Hepatotoxicity and Docetaxel

[Jac_J]

Dear Community

I have evidence of reduced liver function while undergoing Docetaxel Chemotherapy. I have had my third cycle 8 days ago. Side effects from the chemo are inconsequential except for hepatotoxicity (which causes increased fatigue).

Blood test results the day before chemo 3 :

Liver,

ALT is 150 (recommended 5- 40)

AST 62 ( recommended 10 - 40)

LDH 297 (recommended 120 - 250)

bilirubin ok

Docetaxel was reduced 10% on chemo 3 to reduce impact on liver.

The trend is up on every chemo infusion.

My questions:

1. If the hepatotoxicity increased significantly before the next infusion do you believe it would be safe to continue?

2. If I did continue, how long would you believe the liver would take to recover?

Personal experience appreciated.

I believe my oncologist would proceed and potentially reduce the dosage further.

My wish would be to proceed if the increase is not too great and make the 4th infusion my final for the time being.

[HerbieP]

I didn't have that happen with my docetaxel course, but did with it's cousin cabazitaxel which I'm on right now. When we saw the liver numbers rising, I realized I had also just started taking ibuprofen because of the headaches it was giving me. I quit the ibuprofen, significantly cut back on my beer intake and only light beer socially (ugh), and increased my veggie and fruit intake to at least 5 helpings a day. I also added red meat back to my diet three times a week. Which of these helped my liver numbers improve? I dunno, but I thought I'd share my experience.

[Jac_J in reply to HerbieP]

Thanks.

Did your ALT and AST readings go above ULN?

I appreciate your dietary recommendations.

I haven't had a drink for 10 months. Im 95% vegetarian for many years but eat a lot of fish and protein supplements. Vegies and fruit all day every day.

Hope your treatment is going as well as can be expected.

[Hidden]

According to the prescribing label for Docetaxel, AST or ALT should not be greater than 1.5 X ULN (40).

accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatf...

I imagine they'd be OK with an AST of just over that, but with the ALT more than 3X ULN, it's not safe according to the prescribing sheet.

When I did chemo, my ALT spiked to over 90 and they wouldn't let me continue until it went down. Once it got down into the 70s, they let me go ahead with the next infusion.

Hopefully the lower dose gets it down.

[Jac_J in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the link. Extremely useful information to show oncologist.

[j-o-h-n in reply to Jac_J]

Greetings underscore underscore.So Mate,

Please tell us your bio. Age? Location? When diagnosed? Treatment(s)? Treatment center(s)? Scores Psa/Gleason? Medications? Doctor's name(s)?

All info is voluntary, but it helps us help you and helps us too. When you respond, copy and paste it in your home page for your use and for other members’ reference.

THANK YOU AND KEEP POSTING!!!

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 09/16/2021 9:58 PM DST

[Jac_J in reply to j-o-h-n]

Hi J-o-h-n

My bio has that info, except for Dr and hospital.

Click on my head.

[j-o-h-n]

Thanks.....but sometimes I have problems reading Australian.........

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Saturday 09/18/2021 12:08 PM DST

[Jac_J in reply to j-o-h-n]

It’s Arsestralian mate 😜

[j-o-h-n]

Mate, I just looked up the word Arsestralian and it says that guys who use this word are the type who step out of the shower to take a piss...😜

p.s. actually it's leave not take..........

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Saturday 09/18/2021 10:22 PM DST

[Ausi]

hope things are going well for you, Jack, one year on

[Jac_J in reply to Ausi]

all good mate. How your doing well also

[Ausi in reply to Jac_J]

Pretty good, I was on the trial, 177 LUT J591 and consequently a drop in platelets, white blood cells caused blood clotting which sent me to hospital, 2 weeks (of hell) to get levels back again. But the drug belted the cancer around too. Now after 6 months I had another PSA drop, now 48. And with the catheter out I’m feeling much better about everything.