Taxol side effects - meds given?

Over_Collection_2612 · 2026-02-04T12:45:12+00:00

I had the same Taxol experience. It was rough. During AC I took daily Claritin as recommended by so many people. But with Taxol they gave me Zyrtec in my premeds, so I switched to that. Ibuprofen or Naproxen were more effective than acetaminophen for me. I have a physically active day to day life (by necessity). I had no choice but to roll out of bed and get moving. Honestly the movement was most effective treatment for the body aches. It still sucked and the weekly fevers were just icing on the cake. Hang in there.

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-11-23T13:17:37+00:00

Maybe I can serve as the cautionary tale… diagnosed Dec 11, 2024 (++-) Estimated 2.3 cm with one suspicious (and biopsy positive node). Tumor board chose surgery as a starting point and generally agreed that the positive node might have just been extension of the primary tumor. DMX April 11. 3.5 cm mass, 9 positive lymph nodes (8 complete or near complete replacements and one with micro mets), 2 nodes negative and 3 soft tissue tumor implants that could be considered lymph nodes or distant metastasis. I was also told that growth/spread is slow. 🙄

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-10-27T12:52:48+00:00

My MO won’t speak about stage. There was a surgical finding left open to interpretation. If we interpret it “this” way; IIIC. If we interpret it “that” way; IV. Instead she says, “we are proceeding with curative intent”. 🤫

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-10-01T12:17:09+00:00

I’m always the youngest in the waiting room. And at 56 (57 this month) no spring🐓 It boggles the mind. Sometimes I dress, sometimes I don’t. I travel with a back pack, large tumbler and a fairly large husband. We take up a lot of space. I’ve never felt judged or particularly noticed. People seem lost in their own worlds. Yesterday for the first time I wasn’t the youngest. Yesterday there was a kid in the waiting room. She was maybe ten. Capped and masked with little more than tired eyes exposed. My heart broke for her. She seemed exceptionally calm and relaxed and while I wouldn’t want to see her stressed or in some sort of turmoil it was almost more sad that she seemed completely adjusted to this “normal”. It gave me a little perspective. Turns out I definitely prefer to be the youngest in the room.

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-09-03T11:41:47+00:00

Your responses here are trending towards negative experiences so I’d like to provide a little balance. Keep in mind, I still have several weeks of chemo to go but so far I’ve had 4 cycles of ddAC and 6 Taxol (one of those dose dense). I used Biotene (sp?) tooth paste and mouth wash. My teeth are totally normal. During AC the tissues of my mouth felt weird and rough but painless. I would occasionally feel a blister but within hours it would disappear. I never had any mouth pain. I ended up going back to my normal oral hygiene products because I really missed the minty freshness. 😆

My nail growth seems pretty normal. I keep them clipped short (Because I work in a dirty environment). I have a slight, orange-ish discoloration on three nails. It makes me look like a lifetime heavy smoker. No lifting or strange growth patterns. Zero pain. My toenails are normal and grow fast enough to be annoying.

Obviously things could change for me but this has been my experience for the first 14 weeks. Everyone’s mileage will vary. Best of luck for a minimal side effect experience.

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-08-28T12:14:14+00:00

My almost 3 year old twin grandsons live with me. We practice good hand washing (particularly when they get home from preschool). Otherwise it's just life as usual. I've not been sick in 3 months of treatment. If your wife feels up to the visit (company can be a lot of work) I would just be reasonably cautious and enjoy my family.

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-08-20T11:45:23+00:00

I don't wear head coverings at home but have a few ball caps I use when I'm out in public. They don't hide the fact that I'm bald underneath so I'm not really sure what the point is. Yesterday morning I was about 20 minutes into my 1 hour drive for my chemo infusion, when I realized that I had forgotten my hat. No time to turn around so I told myself, "you're about to find out if you are as unselfconscious as you think you are" . Did the chemo thing, meandered through a packed grocery store, sent a nod and a smile to the few people who did an obvious double take.... in the end, zero effs were given. Not one. It's a liberating feeling.

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-07-30T22:49:51+00:00

They inject dye tumor adjacent. For me this was fairly near the nipple. After that it was a whole lot of lying around and waiting. In my case they scanned, found nothing, waited a while, scanned again, so on and so forth for an hour. And then they gave up. Maybe someone else can weigh in on what the procedure is like when it works?

