Weekly paclitaxel for tnbc

Hi carol

I’ve just finished 12 weeks of paclitaxel with carboplatin every three weeks and I’m about to start three cycles of ec. I feel like I’ve tolerated the paclitaxel well but like you said I was very tired at points. It’s important to listen to your body and rest when needed. I’ve still been able to walk most days, albeit quite slowly, and find this helps me. I would also advise you drink lots of water. I know side effects vary from person to person but I’ve found that my side effects have remained pretty consistent throughout. During paclitaxel I found I ached and was tired. I wrote them down in a diary so I could see a pattern emerging ready for the next cycle. You will get there, I know it probably seems like a long way off. Hope this helps. 
Emma xxx 

Thanks Emma. Now that you mention it I am also aching. I have never drunk so much water but it is about the only drink I want right now. I had the ec first and am possibly just getting frustrated as with it I had a pretty good week, a week of tired etc then a good week again. With the paclitaxel it is all compressed into the one week and I don’t feel that I have time to cope the same. Carol

To be honest I’m dreading ec. I got used to the side effects of paclitaxel and carboplatin  and now it’s in to the unknown again . 
Emna xxx 

As you say it is the unknown and we all react differently. Again plenty of water and the steroids definitely help with eating. The three days I had them I ate for England and definitely didn’t have the dry skin that paclitaxel is giving me. You will be fine and with it you have a nurse sitting chatting to you while you get it. I will be thinking of you xx

Thank you for the reassurance. Take care, thinking of you too. 

Emma xxx

Hello Em8 - just read your profile.  I too am 46 years old and had 4 small tumors in my right breast - all lymph node clear but i had vascular invasion near one tumor which scared me too.  I  happened to read this 2 weeks ago and since i got so upset about it.  I am having chemo and my last one will be 5th April.  Me too reading that makes me think that it had spread but my oncologist told me chemo is for that reason just in case i had stray cells which escaped.  I never heard about this before and thought it was only me with this vascular invasion.  We usually hear about lymph node involvement but not vascular invasion.   Just thought to write to you - to tell you i was devastated  when I read about this.  Kind Regards, Sue  

Sorry for the delay in replying, I had a bilateral mastectomy on the 23rd March so not been on the forum. Glad you have written to me and sorry if my profile worried you. few people mention vascular invasion and I still worry about it but my breast surgeon said the same, that the chemo should work on any stray cells and I have to believe this. I’m feeling much more positive at the moment- very much concentrating on things that I can control and letting my team guide me on the things I can’t. I’m waiting for the pathology report from my surgery and again I’m obviously anxious about that, but it’s something I can’t control so I’ve been enjoying a week of making the most of no treatment, just dressing changes! I’ve seen both my boys (who I’ve not seen properly since before my treatment started in Oct) and that has made me happy beyond belief. Take care Emma xxx 

Hello dear Emma... no it’s not reading your profile which scared me it’s reading the pathology report which I happened to google word for word .. that was scary.  Thank you for your reply ... I agree with you it’s not beyond our control snd we have to keep positive.. today is my last chemo and really looking forward to some kind of normality .. wish you a nice day xxxxx

Will be thinking of you today with your last chemo. Take care xxx 

Hi Emma

I have just seen your thread from many months ago & noticed that i am having the same Chemo plan as you. Have you had surgery yet? do you have tnbc? My cancer is tnbc stage 3. I have Surgery next week & Radiotherapy planned for October.

I hope all is going well for you. 

Dcs1