Any help from side effects of taxol?

[Joevee]

Hello all,My girl finished a 29 week chemo sched for breast cancer, 3 weeks ago .It consisted of 15wks. of adramycin, then 14 wks.of Taxol.She feels worse now than ever, the effects of the taxol are devastating!! Severe muscle pain in the leggs and feet, severe joint pain all over, she can hardly walk in the morning, not too mention the weight gain and the '' moon face'' from the steroids.Instead of getting better it gets worse every day, her quality of life is in the toilette.Doctors down play it, she is only 43 but she say she feels like 143 !! Is there any info. on this or any help out there?

[Joevee]

My girlfriend developed a severe rash on her arms,legs,back and face,a very red scaly rash that started 2 weeks into the 14 week chemo treatment on Taxol.During the entire 15 week prior treatment of Adrimycin no rash was present.The Dermatologist did a biopsy and said it was ' Gutate' psorisis brought on by a weakened immune system.As soon as chemo is over and you start to heal it should go away.The oncologist recommended a steroid called Dexamethasone.to help the rash ,the steroid made her blow up like a balloon and she gained 20 lbs. in 10 wks.not to mention it did nothing for the rash. At the appointment of Friday the 28th, the oncologist said the pain will diminish over time and recommended she go back on the steriod for the rash is still there ,although it is a little better.This she does'nt want to do because she's afraid she'll gain more weight.He also prescribed a diretic called lasix to be taken moderately as she was very bloated. She took the diretic 1 day and dropped 1.5 lbs of water! Saturday the muscle pain in her legs and feet were not as severe, but after working all day on Sunday the pain was excruciating.Vibration therapy and manual manipulation helps for a little but it comes back.Another question is when should we start to see hair growth? her hair is starting to grow very thin ,sparce and ' whispy' on the sides and back of her head, but nothing at all on the top and front. Will her hair come back on the top of her head? She calls it '' old man head '' its been 3 weeks since the last Taxol dose. Before cancer her hair was very thick,full and wavy.Her legs are starting to get stubble, is this a good sign?  

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

Glad the post was of some help.

Let us know what the oncologist advises.

Discuss all your doubts in detail.

Let us know about how she is doing and f you have any other queries.

Regards.

[Joevee]

Thank you for replying, we have a Oncologist appointment on Friday and will bring up these issues. She is taking vicoprofin for pain but it doesn't even touch it.Her surgery was last July she had a double mastectomy with 19 lymph nodes removed.She tried a nerve blocker back around December and that did nothing. Her surgeon suggested a med for nerve pain called Lyrica ? Very frustrating , here we thought the worse was over ( pain wise) .The oncologist says she would breeze through the taxol and that the adriamycin was the worse, but this was just the opposite case.She hopes and prays that she will feel better each morning , but it just seems to get worse. Thank you for responding.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

You need to reconsult with her oncologist and breast specialist. She would probably need a one scan, pain releif medications, calcium supplements.

If her symptoms are still persistent, or increase in severity, the medication would need to be changed.

Let us know about what her doctors advise.

Regards.