UNDERSTANDING TAXOL CHEMOTHERAPY

A Guide for Patients produced by the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh

Introduction
This guide has been designed to help you and your family understand more about the chemotherapy you are about to have as treatment for your cancer. If you need more information or have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask your hospital doctor or chemotherapy nurse.

What Is Cancer?
Our bodies are made up of tiny structures called cells that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Normally these cells reproduce themselves by dividing in a regular fashion. This enables growth and repair of the body tissues. Sometimes an uncontrolled growth of cells occurs. This is what happens in cancer.

What is Chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy means treatment with medicines called cytotoxic drugs that are given to eradicate or control cancer

How Do Chemotherapy Drugs Work?
The drugs enter the bloodstream and are distributed to all parts of your body. The drugs destroy the cancer cells by interfering with their ability to grow and divide. Chemotherapy can also affect normal cells that are growing and dividing. This may cause certain side effects, but these are temporary because healthy cells grow back to normal quickly. The side effects of the drug you are going to receive will be discussed later. It is likely to take at least 4 weeks from the start of treatment for any benefit to be seen

How Are Chemotherapy Drugs Given?
The drug(s) enter your bloodstream through a cannula (a fine tube that is inserted temporarily into a vein on the back of your hand and is attached to an intravenous drip containing saline).

What Can I Do While Having This Treatment?
While you are having this chemotherapy treatment you can get on with life as normal. Provided you feel well enough, you can carry on working and doing your favourite activities and hobbies. You should discuss this with the hospital doctor or chemotherapy nurse caring for you.
You can eat and drink as normal while on this treatment and alcohol is permitted. You may find you experience taste changes; food and drinks may not taste as they did before. This will return to normal once the treatment has finished.
You may feel a little sluggish or under the weather at times. This feeling can get worse the more treatment you have, but should improve on completion of treatment.
You may be able to go on holiday if it fits in around your chemotherapy. However, your skin may be more sensitive to the sun. Discuss it with your chemotherapy nurse before arranging anything. If you are going abroad you may need to take a covering letter. You should not receive certain 'live vaccines' while on chemotherapy or for 3 months afterwards.
We advise you not to become pregnant, father a child or breast feed while you are receiving chemotherapy, as some drugs may harm the developing foetus or baby. Contraception should be used, preferably a barrier method.

What is Taxol?
Taxol is the name of the chemotherapy drug which you are going to receive. It is a colourless drug which comes in a glass bottle and is infused into your veins slowly over 3 hours, every 3 weeks. This is called one course of treatment. The number of chemotherapy treatments (courses) varies depending on each individuals treatment plan. You will be seen regularly by your specialist at a clinic to assess this, so he/she can monitor the effect of your chemotherapy.
You will need to come to hospital to have your taxol chemotherapy. You must have a blood count checked before we can go ahead with the chemotherapy. This can either be at the hospital clinic or by the practice nurse at your GP Surgery. This will be discussed with you by your chemotherapy nurse on your first treatment visit

Will I Have Any Side Effects?
Each persons reaction to chemotherapy is unique. Some people have very few side effects, while others may experience more. Below are some of the side effects which may be experienced.

• Temporary Reduction In Bone Marrow Function.
  This effect can begin about 5-7 days after the treatment has been given and usually reaches the lowest point 14-21 days after chemotherapy. Your blood count will then increase steadily and will usually have returned to normal within 21-28 days. You may be more susceptible to infections while you are on chemotherapy, particularly if your blood count is low. Contact your GP immediately if your temperature goes above 38°C or if you feel hot and shivery (fluey), or if you become suddenly unwell , even with a normal temperature. If you cannot contact your GP Practice, Phone the hospital for advice on the contact numbers below. Urgent treatment with antibiotics may be necessary.
• Hair Loss
  It is likely that total hair loss will be experienced. However, hair does regrow on completion of treatment. Your chemotherapy nurse will discuss wigs.
• Allergic Reaction
  Signs of an allergic reaction include skins rashes and itching, high temperature, shivering, redness of the face, feeling of dizziness and headache. The nurse gives you two intravenous drugs prior to your taxol chemotherapy to prevent any such reaction occurring and monitors you regularly during the administration of taxol chemotherapy You will also be given tablets to take 12-16 hours prior to your chemotherapy treatment.
• Aching or pain in Muscles & Joints
  This may occur a few days after treatment. It does not last long and simple painkillers may help.
• Numbness & Tingling in Feet or Hands
  This is due to the effect of chemotherapy on nerves and usually improves slowly a few months after treatment is finished.
• Other
  Less commonly, patients have reported other side effects including nausea & vomiting, diarrhoea, sore mouth, skin rashes or sensitivity of the skin to sunlight. The effect of taxol on fertility is not known.

When you attend for your next course of treatment please let your chemotherapy nurse know if you have experienced any side effects. The doctor may wish to adjust the dose of chemotherapy to lessen your side effects.

We hope this information booklet will help you understand more about taxol chemotherapy. If you have any further questions or do have any problems, please phone using the contact number given.

Contact Numbers:
Ward 1 (Mon - Fri 083 0-1630) 0131 5372219
Ward 4 (Emergency advice out of hours) 0131 537 2200