Posted by Penny on 10/17/2009, 11:38 pm, in reply to "Taxol vs. A/C"
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I'm so sorry the Taxol's so rough on you Honey. Sounds like the Neuropathy's really extreme for you. I did have some occasional leg cramps from walking and a bit of numbness but nothing like you're having. It is one of the side effects but it's not usually so severe.
There was one gal on here (Joanne, I think) a while back who still occasionally posts, who had it so bad she couldn't even drive cause she couldn't feel the pedals. She also got to where she could hardly walk. You're not alone Sweetie, it's just not quite as common as say nausea and fatigue is with A/C. The good news is that it's temporary and will start to get better as soon as your done.
My worst side effect with Taxotere (Taxol's little sister) was the horrid taste in my mouth and everything tasting like cardboard for two out of every three weeks. Course my taxotere was mixed with xeloda and that also caused the taste buds to freak out so I'm not sure which was causing the worst of that.
I was also probably on a lower dose than you are and given for two weeks with a break on the third week, course I was on it almost a year instead of three months. Being Stage IV, the docs are more concerned with quality of life (QOL) since they know they can't cure you. They'll comprimise your QOL for six months or more to give you a better shot at a cure. They about killed me the first time around with the A/C and told me this was why they did it. When I was done with a/c, I weighed 82 lbs and could barely walk to my mailbox about 35' away.
This is why I tell all the newbies that you just can't go by what someone else's experiences are with these drugs. Everyone is so different and there is no use in them getting all worked up over a side effect they may not have. I do think it's important for us to share our experiences about our side effects though. It's nice to know we aren't alone in how we're feeling or that we're NOT going crazy when chemo brain strikes!!!
Boy, you'd think I was on the "roids" tonight the way I'm rambling on. Sorry...LOL
You know Cathy, there is a drug that may help with your pain. I think it's called neurotin??? Talk to your onc about it and about Peg's idea with the b vits. I sure hope you can find something that helps.
Hugs,
Penny
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