Just finished No 3 of Tax and spent 9 days in hospital with depleted neutrophils and high temperature. They got my neutrophils back to a reasonable level but have not cured the fever that first took me to hospital. In the end they have let me out but my temperature has not improved. I’m beginning to get quite worried. Has anyone else had a problem with unexplained fever?
Chemotherapy (all types) affects your immune system so you are more likely to pick up infections. This can lead to high temperatures. The fever could therefore be an indirect, rather than direct, effect of the Taxotere.
I am always told that, while on chemo, if I feel feverish, I should note my temperature, increase fluid intake and take some paracetamol. If the temperature didn’t go back to normal within 24 hours, I should seek help.
Reread the sheet they will have given you, listing probable and possible side effects of Taxotere. If you haven’t got it, I find the Cancerbacup site quite good for information about specific chemotherapies.
Taxotere is one I haven’t had yet, but as a general principle, I can tell you that lists of probable and possible side effects on such sheets are fairly exhaustive. You do need to be warned but you have to be fairly unlucky to suffer more than a few of them.
Thanks for replying! The thing is in hospital they found no source of infection, at least none of the obvious ones so the temperature remained a mystery. They said at first I would have to have normal temp for 24 hours before they would discharge me but then let me go anyway - my temp has ben raised for a fortnight now and you start to worry there could be something more serious going on. Don’t know what! I don’t feel any better either inspite of all the antibiotics!
As for Taxotere there seem to be more side effects than the info admits to! Unless it’s just me - I have most of them!
Sarcath
Hi Sarcath
I finished my chemotherapy in December 2006 and the Taxotere did exactly the same to me. I ended up in hospital twice with it, once by ambulance because I couldn’t move with pain in my stomach and a high temperature. The hospital could never find anything wrong to explain the high fever. I also had an allergic reaction to it just as I was leaving the chemo suite and had to be rushed back inside the hospital for another dose of drugs to alleviate the reaction. After the two doses I was told that I had to change to Taxol because the Taxotere was causing me more problems.
The good news is that I completed my chemotherapy in December 06, radiotherapy on 26th February and was back at work full time by April. My energy levels have improved greatly, I go to the gym three times a week, and from this time last year (which is probably at the same stage as you are now) I feel good.
I wish you all the best with the remainder of your treatment.
Anniemay
Thanks Anniemay. That is quite reassuring - obviously Taxotere can cause fever then although I don’t think they mention it as a side effect. It has been much worse than FEC. It is encouraging that you now feel so well. I start radiotherapy in January and you begin to wonder if you will ever feel remotely normal again.
Glad things are going so well for you and long may it continue.
Sarcath