Docetaxel Chemo – the highs and the lows - - Page 8Advanced or metastatic cancer

User

Posted 24 Mar 2017 at 08:31

David,

I do not appear to be getting any of this peripheral neuropathy that is being spoken of, but I have the dry throat from hell this morning on day 4 infusion 7.

I think some ice and pineapple may be on the agenda this morning.

Other than that no issues.

Dave

"Incurable cancer does not mean it is untreatable and does not mean it is terminal either"

User

Posted 24 Mar 2017 at 10:45

Infusion 7 Day 4

The Basturds have released their grip. Power wash cancelled.

Crapiness has started but doesn't seem anywhere near as bad as it was for the last couple of infusions.

So, all in all, happy face is in order so we'll have some happy MK songs.

Border Reivers were raiders along the Anglo-Scottish border hundreds of years ago, MK, with his lyrics, links that heritage to the truck drivers that moved goods from Scotland to England, and vice versa. Falsifying documents as drivers had to keep records of how many hours they had driven, hence he is a "thiever" stealing time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6gzkjAkiVg

Back to school and learning to dance, the song contains a very non-PC line "And a fat girl got left at the side". Naughty MK.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZwucLTimIU

User

Posted 25 Mar 2017 at 00:45

Hello both
Sorry to intrude on your conversation but wanted to ask you something: my OH is undergoing docetaxal and has just had his 4 th infusion. After the first infusion he had a terrible time with constipation ( I did tell him your story Dave but I guess he had to experience it himself to really understand) anyway he seems to have that under control now. Infusion 2 was ok but then on infusion 3 his temperature rose to 38.4 so following advice from the info pack from the hospital we contacted them and was told to go in straight away. He was in for a week whilst they fed him antibiotics almost constantly through a drip and did all kinds of tests to try to find out what was causing the temperature to rise. All of the tests came back clear and once his blood count started to rise and his temperature became stable he was able to come home. Then exactly the same thing happened again last week and he is back in hospital again trying to get his temperature down and looking for causes which they still can't find. They have given him some drug to boost his white blood cells What I was wondering is if you guys take your temperature regularly particularly during your crappy days and if you do do you contact the hospital? We have been advised to contact if the temperature is greater than 37.5. I am just wondering if others follow this advice or whether we might be being over cautious.

User

Posted 25 Mar 2017 at 02:09

A friend of ours has been in and out of hospital since infusion 4 onwards - and yes, she takes her temperature regularly. She is a Marie curie nurse when not having chemo so I guess she knows better than anyone how dangerous it can be.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 25 Mar 2017 at 06:28

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Sorry to intrude on your conversation

No intrusion MS, this thread exists in order to try to help others, intervene whenever you need to.

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

What I was wondering is if you guys take your temperature regularly particularly during your crappy days and if you do do you contact the hospital? We have been advised to contact if the temperature is greater than 37.5. I am just wondering if others follow this advice or whether we might be being over cautious.

I don't take my temperature regularly but I do take the advice the hospital gives about potential infection very, very, seriously. Infection can lead to sepsis and that can quickly lead to death or severe, life changing, complications.

The reason I don't take my temperature regularly is that apart from the few crappy days I feel pretty damn well. However, the thermometer goes straight in my mouth if I have any doubt and I'll be straight on the phone if it reads 37C+. You are not being over cautious, you are being very sensible.

David

User

Posted 25 Mar 2017 at 07:31

I take my temperature every morning when i take the tablets. So far so good.

Regards

Dave

"Incurable cancer does not mean it is untreatable and does not mean it is terminal either"

User

Posted 25 Mar 2017 at 13:47

Thanks to you all.
Other than this he is feeling quite well. He was really worried that they would stop the chemo but they have assured him that they are really happy with his progress and they will carry on as usual.
Thanks again, I feel reassured now.
Yvonne.

User

Posted 26 Mar 2017 at 17:01

David, how are things going today?

Infusion 7 Day 6

I feel I am cheating the system and Mr Docetaxel is ignoring me, because today I feel as good as yesterday which is pretty good.

Normally days 3 - 8 were the most challenging from a tiredness perspective and then it was plain sailing, but this time nothing. My taste is still fine, I have been on a 2 mile walk in the glorious sunshine each day with no tiredness.

Hopefully this is not the calm before the storm

Dave

"Incurable cancer does not mean it is untreatable and does not mean it is terminal either"

User

Posted 26 Mar 2017 at 17:11

Infusion 7 Day 6

Crapiness is receding. All is good.

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Hopefully this is not the calm before the storm

Yikes!!! Don't be giving me those negative waves http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuStsFW4EmQ

Edited by member 26 Mar 2017 at 18:53 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 26 Mar 2017 at 17:13

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Infusion 7 Day 6

Crapiness is receding. All is good.

Great news

"Incurable cancer does not mean it is untreatable and does not mean it is terminal either"

User

Posted 27 Mar 2017 at 11:34

its great to hear that everything is going the right way, I'm half way through my Chemo at the moment and PSA has dropped dramatically down to 19 from 247!!!! Docetaxel is working well, although i feel shite at the moment next one due next week.

