Interrupted Docetaxel treatment

[Jansverr]

I started Docetaxel treatment due to increasing PSA on Jan.30 and was supposed to do 8 - 10 treatments at two week intervals. After treatment no.3 my PSA showed a significant drop, I cannot remember the number, but it had dropped several points from about 20.

I tolerated the treatments pretty good, but a week after treatment no.4 March 12. I experienced severe diarea, fever and pain in my stomach. I was admitted to hospital with severe dehydration, kidney failure and high CRP. They found a 6" abscess on my colon (I have been previous been treated for diverticultis) which they drained. I am now at home with a drain from the abscess for more than 3 weeks. I just finished 3 weeks of antibiotic treatment. My last x-ray showed a communication to my colon and they don't want to remove the drain yet. I will have a x-ray tomorrow and I hope they will be able to remove the drain. I feel fine, appetite has returned, but the drain is restricting my daily life.

The reason I am writing this is to get an opinion about the Docetaxel treatment. As I mentioned my last one was at March 12th. Should I start up with no.5 as soon as possible or have a break and start from scratch again? I will talk to my oncologist tomorrow and listen to her advice, but I feel I need a little break. I was hoping to take a two week holiday abroad on April 23th, but I am afraid to do it if they start up Docetaxel again before I go. I am already 3 weeks overdue, will 5 weeks make a lot of difference? It all depends on my abscessogram results tomorrow.

Thanks for any advice.

[Tinuriel]

Our MO approved a two week delay resulting in five weeks between treatments for a family trip. He said it was no problem.

[j-o-h-n]

I would follow the doc's recommendation. She gets the big bucks........

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n