what dose of Docetaxel were you given ?

[joeguy]

Just wondering what the common dosage for Docetaxel in most CRMPc guys would be ? I have had one infusion of 160mg Docetaxel, and I think I had ALL the side effects. I did not tolerate the drug well at all, and I am considering only going forward if I can have the dose reduced. 160Mg seems like a high dose from what I have read.

[EdBacon]

Doesn't sound like a high dose to me unless you are a small person. Of course it still could be too much for you since we are all individuals and respond differently to chemotherapy drugs.

You can calculate your dose easily by going to this website and first calculating your body surface area. Multiply the result by 75 since the standard dose of Docetaxel for prostate cancer is 75mg per square meter. My body surface area is 2.1 x 75mg = 157.5mg (dose).

Here's the link. You just put in your height and weight and it gives you the body surface area.

calculator.net/body-surface...

[joeguy in reply to EdBacon]

based on the calculator, my dose per body mass should be about 150Mg..... Im going to request closer to 100

[AlvinSD]

That sounds standard to me. I am still hormone sensitive but had 6 cycles this past summer as part of the ARASENS Triplet Therapy protocol. My dose of docetaxel was 156 mg in Sodium Chloride 0.9% 250 mL.

My first two times, they ran it in really slowly to minimize reactions. Subsequent infusions, they sped it up.

Hydration is really, really important as well. I was pretty fanatical about hydrating before I went as well as on the days afterwards. What is your plan for hydration? How much fluid and what are you using? I used a product called Enterade the day of and the day after chemo to supplement the other hydration I was doing and that seemed to help as well.

On the advice of some of the folks here, I also started taking Claritin (loratadine) 10 mg the day before, the day of and the day after chemo. That also seemed to help with the side effects. Possibly ask your chemo nurse or doctor about that.

[joeguy in reply to AlvinSD]

I drank plenty of water, took Zyrtec antihistamine, had the "day after" shot, and the steroids , but still experienced everything form intense spine and abdominal pain with fever and chills, to nausea and even nose and rectal bleeding. For a supposedly "well tolerated" chemo...... I did not

[EdBacon in reply to joeguy]

How long ago did you have the infusion? On my last chemo, my pain went up after infusion, then down to nothing after about 4-5 days. This happened on every cycle.

It can definitely be difficult for some. For me, I'd have to really make sure it's working against the cancer in terms of PSA and progression on imaging or forget it. The last couple rounds I did were questionable whether they were worth it.

You could try a lower dose for sure. There might also be the option of Cabazitaxel which many find easier than Docetaxel.

[joeguy in reply to EdBacon]

First infusion was 18 days ago. Im scheduled for my second dose on Thursday. Things really went south on day 4 . Thats when the really intense spine and abdominal pain started, fever and chills with diarrhea and nausea started on day 5, then sores on head and in nose. Bleeding from I assume the nose irratation and irritation from diarreah, started on day 6. Most symptoms improved after day 9, but bleeding during BMs continues...... I think it pissed off a hemorrhoid

[Tall_Allen]

The dose may be fine, but you should talk to your oncologist about managing the side effects. Anti-nausea meds, corticosteroids, Neulasta, antihistamine, saline infusion, ice, and neurontin can mitigate side effects.

[Gl448]

How bad were "all the side effects"? My does the last two docetaxel was 170.25mg.

I had multiple side-effects but none of them bad enough to make me request a lower (and possible far less effective dose - which a 30% reduction in your does sounds like it would be).

Diarrhea - take an Imodium or two.

Nausea - take the compazene they'll surely prescribe - cleared my one bout of nausea in less than 30 minutes.

Don't take Zyrtec - it and Claritin are both derivatives of Benedryl, but it may not be the right choice for you.

Headache and spine pain - if Alieve doesn't help maybe something stronger from the doc.

Nose bleeding - I had some that I didn't notice after Round 2 until I blew my nose and dried blood came out. If you're bleeding that's DEFINITELY a side effect to immediately report to your doctor. And don't take any NSAIDS like aspirin or Alieve - stick to Tylenol or doctor recommended.

[joeguy in reply to Gl448]

They were bad enough. If there was a chance that Docetaxal would add more than a few months of survival at this point, I might be willing to put up with more.

[EdBacon in reply to joeguy]

You should be able to tell through imaging, PSA and how you feel if it's working. It was pretty clear to me from those indications, that mine wasn't working but I continued anyway although I did get some pain relief. And the side effects were better for me with Cabazitaxel.

[joeguy in reply to Gl448]

spine pain was bad enough that oxycodone didnt put much of a dent in it....... imagine feeling your heart beat and every breath in your spine.... from the tail bone to the head

[Gl448 in reply to joeguy]

That’s tough. I’m sorry to hear that. I didn’t realize you’re at the point chemo won’t add much benefit.

I can respect not grasping at every possible treatment in hopes of eking a very small amount of additional life.

Peace.

[Ollie1948]

Sorry to know that.... there are limits.

[Seasid]

Why don't you ask for Cabazitaxel? 10 cycles?

[joeguy in reply to Seasid]

have a feeling they are going to want me to take a break from chemo until we can get the rectal bleeding stopped....... I dont need a case of sepsis on top of everything else

[Seasid in reply to joeguy]

You are right. Sorry, I missed that.

Cabazitaxel is crossing the blood brain barrier. I personally would want that for myself in order to kill the cancer in my brain if any.

[joeguy in reply to Seasid]

so far I have somehow managed to keep all mets to bones and lymph nodes that we know of. Last scans showed organs were clear.....knock on wood

[Seasid in reply to joeguy]

I am just saying that just in case. I have a met in my neck under my skull. The worst case scenario is spread to the brain and cabazitaxel would play a positive role in that case.

My oncologist does not even know that one of my met is there. Hope he knows that docetaxel doesn't penetrate much the blood brain barrier.

Maybe I am just too pessimistic but worth asking for cabazitaxel in my situation. I know that they are not thinking about that possibility unlike me.

[Seasid in reply to Seasid]

At the moment I am in remission and fine but we know how all this ends.

[j-o-h-n]

It's a wonder that they're called side effects...It's like calling your ex-wife "just a nuisance"...

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 02/07/2023 11:02 PM EST