What kind of chemo to get/take

[rkengen]

I am now on hormonetablets bicalutamide for 3 weeks and just had a zoladex injection. Friday will discuss the chemo the dr wants to give me.

Any suggestions what to ask for?

[Tall_Allen]

I doubt you will have a choice. The only chemo approved for first-line treatment is docetaxel.

[Hidden in reply to Tall_Allen]

Not exactly 100% accurate, my friend. What is true is that the vast majority of Medical Oncologist choose Taxotere in 21 day cycles. I have posted my treatment plane and results here and available through Googke. If you can not find, I'll repost again. Let me know.

Gourd Dancer

[Tall_Allen in reply to Hidden]

The only other approved form of chemo is an older drug called Mitoxantrone, but it had no survival advantage, only pain relief. Docetaxel replaced it. Platins may be used (sometimes in a cocktail with etoposide or other drug) if neuroendocrine cancer is suspected, but that is rare. Jevtana is only approved after docetaxel, not as first-line chemo. If you had any other kind of chemo, you did not receive standard of care, or may have been in a clinical trial.

[Dan59 in reply to Hidden]

Gourd Dancer, Was your treatment on a trial? I beleive Tall Allen is correct on the chemos that are approved for standard of care. I do wish all MOs could prescribe offlabel of the standard of care list like Dr Amoto, who I hear is not taking new patients. If you will notice Tall Allen on his blog and on here Has extremely informed answers. I am going for a bike ride today ,warm in the North. After one javenta down.

Dan

[Hidden]

Docetaxel is the chemo they will recommend.

The main reason is results of two recent trials (CHAARTED and STAMPEDE) showed a survival benefit for early Docetaxel (Taxotere) chemotherapy along with ADT (hormones).

Here's a video from the STAMPEDE trial website about the results:

vimeo.com/149626704

[vandy69]

Good Wednesday Morning rkengen,

I just completed 6 cycles of Docetaxel/Carboplatin chemo, but I had mets in liver as well as lymph nodes (please see bio for complete treatment history).

Just as important as the chemo drugs are the drugs given to moderate side effects.

1. Aloxi given before chemo to control nausea.

2. Neulasta given after chemo as an On Body Injector to boost white blood cells.

3. My Med Onc suggested daily oral 100mg B6 to moderate peripheral neuropathy.

4. I iced my hands and feet for the 1 hour Docetaxel infusion to mitigate peripheral neuropathy. It can be either a temporary or permanent side effect of Docetaxel and you do not want to get it.

5. Buy Biotene products (toothpaste, mouthwash, etc.) as your mouth may become sore and sensitive.

6. I added Wisconsin American ginseng to moderate fatigue. Google Mayo Clinic and ginseng for their trial).

All in all, chemo can be manageable. I had a port implanted which made the sessions easier and spared my veins.

Best wishes. Never Give In.

Mark, Atlanta

[eggraj8]

I have been on Docetaxel and Carboplatin plus prednisone for over a year. I completed my 19th infusion yesterday. I am also on ADT shots. Based on bone and CT scans it seems to work. PSA and other blood markers also look good. Best wishes

[JoelT]

Based on your presentation I am assuming that you are newly diagnosed with aggressive cancer. If this is the case you do have a choice, either chemotherapy (with docetaxel aka Taxotere) or Zytiga (abiraterone) which is a hormone therapy.

Joel

[Hidden]

Not exactly accurate, ny friend. My chemo plan is posted here as well as Google. If you can not find, I will repeat. What is true is that the vast majority of Medical Oncologist choose Taxotere in 21 day cycles.

Gourd Dancer

[Dan59]

Rkengen, I think you are asking what to do when doing docetaxol, Vandy69 has a great list of things to mitigate side effects of docetaxol, that you should talk to the Dr. about. As far as the ice , I brought my own in a rolling cooler,and kept fingers and feet iced to prevent the fingernail prob and to prevent nueropathy , I sucked on ice cubes to prevent taste change. I would also ask MO about your possible need for white blood cell booster nuelasta, which can prevent nutrapenia. It is also important to have someone watch you close for analergic reaction, if it happens it is usually within first 10 minutes of docetaxol infusion, face gets red and breathing is different, I had this , only 2 percent have a allergic reaction so it is rare, we just stopped chemo drip , did benedryl , and continued an hour later. Overall I will say that chemo was not bad for me, I had worried about it for years, and when I got it, it was a non event. I wish you the best, keep us posted.

Dan

[j-o-h-n]

Whatever treatment you receive, I hope it works...

Good Luck and Good Health.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 02/28/2018 6:47 PM EST