Docetaxel sessions

[joancarles]

Today I had a visit with my doctor oncolo to schedule the first session of chemotherapy.

He told me that the treatment lasts about 6 months.

But I have not asked how many sessions. How many sessions do you calculate?

[Shooter1]

Normal is 6 cycles. One every 3 weeks. I had 9 but had to have flexible onc. to stretch beyond normal 6.

[joancarles in reply to Shooter1]

Thank you

[Lombardi24]

I think its six

[Lombardi24]

I just started. I have my second one tomorrow. Beard hair has started to fall out. 😑

[joancarles in reply to Lombardi24]

It is affecting you a lot physically?

[Lombardi24 in reply to joancarles]

No. Slight nausea the day after but that's it. Nothing major.

[MarkBC in reply to Lombardi24]

When my hair started falling out after the second session, I shaved my head. I couldn't stand having hair fall on my dinner plate. Good luck. I didn't find the experience to be as bad as I expected.

[Shooter1]

I lost all hair. Head, beard, ears, nose, eye brouse and lashes, under arms, groin, you name it, all fell out. Some has come back..

[joancarles in reply to Shooter1]

Physically you had many side effects?

[Shooter1 in reply to joancarles]

Yes, but adding Xtandi after rise in PSA between sessions 4 and 5 may be the cause for their severity. 4 mo. after chemo. Xtandi was about to kill me. Total invalid with 160mg dose. Cut dose mult. times and ended up with 86 mg. average dose to reach "livable level " for QOL.

[MarkBC in reply to Shooter1]

A friend told me that she had difficulty when the hair inside her ear started growing again. It was very itchy inside. I didn't experience that.

[Shooter1 in reply to MarkBC]

Nor have I, but mine hasn't grown back. 14 mo. out of chemo. but still on Xtandi.

[strummer]

hubs just finished 6 rounds, minimal side effects, mainly fatigue. slight hair loss. may want to ice hands and feet- could help prevent neuropathy. also take Claritin and Zyrtec few days before and after. also on firmagon and zometa. good luck

[GAdrummer]

Three week cycle x 6 months = 8 cycles

[paulparry]

It can depend in Gleason grade. I had 10 sessions first time and 6 2nd time.

Tiredness was main problem for me. Hair loss goes with the territory.

Plenty of fluids needed and if your tired then sleep.

[RalphieJr64]

It’s six infusions and it sucks! Best of luck.

[Bedrich]

I started to be 6, that's standard. My oncologist has just added 2. Now I'm on Jevtana.

[Bebby1]

My husband was scheduled for 6 at three week intervals

[Zetabow]

Have my 5th session next week, feel like I handled it pretty well, first time I ended up in ER as had a temp and my blood counts were so low but it just one night. I had a LOT of pain in legs and this Chemo seems to have really helped with that. My PSA was 1386 in Nov and now down to 0.4, so it's worked out really well for me.

[Harry-B]

Normal is 6 infusions. One every 3 weeks. So 5 months in all. All the best. Harry

[joancarles]

Thank you very much for the information. A hug to all and good luck

[whatsinaname]

If your onco actually means 6 months or 180 days, then it should be 9 cycles of chemo from day one to day 180.

Because, every cycle is held after a gap of 21 days.

Lets hope your treatment brings you some relief.

[Survivor1965]

Usually 6 sessions, 3 weeks apart. That’s what mine was also

[TNCanuck]

I previously posted an extensive article on avoiding and managing side effects. If you search "chemo side effects" it should show up.

Prayers for you!

[Tya19 in reply to TNCanuck]

YES!! I printed your re-post off for my dad the night before he had his first Docetaxel infusion. He had his hands and feet in ice during, also eating ice chips throughout~ has no metallic taste, and hands/feet are so far great! Can't thank you enough for re-posting TN, that's full of great info Best of luck to you joancarles, BIG hugs and prayers!

[paulcross4]

Just did second cycle a week ago after 2 1/2 years of Surgery, Radiation, Zytiga, Xtandi, Lupron and Xgeva with a couple of trials thrown in for good measure. I can tell you from both a symptom relief and data point of view, the Docetaxel/Capboplatin combination I'm on has worked better than anything else and the side effects are very manageable. WAY better than Xtandi which was causing me all sort of issues

[paulcross4]

Oh I'm expecting 6-8 sessions, 1 every 3 weeks

[monte1111]

I started with 6 cycles, then 2 were added for total of 8. I think last 2 were added because I was responding well, and because I was handling side effects well (age 67 then). It is not a hop, skip, jump in the park, maybe just a nice stroll. 8 cycles is 24 weeks. So about 5 and a half months.

[2yearsin]

I did 6 sessions 3 weeks apart. Very tolerable. Would mostly sleep/rest for about 4 days, then back to normal, including work. No hair loss, etc. Keep your fingers in ice water during the ivy,it well help a lot to prevent nerve damage.

Went on Xtandi afterwards, had to stop, the exhaustion was completely debilitating.

Stay strong! Attitude is out biggest weapon against this beast!!

[j-o-h-n]

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 04/04/2019 8:04 PM EDT

[Molman]

Normally you get chemo every 3 weeks, though I got them weekly because of blood issues. 3months translates into 12 weeks, so I would say four or 5 session. Good luck