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Docetaxel - what to expect

User
Posted 14 Nov 2021 at 23:39

Hi 


My OH age 55 has been on abiraterone for the past year but its no longer working. Devastating really, we had hoped for much longer with this treatment. 10 sessions of Docetaxel over 6 months is planned from next month. Any advice on what to expect in the days following treatment?


Thanks. 

User
Posted 15 Nov 2021 at 13:01

Sad news on the Abi. I had the up front chemo when diagnosed. Bear in mind not everyone gets the same symptoms. I kept a note of each day through the 3 week cycle so I knew what to expect each time. It was a pretty standard pattern. The steroids mucked up my sleep for a few days, the anti-emetic they gave me caused constipation for a few days etc etc. Just as a rough guide for me it was, days 2 to 4 - sleeplessness and constipation, day 5 - mouth feeling slimy and starting to lose sense of taste, opposite of constipated (but didnt need to rush to the loo or anything), just generally feeling a bit rough. Days 6 to 10, generally feeling rough and soft poos still. Days 11 to 14 gradually starting to feel better and sleep a bit more solidly, taste returning. By day 15 pretty much back to normal for a week till the next infusion.


Good luck with the treatment


Steve

Edited by member 19 Nov 2021 at 13:01  | Reason: Not specified

Good luck to everyone coping with the insidious big C

User
Posted 15 Nov 2021 at 14:33

It varies for everybody, but for me some minor things were a sore mouth for a while on each cycle, and also a sore bum. The GP BELATEDLY prescribed Difflam mouthwash, and Proshield barrier cream. The Difflam was helpful but also intense, so I didn’t use it too much, only once or twice a day. Thus I also made my own nice harmless mouthwash which I used extremely frequently. This was one teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda, plus a ¼ teaspoon of table salt in 500ml. water.


The high dose Dexamethasone at treatment time in particularly, plus the Prenisolone throughout, affected my sleep. GP prescribed Zopiclone which helped.


I was taking Symprove anyway for my tummy, but I think that helped.


To be honest, it wasn’t that bad, and the absolute worst thing was fear of infection which didn’t happen. I was very careful with infection control, and didn’t go out much though. I was left with mild peripheral neuropathy (no big deal), low saliva production.


My Wife shaved my head, but I was raising money for a local cancer support charity. So a bit of a con really, as much of it was likely to fall out anyway.

User
Posted 15 Nov 2021 at 16:25

Hi highland lass sorry to hear that, my husband has just finished chemotherapy he had 6 sessions over 4 months he was alway really drained for at least 10 days then started to feel ok when he had had to do it all again but no major issues 


hope all goes well 


Ann x

User
Posted 15 Nov 2021 at 19:33
My father in law really only struggled on days 5 - 10 when he wasn't allowed to go to the pub because of the heightened risk of infection! He did lose all his hair and was off his food for a few days each cycle but wasn't particularly ill.

Freeze fresh pineapple cubes for him to suck during infusions - this helps protect the mouth from sores and also reduces the risk of the terrible metallic taste to everything. But don't give him loads of pineapple if he has heart problems - get advice from his GP!
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
User
Posted 15 Nov 2021 at 23:10

Thanks for taking the time to reply Ann. Much appreciated. X

User
Posted 15 Nov 2021 at 23:12

He's always been very fit so I'm really hoping he copes well with it. Thanks for the tip Lynne. X

User
Posted 15 Nov 2021 at 23:15

Thanks for sharing your experience Michaelp and what helped during your treatment. Much appreciated. X

User
Posted 15 Nov 2021 at 23:22

Hi Steve, really helpful to hear your experience. Really thankful for people like yourself taking time to respond. It's a nerve racking time but your message and others from the forum helps a lot. Thank you! 

User
Posted 16 Nov 2021 at 18:53

Hi,


Have had 6 cycles of D.The most unpleasant side effect was infected nails on my hands  resulting in black nails and some lost nails.This made washing and dressing difficult. 


A helpful tip I picked up on this site is to use  a good moisturising cream on the nails every day.In particular others used successfully Aveeno daily moisturising creamy oil which you can pick up 300 mm on Amazon for about £5 .


Hope this helps.


Kind Regards


Norm

User
Posted 16 Nov 2021 at 23:04

Thanks Norm


I'll get some of that in just to be prepared. Much appreciated!


Sharon

User
Posted 17 Nov 2021 at 09:39

 Hi Sharom,


Better to start using it as part of daily routine now rather than waiting for infections to show themselves.


Am currently having another  10 cycles of  a different chemo treatment and this is what I am doing  myself now.


Regards


Norm

User
Posted 17 Nov 2021 at 23:16

Thanks for the advice Norm.! We'll get a head start on that.


Sharon 

User
Posted 17 Nov 2021 at 23:17

Hi Norm, 


Hope you're doing good on the current treatment!


All the best with it. Sharon 

 
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