Allergic reaction starting cabazitaxel

[Stoneartist]

Godt folk,

I have moved on from Xtandi due to a new tumour development. My plots show that this one is slower to develop than the one that issued in my castrate resistance phase (see plot). I am now 5 years into this game and still symptom free. My main problem has been fatigue - which was markedly diminished after stopping Xtandi. I am siill on ADT (Zoladex). Yesterday I had my second infusion of Cabazitaxel which gave an identical allergic flushing response. Both times this was immediately counteracted by temporally halting the infusion. When re-started with a lower dose there was no such reaction and the infusion continued without problems when gradually increasing the dose back up to the maximum.

What was interesting for me was the comments from my oncoligist who explained the the body has its own anti histamine tank and the reaction occurs a few minutes into the infusion when the "tank" is empty. Returning to the infusion starting at lower doses and building up does not produce this reaction, and the reaction came despite higher levels of antihistamines in the run up to the second session. Its like we have to go through the reaction (intense and sudden flushing) to accustom the body to the infusion - which then proceeds without problems. Poor sleep last night was the only reaction I felt but otherwise I am in great shape today.

Heres my latest plot - this time on a linear scale:

[Rolphs]

What program do you use to make your graphs? I want to plot my PSA’s.

Thanks!

[Stoneartist in reply to Rolphs]

excel

[Oldie68]

What are the yellow/brown points representing? I don't see the plot on a linear scale.

I am starting Xtandi in a couple of weeks. How bad was fatigue? Worse than chemo?

[Stoneartist in reply to Oldie68]

the orange dots are the points where something in the treatment changed - dose etc - see my history for details on that. The fatigue was about the same as chemo - but came in phases. needed some willpower to tackle an avoid the sofa way out. good luck - we are all different!!

[Oldie68 in reply to Stoneartist]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and explaining the plot. Good luck and, as J-O-H-N would say, good humor.

[Woodstock82]

What pre-meds are you getting before the cabazitaxel infusion?

My pre-meds were IV Pepcid, IV Benadryl, and IV dexamethasone. Those were sufficient to prevent me from having any flushing or other allergic response to the cabazitaxel.

The only drawback I experienced was that, due to the Benadryl, I was not allowed to drive at all that day.

[Stoneartist in reply to Woodstock82]

Yes - I also was on dexamethasone and pepcid, and a stuff called Cetirizin Sandoz. Didne have any problems driving home.