How much does chemo damage muscles, including the heart?

[mikell]

I've been through 4 Docetaxel chemo infusions and find my back muscles getting just sorer and sorer. Supposedly over 70% of docetaxel chemo users found more muscle pain. I'm wondering if the effect is accumulative and if it is temporary.

[Vangogh1961]

I road and mountain bike still during my treatments and exercise bike daily with some free weights. Not a lot, since I still am working and can't wipe myself out, but force myself even the week right after a treatment. The rides are shorter, but my MO says the fatigue is temporary and should go away after completion. I find my back pain comes when I'm not forcing myself to move and sit too much, but everyone's different.

[mikell in reply to Vangogh1961]

I was diagnosed in mid 2016 and had been playing power volleyball up until then. Because of bone mets and radiation treatment to them (first cervical and then thoracic) I quit VB, afraid that the dangers of bone fracture were too great in VB (like landing after spiking a ball or diving for digs). Now, after five years of ADT, and three fractured veterbrae, I'm trying to finish chemo and hoping I can still get my collapsed thoracic vertebra fused or something after chemo, but Docetaxel has been hellish. Can't seem to keep hydrated and blood pressure is constantly low along with Arrhythmia (seemingly from thoracic radiation treatment). And, while my PSA dropped dramatically from 600 at chemo begin to around 90 now, it may be leveling off at chemo treatment 4. My last PET scan still showed major light up in my prostate and prostate bed. I never have been able to understand why I have never been able to get any doctor to want to give me SBRT. My best guess is that "they" want to keep their dozens of Lineac type radiation machines working to pay for themselves. Why hospitals like NWM even advertise Cyberknife machines I'll never know because they won't seem to get me under one. And if I had such for my Thoracic met I prefer to think I might not have Arrhythmia today. Sorry for the long rambling statement. I much wish I had made many different choices. I keep hoping I'll survive my chemo and get help for my spine where I might be able to walk again without pain and perhaps run again. BTW, I'm 76 now and lost most of my muscle.

[Vangogh1961 in reply to mikell]

I'm a novice at this, but it seems radiation would be good. My urologist pushed radiation, but I felt it was then wanted to keep it in the practice. When I went to MD Anderson radiation onc, he said chemo first and saw a MO a week later. Now I'm schedule two weeks after my last chemo for MRI and anticipated radiation to what's left. I realize treatments have changed through the years, but seems radiation would benefit. Strong wishes for the treatment that helps.

[jfoesq]

What's power volleyball?

[mikell in reply to jfoesq]

Not "recreational". We play by all the rules. No throwing the ball. And "power" generally refers to hard driven spikes, like 80mph. I caught one of those in my forehead once and instant headache. Diving on the the floor (or sand if lucky) to dig a ball. While not exactly at my prime, I was still spiking and blocking over an 8' net at 71.

[jfoesq in reply to mikell]

I am impressed that you play at this level at your age. But- I always referred to what you described as "volleyball", not "power volleyball". I thought there might be a new form of volleyball I never heard of. Regardless, keep it up (both literally and figuratively).

[mikell in reply to jfoesq]

Power volleyball is a term most often heard among older recreational players, to differentiate hard hitting and blocking over the net from the recreational style of VB, catching and throwing the ball, that most older adult players do. However, my VB days ended when I was almost 72, newly started on ADT and warned about bone fractures. I wish I hadn't listened now (to much of what my Oncs told me). 5 years on ADT is simply too much, particularly coupled with radiation treatment to the spine and then Xofigo. End result for me is multiple collapsed vertebrae with the added benefit of non-union fractures during chemo. Today my spine is a mess and I am considering pausing my current Jevtana chemo depending on what my visit with a new spine doctor may offer as a treatment option.

[jfoesq in reply to mikell]

I am sorry to hear that. I wish you all the best.

[MarkBC]

Docetaxel is rough on the body in many ways. Each infusion is more difficult than the last for issues of fatigue, neuropathy, muscles, etc. Once I finished the six chemo treatments, my body recovered fairly quickly except for the ADT injections which continue to this day. The side effects from those remain obviously. I have no effects that are chemo specific except for some hair that never grew back. I found chemo to be very beneficial. It really knocked my cancer back. Good luck with the rest of your treatment.

[mikell in reply to MarkBC]

Now I don't know if my chemo is working or not. While my PSA went on a huge negative slope for the first 3 infusions, from 600 to 90, it looked like it was leveling off and now, 2 weeks after the last infusion, has risen to 125 again. My WBC has also dropped substantially, to 1.5 and my RBC Morphology now shows as Present instead of Normal.