Docetaxel Side Effects FEC-D

Thank you @kmakm ❤️ I’ve never felt so depressed, if that’s what it is, or is it anxiety, in my whole life. I was already on antidepressant before this began, my doctors boosted my dose up. I’m also taking the Ativan.
now I’m on antibiotics for a possible infection, my temp hit 38.4°c the other night but no one was capable of driving me to the hospital. The thought of being in an ambulance for 50 min freaked me out. I kept checking it every 15 to 20 minutes and it slowly went down.
now I have a constant trickle of fluid running down the back of my throat, it’s caused me to vomit 3 times now
ill be glad when it’s all behind me cut definitely not looking forward to this last one

Hi @Kellee. How was Christmas for you?

I had Docetaxel and my depression and anxiety got worse with each cycle of chemo. I was an utter blubbering mess after the third infusion and was eventually persuaded onto anti-depressants by the combination of my GP, a counsellor and my breast care nurse. My oncologist was useless on this front. Whether the Docetaxel contributed or not I'll never know. Cancer, the trauma of the previous few years, the decision about a BMX and recon that was bearing down on me... Who knows where one ended and another one began?

I hope you can meet your final infusion with equanimity. It's often a flat feeling when chemo is over, but boy it's good to have it disappearing in the rearview mirror.

Hope you're doing OK. K xox

@Sister it boosts my mood at the thought 😁

Only 1 more to go - Woo hoo!

Thank you everyone for all your support. After all that had happened during my first dose of Docetaxel I did manage 2 ‘normal’ days before my second treatment. My birthday on the 13th was spent as a blubbering mess with each thoughtful card , phone call and presents. It was strange but once it was over I got a sense of relief. Christmas is my next hurdle. I’m normally Christmas obsessed but this year I’ve decided to keep it low key and what will be will be.
i had my second treatment yesterday which went fairly well. I had an un normal calm about me, until I seen the oncologist who I thought would have all the answers, but she couldn’t help me as far as anxiety and wants me to return to a psychologist. She didn’t think it was the steroids but I disagree, my problems started when I came of the steroids. I’m on 4 tablets a day for three days, then comotosed for 2, then panic and anxiety sets in.
when I had my first treatment the Docetaxel was injected at a slower pace, increasing every 12 minutes. This time, because of no reaction they started at normal pace. I started to feel a strange sensation going through my body to my head, my eyes felt weird and I sensed I might faint. I could describe it as a full blown panic attack about to start. I told the nurse and she immediately turn it off. I could feel it disappearing instantly. I got a sensation go through my body leaving my feet tingly and cold. She took my vitals and all was fine. She said it was a reaction she’d never seen. I put it down to my subconscious mind reacting. I felt calm at the time, the nurse had me chatting and I felt reasonabley good. Even the canuala was giving me no pain (or bruising).
so we waited a few minutes and I told her I was ready to go again. This time they did it at the slower pace gradually increasing it. I felt a little faint headed when I moved my eyes from left to right. I also had my mum keeping me occupied with her tablet games and the day was over before I knew it.
im taking the Ativan straight away, listening to binaural beats at night, drinking loads of water and basically councilling myself before I hit the ‘i Can’t do this anymore stage’. This time my biggest incentive is I ONLY HAVE ONE MORE CHEMO TO GO 🙌🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thank you once again everyone, I’m sorry I don’t reply to you all as I get in those moods. Your comments have given me incite, courage and the charge I needed to soldier on ♥️♥️♥️♥️

What @Deanne says is important to remember - even though it feels like forever when you're on it, it does end.  

Hello @Kellee wising you all the best with your next treatment.  Dont hesitate to call our helpline if  you would like to speak with a cancer nurse for information and or support.  We are open Monday to Friday from 9 am till 6 pm, our number is 1800 500 258.  Take care of you

Hi @Kellee,
I had Docetaxel after FEC for my chemo. I did not have anxiety or depression but it was still a very tough time. While on FEC I managed to keep up my daily walks and I think this helped me to mentally cope ok.

 Docetaxel was not the same. I ended up in hospital after the first round with a mystery infection requiring IV antibiotics. I could not regain my energy at all on this chemo. The only good days were the ones I had the steroids. I slept a lot (like all day) on this chemo but I had no nausea. It was a lonely time as I had no energy to do anything. Yes this makes it so hard to keep your mind in any sort of good place!

It did not, I think, get worse each time though. It was just a long few weeks of feeling awful. Of course this made it tough mentally but I can tell you that it did end and I did start to feel better once I had enough energy to go for a walk again. 

That was over 5 years ago for me now. I still tell people that those weeks on Docetaxel have given me a new outlook on life. I never want to feel like that again and I find joy in the simplest things now. I so appreciate feeling ok, being able to taste food and coffee again! 

