I have just completed my 3rd round of A/C chemo and have 1 left to go. My next lot of chemothereapy is the Docetaxel/Trastuzumab. I have been doing some research on the drugs c/o Dr. Google. (LOL). I woud love to hear from anyone out there who has had this lot of chemotherapy and the side effects that I could possibly be facing. Regards Donna p.s I have had my first round of this drug and I'm facing quite severe backpains. Any reccomendations other than heat packs, panadol, nurofen and massages?

Hi Donna, Docetaxel has a number of common side effects. I will tell you what I experienced, and what I stocked up on to be ready for the problems and cure them before they could do much damage. I wish you well. We are so lucky to have access to these cancer treatments, to have a good chance to get a longer and better life after or before breast cancer surgery. It is worth the discomfort. And by golly, you can do it!!! The most serious is that your white blood cell count can drop very low. So they monitor you on your first couple of rounds, and you have to be very aware of any rising temperature, or any symptoms of infections, and avoid anything that could give you an infection. Gargle with saline or Biotene several times a day. Use hand sanitizer. Avoid close contact with people with colds or flu. If your temp goes over 38.5 get to the hospital urgently. If you get a really low white blood cell count (Neutropenia) in the first cycle or two they can then give you Neulasta, the wonderdrug that makes you make new white blood cells in half the time, an injection into the stomach the day after Chemo. It costs $2000 normally, but once you've had neutropenia they can give it to you free. They will teach you to inject this yourself if you ask, and give you a cute pack to take it home in You will probably be given Dexmethasone, a steroid, to take for 3 days from the day before your docetaxel infusion. This reduces the chance of bad allergic reactions to the two chemo drugs. And reduces nausea. It also hits the system like speed and hypes you up so you get heaps done and feel too perky to sleep. It also makes you pack on weight and causes significant water retention. Watermelon juice/watermelon is great for water retention. Your gut is stripped raw by the treatment, so you may head into either constipation or diarhoea and also have trouble with indigestion and nausea. So you need gentle meds to switch direction quickly whenever it goes wrong. Movicol is great for constipation, and Imodium for diarhoea. Gaviston is good temporary help for indigestion/reflux. I got onto Somac for really troublesome indigestion, and it really made a difference. Your Oncologist should give you something for nausea eg atavan. You make get small anal fissures, and there is a good cream to have on hand.have alo vera tissues. Also there are some very gentle moisturised wipes that are designed for babies that can be a godsend: keep them by the toilet Your mouth loses its sense of taste, everything tastes like oily phlegm. I found lemon strepsils or sugar-free fruitflavored lollies helped. Biotene or saline mouthwash hourly helps too. Your tongue may get very tender so you only want to eat mushy stuff like Delite creme caramel custard, or quiche, or yoghurt and fruit, or stewed apple, or farex. Even soup seems to be coarse textured at the worst of this. Mouth ulcer treatments like bonjella can help. Your nose may bleed and get dry and clotty, and also , because you lose nose hair, it will run and drip at the least provocation. Fess lavender nose spray is lovely for these problems. Skin gets sunsensitive, so slip/slop/slap, keep up the sunblock. Skin can get a rash, get it checked out and treated. Hair falls out after 2-4 weeks. Sorry, but that is it. Much of the hair on your body will fall out as well as most of your head hair, and eyebrows, nose hair, eyelashes. Get a very short haircut. Then shave it.. The good news is that it always grows back, and it feels wonderful to get it back, and convinces you that in all ways you are getting better! Insomnia happens when any of the other things become too bad, or if you are feeling too bad or too scared or too lonely through your treatment. There is good free counselling for people with cancer. Restivit (one sixth of a tablet) saved my sanity a few times to get me through long uncomfortable nights. Have a good book handy right through your treatment months. Fatigue is not just tiredness, it is being absolutely unable to do everyday stuff you have always managed to do. It is being unable to think straight. It is being full of despair and frustration. Fatigue, curiously, is helped most by getting enough exercise and getting it every day. Preferably at least 30 min a day every day, a minimum of 150 minutes per week Get a friend to walk with you, even if you have to stop every 100 meters. It is a vital part of the chemo process. Food loses its appeal, what you want to eat one day is not right the next day. Make sure you have understanding people who will cater for your whims at a moments notice. Make sure people around you understand that for a given period of time, you really need lots of tender loving care, and need what you ask for when you ask for it. You may still want to do what you can for them, but let them know you may suddenly not be able to do anything,because you have run out of go Give them this post to read. And when you are done, you will find it is wonderful to NOT have any of these symptoms for weeks, months on end. You will appreciate things you always took for granted. best wishes

