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Taxol

Paclitaxel

User Ratings
Out of 10
Satisfaction
7.8
4.5  Effectiveness
8.9  Side Effects
5  Holistic Benefits

RateADrug users have reported 23 Taxol side effects and 1 Taxol benefit.

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Drug Information
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Health Tips
Treatment Information
The generic name of Taxol is paclitaxel.

Taxol contains active ingredient paclitaxel, which is a form of chemotherapy medication for cancer known as a 'taxane.'

Inactive ingredients in Taxol infusion include polyoxyethylated castrol oil and dehydrated ethanol.

Taxol functions by inhibiting carcinogenic cells from dividing and multiplying. It destroys the cancer cells and inhibits the cancer from growing and spreading.

Taxol is used in the treatment of advanced stage ovarian cancer. It is administered in combination with cisplatin as first-line therapy.

Taxol is also used as adjuvant treatment of node-positive breast carcinoma given periodically to standard doxorubicin-containing combination chemotherapy.

Taxol is usually administered in the hospital as a three-hour intravenous infusion drip at two or three week intervals between treatments. The purpose of the treatment is to progressively shrink the cancer over repeated cycles of chemotherapy, allowing normal, healthy cells to recover during the interim phase.
Exclusive Features
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Famous People with Cancer
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Farrah Fawcett

She was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006. Initially she believed she'd beaten it; anal cancer is highly curable if found in the early stages.

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Bruce Paltrow

Paltrow was diagnosed with oral cancer, which hits about 40,000 Americans every year. If it's diagnosed early enough it can be cured relatively easily.

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Patrick Swayze

Patrick Swayze underwent treatment with the new Cyberknife radiotherapy, and survived longer than is usual for people with pancreatic cancer.

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Eva Perón

She was the first person in Argentina to receive chemotherapy although she was never told about the cervical cancer that killed her.

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Jade Goody

Goody learned that she had cervical cancer while actually on camera during the Indian version of Big Brother.

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Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs, the whip-smart CEO of Apple Inc., has been treated surgically for a rare form of pancreatic cancer, an islet cell neuroendocrine tumor. But he tried alternative treatments first.

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Frank McCourt

Frank McCourt won the Pulitzer Prize for his luminous memoir 'Angela's Ashes,' but his fight with melanoma has been complicated by meningitis.

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Charlton Heston

Heston suffered from prostate cancer, pneumonia, and Alzhimer's disease.

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Olivia Newton-John

Star of the movie musical Grease found out she had breast cancer at age 44. She used Eastern and Western techniques to battle the illness.

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Christina Applegate

Applegate was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 36, but was prepared for it because of her family history and a genetic test.

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Kylie Minogue

Minogue was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 37, and said that undergoing chemotherapy was like "experiencing a nuclear bomb."

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Edie Falco

The Sopranos star Edie Falco underwent chemotherapy during filming. She kept her illness a secret from the cast and crew to maintain strength.

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Paul Allen

Co-founder of Microsoft recovered from Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1983, and was recently diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2009.

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Lynn Redgrave

Lynn Redgrave earned an OBE for her many services to drama, but she battled with bulimia and then breast cancer, too.

