Starting chemo

I can’t tell you about chemotherapy side effects, there are many here who can.

Studies have shown that early chemotherapy alongside hormone therapy produces much better outcomes than leaving the chemotherapy till later. Hope it all goes well for you.

Thanks for your reply Ido4. I have done research and I agree that the combined hormone and chemo approach appears to yield better results especially in metastatic prostate cancer. Regarding the chemo I will just have to wait and see as everyone reacts differently to it from what I have been reading.

Hi Andrey103

I can give you a run down of what to expect, remember we are all different and not all this may happen.

There’s hair loss, brown nails, like a metallic taste when eating, sweats and fatigue, plus something we call chemo brain, makes you a bit forgetfulbut that gets better, I went through all this.

The first few days after chemotherapy can be pleasant and you think this is OK, then it can hit you, mega hot flush tiredness and fatigue lack of sleep, these are some of the worst scenarios, most happen to us all, you do get used to it after the third session, the one thing I tell everyone is take your temperature morning and night, it is important.

Hope I’ve not frightened you being fifty, you should get through all this, just make sure you have phone numbers if your not feeling well while on chemo.

Stay safe

Joe

Many thanks for your response Joe, it is much appreciated . I tend to plan ahead quite a lot and the diagnosis was out of the blue as caught on a medical. It has been disconcerting especially as I feel physically fine. Anyway good to know what the flow of the treatment side effects may be like so I can be more prepared. 

Hi 
I am in a sort of similar position to you . A year younger at 49 . Although 50 in June . Same Gleason 9 but spread to nodes and I had chemo at first  with HT . As the other writer said at first chemo seems fine but then the main symptom I noticed was extreme tiredness but not getting relieved my sleep . But it lasts for only few days . For me was day 3-7 then after u feel better . One main thing I would say is when you have the HT injections it gives u hot flushes & bone pain and a feeling of temperature and it’s very difficult to find out if it was Bcos of the injection which does rise your temp to bout 37.5 or is it neutropenia low white cell count which is the main symptom of docitaxel where u need to call the hospital immediately. What they then. Do is your bloods and see what is what . I got admitted for neutropenic sepsis . They reduced dose afterwards . And I was fine . I too was diagnosed with absolutely no symptoms on routine bloods 

are they planning any radiotherapy for u ? Or surgery after chemo ? 

Thanks Mcjc for your answer. I got my official diagnosis two days before my 50th last month. Dampened the celebrations….Wishing you all the best for June! I am currently on Bicalutamide with prostap injection. The docetaxel starts tomorrow most likely for 6 cycles. Because there were two bone metas it has been proposed that I will have another Psma Pet CT scan once the chemo is complete and if they confirm the bone mets I expect radiotherapy to the prostate and the bone mets. All depends on the efficacy of the combined HT and chemo. Good tips on the temps etc - I think best to keep a diary so can keep a good track of it. For me the hot flushes have become more common in the last week. 

Hi Audrey103

Hubby similar to you with mets in ribs and pelvis and other areas,  He started Docetaxel a few months back.  He has had 3 sessions and is due his fourth tomorrow, if his blood tests are ok, these will be taken this morning.

The first 3 sessions have not been too bad,  He got thrush in his mouth the first session, but we got some really good mouth wash from the Dr and this cleared it up quickly.  He now takes this mouth wash as a matter of course and the thrush has not returned.  He gets very tired, and he has a lot of hot flashes, but thinking about it, the flashes are starting to lesson.  He is on monthly Firmagon injections for his hormone treatment.

I have a daily tick list of everything that he needs to do/take.  There's all kinds of stuff on it, simply so we don't forget anything, and also I can then see if a pattern is forming, so it's a heads up on the next session.  These are a few of the things on it.

Temperature 3 times a day, water, 3/4 litres a day, hand/face/feet cream twice a day. Soya milk, green tea, yogurt, fruit, weight, nail varnish, sachets twice a day for extra vitamin D, cross trainer, weights, time walking dog.  The list goes on, but it helps us stay focussed and in a strange way gives us some kind of control over this horrible disease. 

I also put a score out of 5 each day on how he's felt.  We seem to follow the Nadir average, 

Ginny

Thanks Ginny for your reply. The tick list is a good idea to keep good daily continuity and also a useful memory aid when discussing treatments with the medical team. I/my wife will set one up as being organised and having control over the PCa will help psychologically.

I hope that your husband’s treatments continue well. I am due to have my first docetaxel in a few hours.

many thanks, Andrey

Hi Andrey, I kept a record of my side effects after each of my chemo sessions on my profile, please feel free to check my profile. 
hope this assists.

Best regards 

Thanks Mally333, I will take a read. Best wishes.