TAXOL Reviews (PACLITAXEL)

Average Rating: 3.5 (99 Ratings)

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TAXOL  (PACLITAXEL):  Paclitaxel is used to treat various types of cancer. It is a cancer chemotherapy drug that works by slowing or stopping cancer cell growth.   FDA Approval Date: 1992-12-29 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

  

Results are sorted by length of time drug was taken longest to shortest.

Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

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RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR TAXOLCOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 4  metaticized melanoma Fatigue and tingling in the hands and feet I am sure that taxol saved my life, but not alone. First I have a very intense astanga yoga practice helping to keep the numbess at bay and keeping my mind focused both inward and outward because of the asanas, breathing and inward focus. Second, I have a husband who is determined to keep me alive, and groown loving children. Third I team-teach in a high school theater arts program. Every day the kids inspire me to work and forget about myself. I also have friends who understand and love me. Taxol is a challenege and I wish I were not taking it. Yet I am vitally alive even on the many moments when I bemoan my "FATE." The other day I saw a ten-year-old boy using a walker to get to his seat with family at a restaurant. He had a sparkling Cheshire-cat grin with no attached cyniscm. I can stand on my hands and do a drop backbend, thanks to a wonderful and patient teacher. I believe this young man and I still have a lot to live for, and I hope someday those kept alive w F 57 18 months
1/21/2009
 5  Stage IIIb ovarian cancer I began taxol and carboplatin following my surgeries, partial hysterectomy when cancer was found, then removal of my ovaries (both cancerous), debulking of largest tumors in the abdominal/chest cavity, and staging 3 weeks following my initial surgery.I took 6 treatments of taxol and carboplatin, I think every 5-6 weeks, and was in remission on PET scan upon completion of treatments.I did have problems with decreased white cells and had injections daily for 5-7 days following chemo to boost my white cells (which added more extreme bone pain).I took scheduled doses of Phenergan for 3-4 days following treatments to control nausea.I had flushed face, shoulders, and chest on the second day of treatment (which I was told was a side effect of the steroids given with treatment to prevent side effects of the chemo).On day 2 following the chemo I had severe bone and muscle pains and learned to take scheduled doses of Lortab the day of treatment for 3-4 days to keep pain under control.About 4 day Started just taxol 2 months later.The day of my 3rd treatment they discovered my heart rate was 144, treatments were stopped.I went through an extensive cardiac workup.Question if chemo caused the problem,I had never had trouble before.Treatments were resumed.I have now had 9 treatments/3 more to go.CA125 levels are 5-6.Have had no problems with low white cells just on taxol.Treatments 8&9 I have noticed worse side effects for longer period of time with bone, muscle, nerve pain.Also have extreme pain both knees,trouble walking after sitting for a prolonged period of time.Walking does seem to ease these problems but I still move slowly.I was a very on-the-go,energetic person before all this.My energy level is now zero.I find it difficult to accomplish half of what I used to.I work 37 hrs. a week, barely get through it & and take care of my pets.Have had a 50+ lb wt gain from the steroids with treatments,fluid retention.Have bouts of depression, back pain (have DJD but back pain F 54 15 months
11/10/2008
 5  Stg.4 OvarianCancerPrognosis 2 mos. Tired, weak.#10 pain @times in feet and legs.It has been 16yrs. this June and is difficult to remember everything about the treatments. But I have SUFFERED incredible pain since then. Every hair on my body was lost during treatment but came back.That was nothing compared to this last 16 yrs. I would take it again because it helped save my life. I have memory loss and difficulty concentrating. Just something else to work on. LOL. Thanks to my Dr for putting me on anti-depressants. That in itself helped so much. Knowing that I am mind, spirit and body I went to work on all three. I "raged against the dying of the light", that ol' cancer. I suffer daily but would have missed so very much. Peripheral neuropathy and shortly after I completed the Taxol and Cysplatin I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.Some folks think I'm lying about having Ovarian C.especially metastasis but I have the papers to prove it. First I had to decide whether I REALLY wanted to live. Then I started kicking butt My story is too long to tell now but I'm still amazed that the bark of the Yew tree helped save my life. After 3 rounds we did another CT scan and the mass of 3 tumors in my pelvic area the size of grapefruit were gone. Still had many small tumors "lining the wall of my abdominal region." They had to put me in intensive care to administer it every 21 days because it was so strong. I was diagnosed June 1, 1993. I'm still here.The staph in my port. almost took me out! Sometimes when it gets so bad you just gotta laugh..it helps. F 65 9 months
6/22/2009
