When your doctor told you that you had breast cancer, did you see the name 'Taxane' mentioned in your treatment plan? You may have been a little scared when you heard this name. It's normal for things to come to mind when you hear the word 'chemotherapy' along with this name. But don't worry. Taxane is a very effective treatment that has been used in the treatment of breast cancer for more than 40 years. Let's talk about it in a simple way that you can understand.
What are these taxanes? How do they work?
Simply put, taxanes are a type of chemotherapy that stop cancer cells from dividing, multiplying, and spreading throughout the body.
Just think, just like healthy cells in our body, cancer cells multiply by dividing. This process of cell division is aided by a system of tiny tubes (microtubules) inside their cells. The taxane class of drugs, or more precisely ``antimicrotubule agents'', go directly to and target that very tube system. These drugs disrupt the functioning of that tube system and disable it. Then the cancer cells are unable to divide, and eventually those cells die. This is the basic principle of this treatment.
This treatment may be a must-have in your treatment plan, especially if you have ``(HER2-positive)`` type of breast cancer.
Taxane drugs (for example, `(Docetaxel)` and `(Paclitaxel)`) are used in both types:
1. Early-stage breast cancer: This medicine is given before surgery to shrink and make the tumor smaller. It is also given after surgery to prevent the cancer from coming back.
2. Metastatic breast cancer: This treatment is also used to control cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
How are Taxane drugs given?
Taxane drugs are currently given intravenously (IV) , which means they are given as a saline solution into a vein. This is done in a hospital or cancer clinic.
Sometimes taxanes are given alone (monotherapy). Other times, they are given in combination with other chemotherapy drugs to make the treatment more effective. For example, they are given together with drugs like Capecitabine, Carboplatin, and Cyclophosphamide.
The good news is that scientists are currently researching a way to take this medicine as a pill, which could potentially reduce hospital visits in the future.
What should you expect when receiving treatment?
Once your doctor decides to start taxane treatment, they will create a specific treatment regimen for you. This includes how often you need to come to the hospital and how long it will take to receive the medication.
- Number of treatments: This varies from person to person. It depends on the type of medicine you are given (`(Docetaxel)` or `(Paclitaxel)`), the dose of the medicine, and how your body responds to it.
- For example, `(Docetaxel)` is usually given once every 3 weeks . Each dose takes about an hour.
- Paclitaxel is given a little more frequently. Maybe once every two weeks . It can take about two hours. There are also cases where a lower dose is given once a week for some people.
- Dose: The amount of medication you are given depends on several factors, including the type and stage of your cancer, your weight and height, and what other medications you are being given.
- Treatment duration: This also depends on how successful the treatment is and whether you have severe side effects. Typically, three to six cycles of treatment are given for cancer that has not spread. Cancer that has spread may require longer treatment.
But remember, if you experience severe side effects or cannot tolerate the medication, your doctor may switch you to another treatment.
Do Taxanes cause side effects?
Yes. Unfortunately, like all chemotherapy drugs, taxanes can cause side effects. This is because these drugs affect not only cancer cells, but also healthy cells that divide rapidly. However, in most cases, the side effects of taxanes are relatively minor and tolerable compared to other chemotherapy drugs.
These side effects can range from minor to severe enough to require hospitalization. Let's take a look at what these side effects are.
| Side effects of taxane treatment | |
|---|---|
| Common side effects | |
| Fatigue | You may feel very tired most of the time. |
| Hair loss | Hair on the head, as well as other body hair, can fall out. |
| Muscle and joint pain | Your body may feel sore. Doctors call this ``myalgia''. |
| Nausea and vomiting | The doctor will give you medicine to control this. |
| Pain and numbness in the limbs | You may experience tingling, burning, or pain in your palms, soles, and fingertips. This is called peripheral neuropathy. |
| Mouth sores | Small wounds may occur inside the mouth. |
| Increased risk of infections | A decrease in white blood cells (neutropenia) can make you more susceptible to illness. |
| Serious side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
| Severe diarrhea | A condition of diarrhea that doesn't stop. |
| Severe weakness in the limbs | Hands too weak to hold something or legs too weak to walk. |
| Fever | It could be a sign of an infection in the body. |
| Vision changes | Blurred vision or loss of vision. |
| Abnormal bleeding | Nosebleeds or bruising all over the body. |
Most of the time, these side effects go away within a few weeks or months after treatment is stopped. However, there are cases where the neuropathy is severe and does not go away completely for some people.
The most important thing is that if you experience any unusual symptoms, do not ignore them and immediately inform your doctor or the nurse treating you.
How effective is this treatment?
Taxane is a very effective treatment, which is why it has been used for so long.
For early stage cancer:
Research has found that giving taxanes to women with early-stage breast cancer who undergo surgery increases their survival rates and reduces the risk of the cancer coming back.
For metastatic breast cancer:
In cases where the cancer has spread, taxane therapy cannot cure the cancer, but it can greatly help control the progression of the disease and prolong survival.
Although this treatment is most commonly used for HER2-positive cancers, it can also be used for a more difficult-to-treat type of cancer called Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC).
Are there times when Taxane treatment does not work?
Yes, sometimes it can. Not all cancers respond to taxanes in the same way. Some cancers may not respond to this drug from the start. Other times, after the treatment works for a while, the cancer becomes used to the drug and develops resistance. Then the drug stops working.
This condition is especially common in ``triple-negative'' cancers. Scientists still don't know exactly why this happens.
At this point, your doctor may change the medication combination or switch you to a completely different treatment regimen.
Take-Home Message
- Taxane is a very effective chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. Don't be afraid of this.
- This treatment is given through an intravenous (IV) line. You will need to go to the hospital on a specific schedule.
- Side effects such as hair loss, fatigue, and body aches may occur. Most of these go away once treatment is stopped.
- If you develop severe symptoms such as fever, severe diarrhea, or extreme weakness in your limbs, notify your doctor immediately.
- It is your right to openly discuss any questions, fears, or doubts you have with your doctor.
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