Docetaxel Chemo – the highs and the lows - - Page 2Advanced or metastatic cancer

User

Posted 25 Nov 2016 at 11:37

Infusion 1 Day 11

Half way through purdah and absolutely no change in the way I feel. For the record here is a list of the potential side effects of Docetaxel Chemo as defined by Macmillan cancer support and my current status in respect of these.

Risk of infection – No.

Bruising and bleeding – No.

Anaemia – No.

Feeling sick – Yes - Minor, no meds needed.

Diarrhoea – No.

Loss of appetite – No.

Sore mouth – No.

Taste change – No – In fact just the opposite. For the last two years I’ve suffered from rhinitis. The Prednisolone I now have to take every day as part of the chemo treatment has alleviated this to a degree. Food (and real beer) now tastes even better than before. However, I am keeping a careful eye on how much I eat. 15 stone is the right weight for my height (6 feet and 5 inches – we make ‘em big in Essex) and that’s the way I want it to stay.

Peripheral neuropathy – No.

Hair loss – No.

Skin changes – No.

Nail changes – No.

Build up of fluid – No.

Muscle/joint pain – No.

Shortness of breath – No.

Eye problems – No.

Hand-foot syndrome – No.

Blood clot – No.

User

Posted 26 Nov 2016 at 22:22

Glad you are doing so well :-)

My husband is one day behind you. He has quite a lot of tiredness but difficult to know what is caused my chemo and what is down to HT.

In the last day he has developed sore mouth and 2 x mouth ulcers. Has done a salt mouth rinse.

User

Posted 28 Nov 2016 at 09:56

sallyyy,

I'm sorry to hear about Hubby's troubles. My fatigue seems to have lessened considerably since I started chemo compared to when I was taking Enzalutamide. I'm still on 12 weekly Zoladex. I am at a loss to know why it's better for me and worse for Hubby.

Was there anything that you feel may have brought on the sore mouth such as over zealous teeth brushing or hot spicy food for instance?

David

User

Posted 28 Nov 2016 at 10:27

Hi David - it might have been hot food :-)
Nurse recommended Chlorhexidine mouth wash and this plus salt water has really helped.
Hope you have a really good week ahead of next cycle.

User

Posted 30 Nov 2016 at 10:51

Infusion 1 Day 16

Purdah over, it's party time for the next 6 days (hmmmm, maybe 2 or 3 days, I can't party as well now as when I was a mere lad).

User

Posted 30 Nov 2016 at 21:31

Glad the cycle is going well :-)

User

Posted 05 Dec 2016 at 18:07

Infusion 1 Day 21

I partied well. http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-smile.gif Now back to reality. Preparing for Infusion 2 tomorrow. I'm starting to rattle again with all the pills I have to take around infusion time. Today it's been:

1 x 2.5mg Vitamin D tablet every day.

1 x 10mg Amlodipine tablet every day.

2 x 5mg Prednisolone tablets after breakfast every day.

4 x 2mg Dexamethasone tablets after breakfast and lunch for the next 3 days.

1 x 8mg Ondansetron (henceforth to be known as 'The Basturds' because of their ability to put my bowels into lock down mode) twice a day for the next 2.5 days starting tomorrow. Preventative Fybogel and Dulcolax (if needed) is now being taken in order to combat The Basturds and put the hamfisted Dynorod operative out of business.

The ice cubes are ready as are a few pineapple chunks (rather than the entire annual pineapple production of Costa Rica that I used last time).

I don't believe it's possible to 'tempt fate'. What I say has no effect on my physical or mental condition. I love black humour and think that it and believing in 'tempting fate' is mutually exclusive. So here goes:

So far, the side effects of Deocetaxel Chemo have been a walk in the park. Long may this continue to be the case. And I fervently hope that for those of you now undergoing Deocetaxel Chemo and for those of you that will have it in the future, that it is a walk in the park for you as well.

Toodle Pip!

