Taxol Treatment - Numbness and Pains in The Legs

Thanks for the info.  I am 5 months from my last chemo treatment (Taxol) and I have soreness in my  back all the time. I have a hard time getting up and down and am very tried all the time.  I have never missed my alarm clock going off in the morning until the past 2 months since I am so tired. My history is breast cancer diagnosis in March    Chemo started in April a/c for 4 dosages every two weeks and taxol for 4 dosages every two weeks ending in July     Bone scans---bone biopsys for hot spots found Surgery in August lumpectomy, axillary node dissection, and removal of both ovaries and tubes        Waited 4 weeks and started radiaction for 36 treatments daily   I am 48 years old     No history of family cancers     I need and want to feel like I did before. Don't anyone get me wrong I am glad I no longer have cancer (I hope and pray) but will I every feel normal?

 

 

I know your message was posted years ago...but as i sit here with numb and painful legs from Taxol chemo treatment...your " yea right"  made me laugh out loud.  This treatment is horrible...and the doctors do not take the pain seriously.  The thought that this may not go away scares me.  I think our doctors have to tell us the truth about the side affects of this treatment.

I am so glad I read this post! I have been thinking I am losing my mind -

I am 39 years old and I have adenocarcinoma of unknown primary origin and had 10 treatments of carboplatin and taxol. I am on a "rest" right now from chemo and had my last treatment of just taxol in September of 2008. I keep thinking I should be feeling better by now and more normal -  but everyday I have extreme pain in my joints and my back hurts so bad I just want to go to bed. I tire easily and have very little energy.

I have told my doctor this on each visit and he honestly looks at me like I am making it up.

I hate that others have the same problems but am somewhat releaved to know that the pain and fatigue is most likely from the taxol. If my doctor was informed enough he could have told me this and I could have stopped worrying that this was another sign of cancer.

Thanks for your message.  I learned that I had to be persistent with my doctor in order to get medication to control the pain.  They started me off with tylenol 1 then 2 then 3....it was so stupid.  I finally have some low dose morphine that I use when the pain gets really bad.  I dont know what is worse...the cancer or the cures!!

 

 

 

 

 

On 5/23/2005 Marthaf wrote:

I had taxol (4 treatments)for breast cancer in the summer of l999. To date, I'm having lots of pain in my legs and get tired quickly when walking. I never had this problem before the treatments. The drs tell me it is not from Taxol but I disagree with them. I've been on many different meds for it and none have really taken care of the pain. I regret doing that chemo. I had the a/c kind first.

 

Oh how terrible, I am experiencing some of the same symptons to the same degree. I am Carol, I have been getting taxol andd herceptin every week for the past 7 weeks. I have 5 more weeks of treatment. The symptonm are getting worse. Like the finger and foot numbness, the mental disconnectiveness. I feel as if I can't complete sentances,typing has become a choar. I keep hitting the wrong key. I am dropping instruments at work, I work in surgery.I am now getting so frustrated.My mouth sores that hav been under control in the past have just blossomed to be out of control. I keep telling my onc. and he just put me on a different pain meds. I needed it but just wanted something more like a heart to heart talk.  I am over tired, who sleeps anymore? I'll be a friend to vent to if I can vent to you. Thanks.................Carol

On Feb 01, 2005 12:00 AM Noa_Gidon wrote:

Thank you all for your responses. It seems we only have to wait few months in order to feel better. Has anyone taken Glutamin or B6 vitamin tand felt an improvement in the legs condition?

My wife has taken B6 and Glutamin for the neuropathy and muscle pain. She only has minor pain and tingling.

I had Taxol and Carboplantin # times 21 days apart.  I can bareley use my hands and my feet feel like they have wooden pieces attached  under my toes.  My doc did say it was the taxil but nothing offered  to help it  I take 500 mg vicodin but that doe not help this awful pain . I will havw surgery in a few days but feel beat up.  How does one get them selves in standing position.  I have arthritus in my knees and this pain settled in them but not the numbness.  No one offers a solution.  I asked my doc if I could do accupuncture.  She said Ypu know,  No ones ever mentioned that to me.  I will try it after surgery.  She said She will give me a sister drug to Taxil that isnt thought to leave one with this numbness.  I hope this isnt permanent but seem to have gotten worse 4 weeks after the 3rd chemo treatment.  What Pain Meds are you  given?  Vicodin doent work even taking 1000 mg every 4 hours.  I' so tired of pain.  Very Hard to type as well.  I was not told about this numbness before the taxol.  Do we have a Choice.  I guess not!

You are so right about worrying that the cancer is dwelling in new places.  I do have back and and neck pain as well.  All this is very under rated by the doctors I guess after reading all your posts.  It's bad enough to have this freaking disease.  We have to be even more terrified of what does all this new pin mean.  I am out of my mind and my mom age 87 probably dying.  I am very anemic and she has open mursa in her leg.  She does not know I have caNCER.  How can I worry her on her death bed!  I am very miserable

Taxol/Carbo recepient here. I felt like a stroke victim from the pain, pins&needles, numbness, etc. I was barely able to walk, and some days couldn't walk.  I take B6 and B12 for the neuropathy and Magnesium for the hand, feet and leg cramps. I am now able to walk and live a life (somewhat ... but that's another issue due to radiation bowel).

handsnfeetnumb: I'm sorry you are having to go through all this at once. I'll pray for you.