Taxol and Carboplatin

Hi, 

I have completed this regime - I had 12 weeks. 
With mine they gave me carbo every 3 weeks so at the start of each cycle and had the taxol every week.

I hope this makes sense. 

Week 1 was taxol and carbo - one hour each

Week 2 and 3 was taxol only - one hour

You also have pre meds like anti sickness and steroids. Can’t remember the rest sorry - which takes about 30-60 mins each time you go. 

The cold cap adds quite a bit on. I did this for every session I went. So you need it for 30 mins before - can be done with pre meds, the whole time you’re having the infusions then depending on which week, depends on the time after. So week one is an extra hour and half after the infusions and week two and three is an extra hour cos there is my one infusion. 

The chemo units do get busy. 
I was there practically all day on the days of my infusions. I wouldn’t plan anything else on these days just in case. 
The chemo needs to be made to order so you do generally wait for it to be made. 

Your bloods will be taken weekly to check and sometimes infusions can be delayed by a week or so or even omitted. I had 2 omitted. It depends how your body ‘reacts’ to the chemo. 

I hope all this makes sense. Your oncologist should have explained this for you? 

In relation to side effects, some people get them and some don’t. Just take what comes and don’t be too disheartened. They all pass eventually and there are medications to help  

Good luck xx

Thank you for replying that’s really helpful. 

Yes, I will be having blood test on Thursdays then the chemo on Fridays. I am expecting Fridays to be all day. The oncologist wasn’t sure how it would be administered and that I’d need to ask the ward. I am presuming 3 hours taxol then the carboplatin goes in afterwards for 1 hour but could be wrong, just going off the sheet they gave me. 

How did you feel with it, was day after worse? I know it’s hard to gage how everyone will be. 

Was the cold cap effective for you? 

Yes - Fridays just take it as though you’re off radar all day  

Are you in the Uk? 

The 3 hours part probably means 3 hours in total for each cycle of taxol - you don’t have 3 hours at once, it’s split over 3 consecutive weeks. That’s how most people’s work. 

Week 1 was taxol and carbo - one hour each

Week 2 and 3 was taxol only - one hour

So this adds up to 3 hours taxol and one hour carbo. 

I was unwell on taxol and carbo - all the way through. I had numerous side effects. Bowels - loose and constipation, hot flushes, insomnia, rash, sore throat, loss of taste, hair loss, fatigue, sore hands and feet. 
I have got ridges on my nails for the effects of chemo. 
I actually had 2 taxol’s omitted cos of my bloods - low neutrophils. 

Cold cap held on for about 6-7 cycles but it was extremely thin. I had a wig for when I finished cycle 7-8. Then I cut the loose ends after I had surgery so that it could hopefully grow. 

I had my last chemo on 20th November and my hair is growing good at the mo, I don’t wear a wig any more. No bald patches. Full head of hair - short style. 

As much as I was hospitalised with EC (the chemo generally after taxol and carbo) - taxol and carbo hit harder with side effects. I personally had no life as I couldn’t do much…

Yes I’m in the UK. 

Ah I see what you mean. I’m having it weekly for 9 weeks. 

Oh gosh you poor thing you did suffer with it didn’t you. I’m on the EC afterwards but just for 3 sessions. 

I’m glad to hear you are now out of the other side of it x 

Where abouts in the UK are you? 
I am north west England  

Yes - the oncologist should have explained all of this. Mine broke it down and drew a diagram of how it would work to make it easier to understand. 

Yes I had 4 sessions of EC.

Suspected neutropenic sepsis but luckily it was just neutropenia with the first cycle - hospital for 4 days. Treated for neutropenic sepsis though. IV antibiotics and then oral antibiotics. 

 
2nd cycle of EC I had a throat infection - oral antibiotics.

3rd cycle of EC a suspected throat infection so treated with oral antibiotics again. 

4th cycle of EC nothing. 

