I was diagnosed with grade II breast cancer in the fall of 2000. I had a mastectomy with lymph node removal. One node was positive.
My chemotherapy was: 4 doses of A/C and then 4 doses of Taxol, all three weeks apart.
With my first dose of Taxol I experienced severe bone, muscle and joint pain, which didn't go away in the three week period before my next chemo. Following the second dose of Taxol, I experieced pain that was more severe than the first. I had excruciating bone, joint and muscle pain, which also did not subside within the three week period.
I was taken off of the Taxol because of these severe side effects.
My doctor put me on Glucosamine and Neurontin to reduce the pain caused from the Taxol, and they do help some.
It has been over one year since I was taken off of Taxol, and the side effects have not improved, in fact they are getting worse.
This is the very same pain that I first experienced when I received my first dose of Taxol.
My Doctor said that the pain should have gone away months ago, but it hasn't.
Have there been other people with this long term side effect that just won't go away?? Do you have any suggestions as to what to expect in terms of length of time I can expect to continue with this pain, or any idea as to what is going on? What can you suggest that would be helpful??