Docetaxel side effects

Hi 

I feel for you. I had X3 FEC and then was meant to have X3 Docetaxal. I am afraid I only tolerated 1 . We are all different and these drugs have different effects on our bodies. I had so many side effects and had to call an ambulance out one night with excruciating pain. I sent photos of my problems which were visible to oncologist and he stopped it. Sometimes they can reduce the dose for you so worth asking if you can't tolerate it. I guess I was one of those who couldn't. I had 8 of the listed side effects which I won't bore you with but some were really bad and I still suffer one of them 8 months on. I ended up having x2 more FEC so still had x6 . How much difference it will make I don't know but there are people who can't have it at all so hopefully ok.

So hope you get on ok but worth asking the questions.

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Hi I'm  on Docetaxel had my first one 3 weeks ago, was fine first week, now sore mouth and awful diarrhoea. Have second dose on 7th.

I really did not like Docetaxel. I did 3 EC first, which i found hard but tolerable. After reading a lot of experiences on here, I somehow thought I've had the hard one, this one will be better.

Docetaxel is nicknamed 'The Batterer' - as an ex-kickboxer i can confirm it does feel like you've been in a fight. Especially when you add filigrastim into the equation. Before cancer i was in my 30's, physically fit, very health conscious - I couldn't even handle 80% of the Doc. Every part of me felt wrong and i'd spend literally hours on the toilet with the Doc trots. My mouth was a mess, as was my stomach, my nose bled, and I got a UTI straight after my first one. If you think of how it works, in killing rapidly dividing cells, its no surprise it attacks everywhere with a mucus membrane. I guess in some people it over attacks.

I had to stop after 2 because i was just so ill. Every part of me felt wrong. I was constantly in and out of hospital with infections. My heart went crazy. My gums and teeth hurt even with the Gelclair gel - i ended up with a crown falling off and a filling falling out. My gums look to me like they've receded. The oncologist had zero interest in this, like she thought these things weren't related. I should mention i've been with a private dentist for 20 years. My teeth are looked after, and at my 6 monthly check ups i havent needed any work for years. Until now. My mouth is a mess now.

I'm only telling you my scary stuff in the hope it will help you. I found my oncologist very dismissive after my first Doc, she said she'd reduce the dose then said she'd not bothered because it might just have been i didn't like the first one. I most definitely didn't like the second as I got admitted to hospital 4 times in the next month. I wish I had stood up for myself more.

If i were you i would ask my oncologist to look at other treatment options. Weekly Paclitaxel is supposedly much better tolerated. Some people go back to the EC. Are you taking an antihistamine in general? Sounds a lousy tip, but it does reduce histamines/ inflammation arising so it at least helps make the filigrastim bearable. I took loratedine. Hope it gets better for you x

I was planned to have 6 x TCHP, first dose was fine 2nd was horrendous and meant I was hospitalised for 9 days. My oncologist said it was the Docotaxel and was going to remove it and reduce Carboplatin. Unfortunately the chronic fatigue and state of my immune system has meant I’ve stopped chemo and am now waiting for surgery. 

I feel for you, the side effects are dreadful 

My mouth is so sore and I'm feeling like I've been nailed to a cross atm horrible.I was ill on EC too very sick.

Two more to go shall get some strong pain killers in.

AJ

I had EC first and felt nauseous for the first week but I felt like I felt rubbish and then got better and better until the next cycle (bad week, OK week, good week)

I found docetaxel really tough and found that I felt find for a couple of days and then side effects started hitting me and kept hitting me. It wasn't until Day 10 that I started to get skin issues.

They ended up reducing my dosage for the final 2 cycles which was manageable, but I still had the same thing with side effects going on for a lot of the cycle.

• I've also just had my first docetaxel chemo on Friday. l previously had EC which I struggled with constipation for the first 3 days and had bad mouth ulcers and thrush . I totally agree with you I am absolutely shattered and can't taste anything, my mouth is worse, I'm already struggling with pain in my body due to osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia,  I walk with sticks but this is a whole new set of pain. X 

I'm 14 days post docetaxel and still feeling the side effects I got treated for sepsis last week.

It's total pants 

AJ x

Hi hope you get over this soon. Sadly I didn't and mine was stopped because of bad side effects just had one and went back to FEC for last 2 instead. Still suffering neuropathy in feet 9 months on pain was bad last night as I had done a lot of walking. You can see if they will reduce strength worth asking as it is cumulative. Good luck x

Hi AJM, sorry to hear about your reaction with Docetaxel. I will be having chemo as part of my treatment, not sure yet what type. I am ER+/PR+ and HER2 positive. Just wondering whether you or any of the others on here having Docetaxel have the same three positive results ?

Wishing you all the best for your journey and hope that further treatments won’t be as bad.

Hugs from cuffcake x x x x x