Hi everyone I start my weekly taxol next week. I’ve read through every post but need a bit of advice.
People are saying problems with there finger and toes. What kind of problems? Has anyone had nausea? What are people saying about nails? And hair loss. I have been proper prepared and ordered a real hair wig and head scarves so I am already on that front.
I have only had tablet chemo before so this all new to me and a bit daunting.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated xxx
Hi Anita, I finished 12 weekly paclitaxols in December after 4 lots of 3 weekly Epirubicin. The advice I was given by the nurses at Christie’s was to keep your finger and toe nails painted very dark for the duration of the taxol and a month afterwards. I had mine gelled and it worked a treat. Only just had the dark colour removed and enjoying french polish now! No damage to my finger nails at all. I painted my toe nails myself and recently removed the black polish to find the nails had lifted a little, on the big toes only. My podiatrist says not to worry as she can see normal growth below. The secret with nails is to keep them dark so UV rays cannot damage the nails.
Problems with fingers and toes is called neuropathy, I developed that half way through treatment and still have it now. They gave me iced mitts and foot covers to slow down the blood supply and minimise the damage. Sometimes they stop treatment if the neuropothy is too bad as it can lead to permanent loss of nerves in your fingers and toes.
My hair was lost during the first chemo and started growing back whilst having the taxol. I’m almost at a point where it can be seen again!
Had nausea with the Epirubicin but not the taxal. I have found from talking to others that we all get quite different side effects, so don’t be too put off by all of them as they won’t all happen to you.
I have my last radiotherapy session tomorrow and can’t wait to see an end to these treatments. Good luck with yours, it won’t last for ever! xx
Thank you fifi that information was so helpful. At least I know to stock up on dark nail varnish. Better get myself down to boots. Or I might have gel like you sounds like a good idea x. Thank you again and hope you are keeping well xx
Hi Anita, my sister is about to start weekly Taxol in Portugal next week. She’s quite nervous about accessing this forum so I’m doing it for her. Guess you might have had you first session now-hope it went as well as can be expected. I’d like to keep in touch with you on behalf of my sister as you seem to both be at a similar stage of treatment -hope this is ok. I’m hoping that when I’ve done some of the ground work on the forum she might take over. Wishing you well. Dx
Hi. Yes it will be great to keep in touch. I have still not started my treatment going to see my oncologist today and hopefully first one on the 10th. When I originally went to see him he wanted to start immediately however three weeks later…
I am still feeling quiet daunted by it all. I think I will be ok once it’s started at the moment it’s the not knowing but this website is fantastic. I think it’s great that you can be in touch with people that are going through or have gone through the same thing x hugs to you sister. Xx
Hi Debbie I had my appointment with my oncologist and hopefully all is good to go ahead on the 10th. Unfortunately I am anemic and have low platelets so they are doing a blood test on Monday in case I need a transfusion. I asked him what the percentage was of this drug successfully putting the cancer in remission and he said 50-60% he also said it was a good drug. I am in the UK and he said the reason for delay is they are busy. What surgery has your sister had? The only surgery I had a mastectomy and reconstruction 7 years ago. Is this the first chemo she will be having? I have heard a lot more positive things about this chemo rather than FEC. How many cycles of chemo is your sister having? Mine are six cycles. Which I presume is six months (I have not thought to ask) I have it once a week for three weeks and a week off. I know that it seems like a long slog ahead but we will come out the other end fighting. Take care xx
Hi Debbie hope you are well. How is ur sister? Had she started treatment yet? I thought I would leave my posts until I finished my first cycle which was yesterday. Don’t want to tempt fate but so far so good. The first treatment for me was a long day because I had to have a blood transfusion before hand meaning I was at the hospital for a total of 10 hours. They give you a cocktail of four pre meds before the paclitaxol which are a steroid (this gives you an itchy bottom when they inject that ?) an indigestion relief, piriton, and anti sickness. Well I know that piriton is not good for me and within 5 minutes I was asleep through the 30 minute break and the chemo. I was like a zombie walking out of that place. I actually hate piriton and avoid it at all costs at home. Slept when I got home and all night but woke up feeling ok. And felt fine on the Friday as well. I had radiotherapy on the Friday at 4 for back pain and they warned me this could make me feel sick. They were not joking there. I was sick in the car going home and continuously until 8 o’clock. After taking a sickness tablet I was still sick so drank flat lemonade and went to bed when it eventually stopped. On the Saturday I felt better but took another sickness tablet. Went shopping in the morning but I was like a zombie I did not know what I was doing was totally vacant it was a horrible feeling. I went home and put this down to the anti sickness tablets remembering that I felt like this before. I slept then until about 4. Sunday I was the same and Monday still not feeling great. Monday I was having blood tests for the next treatment Wednesday to see if I needed another transfusion,-all was good though. I also had a port a cath fitted. Now this hurt at the time and was painful for a few days after but well worth it. Do much easier to get blood and give treatment and it can’t be seen like a picc line can. So before treatment on a Wednesday I wanted the piriton changed and the anti sickness changed. After several frustrating phone calls to the hospital and them telling me that they could do nothing about it because the oncologist was on holiday I eventually got hold of the registrar and he said they will change the anti sickness and stop the piriton. Well what a difference that has made I felt fine all through treatment and that evening, and felt good the next days. I’m so pleased I made the decision to to get these changed. Ok it’s nice to sleep and rest but I don’t want to feel like a zombie. My hair is now starting to come out which I’m dealing with ok. I’m well prepared with a wig and a few scarves. I hope if ur sister has started treatment she is coping well with it. If things are causing problems for her get talking to the oncologist and get them changed she does not have to suffer and it’s a long slog of treatment if she is feeling bad. Please let me know how you are all getting on. Sorry for the long post. Take care both of you xx
Hi it’s good to hear from you and I’m pleased to hear that Linda has started her treatment. I know what she means with the tiredness I was feeling the same. I think the trick is to keep busy.
My hair was starting to fall out rapidly and getting knotted washing it so I took the decision to shave it off. Like an idiot I cried even though I told myself not to. But kinda getting used to the look. I have been signed off of work at the moment. Not sure when I will be back was planning on the middle of this month. Unfortunately I was not well a couple of Sunday’s ago and collapsed whilst I was out. I got taken to a&e where they said I will need a blood transfusion but typical hospital said they had no beds and to go home and come back on the Monday. After spending 9 hours at the hospital and still waiting for a bed to have a transfusion I gave up and went home exhausted. So today is Monday and I have another blood test ready for chemo on Wednesday and I am hoping that I will get a blood transfusion tomorrow and it will make me feel better.
You mentioned that your sister is suffering from back pain. Maybe she should request a session of radiotherapy. I had this done and I am not having any back pain at all. Hope you are both keeping well and positive xx