Taxol Pain... Is there any relief?

[Shannon]

Hello, I am currently in week four of twelve consecutive weeks of Taxol. The joint aches have been quite uncomfortable. Anyone who has had Taxol and has ANY advice on how to tolerate it, I would sure appreciate it. Vikoden does not work for me, never has. This is a little more then extra strength tylenol is probably meant for. Any exercises, miracle pill or something????? Pain is mostly in knees and ankles.

[Alicia]

Hi, I took vicaprofrin, instead of tylenol it is combined with ibuprofrin. It really worked for me ... most of the time I could take just one pill and get 6 hours of relief. Best wishes!!! Alicia

[Rozebud]

I didn't have much luck with tylenol or advil either while on taxotere. Mostly I just struggled through it for 2-3 days. One night I had shooting pain that kept waking me up and broke into the darvoset (sp?) I got after my baby was born. It seemed to work pretty well, but it was the only time I tried it. At least it helped me sleep.

[celina]

Hi Shannon,
I've read some recent posts here about people taking flaxseed oil capsules for the joint pain. My sister is currently on Taxol, as well. I mentioned the flaxseed to her and she will check with her doc. on Thursday. I will let you know what he says. She is currently having pain on the third day of her weekly cylce, lasting about 2 to 3 days. She takes advil to dull the pain.

[carlye]

I took loratabs and always took a hot bath before bed. That seemed to relax me some. I had the kind of pain that made my skin hurt as well so I kept up on the advil with it as well pretty consistantly through the week that I had it!

[Steph N]

I tried all the things mentioned and Naproxin was the best for me. I got it in a slightly higher than over-the-counter dose from my med onc. When things got worse with Taxotere, I got Neurontin, and that also afforded me a lot of relief.
Good luck. It is hard to walk around with the general fatigue, let along the extra aches and pains that plague us.

[Monica]

I'm in week nine of taxol, and the pain got progressively worse, and then all of sudden this week it has improved. What seems to work for me is celebrex twice a day, neurontin, and extra strength tylenol as needed. I also walk an hour a day. The pain wasn't overwhelming, but I still find it emotionally exhausting having the pain in the background. I hope you find the right combination. They say as time goes by, the joint/bone pain typically decreases.

[Sandy H.]

I am the one who takes flaxseed oil for the joint pain. I had severe joint pain and now I have none. It is also good for many other things. I also eat lots of flaxseed meal in muffins, etc. The arthritis docs are using it for arthritis here so must be working well for some. Hugs, Sandy

[Shannon]

Interesting... my oncologist told me no herbs... I used to take flaxseed oil pills before the cancer.. they told me to stop. I will ask again!

[Shannon]

Thanks for all the advice, I wrote down all the names of pills I will ask my oncologist... are these over the counter or perscription? I will try anything. My clinical nurse says that as the time goes on the pain MAY last all seven days between treatment.. hard to explain what it feels like to others... something between growing pains and taking a scrape to the bones.

[Cathy W]

I just finished 6 months of taxotere which can cause severe joint pain as well. I was able to functin o.k. will I was getting the decadron with the chemo, but when I switched to just herceptin, it got markedly worse. My onc. tried to get me on bekstra(spelling?) but my insurance denied it. They got me 200mg of celebrex and that help--pain relief for about 6 hours. I just got approved for bekstra(??) yesterday. Hopefully that will give longer relief. There is no reason you should suffer.
Cathy W

[Cathy W]

PS
I was told by my onc. absolutely no flax seed--it is not synergistic with chemo. So definitely check with your onc.
Cathy W

[Alicia]

Carlye,
I took hot baths all the time too!!! I forgot about that! It was soooooo helpful! Alicia

[Sandy H.]

The flaxseed may be true with some chemos however, the combo I am on its o.k. I would never take any supplement without researching it myself and my supplement consultant who is an R.N. and specializes in supplements for cancer patients. I appreciate your concern. Hugs, Sandy