Anyone had gemcitabine and docetaxel for Bladder Cancer?

Posted by rjlpool502 @rjlpool502, Oct 18, 2024

Just had second of six weekly doses Gem/Doc chemo infusion for my bladder cancer. Had six doses BCG but cancer came right back. Mine is aggressive but non invasive at present. Been scraped out twice. Any one else having this type chemo? Would like to compare notes.

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Hello,Today Monday 1.6.2025, I completed my sixth and (hopefully) last chemo treatment using the gemcitabine and docetaxel chemo solutions. Two solutions given at two different intervals. (My TURBT surgery was Nov 1.).

My chemo procedure was as follows:
• the gemcitabine was injected into the bladder first, via a catheter, the solution is held for 90 minutes. The bladder is voided.
• Next, the docetaxel was injected via a catheter.
Held for 90 mins, again, the bladder is voided.It was a difficult process as I struggled holding the first chemo solution. I voided after approximately 15 minutes on two separate occasions. On both those occasions, I was still given the second chemo treatment- Docetaxel.

The remaining four treatments were administered and with great difficulty I managed to hold the gemze (Gemcitabine) and the Docetaxel was administered afterward.

I wonder if anyone would be willing to share their experience with the Gemcitabine and Docetaxel chemo bladder solution treatment.
I found it very difficult to hold the gemcitabine solution for 90 minutes. Each gemze treatment burned my bladder and I repeatedly experienced painful spasms that lasted two to four minutes.

Hearing how someone else tolerated (or not) this chemo will help me understand if there may have been something I could have done differently prior to treatments. Maybe take an anti spasmodic medication? Or ?Thank you for your input,

REPLY

Hi,
My husband will start this treatment jan 13
2x a week for 3 weeks
Then a 1 week break then 2x aweek for 3 weeks again. I will let you know what happens along the way.

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No. My husband has none invasive and have been scraped twice
Actually 2nd will be thursday. He was suppose to start bcg in nov but it was not available. I dont know what his treatment will be after his turbt
But i will ket you know.
Good luck my friend.

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@colleenyoung

@kjv12345, how are you doing?

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Still feel
Like my hair is thinning due to my treatments I made a appt with a dermatologist to see if they have any answers for
Me as my dr says it is highly unlikely that is from my treatments so I’m
Frustrated as I asked to go back to BCG treatments

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@kjv12345

I’m getting my treatments as infusions directly into the bladder is that how you are getting your treatments my doctor said I could
Not be having side effects since it’s an infusion and not getting through my entire body. I been having these infusions for 4 months
Please
Let let
Me
Know as I think I want
To go back to BCG treatments and see what happens

Jump to this post

@kjv12345, how are you doing?

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@kjv12345

Did he have his treatments as an infusions directly to the bladder

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Yes

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@ljashton

My husband thinks after 9 total treatments he’s had some thinning. Not bad, though.

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Did he have his treatments as an infusions directly to the bladder

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Thanks for answering. Do you get an infusion directly in your bladder

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@kjv12345

Has anyone experience hair thinning with this treatment

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Just finished six weeks with the Gem/Doce and have not experienced any hair loss yet.

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@colleenyoung

Hair thinning or even total hair loss may happen 3 to 4 weeks following treatment with gemcitabine and docetaxel for bladder cancer. Not everyone is the same. I'll let @lennoncc @ljashton @rjlpool502 @deb2024 jump in with their personal experiences with hair loss.

@kjv12345, are you on gemcitabine and docetaxel? How many treatments have you had so far?

Jump to this post

I’m getting my treatments as infusions directly into the bladder is that how you are getting your treatments my doctor said I could
Not be having side effects since it’s an infusion and not getting through my entire body. I been having these infusions for 4 months
Please
Let let
Me
Know as I think I want
To go back to BCG treatments and see what happens

REPLY
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