Hi all,
We had our first appointment with my dads MO after his first chemo session. His MO is decreasing his Docetaxel dose to 75%. His first session did land him in the hospital with possible injection and neutropenia.
Just wondering if this is common with Docetaxel? Does the 75% dose mean that chemo won’t be as effective?
Thank you
Of course not - that's why they give a full dose. But if he can't take it, what choice does he have?
Happened to me. First 2 full doses landed me in hospital with Sepsis and Neutropenia. Cut dose to 75% and added Neulasta. Docetaxel failed after 3 further treatments at that level. Having now also failed Lutetium (4 rounds) I am about to try Cabitaxel.
They said to me if I will not tolerate the full dose that they will reduce a dose and administer it weekly.
there is also a shortage of the drug right now. That may factor in.
Here's a good paper, although dated, about dose-response curves and the issues of under-dosing and over-dosing chemo.
To calculate dose accurately drug elimination needs to be understood. Typically there is a 4–10-fold variation in cytotoxic drug clearance between individuals due to differing activity of drug elimination processes related to genetic and environmental factors
Here is an online dose calculator to play around with based on "body-surface area"--
Starting Docetaxel
Cabazitaxel Versus Docetaxel
Reducing docetaxel dose
Rechallenge Docetaxel - more than 6?
