How bad is docetaxel?

@inconsolable My condolences, but I don't want anyone to be scared off docetaxel if it is prescribed for them. The docetaxel itself doesn't kill anyone. It can lead to febrile neutropenia and a rapid decrease in white cells, which can lead to infections which can be fatal if not treated promptly. We were told to go straight to the ER if my husband's temperature spiked, which we did, and prompt treatment worked to prevent serious problems.

@lag Not scared off, just scared enough to pay attention to any minute changes regarding their health. My father didn't have neutropenia, all of his WBC were within normal range, except for lymphocytes, which were low (but that's normal for someone with cancer), he didn't have fever, no other obvious signs of infection, which is why the ER thought he had a heart-attack, but after a few hours and more tests they realized that it was an atypical sepsis of unknown origin, but it was too late...Sadly, not the first nor the last case...And docetaxel is, in fact, a form of poison, which is why patients should be monitored more carefully while on it and why they measure your BMI, so you don't end up with more poison then your body can handle. Not saying you should refuse it, just saying-be very, very careful.