Chemo side effects question

Hi everyone,

I have a quick question that maybe someone could help me with.  I had a lumpectomy and full axcillary disecction in July.  I have finished three rounds of AC and will have one more and then change to Taxol.  After each infusion, I have been ok.  Limited nausea, fatigue which gets worse as the treatments continue, limited bone pain (Neulasta) etc.  But I get this post nasal drip and strange cough for a week after each treatment,  With each treatment it seems to get a little worse that then clears up.  I know it is also change of season where I live (NJ) so that could be part of it, but has anyone had this side effect?  Does it get better when you switch to the TAXOL?  Also, I have heard that Taxol is a "little easier to tolerate" than the AC.  Has anyone had this experience?  I hope there is good news out there.  Thanks for reading.

cagio

40 - Stage IIA BC spread to LN (2 cancer out of 27)

chemo - ACT (4 rounds AC/4 rounds T)

Radiation to start in january (33 rounds)

Ulcerative Colitis

I did, too. It is a side effect of the chemo. If I remember right, it's the cytoxan that causes that. My nose would start to itch right after they started to infuse it. It was annoying, but not really too bothersome. My oncologist gave me a list of all those little things to expect, and it really helped me to know what was coming... wish I had saved it!

I didn't have any taxanes, so I can't comment on those.

Hope things continue to go well for you!

Hugs...
BEV

I was on the same protocol. I used to panic with the cough but every time my oncologist did a complete listen to my chest, he'd tell me not to worry. The cough persisted for a couple months past the end of chemo, and it did go away.

I used to think the post-nasal drip was a herceptin side effect, but I know now that it could also have been a chemo-related side effect.

The side effects are very unsettling, I agree. Hang in there!

Thanks for your reply.  I am now on my second round of Taxol.  So far, little easier than the AC.  AC was tough.  Main complaint is the "flu like symptoms" for a few days after (muscle aches - feels like I worked out way too hard, fatigue, lethargic etc) but it only seems to last a few days.  I am having neuropathy issues.  I get really cold all of a sudden and shiver and then there comes bone pain. I spoke to my oncologist yesterday and he said my symptoms while Taxol is helping them, the AC is what pushed me into menopause and these symptoms (hot flashes and cold spells) are hormonal (I am premenopausal) So I guess Taxol is easier because on AC I had a really bad cough and could not function at all my treatment 3/4.  Hope this helped a little.  Cagio

ACT" stands for A-Adriamycin, C-Cytoxan, T-Taxol. They are chemo therapy drugs used for certain types of BC. The AC is given separately normally for 4-6 weeks and then the Taxol is given for another amount of time. C