Weekly Paclitaxel difficulties?

I too have mets to liver, spine and pelvis and am working my way through all the available medications. I was on Paclitaxel, and struggled with it. The info they gave me said it was "well tolerated" Well no, I didn't tolerate it well. After the first session I had to be helped to the car by two nurses! I slept, and slept, and slept. Daughter came over to see us with her daughter and I slept through the whole visit. I just didn't seem to be able to stay awake. I also found my balance was affected. I must have looked like drunk old lady careering through the hospital corridors nearly bumping into people. I was due to have 18 sessions I think; I managed about 12, had a break from it when I got an infection and was in hospital. After that the oncologist took me off it and put me straight onto Capecetabine which was better but still had its problems.

You could ask your oncologist about reducing the dose or the frequency of the sessions. It must be really hard looking after a three year old.

Re taste and appetite. What appetite? I don't know where mine went but it disappeared somewhere. Everything I did eat took on different flavours of cardboard. I ate because I knew I had to, but I didn't want to. I drank a lot of tonic water, soda water and ordinary water and managed soup quite well

Oh dear, I've just noticed your last sentence about having positive stories. My experience was not positive but then we all react to these meds in different ways and I'm sure that there are some positives around.

Don't hold back on telling your team how you are tolerating this. They need to know and something can be done to help you.

Good luck

You sound just like me!! I struggled to stay awake after first dose knocked me out for ages they reduced my antihistamine as thought it was that! 

I feel awful I'm 42 and feel 90 and it's getting me down that other ladies on my stage 4 Facebook group make it sound so easy 

Thank you and good luck 

You sound just like I'm experiencing!! 

I was the same first few doses was knocking me out so they reduced the antihistamine 

I don't feel good I feel awful and no life other ladies seem to breeze through it which makes me feel like I can't cope.

Number 7 in the morning and I'm dreading it I've been on Capecitabine it didn't work for me unfortunately 

I'm going to speak to specialist nurse on Tues it's the first time in 2 and a half years that I've had a nurse phone to see how I am since being diagnosed. 

Thanks for your help and good luck to you! 

I lost my appetite on paclitaxel but found my way in the end. I tried little and often and had to remind myself to eat. I liked a slice of lemon in my water, lemon juice on fish, mild curried soups and crackers. I also snacked on nuts a lot both for calories and protein. I had to add extra flavour to food to make it edible. I kept portion sized pots in the freezer to make it easier. Do you have someone that might cook some soups and other meals to help you? I found it manageable but had to find a new rhythm with the new chemo. Mine was every 2 weeks. Maybe your chemo team can make some tweaks to help you too. Hoping the next one is better x

I might be better off with every 2 weeks  they have just requested my tumour markers so I don't even know if it's even working yet don't want to throw a treatment option away but I'm going to tell them I'm finding it difficult 

Thank you 

See if you can tweak your regime, either slightly reduced dose, change to the nano particle linked paclitaxel or something else within the drugs you are having. Like you say, its best to adjust the treatment you are on. Am sure others have similar challenges with weekly P and the oncology team will know just what to do to help you x