Paclitaxol (Abraxane/Taxol)

I think asking what were the most difficult side effects is like asking someone to describe the level of pain they are feeling. Two people can be experiencing the same exact thing yet their perception of it is very different. For me I think I had built up this idea that going through chemo would be the most horrid thing anyone could EVER experience and that was the bar I had set for myself. I was lucky and experienced minimal nausea thanks to anti-nausea medications. I also expereincved some slight neuropathy in my right foot which did cause some long term residual effects. I also had no appetite for 2-3 days after each chemo cycle. I had the tinny taste in my mouth when I ate. I was very tired all the time and just when I felt some energy returning it was time for the next treatment. I think the most difficult side effect was the bone pain. The overall body pain & exhaustion which, the closest thing I can compare it too is how your body aches when you have the flu then multiply it by 10. Emotionally painful was loosing my hair at first but ironically once it was gone I didn't feel as bad as I thought I would. Maybe it was because I was feeling so crummy overall, otherwise I just didnt care. I don't quite know for sure. For me though they were far from easy but I personally felt the side effects were manageable and I knew I had to deal with them because at least for me I had no choice but to have the chemo. I think asking what were the most difficult side effects is like asking someone to describe the level of pain they are feeling. Two people can be experiencing the same exact thing yet their perception of it is very different. For me I think I had built up this idea that going through chemo would be the most horrid thing anyone could EVER experience and that was the bar I had set for myself. I was lucky and experienced minimal nausea thanks to anti-nausea medications. I also expereincved some slight neuropathy in my right foot which did cause some long term residual effects. I also had no appetite for 2-3 days after each chemo cycle. I had the tinny taste in my mouth when I ate. I was very tired all the time and just when I felt some energy returning it was time for the next treatment. I think the most difficult side effect was the bone pain. The overall body pain & exhaustion which, the closest thing I can compare it too is how your body aches when you have the flu then multiply it by 10. Emotionally painful was loosing my hair at first but ironically once it was gone I didn't feel as bad as I thought I would. Maybe it was because I was feeling so crummy overall, otherwise I just didnt care. I don't quite know for sure. For me though they were far from easy but I personally felt the side effects were manageable and I knew I had to deal with them because at least for me I had no choice but to have the chemo.

The main examples of plant alkaloids used to treat breast cancer are taxanes and vinca alkaloids.
- The vinca alkaloid used to treat breast cancer is vinorelbine (trade name: Navelbine).
- The taxanes used to treat breast cancer are paclitaxel (trade name known as Taxol) and docetaxel (which is a semi synthetic analogue of paclitaxel known as Taxotere) The main examples of plant alkaloids used to treat breast cancer are taxanes and vinca alkaloids.
- The vinca alkaloid used to treat breast cancer is vinorelbine (trade name: Navelbine).
- The taxanes used to treat breast cancer are paclitaxel (trade name known as Taxol) and docetaxel (which is a semi synthetic analogue of paclitaxel known as Taxotere)