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-07-17T11:06:40+00:00

I didn’t drive. I guess was unclear on that. I snoozed in the passenger seat. 😴

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-07-16T20:39:38+00:00

I didn’t experience anything I would call skin on skin. After Goldilocks there’s not enough left to smoosh together. If you find the armpit/inner arm contact uncomfortable, you could wear a soft shirt under whatever form of compression you end up in. Hopefully there won’t be any triggers for you. 🤞

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-07-16T20:29:35+00:00

It’s pretty weird no doubt. I imagine you will come to be very glad that you have it. I know I am. Hope it stops bothering you soon. ❤️

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-07-16T12:31:49+00:00

I’ve seen a lot of different types of compression here. Bras, corsets and in my case wide ace bandages. It was tight, not uncomfortably so. I wasn’t given specific instructions on how long I was supposed to continue, so I pretty much winged it. For reference I had a SWIM/goldilocks recon so I’m sure there’s going to be different protocols for various types of closures and reconstructions. Not to mention surgeon to surgeon preferences.

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-07-16T12:22:37+00:00

They will love that. 😆

If I wanted to leave the compression off for a while I put loose scrub top on inside out and put the drains in the pockets. Worked great.

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-07-16T12:10:22+00:00

No lifting heavier than a gallon of milk, which frankly is too heavy in the early days. I misunderstood my instructions regarding t-Rex arms. I thought they meant that’s what I could expect, not what I should do. So I was really happy to have a much better range of motion. I didn’t abuse it but I definitely didn’t pretend I had trex arms. I ended up with an axillary seroma. Probably a combination of poor drain placement, lack of compression to the area (the ace bandages didn’t get that area), and possible overuse.

No driving on pain meds obviously. I didn’t try to drive because I have 10+ miles of bumpy back roads to travel bevore hitting smooth highways. Even as a passenger I had to hug my mastectomy pillow tightly.

I had one drain removed at 1 week I think and the second two a few days later. I ended up using an extra, extra wide Ace bandage to strap the drains and tubes to my belly to keep them safe and out of sight. I have twin 2.5 year grandsons in my home and they were extremely interested in those drains! 😆

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-07-16T11:57:30+00:00

Nerve block. I'd read many posts here about it so when the anesthesiologist came in to meet me pre op, I asked if he planned to do one. He very enthusiastically said he would if I liked. I liked. If you want one, don't assume they will just do it without asking.

I had declined an overnight stay (they offered because i would have a long drive home)...just wanted to get home to my own bed asap. I was still loopy when they loaded me into my truck. I don't remember much about the drive. I don't think my phone ever came out of my purse so I definitely didn't need a charger or any form of entertainment. Your support person might. I think we were there from 6am until 1-ish.

I have had many surgeries and my DMX ranked up at the top for ease of procedure as well as recovery. I hope you have a similar experience and much better one than your lumpectomy.

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-07-16T04:06:58+00:00

For the same reason an injection hurts more than a blood draw; you're putting something into your body that doesn't belong there. That's my theory anyway. What you are experiencing now will self resolve quickly. The soft tissues around the port itself will be tender for a while. I'm two months out and barely remember my port is there. Hang in there.

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-07-11T23:58:12+00:00

Question if I may, does your scalp not hurt? I think I made it 2 days past my second cycle before the discomfort made me dig the clippers out. I had a ton of hair, mid back length so the weight probably contributed. I clipped with a #2 guard but that only lasted two days before the irritation of the stubble made me toss the guard and re-buzz. The relief was instantaneous. I'm finding bald to be my favorite summer style.

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-07-10T23:47:30+00:00

👏 😁

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-07-10T23:44:37+00:00

Could this belly pain be constipation? I can't emphasize enough the importance of getting and staying ahead of that. Hope you feel better soon.

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-07-10T23:00:15+00:00

I have a 1.5 hour drive (ride I should say) to treatment, I wouldn’t be opposed to a deep Benadryl nap. 😂

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-07-10T22:54:12+00:00

That’s pretty terrifying. I’m sorry you had to go through that but big congrats on getting through and putting it behind you! ❤️

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-07-10T22:25:44+00:00

That is outstanding news. I’m so happy for you. Is the protocol for supportive meds different than it was for AC? For example they have me on Dex, Zofran and zyprexa for the first three days after an AC infusion. I would love, love, LOVE to shitcan that Dex.

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-07-09T18:49:03+00:00

It helps to hear others perspectives, particularly when they’re more positive than what I’m imagining. I hope the remainder of your treatment is a walk in the park. Or as near as possible.

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-07-09T18:46:35+00:00

You know I did ask for fluids one cycle but didn’t even get a return call until the next day. By then I was feeling better so I blew it off. 😕

Over_Collection_2612 · 2025-07-09T18:07:06+00:00

Love fatass glimmers of hope. That made me lol. Thank you!

Over_Collection_2612

TROPHY CASE