Paclitaxel Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: Side Effects, Benefits, and What to Expect

Who is given Taxol (paclitaxel) for breast cancer treatment? In this video, Dr. Jennifer Griggs explains everything you need to know about this chemotherapy drug, including how it works, when it is used, its benefits, managing side effects, and what to expect during treatment.
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Disclaimer: Yerbba KZbin videos are for informational purposes only, do not constitute medical advice, and are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your medical team, mental health professional, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition.

[@JR-kz2xn]

Thank you for taking the time to post these vlogs. Very informative and appreciated.

[@yerbba]

Thank you for watching! We appreciate the positive feedback.

[@queen-servant-of-allah2822]

Thank u so much for sharing ♥️♥️♥️🥀🥀🥀🥀I will b having Targeted her2 I’m so scared and exhausted just finished everything chemotherapy Thn surgery thn Radiotherapy now waiting for the last chemotherapy her2🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽😭😭😭😭

[@juanitagee9511]

Hang in there Sister... you CAN do this♡

[@irene1182]

I was on pac chemo with carbo for my second course of chemo ..first was EC for first 3 months. I should have had 9 weekly sessions of PAC but only managed 8 due to neuropathy in my hands.

[@naththomas9946]

Thank you, Dr. Griggs, for your pharmaceutical advice.

[@yerbba]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mishka_bear]

I was on paclitaxel for 12 consecutive weeks together with carboplatin every 3 weeks, after a dense dose AC. For me the taxane toxicity made it so that I basically lost the lipid barrier on my face and top of hands, so I wore gloves much of the time. I got a very rare side effect (5% of patients, my oncologist told me) where pus started building up under the nails of my fingers and toes. For a few weeks it was incredibly painful and i couldn't use my hands at all. Every touch was excruciating. After that, as predicted by my oncologist, the pain subsided, the nail lifted off of their beds (some fell off) and the pus started flowing. Boy, was it gross! But I soaked my hands twice a day in a mix of water and baking soda and it cleared up very quickly! I also got neuropathy in my toes and fingers, and oddly enough I lost feeling also on the tops of my thighs and buttocks, which affected my balance. 3 months later, only the buttocks and part of my left foot have regained feeling. I had my dose reduced because of these side effects.

[@dinahnorthcott8796]

Thanks so much for this, I’m about to start AC for two months then moving to Taxol weekly for 12 weeks. This was very informative ❤

[@juanitagee9511]

Sending positive vibes your way. A little advice if you have any side effects tell your Oncologist right away - I was pleasantly surprised with how much they could help with ♡

[@sparklepea]

I’m 5wks into a 12 wk weekly regime. Side effects for me include numbness and tingling of fingertips and tip of tongue and also sporadic but severe bouts of reflux. The numbness retreats and advances with the dose cycle. I had 4 doses of AC first losing my hair and now with the paclitaxil nearly all of my eyebrows are gone

[@DarkEagle895]

They started me out on Taxol in January. After 3 infusions, I developed facial edema with serous weeping, redness, almost cellulitis. I was switched to Doxurubicin after that, and now I'm on Abraxane.

[@juanitagee9511]

I hope you are doing better now. Sorry you had such a bad reaction ♡

[@gdpianosrock]

I was given Paclitaxel for serous endometrial cancer, and this video gave me so much additional insight. Thank you. By the way, is there a story behind the name “Yerbba”? Is it an acronym for something?

[@yerbba]

We're so glad you found this video helpful! Great question about Yerbba's story! In archaic Spanish, "yerba" means grass. At Yerbba, we believe that medical information should be abundant and easily accessible, just like fields of grass. Not just any grass: “good grass” / “yerba buena”. Thus, we combined “yerba buena” into “Yerbba".

[@Livelongwforce]

Currently on Taxol weekly with Herceptin and Perjeta every 3rd week. Some finger nails are lifting up :( is there any hope for this?

[@CarolynHeldon-fl3to]

I had taxol after 4 doses of AC every 2 weeks. Taxol was weekly. After dose 6 it was dropped to 75% for 2 doses because of peripheral neuropathy getting worse and then doses 9-12 were cancelled as I was dropping things. It’s been 14 months since I finished and my finger tips are still a bit numb and my toes are too. I also lost my fingerprints on the AC chemo which was a weird side effect apparently. They came back but touch screens don’t work as well for me anymore.

[@maryanngorman3533]

My fingerprints got wonky on AC too. They don’t NEVER work, but it can take a LOT of tries to open my iPad now.

[@CarolynHeldon-fl3to]

@@maryanngorman3533 Yes. I had to delete and add my fingerprint again for it to work again. Sometimes it takes a few goes to open an app as my phone or iPad doesn’t recognise my fingers as much. I do hand sewing a lot and when I couldn’t hold a needle anymore or thread it that was when my oncologist cancelled my last 4 doses. I hope you are doing ok.

[@maryanngorman3533]

@@CarolynHeldon-fl3to I’m a knitter and am hoping the ice gloves prevent too much neuropathy to enjoy that and other crafting pastimes. After one high dose of taxol (3 hours) I have the slightest numbness in my fingertips. I hope you’re doing well too.

[@janealcoseba1453]

Me cycle 12 give my doctor now i got 9cycle thanks god but so strong drug Tingling my hands and feet the side effects for me😥💔💔💔thank you so much this vedio doc yerbba

[@TheMic74key]

Have you tried icing ur hands and feet during treatment? I’m on my last dose and have not had it….i iced the whole time

[@luticia]

Before starting chemotherapy: Please tell your doctor you‘re allergic to alcohol !! Than they are not allowed to give you this shitty and cheap solution with castor oil! In this case they have to give you the expensive nab-paclitaxel that is way better for you. I did this.

[@Livelongwforce]

Hmmm. I will have to ask about this. I am allergic to yeast and they know that. So not sure if they made this connection.

[@luticia]

@@Livelongwforce Nope. I don’t think it will work. But seriously, just tell them you have an alcohol intolerance. And if they ask what does this mean, explain them, that you almost feint if you drink just one sip of alcohol and that it will lead to derealisation for several days with some more awful side effects like huge anxieties. Just tell them, your body can‘t handle alcohol. They won’t ask further or test it, they believe you, I mean, they have to. The ordinary paclitaxel solution that is given has a HUGE amount of alcohol! That is why patients feel so dizzy. It‘s not because of the paclitaxel itself! Nab-paclitaxel doesn’t have all those harmful solvents! No alcohol, no castor oil. Therefore you won‘t feel drunk, you won‘t have an allergic reaction, you don‘t need all the drugs like cortison in advance. AND the effect of paclitaxel is in nab paclitaxel better. But it‘s more expensive that‘s why they give you the cheap solution. Good luck!!

[@luticia]

@@Livelongwforce But please make sure to cool your hands and feet down while getting paclitaxel. You want to prevent polyneuropathy. I cooled mine with a machine that was invented for this reason.