I do know how hard this is and I particularly remember people telling me only ‘one more after this one’. At the time that just sounded like forever but I did get through it and life was so much better afterwards. I know this is just so tough and feels like forever but it will pass. It’s ok to feel like crap on this chemo. It is not just you being a worrier. But it is just the temporary drugs and you will get back on top of things after they are out of your system. 

There was a bunch of us on this network on this drug when I was going through treatment. We used to pour out all our feelings on here and the only good thing was knowing that we were not alone. It is a crap chemo but it does end. Sending hugs and strength your way. Don’t suffer in silence, get your doctors to give you something to help get you through those hard days. If Ativan helps, then get some more and use it when you need to. This is temporary. Take care. xoxoxoxo

For me, the anxiety lessened as I went through treatment although it never went away completely.  I had such a traumatic time the first time they tried to administer chemo that I was almost in panic attack stage at the beginning of the AC infusions but it did get better and by the time I got onto Paclitaxol I began to relax more - I think because I was not quite as scared of it and possibly because I was exhausted.  I never had an issue with the Dex but I know that a lot of women really notice it.  There may be a difference in treatment protocols for Docetaxel and AC but I never took Dex until the following day (I think it was 1 each day for 3 days) but I may have been given it just before infusions - I honestly can't remember.  I lived on Ativan for the whole 6 months - more on the first days after infusions as long as I didn't have to drive (and within the doctor's advice).  I slept a lot in the first few days of each.  But I also had to take Nexium or Somac regularly for the reflux (and Coloxyl and Gastro-stop at different times for the other end).  Chemo messed about big time with my whole digestive system which makes you feel bloody miserable.

If you're not doing it, keep a diary of your symptoms - it's a really easy way to show the onc what's been happening.  I kept a pad on the bench where I recorded what I'd taken and when (because I couldn't have kept track of it otherwise), my temp, and how I was feeling.  Before I went to the onc, I would type it up into a basic diary eg. Day 3-5 - list of symptoms and side effects etc.  I would also list the side effects separately in more detail.  It meant that I didn't have to remember and I could just give the sheet to the onc as a basis for discussion.  He kept those in with my notes and did compare them during treatment.

Thank you all. Ive just spent the last 2 weeks crying, feeling nauseous and highly anxious. I had an emergency visit where they have put me on Ativan. I’ve had anxiety, panic attacks and bouts of depression for over 30 years. I’ve been on my current antidepressant for about 20 years. I’ve had counselling, seen psychologist, psychiatrist, all brought on by childhood mental abuse. I spent 5 years living in a 15km radius. I was finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and this happened. I’m probably revealing too much information lol but I’m pretty sure I can trust you guys.
After having 3 rounds of Fec I noticed the pattern of being very emotional from around day 3, usually lasted about 5 days. By day 9 I slowly improved mentally and physically. By day 14 I would start to regain the confidence to continue with my treatment.
My first dose of Docetaxel initially seemed to be going well. The steroids were giving me my usual red face and rash from the boobs up. My face was a bit redder and hotter than the last three doses. I didn’t get the energy that taking extra steroids could give but by day 4 maybe five I was extremely tired, I battled to keep my eyes open for 2 days, then the anxiety began, along with nausea, which I still have. I’ve had many panic attacks in my life but this didn’t feel normal, it reminded me of the total breakdowns that I have had (3 times) where it left me bed ridden. After a night I’ve being woken up by jolts each time my body relaxed I couldn’t take any more. I rang oncology, and because of the lack of doctors opened on weekends in my area, they advised me to go to emergency. (5 hours waiting when you want to run is not fun)
The annoying thing about having pre-existing conditions is that some doctors think it’s the easy answer. It took 3 chemo sessions, 2 collapsed veins and a blood clot for the doctors to realise their was a medical reason for my needle phobias and all the relaxing in the world wasn’t going to help.
Now I feel I’m having the same issue with my anxiety. Yes, some of my anxiety is brought on by worry but I recognise that this is different and questioned the higher dose of steroids and it effects. I’ve spoken to my oncology team and told them what’s going on. The Ativan has helped but hasnt stopped my anxiety or out bursts of tears. The nausea is always there too.
im having my second dose of Docetaxel on Monday. I’ve been told to prepare as normal. 2 Dexmethsone and 1Lorazepam the night before and again the morning of chemo. Then we’ll discuss possibilities, what ever that means, at our pre chemo meeting.
so sorry for the long story, but those of you on Docetaxel or have have had it, did symptoms increase each treatment, especially if you had anxiety. I can deal with muscle pain and aches and as much as I hate the nausea, I think I can deal with that too. It’s the mental part, going into fight or flight mode is totally scarey and so are the places your mind tends to wander.