One year post-Taxol and still having 'floating' joint/muscle pain

[smaiorisi]

My sister, age 43, is a 1.5 year survivor of stage 3 breast cancer.  Her first mastectomy was January of 2000 followed with 3 months of Adriamycin and 3 months of Taxol given in large doses once every three weeks.  This was followed with 7-8 weeks of radiation therapy.  The joint and muscle pain began with the first use of Taxol and has still not gone away - her last treatment was early July 2000.  Does this ever go away?  Is there anything she can do to help it (or hurt it, for that matter)when it occurs or to reduce the chances of it happening as frequently?

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear smaiorisi, The joint and muscle pains or myalgias that can be a side effect of Taxol, generally occur 2-3 days after treatment and usually resolve by 5 days after.   Having myalgias related to the Taxol a year following treatment, is very unusual.  If in fact it is determined that these pains are a result of the Taxol, a prescription medication - gabapentin (an anti-siezure drug) used in low doses has been shown to be effective in diminishing the discomfort from these myalgia’s.   Be sure your sister has discussed her continuing discomfort with her oncologist. Through careful questioning regarding the history and the particular characteristics of this pain, as well as, physical examination he/she can more thoroughly examine her and may have further recommendations to help relieve her discomfort.