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Michael Douglas

'Fatal Attraction' star Michael Douglas had a fatal attraction of his own-to cigarettes. And that may have led to the tumor in his throat that he's currently battling.
How does your Treatment Compare?
Choose a Condition:
Show results for:
BrandsEffectivenessHolistic BenefitsSide
Effects		Number of Ratings
Tamoxifen Citrate 5.6 3.77 3.7 5 Get Info
Taxol 5.5 5.32 7.37 4 Get Info
Evista 5.5 3.3 1.27 2 Get Info
Arimidex 4.29 3.77 6.06 7 Get Info
Femara 0.8 1.08 5.95 5 Get Info
View All About these Scores Get Your Score
Effectiveness of Taxol by Condition
Click on a condition to view RateADrug.com users ratings
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Effectiveness on "Breast Cancer"
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About these Results  
Not at all Mildly Moderately Very Extremely
How effective is Taxol?  Get Your Score
Reported Changes in Health and Well-Being
Since taking Taxol, RateADrug survey participants noticed these changes in their health:
Effect on:Much WorseWorseNo ChangeBetterMuch Better
Appetite 12.5% 25% 37.5% 25% 0%
Balance/Equilibrium 0% 28.6% 71.4% 0% 0%
Blood Pressure 0% 0% 75% 12.5% 12.5%
Breathing 0% 14.3% 85.7% 0% 0%
Confidence 0% 0% 100% 0% 0%
Coordination/Motor Skills 0% 62.5% 37.5% 0% 0%
Digestion 12.5% 25% 62.5% 0% 0%
Emotional Well-being 0% 37.5% 62.5% 0% 0%
Energy 37.5% 37.5% 25% 0% 0%
Eyesight 0% 50% 37.5% 12.5% 0%
Memory 12.5% 25% 50% 12.5% 0%
Mental Clarity 25% 25% 50% 0% 0%
Pain 25% 50% 25% 0% 0%
Patience 0% 25% 75% 0% 0%
Sexual Health 0% 12.5% 87.5% 0% 0%
Skin Complexion 0% 42.9% 42.9% 0% 14.3%
Sleep 25% 25% 50% 0% 0%
Stress Level 0% 0% 100% 0% 0%
|
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Commonly Reported Taxol Side Effects
RateADrug survey participants experienced these commonly reported side effects:
Effect on:NoneMildModerateStrongSevere
Allergic Reaction 66.7% 16.7% 0% 16.7% 0%
Chills 66.7% 16.7% 16.7% 0% 0%
Diarrhea 50% 16.7% 16.7% 0% 16.7%
Dizziness 57.1% 28.6% 0% 14.3% 0%
Fatigue 14.3% 28.6% 14.3% 42.9% 0%
Fever 50% 33.3% 0% 16.7% 0%
Gas 0% 100% 0% 0% 0%
Genital Discomfort 66.7% 16.7% 16.7% 0% 0%
Headache 71.4% 14.3% 0% 14.3% 0%
Hot Flashes / Flushing 42.9% 14.3% 14.3% 14.3% 14.3%
Insomnia 0% 100% 0% 0% 0%
Irregular Periods (women) 80% 0% 0% 20% 0%
Mood Swings 0% 100% 0% 0% 0%
Nausea 33.3% 50% 16.7% 0% 0%
Pain 0% 16.7% 33.3% 33.3% 16.7%
Sensitivity to Light 0% 100% 0% 0% 0%
Skin Rash 80% 20% 0% 0% 0%
Vaginal Discharge 66.7% 33.3% 0% 0% 0%
Vomiting 66.7% 33.3% 0% 0% 0%
|
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Less Commonly Reported Taxol Side Effects
RateADrug survey participants experienced less commonly reported side effects:
Effect on:NoneMildModerateStrongSevere
Abdominal Pain 66.7% 0% 16.7% 16.7% 0%
Amnesia / Memory Loss 57.1% 42.9% 0% 0% 0%
Anemia 83.3% 0% 0% 16.7% 0%
Armpit Discomfort 50% 33.3% 16.7% 0% 0%
Back Pain 50% 16.7% 0% 33.3% 0%
Breathing Difficulties 80% 20% 0% 0% 0%
Change in Appetite 14.3% 71.4% 14.3% 0% 0%
Chest Pain 71.4% 14.3% 14.3% 0% 0%
Chills 0% 0% 100% 0% 0%
Constipation 50% 16.7% 0% 16.7% 16.7%
Cough 57.1% 42.9% 0% 0% 0%
Dehydration / Thirst 80% 20% 0% 0% 0%
Delayed Wound Healing 83.3% 0% 0% 0% 16.7%
Depression 83.3% 16.7% 0% 0% 0%
Dry Mouth 42.9% 42.9% 14.3% 0% 0%
Dry Skin 28.6% 57.1% 14.3% 0% 0%
Hearing Loss 83.3% 16.7% 0% 0% 0%
Itching 83.3% 0% 16.7% 0% 0%
Leg and/or Foot Cramping 42.9% 14.3% 14.3% 28.6% 0%
Muscle / Joint Pain 14.3% 28.6% 14.3% 14.3% 28.6%
Nosebleeds 50% 33.3% 16.7% 0% 0%
Reduced Libido 60% 0% 40% 0% 0%
Thinning / Loss of Hair 50% 16.7% 16.7% 0% 16.7%
Vaginal Discharge 0% 100% 0% 0% 0%
|
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Episodes since taking Taxol
Since taking Taxol Rate a Drug survey participants reported these episodes:
Fall 7.7%
Hospitalization 7.7%
About these Results  
How does your experience compare with other Taxol users?     Get Your Score

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User Comments about Taxol
27 May 2014 THIS DRUG SHOULD NOT BE ON THE MARKET!! Women are being targeted by drug companies and the harmful effects of chemo BY FAR OUTWEIGH ANY SMALL CANCER!! If you accept a biopsy without complete tissue removal - you are being robbed of your life and preyed upon by drug makers! 5% of world population and 50% of all pharmaceuticals sold in the USA for population control and monetary gain!! DONT ALLOW THIS SCAM TO CONTINUE ON WOMEN!! Heartless Congress is 100% responsible!! FDA DO YOUR JOB AND PROTECT AMERICANS FROM THIS HORRIBLE THING CALLED CHEMO!!
   —Posted by Disgusted by Pharmaceutical Companies in USA
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06 Jan 2012 I am on prescribed (high) dose of Taxotere which is given via Porta Cath every 3 weeks, with one treatment to go. Moderate to severe muscle/bone/joint pain is the most significant side effect since I have been on this drug. My genital area has been affected with swelling, itching and pain and of course hair loss in the area. I have been applying ice packs to the area to reduce the swelling and Vagisil for the itching and keeping area dry as possible. Also use sitz baths with 1tsp salt which seems to help in healing the labial area. Nausea which can be moderate to severe is still a problem for me though so am still taking Metoclopramide almost daily. Overall symptoms/side effects could be worse but will be glad when treatment is finally over.
   —Posted by Sandra
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21 Oct 2010 Severe netropenia resulted in several hospitalizations, required me to take daily shots of nupigen and neulasta. Worse side effects occured 3-4 days after infusion and lasted approx. 48 hours. Can compare it too having the flu by with symptoms being magnifed 10x.
   —Posted by Anonymous
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31 May 2010 Although I had allergic reaction with each infusion, the side effects from the Taxol got better after 7-10 days. I didn't have nausea at all (actually had a very good appetite) except my stomach was queasy for about 7 days after 4th infusion. I had an odd taste in my mouth with excess saliva for a several days after infusions. Very tired but that too improves after 7-10 days. Leg pain for 2-4 days afterward - relieved by taking hydrocodone. It has been 11 days since 4th infusion and still have mild numbness in feet and toes. I only had a sentinel node biopsy and have had some numbness since my mastectomy but I think it is worse after the infusion.
   —Posted by Anonymous
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