TAXOL Reviews (PACLITAXEL)Average Rating: 3.5 (99 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare TAXOL with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by length of time drug was taken from shortest to longest duration (reviews with no time reported listed first). Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
More on TAXOL: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR TAXOL | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 3 | Stage 4 Met. Breast Cancer, Her2+ | Been on some sort of Chemo, radiation or Cyberkife since 2004! Started out after surgery in2004 AC+T 4 rounds each. Stopped after round 3 of Taxol, feet, arms and legs one giant blister. Went on to many other types of chemo, Navelbine,Tykeb,Arimidex,Taxertere,Herceptin. Different combos sometimes. Presently on Toxol and Herceptin and I'm in remission for the forth time. Had kidney stones removed 2 months ago. Itching, lack of sleep, joint pain, not being able to eat, radiation burned my esophagus.Lost 50+ lbs.past 6 months.Working one day every 6 weeks having problems with my cell counts(RB&WB) getting shots of Neupogen. But Im still here and plan to go to my 40th reunion in July 2011. | Seems to work well with Herceptin. Did nothing for me with AC. | F | 57 | 1X W | 12/8/2010 | 1 | Breast Cancer | Severe leg,arm and wrist pain and weakness. Metallic taste in mouth. Fatigue,sleeplessness and dizziness. Trouble concentrating. | HORRIBLE!!! Difficulty walking. Can't sleep due to pain yet so tired can't do anything else.Chills. | F | 59 | 2X M | 5/22/2010 | 1 | Stage 4 Breast Cancer | Numbness in feet and hands, joint pain, short term memory loss, confusion, can't add or subtract although I was a math whiz before Taxol. I was sick. After a year of being off Taxol, I still have numb feet and hands, confusion, no short term memory, can't talk many days, I feel like a complete idiot. Taxol was a high price to pay for my life. I am trying to get disability approval...I can not work, can not learn a new job, have no concept of money at all - although I worked with money (big money) all my life) how do you get on disability? | F | 51 | | 6/5/2008 | 1 | Breast Cancer | I finished chemo six months ago, and I have had lingering side-effects from Taxol that make me regret having taken it for primary bc. I have very bad pain in all my joints (especially shoulders, elbows, knees, back). I also have a great deal of muscle pain in my arms and legs. I am 44 years old and I walk like a ninety-year-old. It is very hard for me to get around. My immune system is shot too: I have on-going shingles, sore throats, and mouth sores. No one told me my quality of life would diminish so severely. | Question your doctor about future quality of life issues before you begin Taxol. | F | 44 | 4 times | 9/25/2005 | 1 | breast cancer stage 2 grade 3 ducta | 8 months after my last treatment I am still experiencing peripheral neuropathy in my feet, ankles , hands and wrists. My pain was 10 out of ten (agony). I have numbness in both of my feet that cause my mobility and balance issues. I have fallen an injuried myself because of the numbness in my feet. I wear protective shoes at all times to prevent injury if I step on something and to give my balance. There is not a time that I am without pain. I have tingling in my ankles at times of shooting pain. In the morning I my hands are curled up and in pain. | I have not returned to work because my balance is so poor. The quality of my life has diminished. At 53 years of age I feel 90 years old. I have tried Lyrica , gabapatene, and amitriplyne as well as Vitamin B and glutamine. None have been able to relieve the pain and often have left me in a bit of a mental fog. I have always been physically active and have tried to continue to exercise by riding my stationary bicycle, walking,( with the worst gait possible)yoga, weight lifting rehab pilates on a reformer and just started dragon boat racing. Any exercise you can do sitting down . I have tried to golf 9 holes riding a cart however my ankles are so painful afterwards I con't know if it is worth it. My typing accuracy is dreadful since I can't feel the keys. Taxol might have saved my life from a recurrence of cancer but it also stole the quality of my life and livelihood. All I have been told is that it might get better over time. One can only hope. I have just recently been seen by a neurologist. When I told my oncologist after the first round of taxol that it was the worst pain I had ever experienced that he joking said that I had never experienced labor as if that would be more pain than I was experiening . I told HIM, HE never experienced labor either and not that type of pain now for 8 months.... I have tried everything I can do from drugs, diet, exercise, mediation etc...however I have no control when or if the periperal neuropathy and my mobility will | F | 53 | 4 times 4X O | 5/20/2010 | 5 | 2nd bout with cancer | Dizziness, bowel disruption, tingling in extremities, muscle aches,incontinence,malaise.loss of body hair, metallic taste. horrific side