Side effects of docetaxel

[ken12491]

Hello - I just finished my chemo treatment - Dr seemed pleased, got my PSA down to 0.25, Lat infusion was 12/17/19.

My questions:

Despite wearing gloves ( iced ) on feet and hands I have some neuropathy --- think it's getting a bit better - but will it all go away in time?

Have edema in legs, one leg worst then other --- Dr scripted out a water pill for it and said to wear compression socks - both seem to be helping, Will this too pass in time?

Fatigue is still with me - but appears to be lessening as time passes.

Taste buds are getting back as well - this is really good to have a cup of coffee in the AM, but my taste for a glass of white wine has yet to return, sure hope it does...

Has anyone had all similar experiences and when should I expect, if ever to get back to feeling a bit more normal.

I am however very grateful for where I am at this point point in time and am learning to cope with what I have, taking one day at a time and making the most of it..

Still on Xtandi - 4 pills a night..

Thanks for any comments, thoughts, ideas to get better sooner would be welcomed.

Thanks, Ken

[6357axbz]

Did you keep ice chips in your mouth?

[ken12491 in reply to 6357axbz]

no

[Loves2golf in reply to 6357axbz]

What is the reason to keep ice chips in your mouth?

[6357axbz in reply to Loves2golf]

There are those on tis site who did that to avoid loosing their sense of taste and wreck their taste buds during chemo and it worked just fine. The cold constricts blood flow and keeps the chemo away.

[Loves2golf in reply to 6357axbz]

Thank you so much for that tip. It looks like my husband will be starting chemo soon, and I want to do anything I can to help him get through it.

[6357axbz in reply to Loves2golf]

Lots of folks here have also used cold packs on feet and hands to prevent neuropathy, cold caps to prevent hair loss.

[Loves2golf in reply to 6357axbz]

Are they provided for you, or do we have to come prepared?

[6357axbz in reply to Loves2golf]

Don’t know. Probably the latter. Better check ahead

[Pleroma]

You had all the side-effects that I had. Recovery is very much on an individual basis.

I have no more neuropathy after 1 year (no ice used). Pretty much everything has returned to pre-chemo time. All my hair came back thick and strong.

Fatigue can be the result of ADT as well.

Very good results..

[ken12491 in reply to Pleroma]

Thanks and glad to hear for both of us...

[EdBar]

I had chemo back in 2015, developed neuropathy and still have it. It comes and goes but really seems to flare up if I’m doing a lot of walking or standing. I also still experience numbness in my finger tips. Sometimes can’t get a touch screen to work. My MO said that they may always be that way and that sometimes neuropathy persists long after chemo.

On the bright side my hair came back better than ever and I no longer have a bald spot, so ya there’s that, lol.

Ed

[ken12491 in reply to EdBar]

Thanks Ed...

[hbrixn]

Hi,

just finished my 6 infusions of Docetaxel and have no problems except lost some hair.

I did water fast 2 days before and one day after each chemo (starting after the second), but that advice is too late for you. However, the american cannabis doctor Allan Frankel recommends CBD, 30 mg/day, for avoiding neuropathy and for removing existing neuropathy. Look him up on Google and Youtube. All his patients gets CBS and none has had any neuropathy. I followed his CBD advice and I was also spared. Seems to be a very trustworthy guy. Purchased the CBD at realcbd.org/ (I live en EU and they distribute from Spain, so no problems) where they have a water soluble and tasteless version of CBD. Each capsule contains 7 mg and it is stated to be 5 times as bioavailable as oil CBD drops, so with 3 capsules pr. days you should be on the safe side - no side effects what so ever. Have a look on Joe Tippens blog mycancerstory.rocks/#!

Hi is fighting his cancer succsessfully with CBD, Vitamin E, Curcumin and a worming drug for animals, Panacure.

See also Jane McLellands book "How to starve cancer"a

[6357axbz in reply to hbrixn]

Just to clarify, you did not drink water two days before and one after?

[hbrixn in reply to 6357axbz]

No, the opposite: I only drank water - was fasting, no food at all. After 2 days fasting the normal cells switch to burning fat and the fast growing cells (hair, etc.) slows down and get less chemo; the cancer cells cannot do this transformation and get the full chemo. Result: less damage to the normal cells, more chemo and damage to the cancer cells. (I am not a doctor, but this is how I have understood the processes - and for me it did work)

[6357axbz in reply to hbrixn]

Got it, thanks. How difficult was it to fast for two days?

[hbrixn in reply to 6357axbz]

Much easyer than you think.

[6357axbz in reply to hbrixn]

How much water were you drinking on your fasting days?

[hbrixn in reply to 6357axbz]

1,5 to 2,5 liter water, tea or coffee (without cream). The more the better.

[tallguy2]

Definitely use ice chips in your mouth during the chemo infusion.

My sense of taste took a long time to recover. I really like the "Sparkling Ice" zero-calorie flavored drinks. Water tasted terrible. Those drinks helped me stay hydrated.

My hair didn't all come back, but that's OK with me.

Fatigue is cumulative. About 3 days after each infusion is the nadir.

Are you getting the Neulasta on-body injector placed each time? I am convinced this helped me stay well during the chemo. I even took a trip to Ireland and Scotland between #5 and #6. Stayed well the whole way through.

Best wishes!

[docbulldog]

Hello Ken12491, My experience with Xtandi has covered approx 2.5 yrs with PSA at 6.80 07/19/17 and had success with a low point PSA of 0.23 on 03/15/18. Starting May of2018, I also started Provenge treatment. Now my PSA is on the rise, 4.13, 12/2019 and we are considering a new treatment. I have not started a chemo treatment yet so can't comment on what you went through. Hope your taste for a good white wine returns soon. I prefer a good, but not to hoppy , IPA.

[ken12491 in reply to docbulldog]

Thanks and I wish you luck going forward... Some guys seem to almost breeze through, but I was not one of them...