Docetaxel (Taxotere)

I had six infusions from June to October 2025. There’s a bunch of posts from me and others on side effects, etc. Let me know if there’s anything specific I can help with.

Hola,
I had ten sessions of Docetaxel last year. Now, last week at my appointment, my Oncologist told me that I was anemic and prescribed me Iron. He said that most likely, the blood issue was due to the cancer was regressing and now, I am on Cabazitaxel. Side effects seems to be very similar for the two dryugs. Hope that the Cabazitaxel will work better for me.

Chemo (docetaxel) does not change your life, Yes, while you are on it, it can be not too bad or a real pain, Again, no two people are the same. I was in an Ancan.org Advanced prostate cancer meeting and one guy came in and said he was doing chemo but after doing chemo, for 10 days, he couldn’t eat food, didn’t taste good. He lost a lot of weight then he’d have a few days where he’d recovered completely, ate a lot of food, then back to the next chemo session. The other people that said they were just uncomfortable for a few days after, had to rest to recover.

Good chemo issues explanations
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/1379518/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/1380026/

@jeffmarc Thanks for your reply. I'm ready to commit to 6 treatments, Iv every 3 weeks. How's life after and what about the hair issue?
Jerlaz

@acstrath
Thank you. I am, of course, a little nervous going in.
Jerlaz

Thank you. I am, of course, a little nervous going in.
Jerlaz

@jerlaz
I attend nine online advanced prostate cancer meetings every month. I’ve done it for years and I hear from a lot of people that have had chemo. Most people can live with it and it doesn’t affect their life all the time but A few days after having the side effects it can be tough, have to rest and recuperate., Then things go back to normal, and then there’s the next treatment.

Chemo doesn’t work for everybody, but it does work pretty well for most people.

All right now, hair and nails. You will lose your hair and your fingernails will become very strange, but there is a solution. You can use a cold cap on your head and on your hands to prevent damage. Amazon sells them. Some places you have the chemo done have a cooler you can put on your head that will keep it cold the whole time but it cost about $300 per treatment. The cold cap and the Cold gloves can make a big difference. One Guitarist in a group I was in complained about how badly his fingernails got damaged and how he couldn’t play guitar anymore. He didn’t know about the cold gloves.

@jerlaz You will be mostly OK during treatment and then fine after it ends, and your cancer will likely be suppressed too. My husband had six infusions of docetaxel every three weeks some years ago. It worked very well to suppress the cancer for several years. The side effects follow a consistent pattern, so you can plan what you are able to do when and which days you will need to take it easy. My husband had no nausea, but the fatigue the first few days to a week after an infusion was strong. Then he felt better the second week, and the third week he felt pretty good--and then it was time for the next infusion. We just planned around the side effects and did short outings and day trips, and he worked in the yard and ran errands during the days when he felt decent. He did lose his hair on his head and upper and lower torsos, but had no problems with his nails. It was ten years ago, and the cancer center never mentioned or offered using cooling caps or gloves, but they are probably pretty common now. Good luck to you and keep us posted.

Please find and read the entire medication package insert for docetaxel. My dad was in that 2%. Not my intention to scare you, I just wish someone told me...So yes, while most handle it quite well, some do end up getting the short end of the stick. Good luck with everything.