What Is Taxotere Chemotherapy?

Taxotere is a brand name for the prescription intravenous chemotherapy medication docetaxel. Doctors prescribe Taxotere chemotherapy for the treatment of some types of breast, lung, head, neck, gastrointestinal and prostate cancers.

Function

• Taxotere chemotherapy works by causing tiny tubes within cancer cells to become bundled together in a rigid mass. When these masses form, the cancer cells are unable to reproduce and eventually die.

Time Frame

• Taxotere chemotherapy infusions are usually given for one hour every three weeks, according to RxList. The amount of treatment varies based upon the type and stage of cancer.

Types

• Taxotere chemotherapy is sometimes used as monotherapy or individually for the treatment of cancers, while in others, doctors use the drug in combination with other chemotherapy medications like cisplatin.

Features

• Often, doctors prescribe oral corticosteroids like dexamethasone to be taken for a period of time before each Taxotere treatment. This helps reduce the risk of accumulating fluid in the lungs, which can occur with this type of chemotherapy, reports RxList.

Risks

• The most common side effects of Taxotere include low blood counts of white or red blood cells or platelets, weakness or tingling in the extremities, nasal congestion, diarrhea, dry or sore throat, nausea, skin rashes and mouth sores. Other risks associated include accumulating fluid in the lungs, severe allergic reactions, the onset of acute myeloid leukemia and a rare chance of sudden death due to a toxic reaction to the drug, warns RxList.