docetaxel chemo

Thanks so much ladies for the feedback.....to be forewarned is to be forearmed!!
Will now approach next treatments with some insider tips and advice. Cheers!!!!

Everyone seems to have different reactions on chemo. I had Docetaxol and Cyclophosphamide in 4 doses. I needed the white cell injection the next day for the 3 doses after they found via blood tests 10 days after the first dose I had absolutely zero resistance to infections. I was lucky and didn't catch anything as I wore a mask in to have the waiting room for the blood test and stayed well away from shopping centre at that time too. A couple of months after the final dose I got a cold and bronchitis and needed two lots of antibiotics to shift it. Blood tests showed I again had no resistance but since I wasn't still having chemo I didn't qualify for a further injection and just had to build myself back up with good diet and exercise.

I had two separate dark days during chemo that I almost called the ambos I was so sick and my heart rate was playing a jig but I kept resting and got over it. 

On my second infusion of Docetaxol I had a reaction with pain extending through my body and I turned bright red. It was so fast I had no mind left to push the emergency button but thankfully my husband was with me and raced off to the nurse to raise the alarm. Oncology paused the infusion and dropped in another 3 further premeds before we restarted at half speed. I had no further reactions.

A good thing to have on hand is Chlorsig antibiotic eye drops for the cloudy eyes and conjunctivitis you might have. Quicker you get on it the faster it comes good. Also for any scratches, have a tube of antibiotic ointment. This came in very handy when I developed a whopping nasty pimple in the downstairs area. Fixed it right up and the doctor said it might recur but it never did so obviously a weird side effect of chemo.

Stay out of the sun while on chemo. Your body grows brand new skin but its like a babies when it is first out so be very careful with sunlight. Also keep dark glasses handy, even at home on your own veranda as your eyes can get very sensitive. 

Hi Tinny. I had TCH chemo: Docetaxel, Cyclophosphamide and Herceptin. I never got nauseous. Day 3 after each cycle I felt like I had mild flu. I had neuropathy in two of my fingers and toes. Unfortunately I was in the 1% of chemo patients that got severe shortness of breath from the Docetaxel. It was accumulative and got worse after each round. I had to have multiple CT scans to rule out blood clots on the lungs and I ended up having to use a walker making me feel like I was 100 years old. I was also neutropenic on Dox and ended up hospitalised a few times.  All side effects have now gone away. I hope it goes well for you.

Hi Tinny!

I had 4 rounds of FEC and 8 Taxol, so thats different to docetaxel. FEC was gruelling on every level I found, very debilitating..Taxol was weekly and very different, got slight neuropathy in fingers and toes/feet and shocking joint, nerve and muscle  pain. Whereas FEC was constant nausea, so they were very different. I didnt unfortunately handle Chemo well at all over that 4.5 months and was very ill. Im sure there are others though that have had Docetaxel. Hugs Melinda xo