Does paclitaxel get harder to handle the more you have??

Hi Aea  everyone is so different, I found EC absolutely fine & other than tiredness had no side effects. I struggled with my first Paclitaxol with severe leg aches so my onco reduced my dose & it was much better. It didn’t get any worse physically but mentally I found it hard as I got close to the end.

good luck & hopefully you will be ok! 

Hi Aea

l finished my chemotherapy October 2023 started with EC which although I was not to bad it was definitely harder than paclitaxel l had 9 paclitaxel in total , weekly. They were a lot easier than EC I had no side effects at all. It just got tedious in the end going to the unit and sitting in the chair while having the treatment. All over now also my radiotherapy done. 
good luck you should be fine. Xx

Well done to you glad you finished it all my love and take care  I hope this is how it goes for me so far so good

Hi Aea 

I had 12 weeks of paclitaxel, after 3 cycles of EC, and fortunately didn't suffer from any side effects while on paclitaxel. I felt tired on the day I had it and then fine after that. It was the same each time I had it.

x

hi Aea, I am going to be a dissenting voice, note that I had 4 doses, one every two weeks.

For me the paclitaxol was easy doing the doses, the steroids they give before made me feel like it would be a cake walk the day after. and then I had aches that kept me awake, I had codeine prescribed and that helped, and on my second my thumb felt numb, and my baby toe,  by the third my hands were sensitive to everything and my feet, they gave me gabapentin. but after the third my hands and feet suffered a lot, by the fourth it hurt to hold things, and now almost two months later they are slowly getting better. its back to mostly my thumb feeling numb and the areas in my feet are smaller, but most of my toes are still tingly, my hands have eased but still sensitive, and thankfully the aching legs and joints have subsided, but i had three weeks where i took codeine every night to sleep. I also find because of my feet if i close my eyes i have a hard time not wobbling. and my fingernails discoloured

if you have any issues please dont underplay them, tell them. i know someone who was on the same regime, the6 reduced her doses and she has fewer issues that I do (different centres) her hands eased and has no problems now, after her second dose i think they went weekly

that being said, everyone reacts differently, my only advice is tell them if your nails hurt or extremities hugs, I wish you the best and easy going. 

hi Aea, I had 9 weeks of Paclitaxol - I had no side effects. I carried on with normal life…so much so that we went on holiday a week after finishing the treatment. Hope it goes well for you xxxx