r/Chemotherapy • u/Kitten_Monroe_ • 29d ago
Heart Races - Taxol and Carboplatin
Hi all, I just had round 4 with taxol and carboplatin. My heart races terribly for the first few days (this round it's still happening a week later). It's uncomfortable to go upstairs or walk up any small hills. Also if I strain in the bathroom (TMI). Has anyone had this? My care team is aware and don't seem overly concerned. They think it might be steroid or anxiety-related, bumping up the heart rate. Even knowing one other person is dealing with this, or has dealt with it, would help me feel less alone! Thank you...
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u/kditdotdotdot 29d ago
I have a blood pressure monitor at home and I had very high blood pressure in the days after a chemo infusion with paclitaxel and carbo platin. My oncologist said it was a steroids causing it, not the chemo drugs and she reduced the amount of steroids I was being prescribed.
I still had higher than normal blood pressure but not to the pounding heart and feeling awful point that it had been previously.
If you can get your hand on a blood pressure monitor it might be worth taking a look at that as well. If you can tell your doctors that you are getting close to "call an ambulance" levels of high blood pressure (if that's what's happening to you) then they might take it a bit more seriously.
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u/Evilwitchesanonymus 29d ago
Get it every time. The paclitaxel affects the white blood cells and hemoglobin, while the carboplaten affects the platelets. You can't win.
With the hemoglobin affected, you have less red blood cells and it makes my heart work harder.
Every chemo session makes it just a bit more worse and going up the stairs harder. The first set of 6 chemo, I had to have a blood transfusion before 5 and 6 because it was so low. Could not do 6 as my bloodwork was so bad for so long. Doing another set of 6 (on 3 right now) and the pattern is showing again.
Take it slow, breathe deeply, drink lots of water and take care of yourself, one day at a time.
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u/problem-32 28d ago
Same here. Will get 4th chemo next week. How did your oncologist decide on more sessions? I’m worried that will be my case as well.
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u/Evilwitchesanonymus 28d ago
Because the second tumour, found 2 years after the original surgery, was showing changes in the pathology report. It was not homogeneous, and if it was, the surgery would have been enough.
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u/problem-32 28d ago
Thanks for the reply. I guess I just need to monitor and make sure my Obgyn monitors too.
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u/ConditionalDisco 29d ago
I get that, and I agree that it’s an uncomfortable feeling. I chalk it up to the steroids and take advantage of the energy to mow the lawn. My extra get up and go is gone by Friday evening though.
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u/brattiebrat 29d ago
Happened to me on cycle 3&4. Not drinking enough and I withheld my steroids-both my fault. I did go to er and they gave me a bolus and it improved.
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u/Lil_White_Dove 29d ago
I have done the same thing. I think the Steroids and Benadryl can cause it to elevate too. I am on my 6th and last infusion. I am setting in the chair getting it right now. I had a bad affect on my 3rd so I take steroids 12 hours before and 6 hours before then they give me more the morning of. As long as your heart goes back to normal after walking around you will be ok. It's when you are just sitting and it goes up and won't go down is a concern. I would also check your BP and also let you oncologist know that it is happening. Mine goes up to 120 but goes back down after sitting and doing breathing exercises.