David

Edited by member 05 Dec 2016 at 18:16 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 06 Dec 2016 at 17:52

Infusion 2 Day 1

Infusion 2 completed without any dramas. A good meeting with my lovely Onco, Dr S, this morning. My PSA has dropped from 26.28 to 13.28 and all other bloods results were good, she's happy, Mrs_C is happy and all I can say is three words, Wooo Foooking Hooo!

First post Infusion 2 pint will be on Friday afternoon. I shall publish a full review here but I'll tempt you now by saying that this beer is a perfect pairing with Christmas pud.

User

Posted 06 Dec 2016 at 18:34

Great news, David! It sounds as if you've got it timed so that you'll be at your best by Christmas. This time last year Tony was doing well on Enzalutamide - it didn't work for as long as we'd hoped, but for long enough to give us a happy Christmas, and a February holiday in the Canaries. Hope the chemo continues to do its stuff without impairing your quality of life too much, and that it brings lasting benefits.

Marje

User

Posted 07 Dec 2016 at 22:16

Infusion 2 Day 2

Preventative measures have not defeated The Basturds. Back to Dynorod.

User

Posted 08 Dec 2016 at 11:09

Hello David
Thanks so much for your upbeat posts, My husband starts his journey on docetetaxel on the 11 January. And although I know everyone's experiences are different it's good to get info first hand.
Have a great Christmas and enjoy all that lovely beer 🍻

User

Posted 08 Dec 2016 at 16:04

Hi David,

My Hubby who is also called Dave finished a course of docetaxel on the 9th Sept, 6 x sessions, intravenously (3 weekly gaps). He has also just completed (2nd Nov) 20 x fractions of RT.

He was diagnosed in Feb age 52 with Advanced Metastatic PC. PSA reading 1050, T4 M1 N1 Gleeson score 5 + 4.

He is under the Christie Hospital on the Stampede Trial.

Dave did extremely well through all his treatments and continued to work through them and I don't know how he did it. He is my Hero!

He did suffer with his taste buds and a 'metal' taste in his mouth, the only thing that would help was anything strawberry flavour, that included the flavoured ciders which was quite lucky!. He also used to drink pints of Vimto which also did the trick. We even bought lots and lots of strawberry shower gel !!

His nails did suffer and they became extremely sore, he did contract an infection and had to have antibiotics, this seemed to help a little. He still suffers from a problem with his nails now but they are healing slowly.

Nose bleeds were also a side effect and he did have 2 or 3. These were frightening but apparently quite 'normal'.

Tiredness was a big issue and also aching limbs, but the aching limbs bit gradually improved.

Good luck everyone, it will be over before you know it.

Remember PMA ( positive mental attitude).

User

Posted 08 Dec 2016 at 19:26

Infusion 2 Day 3

This is going to be rather graphic so please don't read on if you'd rather not think about bowel habits. I'm explaining what's happening to me in order to try to help others who have similar problems.

I beginning to hate Ondansetron with a passion. The Dynorod (2 x Dulcolax) hasn't worked. It did for the first infusion, see above. I'm someone who has always been very regular with bowel habits. Constipation has rarely been a problem. I admit to some paranoia regarding constipation. So I went to my GP this morning and am now on 2 x Fybogel and 2 x Laxido in the morning and 2 x Fybogel, 2 x Laxido and 1 x Dulcolax in the evening. Hopefully this will work.

I am still determined to find a preventative measure to stop this occurring with each infusion and I hope to report the measures that work in the not too distant future.

User

Posted 08 Dec 2016 at 22:03

Just caught up with this coIU,
Although it will probably not be part of our journey I just wanted to say what a great job you are doing in .
A documenting your journey
B giving an honest recital
C doing it with humour.
Keep going and love your style.
BFN
Julie X

NEVER LAUGH AT A LIVE DRAGON

User

Posted 09 Dec 2016 at 12:18

Infusion 2 Day 4

Well that's a weight off me mind. http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif

Anyway 'nuff said about bowels for now, beer is much more interesting than bowel.

User

Posted 09 Dec 2016 at 16:36

Now the important business. Today's beer. And the winner is:

McEwan's Champion, 4 for £6 from Mr Tesco.

