My next 4 chemos are docetaxel. Its side effects are really scaring me. Has anyone else had it and how bad was it? Does it make you loose hair as I have been doing the cold cap and dont want to waste all that time and stress. Also I've heard it can cause neuropathy, and some use ice to stop it. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Ican see me sitting there with a cold cap , and hands and feet in ice!😲👣🖐😨

I had 3 sessions of docetaxel. I also used a cold cap but only lost a strip of hair across the top where the cold cap didn’t contact properly. I can’t blame the docetaxel for that as it started before it. I did end up in ED & admitted after every session. However, I am apparently one of those people 🙄 So please don’t read too much into that. I actually was admitted to hospital 5 times out of 6 chemo sessions. The first 3 chemo was FEC.The side effects I encountered on docetaxel was severe sore mouth from the lining eroding, taste changed where I couldn’t handle anything even slightly spicy/tangy (plain 1950’s food was looking great), cordial in water was also really good as were the red jelly frogs ...... I did get neuropathy but I don’t think it was as bad as others have gotten it. My nails did change. I kept dark nail polish on my hands but not my toes. I thought they’d be safe as always in shoes. My fingernails have since recovered but not my toe nails.

@Hils I think Docetaxel is different for everyone. I’m day 14 after my first dose and I have been very lucky so far. I had a headache and sore teeth the first couple of days that I couldn’t shake. A couple of mouth ulcers that went away with coconut oil. Day 5 and 6 were the worse days as I had bone pain in my pelvis and mid spine. Insomnia was a problem. After that it’s been ok and I still haven’t lost my her. I know it’s early days but apparently some people tolerate it well. Good luck and keep in touch 💕

I was a lot sicker during TC than I was during AC, but I was also 10 years older. No mouth ulcers or hospitalisations, but I was one crook bunny on occasions. The colony booster injection given 24 hours post chemo gave me more trouble than anything else--same story in 2006-- I found out that Loratadine helped a great deal with the bone pain. Which not everybody gets--though if I was a horse, I'd be a clydesdale and every inch of my chunky bones was screaming on days 4-7.If you are offered frozen mittens, accept them. I didn't lose my fingernails or get significant neuropathy in my hands. My feet were a different thing altogether. I actually liked the mittens as the drugs gave me hot flushes during infusion. Hang in there. MXX

I had docetaxel too and the worst side effects were bone aches, terrible taste in the mouth and mouth ulcers. It depends what dose you are on and it's different for all I guess one thing to be aware of, as things tasted so gross I stopped eating & drinking as well and so then you become weak and dehydrated so watch that! I hope you have no side effects x

Hi @Hils I have had 6 rounds of docetaxel, finished this (for now) in January.I lost all my hair, eyebrows - most of my hair on my body. The first session caused the most side effects but the others were more manageable. Even though I rinsed my mouth 4 times a day, I got mouth ulcers (Kenalog was helpful), trush in my mouth, often got UTIs (antibiotics and Ural helped), indigestion and the anti-nausea steroids kept me awake - but I would just watch tv/movies in bed - comedies were good for me ::smile: The fatigue was a little more challenging and usually any symptoms occurred in the first week post chemo and the next 2 weeks of my cycle were pretty good. I stopped work altogether after the first round of chemo though. I was also told to drink 2 litres of water every day for the first week post chemo. Pukka make a lovely organic tea - lemon, ginger and Manuka honey which was great for any nausea. Also Gin.gins ginger lollies were helpful too. Fortunately, I didn't experience any neuropathy. Now nearly 3 months post last chemo my hair is about 1cm long and eyebrows half-way grown back :) Still on Pertuzumab and Trastuzumab. Wishing you all the best with your treatment - as @Beaglemum said, you may get some side effects, but hopefully you will get none xox Good luck <3

Docetaxel side effects | BCNA Online Network

Hils
Member
5 years ago
@Tinks, thankyou. Still trying to get used to this bob ''basin cut'', I think its a short hair cut comming up very soon! 💇‍♂️
Tinks
Member
5 years ago
Hi @Hils and congratulations on finishing your chemo!!🥳🥳🥳

have a good time selecting yourself a funky new look.

