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For me the side effects of each were:
1. AC - mouth sores - they weren't that bad but I got them and they were worse with the first round. Loss of appetite (I lost 22 lbs on chemo to include the taxol portion). Fatigue also (and of course hair loss). My skin became very dry and I really needed to moisturize (especially my face and hands). Needed chapstick too.
2. taxol - I had some numbness in my fingers, especially my thumbs. The worse part was "electrical" feelings in my legs (especially when laying down or sitting - not too bad when moving around). My white counts improved on taxol but were the pits on AC. If you haven't lost your eyebrows and eyelashes on AC, you will lose them on taxol. But oddly, the hair on your head will start growing again - just peach fuzz but it will start to come back during these treatments. Lastly, I had this dense dose too (because they do the 12 weekly taxols when you get the herceptin so I had 4 stronger doses every 2 weeks).
I did not take neulasta as my blood boosting agent. I took Leukine which works in the same way but boosts all white blood cell components not just the neutrophils like neulasta and neupogen does. However, the side effects are very similar. The biggest one is bone pain - especially in the sterum (breast bone so it can feel kind of like a heart attack). Also the ribs and pelvis (the big bones throb). This last a couple of days. I also felt this contributed to fatigue but since you are getting chemo, who knows.
3. Herceptin is like nothing. I took it sequentially and did not take it with taxol because the results of the trial came out 3 months after I completed taxol so I started then. So, you will have a mixed result. By itself the first couple of herceptin treatments gave me a headache and runny nose. I was also tired. Now, I am just tired (getting it on the every three week schedule). No more headache or runny nose.
I thought AC was worse than taxol. Although the finger numbness and leg "thing" was no picnic, I did not feel so sick (most of my weight loss came from the AC part. I actually lost 8 lbs in between round 3 and 4 so that's 4 lbs a wk). Also, you will find your white counts to be better on taxol so at least you are better protected naturally.
I really hope this helps.
Kind regards
Becky
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