Side Effects of Adriamycin/Cytoxin and Taxol/Herceptin

LovingDaughter · 05-28-2006, 02:51 PM

If you have taken the following chemotherapy cycle, could you please explain the side effects you had: AC-->T+H? My mom is currently taking AC and was wondering whether she would have any easier time on Taxol. She will be taking Taxol weekly for 12 weeks.

LovingDaughter · 05-28-2006, 02:57 PM

If you have taken Neulasta, could you also let me know if you had any side effects with it?

rinaina · 05-28-2006, 02:58 PM

Not there yet with the taxol/herceptin yet but would also like to know. Just had first cycle of A/C....not to bad so far at all. Little tired, little extra gas, little extra thirst, urinating a lot more. So far tastes are okay.

hope this helps
Rina

LovingDaughter · 05-28-2006, 03:00 PM

Thanks, Rina. I am glad that things are going well for you so far. My mom just completed her second AC treatment and has been extremely fatigued and has no appetite.

rinaina · 05-28-2006, 03:13 PM

I wish some of my appetite would go away. Was hoping for a little weight loss through this but not unhealthy amount or amount that would be detrimental. I have been told by many that b.c. patients actually tend to gain weight. Not what I wanted to hear. I think it is more because some things don't taste good due to taste alterations from drugs so perhaps the things that do taste good are more fattening. I don't know for sure. Any feedback on this from others? Hope your mom does well, keep in touch. How far into treatment is she? Like I said, I just had 1 of 4 treatments and they will be 3 weeks apart.
Rina

LovingDaughter · 05-28-2006, 03:19 PM

She took her second treatment out of four of AC on Friday. Her treatments are two weeks apart.

suzan w · 05-28-2006, 03:52 PM

I had 4 treatments of A/C..was supposed to get 6 but due to severe side effects, oncologist decided 4 would do. I developed an infection after the 2nd tretment and my white blood count went bonkers...other women do not seem to have the severity of side effects that I did. I also had a neulasta shot with each chemo and had alot of soreness from that-especially in shoulders...caused by neulasta boosts white blood cell growth and that takes place in the bone marrow. I am doing a year of herceptin now-every 3 weeks, til Oct. Not many side effects from that. Despite the side effects, I am glad that I did the chemo...

Andi · 05-29-2006, 08:12 AM

I had dd a/c with neulasta. My basic side effects with the a/c were that my tastes changed. Foods I used to like, no longer even sounded good to me. I ate a lot of fruits as that is what appealed to me most. My weight stayed the same. I also would drink a whole lot of water the remainder of the day after my chemo and that helped me a lot. One of my treatments water didn't sound good to me and I didn't drink it and I felt much worse after that cycle, so the rest of them I made sure I drank it even when it didn't sound good to me. When I went on to the Taxol + Herceptin it was a breeze. I would have a ravenous appetite for a couple of days after my treatment which I thought was due to the sterioids they give as a premed, but now I am taking herceptin every three weeks and still find I have the same thing even without the sterioids so for me it may be the herceptin and not the sterioids. I have a few more hot flashes right after my treatment and sometimes a runny nose. My ankles are also stiff when I first get up, but if I stretch them first I don't have any problems. I had no side effects with the neulasta. It seemed to me in my treatment that each step got easier - a/c then t + herceptin then radiation then herceptin every three weeks (finishe 9/06). Good luck to your mom in her journey through treatment.

LovingDaughter · 05-29-2006, 08:37 AM

Thank you all so much for responding to my inquiry. My mom has had a very difficult day so far today--she is three days out from her second treatment. She is very nausiated and tired. Did any of you do anything to help with the fatigue, or did you just sleep it off?

It sounds like the Taxol portion of her treatment may be a little better based upon what all of you have said. I certainly hope so.

Good luck to all of you as you continue on your journeys! I pray for all of you regularly!

rinaina · 05-29-2006, 01:19 PM

Best thing to do for fatigue is to listen to your own body. If you are tired or fatigued at least rest or sleep it off.

Rina

cconsolver · 05-29-2006, 11:55 PM

I didn't have any problems with Adriamyacin but only because my onc told me to make sure to keep something, anything in my stomach whether I felt like it or not. And there were some days I didn't feel like eating. I can not tell you how many saltines I ate, but they really saved my life and making sure to drink ALOT of water and take the anti-nausea meds. I did gain weight because I was also told to eat a high protein low fiber diet. As a result I was able to maintain a somewhat normal life style. I continued to work although only on a very limited basis. The main thing is that when feeling tired to take a break, even nap if that is what your body is telling you to do. Rest, rest, rest. I didn't take Taxol but took something new called Abraxane. I had more problems with it. I broke out in rashes, lost the feeling in my fingers, and got sick before even leaving the infusion room all four treatments. I truly believe I was having allergic reactions to this treatment. Thankfully, it is all over and I am approaching the end of my herceptin treatments. I believe I only have 4 or 5 more (my onc will tell me next time I see her in three weeks). Just hang in there and let your mom know that there are alot of us out here who have been where she is and care and that she can do this.