Love Tinks xx
Hils
Member
5 years ago
Well tuesday 26th was my last chemo! The oncol decided I'd been through enough, so happy this stage is all over!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Unfortunately the nurses thought I'd lost too much hair so wouldnt let me do cold cap. So disappointed but had to take their word for it. Went and got my hair chopped the next day to just above shoulder length as it was so untidy. Not liking it so going on tuesday to have it cut into a pixie cut. Hope it looks ok!💗🎉💗
Hils
Member
5 years ago
@ Abbydog, I did my second dose with ice packs on my hands with no damage to my hands, had the cold cap too. I didnt think of my head as I'm used to it now, but the freezing fingers were very uncomfortable. I'm going to do it again on tuesday because I dont want to go through the side effects I had with the first lot.
Good luck with your course, I hope you dont get any side effects like me, everyone is different. 💖xx
Abbydog
Member
5 years ago
I start my course of Paclitaxel in 3 days. Sounds similar and I'm nervous. So many reports of peripheral neuropathy.
I read about using ice on my hands and feet during Chemo. My Oncologist has little faith in this as prevention, I'm already using Cold Cap, and I don't think I could handle any more cold. I plan to take it as it comes, one session at a time. I've been lucky so far (with EC), I just hope my good luck continues. So good luck to you and me,
Hils
Member
5 years ago
Hi all,
Home from hospital now with more antibiotics for pneumonia. they seem to be working as my temp is normal without panadol which is great.
One more side effect happening now....both of my thumb nails are lifting off! :neutral: I thought my nails were looking good , just a bit of discoloration, no such luck for me! chemo was postponed till next Tuesday so I hope I'm well enough to have it and get this finished! :smiley: xx
YellowRobin
Member
5 years ago
Thanks @Tinks. I didn’t think about body weight, which makes sense. I’m at least getting double the dose that’s on eviQ for triple negative. I did ask my breast care nurse and she reassured me that we are throwing everything at it.
Maybe I’ve discovered an easy way to grow hair fast.......I was having terrible itch and rash on my head so thought I would wash my hair with BiCarb and water instead of moisturisers etc. no more itch, cradle cap or dandruff.....and my hair has been growing (now about 1cm). It balances the ph so maybe it also invigorates growth 😁
Tinks
Member
5 years ago
@YellowRobin, docetaxel and cyclophosphamide dosages are worked out as mg per metre squared, so everyone’s actual dosage is different. Basically it varies by your starting body weight.

You can ask your onco what Is your dosage calculation, eg 100mg per metre squared or 75 mg etc.

Different dosage calculations might be offered to patients with similar types and stages of cancer, it depends a bit on weighing up all risk factors and clinician preference.

I asked about my dosage calculations - the onco explained his rationale and I was happy with the dosage received.

i understand your worry, we look for everything in everything! I expect your treatment team can advise you about the expected hair loss patterns, I found the chemo nurses a fund of info- perhaps give them a buzz and get some advice? Could be reassuring!!

lots of love

Tinks xx
YellowRobin
Member
5 years ago

gumnut said:

Hi @Hils
I have had 6 rounds of docetaxel, finished this (for now) in January.
I lost all my hair, eyebrows - most of my hair on my body. The first session caused the most side effects but the others were more manageable. Even though I rinsed my mouth 4 times a day, I got mouth ulcers (Kenalog was helpful), trush in my mouth, often got UTIs (antibiotics and Ural helped), indigestion and the anti-nausea steroids kept me awake - but I would just watch tv/movies in bed - comedies were good for me ::smile: The fatigue was a little more challenging and usually any symptoms occurred in the first week post chemo and the next 2 weeks of my cycle were pretty good. I stopped work altogether after the first round of chemo though. I was also told to drink 2 litres of water every day for the first week post chemo. Pukka make a lovely organic tea - lemon, ginger and Manuka honey which was great for any nausea. Also Gin.gins ginger lollies were helpful too. Fortunately, I didn't experience any neuropathy. Now nearly 3 months post last chemo my hair is about 1cm long and eyebrows half-way grown back :) Still on Pertuzumab and Trastuzumab.
Wishing you all the best with your treatment - as @Beaglemum said, you may get some side effects, but hopefully you will get none xox Good luck <3

Hi @gumnut
do you mind me asking what your Docetaxel dosage was. I am 4 round TC down and 2 to go. Have had similar side effects except for hair. Started to lose hair at day 15 so clippered it all off. But my hair has been growing as soon as I started round 2 and I haven’t lost hair anywear else. (A bit of pube thinning👏) Call me paranoid but but I’m scared it’s not going to work on my TNBC. I’m receiving 134mg Docetaxel IV and 1070mg CYCLOPHOSPHamide IV every 21 days. Am I just being paranoid?
jennyss
Member
5 years ago
Dear @Hils,
I've had a very good recovery thanks. First two annual check-ups all clear, and I expect number three coming up will be all good too. I returned to work full time in June 2018, then turned around and retired at age 66 in March last year! It was the right timing for me. Still very weird to say I'm on an aged pension.
Best wishes from jennyss in Western NSW