We finally made the choice to first try Chemo (Docetaxel) over Zytiga. The first cycle begins the day after.
Some important points I have gathered via the forum are:
1) To ice the hands and feet, have ice chips if possible
2) Take Claritin on the day of Chemo and a few days after? (for Neulasta pains)
3) Keep a check for fever above 100.
Please do let me know if there is anything more I need to be prepared with. Should we fast or have a healthy meal?
Thank you 
Hi, in my case, fasting for 2 days prior to chemos, spared me the bulk of side effects. Just hair loss, and it took 15 Taxotere sessions before I had neuropathy. I sipped black coffee, diet green tea and homemade tomato/curry/veggie broth
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I still do IF(Intermittent fasting) for 16 hrs each day and start a meal at 1pm and go to 9pm.
My best to you on your journey. Fight on
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Randy
Just finished my 2nd of 6 cycles of docetaxel. Beside the above that you have indicated, I did not fast but have very light meal before infusion. Be prepared to drink a lot fluids. One suggestion that I have is that try to do some light exercise as best as possible after the infusion and do more when your body allows. Don't be tempted to 'couch potato' and just lie in bed. Chemo has different impact on everyone. Approach it with a positive expectation of good. Do keep a small note book to record how you feel everyday. God bless
Thanks a lot!!
Is water okay? Or should we include electrolytes or other juices ?
And yes minimal walking atleast is mandatory I believe.
In just drink a lot of water in the first few days to flush out the chemo chemical. I avoided juices as I had some diarrhea. Good luck . God bless
Pack your hands and feet in ice starting 1 hour before chemo and 1 hour after. You’ll get hypothermic so take an electric blanket. I wear a migraine cool cap to cool my scalp for prevention of hair loss. Used a Penguin Cold Cap once but got freezer burns on my scalp so avoid.
Thanks, followed the icing on hands and feet and some ice for the mouth. All this was already a lot to do, so we skipped cooling the head.
We iced hands and feet and got an electric blanket because of your post. My husband says thank you for putting the info out there as it made the last treatment more bearable.
After the first chemo treatment the dr recommended that my husband come in for a saline drip 4 or 5 days after the treatment . My husband says that it helps markedly with pains. He has exercised throughout just a few days off when he felt really tired. He did have problems with dehydration the first time and passed out on the 4th day. The saline has helped prevent a recurrence of that as well.
My biggest problems with the first round were
1. Explosive growth of the cancer because my immune system was halted.
2. It kills the gut biome, so take a laxative to keep the gut moving. I allowed mine to turn into concrete, and I had bleeding as well.
3. Thrush. Do not use a "commercial" cure, as this just kills the last of the "good guys" you have in your mouth. Dissolve a Vit C tablet in a little water and sip that - it kills the thrush without side effects. Adding brandy is optional.
4. Some infection or other had my temperature going from normal to 106 in about 2 hours. I got to hospital just in time. If this happens to you, head for help early as things happen very quickly. Seeing double means you have not much time left.
5. I became an instant diabetic. It took 18 months for my blood sugar to return to normal.
6. My blood pressure and heart beat went all over the place - many times well into stroke territory over the next 12 months.
Mistakes looking back:
1. I should have demanded a 1/10th dose to see what happens. I was one of those who was not going to benefit, but no tests were done first.
2. I should have combined a reduced dose and Sodium Ascorbate drip at the same time, to enhance whatever killing effect there was going, and reduce side effects. Onco's freak at the thought, but Vit C has no Drug Interactions with Docetaxel - it enhances it so less can be used (this news is spreading very slowly).
3. I should have bailed out after the first round, but carried on for another 3 rounds after more bad advice. After Round 4 I was unable to walk and the cancer was running away (a Vit C and Xtandi combo saved my life - in 2 weeks I was OK again).
Sorry to be so blunt, but I think you wanted real info. I have not posted the above to make you change your mind, but these life and death decisions are forced on us "Hurry - Hurry" before we have had a chance to even begin doing our homework about what we are getting ourselves into. Docetaxel does work for many - but it seems the "state of the art" cannot determine in advance (after 22 years of use!) who will and will not survive (50% do survive for 20 months - a big warning sign other options may be better).
Good luck on your new journey!
Hi David,
Thanks for you detailed response.
I agree that no one including the MO is certain of how well Docetaxel can work for a specific patient. However chemo is still suggested as the first option post ADT by many. Although Zytiga did seem to have equal or better results in the trails.
I hope to be vigilant and keep a check on how chemo is working on the overall quality of life as well as on the cancer.
I’m glad Xtandi has been proved to be more useful over chemo to you. As long as we have something that’s working.
Cheers.!!!
I guess you do not scare easily! Cheers!
Going on my 4th of 6 cycles this week. Get sore mouth inner cheeks a few days after infusion. I gargle with himalayan salt and baking soda, works great.
And my taste buds pretty much go on strike, so it's blueberry smoothies all day, which is wonderful!
Also helps to layoff the Martinis for a bit...
Have you used ice chips during infusion? We tried a bit on and off mostly off.
And thanks for the suggestion, we are now using salt + baking soda as a precautionary measure for mouth ulcers etc.
Make sure to stay hydrated. Nausea seems to happen if one becomes dehydrated.
My husband completed number 3 Friday and is doing well. You will get through it and it will be helpful. Light energy and healing to you on this journey.
Thanks a lot. I’m glad your husband is taking it well so far. Good wishes to your family in the upcoming treatments.