Keep the faith

Baldyman

User

Posted 27 Mar 2017 at 16:35

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Keep the faith

Baldyman

Great to see the Docetaxel is working.

Your PSA is dropping like a stone.

Good on you

Dave

"Incurable cancer does not mean it is untreatable and does not mean it is terminal either"

User

Posted 02 Apr 2017 at 17:40

Infusion 7 Day 13.

Checking in to see how you are David?

All very good with me

No side effects at all now. This cycle has been one of the best so far

Regards

Dave

"Incurable cancer does not mean it is untreatable and does not mean it is terminal either"

User

Posted 03 Apr 2017 at 05:21

Infusion 7 Day 14

Not at my best at the moment. The peripheral neuropathy is about the same. The finger and toe nails have deteriorated. Two finger nails are troubling me, one has become infected, I'm treating it with magnesium sulphate paste but I'm off to see my GP about it today.

So some more MK to cheer me up. These two are about farming and farmers, Hill Farmer's Blues followed by Yon Two Crows:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvEWq01cg6g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aiD5Iib80Q

Edited by member 03 Apr 2017 at 05:23 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 06 Apr 2017 at 11:28

Infusion 7 Day 17

Checking in to see how our fellow Chemo users are doing.

Hoping you are doing much better than when you last posted David and your finger nails and peripheral neuropathy are getting better.

It is always a mental relief for me when I get past the 7 to 14 day mark as I am mindful that in theory my bodies resistance to infection should be improving and the last week is normally plain sailing. My next infusion is on Tuesday 11th April.

I have noticed a couple of things. My nails are getting darker at the tips, my teeth are getting more sensitive and if I get up quickly from a chair I can feel a bit dizzy sometimes for about 5 seconds, then it clears. I am not sure if anyone else has this?

Medical team seem to think it is par for the course with the drugs and should improve once the Chemo over with.

Apart from that, plain sailing as we go.

Regards

Dave

"Incurable cancer does not mean it is untreatable and does not mean it is terminal either"

User

Posted 06 Apr 2017 at 12:38

Hi all
Graham has had to go into hospital after infusions 3 and 4 due to high temperature and very low blood count. Saw the prof on Tuesday and just having infusion 5 as I type this. They have given him some injections to take away to self administer at home to try to combat the low blood count going forward. His right leg has swollen from ankle to above the knee, this is a new thing, they checked for blood clot but thankfully this was negative, prof not worried and said it was quite common side effect of the chemo. Graham asked if he would be a candidate for 10 cycles but prof said no, 6 is enough. Graham is early chemo so maybe this makes a difference in the number of cycles.
Apart from this and feeling exhausted from around day 4 to a few days before next infusion he is ok and in good spirits.
Just as an aside and an observation from me really: when he has the high dosages of steroids just before and after the infusion he goes complete hyper, talks non stop and is really restless, on the good side I can get loads and loads of man jobs done around the house if I get the timing right😀
Best wishes to you all
Yvonne.

User

Posted 07 Apr 2017 at 21:08

Infusion 7 Day 18

Another lesson learnt. Last Saturday one of my fingers had become infected. As instructed I contacted the Chemo Ward at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital and spoke to a Chemo nurse. I described what the finger looked like, she didn't seem too bothered and suggested I treat it with magnesium sulphate paste. By Monday the infection had spread so I went to my GP. He didn't say it but he was obviously not impressed by what the Chemo nurse had advised. He said this infection could cause Neutropenic Sepsis and put me straight onto a 7 day course of Auntie B's. He also said magnesium sulphate paste was about as much use as a chocolate teapot.

And the lesson? Don't assume the Chemo nurses are infallible.

The Auntie B's have worked their magic and I'm a lot happier. The peripheral neuropathy isn't much changed and I'll be talking to my Onco about it next Tuesday.

Today's Radio MK from your ColU DJ. They are both about racing cars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eugF5hHWA1U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=praUaqWWLyk

User

Posted 07 Apr 2017 at 22:33

Great to see you are on the mend David.

Tuesday is the next big day.

All the best.

Dave

"Incurable cancer does not mean it is untreatable and does not mean it is terminal either"

User

Posted 09 Apr 2017 at 21:45

Blooming heck CO why didn't you ring me I could have told you the magnesium sulphate wouldn't work that's what I use on my dogs for a sore foot😄
Infections need Aunty Bs make that your new Mantra.
Keep going my friend you are nearly there.
BFN
JulieX

NEVER LAUGH AT A LIVE DRAGON

User

Posted 11 Apr 2017 at 17:32

Infusion 8 Day 1

Infusion 8 completed today.

PSA back down again, this time 1.1 and Testosterone < 0.45, so heading in the right direction again, but must admit I was hoping they would be lower as I am concerned the PSA will rise again once the Chemo over with, but at least the Zoladex still seems to be doing the job?

Listening music of choice for my 1 hour walk today,

Supertramp : Breakfast In America.

How did your infusion go today David. I hope all is good with you?

All the best

Dave

"Incurable cancer does not mean it is untreatable and does not mean it is terminal either"

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Docetaxel Chemo – the highs and the lows

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