How to cope and combat Docetaxel side effects without compromising its effectiveness

[Grateful4this]

Is there are role for Naturopathic therapies to help with se of docetaxel? Does anyone have experience with these practitioners, good or bad? Any suggestions on what I can do to help with my recovery from docetaxel will be helpful and taken seriously. Thank you

[tango65]

Some suggestions from a national expert in PC:

grandroundsinurology.com/dr...

[dockam]

Hi, I've fasted two days prior to each of 21 Taxotere chemos and 4 Cabazitaxel sessions with at least two more to go.I had very few side effects : hair loss with Taxotere, but not now. Mild dysgeusia - bad taste. No neuropathy, nausea, or vomiting.

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Fight on ✌️

Randy

[dhccpa in reply to dockam]

Water only fast?

[dockam in reply to dhccpa]

Homemade veggies, tomato, curry, garlic, and ginger broth

[dhccpa in reply to dockam]

Ahhh. That sounds much better. I have water-only fasted quite a bit, but not since mid-2019. I'd have to psych myself up again.

[Grateful4this in reply to dhccpa]

That's a rough one but if you feel it helps then it's something to consider

[Grateful4this in reply to dockam]

I like that better . Thank you for your reply

[London441]

Other than a little bit of fatigue a few days after each infusion the only other side effect for me was most food tasting a little off. It didn’t last.

Taxotere is a mild chemo relatively. Regular hard exercise is the best thing by far for killing the side effects. Especially the fatigue and neuropathy docetaxel is famous for.

[Grateful4this in reply to London441]

Thank you , I appreciate your response very much, it's encouraging

[GeorgeGlass in reply to London441]

did you do the taxotere just after diagnosis, or years afterward?

[London441 in reply to GeorgeGlass]

I did it as part of a clinical trial. Began it 3 months after RP. ADT, taxotere and Zytiga were given concurrently. Radiation a few months later.

[GeorgeGlass in reply to London441]

cool, how are you doing now?

[London441 in reply to GeorgeGlass]

All is well thanks. Extreme incontinence solved by a artificial urinary sphincter. Off all treatments since September 2020. PSA remains undetectable. We’ll see, it’s such a survival endowed disease. ‘I’m cured until I’m not’ is how I see it, I don’t look down the road much to be honest. Today I’m grateful and happy.

[Grateful4this in reply to GeorgeGlass]

diagnosed in Dec of 21 started treatment in mid Feb

[Newyork6264]

Stay active. Use ice on hands and feet during sessions. Side effects not bad. Felt bad for 3-4 days afterwards but ok after that. I ate a lot of fresh fruit and veggies between sessions. I had 10 sessions. Last couple were a little tougher.

[Grateful4this in reply to Newyork6264]

thank you for your input. It matches others to a degree so it must work. Appreciate it

[moguzzi]

Had 10 docetaxel treatments and agree (almost) with Newyork6264's experience. Definitely exercise as much as you are able and pay attention to your diet. (I did lotsa fruits.) I tried ice packs and still got neuropathy and fasting did not do much for me but there's little downside to trying both. Might work for you. Good luck.

[Grateful4this in reply to moguzzi]

Thank you for taking the time to respond. Everyone's input has been great

[GeorgeGlass in reply to moguzzi]

how long have you had the nueropathy?

[moguzzi in reply to GeorgeGlass]

It's been two years now. My MO cut down the dosage of docetaxel as soon as I told her but I have numbness in my fingers and feet. Symptoms have receded a bit over time but they are still there. Not a serious problem. More of a nuisance at this point.

[Grateful4this in reply to moguzzi]

Thank you for your reply

[GeorgeGlass in reply to moguzzi]

I hope it continues to improve. How is your PSA level and scans looking?

[moguzzi in reply to GeorgeGlass]

Stable so far. No new mets on scans and PSA borderline undetectable. A checkup with my MO next week (blood tests, etc.) will bring me up to date.

[CAMPSOUPS]

May I ask your age. Also prior to dx were you active in excercise etc.I am in the boat that says you have enough on your plate and some people feel fatigue more than others during chemo. Eat healthy in general but eat what you want. Getting thru the chemo and psychologically seeing the chemo as the potent weapon it is are important now.

Don't take supplements. If you are tempted make sure you are not taking one that counter acts the effects of chemo. Some do that. Why risk it. Just eat normal food.

I think there is a particular food or two that in excess that can also counter act chemo.

I really wish I had it noted here so I could share it. I don't remember what it was.

[CAMPSOUPS in reply to CAMPSOUPS]

Exercise to whatever degree you can even if it is only short walks. Don't be surprised if you have to rest on the couch on the 3rd and 4th day after chemo infusions. I got my rest by concentrating on my work at my desk rather than on the couch. Saved the physical work I had to get done for the 2nd and 3rd week after each infusion. By the 5th and 6th infusions it became harder.

A side note as to how great this forum is. I had read at one time about someone's toenails falling off. Well it happened to me about 8 months after my last infusion. It was nothing to freak out about as I had read here it can happen.

[Grateful4this in reply to CAMPSOUPS]

I'm 66 and exercise regularly for years but have taken it up a notch since being diagnosed in Nov. I have also changed my diet and got rid of sugar and much of the carbs at same time and feel I am in good shape. I take D3 and Calcium since pet scan shows sites on bones that conventional scans don't reveal.Please comment or detail which supplements are counterproductive. All diet info helps too.

And thank you so much for your input

[tayninhtom]

For my first cycle, I suffered. Someone suggested smoking marijuana during subsequent sessions. I'm not a user of marijuana, but tried it for subsequent nadirs and it worked like a charm. I was able to control nausea and continued my golf and tennis. I never felt "high" since the THC simply counteracted the bad feelings and kept me level. Once the nadir passed, I'd stop smoking the weed. Seriously, for me it was that simple.

[Grateful4this in reply to tayninhtom]

Thank you, I will keep this in mind if I feel the other options aren't helping. Really appreciate it

[GeorgeGlass in reply to tayninhtom]

what do you mean by nadir? do you mean nausea?

[tayninhtom in reply to GeorgeGlass]

Yes. My doctors explain Nadir As for three days when you feel the worst during chemo

[SteveTheJ]

Buck up. If you've ever taken any medication before at all, you already know the list of side effects is daunting and written like a horror movie script. For me Lupron and ADT have not been bad at all; main side effect is fatigue.

At age 60, my fatigue would be increasing anyway (from, say, age 40). If you keep yourself occupied, try to increase bonds with friends and family, engage in conversation ... or whatever you find stimulating ... you'll be better off than moping around doing nothing.

Consider the alternative and again, Lupron is by far not the worst medication imaginable.

[Grateful4this in reply to SteveTheJ]

Thank you for your reply but my question was regarding docetaxel not Lupron. But in any event, I thank you for taking the time, and bucking up to this disease is always good advice. good luck to you!