I can hear the real ale drinkers amongst you now. "Quelle surprise! What are you thinking of David? McEwan's? The Scottish brewer who brought us McEwan's Export in the 60's and 70's that along with Watney's Red Barrel and Ind Coope Double Diamond controlled the so called keg ale market for so long with their fizzy, ersatz, rubbish? Have you taken leave of your senses man?"

Well no, it hurts me to say it but McEwan's have come up with a rather good bottled ale. Jet black in colour, lovely roasted malts that impart a flavour of liquorice with a long finish. This ale is made for christmas pudding with brandy butter. It packs in 7.3% alcohol so this is a one bottle ale otherwise you may find you weave a rather wibbly wobbly course when you proceed from A to B.

So well done McEwan's. There is a place in heaven for brewers seeking redemption.

User

Posted 12 Dec 2016 at 15:46

Infusion 2 Day 7

Back to the B word that isn't B for Beer.

I've had a chat with the Chemo nurse at the Royal Devon and Exeter about preventative measures regarding Ondansetron. There is no magic bullet, however, I don't give up easily. Here's what I'm going to try prior to Infusion 3:

1. Two days prior to the Infusion make sure I'm taking onboard plenty of water so I am as well hydrated as possible.

2. The night before the Infusion take 1 Ducolax so that my bowel is well purged come the Infusion.

3. For the day of the Infusion and the two following days, cut out all meat from my diet but supplement with other protein such as eggs and fish and eat an absolute shedload of fruit and vegetables. My logic is that these foods are more easily passed through the system.

I will report back whether or not it works although you probably won't need to check the forum because you'll easily hear my cry of YEEEEESSSSSS if it does work.

Edited by member 13 Dec 2016 at 17:44 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 13 Dec 2016 at 12:15

Hi ColU, I had my 3rd infusion last week at the Ricky Grant Day Unit, Torbay last week so I am about 3 weeks ahead of you. I had bad constipation after the first infusion but they gave me Laxido and I found that if I take one morning and one evening two days before the infusion and continue for 2 days after it has worked very well this time.

I had awful muscle and joint aches after the first time but since sorting the 'Dynorod' and also getting an exercise bike to have some 'adjustable' exercise it has been a lot better although I have been a bit more tired after each infusion.

It has been interesting reading your Blog as many others have said. I have been surprised how much my taste has been affected and keep looking online for ideas for what to drink and eat as most things taste horrible! Even real ale!

I have been accepted on the latest Arm of the STAMPEDE trial and so am taking Metformin twice a day- it reduces the blood sugar (it is a Diabetes drug). I am not supposed to drink any alcohol while taking it (I might try a half of real ale at Christmas!)

Anyway keep up the good work on your Blog.

Hope all goes well, Gromit.

User

Posted 13 Dec 2016 at 12:23

Hi, Gromit here again. I had missed your note about Ondaneston- I was given 8mg to take for 2 days after the first 2 infusions but this time they have not given me any and I have had not ill effects. They said the Prednisolone should sort out any nausea.

Cheers, Gromit.

User

Posted 13 Dec 2016 at 15:11

Hi Gromit,

I see you are in Teignmouth, I'm in Budleigh Salterton, we can wave at each other over Lyme Bay. http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-smile.gif

Give sucking the ice cubes and frozen pineapple cubes during the infusion a try. I can't prove that they stop me getting the metallic taste, maybe I wouldn't get it if I didn't use them but I'm not taking the risk of finding out.

Thanks for the tips re Laxido. If what I'm proposing to do prior to Infusion 3 doesn't work then I will follow your formula prior to Infusion 4.

I'll be interested to see if they give me Ondansetron for Infusion 3. I'm going to print out what you've said and show them it if they do. I will say "Ooooiii, if this works for Gromit, might it work for me?".

Re Metformin and no beer, Good God, I'll know I've died and gone straight to Hell if they ever put me on that.

Edited by member 13 Dec 2016 at 15:15 | Reason: Not specified

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Docetaxel Chemo – the highs and the lows

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