Paclitaxol and carbo

Hi Himalaya,

I had Paclitaxel / Carbo earlier this year. I had 3 cycles of EC then 9 weekly Paclitaxel with Carbo on every 3rd week. My lump was 25mm with a 3mm satellite lump. In my case, after the 2nd EC I could tell it was shrinking and after all chemo was finished I had a full pathological response. 

Take care x

Oh that's good. I have a satellite too. Bet you're delighted with the response....

Thank you

I feel so lucky that I had a full response but I must admit that I'm still nervous for the future. It's a year today that I found the lump and it feels like the past year has happened to someone else.

I wish you all the luck in the world. Best wishes x

Hi can I ask are the side effects as bad with paclitaxel/ carbo as they are with EC.   I am due to start 12 weeks of PC after just having 3 cycles of EC which I reall struggled with . 

Much easier than EC. I'm even driving back after appointments. I'm incredibly tired, bit achy day 3 and getting nosebleeds (but nothing major) but all better. The weekly appt is hard but time is flying by.

You ok? 

Thanks , I’m dreading it . I have so much going on with family I don’t have time to be ill.    I am not even sure I want to win this battle I feel like I am losing so much and don’t know how to deal with it all.   My Dad is in hospital and I’m losing him before my very eyes .   I can’t do this without him and my mum .  But I am having to be strong for them . I can’t tell them how I am really feeling .  Sorry just wanted to blurt all that out xxx

Hi, the Paclitaxel was, for me, easier. I had a couple of tired days 3 or 4 days after the carbo. On the whole I tolerated it well, although I had to defer the last session for a week as my white blood count and potassium levels were too low. Was fine to have it a week later though.

Take care x

I totally get how you are feeling with the family. Having cancer is such an emotional time (I didn’t appreciate how much) and you don’t like to share that with your family. On a couple of occasions I’ve had to…..and then regretted it because they don’t truly understand it. I guess nobody knows how you’re feeling. In the end, I had to turn it around and just focus on making sure that my Mum was ok (my Dad died 2 years ago with Alzheimer’s).  I phoned the helpline too and spoke to

….sorry, iPad went a bit weird…a lovely lady for 30 mins. and had a sobathon with her.  Poured it all out to a stranger which was actually ok….and better because family just get upset and want everything to be back to normal.

Having your Dad in hospital must be very difficult at the moment, especially as you are tired with chemo etc and trying to get up in the morning, if you’re like me. Spend as much time as you can with him (which I sure you’re doing) and continue to blurt it all out on here, or try the helpline - that’s what it’s there for.

Look after yourself (have you got a good GP? I got some medication to help) and make sure you get some fresh air every day, even if you don’t feel like it. 

I wouldnt drive to the first few appointments though ....see how you go