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Docetaxel is a chemotherapy drug| usually given to treat breast cancer|, prostate cancer| and non-small cell lung cancer|. It may be used for many other types of cancer|. It is also known as Taxotere®.
Docetaxel is a yellow liquid that forms a clear solution when diluted.
Docetaxel is given as a drip (infusion) in one of the following ways:
The infusion takes about 60 minutes.
On the day before your chemotherapy, you'll be given steroids to take. These help reduce some of the side effects and are taken for either one or three days, depending on the type of cancer you're being treated for.
Chemotherapy| is usually given as a course of several sessions (or cycles) of treatment over a few months. The length of your treatment and the number of cycles you have will depend on the type of cancer you're being treated for. Your nurse or doctor will discuss your treatment plan with you.
Before you begin your treatment, your doctor will arrange for you to have blood tests. You'll usually be given anti-sickness drugs before and/or during your treatment.
Each person’s reaction to chemotherapy is different. Some people have very few side effects while others may experience more. The side effects described here won't affect everyone who is given docetaxel and may be different if you're having more than one type of chemotherapy drug.
We have outlined the most common side effects but haven't included those that are rare and unlikely to affect you. If you notice any effects that are not listed here, discuss them with your doctor, chemotherapy nurse or pharmacist.
Docetaxel can reduce the number of white blood cells, which help fight infection. White blood cells are produced by the bone marrow. If the number of your white blood cells is low you will be more prone to infections|. A low white blood cell count is called neutropenia.
Neutropenia can begin 5-7 days after treatment, and your resistance to infection usually reaches its lowest point 7–10 days after chemotherapy. The number of white blood cells in your blood then increases steadily and usually returns to normal before your next cycle of chemotherapy is due.
You'll have a blood test before having more chemotherapy to check the number of white blood cells in your blood. Occasionally, your treatment might need to be delayed if the number of your blood cells (blood count) is still low.
Docetaxel can reduce the production of platelets, which help the blood to clot. Tell your doctor if you have any unexplained bruising or bleeding, such as nosebleeds, bleeding gums, blood spots or rashes on the skin. You may need to have a platelet transfusion| if your platelet count is low
Docetaxel can reduce the number of red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. A low red blood cell count is called anaemia. This may make you feel tired| and breathless|. Tell your doctor or nurse if you have these symptoms. You may need to have a blood transfusion| if the number of red blood cells becomes too low.
This is usually mild. If you do feel sick, it may begin a few hours after treatment and last for a few days. Your doctor can prescribe anti-sickness (anti-emetic) drugs to prevent or greatly reduce nausea and vomiting|.
If the sickness isn't controlled, or if it continues, tell your doctor; they can prescribe other anti-sickness drugs that may work better for you. Some anti-sickness drugs can cause constipation. Let your doctor or nurse know if this is a problem.
Your mouth mouth may become sore| or dry, or you may notice small ulcers during this treatment. Drinking plenty of fluids, and cleaning your teeth regularly and gently with a soft toothbrush, can help reduce the risk of this happening. Some people may find sucking on ice soothing. Tell your nurse or doctor if you have any of these problems, as they can prescribe mouthwashes and medicines to prevent or clear mouth infections.
This can usually be easily controlled with medicine, but let your doctor know if it's severe or continues. It's important to drink plenty of fluids if you have diarrhoea|.
This usually starts 2–3 weeks after the first dose of docetaxel, although it may occur earlier. Hair usually falls out completely. You may also have thinning and loss of eyelashes, eyebrows and hair in other areas of the body. This is usually temporary and your hair will almost always grow back once treatment ends. Your nurse can give you advice about coping with hair loss|. To help reduce hair loss, scalp cooling| may be suitable for some people.
You may notice that you gain weight and/or your ankles and legs swell. This decreases slowly once your treatment has finished. To help reduce the chance of fluid retention, you'll be given steroid| tablets (usually dexamethasone) to take for three days, beginning on the day before treatment. Dexamethasone may also help reduce the chance of an allergic reaction and may help with feelings of sickness.
Some people can have an allergic reaction to docetaxel while it’s being given. Signs of this can include skin rashes and itching, a high temperature, shivering, dizziness, a headache and breathlessness.
Usually you'll be given steroid tablets to take at home the day before treatment to reduce the chance of this happening. It’s important to take the steroid tablets as directed by your doctor. Instead of steroid tablets, you may be given a steroid by injection into a vein (intravenously) 30–60 minutes before the docetaxel. Other drugs, such as antihistamines, may also be injected into a vein before your treatment to prevent an allergic reaction.