effects | This chemo was worse than the first time. I was unable to function for 5 days after sessions. But, although I said I could not handle another dosage, the reality is that I am alive. Three months after the last dosages, feet and hands still ache. I fell and fractured some ribs during a dizzy spell,so am still using a cane. But I am alive and am enjoying life. My hair has begun to grow again. | F | 72 | 6 times | 11/24/2007 | 4 | Stage IIB Breast Cancer | The main difference between Taxol and my A/C chemo treatments is the pain in my bones and my abdominal distress. Of course I have fatigue, complete hair loss, eyebrows and eyelash loss, weight loss of 40 lbs because everything tastes horrible, and sometimes I just get sick and tired of being sick and tired! I was told by one of my chemo nurses to take Claritin after chemo and IT WORKED really well! I have very strong pain medicine that doesn't even work, but the Claritin (just one pill) helps with the pain. I also take 3,0000 mg of L-Carnitine - 1,0000 mg 3X a day and have not experienced any tingling or numbness...yet anyway. I hope this helps someone feel better. I still have five more treatments to go. | I am a middle school teacher and could not work at all with A/C chemo treatments - 4 rounds after a double masectomy and 38 lymph nodes removed. I went back to work 3 days a week on Taxol. I am tired and in a bit of pain, but I'm praying to be cured and cancer free after all this. I also have 33 radiation treatments to look forward to. I think you just have to try to stay positive and remember you are not alone in this fight. I wear a shirt that says, "Fight Like a Girl!" Would be happy to correspond with anyone who needs a friend to talk to. | F | 51 | 7 times 30 mg 1X W | 2/10/2011 | 3 | Grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma | Very severe pains in the legs started three days after the first dose was given. Lasted three days. No painkillers seemed to work and it was awful. Also got peripheral neuropathy (numbness) of all toes and fingertips, plus slight nosebleeds and gum soreness but all manageable. | F | 52 | 1 days ? 2X M | 1/14/2011 | 1 | Breast cancer | Severe neuropathy | Question your if side effects can be perament | F | 65 | 1 days | 12/27/2015 | 3 | BC IIB | Started taking taxol after AC treatment which almost killed me from low blood counts. Hospitalized for thirteen days. Thought taxol would be a walk in the park. WRONG!! After just two treatments I have no energy even just to walk around the house. I'm depressed and lathargic. I've had some pain but mostly just can't get going. I have a horrible taste in my mouth. All food tastes bitter. I'm scared this will last or get worse for the remainder of treatment. Dr's please consider the efficacy of these drugs as opposed to long term side effects. WE have the right to choose how we live all our lives. No one ever told me that the effects might be permanent. How can I make the right decisions for my life if I don't have all the info good and bad. | F | 61 | 2 days | 9/11/2008 | 1 | breast cancer | It is nine months since my last taxol treatment. I had four treatments. After the third treatment, I noticed that I could hardly walk because I had lost my balance. It has not returned. I will never ski again. Nor dance or run. I am so sad. I used to be so active. I would not recommend this drug to anyone. A recent Canadian study said that taxol was not proven to be effective is women who had estrogen triggered breast cancer. My kind. I exercise very hard, but it seems like an uphill battle. This drug is horrible. | I have tried the B vitamins and glutamine. I don't know if they helped. A neurologist said that taxol caused my severe balance problems and that it would probably not get better. | F | 61 | 2 days | 4/15/2008 | 5 | metastatic laryngeal cancer to lung | 1x weekly for 3 weeks then 1 week off ,just finished week 3, hair is thinning out mild bone pain and moderate fatigue. 15 more treatments ,hope it doesn't get much worse!! | M | 57 | 3 days | 1/29/2008 | 2 | treatment for breast cancer | I had two bouts of breast cancer, early 2004 and late 2005, different kinds each time, so I got the double whammy with chemo less than two years between sessions. The second time I got Taxol. I had terrible leg pain (hips, knees, feet, shins, heels) and shoulder pain. Only people who have been through this know what I mean by "leg pain." It sounds so petty. This got worse and worse even after the treatment ended until I was walking with a cane, couldn't go up and down stairs, and was afraid to step off a curb. Further tests showed severe and rapid deterioration of the left hip joint and left shoulder joint. I'm only 57 and had to have my left hip replaced in April 2007 and my shoulder joint replacement is scheduled for Dec. 2007. Both the arthritis specialist and the bone specialist say they have never seen such rapid deterioration, especially of the shoulder, for any naturally occuring reason and they suspect it's from the chemotherapy, probably the Taxol. I will say, the hi | As far