Even though, I had these infections, I had ‘good’ weeks, whereas with taxol and carbo I didn’t cos as I was feeling better, I was back at the hospital for my next infusion. 

I have had surgery and now just waiting for radiotherapy to start xx

Hi Sparkle498uk,

While I've not experienced weekly treatments of Carbo/Taxol, I attended every 3 weeks. I'll share how I reacted and to what. My treatment was for secondary bone mets. I'm male. 

Just to say you might not experience the same as what I did. 

I will include the impact the meds on my bowel habits as this was a major issue for me to begin with. 

I had 6 sessions in total. Supposed to last 15-18 weeks, however, due to the accumulative effect on my bloods, the last 2 cycles had to be delayed by 1 week. I had neutropenia (low neutrophils). 

3 hours of Taxol and 1 hour of Carboplatin. I was at the hospital for 5-6 hours each day.

I attended the Oak Cancer Centre at The Sutton Marsden. I cannot praise the nurses enough. Amazing human beings. 

Anti-sickness meds given:

Aprepitant - an oral anti sickness tablet you take an hour prior to treatment start. Usually before I left home and walked up to the Marsden. These used to make me feel hyper/wired. I'd also take for 2 days following treatment. 

Ondansetron - at the hospital and for me to take for 3 days following my chemo. These tablets made me very constipated. I'll explain steps I took to minimise this at the end.

Dexamethasone - Powerhouse of an anti-sickness but caused me insomnia. They injected my canula on day of treatment and I was prescribed 3-4 days oral meds post treatment

I asked to swap this after my 2nd session of chemo. My oncologist obliged happily and I was prescribed Metoclopramide. Being wired in the brain while physically recovering was unpleasant.

After my 1st session, I experienced issues where my food took so long to digest, It felt like I was filling up to my chest. I had serious bloating/distension of my stomach. It's know an 'Gastric Emptying'.  The Metoclopramide worked a treat to help with this. 

I was prescribed with 'Olanzapine' instead to Dexamethasone but that absolutely knocked me for 6. I only took half the prescribed dose. I stopped taking that. 

I stuck with ondansetron and Metoclopramide post treatment. 

Please speak up to your oncologist if you struggle with the meds. They are there to support you. 

Just to say, if you experience side effects, you may just have find out what works for you, 

So, my stomach reacted to chemo. Most likely the Taxol. On the morning of treatment, after going to the loo, I'd eat breakfast ie Shredded wheat. Because the Ondansetron causes the constipation, I wanted to help myself as much as possible. 

I had to stop drinking sparkling water as it caused me discomfort/bloat. Squash was great. 

Helpful things to have at home were Shredded wheat/bran flakes. I did buy Senna for constipation but I found suppositories a better option. Just in case. 

I know you didn't ask for me to discuss my tips on how to deal with constipation but it had a major impact on me at the very beginning of Carbo/Taxol treatment. I think we deal with enough without having to deal with that too. 

Good luck. Sending you lots of strength and best wishes. Ben

I am in the north west also! Will be attending the Christie’s hospital. 

That’s really helpful thank you. 

I hope your radiotherapy goes well. 

That’s really helpful thank you. 

I hope you are doing ok now. 

You're welcome.

I'm ok, just waiting for my hair to grow back. Plus, as my last treatment was on 18/02, I've started to feel much more energised over the last week or two. Lighter evenings/nicer weather helps. 

I forgot to mention, might be worth having some electrolytes at home too  

Hi I’m on week 2 of this regime, and so far other than a little bit of nausea (which they gave me stronger antisickness for which is now working) and a little bit of leg pain at night but I’ve not found it too bad so far, it may get worse the more I have, who knows but so far Im still working from home every day and looking after 2 young children. My hair hasn’t started to come out yet but my scalp is starting to feel abit tender. I have been warned when I change to EC though i may feel worse. 
Hope this helps reassure you a little :) I’m also north west, in Preston!