Taxane Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
If you have early-stage or metastatic breast cancer, your doctor may prescribe a taxane chemotherapy medication before or after surgery.
Taxanes are a class of chemotherapy that works by interfering with the ability of cancer cells to divide into new cells, eventually causing the cells to die.
Taxanes used to treat breast cancer are:
Abraxane (chemical name: albumin-bound or nab-paclitaxel)
Taxol (chemical name: paclitaxel)
Taxotere (chemical name: docetaxel)
How taxane chemotherapy is given
Taxanes are given intravenously through an intravenous infusion (IV) or port. Depending on your diagnosis and which medication you’re prescribed, you’ll get taxane chemotherapy every one to three weeks for a minimum of four to six cycles, with each infusion lasting one to two hours.
The dose of taxane chemotherapy prescribed to you will depend on the type and stage of the breast cancer, the other medications you’re taking as part of your treatment plan, and your weight.
Taxanes are sometimes given in combination with other chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy medications. These are called chemotherapy regimens. They include:
AC-T chemo (Adriamycin + Cytoxan + Taxol)
TC chemo (Taxotere + Cytoxan)
TCHP chemo (Taxotere + carboplatin + Herceptin + Perjeta)
THP chemo (Taxol + Herceptin + Perjeta)
Common risks and side effects of taxanes
As with other chemotherapy medications, taxanes work by targeting rapidly dividing cells. But the medications can’t tell the difference between cancer cells and healthy cells. So other fast-growing or fast-dividing cells in your body are killed, too, like the cells of your hair follicles — causing side effects like hair loss.
Three of the most common side effects of taxanes are neuropathy, hair loss, and low white blood cell count (neutropenia), which can leave you more susceptible to infections.
Your doctor may prescribe Neulasta (chemical name: pegfilgrastim), Neupogen (chemical name: filgrastim), or Zarxio (chemical name: filgrastim-sndz) to improve your white blood cell count.
Other possible side effects of taxane chemotherapy include:
fluid retention
Rare side effects of taxanes
Taxanes may also cause more severe side effects, including:
Allergic reaction: Symptoms of allergic reaction can range from mild to life-threatening. Signs of an allergic reaction include:
hives or a skin rash
trouble breathing or feeling like you might pass out
swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat
Allergic reactions can be prevented by using prophylactic steroids and premedications — also called “pre-meds.” These are medications given before treatment to prevent or reduce side effects.
Severe infection (sepsis): In rare cases, neutropenia from taxanes can lead to sepsis. Call your doctor right away if you experience:
a high fever
rapid heart rate
extreme pain
confusion or disorientation
Lung or breathing problems: Though rare, taxanes may cause severe lung problems. Tell your doctor right away if you experience shortness of breath or suddenly get a dry cough that will not go away.
Managing the side effects of taxane chemotherapy
Side effects from taxanes can be frustrating or even debilitating, but there are many ways to reduce side effects from chemo, including:
wearing cooling gloves and socks or trying compression therapy for peripheral neuropathy
picking up your prescription and over-the-counter anti-nausea medicines before chemo starts, and taking them even if you’re not sure you need them
wearing a cold cap or scalp cooling system during chemotherapy infusions to reduce hair loss
rinsing with over-the-counter dry mouth rinse, prescription magic mouthwash, or a homemade solution of baking soda, salt, and warm water to prevent and soothe mouth and throat sores
It’s important to talk to your doctor about any taxane side effects you experience. If pre-meds or other remedies aren’t helping, it may be possible to change the drug, change treatment timing or lower the dose of chemotherapy.
Real patient reviews
Some of the Breastcancer.org Community members have shared their experience with side effects of taxanes:
“Right after my first Taxol [infusion], I got really bad neuropathy immediately in all of my fingers and in all of my toes. Onc[ologist] switched me to Taxotere. My neuropathy never worsened throughout the Taxotere. It's a tough chemo, but it is a bit easier on neuropathy. Even Abraxane is hard with neuropathy.” — lrm216
“My first week of AC chemo, my white blood cell count went deathly low, and [my doctor] wouldn't give me shots [to boost white blood cells]. I sat in the hospital for a week waiting for numbers to come up. Finally, a different doctor did give me [medicine for low WBC], because he said I'd never get out of there if I didn't!” — skitzblitz
“I lost my hair on weekly Taxol. It started coming out around week 3. However, I didn't lose my eyelashes/eyebrows until I was almost done, but they did go. My eyebrows came back very sparsely, so I tried using a biotin product on them. Took a few weeks, but they are much fuller now. My head hair did return, but much thinner, so now I'm also trying a biotin shampoo in hopes of having as much success as with my eyebrows.” — amycinny
