Day One Of Chemo (Dosetaxel)

Best of luck with the chemo! I'm in the south Texas VA system and get reasonably good care from my PCP and the specialists - hopefully your VA is doing their very best for you.

Here's hoping this does the job for you.

I hope the side effects take it easy on you.

Andrew

Husband used ice packs and ice cold coke cans for his fingers during his chemo. He also chewed on ice through his first 4 treatments - he got tired of that can just drank coffee on the the last two. Did loose a little bit of his taste but it all came back (except he doesn't like hot sauce like he used to) a few months after treatment.

Oh and stay hydrated especially if you don't have a port. Gatorade helps with electrolyte loss.

Best of luck!

Hello Fairwind, I just wanted to wish you best of luck and thank you for your well thought out post to my last thread.

Fairwind here's to no SE's during your treatment!!!

Larry

FW,

I'm 14 sessions into Taxotere, and am convinced that whatever I expect is going to be different.

Generally, the concurrent infusion of steroids and anti-nausea meds gives what I call the "energizer bunny" effect. Wound like a clock - get out of my way, as work will get done. Problem is that I go 48+ hours without sleeping.

At first, I was starving for a big lunch when I got unhooked. The BBQ place across from the hospital knows me by first name now. Then home, crash for a few hours, and the the EB effect started.
Now, (in the last two sessions), I've puked at the thought of food, and couldn't sleep for any amount of money. By midnight, I'm wide awake and searching for munchies.
Crash Day varies, generally the third day, sometimes earlier, rarely later by 24 hours. I plan my infusions for Tuesdays, hoping to get a functional weekend.

After the third session, most of my hair was gone, but it has come back, maybe 75%, and now grows very slowly. However it is nothing like what I had before. Bristle brush / straight on one side, curly on the other, with a lot of small bald patches that don't show up unless I try to comb hair in a direction. I just keep it cut short and ignore it.

I'm gaining weight slowly from the steroids. I could keep that down by walking more, but arthritis limits that. A couple of times I've had to adjust and take an extra week off between infusions, at which point I'll lose 15 pounds or so.

Careful with the Zofran / Ondasetron. They are GREAT for nausea, but put me into multi-day bouts of severe constipation. Take a good stool softener along with them.

My taste buds are totally shot. Gone. Some small tips for food that I've found to work:
- Just because I find some level of taste that I recognize, does not mean my intestines will tolerate it. I've had to be very cautious with that.
- Get some good heavy plastic camping / unbreakable style utensils (KFS). They don't transfer taste, and helped me get rid of the strange metallic tastes in the first few weeks. Seems that even good stainless utensils leave a taste for me that overwhelms the food tastes.
- Before eating, take a shot glass of clear water with a few drops of lemon or lime juice. That seems to "wake up" what tastes I still have.

I've had neuropathy, and still do, but a lot of that had started with Zytiga and Xtandi, so I'm not sure what is most responsible.

Hang in there, this is a real challenge!

Hoping chemo works well for you, Fairwind!

Bobby Mac

Best of luck Fairwind! As others have said, it takes a couple of days after the infusion before you really feel the effects. The first time for me, I felt fine and very suddenly had a hard time standing due to severe fatigue so it might come on very suddenly rather than gradually. When it hits you, get comfortable (dressed) and have your bed, recliner, and a couch set up for you. I found that I had to lay down/sleep for a day and half or so but I got tired of being in bed so it helped me to have a variety of places around the house to hang out for a change of scenery. Water...lots of water.

you're force is strong!
may the winds be with you

Hello Fairwind,

Hopefully you are navigating through the "peaks and valleys" of your first TAXOTERE infusion ...

They've added components, over time, to help mitigate the nausea and fatigue associated with chemotherapy.

My appetite stayed completely intact --- but there's the notorious "CHEMO CRASH" just a few days after each infusion --- but, as you stay the course, you will rebound, and feel your energy begin to restore itself.

Remember to stay hydrated --- before, during, and in the days following each infusion. Water helps process and eliminate the toxins from the chemo infusion and staying hydrated will help you rebound much better.

After one of my infusions, I slacked off a bit on the water consumption, and learned my lesson. From then on, I remembered to DRINK THE WATER and it went much better when I did.

Rest and relax when needed --- but a few walks around the neighborhood can be beneficial, as well.

I feel that my chemo treatments in 2014 helped me a great deal. Each time I returned to the clinic for lab work, my oncologist and I watched my PSA creep down, bit by bit, with each ensuing treatment.

I hope that you are doing well --- it's encouraging once you move past the "chemo crash" days and feel the encouragement that comes from feeling the resurgence of energy, once again.

Now that you've had your first treatment, the rest of the infusions will follow the same pattern. So, getting that first chemotherapy infusion is beneficial --- learning the regimen, seeing how it goes, taking note of any side effects, and navigating through the lull in energy during the "chemo crash" days.

Just wanted to send a few lines of encouragement and support, as your treatments continue, Fairwind.

With my very best,

CYCLONE ~ Iowa State University