Breast Cancer Support Group

Hey Hairmom
Im sure some members will also jump in with their personal experiences but here are some Paclitaxel (Taxol) facts

1) Myelosuppression (bone marrow suppression) usually in the form of neutropenia and leukopenia (low white blood cells) and anemia is the dose-limiting toxicity of paclitaxel
2) Myalgia and arthralgia (muscle and joint aching) are common 2—3 days following any cycle of Taxol and occur in 60% of patients
3) Peripheral neuropathy, including paresthesias (hypersensitivity),and numbness has been observed in as many as 60% (3% severe) of all patients treated with single-agent Taxol
4)Other known adverse effects include hair loss (in almost 100%) nausea/vomiting (52%), diarrhea (38%), and stomatitis/mucositis (31%)

Keep us posted
Dr O.

My biggest problem with Taxol was the bone pain. I have arthritis pretty much from head to toe, and have joint pain anyway, but with the Taxol, I was absolutely miserable! My treatements were in 2002, and maybe the side effects are better controlled now, but, like Dr Orange mentions, bone pain is quite common.

I also have numbness/tingling in both feet up to my ankles. Again, I had some of this before the Taxol, and it could be related to my back problems, but neuropathy is also quite common.

Good luck with your treatments. I will keep you in my healing thoughts and prayers! And yes, keep us posted on how you're doing.

I couldn't take it, within an hour of beginnng the treatment, my blood pressure was elevated and I was having a lot of trouble breathing. They stopped it, gave me more steroids and a breathing treatment, tried again in 30 minutes, same thing again, opted to wait two weeks and switch to Taxotere.

I recieved Taxol for 12 weeks. For me I did have anemia, joint pain and NEUOPATHY. Still have the residual effects of Neuropathy.