Cindy

Yorkiegirl · 05-30-2006, 08:23 PM

Cindy I see that you are located in Bedford,Texas? I am in Hurst.

Do you go to Texas Oncology, across from Harris Methodisit Hospital?

I had 4 AC Dose dense followed by 4 Abraxane Dose Dense and I have until the end August and I will finished with my year of Herceptin. I get weekly Infusions.

Vicki

madubois63 · 05-30-2006, 04:47 AM

>>My mom has had a very difficult day so far today--she is three days out from her second treatment.<<

Day three was always the worst day for me. Keep gingerale, (string) black licorice or licorice tea, pickled ginger (like the sushi kind - seafood department or oriental grocery store) or crysallized ginger (cooking ilse) for the "day 3" blues...
also, clear broths, jello, sherbert, crackers, pretzles and nutty whole grain breads. I've heard some people live on potatoes too.

I found the Taxol to be much easier on me than the adriomycin/cytoxin. But, remember you still have the adriomycin in you and even though you will be getting taxol, your eye lashes and eye brows will fall out. That is residual effects from the adriomycin. My hair started grown back rather quickly during the Taxol treatments and the brows and lashes come back pretty quickly too. Within a year and a half my hair was back to my normal length (see picture).

..·´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨)) -:¦:-
((¸¸.·´ ¸.·´ -:¦:- -:¦:-
-:¦:- ((¸¸.Maryann -:¦:-´´

tousled1 · 05-30-2006, 06:11 AM

During my treatments with A/C my blood counts dropped way down!! First round I did the neupogen shots which gaveme such joint pian I thought I would die. After that I received Neulasta the day after chemo. I also received Procrit shot the day of chemo. My side effects with A/C were that my sense of smell became very prominent, sores in the mouth (around day 3), and of course fatigue.

I did not receive taxol but got taxatore. While on the taxatore (pre-med decadron) my side effects were again low blood counts, mouth sores and a lot of neuropathy in the hands/feet.

Again, each person reacts differently to chemo and I know that I reacted different to each round I received. Major probelm throughout was severe fatigue -- which does get better.

rinaina · 05-30-2006, 07:53 AM

Gingerale was sure my friend last night. The last two nights have been kind of hard on me. A bit nauseated and uncomfortable and couldn't get back to sleep once I woke up in the middle of the night. The uncomfortable feeling is like not being able to find a place for yourself, like you are jumping out of your skin. Anyone else ever feel like that at night. I fall asleep fine at around 8 or 9pm but then awaken at about 12-1:30am and can't get back to sleep easily. Perhaps I need to take the Ativan every night. Hate drugs and wish I didn't need to but will do what it takes I guess.

Merridith · 06-01-2006, 05:37 PM

Hi LovingDaughter

I took exactly the same chemo that your mother is currently on.

Although many people told me that Taxol would be "easier", I would best describe the side effects as different from AC. Taxol didn't make me feel nauseated at all. But since it follows AC, your body is also more physically stressed. As a result, I found that there was somewhat more fatigue associated (but I don't know if I would strictly blame taxol as by that time your body has been doing the chemo-marathon for a number of months by the time you switch to taxol).

My main symptom was physical pain in the lower joints, particularly feet and knees. However I would not describe this as very bad. It was worse when you first stood up in the morning. At that time I would have to grit my teeth before I stood. It could also be uncomfortable to walk, but not bad enough to limp. I found this faded as I forced myself to walk around. (after each treatment however the "discomfort" time zoneexpanded). I also found that my finger nails (not toes) became tender and felt like they might come off. I avoided doing dishes because of this.

I also gave myself injections of neupogen. It is unpleasant, but doable. It is less painful if you stab yourself FAST rather than inserting the needle carefully. Rotate injection sites. Usually one side of your body (either left or right) tends to be less sensitive.

While you are on chemo, it is important to maintain a very high quality of mouth hygene. These are the steps that I took:
Dental hygenist every 3 months. Use biotene toothpaste (available behind the counter from your pharmacist). Remember that flossing removes 40% of the bacteria but must be done gently. Clean your teeth after eating anything. And most important........swish with baking soda every 4 - 8 hours (depending on where you are in the vulnerability of your chemo cycle.) This changes your mouth chemistry from acid to alkali. (Don't rince with fresh water after a swish) I used to swish whenever I got up at night to pee. If you follow the above rules you are likely to miss out on the mouth sores that are so common during chemo. Once you get them, they are hell to get rid of.

Good luck with your mom. Let her know that her hair will be back on her head really quickly after finishing her chemo.

Regards,
Merridith