Halfway Through Docetaxel

[tom67inMA]

Hi All, thought I'd give a random update on my progress now that I'm in the third week of my third cycle of Docetaxel. So far I'm tolerating the chemo quite well. After the usual storm of side effects in the first week of a cycle, pretty much all I'm dealing with is thinning hair (but still have quite a bit), sore nails, pain flares, and a bit of fatigue.

Some context is needed for the pain and fatigue: Most of the pain is in my lower back and right hip region, and at yesterdays followup the nurse practitioner suggested it might be coming from my sacroiliac joint. This seems to be a better fit than "bone pain", as once I get moving things usually loosen up and the pain goes away for a while. Of course, the joint could be inflamed from the cancer in the surrounding bone. Also, getting fresh shots of Lupron and Xgeva last week made the pain quite noticeably worse.

But I'm not being especially kind to my joint either. I've been out shoveling snow, walking or running (very slowly) many days, and also carrying loads of firewood into the house. Oh, and also I got out my 8 lb maul on Monday and split some firewood too. I hate lifting weights at the gym, so I try to do a number of "chores" that help maintain upper body strength. So it ends up that my pain levels are pretty constant over time, but I'm more and more active as my anemic blood counts allow.

As far as response to treatment, my PSA had already dropped precipitously prior to chemo, so it's difficult to say if the continued drop is from ADT or chemo. Suffice to say it was last seen at 0.07. Alk Phos continues to drop as well (see chart), and I will give the chemo some credit for that.

So pretty much all good news on the prostate cancer front. Tomorrow is my 3 month follow-up cystoscopy to see if the bladder cancer has come back. I'm hoping that's all clear, because it would seriously suck to have another TURBT procedure right now.

[NPfisherman]

Hey Tom....

Sounds good....the "have pain in morning and gets better after I get moving" is a classic osteoarthritis/-degenerative joint disease symptom--various options to try on that like lidocaine patches, biofreeze, or bengay, without looking at any pill options...The alk phos is way down--chemo working on the bone mets good...keep moving....exercise is great for endorphins... Keep fighting !!!

All the best,

Fish

[grahaminator63]

Great report. Keep on fighting brother!

[monte1111]

Googled TURBT procedure. I totally agree, that would seriously suck. Seems like you are doing awesome. Took me almost 2 years to get alk phos from a little over 200 to 63. (first number I check on monthly blood lab) My psa is stuck at 0.2 (not complaining) Your graph is the same software that Kaiser uses. You are doing great. Wish you didn't have to deal with this at such a young age. Good luck.

[tom67inMA in reply to monte1111]

Good news, nothing found with the cystoscope, no TURBT at this time!

[Jost-58]

I am very tired second day after 2 rond of chemo. Is this a common side effect?

[tom67inMA in reply to Jost-58]

I've certainly found my energy level varies during the cycle. I get tired and side effects a few days after the infusion that lasts for a few days, and then another wave of fatigue and malaise hits later on. The theory is the second wave is caused by the immune system coming back online after being suppressed.

Exercise as much as you can, it definitely helps!

[j-o-h-n]

Keep up the good work. Do you have a MO treating you? Before I forget, can I borrow your splitting maul? My ex-wife once asked me to demonstrate using it.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 01/31/2019 6:32 PM EST

[tom67inMA in reply to j-o-h-n]

Yes, I'm working with an MO and a urologist. No problem borrowing the maul, just clean off any blood please

Love your sense of humor!

[j-o-h-n]

Blood? That bitch has ice water in her veins....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 01/31/2019 7:28 PM EST

[Zee5]

Hey Tom,

I did 6 rounds of Docetaxel back in 2016 and tolerated it quite well. If I remember, the first 9 days after each "juicing" (infusion) were not too fun - tired, drowsy, and dizzy. However, on the 10th day I felt great! The one thing they did during each infusion was put on these special ice cold mitts and slippers. This was to "numb" the nerves and minimize the chemo drug reaching your extremities (hands and feet). It didn't seem like an important thing to do at the time until after the 6th juicing when I experienced "nerve pain" in my feet. Currently my feet are about 20% numb and I get shooting nerve pain in them sporadically. They also get colder much quicker than before, in the winter.

Anyways, my point is that if your not using the special ice cold mitts and slippers during the juicings you should ask the docs about it.

Good luck!

Zee5

[tom67inMA in reply to Zee5]

I did ask the MO about that, and he's in the "don't give the cancer a place to hide" camp. My compromise is bare feet and a T-shirt, so I'm a little cool and the body limits circulation. I get a little numbness and my nails are tender, but so far it clears up just before the next cycle.

No cold cap either and still have a fair amount of hair left, but it is thinning.