Taxotere Rant

Gents

Hope everybody is well. Going if for may third treatment tomorrow. The treatment process is easy and not a big deal and the after effects where pretty smooth after the first infusion. Actually slept through my second infusion.

The 2nd infusion not so much. Where did that train come from. Ran me over on the third and fourth day after treatment. Muscle and joint ache, no energy and then once I was over that, a trip to the emergency room for a fever and overnight due to a diverticulitis flare up (which I never realized I had). Eating antibiotics bigger than Xtandi for ten days. The third week feeling pretty good and actually went to work yesterday.

Throw in two covid drive up tests needed to get my treatments because I made the mistake of telling my doc I had a slight cough. The covid test reminded me of a prostate exam, not really painful, but nothing should be pushed that far into your body. LOL

Round three tomorrow. Will keep you all posted. Hopefully you are making it through this madness with your sanity in check.

Mike

(aka kmclark1)

Living with cancer is like living with your mother in law. You can't get rid of her so learn to put up with it.

—-Bob Nix (terminal stage four cancer)

Hello, KMClark1 ---

Sounds like you are forging ahead, with some peaks and valleys --- but you are at the halfway point, and that was encouraging to me when I got there.

Yep, you gotta' battle through each round, and juggle the fatigue factor. My doctor determined I needed a shot of NEULASTA to bolster my immunity during treatments. I think that helped me.

I kept teaching school each day --- these days, that wouldn't be possible, with the current pandemic situation.

You're right, though --- the "fatigue factor" can accumulate with each treatment.

That happened to me by the very end of radiation treatments, too.

Takes a while for the body to fully rejuvenate ... in ways you can see, and can't see.

My doctor reminded me to drink water, take a walk each day, and get extra sleep.

My lesson learned? Naps are allowed! No alarm clock on weekends!

Best news? You're getting those treatments knocked out.

There's gonna' be a day this summer, when these treatments will be in your rearview mirror. You're getting there!

So --- save up some July 4th fireworks and get ready to celebrate. You're getting there. After tomorrow, you can start the downhill slide.

Keep us posted on your progress,
Cyclone - # Iowa State University

Hello Mike. My Taxotere infusions are a couple of days ahead of yours. The first was March 30 and like you I felt this is easy, only a little bone pain on day 4, the port placement ached more the first couple of days. 2nd round was way different, some nausea on day 3, evening of day 4 was very tired and starting to ache, spent days 5 & 6 in the recliner and back to normal after that.
Now some good news; did round 3 this Monday, just felt a little off on day 3, day 4 very very tired and felt some bone pains, expected to wake up this morning with a major chemo crash, IT WASN'T THERE ! I feel almost like I did on the first round.
I do my infusions on Mondays, it is 70 miles to the cancer center and I figured if I have problems in the first 5 days I can contact them directly rather than being seen in an ER on the weekend. Being a somewhat retired rancher-farmer every day is a workday and any day can be a day off.
Hoping treatments go easier for you. My latest PSA was 0.01, with Lupron injections, and I won't be able to repeat my scans at Mayo Clinic until August after chemo is finished. These treatments do work and all of us hope and pray for good results for each of us dealing with cancer.
Dave

Mike,
You my friend, are definitely not absent of that, you have both moral courage, and physical courage.

From the Patton era, the great Winston Churchill said:
"If your going through hell, just keep going"
and "You must put your head into the lion’s mouth, if the performance is to be a success."

Dan said "You are strong, like Daniel in the Lion's den. Keep the Faith"
Wings

Post Edited (Wings of Eagles) : 5/15/2020 8:41:45 PM (GMT-6)

Thanks all. Fairwind. Everything depends at this stage on PSA and the scans. If after the end of my first six cycle taxotere treatment, my scans show regression and stabilization we will hold of on chemo until a PSA rise in indicative of disease progression, we will keep heading if with taxotere until that fails. Cabaztaxel is the next bullet in the treatment weapon. also my team is aggressively looking at clinical trails going forward. So we have a plan, with A, B and C paths going forward I will walk this path until it ends without fear or lack of knowledge. I take courage from those of you who have gone before and those who have offered support.

Staying hydrated and bust. Thanks everyone.