I have had 2 rounds of somewhat reduced dose docetaxel. PSA down after the first round which is terrific, but I am trying to wrap my head around the fatigue I am experiencing.
It is not debilitating, but it has caused me to cut down on activity and some days I feel like a slug faking my way through work (doing the bare minimum).
My question - Does the fatigue typically increase, decrease or stay about the same over time? My MO and PCP seem to indicate you get better adapted to a new reality, but that the fatigue never really changes that much.
Fortunately, no other symptoms over significance at this time.
Suggestions for combating this fatigue?
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Arthur479
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My fatigue seemed to be worst the first week after treatment, then better. I still had general fatigue that I attributed to Lupron hormone therapy and bone marrow suppression lowering my hemoglobin. Are you feeling some relief from fatigue after the first week following treatment?
From macmillan.org.uk/cancer-inf... tired is a common side effect of this treatment. It is often worse towards the end of treatment and for some weeks after it has finished. Try to pace yourself and plan your day so you have time to rest. Gentle exercise, like short walks, can give you more energy."
I also read a couple of studies concluding that fatigue is worst at the start of treatment and then diminishes.
A little exercise and some caffeine picks me up. If I do the caffeine for too many consecutive days (7 or so?) I become more tired. I think my body habituates to it and needs it just to operate. So I cycle.
Got done with 7 infusions of docetaxel 6 weeks ago and started jevtana today. Docetaxel fatigue did not bother me to much early but got worse as it went along. I try to walk at least 2 miles a day but there were weeks that I only got 5 or 6 walks in because I was getting so winded from the walk. The seventh infusion really kicked my rear. My psa bounced around from 230 to 329 back to 250. Took a 6 week vacation. Jevtana is my last resort. Got luck to you. Try to stay active my friend.
in reply to
I should mention that after my 6 week chemo vacation my strength was coming back and walking ability was much improved.
I’ve now done 9 cycles of Docetaxal and the fatigue has increase dramatically. The first few cycles, I recovered after about 1 week but these last few cycles, the fatigue has lasted the full 3 weeks. I can hardly walk 100 yards without resting.
Hello. My experience with my 6 infusions, the longer it went, the more fatigue I felt. The first couple I would bounce back. I got weaker as I went. I had some other side effects and issues as well. Till the 6th one I was weak my hemoglobin was down to about 10.4 and I could barely go up a couple stair steps. My legs were very weak. It took me about 2 months to start to feel stronger. My blood counts came back up, my hemoglobin, as last week was 14.4. I finished my treatments in Dec 2021. If you can get thru without a lot of fatigue, it will be different than me. I hope and trust that you can go without a lot of fatigue. For me it was one day at time. I needed to keep focused on the Lord. I tried to focus on what I did have not what I did not have. Thanks.
My husband was fatigued and in pain before his first infusion 2 weeks ago and was a mess by 4th day after. We did determine that he caught a cold as well, so that didn’t help. His biggest complaints are the issues with his mouth and nose. His tongue and the roof of his mouth felt burned and he has had issues with a bloody nose. He also mention his bum feels like it’s “on fire.” He is willing to try another dose but if he’s as bad or worse after, I fear he’ll give up. I’m pushing hard for him to ask about Lu177. He hesitates because the nearest facility is 75 miles away. At this point he’s weighing the life quantity vs quality options.
I did six cycles of taxotere in conjunction with 28 months of Lupron.
The first two infusions were ok, mild fatigue the first week then getting "better."
After that, particularly 4th one the fatigue was overwhelming.
Like many others said, once I finished the six cycles my energy gradually returned though with the caveat I was still on Lupron.
How do I manage? Like the others said, I exercised, if the fatigue was too much I would reduce the workouts. Exercise consisted of riding my bike, elliptical, swimming, weights, basketball, yard work, walking out dog. I did travel and did some hiking in the mountains. There were times I could barely do 10-15 minutes on the elliptical, instead of full court basketball we would play half court,, on one of my bike rides I called my daughter realizing that those last four miles were not in my future, she picked me up and drove me and my bike home!
2nd thing I tried to be good about was staying hydrated.
Next, tried to eat reasonably healthy.
Finally, there were times I just took a nap when the side affects were impacting my energy level. I was fortunate, flexible work environment so when I need to, could work from home.
I think most guys on this forum would generally say, do something, know what you can do, try and eat and drink and when the side affects overwhelm you, pause and rest.
For me the 6 rounds of docetaxol were pretty consistently bad. Fatigue, arthralgias, myalgias, and horrific diarrhea. The third week post infusion I usually felt a little better. Went in to this still climbing, biking and backcountry skiing at 66 but docetaxol really was hard for me and while I forced myself to walk a mile a day it was with a spare pair of pants in my pack and stopping down every quarter mile. Have a friend who had really no significant negative effects from docetaxel and kept working. Wish I could say things get easier but it seems to be very individual response. The only good thing is it us a fixed number of cycles. Stay strong.
Arthur, in 2004, I had 9 infusions of Taxotere alternated with 9 infusions of Adrimycin over a six month period. There will be fatigue. I worked 2 1/2 days each week. You have a terrible disease. Once you understand that, fatigue is not an issue. Dwelling on side effects is a terrible manner to go through life. You will feel better knowing that with each infusion you are killing the little bastards. Stay positive. Best of luck.
Thanks guys for the replies. Adds a LOT. of perspective and gratitude it is not worse.
Kind of a blow to the ego have to take it easier. Manliness=Strength and endurance is a belief that is not helpful in this case. But I exercise and go to work every day, just go at both more gently.
I'm on Docetaxel with Prednisolone and although on my fourth treatment my PSA has dropped from three figures to a single figure, I'm unsure that this course is doing its stuff. Urinating seemed better at the start than it does now. Had first "accident" wetting the bed after second treatment. Not a regular thing but have to wear a pad now. Also my urine seems less willing to flow and not the power. A friend said it didn't work for him so wondering if I need to change the treatment. Will perhaps know more when a stent is removed from a my Kidney as the process will allow good examination to see if reducing the cancer. Effects on me I can't walk more than half a mile without feeling tired, but no nausea or mouth issues. Been very physically busy but don't exercise.
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