Chemo treatment of Docetaxel, how to mitigate side effects

[kmack57]

I just had some mets in my neck radiated, started ADT and in a couple of weeks will start a 6 cycle treatment of Docetaxel every 3 weeks. I am looking for advise and tips to minimize the side effects. I've seen exercise, fasting, cooling the toes and fingers, sucking ice chips and something about claritin. All info is appreciated!

Thanks

[BillNIttles]

Ok, Claritin the night before helps mitigate effects from neulasta, if you get it. It can be very painful. I could only handle it 3 times out of 9. Icing your feet and hands helps prevent neuropathy. I don't know about sucking ice chips. Exercise is always good for everything. It definitely helped me to keep moving. I didn't fast, but heard it helps. Personally, I really appreciated painkillers and/or muscle relaxants like cyclobenzeprine for my worst nights, 3,4&5. They made the following days much better. Eat. I accidentally discovered eating salt first before food or coffee made them more palatable. Chemo totally screws with your taste buds. I'll let you know if I remember anything else.

Good luck. Chemo sucks, but you'll get through 6 cycles quickly.

Take care

Bill

[Dan59]

They will probally give a bag of aloxi for nausea, claratin is for bone pain if you get Nuelasta, do it day before day of and day after with an aleve. It is good to have someone with that can drive, and that will watch you close during forst 15 minutes of chemo drip, for unlikely (2%) alergic reaction, it did happen to me. You should have a mild laxative and immodium at home as needed. For me docetaxol was not as bad as I had feared, I wish you the best.

[larry_dammit]

Good luck , the Neulasta shot was worse than the chemo. Kicked my butt. Sleep was the only thing I did . Taste buds burned out. Learned that potato and gravy were what I lived on. And pink lemonade. It does get better after the 3rd or 4th treatment. Ask you nurse about what she recommends. I can’t remember what it was they recommend. Chemo brain. That to gets better with time. Fight the good Fight

[vandy69]

Good Wednesday Morning kmack57,

Good recommendations about icing hands and feet to mitigate peripheral neuropathy. Med Onc also said to take 100mg B6 orally daily for same purpose.

I was given Dexamethasone day before, day of, and day after to moderate side effects.

As for On Body Injector of Neulasta to boost white blood cells, Med Onc said to take Claritin day before chemo and continue for 6 days to moderate bone pain.

Use Biotene products for mouth care.

I took Wisconsin American ginseng for chemo fatigue--Google Mayo Clinic for their trial results.

Fatigue is cumulative. My chemo was on a Tuesday and I was fine that day and day after because of Dexamethasone. By Thursday I was slowing down, and stayed in PJs on Friday. Ok after a few days, but by cycle 6, it took a week or so to shake off fatigue.

All in all, not too bad, and it worked for me! Combo of Docetaxel/Carboplatin dropped PSA from 10.8 to .4 and liver lesions smaller and less defined.

Best wishes. Never Give In.

Mark, Atlanta

[cbgjr in reply to vandy69]

my experience has been very similar. except that before the chemo infusion, i have been given some 'pre-meds' by IV. they prevent bad reactions and consist of benadryl and anti nausea meds. after the chemo infusion, i drive myself home and have a normal day. but after the dexa wears out though, feeling tired and crappy takes over for about a week.

[Ian2017]

I took nothing before or after each infusion. Try and eat a high fruit, high vegetable, high fibre diet, drink lots of water. The fatigue can be overwhelming but just sleep when you need to. No point trying to counter it, it will go away quite quickly.