my dad completed docetaxel, 9 rounds, in December 2024. Since then he has rapidly declined. His pain has increased, he is so fatigued he can barely even get out of bed. He is also constantly sweating through his clothes. He is on Firmagon and zometa still. He is due for a scan soon, but his post chemo scan showed stable disease and no new lesions. Has anyone felt this way for this long after chemo? He is giving up his will to fight, and while I don’t blame him, this is not what we expected after chemo. Thank you in advance.
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Concerneddaughter123
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I completed taxotere treatments in May 2024. I was already on ADT with Lupron/Casodex.
I did not tolerate taxotere very well at all and I was as you described. I was very very sick. Tired, in bed, vomiting 2-3x per hour and finally after a week or so I developed intractable diarrhea and spent the last week of May into June in the ICU at Cleveland Clinic with the diagnosis of “severe electrolyte derangement”. It was as close to dying as I have gotten so far…and honestly I don’t remember the first four days of the hospital stay
I’m sure they have checked his metabolic status to ensure his sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium levels are ok. But all of the “taxotere type” meds can cause this. Just so ya know…something to ask if you’re not sure.
Well, not sure how to answer without more clinical data such as age, overall health....
I assume a physical exam and assessment was done by his medical team of his ability to go through the regimen. It's not easy, I did six cycles, the side effects are cumulative and the fatigue hit hard starting with the 4th cycle.
Mitigating the side affects may best be done through:
Diet
Exercise
Managing stress.
The first two do not have to be done in extreme. It's counter intuitive when you feel like crap to get out of bed or get off the sofa and do something, putter around the house, walk the dog, do some gardening...start small and go from there.
Throughout my treatments those three things have served both to assist in mitigating the side effects while on treatment as well as recover after treatment.
But, that's me, I am not your father nor am I a trained, educated, board certified or licensed medical person.
maybe look into Modified Citrus Pectin. Best and only brand used in studies is Pecto-Sol C. - Amazon carries it Pricey but good 15grams a day or dose - so I buy the can ofpowder. Read up on the benefits.
request his blood work panel. Make sure they know he is a vegetarian. My husband was hospitalized from doxatel and nearly died. He was not getting adequate protein and calories and was malnourished even to me trying everything. It takes a year or longer to recover from that much chemo. Make sure he is exercising if well enough to.
Make your dad’s oncologist aware of your concerns. Recently I finished my Triplet Therapy for Stage 4 Prostate Cancer with bone 🦴 Mets I was very ill and had little to no energy. I had to take medicine for my nausea and medicine for my pain. And since I had so much pain still, and was so exhausted I was sent to the pain clinic for my given a booster round of prednisone.
I am now undergoing another treatment because my remission which was supposed to last 2 to 3 years only lasted due to three months. I was quite heartbroken. My wife was heartbroken, but she used this website to learn about a newer treatment option for late states prostate cancer. It involves nuclear medicine injected into the vein and I am feeling less and less pain and my energy is slowly returning. I’ve been surviving for two years now and I needed to seek counseling for depression because I’m having all types of hormonal changes because of the Lupron shots to lower my testosterone. I do which and I need to change my T-shirt once I’m done in front of my fan in my bedroom, which blows on me all night and it helps with the hot flashes at night.
Perhaps your dad would benefit from one or several of these different approaches I don’t know. But I do know that I need to keep moving forward. People who and are supporting or encouraging me to keep fighting are extremely helpful (life saving ). Please encourage your dad to keep fighting. Please get in touch with your oncologist and let her or him know your concerns regarding your father..
I receive one injection of Lu-177 (Pluvicto) every 6 weeks. I have 2 more Injections to go. Pluvicto is considered nuclear ☢️ medicine. I have to stay at least 3 feet away from everybody for three days because I’m emitting radiation . My daughter-in-law is pregnant and I’ve stayed away from her for over 15 days before I went to visit them to spend time with my grandson .
I have gone through the triplet therapy and this recent treatment option. The Pluvicto is a newer. My wife inquired if I could try latest treatment option. . M learned about Pluvicto by reading this forum.
Thank you for the response, Joe. Great recommendations and I will talk to my dad about these. I’m so sorry the treatment results did not last as long as you were told they could. I hope the new treatment works well for you!
I can only give my experience. I was treated last year for throat cancer, 33 radiotherapy sessions and 8 chemo. (This was to be between late May and 11th Juy) l am 76 years old. I cancelled the chemo after the 4th session it was making me feel too ill. The oncologist wasn't happy but then said it was only to back up the radiotherapy. Never felt so ill before in my life, finally started coming right about Christmas/New Year. To be fair I am not the strongest person either mentally or physically, and my age did not help. I am still not up to what I was before the treatment and doubt that I ever will be. On the plus side the tumour (or mass as they are referred to now) has gone and my next scan is late June.I wish you all the best, I still experience fatigue but the sweating has largely cleared up. Read up as much as you can about chemo relating to your condition, I didn't but wish I had.
