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Docetaxel and steroids, how did you feel?
My husband had his first dose of Docetaxel chemo last thursday, with strong steroids the night before and the morning of, plus I think more in the IV.
He was like the energizer bunny for two days, the night before he hardly slept and we thought it was nerves, the night after chemo he hardly slept either and was going and going all day, not anything hard, but his regular gym trip, grocery shopping, doing stuff around the house, then finally that night he got tired early.
The following day Saturday and since then- it's now Wednesday, he's felt achy, like a fever ache but no fever, he's still moving and doing stuff and going to the gym.
We both know that the 2nd dose (3 weeks from the first) will probably hit him harder, 6 doses total.
I'm worried about the hair loss that'll probably come next and have read online that 25% don't get the hair back at all! (Though most of these cases are women from Breast Cancer) and I know it's not THAT big of a deal for a guy, but still.
Anyways, I just want some input of those of you who've been thru it, what to expect.
(He's still doing ADT injections and daily ADT pills and prednisone.
His PSA before chemo I think was 6 maybe and testosterone was low too, so I guess it's good, still not sleeping well though and obviously no sex life at all.
Stage 4 metastasized in bones and lungs and other places.)
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You can get an ice cap and use it to stop the hair from being lost on the head. Amazon even sell them. I know some people use a wrap and change it during the procedure Using dry ice to keep it real cold between applications.
Maybe somebody else can cover how they used it.
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1 ReactionWe did buy the gloves and booties...
I'm also wondering about other side effects
Here's a picture
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3 ReactionsI finished the chemo part, 10 rounds about 18 months ago. It's kind of a blur at this point. I was 68 at the time, age probably plays a part in it. As treatment went on, it wore me down big time. Everything slowed down. I'm stage 4, in the bones, psa at the beginning was 932. For me at the time, anything they could do to make the pain I had, stop was good by me. The chemo ride will have it's up and downs but he can do it. I didn't find this wonderful site until a year after starting treatment. It has been a blessing for me, knowing we are not alone on our journey. Best to all.
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3 ReactionsWin the fight!!!
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1 ReactionMy husband is stage 4 as well and all over his body, bones, lungs, lymph nodes etc... though he's not in pain! He's 55 and hit and healthy otherwise, now doing a totally vegan diet, he allowed fish and occasional chicken or steak before, but no carbs, now he's added carbs/oatmeal in the morning and some beans to his "salad"
I'm waiting for his hair to fall out soon, it's been 9 days now since first chemo infusion.
My experience...
Yep, the first 2-3 days after infusion were active ones thanx to the steroids.
Then days 3-6 were when I felt the side effects.
Around Day 7, normalcy such as it was, returned
Lost my hair, just went to my barber and told him to shave it, hunger it over with. It came back.
The side effects are cumulative, for whatever reason the 4th infusion floored me from a fatigue standpoint. But, like the others, around Day 7 I was back to "normal."
Through the six cycles I went to the gym, rode my bike outdoors sometimes, did the yard work, went out to dinner with friends and my wife, continued to work. Heck, I even travelled to Las Vegas to watch my daughter play in her post season conference basketball tournament with the University of Wyoming. We spent time at Red Rock Canton, Death Valley, Hoover Dam...
I was 60 at the time, in good health and physically in good shape. Those may have been factors in my experience.
There is some discussions about the use of a cold cap and gloves to possibly minimize hair loss and neuropathy, I didn't, list the hair but no neuropathy.
Kevin