Docetaxel

HopefulSam,

I hope that you are relatively well after your three ECs? I was to have 3 x EC then 3 x Docetaxel (all three weekly cycles).  As everyone is different, you never know how you will react  please don’t worry you will be the same as me, but I can tell you from my own experience. I was quite ill with the ECs (have been told on many occasion that I am extra sensitive to all chemo drugs! Great  !). I had my first three weekly Docetaxel dose and there wasn’t the nausea of ECs. For me, you could taste food and got your appetite back! Unfortunately it didn’t agree with me and so I was changed over to the weekly Paclitaxel which I have tolerated so much better. I suppose I just want you to know that there are options if it doesn’t agree with you too. I got bone pain with Docetaxel (partly relieved by paracetamol and Ibuprofen) but, conversely, the bad back pain I got in EC disappeared!! Swapped one ache and pain for another! 

I hope the Docetaxel agrees with you but if not, there are other options out there. I wish you the best of luck with your next cycle. 

Warm hugs and wishes,

Bekky

xx

Hi Betty

Thank you for your reply 

I have had the first treatment of Docetaxel, within 4mins of the Chemo nurse administering it after the pre meds, I started to get hot along both my arms feet and legs and lastly my head n neck started to sweat, I became uneasy and the Chemo nurse who had been informed that this was my first Docetaxel, began monitoring me.

I became more hot, but didn't want to say anything just yet, however she observed me looking uncomfortable, and said asked me if I was ok, I told her what I was experiencing, she said she has to stop the treatment and do protocol and has to administer hydrocortisone and periton. This would last for 30mins and they would try again.

Which they did, but in 30ml doses to check how I would handle it, as I had to have 250ml dose in all, luckily, I was ok thereafter. I had treatment beginning 1pm and it is 1.40am and I still cannot sleep! But as yet no symptoms.

I really hope all goes well with you next cycles.

Stay safe,  warm regards

Hopeful Sam

Oh my goodness. You poor thing. It sounds like you have had a reaction to it. I didn’t experience the immediate reaction you have mentioned there. I didn’t feel up or down when it was administered. 
Please let the nurses know if you feel anything as it’s better to mention it and have them check it out. You are suffering enough!

I hope all goes well on the Docetaxel. As I said, I noted all my side effects and when I discussed it with the consultant, he said the weekly Paclitaxel sounded a better option for me. It has been so much more gentler and so please let your oncology team know if you are not happy secure in the knowledge that there are alternatives. I was worried sick that it would be the end of the line for my treatment and they would say that I couldn’t continue chemo but that wasn’t the case. 
Please let me know how you get on with your Docetaxel so that I know that you are ok? I hope that you breeze through it!

Look after yourself. 
Warm hugs,

Bekky

xx

I had docetaxel once and found it didn’t suit me so they changed my drugs. But I was also at a chemo session where another lady was having it and thought it was great. I had EC x 3 and it suited me well. So I think everybody is different. Key thing is to tell your nurses if you feel uncomfortable or unwell. They will either prescribe you something else to help with a side effect or review the chemo drugs. They have always managed to get me back on track even with some really awful side effects, I’ve not struggled for long at all. Good luck. Hope it all goes ok

Hi Bekky 

I havnt coped well with Docetacel, I have been in such pain. I have had shooting pains along my legs, around my knees and abdomen along where the ovaries are.

I have been taking ibuprofen, but it doesn't eliminate the pain. The shooting pains are enough to make.me want to cry, it doesn't help to massage either. 2 nights of next to no sleep either. There really isn't a lot of info to help me deal with this all info is of a bog standard level.

I shall drop an email to my Oncologist today, as I dont know if I can cope with.more sessions of this.

I hope you are coping well.

Stay safe.

Thank you Robbo 

I did tell the nurse and she said that poeple can have reaction to pacilataxel too, so what can I do.

The shooting pains make it unbearable.

Let's see what my Oncologist  says.

Take care all the best

Paclitaxel is often given in a fortnightly (higher) dose, but can be given weekly.  My oncologist considers the weekly one to be thr gentlest of the BC chemos. I asked for it weekly so u could have more control over the side effects  by the smaller weekly doses and I'm glad that I did,  as I started  peripheral neropathy on dose 5, and the chemo was stopped on week 7. Good luck with this cycle, but definitely speak to your oncologist.

Aw HopefulSam, I am so sorry you are feeling so rubbish. As well as letting your Oncologist know you could also give your GP a phone? When I had my chemo yesterday I mentioned that sometimes Paracetamol and Ibuprofen won’t touch the pain and I was told by the chemo nurses to ask my GP for a stronger painkiller? 
Please don’t suffer if there is something to help you. I found I had a lot of pain in my ribs, pelvis and legs, in fact, everywhere. My stomach was also so swollen that I felt like I had a “pregnancy belly” again which started just below my bust and could hardly eat anything as was too uncomfortable. I was only able to manage one meal a day but was still so swollen and uncomfortable.

let me know how you get on. I hate to think that you are so uncomfortable. No sleep definitely brings you down quickly too. You poor thing. 

I had a bad nosebleed too which made my oncologist change me to weekly Paclitaxel which is sooooo much better  keep an open mind snd see what works for you  

Warm hugs 

Bekky

xx

Thank you Bekky 

My daughter suggested a soak in radox which I did and I also took ibuprofen n paracetamol too this all helped and I was able to snatch an hours deep sleep lunchtime, however the effects  wore off and later afternoon pains returned again inhad ibuprofen n paracetamol however pains have only slightly subsided.

The Oncologist did say to take co codamol which I am reluctant as it make say muscles turn mushy n I don't feel too great.

I wish the medical team would explain in more detail what could happen, and possible remedies in more detail 

I feel like I am on conveyor belt when being treated 

Hopefully tonight the pain will be more bearable my pains shoot from ankle joints, knee joints and across the abdomen, at the moment and I am ok eating.

I have lots of nose bleeds along the way and I just try to contain them.

I will drop an email updating the Oncologist for now they are so very busy.

I hope you are coping well. Take care

Warm regards 

HooefulSam

Hi I did mention to the Chemo nurses at the time but they said I could be allergic to paciltaxel too and that was the end of that. I will drop the Oncologist  an email so she becomes aware of my state let's see what she suggests its the weekend now they will have gone home.

Take care all the best

HopefulSam