First things first, yesterday’s treatment went well. 🙏🏻 Only 1 more left! 🤩
For my fellow pink sisters, here’s an update on my progress w/ Taxol:
💗 I’m on week 11 of 12
💗 Treatments are each Thursday
💗 Reactions hit around lunchtime Friday- I’m on round the clock Benadryl till they cease!
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💗 MY TAXOL SIDE EFFECTS💗
Other than feeling completely wiped out for a few days each week, I’ve done really well with Taxol! 🙏🏻 No nausea! A new side effect hit me after Round 10 last week: neuropathy in my feet. My nurse monitored that yesterday, but with only 1 treatment left, I can proceed! And, this morning I woke up and realized that I’d reconnected with my old friend from AC chemo days, Miss Oral Thrush. 🤪
Good news: my white blood cell count is rising!!!! I’m still avoiding be out in public until after this Thursday. If I get 😷 sick, then chemo will be paused for a week. And you guys, I really don’t want to delay getting back to a normal schedule and my job!
I’ve noticed my teeth and gums are starting to show the effects of five months of chemo. My gums in one area are receding a little bit, so I booked an appointment with our incredible dentist for next Tuesday.
Overall thoughts on Taxol
Taxol is so much better than AC chemo. It has been a night & day difference! During the week, my best days are Tuesdays & Wednesday, which are right before my Thursday infusions.
NOTE: My Taxol drip was extended to an hour & a half, rather than the typical hour drip. I found this was more tolerable & limited that immediate Taxol headache that some patients experience.
ALSO – My port required a 1 inch needle to properly access the device. The shorter needles required multiple attempts by the nurse to access the port…ouch! Finally, an angel of a nurse suggested trying the longer needle. Bingo! The port was accessed with one stick each time! I also put Lidocaine cream on the area prior to arrival at the cancer center, and they sprayed the area with numbing spray immediately prior to port access.
The steroids given to me intravenously just prior to the Taxol drip caused me to gain about 15 pounds this summer. After loosing 20 pounds last summer, this chemo weight gain has been disappointing. However, I’ve been instructed not to try to loose weight until after chemo finishes. My body is fighting cancer and has strong medicines coursing through it….restricting calories would cause my body to not be able to fight this cancer to its best ability. In the scheme of things, I’d rather be a little heavier than to have cancer!
This smoothie has been a mainstay breakfast – YUMMO! I feel better eating my pizza & burgers by starting with a healthy breakfast.
Starting my 10th dose last week, I thought I was ending Taxol without any serious side effects. So, the neuropathy threw me for a short loop. Ditto for the thrush! I thought that symptoms like this would have occurred earlier, but I’ve learned that there is no set standard with chemo!
All in all, you can do Taxol!
What’s Next For Me
- My last chemo is August 9! Check my Instagram story for live pictures!
- Radiation will begin September 4.
- The expander/implant switch will be in the Spring of 2019. This will give my body time to heal following radiation.
- A hysterectomy is on the horizon. I meet my surgeon on August 13 to solidify a game plan.
I’m so glad you are on this journey with me! Thank you for your prayers & support.
xoxo,
Heather
PS – Heather is not a trained medical professional. Information on this or any Totally Tatas post should not be construed as medical advice or opinion. Totally Tatas is an opinion blog from the authors perspective.
