Is EC harder than paclitaxel?

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Evening all,

I have my 3rd Paclitaxel tomorrow. It’s not too bad - days 4/5 are pretty rough and I’m tired and all of my hair has gone now but it’s manageable especially in the 2nd week when I feel more or less normal except for being a bit more tired. The worst is the daily injections to stimulate white cell growth- have quite a lot of bad pain with them.

I'm a bit low tbh- I feel like I look awful with no hair but I’m not satin  go that to anyone, don’t want to moan. I also just want to shut myself away and not see anyone.

i will have tomorrow then one more paclitaxel then 4 ECs. Is EC worse? 

  • Everyone is different, but I had EC 9 years ago and I didn't have any side effects except tiredness.  I found the tiredness to be worse with Paclitaxel. 

    I don't like to see myself with no hair either. I lost mine 9 years ago with EC.  I used to wear a turban or scarf at home, and a wig when I went out.  I had a pretty stretchy cap to wear at night. xxx

  • Hi. I’m also currently on paclitaxel (and carboplatin), had third session on Monday. I have six more to go then onto three 3 weekly EC. 
    My side effects are constipation and bloody nose.
    Are you cold capping? 
    I’m finding the injections hard too, they really hurt going in. I did put a post up on here asking for tips and did get some if you want to try and find that post it may help you. 

  • I can’t directly compare with you as I had 4 E/Cs 3 weeks apart followed by 12 weekly paclitaxels. The E/Cs were pretty much as you seem to have with your paclitaxels 4-5 bad days, aching from the Filgrastim injections then ok. Those injections certainly kept my neutrophils high; I didn’t have them with my paclitaxel regime and the weekly blood tests showed them decreasing steadily, but not to the extent that I needed to have them boosted again. 
    overall the E/C gave me more nausea and constipation, whilst the paclitaxels gave me some neuropathy, nail and skin issues. In terms of blood tests the paclitaxel affected liver and kidneys and brought my red cell count down, which the E/C hadn’t.  I lost my hair during the E/C and it didn’t grow back until I finished the paclitaxel. 
    I was predominantly bothered by the nausea with the E/C, but I am prone to motion sickness and had nauseous pregnancies, plus being older apparently made it more likely to get the nausea (70 yrs ). 
    All the very  best to you, it’s a complete drag. With the hair loss i had some soft cotton beanies which I  wore with patterned hair band for contrast, I just didn’t like the completely bald look on me. I was bald from late May until March, but one thing in the hot weather was that when I got indoors the cooling effect of taking my hat or sunhat off was great! xx

  • You are not alone, don't forget! We all feel like that and you are allowed and bound to feel like that. You will have good days as well, just persevere and you will get there. I'm m starting my next week and totally dreading it.

    Fingers crossed for you and good luck. We are thinking of you!! 

  • Thank ShyFox sorry if I’ve given you a bad idea about it all just before you start. It’s not that bad really! I am mainly ok ! Just tired and a couple of rocky days. I am usually really upbeat and a positive person so maybe am just fed up. But this will fix us, this treatment and we are lucky we live when and where we do! 
    good luck with all of it!!! X

  • Hi I am not cold capping- and when I first shaved my hair off (it started to fall out about day14) day 21 I was excited so I’m just in a bit of a slump and feel like yeah I am bored of this cancer stuff now I think. 
    injections don’t hurt going in but my god for two days the bone pain (jaw, sternum, pelvis, thigh bones)! 
    Hope you’re having a good day today xx

  • Hi I’ve just done 3 rounds of EC to be followed by 12 weekly pac. I’ve found that EC floors me for 10 days after each cycle then it lifts. The weakness is unreal. But not sure if it’s the chemo or:and the injections. I’m hoping for an easier time on pax x

  • Oh crikey I’m sorry to hear that you have had such a horrible time. I have my pac fortnightly in 3 hr infusions. I’m so nauseous at the moment . I have 3 really bad days then am ok for 3 then feel more or less normal so hopefully for you it’ll be better on pac. And when all this is over we can put it on the past…. Take care x

  • I did 12 weekly paclitaxels after the 4 rounds of EC. It was much more tolerable and you don’t get the injections to take after it as it doesn’t do for your neutrophils in the same way at that level of steady dosage. I had found the few days after each EC pretty grim really.
     The paclitaxel did thicken my toenails, but they grew in normally afterwards. My blood tests each week were ok. I got neuropathic foot pain and so doses 8-12 were 80% of the first 7, I was asked every time about that as the concern was not to cause lasting nerve damage. The dose reduction worked fine for that. 
    xx

  • I do paclitaxel every 2 weeks with injections for 5 days after. I hope I don’t need them with EC!

    Hope you’re all doing ok x the sun is shining! Makes it much better doesn’t it?