 3  metastic breast cancer fatigue, numbness in toes and fingers, off balance, sleeplessness, depression, headaches, some skin reactions tumor markers coming down, seems to be keeping cancer from spreading, however I am getting very frustrated on how (old) I feel. I am usually a very active person and my level of activity has diminished extremely. When do you take the chance of stopping something that seems to be working on the cancer, but making your quality of life seem less??? F 55 9 months
10/8/2008
 5  pleural mesothelioma, The side effects quite predictable.Day one and 2 fine, symptoms appeared on day 3 lasting 4 to 5 days. Numbness in feet,hands constantly.Each session it seems more pronounced.Red face on day 2 and body rash for a few days.A HUGE amount of pain throughout body FOR A GOOD 4 TO 5 DAYS.Knees and hands of late have permanent discomfort.Joints in hands feel arthritic and are swollen. My CA125 LEVELS HAVE DROPPED PROMISINGLY WELL.Have had 6 Taxol sessions every 3 weeks and started another set of 3 every 4 weeks.Last one in 3 weeks time.Hair loss, but fabulous wigs to be found.Eyebrow and eyelash loss.Chest pains on 8th dose of Taxol.Nauseau each time but abated with drugs,Tastes different.Tiredness.Have found excercise( walking)as soon after as possible improves my condition.Wonder if I will ever get feeling in my extremeties again? Debilitating side effects , but worth it to drop my ca125 levels. F 46 8 months
4/24/2007
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 5  Stage 4 Breast cancer Total hair loss for entire body, peripheral neuropathy, joint pain, neutropenia , tolerable fatigue, rapid heart rate Saved my life and thankful for this drug. Breast tumor and 2 small areas in liver were completely gone after first month (3weeks on & 1 week off ) of treatment with concurrent palliative radiation of lower back. Now 7 months later and addition of Avastin at month 5 , I am NED (no evidence of disease) and even bone detioration is gone. I started with mass in left breast, 2 small areas in liver, 3 metastases to the spine and severe pelvis, ribs and sternum bone lytic lesions. F 45 7 months
90mg
5/26/2014
 5  Metastatic breast cancer Fatigue was the only important one; one day mostly in bed for each weekly cycle. My hair fell out, but who cares? None of the nausea/vomiting I've experienced with other chemo drugs. No peripheral neuropathy. Only very mild and occasional joint pain. I had 16 weekly doses of Taxol over about 6 months; 3 weeks on 1 week off with a long break over Christmas due to going on holiday rather than medical considerations. Having weekly doses seems to reduce the side-effects without reducing the efficacy (there is scientific evidence for this, not just my opinion). It was palliative in intent, and it has worked ie my various tumours have shrunk in size. F 44 6 months
3/12/2007
 5  BC Stage3A Hair loss, nausea, neutropenia and anaemia. I continued working (office), but had to quit the gym, which I resumed 3 months after the last chemo and surgery. I had a giant tumor, which after Taxol reduced to 10.5 cm but had free margins. I'm currently finishing my rads and taking Armidex. Apart from the anaemia and neutropenia, which required some extra care the treatment went smoothly. 3 months after I still have a bit of neutropenia but my quality of life is OK, besides the doctor says I'm cancer free! F 48 6 months
1X O
2/5/2010
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 3  Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer I had 6 months of Taxotere in 2007 and 5 months of Taxol with Avastin in 2008. My chest scans show improvement / my bone scans show stability. I have finger and toe tingling and numbness and pain in both significant shoulders and down my right arm. My main concern is the lack of strength in my arms and hands and increased fatigue that inhibits my daily function. I'm very frustrated with my Doc. as he suggegted I see my primary Doc. for the joint pain as if it has nothing to do with the drugs. Do Doctors hear what patients are telling them? The cost/benefit must be wieighed individually but to do this Doctors must listen to experienced patients and be honest with new patients. F 59 5 months
11/10/2008
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 4  ovarian the main side effects I have had is being somewhat tired and weak feeling, food tastes and dehydration the first few days after treatment. I received 8 cycles in 2005 and now am near the end of 6 cycles. I have experienced no neuropathy during or after either of these cycles. And taxol has decreased my CA125 down to normal each time. My doctors are amazed at how well my body is handling treatments. Frankly, I am too. F 44 4 months
2/27/2007
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 4  Metastatic Breast Cancer Severe itching sometimes, fingertips norm, fatigue, depression, digestion problem, severe gum sores and teeth sensitivity-can't chew my food and have to eat soups. I wish chemo drugs would target only the cancer cells and leave the normal immune cells alone. I can't believe with all the technology out there, the research and drug companies can tell the difference between cancer and non cancer cells and still can't treat only the cancer cells. I don't know what the deal is, but there's got to be a better way. This is just too much sufferings from side effects and sometimes I wonder if it's worth it. I have been told I have to be be on chemo for ever but I still hope not, and hope for the day they will announce a chemo that targets cancer cells and short on side effects. The taxol is helping to reduce the tumor count and skin lesions, I just wish the side effects are not affecting the quality of life as much as it is F 51 4 months
4/23/2009
