I’m having weekly chemotherapy for 18 weeks. Week 1 Paclitaxel with carboplatin, week 2-3 just Paclitaxel.
I am on week one following PC and due my next P dose tomorrow. The Consultant said the side effects would be lessened due to weekly chemo, but the fatigue is consuming and nausea is on and off. Does anyone have any experience with PC and weekly chemo and if it gets easier with the just Paclitaxel weeks?
I had FEC back in 2008 and this is easier than that but I was hoping to be able to do
I’m sorry to hear about the side effects you’re experiencing, and I’m sure that someone will be able to share their experience of paclitaxel with you.
In the meantime please know that our nurses are here for you any time, here on the forum on the Ask our Nurses your questions or over the phone 0808 800 6000. We also have some more information on paclitaxel on on this page of our website: Paclitaxel (Taxol) | Breast Cancer Now
Welcome to the forum @delma , you could maybe also post in the Chemotherapy section of the forum , I’m sure there are others on your chemo regime also . If you’d like some support from others going through chemo at the same time maybe you could also look at the June and July chemo starters threads Chemotherapy monthly threads . Hope the fatigue lessens for you soon . Best wishes Jill .
I had weekly Paclitaxel only and the side effects were cumulative, (got worse over time), I started with a slightly reduced dose and had it reduced even more after an infection and temperature. Everyone is different but you need to listen to your own body, if it feels off, call your helpline.
Some people suggest it’s kinder than 3 weekly Docetaxel (a similar taxane chemotherapy) but from being on the monthly chemo starters I found many on the weekly regime had at least 1 ‘good’ week out of 3. I managed a 3 of good days in the first few weeks, one of which was back in the chair for more chemotherapy, down to 2 good days from half way. So most weeks I had 1 day that I didn’t feel rubbish.
Side effects: Fatigue, nausea, diarrhoea (n & d helped by medication), aches and pains, loss of taste, nose bleeds, sore mouth, thrush, poor sleep (steroids), sore nails, sore scalp ( I did cold cap for all 12 weeks, not an easy feet, but managed to keep most of my hair, thinning and two small bald patches above my ears. I had hair cur into a pixie cut).
As already mentioned reading the previous chemo starters groups can be very helpful. I joined one group as I thought I was having chemo before surgery then it changed to afterwards. Joining a group gives you support of others going through similar treatments to you and is a great source of camaraderie and support. Here’s the link for June 2024
You can call the BCN nurses or call your own clinical nurse specialists attached to your oncology team, to talk about side effects and how to manage them.
