Docetaxel

What is this medication for?

Docetaxel may be used alone or in combination with other drugs to treat breast, stomach, lung, prostate, ovarian, head and neck cancers.
It interferes with the production of important building blocks that cells need to grow and divide, thus disrupting the normal process of cell division in rapidly dividing cells (e.g. cancer cells). 

How should I take or use this medication?

• Docetaxel is given as an injection into your vein (intravenous)
• Your doctor may prescribe a short course of oral dexamethasone  tablets to reduce the chances of allergic reaction, water retention and nausea/vomiting.

What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?

• Inform your healthcare professional if:
• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
• You are pregnant, are planning to become pregnant or if your partner could become pregnant
  • You should use effective birth control during treatment and for 6 months after your last treatment
  • Docetaxel may have an irreversible effect on fertility. You should discuss with your doctor regarding fertility preservation prior to starting treatment.
• You are breastfeeding
• You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies. 

What are some common side effects of this medication? ​

Early Side Effects (within days of receiving docetaxel)

• Mild nausea and vomiting
  • Take small, frequent meals and avoid foods with smells that may trigger nausea
  • Take medications for nausea or vomiting if prescribed
  • Avoid tight fitting clothes
• Ulcers on tongue, sides of mouth or in the throat
  • Brush teeth gently and use a soft toothbrush
  • Rinse and brush dentures after eating. Ensure dentures are also well-fitted.
  • Rinse mouth regularly with an alcohol -free mouth gargle or salt water to help reduce the chance of infection
• Diarrhoea
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Avoid oily or spicy food and milk or dairy products
• Fatigue and muscle discomfort
• Decrease in appetite
• Taste changes such as bitter or metallic aftertaste in your mouth or food may taste different to what you expect 

Delayed Side Effects (within days to weeks after receiving docetaxel)

• Increased risk of infection
  • Practice good personal hygiene
  • Avoid eating raw uncooked/half cooked food
  • Avoid crowds and people who are sick as much as possible
• Increased risk of bleeding and/or bruising
  • Avoid picking your nose
  • Use a soft toothbrush and brush gently
  • Minor cuts or bleeds may take a longer time to stop than before
• Temporary hair loss
• Brittle and/or discoloured nails
• Numbness and tingling sensation in hands and/or feet
• Skin rashes
• Leg swelling or unusual weight gain
  • Elevate your legs on a foot stool or with a cushion/pillow to reduce swelling
  • Take the dexamethasone tablets
     

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately? 

• Allergic reactions. Please alert your healthcare professional if you experience this during your treatment.
  • The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:
  • Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Itchy skin rashes over your whole body
• Stinging pain, redness or swelling around the vein due to drug leakage around the infusion site. Please alert your nurse immediately if you experience this during your treatment. They may give the drug more slowly or flush it through with more fluids to reduce pain.
• Numbness and tingling sensation in the limbs which persists for  several days after receiving docetaxel or when it becomes difficult for daily tasks such as buttoning shirts and picking up objects
• Signs of infection such as fever with a temperature of 38 degree celsius and above, chills, very bad sore throat, cough, pain with passing urine, mouth sores or wounds that will not heal
• Signs of bleeding such as coughing up blood or coffee-ground vomitus, passing a large amount of fresh blood in urine or stools, tea-coloured urine, black sticky stools, unexplained bruises or bleeding you cannot stop
• Signs of lung or breathing problem such as shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
• Signs of a severe skin reaction (Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis) like red, swollen, blistered or peeling skin (with or without fever), red or irritated eyes, sores in the mouth/throat/nose/eyes.
• If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.
   

What food or medication should I avoid when I take or use this medication?

Avoid taking grapefruit when you are taking this medicine as grapefruit may interact with your medicine and increase the risk of side-effects. 
Avoid taking Traditional Chinese Medicines, Jamu or supplements without consulting your physician as it may potentially interact with your medicine.