First chemo - carboplatin/taxol - what to expect - side effects?

@lizziegil
I meant Suzie gloves/ socks- spell check…😞

@bocabird
Thank you for the info!
I am using the cooling gloves and socks, but I wonder if I need to do the ice?
And what is the “low level laser” you mentioned?
I feel like I’d like to try whatever I can bc I’m active and would hate to compromise that!

@cookercooker no did not

@lizziegil 8 years ago I wasn't aware of the cooling gloves and socks- I had a plastic bowl for my feet filled with Ice water every hour and for my hands I had the freezer packs wrapped around a cloth. I think another name for low level laser is cold laser- had it done in a chiropractor office- If you are near a place that has cold plunge that would be great.

Has anyone tried aTENS machine for peripheral neuropathy?

@bocabird I have the same thing. It limits trying to move. I had bad knees prior to the cancer and was considering knee replacement. But the cancer showed up. That had to come first. After I had my surgery my legs and ankles were very swollen and the surgeon said he thought it was from my knees. I was ready for knee injections so went a head with that. Hoping that I could get it under control. It was not my knees and the swelling got so bad I can't wear my shoes. At the end of the day I can hardly walk, did the same went to the venous surgeon and trying the compression stockings no luck actually worse. Going for another follow up in three weeks. This has been more debilitating than any of the surgery which went perfectly. They want you to walk and keep moving but it is impossible. I used to get 15000/20000 steps a day and now I barely make 5000. Keep posting so I can see if your doctor has a solution. Prayers and good luck. I am thankful no cancer above all but this is a hard thing to deal with.

@greatgrandma2025 I exercise vigorously about 12 hours a week. I really believe vigorous exercise helps the circulation and gets rid of inflammatory garbage. I am going through some stress now(my 85 year old partner has dementia alzeimers which I believe contributes to the swelling and stress) I think the compression garments help with the swelling- I use them when I exercise and the swelling actually goes down. I meet with the vascular dr. in two weeks (third one) about the venous insufficiency. I think also the lymphedema is hereditary as well. My lymphedema therapists are wonderful. I live in South Florida.

Hello Dear pretzelnin / Maria, as you will hear responses to this combo drug infusion can vary, and higher doses can mean more or stronger symptoms. Carbo taxol is used for multiple gyn cancers, and a surprising group of unrelated cancer, too. Neuropathy is a well known side effect, many have some symptoms, but the important thing is to alert your team if this occurs. I hadn't heard of cooling socks & gloves, but it's an interesting idea we could know more about.
I had one weekly infusion for 6wks, with a 2nd plan of combo cisplatin & radiation for 6 wks. Internal brachy followed. I had a good experience with the 1st regimen and was quickly back to my old self - 1 infusion. A miracle, it seemed. The 2nd 6wks had challenges, & I managed symptoms by varying foods - I'd eat a lunch or dinner food for breakfast.
Advice? Stay active, drink lots of fluids, listen to your body. Talk to chemo nurses - they are very smart, and people tell them all their symptoms. These nurses are a wealth of information.
Sounds almost too easy for me, and I don't mean that. Psychologically it's a tough haul. I've had distressing symptoms in my early recovery phase I didn't have in treatment & being a new "survivor" is really tough at times, plus you fall off the radar because there are urgent new cases to treat.

@catts, yikes, fracturing anything while in treatment sounds like adding insult to injury. I hope your cheekbone healed already. I'm glad that the subsequent treatments were less dramatic.

You're so right that exercise or movement can help. Hard to do when you're feeling fatigue or suffering other side effects. As they say, doing just a little helps a lot. What exercise helped you? Are you finished chemo treatments?

@colleenyoung I finished chemo treatments just over two months ago. At the beginning of chemo I would walk each day. When the neuropathy got worse, I started using a recumbent bike and was able to raise my heart rate 😊