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Stage 4- Docetaxol (Taxotere) Treatment

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  • dodgersgirl
    dodgersgirl Posts: 1,902

    @MLS

    Long story short- I am on a chemo pause due to leg weakness. Checked in yesterday to a rehab facility. You can’t be on chemo and have Medicare pay for physical therapy in a rehab facility.

    If rehab goes well, MO will talk about next treatment. If not, probably looking at hospice in near future.

  • Hi, all. I had IV taxotere 15 years ago (my initial, Stage I diagnosis). On the third of six infusions, I had a severe allergic reaction. Going forward (including that day), I was given diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and the speed of the chemo was slowed down.

  • I am starting Taxotere in a week and just wanted to say thanks to all of you for posting. It is good to know what to expect.

  • hi all , giving this thread a bump to see who is currently taking Taxotere. Appreciate everyone’s past sharing. Would love to hear from you if you are currently on this treatment !
    @nicole503 how did it go? Are you still on it?
    I start my Taxotere and Carboplatin treatment line next week. I just finished radiation with a low dose of Carboplatin and that went fine. Hoping the next treatment line is not too harsh, as I tend to move through these treatments with low side effects, but change is always filled with uncertainty. Will update here along the way.

  • Had my first infusion, cycle 1 day 1.  Taxotere full dose and Carbo not full dose. I’m taking Dexamethozone at home 2 pills day / eve before, day of, day after. To prevent Low WBC, Zarxio injection self administered at home 48 hours after infusion. And tonight before bed a zofran for a preventative against nausea in the night, but then will see how I feel along the way. Premeds 45 minutes of Tylenol 650 mg, Benadryl 25 mg, Emend 150 mg, Pepsid 20 mg, Alexi.025 mg . Then the Taxotere 120 mg over 60 minutes, followed by the Carboplatin 395 mg 30 minutes . Went fine, a little sleepy from the Benadryl. Will track and report back. Hope all are doing well out there. It’s a very rainy evening here. Enjoying classical music and reading. Living life is an uncertain adventure.

  • Hi all, today is day 6 cycle 1 and each day a little better. Mostly feeling slightly off, not fully well but not sick. It started a little rocky on day 4 , felt sluggish and under water, and a bit spacey with low appetite. But all manageable. Still went into the city, out to lunch, and long walks. It comes in waves. Today was in meetings all day on zoom, and that was tiring, but did a short workout in the morning to build stamina and drinking ginger tea all day, so all in all not bad. Part of me does not want any SE lol.. but it is what it is. I know I’m fortunate with how my body responds. Just noticing what is here, the ups and downs, looking to see what the new normal is and will be. Hope all who are out there are doing fine, and managing. May your holiday prep be happy making. - Rhonda

  • It’s day 10 and I’ve turned the corner fully, feel great. No SE at all, just low appetite in the evening . Interesting first 10 days, day 6-9 felt a little like I had the flu, slightly under the weather off and on, came in waves not constant. That chemo feeling of drugs moving through the body . But today, it’s as if I’m not on chemo at all. We’ll see what cycle 2 feels like.

  • Well all was smooth sailing until XMas day I woke up with a large rash on my back and front! From my shoulders to my waist, and a bit on my arms. When I was on Trodelvy I had a delayed rash on my legs and thighs, and MO had me take Xyzal every evening, and Pepcid every morning, which helped it stay mild. So I did that this time, took pics so I could track it , and emailed my MO’s RN nurse the next day . Since my MO is on vacation, she spoke to the covering MO, who called me and concurred on the restarting the antihistamines. And let her know if it gets worse, which it didn’t. A week later and it’s mostly gone, but what a surprise! These delayed allergic reactions arising .. day 15 .. what a surprise. Other than that, feel great. Onto cycle 2 next week !

  • rlschaller
    rlschaller Posts: 531

    Had cycle 2 this week. Feeling good. All in all, this is a chemo I can live with . Slight off feeling, but nothing major. Hair is growing back, and will wait and see if rash appears again. On antihistamines as a preventive measure. Will stay on this treatment for the next three months, and if my NED on scans remains, eventually will take drug holidays until all is just monitoring. Stage 4 doesn’t change to cured, but treatable without drugs can be part of the future, if NED is sustainable, we’ll see. I just learned this from my MSK MO, will do liquid biopsies every 6 weeks, scans every 12 weeks, and stay on taxotere and Carbo until we see how it plays out over this next year. Very happy with what might be a possible plan forward. The cancer has been very aggressive, has teeth so to speak… so day ata time, month at a time, and making 3 month bucket lists of small joys! Managing SE is always a core issue, and so far, this is manageable. Hope this is helpful for anyone considering taxotere.

  • rlschaller
    rlschaller Posts: 531

    good news no rash or allergic reaction to cycle 2. Feeling good , ready for cycle 3 next week. TNB and MBC require a different mindset, managing the drugs and monitoring the toxicities, as we know is paramount. I hope I can stay on this for the duration and eventually wean away from full dose to drug holidays. We’ll see. But so far so good.

  • rlschaller
    rlschaller Posts: 531

    For any gals still on or starting this drug, here’s my update. Finishing up cycle 4 and noticing a little more fatigue this time around. On day 15 and a bit tired, which is unusual for me. Developed Lymphedema in the arm, which is a drag! And shocking to be honest, I was not expecting it . Saw the PT specialist yesterday, and will start with bandaging / Velcro sleeve and then 2 x a week treatment and then a hand arm compression sleeve . With everything I’ve been through, I felt like one more thing was too much. But alas lol… this too I will greet with acceptance and onward! My staff at work joked that I could put temp tattoos on the sleeve to decorate it.. I like that idea. Meanwhile waiting on scan results to see if I stay on this treatment or switch, MO saw so suspicious growth under my arm. As I have skin metastasis that might be a sign this drug is failing. Might switch to Eribulin . I’ll post another update when I know. Meanwhile, if anyone reads this, hang in there. ❤️ hugs to all.