Went through six rounds of docetaxel in front-half of 2024, it was dreadful, could not even lift my cell phone. However, in early 2025 good news: cancer had stopped spreading. I am thankful.
Not a good place but you may want to consider high dosage Estrogen patches/gel.
Proven to be very effective therapy to significantly reduce Testosterone and hence PSA. No night sweats, nor cardiac issues and bone health is not compromised at all.
Only downside is man boobs which is not a serious issue .
Is worth a try when nothing else seems to be useful.
I finished 6 cycles docetaxel in early February 2025. I felt more nausea and fatigue the last 2 cycles. I could not exercise due to fatigue. I am now much better 2 months after last docetaxel treatment. I feel resumption of exercise has really helped-just walking 3 miles per day. Taste and appetite is normal again. Everyone is different but hang in as effects of chemo does dissipate. Be sure it’s not the Firmagon causing the symptoms.
On second treatment of Docetaxel. First was fatigue and muscle aches. Read steroid bottle wrong and took for 2 days instead of 21 days. Second go round way better. Day 3 no aches or fatigue. Hitting gym tomorrow. Suppose taking steroids was the issue
I appreciate your post as most posts are as things are going badly so was curious if anyone had manageable docetaxel. I'm starting April 24 and hope to exercise through it. I see we're close to the same age so your optimism gives me hope.
Reminds me of my honeymoon with my first wife........... I incorrectly read the brochure for a honeymoon vacation for 21 days and instead we went for 2 days......Boy was she pissed.
Sure — here’s a complete and digestible overview of docetaxel, covering what it is, how it works, uses, side effects, precautions, and more. Let me know if you want it in a more clinical format or something more casual.
🌿 What is Docetaxel?
Docetaxel (brand name: Taxotere) is a chemotherapy drug. It's part of a class called taxanes, which are plant-derived agents used to treat cancer. It works by interfering with cell division, making it harder for cancer cells to grow and spread.
⚙️ How Does It Work?
Docetaxel binds to microtubules (structures that help cells divide), stabilizing them and preventing their breakdown. This halts the cell cycle and causes cancer cells to undergo cell death (apoptosis).
🏥 What Is It Used For?
Docetaxel is used to treat various solid tumors, often in combination with other drugs. Common indications:
Breast cancer
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Prostate cancer (especially metastatic, hormone-refractory)
Gastric (stomach) cancer
Head and neck cancers
💉 How Is It Given?
Intravenous (IV) infusion, usually every 3 weeks
Dosing depends on body surface area (BSA), condition being treated, and other medications
⚠️ Common Side Effects
Most are dose-dependent and may vary depending on other meds:
Fatigue
Nausea, vomiting
Hair loss (alopecia)
Low blood counts: neutropenia, anemia
Mouth sores (mucositis)
Fluid retention (swelling in legs, weight gain)
Nail changes
Neuropathy (numbness/tingling in hands and feet)
🚨 Serious Risks
Neutropenic fever/infection: life-threatening if not treated quickly
Severe allergic reactions: premedication with corticosteroids (like dexamethasone) is routine
Liver toxicity
Interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis (rare but serious)
⚠️ Precautions
Pre-medication with steroids reduces risk of fluid retention and hypersensitivity
Monitor blood counts, liver function, and signs of infection
Not for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding
Avoid use in patients with severe hepatic impairment
💊 Drug Interactions
Docetaxel is metabolized by the CYP3A4 enzyme in the liver. So, drugs that inhibit or induce this enzyme (like ketoconazole or rifampin) can alter its effect.
🔬 Research & Resistance
Some tumors develop resistance via P-glycoprotein efflux pumps or β-tubulin mutations, making docetaxel less effective. It's an active area of research, especially in combination therapy and precision oncology.
✅ Quick Summary
Feature Details
Type Chemotherapy (Taxane)
Admin IV infusion
Used For Breast, lung, prostate, stomach, head/neck cancers
Key Side Effects Neutropenia, fluid retention, neuropathy, alopecia
Cautions Liver issues, infections, pregnancy, drug interactions
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Effects after Docetaxel, Eligard, and Neulasta treatment. 
Reducing docetaxel dose
Docetaxel, Chemo in general
Rechallenge Docetaxel - more than 6?
Brother's numbers since ADT plus Orchiectomey since diagnosed in February
