Failed Chemo 101

[TonyS58]

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I had enrolled in a trial using Docetaxel and Radium 223. Fifteen minutes into the first infusion of Docetaxel, I had a reaction that affected my breathing and dropped my blood pressure and pulse, but cleared after stopping the infusion and then reducing the flow rate.

On the second dose, I had the same reaction only 5 minutes in, even with reduced flow rate and additional Decadron 3 days prior. Needless to say, I washed out of the trial as not tolerating the Docetaxel.

While this is disappointing, I will continue with Xofigo (Radium 223) as soon as it clears insurance.

What is the likelihood that I wiped out the entire class of taxanes by having reactions to Docetaxel? I'm sure that before long, I will need chemo for non-bone tumors, and I'm looking at options.

[Hidden]

That is a crazy reaction Tony.. I’m not the expert here so Others will chime in . Good luck finding a tool to work against the dammed pc .

[NWLiving]

That must have been so scary. Were the infusion nurses on top of it? Or did they seem like they were floundering?

[TonyS58 in reply to NWLiving]

My nurse was with another patient when it happened. I couldnt find the call button and eventually called out the nurses name. In seconds i had 3 nurses there and a minute later, the oncologist was there. My blood pressure was so low, the automatic cuffs were giving errors. They tried three automatic cuffs before a fourth nurse brought in an old school sphygmomanometer. The nurses were awesome. One shut down the IV pump while another kept trying to get my blood pressure. My nurse was preparing additional meds to give me. No complaints about their response... only my response.

[NWLiving in reply to TonyS58]

Oh boy. Glad they were there.

[NWLiving]

So sorry about getting washed out of the trial.

[StayPositive1]

Oh shoot. That happened to me on Docetaxel too. Scary, right? I had to push the button because I was unable to call out. I stopped after the first course, switched to zytiga after that. Best of luck to you.

[TonyS58 in reply to StayPositive1]

I couldn't find the call button, and couldn't breathe. I was positioned in front of the nurse's station and my nurse was with another patient. When I realized that the situation was deteriorating I barked out the nurse's name and had 3 nurses there in seconds and the oncologist a minute later.