Jessica, I can't thank you enough for giving me all of this information. It does sound scary, but at least I know what I am facing and how to takle all of this. All the symptoms that you have experienced are pretty much the same as what I am going through. I honestly can't thank you enough. You are dead right about the fury tounge. It feels like a hairy carpet. I will get onto the biotene right away, but in the meantime will be vigilant with brushing my teeth. Kind regards Donna :)))))

just wondering how long after chemo you did not have water retention. I am back excercising, drinking water etc but still retaining that fluid. last chemo on 17th june. just want an idea how long it takes our bodies to get rid of the fluid. I did not have fluid retention prior to chemo. was on the dex. thanks Marg x

This is so well written Jessica! I had forgotten about the sun sensitive skin,and this is something that ladies really need to be aware of,heading into summer.I had my chemo through summer,and I used to carry a small umbrella when I walked.Take care.Robyn xxx

I also took Zyrtec as my skin itched like crazy!

Docetaxel / Trastuzumab | BCNA Online Network

12 Replies

Sheridan
Member
11 years ago
Hi Marg, Thank you for your reply, yes I have finished chemo, 6 weeks ago. It's not tiredness as in sleep, it's my muscles in my legs that tire sooo quickly! I find it totally disabling. Very frustrating, as my job entails a lot of walking. Take care it's good to know your on the mend!
margiemoo
Member
11 years ago
are you still having chemo? the fatigue was one of the things I found hardest. But I did still manage to work, but not much more. I have never slept so much in my life. Its about 3 months after my last chemo and I still get tired, but am doing more and getting better each week. Hope things improve - hang in there as they will.

Marg xx
Sheridan
Member
11 years ago
Thank you Donna, I really hope that your next lot of Docs will be asker for you then is has Ben for me, it hates me! Lol good luck I'll be thinking of you.
donnampearce
Member
11 years ago
Hi Sheridan,

So sorry to hear that you are still fatigued from the chemo treatment.

I get my docetazel treatment every 3 weeks and out of those 3 weeks it has taken me 2 of those to feel half normal. The fatigue is much greater for me than the other chemo that I was given, and I have only had 1 dose out of 3.

I'm definately not post docetaxel chemo though. I do hope that you can find a solution as soon as possible. For me, I LOVE the garden, so I sit outside for half an hour and pick the weeds. Mentally for me this is good.

Love Donna
Sheridan
Member
11 years ago
Hi, Has anyone else suffered post chemo fatigue? Docetaxel has stolen my life, 6 weeks and struggle to walk 100 meters, very depressed, cry all the time in frustration, can't work, know every crime show on foxtel! Please please if anyone can give advice I'll try anything just to have a little of normal! Radiation next week, can sleep to worried about being more exhausted than I am now, panicking now. Thank you
emrod11
Member
11 years ago
I also took Zyrtec as my skin itched like crazy!
emrod11
Member
11 years ago
I also took Zyrtec as my skin itched like crazy!
Robyn_W
Member
11 years ago
This is so well written Jessica! I had forgotten about the sun sensitive skin,and this is something that ladies really need to be aware of,heading into summer.I had my chemo through summer,and I used to carry a small umbrella when I walked.Take care.Robyn xxx
margiemoo
Member
11 years ago
just wondering how long after chemo you did not have water retention. I am back excercising, drinking water etc but still retaining that fluid. last chemo on 17th june. just want an idea how long it takes our bodies to get rid of the fluid. I did not have fluid retention prior to chemo. was on the dex.

thanks

Marg x

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