Cheer, everybody is different depending on co-morbidity, body strength, and degree of tumor burden. I did chemotherapy fifteen years ago so there may be techniques today than there was then. I came through fine considering my treatment protocols.
A clinical trial fir 180 days - nine infusions of Taxotere and nine 24 hour infusions of Adrimyacin alternated each week. I did not special except no milk products and no supplements. Blood draw before every infusion. Occasionally ice chips to suck on. Always a cookie and orange juice afterwards. The person most experienced in treating any side effects that you may encounter..... the experienced Oncology RN. Listen to her/him. Listen to your Medical Oncologist. I never wore an ice cap nor soaked my fingers in ice water. I lived on Zofran for nausea and took heart that each infusion was killing the little bastards.
Chemo was infused through a port. I drove myself, roughly 70 miles round trip. I did not work the day after. And for the next two days, just four hours. I let my body recover. I drank water. At least eight glasses each day. Food tasted metallic, but I ate it anyway as you need the strength from good nutrition. If you don’t get good nutrition, your blood counts will get out of whack. When the numbers are too low, no chemo for that day. I never experienced this, but watched others not able to have an infusion.
Good luck and stay positive. Don’t fret nor worry.
Gourd Dancer
Try to exercise the best you can. I took brisk walks even when I felt pretty crappy. It usually helped me to feel a little better and the increased blood flow helps the chemo do it’s job better. That was the thought I kept in mind while grinding out a vigorous walk.
Ed
Keep anti nausea meds close, eat whatever you can stand to eat, lots of naps,and lots of water to flush out the toxins
Thanks Larry
Chemo is not that bad, they give you anti nausea stuff and pills just in case, they only side effect is being a little more tired and dry nails but went away in months following sessions. I continued to work part time, drank lots of water, stayed away from fried foods and ate lots of protein. It was worth it, still on ADT for the rest of my life, some have been doing this for 10 or over 25 years so go for it and stop the beast. Good luck and press on.
Thanks a lot. We are on day 3 now, and so far it’s good.
Can you tell me what food you’ve included for max protein?
Ice cream?
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n Tuesday 09/17/2019 8:21 PM DST
I have COPD and chemo made it very hard to breath. Ended up in the hospital after the first infusion with pneumonia. Next infusion, wasn't as bad, but still had days I had to stay on oxygen. #3 I was about done with doing this to my body. #4 ended back up in the hospital and then got a rash all over that turned my skin into a pin cushion. Dr. decided that was it for me, which was good, because I was going to stop. Taste buds haven't come back yet, hair is starting to. Still feel yucky ... but not as bad as I did on the chemo. #4 was back on July 24th. fyi .... PSA did go down on chemo, but it is rising now 
Hi Cheerr,
Here are my suggestions after 13 chemo infusions with Docetaxel/Carboplatin combo:
1. Begin each infusion with Aloxi infusion to eliminate nausea.
2. Med Onc recommends oral 100mg of B6 daily to mitigate peripheral neuropathy.
3. Take Dexamethasone day before, day of, and day after chemo to mitigate SEs.
4. Take Claritin day before infusions and for next 6 days to moderate bone pain from Neulasta.
5. Left each infusion with On Body Injector of Neulasta to build white blood cells.
6. Use Biotene products for mouth care.
Best Wishes. Never Give In.
Mark, Atlanta
Hi Mark,
MO asked to take Dexomethasone twice daily day after chemo.
Claritin was not mentioned. Can both of these tablets be taken together? If yes, at what time did you take Claritin daily ?
Hi Cheerr,
I took Dexamethasone twice daily for the 3 days beginning day before chemo.
Took Claritin for the 7 days beginning day before chemo.
As you can tell from this, I took them together for the overlapping days with no SEs.
Dexamethasone made me feel wonderful for those 3 days!
Took Claritin in mornings.
Best Wishes. Never Give In.
Mark, Atlanta
Sending positive thoughts to your husband!
Stay well hydrated the day before, day of and day after to help "push" the chemo back out of his body. It was suggested to eat a high protein diet so my husband drank Premier Protein shakes, we ate a lot of spinach during it all as well. Another tip I like to share is he didn't want to do Neulesta so when his WBC dropped, we did some research and he asked the MO to reduce the dosage of taxotere. His first treatement was 100%, his second treatment was 20% reducion and his third - sixth was at 10% reduction. He never missed work and he continued (and still does) playing guitar in a local cover band. His PSA has been undetectable since starting Zytiga (6 months after the chemo) for 2.5 years.
I ate 2 eggs a day, used baked chicken and turkey, I stayed away from any fried meats, did eat it once and had to take a nausea pill. Never used them again, I also did not eat any red meat like beef and pork and ham. Sometimes I had 3 eggs a day about 4 times a week during chemo. Had alot of fruit and vegtables, oatmeal in the morning with honey and agave for sweetness, cut back on sugar. I also sprinkled a tablespoon or so of ground flaxseed that i got at aldis and cinamon on the oatmeal for the side effect of constipation, I also did no alcohol. Lost my body hair and some head hair but it took 6 most to get it back. I also took 2000 mg of tumeric with black pepper supplement with Curcumin , there is some scientific proof it helps fight cancer so hit with all you have. Good luck and keep me posted on his success, God bless. One last thing, make sure he drinks plenty of water, juice totaling the 64 oz a day, very important to do, I used bottled water, 4 16 oz a day. It was easy to keep track of that way.
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