Dear all,
My father failed Zytiga and is scheduled to get first round of Docetaxel chemo. Unfortunately the doctors mentioned that he should start taking chemo when his d-dimmer test fails below 250. Currently it is 1500. I didn't saw in the report from the doctor anywhere written to be mandatory but it was mentioned verbally.
Does anyone know anything about it? I would really appreciate opinions in order to take next steps.
Best regards
Start Docetaxel chemotherapy as soon as possible.
Here are some information about chemotherapy:
urotoday.com/journal/everyd...
I wish you all the best.
Sorry for late reply. Thank you for the article i will read it for sure
Chemotherapy with docetaxel was not nearly as bad as I had feared before I started. I had many of the most common side effects.
The steroids before and during each treatment meant that I was wired that day and the next, and then my mood and energy crashed for the rest of the week.
I didn't get thrush or mouth sores, but my tongue did feel like it had been scalded for that first week after each treatment. There were significant taste perception changes, none of them pleasant. Some people chew ice during treatments to reduce the mouth problems. I like the theory, but I don't know whether it really works.
Nausea became more of a problem as treatments progressed. Ginger (ale, tea, candies) helped somewhat, but eventually I needed the prescription anti-nausea meds.
Neuropathy in fingers and toes built up over time. Some people chill the feet and hands during treatment. Again, I like the theory, but I don't know whether it really works.
Fatigue became a problem with the later treatments as well. It was an odd feeling when walking to have my knees wobble and my legs shake, but not be out of breath at all.
I had the expected hair loss. Body hair first, then scalp hair. What surprised me was when I lost eyebrows, eyelashes, and nose hair. It took a few months, but eventually it all grew back.
I didn't lose any fingernails or toenails. I am glad to have been spared that.
Week 1 starts great, then finishes awful.
Week 2 usually has gradual improvement.
Week 3 is almost back to normal.
Then you get to do the cycle all over again.
It's a marathon, not a sprint. Stay hydrated. Stay fed. Stay rested. He can get through it.
Sorry for late reply. This is what I expected and what i have read in the past. I was just little afraid of elevated D-dinmer and the risk of having chemo while it is elevated. Thank you
I've been on docetaxel since last Nov, every 3 weeks, stretching to every 4 weeks for my last 3 treatments... your description is EXACTLY my experience, except that I have lost or damaged fingernails and toenails. There's not much pain associated with the damage, probably due to the numbness in my fingers and toes. Re nausea, I do use cannabis or CBD, nightly and have never suffered with nausea. I hope you're able to control it.
V-Man. I am curious as to how many treatments you have had since you started last November. Husband had 6 and tolerated them well. Got PSA down to 5. But no where near undetectable. I am wondering if we should /could have had additional chemo treatments.
Lupron and docetaxel brought my PSA down to a nadir of 1.54, but then it started to slowly rise. Seven months later it had doubled to 3, so I was then considered castrate-resistant and started on daily abiraterone (+prednisone) and six infusions of cabazitaxel. I got excellent results from that. Now eighteen months after the last infusion and my PSA is still down at 0.01.
Great news
Has your father been prescribed a blood thinner to help lower the D-Dimmer reading? I'm on Apixaban (Elequis) for life due to recurring Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). Warfarin is a alternative blood thinner. I'm not aware of any interaction between a blood thinner and chemotherapy but please check with your medical Oncologist. Good luck.
My father is having rivaroxaban 15mg and 75 mg aspirin but d-dimmer is still high. I was just little scared of risk oj having chemo while d-dimmer is elevated. He did DVT but results came back negative. Doctor didn't find anything on color doppler test
I agree with Icfcpolo. The very high D dimer suggests venous coagulation. Ask about check for visible Leg vein DVT ultrasound. Discuss Elequis or similar. If they decline consider the natural non prescription supplement Nattokinase. You can search for information about it via the search box on this site. Though some of the most informative posts might no longer be in the archive.
Sorry for late reply. Yes my father did color doppler test, but came back negative. He is taking rivaroxaban 15mg with 75 mg aspirin, but d-dimmer is still elevated. He has some swollen legs but since none of the doctors find the source i tend to lean that it is caused by Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). But dont know untill a doctor verifies it somehow. Thank you
Hi. Just to say that his levels need regular checking. Rivaoxapan and Aspirin have a major interaction warning. Please discuss with his doctor.I could not see a interaction for Rivaoxapan and Docetaxel when I used the drugs checker.
Sorry for delayed response. The doctor did prescribed it like that so i assume he is aware of the risk. But its good to know that there is not known risk between rivaroxaban and docetaxel. We will try to see if he is ready for the therapy asap. Since he is battling pain for some time.
Hyper coagulation is inherent in having cancer. He is on proper therapy. Can proceed with the chemotherapy. Nattokinase is a useful and safe supplement for added protection.
Sorry for late response. Thank you for the info, we will try to get the therapy if he is ready asap, since he is battling pain for quite some time and hoping docetaxel will help in managin it.
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