 1  Breast Cancer Taxol was horrific. This was my second primary breast cancer so I couldn't use Adriamycin again. From the very first treatment I could barely walk. Began treatment in May 06 and finished in August. I thought my symptoms would get better when I finished, but it only got worse. I have always been active and now have to struggle to walk or even move on some days. I am 43 and I walk like my grandmother. Feet, hips, shoulders and hands hurt terribly. F 43 4 months
4/2/2007
 5  Triple negative breast cancer Severe joint pain/stiffness in fingers knees and hips and shoulders.mild tingling to bott of feet. Crazy hot flashes. Occasional headaches. I received 12 weekly rounds of taxol.i had to stop carboplatin after 4 doses due to severe neutropenia F 39 3 months
6/16/2016
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 4  Bc her2 + First 8 treatments were a breeze. Last 4 stomach issues got bad. Been off 3 weeks and am still having bouts of bad nausea. Thought it would be over by now. F 56 3 months
7/1/2012
 3  breast cancer Mostly just a little tired the day of and after taking taxol. Very little nausea. At the end of the treatments however, I experienced severe leg cramps, and neuropathy in hands and feet. 2 months later and still walking like Im eighty---always had strong legs and knees before---hope I get that back. F 45 3 months
3/21/2007
 2  BC Pain entire body, unable to think or concentrate, tingling and pain in feet and fingers,leg and feet cramps, weakness and pain in hips, unable to walk very far, off balance and need help to go up and down stairs. Toenails and fingernails separating from nailbeds and shriveling up to small unsightly nails. I finished taxol in June 2007, it is now December 1,2007. I still have all these symptoms plus my back has broken 3 times this summer due to chemotherapy and osteoporosis. I now have added pain and am very limited in what I can do. I don't know if I could recommend this drug or not, I have not been told whether it has helped me. I am in physically worse shape than I have ever been and was always a very active person. The only thing I know to do is wait and hope it gets better. But (am having trouble thinking of the word) yes, depression is always there. F 59 3 months
12/1/2007
 1  2b met. Breast Cancer Terrible neuropathy in feet had nerve test permanent nerve damage. Should have used different drug or been administered drug differently. I blame doctor for that. But after nine years cancer free but also thank the Lord for that It has destroyed my life 56 3 months
??
11/20/2019
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 5  Metastatic Bladder Cancer Following my diagnosis of metastatic bladder cancer to the bone of my neck and spine I was put on unlimited morphine & cycplatin & Gemzar. Lasted only one cycle on regime, Scans showed the cancer was progressing with treatment. Went on a 9 day bucket list cruise. Was put on Taxol & Gemzar. After the first treatment spent day 2 post treatment in bed with chills, fever & fatique. By day 5 fatique subsided. I am now 2-1/2 months into treatment. Side effects are predictable. Day 2,3,4 post treatment some fatique, loss of hair, including nasal lining, I always had osteoarthritis so I can not attribute joint & muscle pain to taxol. Taxol was prescibed as pallative, but I now am almost normal, scan show the cancer has stopped progressing and bone mass in regenerating. The results of Taxol have been nothing short of miraculous. Prior to treatment I required vicodin every three hours, I have reduced my pain medication to every 6 hours and often forget to take the drugs. Prior to Taxol I could not stand or sit erect for more than 15-20 minutes due to pain in neck and spine. I am now remodeling my home, washing cars and driving again. My diagnosis in Oct was terminal, but I now think I may again have a future. M 66 2.5 months
6/4/2008
 5  stage 3 breast cancer I have been off taxol for 1 year.The right leg is inflammed and has spasms,with pain.Right down to the big toe.I used to enjoy dancing and I do,nt feel light on my feet.I won,t give up yet! Yes,I sat most of the year and I,m better than 6 months ago when I had to hold on to a shopping cart in the store and if i let go ,I couldn.t make it to the car.I take the super greens ,I eat lots of green salads,drink detox teas.Your bodies must become more alkaline than acidic.Acid foods cause joint pain right down to cancer.Meat,dairy,sugar,white flour,coffee ect.are to be eaten sparingly, if not at all! Try salads of spinich,other hearty greens ,avacado cucumber,lime juice.Don.t forget berries,cherries,strawberries.olive oil,nuts fish,omega oils,vitimins too. F 54 2 months
3/10/2008
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 4  bc Numbness/tingling in toes and fingers; also experienced some pain in joints. Lost any and all remaining hair (eyebrows, eyelashes, nose, arms, etc.) But worth it to save my life. Had four rounds of A/C and four rounds of Taxol. Finished last taxol treatment two weeks ago; tingling hasn't gotten worse but it hasn't gotten better either. I walk everyday which helps immensely. Also take B6 supplement as suggested by my oncologist. Also noticed that a foot massage at night helps me sleep without interruption. F 42 2 months
8/3/2007
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TAXOL  (PACLITAXEL):  Paclitaxel is used to treat various types of cancer. It is a cancer chemotherapy drug that works by slowing or stopping cancer cell growth.   FDA Approval Date: 1992-12-29 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

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