as being satisfied that Taxol helped me, it's something we'll probably never know. So looking back I probably would have taken it anyway; better to be alive to complain. But the side effects were very severe in my case. | F | 57 | 3 days | 11/2/2007 | 2 | Breast cancer recurrence | 3 days after treatment felt like I was hit by a bus. Could not stand up, severe leg and foot pain made it impossible to stand. About 1 week after each treatment, I started to feel fine again. | Its been 2 months since last Taxol treatment and I feel like my legs are crippled from the knees down. If I sit for longer than 10 minutes I have so much pain I can hardly stand. Also leg pain when on my feet. I am only 49 years old and I feel like I am 80. I was always extremely active. Hope this does not last forever. | F | 49 | 4 days | 11/13/2007 | 1 | Breast Cancer | Lumpectomy on Jan. 18, 2008. Tumor was 3.0mm (large) had mammosite and 10 seeded radiation treatments in breast in 5 days. Then last week my first Taxol. I felt great for the first 2 days then WHAM. My first treatment and I hurt so bad I may stop. It's not worth it. | I hurt in so many places I cannot even list. This drug is much harsher than I was told. My scalp throbs. My joints hurt. I have shooting pains all over. I don't think I am willing to become permanently crippled for the small risk improvement promised. | F | 64 | 4 days | 2/25/2008 | 4 | AC for stage 3c BC, reduce tumors | Fatigue, incontinence, more hair loss, low BP, not too bad. Intermittant bone discomfort, | AC reduced BC stage IIIc from 4 cm to 1 1/2 cm. Still not small enough for surgery. Will be 11 more weekly infusions as I seem to respond well to chemo. Am getting benedryl to reduce side effects. I can tough it out! AC was bad, yet I survived that. Am taking probiotics, antioxidents, calorie counting, metamucil, etc. Keep the body alkaline and healthy so the chemo can do its job. Nausea was associated with low blood sugar. Don't listen to horror stories, a positive attitude makes an alkaline body. I know its going to get worse but I have faith in my oncologist. She'll get me through it. | F | 73 | 5 days | 8/21/2009 | 4 | Breast cancer after Hodgkin's Disea | This is my 2nd time with chemo, much worse this time, especially during & after Taxol, lots of pain in back, knees, feet, hands & shoulders, feels like severe arthritis, can barely walk worried I may need a wheel chair soon to get around, walking helps, but when I stop walking, I get stiff and pain returns | Kind of regret taking Taxol because my quality of life has diminished, I no longer enjoy going out or shopping because I am in so much pain. I see 90yr olds who walk better than I do. My worse fear is that it is only going to get worse as I age, will try any medication to alleviate pain, Lyrica didn't help. | F | 40 | 6 days | 12/22/2007 | 2 | Stage 2 - Triple Neg -Breast Cancer | Peripheral Neuropathy set in following the first Taxol treatment, hands first then feet. I lost all skin on my hands, numb at the tips, sharp electric shock feeling when I touch things. Side affects got worse following each treatment. Lost toe nails after second treatment and big toes hurt, finger nails are now purple and they say the finger nails will probably fall off too. The pain is intolerable at times, especially at night. After a few weeks it has gotten a little easier to walk, hands are arthritic feeling, ankles hurt - I just hurt all over and I feel 90 years old instead of my usual active and happy self. Not sure if it was worth it yet as I had chemo first, with surgery to follow. I cherish my quality of life over length and this is far more severe side affects than I was told to expect with only 4 treatments. They gave me pain meds the first few weeks, but now suggest the symptoms should be subsiding and I should use natural remedies and buck up and it will go away in | Chemo is poison for some and medicine for others and doctors are not sure how anyone will react for sure. More research is needed to find a cure, but in the meantime more emphasis should be spent on treating the side effects and not just the cancer. Side affects are real and most often pushed off onto the aides and nurses to treat and unless you get a really qualified nurse, this can be emotionally and physically very difficult. | F | 51 | 7 days 2X M | 2/20/2011 | 4 | stage 1 breast cancer | Strong metallic taste in my mouth. Slight nose bleeding. | Taking Taxol every week for 12 weeks. Have 6 to go. Side effects not near what expected. Hair is growing back from Adrymiacin and Cytoxan. Don't have any joint pains whatsoever. | F | 52 | 12 days | 2/12/2008 | 3 | stage 2 breast cancer | Experienced the classic symptoms during treatment. However, after treatment, peripheral neuropathy in my feet. Numbness in all toes. Tingling in all toes. All toenails and fingernails are falling off and have fungus infections. Balance and walking are severely affected. | Help! What is the treatment for the fungus???? | F | 64 | 56 days 30mg 1X W | 7/7/2010 |
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)