Allergic to Docetaxel......other treatment options alongside ADT

[Evans71720]

Apparently too allergic to docetaxel to continue with chemo therapy. Read several good articles about ADT plus abiterone w/ prednisone. Anyone else had too harsh side effects from docetaxel and had to choose a different option?

[tango65]

There is not difference in outcome between docetaxel and abiraterone in your clinical condition. You should discuss to start abiraterone plus prednisone ASAP.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/295...

[Tall_Allen]

Here is a discussion of your options:

pcnrv.blogspot.com/2017/06/...

[AlanMeyer]

I had a friend who almost died after his first docetaxel treatment. Other men do just fine. Most seem to be somewhere in between. Zytiga is an excellent alternative, as tango65's and Tall_Allen's citations show.

[tom67inMA]

How allergic are you? Five minutes into my first round I had a reaction and they had to stop the infusion, put me on oxygen, and inject hydro cortisone. They later resumed the infusion to completion at a lower rate. A week later I developed phlebitis at the injection site.

Round two I had no such problems. Not sure if your reaction was similar to mine, but if it was then there's a chance your body just might not be used to docetaxel yet.

[Evans71720 in reply to tom67inMA]

Besides the usual other minor side effects the reactions with my skin has been the primary concern. I had the extreme red rash on my face that looked similar to a worst case sun burn. But I also developed numerous red itchy dots all over. The MO was concerned that another cycle of docetaxel could effect my respiratory system. I've also read about numerous patients that continued and developed deep erosions similar to staph infection on these "dots" that have popped up all over. My MO has mentioned some other oral administered chemo that may be an option. But I'm thinking my best chances for extended survival are with arbiraterone w steroid.

[tom67inMA in reply to Evans71720]

That does sound scary, and more severe than my experience.

[Stegosaurus37]

I'm not surprised. Checking for allergic reaction is something I think all oncologists should do before starting docetaxel. Docetaxel is a derivative of the yew tree and allergies to yew products are not uncommon. I have a friend who makes English wood longbows. Yew wood is the gold standard for those bows but he can't use that because he is allergic to yew. Fortunately Osage orange wood also makes excellent longbows, so he's a happy camper.

[monte1111 in reply to Stegosaurus37]

You of course know that we all are now wondering if a derivative of the Osage orange wood would be a new treatment for cancer. I really need to trace the history of the yew tree to anti cancer drugs. I've got all kinds of trees in my back yard. Do the drugs always have to come from England or the Amazon. And I guess they are destroying the Amazon -- so there goes the next generation of cancer drugs. What are the odds that my next drugs will be on the $4.00 Walmart list? So many questions, so little time.

[j-o-h-n in reply to monte1111]

Yew can get them ON Amazon.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 01/09/2019 6:07 PM EST

[Bebby1]

Thanks for this

Husband unable to cope with chemo

HospitAlised five times with severe infection

Now will commence enzalutamide

Bony Mets in spine troublesome at intervals

On opiates low dose)

If severe pain again radiotherapy for pain relief

“ spot welding”

All the best

[Evans71720]

Finally cleared insurance to begin abiraterone acetate today.......hopefully the side effects will be minimal. As with most I've read there's mixed some respond and cope well and others have bad experiences. Hope the enzalutamide will work great for you guys