the chemo approx 45-60mins, then 15-20 mins flush.
I also recommend that you get a Cather Port placed, especially as this will be long term treatment… it saves your arms and veins, easier for all blood testing as well as any other fluid procedures that needs to be pumped into you..
Takes an hour without sedation, 3 hours with sedation as they need to assess you for 2 hours after
Hi, I’m on weekly paclitaxel as adjuvant therapy after successful single mastectomy, alongside 3 weekly herceptin injection as my cancer is HER2+. I’m 2 cycles in and have had almost no side effects so far. It seems to be very gentle compared to other regimes. In my first week I had some headaches and aching joints/muscles but that hasn’t happened second week so I am putting those down to the herceptin. I’ve been told my hair will fall out but so far no sign. I’m not allowed to cold cap at my hospital on this regime as there isn’t enough time - the infusion including pre-meds, half hour wait then paclitaxel infusion lasts just over 2 hours. It’s very manageable. I just get one steroid in my pre meds and nothing to bring home which has meant I’ve only had one sleepless night a week! Overall it’s been nothing like as bad as I thought it would be, I just hope it lasts 
. Good luck 
Sorry I should have added I’ve not done anything about avoiding the peripheral neuropathy so far but I’ve had no sign of it yet .
I have triple negative secondary bc. I had weekly pax (three weeks treatment then one week off) together with pembrolizumab for 16 months to treat mets in my liver, lung and mediastinal lymph nodes. It was very doable. I lost my hair again, had some mild peripheral neuropathy and a few tummy problems but nothing that really hindered my day to day life. I continued walking our dogs twice a day and even got out to Australia during a short three week break.
I had progression in August last year and am now on Capecitabine.
Please may I ask you for more details on the cold therapy for hands and feet? I have looked up the Suzzipad and it says they stay cold for 30 mins. I am intending to cold cap. Do I wrap up warmly with a blanket as I hear you get very chilly?
There is definitely light at the end of the tunnel, just sometimes it seems like an awfully long tunnel.
I am currently on weekly doses (3 on i off) of Paclitaxel, but it is called NAB Paclitaxel which has albumin in it so reduces the side effects.
The tiredness and brain fog are the worst side effects so far, but no hair loss or neuropathy.
I am using a complementary treatment that is picking up a lot of followers here in Australia. Don’t laugh but it is a horse wormer call Ivermectin and Fenbendin 100 which is Fenbendazole. Apparently, it blocks the cancer cells from using glucose. At my last telehealth my markers were down 40 Points. Do your own research but don’t expect any positive comments from your Oncologist although thus is starting to change. Wishing you all the best.