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

[@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.

[@maynelson7439]

This is an amazing video, I wish this video was made available as an aid alongside chemo. 5 years down the line 3rd time with cancer (ovarian) I've been on chemo since October 2023, 6 rounds (carbo-platin) which finished in March, then 3 months on Rucaparib ( Horrible drug😱) currently on weekly Paclataxol and steriods, finally started putting on weight I'm living my best life at the moment and think to myself " I've had 5 years and I feel blessed" To everyone who is on their personal cancer journey I wish each and everyone of you the best of luck ❤ Take it day by day, dont look at the bigger picture!!! Thany you Doctor for a very informative video, where would we be if we didnt have people like you.

[@yerbba]

Thank you so much for sharing your story and being part of our community! It’s incredible to hear that you’re living your best life, even after all you’ve been through. Taking it day by day is such great advice, and your strength is an inspiration.

[@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 ❤

[@yerbba]

Best of luck as you start your treatment with AC and Taxol. Thank you for the positive feedback about the video, we appreciate you!

[@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.

[@yerbba]

Your journey sounds challenging, especially with the switch from Taxol to doxorubicin and now Abraxane. It's good that you’re under close medical supervision. Thank you for sharing your experience.

[@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.

[@yerbba]

Thank you for sharing your experience; it sounds incredibly challenging. We're sorry to hear about the severe side effects you endured, especially the painful and distressing issues with your nails and the neuropathy. Experiencing such rare and painful side effects must have been very difficult, and it's understandable that your dose needed to be reduced. We hope you're finding some relief and regaining sensation over time. The nail changes you had are really quite dreadful and dramatic.

[@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🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽😭😭😭😭

[@yerbba]

It's completely understandable to feel scared and exhausted after everything you’ve been through. Finishing chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy is a huge accomplishment. Now, as you prepare for the last round of chemotherapy and targeted HER2 treatment, it’s important to take care of yourself and allow yourself to rest when needed. Lean on your support system, and remember that it’s okay to feel the way you do. Most people tolerate HER2-directed therapy much better than chemotherapy. Thank you for watching and sharing your experience with the Yerbba community.

[@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.

[@yerbba]

Thanks for sharing your experience. It's a good idea to stop the taxanes if neuropathy is severe to avoid permanent neuropathy. Wishing you the best.

[@irene1182]

@@yerbba thank you x

[@nancydijulio6966]

You are so kind and gentle. Thank you for sharing....so helpful and informative. 🥰

[@yerbba]

Thank you so much for your kind words! We're glad you found the video helpful, and it means a lot that you felt supported!

[@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

[@yerbba]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Wishing you comfort and relief.

[@elizabethgathia7794]

After first dose of Ac I lost my hair and my nails changed and some are half but now finished all ac and 12 t

[@annapharm-b1d]

Please do more on metastatic breast cancer treatment in elderly

[@yerbba]

While many treatments are similar across age groups, in older patients, the medical team carefully considers whether the benefits of treatment outweigh the risks. We have a video on metastatic breast cancer treatment and another on treatment for elderly women that you may find helpful. You can find them both here. [kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIjIo2aodpugZpI] [kzbin.info/www/bejne/paq1lJaNidyre80]

[@rajendraprasadgupta3656]

My wife has just finished four doses of AC chemotherapy , with 3 weeks cycle . .Now , she has to take Paclitaxel chemotherapy . What will be better , one dose weekly for 12 cycles , one dose bi-weekly for 4 cycles or one dose three-weekly for 4 cycles ? Please guide me .

[@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.

[@yerbba]

Thank you for sharing your experience with Taxol and AC chemo. It's tough dealing with long-term side effects like numbness. It must be frustrating not being able to use touch screens as easily. It is possible that your neuropathy will get better, so don't give up hope. We appreciate you sharing this with the Yerbba community, and hope your symptoms continue to improve over time.

[@CarolynHeldon-fl3to]

@@yerbba Thanks. It has gotten better. May 9, 2023 was my last chemo. My toes and balls of my feet were numb but now it’s the top half of my toes, basically down to where the nail ends. My fingers are better, about the top centimetre is numb but not as fully numb as it was. They got better until about Jan this year and then it sort of stayed the same since. Info a lot of hand sewing, playing flute and recorder and piano so I think that helped the blood flow for healing.

