Hey everyone- I’ve had three rounds on EC chemo and I move onto docetaxel this week for rounds 4,5 and 6. I also start Phesgo.
What were peoples experiences of docetaxel compared to EC?
Thank you everyone stay strong
I’m also keen to find this out as I’ll be following the same treatment plan. Good luck 
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Thanks for the reply, it seems its hard to find experiential feedback on docetaxel, unless I’m just looking in there wrong places 
Good luck with your treatment too. 
We’ve got this x
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Thank you. Do you mind sharing how your EC journey has gone so far? I start my first infusion on Thursday.
Hi, I had 3 x EC and then 3x docetaxal last year. I didn’t really notice much difference but had a bit of neuropathy with docetaxal but not too bad and has cleared up now. I was given filgrastim injections with docetaxal (not with EC) and it was those that I found worst!
I think chemo is cumulative so I gradually got more tired throughout but it’s doable.
Hope it goes well for you.
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Hi
I had 3 EC and 3 docetaxel. Everyone is different so it is wrong to compare, but, in my experience EC was a breeze compared to docetaxel. I suffered a lot of side effects with docetaxel so much that I had a dose reduction. I was ready to give up treatment. But until you have it it’s hard to say how you get on, some people sail through it.
All the best
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Hey Helen - thank you for your reply. That’s good to know. I had filgastim injection through EC and will be for docetaxel too. Yes. I agree that a bit more challenging than the chemo itself 
Your message has bought some reassurance so I’m really grateful for that. I hope you’re OK warrior. Take care x
Hey Big pickle, sounds like you and I are quite similar, I have found EC quite manageable tbh, just the g–csf injection a little painful for a couple of days and fatigue, but other than that OK. My taste didn’t change, my nausea was managed well, I had a good routine. Here’s hoping docetaxel is the same. One of the horror stories I’ve heard is that your nails fall out, did yours?xx
Hi @laurat
No I didn’t lose any nails, but they became very brittle, and the corners did lift a bit. I think you can buy something to put on them. My side effects were….nose bleeds, mouth ulcers, oral thrush, diarrhoea, my heart raced, neutropenia, and my temperature kept on spiking requiring many visits to A&E. Once I had the dose reduction I coped much better. The strange thing was these side effects did not kick in until about the 4th or 5th day after my infusion, I felt quite well to begin with.
I am now on Neratinib, which is not available to everyone and not many are prescribed it as the criteria is quite narrow. It is a whole different experience though, but I am coping reasonably well now after a change of anti sickness tablets!
Hello!
I completed 4 x EC, and 4 x docetaxel with Phesgo. EC for me was pretty fine, suffered with a bit of nausea and the fatigue built over time. I had filgrastim for both EC and dox.
Docetaxel was worse for me but more because little side effects. I had a sore mouth, and would have body aches and pains but my team were quick on figuring out the best medication for it all. I didn’t have any issues with my nails, my hair started growing back on dox too. The fatigue definitely built but it didn’t stop me from doing what I needed to do.
It was hard to tell what side effects came from Phesgo whilst having it with dox but I’ve had 5 Phesgo on its own since finishing chemo and had zero side effects.
Fingers crossed it all goes well!
This is my treatment plan too. I start tomorrow 3 x ec every 3 weeks the 3 x doce every 3 weeks. Not being given injections for white blood cells. I have asked for them but oncologist said no x
If you haven’t already then worth joining this thread - lots of HER2+ posts with some great info! HER2+ and need some buddies - #5577 by jayb73
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I was recommended this. There is Palmbalm but its £50 and that was just too much. Ive painted my naiks in this for first chemo.
Not sure if thats any help!!! As i am just at the start of my journey @laurat
Hi @laurat I had 3x EC and then 3x docetaxel. I was told by some nurses that EC was usually tolerated less well. It certainly made me lose my hair. With docetaxel, my biggest issue was that a few days after each infusion, my temperature would rise to about 39. This meant I ended up in hospital 2x having a sepsis screening, but there was never an infection. It seemed that docetaxel just made my temp go high like an allergic reaction. On the 3rd cycle, I just ignored the temp. Docetaxel was otherwise unremarkable for me, but tiredness, aches and pains were similar to EC. Hope all goes well.
Hey laurat, I’m not going to lie, Docetaxel had a terrible list of side-effects for me - ulcers on my tongue (Gelclair is fabulous for this, btw), and it basically attacked all my mucous membranes, which was really unpleasant. If the same fate befalls you, I found that slathering on aqueous cream before and after going to the loo was a huge help. I also started to shed all the skin from the soles of my feet and and the end of my fingertips. It was a really challenging treatment for me to bear, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you don’t experience this, but happy to give more advice should you need it, in terms of how to deal with the worst of the side-effects. Take good care of yourself x
Hi, I am on my second Docetaxol after EC. The first round was pretty painful and I did consider reducing the second dose. Instead my Oncologist prescribed Coedeine. I haven’t had to take high dose pain relief but this time I am am more aware that the small stabbing pains and lower back pain can’t be left to take hold. I do feel fuzzy and lightheaded and can’t stay upright for very long.
I had 6 cycles of docetaxel and Phesgo for my HER2+ primary. After number 5 I was desperate to stop. I had vomiting, diarrhoea, no sense of taste, fatigue, etc but I did finish the course.
Sadly for me I had no clinical response to it and my tumours continued to grow. I had a mastectomy and full clearance but it mutated to triple negative and popped up in my liver whilst I was on adjuvant kadcyla.
I hope it works well for you.