Appointment with Oncologist tomorrow what should we ask about Docetaxel?

[Yorkielover2]

Husband has 6th Xofigo on this Thursday. PSA when started in June was 447.53 July it went down 354.52. We knew PSA was not important during these months but Oct it was 692.39.Oncologist called and thinks it is time to try Chemo. My husband who has wanted to try to maintain quality of life is willing to try! Low dosages have been suggested! I have no idea what to ask . Thinking scans should been done first. Any info is greatly appreciated. (Alk Phos 114)

[meowlicious99]

YorkieLover would you mind adding your case timeline to your profile.

Its a bit challenging and time consuming to recreate your case history from your previous posts. You would prbly get more response here too.

[Yorkielover2 in reply to meowlicious99]

Yes thought that later! Diag 12/2016 Adv stage 4 Lupron & Exgeva started! Almost 2 yrs Xytiga with Predisone added .Turned down two trials his choice. Stayed on same plan till this year PSA rising (never below 40.) June started Xofigo.He worked out of country till Covid and is now still working part time from home! We saw his urologist who did Biopsy 2016 before diagnosised a week ago as husband still up 4/5 time to pee! He told us he was amazed he was still “with us” That’s it in a nut shell.

[Woodstock82]

Chemotherapy with docetaxel was not nearly as bad as I feared when I started. The side effects do build up over time, though. Here are the notes I have from when I went through it:

1) neuropathy - tingling or even pain in feet and hands

What you can do to mitigate it: chill the feet and hands during treatment

Some go so far as to use ice in booties or mittens

2) mouth and tongue - sores, sensations, and changes in taste perception

What you can do about it: suck on ice cubes during treatment

I didn't get any sores, but my tongue would feel "scalded" for about a week

Changes to how things tasted were VERY noticeable, and thankfully temporary

3) nausea - gradual build-up as treatments progressed

What you can do about it: ginger for mild cases. I tried ginger ale, ginger tea, candied ginger, and ginger candies. All helped.

Bland foods were easier.

Later in the treatment, when the nausea was worse, I took a prescription medication "Zofran" (generic is ondansetron), and that worked very well at relieving the nausea. I probably should have taken it more often instead of trying to "tough it out."

4) fatigue - gradual build-up as treatments progressed

What you can do about it: move, exercise, get into a routine, push against limits, keep morale up, rest when needed, stay hydrated, keep up nutrition.

5) hair loss - lots of variation

I lost body hair first, then scalp hair.

Later lost nose hair, which felt odd, had to blow my nose a lot more

Later lost half my eyebrows, and most of my eyelashes

The good news is, although it took some time, much of the above was temporary for me. It took about a month after my last docetaxel treatment for me to feel normal again, and the hair did come back. I still have some lingering tingles in my feet, but it's not bad.

One other thing. Each night before a docetaxel infusion I had to take an oral prescription steroid, dexamethasone. Then again the morning of the treatment. And then more dexamethasone by IV infusion before the docetaxel infusion. The result was that I was wired the rest of the day, had insomnia that night, was wired the next day, and then energy and mood crashed the day after that. The crash lasted for a few days, rounding out the 1st week. The 2nd week was gradual improvement, then the 3rd week was pretty much back to normal -- just in time to do it all over again.

Everyone is different, but be prepared for similar effects.

[Yorkielover2 in reply to Woodstock82]

Thanks that helps alot!

[katartizo61]

My numbers in late May 1065 PSA Gleason 9/10 mets a lot, Casodex Lupron for 60 days then Zyitiga instead of Casodex. Latest PSA .56. Full summer of activity and no chemo. Worth a try

[Woodstock82 in reply to katartizo61]

Keep up the activity and frequent exercise to counter the worst effects of the Lupron and Zytiga. If the ADT keeps the PSA low and you have no increase in mets, then you are ahead of the curve. Build up your strength and stamina, so that if/when the time comes for chemo you will have the reserves to endure it better.

[rogerandme in reply to katartizo61]

Wow! That's awesome!