[@naththomas9946]

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

[@yerbba]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nadeh6477]

Since taken taxol 3 of 12, I have had the worst itching on my skin, hands and feet. Also, pins and needles/ itching. At treatment #7, my Dr. lowered my dosage to 80% but still no change. I can’t wait to complete this journey.🙏🏿

[@yerbba]

Thank you for sharing your experience with the Yerbba community. This sounds really hard.

[@selmadz]

Thank you ! Please a video on doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide. It would be interesting to dive into protocols too for different stages

[@yerbba]

Thank you for the suggestion! We plan to film a video soon about AC chemo regimens soon!

[@naemasufi]

I used water fast day before red devil and day of treatment, It helped me a lot.

[@charleaseturner6027]

The weekend before cycle 12 of 12 Paclitaxel infusions iI started experiencing an urgency to pee. On Tuesday I reported this to my physician and they recommended a UTI test. That came back negative but no one suggested any other resolution. I read online this could be urinary urgency. How long does this last or is it permanent? What can I do short of wearing Depends?

[@yerbba]

We're sorry you’re dealing with urinary urgency. This is a possible side effect of paclitaxel, and it likely will improve after treatment ends. We recommend bringing it up with your medical team again to explore other solutions. In the meantime, staying hydrated and avoiding irritants like caffeine might help. We hope you find relief soon.

[@QueenBoshycat]

This treatment killing me slowly I’m in process & just beat my 7th session and I’m feeling worse everyday please any advice to make this less painful 😢 I start to give up

[@yerbba]

We're so sorry you're going through this. Taxol can be so hard on the body, and feeling worse with each session is exhausting. It's important to talk to your care team about managing side effects-there may be options to help ease the pain. You’re doing an incredible job getting through each session, even when it feels like too much.

[@Ipchyekyo02]

Is weekly paclitaxel more effective than every 3 week infusion?

[@yerbba]

The two paclitaxel schedules appear to be equally effective.

[@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

[@janealcoseba1453]

Thank you ​@@TheMic74key

[@yerbba]

It sounds like you've been through a lot with your chemotherapy treatments. Tingling in your hands and feet is a common side effect, but it’s still difficult to manage. Keep communicating with your doctor about any side effects you’re experiencing. It can be helpful to tell your doctor specific instances of how this tingling impacts your daily life, such as difficulty holding objects, walking, or performing routine tasks. We're here to support you.

[@janealcoseba1453]

​@@yerbbathank you may god bless you

[@tunderke18]

Thank you for this informative video. I am currently having the 12 Paclitaxel after the 4 AC.. After the 4th session in the Pacli I started developing very painful itchiness in my toes..both feet.. it lasted between 15 min to an hour and come back couple of times per day.. has anyone else experienced it? is it also a form of neuropathy? now my onco team reduced the Pacli's strenght to 60% so after the last one (6th) the itchiness was more bearable.. Hair started growing indeed after the 5th session too..🎉

[@yerbba]

Itching is a common side effect of paclitaxel chemotherapy. It can occur during infusion or develop over the course of treatment. Management includes moisturizers, antihistamines, and good skin care. Severe or persistent itching should be reported to the healthcare team. While uncomfortable, it's usually manageable with proper intervention.

[@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".

[@ekayaniperforms]

Why are people being given doses that are too high? The symptoms of side effects is frightening

[@yerbba]

People are actually not given doses that are too high. There are multiple checks on chemotherapy.

[@Livelongwforce]

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

[@yerbba]

We're sorry to hear about your nails. It's a common but distressing side effect of Taxol. Keeping your nails trimmed short, using nail strengtheners, and wearing gloves during activities that might damage your nails can help. Avoiding harsh chemicals and excessive moisture is also beneficial. You may find our video about nail changes helpful kzbin.info/www/bejne/eITOnYeEgLF2d5Y.

[@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.

[@yerbba]

Paclitaxel is not soluble in water, so it is mixed with something called Cremophor along with a dehydrated alcohol. It's the cremophor that can cause the hypersensitivity reaction. Nanoparticle paclitaxel formulations aim to improve drug delivery to tumors and reduce side effects associated with the standard formulation. The cost of nanoparticle paclitaxel is 10 times that of standard paclitaxel, so many practices and patients do not favor this form of the drug unless absolutely necessary.

[@luticia]

@@yerbba Thank you for making it clear. That‘s exactly the reasons why I didn’t want to get this cheap thing injected into my system. Fortunately I have an alcohol intolerance so that they weren’t allowed to inject the regular solution and were forced to inject the more expensive nab Paclitaxel because there‘s no other solution to this problem.