You'll be closely monitored for any signs of an allergic reaction during the treatment. Tell your doctor or nurse if you have any of these symptoms. If you do have a reaction, it can be treated quickly.
A skin rash can sometimes occur while you're having treatment with docetaxel. It’s important to let your doctor know if this happens. Your doctor can prescribe medicine to help with this.
Sometimes areas of skin that have been treated with radiotherapy may become red and sore. Tell your doctor if this happens.
This is known as palmar plantar, or hand-foot syndrome. It's temporary and improves when the treatment finishes. If you get hand-foot syndrome, contact your specialist doctor or nurse for advice.
Your doctor may prescribe creams or a vitamin called pyridoxine (vitamin B6), which some people find helpful. It can also help to keep your hands and feet cool and to avoid tight-fitting clothing, such as socks, shoes and gloves.
Some people lose their appetite| while they’re having docetaxel. This can be mild and may only last a few days. If it doesn’t improve, you can ask to see a dietitian or specialist nurse at your hospital. They can give you advice on improving your appetite and keeping to a healthy weight|.
Feeling tired is a common side effect of chemotherapy, especially towards the end of treatment and for some weeks after it’s over. It’s important to try to pace yourself and get as much rest as you need. Try to balance this with some gentle exercise, such as short walks, which will help. If tiredness is making you feel sleepy, don’t drive or operate machinery.
You may notice that food tastes different|. Normal taste usually comes back after treatment finishes. A dietitian or specialist nurse at your hospital can give you advice about ways of coping with this side effect.
This is due to the effect of docetaxel on nerves and is known as peripheral neuropathy|. You may also notice that you have difficulty doing up buttons or other fiddly tasks. Tell your doctor if you notice any numbness or tingling in your hands or feet. It's important to report your symptoms to your doctor as they may be controlled by slightly lowering the dose of the drug.
This side effect usually improves slowly for a few months after the treatment has finished. Sometimes symptoms can persist, talk to your doctor if this happens.
The colour of your nails may change. They may become darker and white lines may appear on them. This change grows out over several months once the treatment has finished. Pain in the nail bed (at the base of the nail) may occur, but this is rare.
This may be caused by docetaxel and is temporary. You may also notice that your eyes become sore and inflamed (conjunctivitis). Let your doctor know so they can prescribe soothing eye drops if necessary.
You may have this a few days after you're given docetaxel. It doesn't usually last long and your doctor can prescribe painkillers| or anti-inflammatory drugs to help.
Docetaxel can cause pain along the vein that is used to give you your chemotherapy. If you feel any pain, tell your doctor or nurse straight away so that they can check the infusion site. They may slow the infusion down to reduce pain.
It’s important to let your doctor know straight away if you feel unwell or have any severe side effects, even if they’re not mentioned above.
Cancer can increase your risk of developing a blood clot (thrombosis), and chemotherapy may increase this risk further. A blood clot may cause symptoms such as pain, redness and swelling in a leg, or breathlessness and chest pain. Blood clots can be very serious, so it's important to tell your doctor straight away if you have any of these symptoms. Most clots can be treated with drugs that thin the blood. Your doctor or nurse can give you more information.
Some medicines, including those you can buy in a shop or chemist, can be harmful to take when you're having chemotherapy. Tell your doctor about any medicines you're taking, including over-the-counter drugs, complementary therapies| and herbal drugs|.
Your ability to become pregnant or father a child may be affected by having this treatment. It's important to discuss fertility| with your doctor before starting treatment.
It's not advisable to become pregnant or father a child while taking docetaxel as it may harm the developing baby. It's important to use effective contraception while taking this drug and for at least a few months afterwards. You can discuss this with your doctor.
It’s not known whether chemotherapy drugs can be present in semen or vaginal fluids. To protect your partner, it’s safest to either avoid sex or use a barrier form of contraception for about 48 hours after chemotherapy.
There's a potential risk that chemotherapy drugs may be present in breast milk. Women are advised not to breastfeed during chemotherapy and for a few months afterwards.
If you’re admitted to hospital for a reason not related to the cancer, it’s important to tell the doctors and nurses looking after you that you're having chemotherapy treatment. You should tell them the name of your cancer specialist so that they can ask for advice.
It’s a good idea to know who you should contact if you have any problems or troublesome side effects when you’re at home. During office hours you can contact the clinic or ward where you had your treatment. Your chemotherapy nurse or doctor will tell you who to contact during the evening or at weekends.
This section is based on our docetaxel fact sheet which has been compiled using information from a number of reliable sources, including:
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