Taxol/Carboplatin - difficult to handle?

[ireneo]

My son's mother-in-law will be starting Taxol/Carboplatin. He was told that's a "strong" type of chemo. I'm not sure what she was on before. Is this combo stronger or more difficult to handle? His wife (her daughter) is worried and wondering what to expect.

[ireneo]

Kimchi - sorry about the confusion. Way up at the top of the page I wrote that I was asking on behalf of my son's mother-in-law, not me. I have a weird heart but never had to face cancer. Thank you for your experience. It's encouraging.

Tealoak - your time with this particular chemo regimen sounds tolerable too. Kind of on and off symptoms. What I hear from everyone is to do what you have to do to handle the side effects, don't just ignore them.

Thank you.  Irene

[Tealoak]

Chemo seems to affect each person differently.  I have had 5 of my 6 Carbo/Taxol treatments after surgery for stage 4 ovca.  Maybe I was just expecting something so awful that mildly terribly doesnt seem so bad? who knows. I have had nausea but my zofran controls it well, I do take it for 6 days as I found stopping any early caused the nausea to come back.  I do have bone pain issues, but after the first round I knew I needed to stay on top of the pain and start early with narcotics.  I do have issues with constipation which is primarily from the zofran.  The biggest issue is that I am so tired. For days 3, 4 & 5 I sleep about 18 hrs a day. I have found that is the best way to deal with the side effects. sleep.  

I basically have one rough week where I have symptoms and definitely am impacted by severe fatigue, light headedness, etc---but then I have 2 weeks where I work-out, walk and do normal things.  

I am have a few days of neuropathy but it is gone by day 5; the metallic taste in my mouth only lasts about 3 days as well.   I havent found food to taste different so much as I have found less overall flavor---sweets dont seem sweet enough; spicy food isnt spicy enough.

I think most important things: take the zofran or anti-nausea like clockwork ( I set my alarm) whether or not you feel nausea;  eat lots of small snacks or meals if possible; stay hydrated.

It isnt fun, but it is definitely doable.

Teri

[Kimchi]

What chemo did you start?  As Silver & Gold said Taxol and Carboplatin is the first line of Chemo given to most OVCA patients, Its the standard treatment, that combination is used worldwide .  I did 12 rounds of it and only side effect I had was hairlose...First few days after chemo, I felt very tired but slowly build up my strength then WAM it's time for the second cycle.  I do believe that I was fortunate not to have other side effects aka vomiting, bone aches, muscles aches, bowel problems is due to the fact that I was taken heavy doses of Vitamin C during the whole time as well as other supplements.  Drinking water as much as possible also helped me.

[dian07]

I don't know if I was a big baby but I was totally wiped out with carbo/taxol until about 6 days before it was time to get chemo again!  I was sick as a dog and found out for myself what it meant to be too tired to lift my head off my pillow !  I was nauseaus, had diarhea, my bones hurt big time, and I was tired all the time.  It was not fun; but, it was doable and it is now part of who I am.   I hope I never have to do chemo again, but if I need to I will.
Mannneca.....you make us all look bad !
Good luck in your triathalon, kiddo !

[helenl89]

I myself felt I  didn't do well with taxol and carbo,was sick all the time, tired constantly, nd the joint pain was unbearable sometimes. 6 months done and just starting to get some strenght back. still suffer from joint pain and neuropathy in the feet. Don't think the neuropathy is ever going to go away but I'm alive, and am able to almost taste the food I'm eating. See onc this week for 6 months check. I'm hoping for good news. Anybody have ideas about the nueropathy I'ld really appreciate it. It's really annoying

[ireneo]

Thank you all for the information. I'll have to ask him what she had the first time round. Seems hers has spread up to the kidneys so drinking water will be extra important for her. If you don't mind, I'm going to send along all your helpful hints to him to share with her.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Irene

[manneca]

I am always amazed and peeved at folks who say that they could do x, or y, or z (like Sen Spector bragging about playing racketball the same day he had chemo). Chemo is different depending on the cancer. And my experience was not easy. I'm glad I had the opportunity to do it, but it was pretty bad. You'll hear the same things here: take your nausea meds because the nausea is bad, the steroids you make take ahead of time may cause you not to be able to sleep. I felt OK for about three days, then tired, tired, tired, And the neulasta and newpogen (to raise white blood cell counts) hurt. I have mild neuropathy in my feet. It's been 7 months, so I assume I'll have it for the rest of my life. My hair is back and very, very different.

On the other hand, I'm alive and healthy. I'm running and swimming, training for my first triathlon. I'm 62 years old. I've never been too athletic. I basically lost a year of my life to the cancer, but I'm far luckier than many who have been felled by ovca.

My prayers are with your son's mother in law.

[JC145]

Did Taxo/Cisplatin .. now Taxotere/Carboplatin .. almost the same meds.  A couple of days post tx, when the steriods are done and the Emend is done, I find I feel yucky.  I take the anti-nausea drugs and they definitely help.  I am not in much pain or neuropathy.  I will add Pepcid AC Complete for indigestion/heartburn .. that is extra to the Nexium I take daily.  The Neulasta shot (for the white cells) can cause bone pain.  For me, Tylenol XS works .. but some ladies have stronger stuff.  All of the side effects are usually at their worst 3 to 6 days post tx., then lighten up.  Drinking lots and lots of fluids helps and eating .. something, anything .. just eat.  I find I need protein, espec. red meet .. and that makes me feel best.  I like peanut butter, eggs, fish, as well.  Sometimes, if I can get ahold of the nausea, I will make a plain baked potato.  Coke .. flattened .. and Chamomille tea help as well.  I never use sugar in coffee, but coffee tastes yucky for the first 10 days or so, so I add sugar.  Each person is different in side effects.  I hope and pray, her's are not too bad.  I sleep alot days 3 - 6.  Drinking to flush the kidneys of the drugs is very important.  I usually load up on cranberry juice cut with water .. before, during, and after treatment.
Hope this helps.

Judy

[silver&gold]

Hi Ireneo, Taxol and Carboplatin is the first line of Chemo given to most OVCA patients, Its the standard treatment, that combination is used worldwide . If a reoccurance happens after 6 months or longer then they will use the same combo again. Some people are resistant to it and so they try other combinations.
I thought that it was fairly tough because I had muscle and bone pain and felt like I had the flu , I was given pain meds and they did help quite a bit , I never had any sickness but I did have inflammation of the stomach and I had  and still have mild neurapathy in my feet .
Everybody is different though and some ladies still work while having that chemo combination, Its definately doable.
I hope all goes well with it , Best wishes   Angie