Docetaxel,cyclophosphamide chemo cocktail - advice please!

my reaction was like Tonya's Mack Truck, can hardly get out of bed for days - I am on my round #2

things to watch for for - Your Temperature, anything over 38 degrees, ring your specialist, its an indicator for low white blood cells counts, mine put me in hosp for 6 days before they rebuilt. (Not to scare but you can deteriorate quite quickly, in less than 24 hrs if white cells are affected)

I too am having the nueralasta injection, but it doesnt stop the flu symptoms from day 4, and still watching my temperature, its a little scary when you have chills and sweats.

For the mouth symptoms,

Ice cream, jelly, tinned fruit, anything cold wet and slippery, my mouth hurt so much when ever i tried to eat.

take care, B

Hey Deb

I've just finished my 6th and last docetaxel this week, (at least for now), along with herceptin and zometa (for bone mets).  My experience was pretty positive.  I had no nausea, no aches or pains or mouth problems.  Mainly just tiredness and a horrible metallic taste in my mouth which made most food and drink taste awful, even water.  I seemed to develop cravings for different food/drink with each cycle.  It really is so individual and I feel very lucky to have got off lightly.

My oncologist did substantially increase the dosage of steroids, dexamethasone, after the first cycle as I crashed at day 4 that first time.  Now the dosage is slowly reduced over a week.  The dex does a great job at controlling the chemo side effects although not without their own problems, sleeplesness, increased appetite and get a bit snappy with my husband at times!

Good luck.

Hey Deb

I've just finished my 6th and last docetaxel this week, (at least for now), along with herceptin and zometa (for bone mets).  My experience was pretty positive.  I had no nausea, no aches or pains or mouth problems.  Mainly just tiredness and a horrible metallic taste in my mouth which made most food and drink taste awful, even water.  I seemed to develop cravings for different food/drink with each cycle.  It really is so individual and I feel very lucky to have got off lightly.

My oncologist did substantially increase the dosage of steroids, dexamethasone, after the first cycle as I crashed at day 4 that first time.  Now the dosage is slowly reduced over a week.  The dex does a great job at controlling the chemo side effects although not without their own problems, sleeplesness, increased appetite and get a bit snappy with my husband at times!

Good luck.

Hi tonya

Thanks so much for your honesty!

I really appreciate that - I am having my first dose on a Thursday so I am hoping that my worse days will be when my girls are at school - having said that my first dose is at the start of the school holidays!! At least i wont have to worry about the school run I guess!

Thanks for the tips for stocking the cupboards I will top up on those bits in anticipation!

I wasnt offered FEC - I had clear lymph nodes so the oncologist said this 3rd generation cocktail as he called it is the way I should go!

I am to have 4 doses with 3 weekly intervals in between!

I too am thinking prepare for the worst and then if its better than that - it will feel better!

Sorry you have had to travel this path more than once - I take my hat off to you!!

haha as i wrote that I realised probably not the best choice of words!!

Take care

Debsx

Hi maria333

Thank you for replying to my post and your well wishes!

I am so thankful to have this site for information from all the wonderful ladies !

Take care

Debs x

Sorry Debs,but that Docetaxel is very hard on you.The first few days after you have it you don't feel too bad.But by day 4 you feel like road kill from a mack truck.The nausea wasn't too bad cos you can take some pills but you lose your appetite and inside your mouth feels like fur.The bone/muscle aches and headaches were awful and the fatigue is like no other.You feel crap for about  4 or 5 days and then you improve.This drug is harder on your white cells(neutraphils)and by day 10 mine had dropped to 0.1 and I got a gum infection and spent 4days in hospital in isolation.This chemo is also harder on your hair follicles and it can take alot longer for hair to start growing when you finish.You have to weigh it all up because the other chemo used(FEC)damages veins and may cause heart problems later.

What terrible choices we have to make! Stock your cupboards with vegie soup tins,dry crackers,lemonade iceblocks,lemon cordial.That's about all I could eat.Tea,coffee and chocolate were the first to go-my favourites. When my hair began to fall out I cut my hair short so gradually got used to it going.Some ladies like to shave it off -we are all different.Also your experience with chemo may be different. My motto has become"prepare for the worst but hope for the best"- has a slight negative edge to it but hey, after 2 bouts of cancer it may take awhile to become a glass half full kinda girl again!

                                      Tonya xx

Sorry Debs,but that Docetaxel is very hard on you.The first few days after you have it you don't feel too bad.But by day 4 you feel like road kill from a mack truck.The nausea wasn't too bad cos you can take some pills but you lose your appetite and inside your mouth feels like fur.The bone/muscle aches and headaches were awful and the fatigue is like no other.You feel crap for about  4 or 5 days and then you improve.This drug is harder on your white cells(neutraphils)and by day 10 mine had dropped to 0.1 and I got a gum infection and spent 4days in hospital in isolation.This chemo is also harder on your hair follicles and it can take alot longer for hair to start growing when you finish.You have to weigh it all up because the other chemo used(FEC)damages veins and may cause heart problems later.

What terrible choices we have to make! Stock your cupboards with vegie soup tins,dry crackers,lemonade iceblocks,lemon cordial.That's about all I could eat.Tea,coffee and chocolate were the first to go-my favourites. When my hair began to fall out I cut my hair short so gradually got used to it going.Some ladies like to shave it off -we are all different.Also your experience with chemo may be different. My motto has become"prepare for the worst but hope for the best"- has a slight negative edge to it but hey, after 2 bouts of cancer it may take awhile to become a glass half full kinda girl again!

                                      Tonya xx

Hi Debs,

Welcome to the pink ladies.

My cocktail is different to yours so I cannot give you any advice on it.

I did however have my hair cut very short to make it easier. My youngest daughter was quite upset but i tend to wear chemo caps around the house. Everyone loses their hair at different stages.

Anything else you need just ask or reading up on some of the others blogs can be very helpful certainly for all the emotions that will come your way.

All the very best.

Maria333

Hi Debs,

Welcome to the pink ladies.

My cocktail is different to yours so I cannot give you any advice on it.

I did however have my hair cut very short to make it easier. My youngest daughter was quite upset but i tend to wear chemo caps around the house. Everyone loses their hair at different stages.

Anything else you need just ask or reading up on some of the others blogs can be very helpful certainly for all the emotions that will come your way.

All the very best.

Maria333