taxol

If you read any of my previous posts, you’ll know I took a break from treatments for a couple months. I needed to go back to work and the side effects were getting worse with every chemo.

I was just tired – mentally and physically.

My first treatment of 2023 was in February. Same chemo as before. Nothing was different. I loaded up with steroids the night before and the morning of, same as usual.

They always start the Taxol first and the bag usually takes around 3 hours to complete. Before they start the Taxol, they give me antacids and liquid Benadryl and something else that I don’t remember off hand. So, I am usually loopy and ready to sleep once the chemo gets started.

The only real difference is that I was in a bed instead of a recliner this time and was laying pretty flat, whereas I am usually sitting up some.

All of a sudden, I cannot breathe!

I sit up and hit the nurse button. I coughed a few times and was able to get my breath back. They stopped the Taxol and called my oncologist’s office.

Someone else in the Infusion Center was also having some kind of issues, however, they were taken out by EMS.

The nurses gave me some more Benadryl and another drug and restarted the Taxol – but at a slower rate.

I had no other issues after that.

The two Chemotherapy drugs that I receive are Taxol and Carboplatin.

Chemo days used to be about 6 hours. I get some pre-meds which are antacids, liquid Benadryl, and something else that I cannot think of at the moment. (Chemo brain is a real thing, y’all!) I say used to be because I had an allergic reaction to the Taxol in February, 2023 and now my Chemo days are about 8 hours. (A separate post about this is coming soon.)

Both chemo drugs have similar side effects. The side effects that I get are:

Hair loss – I’ve lost my hair 4 times now. Every time I’ve taken a break from chemo, my hair grows back. Once I start the chemo (well 17 days after – funny how they can pin point it down to the days like that) my hair starts falling out again.
Neuropathy/tingling in fingers and toes – I also get these little zings (for lack of a better word) in my legs, arms, hands, and feet. The zings are totally random and are more frequent closer to chemo.
Mouth sores – They’re not even sores per say, but more like the skin on the inside of my mouth is cut up. I don’t know, it’s weird.
Food doesn’t taste right or I just don’t want to eat – this is right after chemo and lasts a few days to a week.
Constipation and diarrhea – it’s a fun combo of both.
Joint pain – I personally think this is more bone pain for me, but it’s the worst pain I’ve ever been in. Now mind you, I have not been through childbirth, however, I have had a complete hysterectomy and that was pretty painful.
Nausea – I am *very* lucky in that I do not get nauseous regularly. I also haven’t had days where I vomit or anything like that. I have been nauseous a few times, and usually taking Zofran helps for that.
Body chills – These happen the day of chemo as well as the day after and sometimes into the 2nd day after. A friend who has been through chemotherapy for Breast Cancer recommended I get an electric blanket for those days. I haven’t done so yet.
Exhaustion/tiredness – This is a constant while I am going through chemo. Like today, I am 2 1/2 weeks out and I am exhausted. I cannot get enough sleep.]

Now the above are the side effects that I experience. You, your family member, or friend may experience different side effects than I do. My oncologist gave me a binder of information and I’ve found that most of what was in there was true for me.

Tomorrow I’ll post about the allergic reaction I had to chemo.

Till then…Heidi

taxol

Allergic Reaction to Taxol

Let’s Talk Chemotherapy Side Effects