Docetaxel - Experience’s

Hi Morton

A new one on me with the nose bleeds, I suppose they’ve given you creams to ease that. Fatigue are yes the surge of chemo and hormone injections. It’s a slog getting through this as I mentioned when we talked, it does get easier, but you still have to be on your guard, low palettes plus anything can raise its ugly head, keep the check on the temperature you’ll get through this.

stay safe

Joe

Thank you Joe, yeah I spoke to the hospice nurse and she had heard of this in this type of Chemo.  I have some cream for inside my nose now so hopefully that does the trick. TY I am doing daily temps. 

M 

So i have come to the end of Cycle 2.  For me the side effects were quite bad this cycle so I am hoping that cycle 3 is a little better. I had my bloods done Thursday and then call with Oncologist on Friday.  In terms of the bloods for Chemo all is good to go and cycle 3 can go ahead.  Unfortunately we discussed my PSA and that has shot way up to 238 (from 77 in 3 weeks).  Of course she is hoping this is a Chemo flare and things will settle.  Of course it could also be a sign the chemo is failing.  We are going ahead though but she insisted on a slightly reduced dose to protect quality of life over side effects. Fingers crossed that this is a flare because beyond chemo things are rather uncertain to say the least.  

Anyway I will stay positive and get the cycle 3 in.  I will post here how it went and the response through cycle 3.  Thanks for reading. 

Take care all 

M 

Hi Morton - thanks for the update!  Sorry the cycle 2 has been so tough. Better luck with cycle 3!  

Thank you worriedwife.  I will keep you posted 

M 

Hi...We have meeting next Thursday with chemotherapy Dr to start treatment.....My anxiety has started. Conversation with Drs due to my partner having high PSA and Gleeson of 9 T3b stage is a worry....I really hope the chemotherapy work's.....The cycle is in 6 stages , does that mean every 3 weeks ? 

Hi Dancing, sorry to hear this.  The staging is similar to mine.  Yes the cycle is every 3 weeks, well it is for me, so I will have chemo tomorrow and then time to recover for the 3 weeks.  I found the first 3 days the worst then started to recover to a more pre chemo state.  My bloods are then done on day 17, appointment with oncology day 18 to make sure all is well to have next treatment and then go again.  Although I have had some rotten side effects I have heard it can be quite easy too.  I am down for 10 if I can’t tolerate.  One thing I will say is the staff in the chemotherapy bay are wonderful and will look after your partner.  Ih he is down for 6 treatments then that will be 18 weeks in total.  I got all my 10 appointments in one letter, so I know what I am doing for the next 30 weeks.  Try not to worry too much.  I think the staff are super supportive and the process is very straightforward.  I also know that it usually works well.  I am off to a slow start with it but I am still positive about it.  Hope this helps and the very best wishes to you and your partner. 

M 

Chemo 3 delivered yesterday and the 3 week cycle 3 begins again.  It was a more difficult infusion in terms of delays and general staff attitude.  Not sure what was up with them, it was different staff and they seemed a little brusque,.  This led to some issues with oral meds versus the normal IV and me being confused on the switch.  Anyway it settled down in the end and the care was good.  Despite the chemo not working so far my dose was reduced by 15% and this was explained as the way to balance quality of life with attack on the cancer cells.  My worry on this is if the strongest does isn’t working, how will a lesser dose?  We shall see.

I will update here through the cycle on whether the side effects have been less than cycle 2. 

Thanks for reading and or commenting.  As ever I hope this helps 

M

Hi....it's all worry.....I'm sure you will get through this and I hope you have alot of support....my partner has gone from this healthy person to now having to deal with this , got message yesterday needs to see GP regarding bloods and he is on medication for high blood pressure. Hospital Thursday to see chemotherapy Dr. I've got kidney infection, pain been bad .....My partner birthday on Friday so we are going away for a couple of days....lots of fun , laughing and being like kids again on the water slides .....Has the Dr asked you if you have to stay away from crowds of people incase of infections? I'm not sure what happens on that , I've wrote the question down for Thursday. 

Hi Dancing, most certainly plan in some fun activities and when the cycles start you can establish a routine.  I think common sense prevails regards staying clear of people.  I don’t feel like any contact for the first 3-5 days anyway and then I am aware around 7 to 9 days is the biggest risk of picking something up.  I don’t isolate though and just keep my distance, throw a mask on if I am on a train or bus and all my friends and family know that any colds or other bugs they are barred from seeing me. That has worked so far for me.  I monitor my temp twice a day every day so that if there is any move from normal I can get onto chemotherapy helpline quick.  They will tell you you must get to them quick if you have a temp rise.  Sorry you are poorly too but hope you recover ok for lots of fun.  We plan quite a lot in from day 10 in the cycle all the way to the next treatment, so it feels that any wasted time is negated by this. 

M